Chapter 241

Student Zone 1 dormitory, this is the senior year dorm area.

At this moment, in the villa of senior student Kong Shi, besides Kong Shi himself, there were two others.

"In my opinion, Principal Ling didn't handle this well.

You're already mid-level fourth rank—your strength has surged dramatically since last semester's mission for the Heavenly Fate Cult!

Even if they're going to appoint Xu Jingming as team captain, they should've made you two compete again—how can they just pick him outright?"

One of the two, a tall and slender youth, spoke up in Kong Shi's defense.

Don't be fooled by the fact that "captain" and "vice-captain" differ by only one character—they're worlds apart!

The captain holds the greatest authority in formulating team tactics.

Even when the team wins, the captain is always the first to be praised.

"Yeah, why don't we go talk to Principal Ling Shuang about our thoughts?

At least give you a chance to fight Xu Jingming."

The other youth also spoke with obvious resentment.

Compared to the two, Kong Shi, seated in the center and built like a mountain, remained remarkably calm:

"We're all seniors—you know full well that Magic University never changes appointments once made.

Once the captain is designated, it's final.

Besides, Xu Jingming's strength is more than enough to be captain."

He spoke the truth.

In the entire Magic City Institute of Psychic Abilities, the only person who made him feel threatened was Xu Jingming.

If someone like Bingshan were captain, he'd refuse outright—but Xu Jingming? He had no objections.

Moreover, Xu Jingming possesses an S-class psychic ability; it's only natural the vice-principal wants him to elevate Magic University's reputation.

"You're too easygoing. I, for one, refuse to accept this. Once team training starts, I'm going to challenge him.

If he can't even beat me, I'd like to see how he dares to be the team captain."

The tall, slender youth snorted coldly.

"Tao Guan, there's no need for this."

Though he knew his friend was defending him, Kong Shi still frowned.

Due to his reclusive nature, he had few close friends—only Tao Guan and Zheng Heng.

Both were strong, fourth-rank lower-tier, ranked within the top ten of the entire school's combat power list.

Tao Guan had even been selected as a reserve team member.

"Hey, someone on the forum says Xu Jingming entered the virtual trial!"

At that moment, Zheng Heng, holding his phone, exclaimed in surprise.

"Oh? I want to see how high he'll climb!"

Tao Guan also pulled out his phone and opened Magic University's official website.

Even Kong Shi, usually so composed, unconsciously reached for his phone.

Soon, they found Xu Jingming's latest ranking and combat power.

Xu Jingming: Combat Power Rank #42, Combat Power:!

"Huh? I thought his combat power used to be zero?"

"How did it jump straight to 210, 00? He's already in the top 50!"

Tao Guan stared at the ranking on his phone, surprised.

"Zheng Heng, can you find out when Xu Jingming started the trial?" Kong Shi asked, voice low.

"Sure, I'll check right away."

Zheng Heng quickly scrolled through forum posts, and moments later, whispered in shock:

"According to the forum posts, Xu Jingming only started the trial three minutes ago!"

"Three minutes ago?!"

Kong Shi's pupils contracted; his rock-hard face showed profound shock.

To reach 200, 00 combat power, you must clear Virtual Trial Level 20!

That meant Xu Jingming had cleared twenty levels in just three minutes!

Less than nine seconds per level on average!

Nine seconds? What did that mean? It meant he cleared each level almost by instant-killing!

"Could the start time be wrong?"

Tao Guan, fully aware of what this time implied, turned to Zheng Heng again for confirmation.

"No mistake—several posts confirm it." Zheng Heng shook his head.

"The start time's correct. Before Level 21, the virtual trial only spawns high-level third-rank beasts—just hundreds of them.

For us enhancement-type psychics, killing them is a hassle—but for Xu Jingming, an S-class lightning user?

Instant-killing isn't impossible."

Kong Shi realized it too.

Against low-rank beasts, lightning-type efficiency far surpassed enhancement-type.

All it took was a thought—lightning struck remotely. Enhancement-types had to close in with weapons.

"True. Lightning-type AoE clearing is way faster than ours.

But Level 21 should stall him for a while."

Tao Guan nodded slightly.

Level 20 only had a hundred third-rank peak beasts.

But Level 21? One fourth-rank lower-tier beast!

And that was the dividing line—only students who cleared Level 21, reaching 240, 00 combat power, were Magic University's top tier.

Students with combat power reaching 240, 00 are the first tier of Magic University.

With Xu Jingming's strength, he'd clear it—just not with instant-kills like before.

Yet no sooner had Tao Guan finished speaking than the ranking on his phone changed abruptly.

Xu Jingming: Combat Power Rank #35, Combat Power:!

"What the hell? He cleared it that fast?!"

Tao Guan's eyes widened, then waved his hand: "S-class psychic abilities are insane—still instant-killed it.

But Level 22 has twenty fourth-rank lower-tier beasts—surely he can't instant-kill those?"

But the 22nd trial has a total of twenty fourth-rank lower-tier ferocious beasts—this can't possibly be a one-hit kill anymore, right?

Xu Jingming: Combat Power Rank #29, Combat Power:!

"Instant-killed again?!" Tao Guan was stunned.

Those twenty fourth-rank lower-tier beasts took him over ten minutes to kill one by one!

"Level 23 has a scaled earth dragon—fourth-rank mid-tier. It's a dragon-type beast.

Even the weakest dragon-type, its defense is brutal.

Extremely high lightning resistance—surely he can't instant-kill that?"

Tao Guan's eyes locked onto his phone screen.

Yet seconds later, without surprise, Xu Jingming's ranking jumped again.

Xu Jingming: Combat Power Rank #19, Combat Power:!

"What the fuck?! How the hell did he instant-kill the scaled earth dragon?!"

Tao Guan was speechless.

Tao Guan had no idea what to say anymore.

He could kill that scaled earth dragon himself, but only after a grueling fight lasting over half an hour.

Not like this—like swatting a fragile first-rank beast, dispatching it in seconds.

"This..." Zheng Heng beside him was equally stunned.

And in the center, Kong Shi's face was grim.

This Xu Jingming was far stronger than he'd imagined.

This Xu Jingming is likely much stronger than he imagined.