Chapter 271: The News Spreads! Igniting the Hot Topic!

"SS-class ability? That can't be right?"

"Xu Jingming's ability was already determined long ago, wasn't it? How could there be an error?"

"Could it be that our instruments malfunctioned?"

"......"

Xu Ping's words instantly caused an uproar among Wang Qi's teammates.

Even that seventh-tier peak coach Liu An and Wang Qi himself couldn't help but be slightly stunned.

"The instruments didn't malfunction. Although we don't know the reason, Xu Jingming's ability—

most likely evolved from S-class to SS-class during last year's study trip."

Xu Ping explained slowly.

"The study trip where the Tianming Sect launched the assassination?"

"I've only ever heard that strength can rapidly improve under life-and-death crisis, never that an ability could advance in rank!"

"Right! And going from S-class to SS-class—how the hell is that even possible!"

"......"

The Capital University representative team members discussed animatedly among themselves, unanimously expressing disbelief.

But they also knew how formidable Capital University's top-tier artificial intelligence was—it absolutely wouldn't make mistakes.

In other words, Xu Jingming's ability had truly evolved from S-class to SS-class!

"In that case, Xu Jingming's battle record at Magic University should be real."

Liu An said in a deep voice.

As the coach of the Capital University representative team, he had a thorough grasp of every Magic University member's information.

This naturally included Xu Jingming recently securing one million combat power on Magic University's combat power ranking and taking first place.

At first he had suspected this might be a smoke screen deliberately released by Magic University.

Now that the ability rank was confirmed, this was indeed fact.

"I've studied Magic University's combat power ranking. For Xu Jingming to obtain one million combat power, he would have had to clear the 27th floor of the virtual trial.

Although based on the available information, we don't know what the trial content of Magic University's 27th floor is,

most likely it requires killing several dozen fourth-tier peak fierce beasts to clear it.

Being only at the third-tier upper rank, he could actually kill several dozen fourth-tier peak beasts—

this Xu Jingming is truly monstrous enough..."

Worthy of being the coach of the Capital University representative team, in just a few words he had analyzed Xu Jingming's approximate strength.

However,

what he didn't know was that Magic University's 27th floor trial wasn't some several dozen fourth-tier peak fierce beasts.

It was the even more terrifying fifth-tier lower rank fierce beasts!

But this couldn't be blamed on him—after all, before this, very few Magic University students had ever cleared the 27th floor trial to obtain one million combat power.

"Truly monstrous. If you gave him another year to grow, I definitely couldn't beat him.

But unfortunately, he's only a freshman this year. I can still suppress him."

Wang Qi said thoughtfully.

"Yeah, thankfully our Capital University still has you this year."

Xu Ping also smiled and patted Wang Qi's shoulder.

Wang Qi, at fourth-tier upper rank and possessing a pseudo-S-class ability, had terrifyingly high combat power.

He had even once defeated a fifth-tier lower rank ability user with an A-class ability!

Although Xu Jingming was formidable, compared with Wang Qi he still fell a notch short.

"But this is the only year we can keep Magic University under us. Wait until next year—

once Xu Jingming's rank rises, probably no school will be able to suppress him.

Still, being able to suppress them for one year is one year. Our Capital University really doesn't want to be second place anymore."

Shaking his head, Xu Ping instructed Liu An:

"Xu Jingming is confirmed as Magic University's number one. Dean Liu, revise your previous tactical strategy arrangements."

"Understood." Liu An nodded slightly.

The previous tactical strategy had all been formulated with Kong Shi as the core.

Now that Xu Jingming was the core, the tactical arrangements were naturally different...

"Holy crap! Xu Jingming's ability isn't S-class! It's SS-class!"

"SS-class ability Doushen Shenlei! No wonder its power is so formidable!"

"Quick! Quick, notify headquarters—do we need to change our recruitment strategy!"

"......"

