Chapter 263: Am I Qualified? The Baishan Team Stunned!

"Welcome, representatives of the Magic University team."

At that moment, a team dressed in ink-wash-style battle suits stepped forward.

The tall, muscular young man at their head warmly extended his right hand toward Xu Jingming:

"You must be Xu Jingming, captain of the Magic University team. I'm Wang Qi, captain of the Capital University team."

Although they would be rivals in the coming period, Capital University, as host, remained exceptionally warm.

"Hello." Xu Jingming gave a slight nod and extended his right hand to lightly shake his.

At the same time, memories of the data Professor Yang had provided earlier about this Capital University captain surfaced in his mind.

Wang Qi, Rank Four Upper, possesses the pseudo-S-class elemental Earth ability "Skyfall Meteoric Earth."

A pseudo-S-class ability is one stronger than an A-class ability but slightly inferior to an S-class.

Precisely because of this, in the eyes of other universities, Wang Qi is the strongest boss-level figure of this league!

He is also the target Professor Yang warned them to pay special attention to.

"Afterwards, you can all dine here, or simply order takeout from your accommodation area."

"By the way, after you finish eating, a staff member will be waiting at the entrance to guide you to the accommodation area."

As Wang Qi spoke, the Capital University team members openly scrutinized Xu Jingming and his group.

"We've already finished eating. Captain Xu, then, we'll see you at tomorrow's opening ceremony."

With a polite, faint smile, Wang Qi led his team away.

"These guys are pretty arrogant."

Before Capital University's team had even left far, Yao Fang couldn't help speaking up.

Wang Qi's words had sounded warm, but his tone carried a faint air of superiority.

The gazes of the other team members were aggressive, as if they weren't viewing opponents but weak prey.

"They seem convinced they've already got us figured out..."

Guan Wan, the gentle assistant with black-rimmed glasses, also sensed the undertone.

"They only beat us once, and now they think they can beat us again? How naive!" Blood Hand Shen Dongling snorted.

Even the usually composed Kong Shi's eyes flickered slightly—he clearly felt disrespected.

"It's fine. When the competition starts, I'll make them know who's really in charge."

Xu Jingming paid it little mind and led everyone into the dining hall.

Magic City is over a thousand kilometers from Qingxu City.

Xu Jingming's team arrived because Vice Principal Ling Shuang's supersonic fighter jet provided transport.

Coupled with his powerful Space-class ability, which escorted them all the way, they merely avoided danger zones where ninth-rank Beast Emperors might lurk, arriving at 12:00 after only three hours.

Song Qiuyun and Qi Dongxia, who had departed earlier, took the high-speed train, which was much slower.

They would arrive around 2:00 PM; Tang Qi and the others would arrive slightly earlier, around 1:30 PM.

As for Xiao Gu's family, since Jiangcheng is farther from Qingjing, they wouldn't arrive until 6 or 7 PM.

Thus, after lunch, Yao Fang and the others followed staff members to the dormitory area to drop off their luggage.

Xu Jingming went alone to the Qingxu City high-speed rail station to pick people up.

Indeed, this station was specially connected to the high-speed rail network to facilitate travel.

"Train K312 is about to arrive at its final destination, Qingxu City."

"Please take your belongings, remain cautious, and disembark in order."

"Train K312 is about to arrive at its final destination, Qingxu City."

"Please take your belongings..."

1:30 PM, Qingxu City High-Speed Rail Station.

As the arrival announcement echoed, passengers—some carrying backpacks, others dragging suitcases—streamed out of the train.

Normally, only fourth-rank or higher ability users came to Qingxu City.

But now, with the National University League approaching,

nearly half of those exiting the station were ordinary people.

The other half were low-rank ability users; Tang Qi, Zhou Mingyang, and Meng Di belonged to this group.

At this moment, the three dragging suitcases looked around curiously.

"This is Qingxu City? So beautiful."

"Indeed, this is the most beautiful high-speed rail station I've ever seen."

"The service is excellent—guides everywhere."

"..."

Qingxu City backs onto the No. 5 Demon Cave; the weapons, battle suits, and cultivation resources needed by third-rank ability users here—how massive the profits?

Precisely because of this, Qingxu City, smaller in area than an ordinary county, has a higher economic output than some provincial capitals!

As Qingxu City's public face, the entire high-speed rail station was built with great luxury.

The ceiling of the corridor leading to the exit was engraved with ornate patterns and designs; the floor gleamed like a mirror.

