Chapter 253: Sparring! Song Qiuyun

Under Yang Zhentian's command, Xu Jingming and the others gradually improved their coordination.

It wasn't until 6 p. . that this first training session finally ended.

Xu Jingming and the others exited the virtual space, stepping out of their virtual immersion pods.

"Starting today, until March 8th, every afternoon from 2 p. . to 6 p. .

Will be dedicated to team match training, and the location will always be here.

That's it for today's training. Xu Jingming, stay behind. Everyone else, dismissed."

Yang Zhentian emphasized the daily training schedule once more before announcing the dismissal.

The official start date for the second stage of the National University League is March 10th.

But all universities must arrive at the competition venue one or two days in advance.

That's why he set the training deadline for March 8th.

"Captain, we'll head out first."

"See you tomorrow, captain."

"Bye, captain!"

"......"

After an afternoon of coordination, Gu Wan and the other senior students had grown familiar with Xu Jingming.

Especially after witnessing his formidable strength during the virtual trials.

It earned them genuine admiration.

So before leaving, each of them smiled warmly as they bid Xu Jingming farewell.

They treated him not as a freshman, but as an equal—or even a superior.

"See you tomorrow."

Xu Jingming naturally returned their smiles.

"How was it? Any impressions after this afternoon's team match training?"

Once everyone had left, Director Yang Zhentian asked with a curious smile.

He knew his student had always preferred to operate alone.

Even when entering the Wild Zone, he almost always went solo.

He might not have joined any club at all if Liu Ming hadn't persuaded him.

"Having teammates coordinate with you really helps a lot," Xu Jingming nodded slightly.

During today's training, the astonishing strength displayed by Kong Shi, Yao Fang, Shen Dongling, and others—

As well as the powerful buffs and healing provided by Gu Wan and Su Ruoyun—were all beyond what he had ever imagined.

Overall, each of them had unique strengths; no one was just along for the ride.

This made him think of his past life doing research, where every assigned team always had one or two freeloaders.

Who did nothing yet still enjoyed the same honors as everyone else.

At Magic University, such a thing simply didn't happen.

Of course,

Magic University revered strength above all, unlike some of his past universities,

Where bureaucracy forced certain people into the representative teams regardless of ability.

"Having teammates versus going solo is two completely different states.

That's why most people choose to form teams when entering the Wild Zone.

If you enter the Wild Zone again, you can invite them to join you.

I'm sure they won't refuse."

Yang Zhentian smiled.

SS-rank awakened ability user!

Just that title alone was enough to make most awakened users treat Xu Jingming with goodwill.

"Team up? No thanks. I prefer going alone," Xu Jingming shook his head.

Though today's team training gave him an entirely new experience,

Adding teammates also meant worrying about their safety.

Even decisions on actions required consultation with them.

For someone like Xu Jingming who valued freedom and spontaneity, that was deeply uncomfortable.

Also,

Due to the Deep Blue System, his stat upgrades were far too abrupt.

He didn't want to have to hide from teammates just to upgrade.

"You do prefer operating freely."

Yang Zhentian saw through Xu Jingming's thoughts but didn't press further.

After a pause, he added:

"By the way, for this team match, all other members can be swapped out.

Only you must always be on the field. You can handle that, right?"

The team match has eight members, three of whom are substitutes.

It doesn't mean they can only enter if a starter is seriously injured.

They can be deployed against any TOP10 university except Jin University and Jing University.

After all, this is a national event.

These are all seniors about to graduate; more exposure and demonstrations of their strength

Will benefit their future choices—joining a guild, a military unit, or a martial arts school.

Outside the two top universities, a TOP10 school might field one or two strong dark horses.

To prevent unexpected losses, Xu Jingming, the team's strongest member, must serve as the safety net.

"No problem," Xu Jingming replied with a smile.

"Good. Come on, let's go to my villa for dinner."

Yang Zhentian patted Xu Jingming's shoulder approvingly, and the two left the training ground together...

As a seventh-rank peak awakened user, the dishes on Yang Zhentian's table were anything but ordinary.

There was seventh-rank beast meat, C-grade rare herbs and flowers stir-fried as dishes, and even the wine was brewed from B-grade magical fruits.

After the meal, Xu Jingming felt his bloodline energy had noticeably increased.

Two hours later, Xu Jingming left Professor Yang's villa, his stern face tinged with a faint drunkenness.

Ordinary alcohol wouldn't have made him drunk.

But B-grade wine had nearly overwhelmed his Thunder Indestructible Body's fifth stage—luckily, he hadn't drunk much.

Huh~~~

A cool breeze blew in, dispersing his last trace of intoxication.

"Ding-ding-ding~~~"

At that moment, his phone rang—it was Song Qiuyun calling.

Xu Jingming suddenly remembered he'd promised her a training session tonight, so he quickly answered.

"Jingming, has your training ended?"

Song Qiuyun's melodious voice came through the line.

"Yeah, ended at six. Had dinner with the professor. I'm heading back to the dorm now—you can come over."

"My battle suit is inconvenient. Why don't you just come to my dorm instead?"

Inconvenient battle suit?

Xu Jingming's eyebrows lifted. What did that mean?

Though puzzled, he still nodded. "Alright, I'll come over directly."

His battle suit and weapons were stored in his space ring; no need to return to the villa.

Besides, for Song Qiuyun, a second-rank mid-tier awakened user, there was no need to wear a battle suit at all.

So after hanging up, Xu Jingming headed straight toward Dormitory Zone 3, reserved for first-year students.

Soon, he arrived at Villa 12 in Zone 3, where Song Qiuyun lived.

The villa's front door stood wide open, bright light spilling out from within.

As Xu Jingming stepped inside, he saw Song Qiuyun's roommate, Qi Dongxia, sitting on the first-floor sofa.

Seeing him enter, she smiled warmly and said:

"Go up. Qiuyun's waiting for you on the second floor."

Like Xu Jingming, Song Qiuyun also lived on the second floor of the villa.

"Mm." Xu Jingming nodded.

Yet he felt Qi Dongxia's gaze toward him seemed oddly strange.

"Imagination?"

Shaking his head, he dismissed the thought and climbed the stairs to the second floor.

Upstairs, he didn't see Song Qiuyun in the living room, so he walked directly into the training room beside it.

A quick glance confirmed it—there stood Song Qiuyun's tall, graceful figure inside the training room.

This battle suit doesn't seem inconvenient at all?

Watching Song Qiuyun's back in her pale black battle suit, Xu Jingming couldn't help but feel puzzled.

At that moment, Song Qiuyun, hearing the noise, turned her body around.

Yet, such a simple motion made Xu Jingming momentarily freeze.

There, in the center of the bright training room, Song Qiuyun stood wearing a pale black battle suit.

Women's battle suits are naturally designed to be form-fitting.

But Song Qiuyun's suit seemed even more tightly constricting!

Like a second layer of skin, it clung tightly to her body.

It perfectly revealed the full contours of her chest, and even outlined the shape of her slender waist's navel.

Below the navel, her firm, rounded buttocks.

And her slightly plump, round, and long legs—all displayed, making one's blood surge...

"Jingming, you're here."

On Song Qiuyun's fair, clean oval face, a faint blush appeared.

She seemed slightly embarrassed, lowering her head slightly, and whispered.