Chapter 263: Am I Qualified? The Bashi Team Stares in Shock!

"Welcome, representatives of Mo University."

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

The lead youth, tall and broad-shouldered, warmly extended his right hand:

"You must be Xu Jingming, captain of Mo University's team. I'm Wang Qi, captain of Jing University's team."

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

"Hello." Xu Jingming gave a slight nod and lightly shook his hand.

At the same time, memories of the data Professor Yang had provided earlier surfaced in his mind.

Wang Qi, rank four upper, possesses the pseudo-S-class elemental ability "Celestial Yuntu " of the earth element.

A pseudo-S-class ability is 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 in this league!

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

"You can all dine here, or simply order takeout from your dormitory area."

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

As Wang Qi spoke, Jing University's team members openly scrutinized Xu Jingming's 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 Jing University's team had even left far, Yao Fang couldn't help speaking up.

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

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

"They seem convinced they've already won us over..."

Gu Wan, the gentle assistant with black-rimmed glasses, also sensed the tone.

"They only beat us once, and now they think they can beat us again? How naive!" 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 show them who's really in charge."

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

Mo City is over a thousand kilometers from Qingxu City.

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

Combined with his powerful space ability, which shielded them all the way, they merely avoided dangerous zones where ninth-rank beast emperors might lurk, arriving at noon—three hours later.

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

They should arrive around two p. .; Tang Qi and the others will arrive slightly earlier, around one-thirty.

As for Xiao Gu's family, since Jiangcheng is farther from Qingjing, they won't arrive until six or seven p. .

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

Xu Jingming went alone to Qingxu City's 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 collect your belongings, remain safe, and disembark in order."

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

"Please collect your belongings..."

One-thirty p. ., 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 all yield enormous 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 polished glass.

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 rail station and more like the private estate of some wealthy magnate.

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

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

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

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

"Official commemorative uniforms for Mo University, Jing University, Jin University, and nine other universities—selling like hotcakes!"

"Secret intelligence analysis manuals for all participating university teams—unlimited supply!"

"..."

Unlike ordinary suburban high-speed rail stations, Qingxu City's station was built right in the bustling city center.

As Tang Qi and the others stepped out, they were immediately hit by a wave of lively energy.

Some staff in mascot costumes handed out promotional flyers for the league along the roadside.

Nearby shops sold related merchandise.

These shops were packed, with many young people queuing to buy.

Even numerous livestreaming internet influencers moved through the crowd, giving commentary.

"The Education Bureau must be making a fortune hosting this league."

Watching this, Zhou Mingyang chuckled.

The National University League is organized by the National Education Bureau; just selling twenty thousand match tickets brings in a fortune.

Not to mention broadcasting rights and countless merchandise sales.

"The better off the Education Bureau is, the better for us. Otherwise, our ability universities get almost no funding each year."

Tang Qi didn't mind either way.

She spoke the truth: over half of every ability university's annual budget came from the Education Bureau.

If the Education Bureau has no money, we suffer too.

"True." Zhou Mingyang nodded slightly.

As the group chatted outside the station, waiting for Xu Jingming,

several young women, reeking of alcohol, stumbled 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 whistling:

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

The Xu family's genetics are excellent; Xu Jingming himself is strikingly handsome, and his aunt Xu Qingwan is a classic Jiangnan woman.

Tang Qi perfectly inherited her mother's advantages: beautiful face, graceful figure.

Her long, straight legs added even more allure.

With such looks and figure, she'd be considered a campus goddess.

Thus, Tang Qi was frequently approached by admirers.

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

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

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

"Hah! That's a confident answer!"

"Never thought our handsome 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 group burst into laughter.

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

Just his face alone would win him plenty of female attention.

But his reeking alcohol breath was enough to repel most women.

Especially someone like Tang Qi, a girl with a proud heart.

Amid the teasing of his companions, the young man in white suddenly froze his smile.

Sensing his face was losing face, he shot a cold glance and snapped angrily:

"You pretentious bitch! Asking for your contact info is a favor to you! Fucking ruined the mood!"

At these words, Tang Qi and the others instantly turned pale.

As the only male among the three and their strongest member, Zhou Mingyang couldn't help but speak up:

"What did you say?!"