Even young staff in uniforms stood along both sides of the corridor, smiling warmly and guiding passengers.

The entire scene felt less like a public high-speed rail station and more like the private estate of some wealthy magnate.

Tang Qi and the others had seen much, yet even they couldn't help silently marveling.

"Jingming has already set out—he should be here soon. Let's wait for him outside the station."

After checking the message Xu Jingming had sent a few minutes earlier, Tang Qi led Meng Di and the others away.

"National University League character cards, 500 Daxia coins each, limited to 100 cards—first come, first served!"

"Official commemorative uniforms from Mo Da, Jing Da, Jin Da, and nine other universities are selling like hotcakes!"

"Confidential intelligence handbook for all university competitors — unlimited stock available!"

"......"

Unlike ordinary high-speed rail stations located in the suburbs, Qingxu City High-Speed Rail Station was built right in the heart of the bustling urban district.

As Tang Qi and the others stepped out of the station, they were immediately hit by the vibrant atmosphere.

Along the roadside, staff dressed in mascot costumes were handing out promotional flyers for the league.

Nearby shops were also selling related merchandise.

These shops were extremely crowded, with many young people lining up to buy.

Even numerous livestreaming internet influencers moved through the crowd, introducing everything to their viewers.

"Hosting a national university league — the Ministry of Education must be making a fortune."

Zhou Mingyang couldn't help but smile as he watched the scene.

The National University League was organized by the National Ministry of Education; just selling twenty thousand match tickets would bring in a huge sum.

Not to mention the broadcasting rights, and all the merchandise.

"It's better if the Ministry has money — otherwise, our psychic universities get almost no funding each year."

Tang Qi, however, didn't care much about it.

She spoke the truth: over half of the annual budget for psychic universities came from the National Ministry of Education.

If the Ministry has no money, we won't fare well either.

"True enough." Zhou Mingyang nodded slightly.

Just as the group chatted idly outside the high-speed rail station, waiting for Xu Jingming to arrive,

several young women, reeking of alcohol, stepped out of a nearby restaurant.

Seeing Tang Qi, tall and standing among them near the roadside,

one twenty-something man in white casual wear couldn't help but light up, whistling:

"Hey, long-legs beauty, wanna exchange contact info?"

The Xu family had excellent genetics; Xu Jingming himself was very handsome, and his aunt Xu Qingwan was a classic Jiangnan woman.

Tang Qi perfectly inherited her mother's advantages — her face was lovely, her figure graceful.

Her long, straight legs added even more charm.

With such looks and figure, she was a campus goddess in any university.

Because of this, Tang Qi was constantly approached by admirers.

But no one had ever gotten her contact info — let alone such drunken, flippant advances.

So, facing the white-clad youth's advance,

Tang Qi first furrowed her delicate brows, then coldly said: "Sorry, I don't give my contact info to strangers."

"Haha, that's a straight-up answer!"

"Never thought our handsome old Ke would get turned down."

"This is too funny — I'm telling the captain later."

"......"

Seeing the white-clad youth rejected, the rest of the men and women burst into laughter.

To be fair, the white-clad youth was quite good-looking.

Just by his face alone, he could win the favor of many girls.

But his reeking alcohol breath was enough to drive most girls away.

Not to mention someone like Tang Qi, a girl with inner pride.

Under the teasing of his companions, the white-clad youth's smile froze instantly.

Feeling his pride wounded, he glared coldly and snapped:

"You stuck-up bitch! I'm asking for your contact info out of respect! What a total buzzkill!"

At these words, Tang Qi and her companions' faces darkened instantly.

As the only male in the trio and their strongest member, Zhou Mingyang couldn't help but shout out:

"What did you say?!"

Whoosh—

Whoosh—

His B-rank psychic ability, 'Light and Swift Wind,' erupted — sharp, blade-like green winds swirled dangerously around his body.

Over half a year had passed; Zhou Mingyang, once a Rank One Lower-tier psychic in the Jiangcheng Wu Ke Gaokao, had now advanced to Rank One Upper-tier.

"Oh? Someone actually dares to step forward?"

Facing Zhou Mingyang's unleashed aura, the white-clad youth merely raised an eyebrow, his anger instantly shifting to mockery:

"Do you even know who I am? How dare you speak to me like that?"

As he spoke, an aura a hundred times stronger than Zhou Mingyang's erupted from the white-clad youth.

This terrifying aura immediately drew attention from those nearby, who recognized the identity of the white-clad youth and his group.

"Huh, aren't those guys from Bai Shan Psychic University?"

"Yes! That's them!"

"The leader in white — that's their vice-captain, Ke Liang!"

"It's definitely them — but what are they doing here?"

"......"

The surrounding crowd buzzed with discussion, and Zhou Mingyang, who had sensed Ke Liang's aura, couldn't help but have his expression shift slightly:

"This aura—is a third-tier upper-rank ability user?"

One had to know that some of the instructors at their school were only third-tier upper-rank themselves.

Who would have thought that someone so young would possess such a terrifying rank!

Beside them, Meng Di and Tang Qi's abilities had already been activated.

After sensing the opponent's formidable aura, their momentum couldn't help but falter slightly.

As the person directly involved, although Tang Qi's heart burned with rage at being humiliated by the other's words,

at this moment she could only bite her crimson lips tightly and say quietly to Zhou Mingyang:

"Let's go. Don't stoop to this person's level."

From the surrounding chatter, one could clearly tell that the other party was a university representative team participating in this National University League.

One had to know,

the minimum rank of participants on such a representative team was at least third-tier peak!

There were even stronger fourth-tier ability users—completely not people they could afford to provoke!

Even if they forced themselves to charge in, all they'd get in return would be a thorough beating.

Although unwilling in her heart, Tang Qi could only choose to let the matter rest.

"Old Ke, we're here to compete. Don't make a big scene—it won't look good for the school later."

Seeing people gradually gathering around, some of them even livestreaming with their phones,

a companion of Ke Liang's couldn't help but speak up to advise him.

The white-clad youth Ke Liang also noticed this, so he furrowed his brow and reined in his aura.

Snorting coldly at Tang Qi and the others:

"If I didn't still have a competition, I would absolutely not let you off so easily."

Then, he glanced at Zhou Mingyang:

"Besides, you—a mere first-tier upper-rank—want to stand up for others? You're nowhere near qualified!"

Utterly disdainful, he spat on the roadside, dropped one harsh line, and only then did Ke Liang lead his team to leave.

However, the moment he turned his head, he crashed into a wall.

Where did a wall come from across from the restaurant?

Ke Liang instinctively looked up, only to find that this was no wall at all.

It was clearly a youth's chest!

This youth was a full one meter ninety tall, dressed in a black combat suit, the muscles on his chest slightly bulging.

Ke Liang, who was only one meter seventy-one, had collided with this tall youth.

It didn't feel like hitting ordinary flesh—instead, he felt as though he'd crashed into a wall of solid alloy, his head throbbing with pain!

At this moment, the cold, sharply contrasting black-and-white eyes on the youth's resolute face were looking down at him:

"He's not qualified—then take a look. Am I qualified?"

To onlookers, this was clearly just an ordinary gaze.

But Ke Liang felt as though he were being stared down by a top-tier fierce beast—daring not to move, sweat instantly soaking his back.

"I'm asking you—am I qualified or not?" the youth asked again.

Gulp—

Ke Liang swallowed hard with great difficulty, just as he was about to explain.

The youth spoke again: "Not talking? Very well!"

Slap!

The tall youth's right hand, faintly wreathed in resplendent golden Lei Guang, slapped him across the face!

This vice-captain of the Bai Shan Ability University representative team, a powerful third-tier peak ability user, didn't even have time to react.

His entire face was deformed by the blow, bleeding, and several teeth were even sent flying from his mouth!

Before he could even let out a pained wail, he was then grabbed by the head by the tall youth.

Pulled over, the youth raised his powerful knee and slammed it brutally into his abdomen!

Boom!

Accompanied by a dull thud, Ke Liang spat out a mouthful of fresh blood on the spot, his body curling up like a shrimp as he crashed to the ground.

From the moment the tall youth struck to Ke Liang's collapse, everything happened in the span of an instant.

By the time the surrounding crowd reacted, Ke Liang's once rather handsome face was already swollen high.

His face was covered in fresh blood, a thoroughly wretched sight.

The remaining members of the Bai Shan representative team were all dumbfounded.

Only after a good while did they exchange glances and come back to their senses:

Our vice-captain got beaten up? And without any ability to fight back at that?

As for Tang Qi, Zhou Mingyang, and the others nearby, their eyes lit up at the same time:

"Jingming (Brother Ming)!"