Whoosh—

Whoosh—

The B-rank ability "Lightning Gale" erupted; sharp, blade-like emerald winds swirled dangerously around his body.

Over half a year had passed; Zhou Mingyang, once a Rank One Low-tier ability user from Jiangcheng's Wu Ke exam, had now advanced to Rank One High-tier.

"Oh? Someone actually dares to step forward?"

Facing Zhou Mingyang's unleashed aura, the young man in white merely raised an eyebrow, his anger 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 exploded from the white-clad youth.

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

"Huh, aren't those guys from Bingshan Ability 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?"

"..."

As the crowd murmured, Zhou Mingyang, sensing Ke Liang's aura, paled slightly:

"This aura… is a Rank Three High-tier ability user?"

Remember, even some of our school's instructors are only Rank Three High-tier.

He's so young—and yet his rank is this terrifying!

Beside him, Meng Di and Tang Qi had also activated their abilities.

Upon sensing the opponent's overwhelming aura, their own energy faltered slightly.

Though Tang Qi burned with fury from the verbal humiliation, she clenched her lips tightly and whispered to Zhou Mingyang:

"Let's go. Don't stoop to their level."

From the crowd's whispers, it was clear these were members of a university team competing in the National University League.

From the surrounding people's murmurs, it was clear that the other side was a university team competing in this national collegiate league.

The lowest rank among such university team members is at least Rank Three Peak!

Some are even Rank Four ability users—completely beyond our reach!

Even if we charged forward, we'd only get beaten senseless.

Though unwilling, Tang Qi chose to back down.

"Old Ke, we're here to compete. Don't make a scene—it'll reflect badly on the school."

Seeing a crowd gathering around them, even some live-streamers holding up phones,

Ke Liang's companions urged him.

Ke Liang noticed this too, frowned, and retracted his aura.

He sneered at Tang Qi and the others:

"If I weren't here for the competition, I wouldn't have let you off so easily."

Then he glanced at Zhou Mingyang:

"And you—a puny Rank One High-tier—dare to stand up for others? You're not even worthy."

He spat contemptuously onto the roadside, dropped a final threat, and turned to lead his team away.

But as he turned, he slammed into a wall.

Where did a wall come from across the restaurant?

Ke Liang instinctively looked up—and realized it wasn't a wall at all.

It was a young man's chest!

The youth stood nearly two meters tall, clad in a black combat suit, his pectoral muscles slightly bulging.

At only 1. 1 meters, Ke Liang crashed into this towering figure—

Not like hitting flesh, but as if colliding with a solid alloy wall—his head throbbed with pain!

The young man's stern face now stared down at him with cold, piercing black-and-white eyes:

"He's not worthy. Then tell me—am I?"

To bystanders, it was just an ordinary glance.

But Ke Liang felt as if a top-tier predator had locked onto him—he couldn't move a muscle, sweat instantly drenched his back.

"I asked you—am I worthy?" the youth repeated.

"I'm asking you—am I qualified?" the young man asked again.

Ke Liang swallowed hard, preparing to explain—

But the youth spoke again: "No answer? Good."

The young man spoke once more: "No response, huh? Good!"

The towering youth's right hand, faintly wreathed in noble golden lightning, struck Ke Liang across the face!

The vice-captain of Bingshan Ability University, a formidable Rank Three Peak ability user, had no time to react.

His entire face twisted, bled, and several teeth flew from his mouth!

Before he could scream, the towering youth grabbed his head, yanked him forward, and drove his powerful knee into his abdomen—

Before he could cry out in pain, the tall young man seized his head again.

With a muffled crash, Ke Liang spat blood, curled into a shrimp-like ball, and collapsed onto the ground.

From the moment the towering youth struck, to Ke Liang falling—it all happened in an instant.

By the time the crowd reacted, Ke Liang's once-handsome face was grotesquely swollen,

drenched in blood, utterly broken.

The rest of the Bingshan team stood frozen, stunned.

After a long moment, they stared at each other in disbelief:

Our vice-captain… was just beaten? And he couldn't even fight back?

Meanwhile, Tang Qi, Zhou Mingyang, and the others all lit up at once:

"Jingming (Ming-ge)!"

Tang Qi and others beside him simultaneously brightened their eyes:

"Jingming!"