Just as Capital University was reworking its tactical arrangements,

Jin University, Lei Ting Wu Guan, Violent Bear Wu Guan, the various legions, guilds, and many other forces had also all discovered the change in Xu Jingming's ability.

Shocked, they all made calls to headquarters one after another, applying for higher resource deployment authority.

Logically speaking,

Xu Jingming was only a freshman this year, still over three years from graduation. Even if they wanted to recruit him, they'd have to wait until graduation.

But SS-class ability awakeners were truly rare—if they could sign a contract with Xu Jingming in advance and recruit him under their banner, that would be a huge win!

"Shit! A SS-class ability awakener actually appeared in Great Xia this year?"

In the somewhat rearward seats of the stadium's inner audience area, several white-skinned foreigners holding analytical instruments were shocked.

He immediately dialed an international call to report.

After a long while, a low voice speaking a foreign language came through the other end of the line:

"Hand this news to the media, let them spread it far and wide.

Not only must we know that an SS-rank has appeared in Great Xia—I want every other nation on Blue Star to know too!"

"Yes! Mr.!"

Several foreigners hurriedly contacted major media outlets both inside Great Xia and abroad, spilling out every piece of information related to Xu Jingming.

As media professionals, they naturally realized this was an absolutely explosive, earth-shattering hot topic!

So the news editors immediately transformed into tentacled monsters, churning out article after article and posting them online.

'Shocking! After 23 years, an SS-rank ability awakener has once again appeared in our nation!'

'Mo Da's Xu Jingming! SS-rank ability Doushen Shenlei!'

'An SS-rank ability has descended upon the world—Great Xia is bound to prosper!'

'......'

Without exception, the headlines of these articles all had something to do with the SS-rank ability!

One must understand,

the young people of Great Xia nowadays surf the internet at full intensity 24 hours a day.

The moment these articles were published, they instantly blew up as trending topics!

"Predicting this article will go viral—calling dibs on a front-row seat."

"Holy crap! I was just watching Xu Jingming's match—no wonder he was so fierce, turns out he's got an SS-rank ability!"

"SS-rank ability! Bound to have a limitless future!"

"......"

Twenty-three years!

It had been a full twenty-three years since Great Xia last saw an SS-rank ability awakener.

So the moment these articles were published, the comments below began multiplying at an exponential rate!

In fact,

it wasn't only within Great Xia—online networks abroad were equally ignited into trending topics by this news!

"Councilor Wang, the news that Xu Jingming possesses an SS-rank ability has already topped the internet's trending search list.

There are faint traces of foreign forces stirring things up behind the scenes—should we intervene to cool down the heat?

Inside a luxurious manor, an old man and a middle-aged man were playing chess.

A young woman wearing black-framed glasses, her hair tied in a single ponytail falling to her waist,

looking very capable and efficient, walked into the manor and reported to the old man on the left.

This old man had graying hair, yet his spirit was vigorous and sharp, and a terrifying aura seemed hidden within his eyes.

Councilor Wang Jun!

A ninth-rank peak Martial Saint of Great Xia! Possessing the enhancement-type beast-system S-rank ability 'Celestial Azure Dragon'!

A terrifying existence who had survived since the resurgence of origin energy two hundred years ago!

Also one of the figures standing at the very pinnacle of Blue Star today!

"Hmph, those insects abroad who only know how to scheme in the shadows! Pay them no heed!

With the depth of our Great Xia's foundation, we're hardly unable to protect a single SS-rank ability awakener!"

The old man snorted coldly and looked at the middle-aged man opposite him:

"Xiao Liu, you went to Magic Cave No. 7 last time and met Xu Jingming—who is currently responsible for protecting him?"

The middle-aged man opposite was none other than Councilor Liu Yushan.

"Mo Da's vice-principal, Hearing Ling Shuang," Liu Yushan replied with a smile.

"Oh? That little girl from Lei Ting Wu Guan who has the S-rank space-system ability? She's actually still staying at Mo Da?"

The old man was somewhat surprised.

"Yes, she can't afford to offend that one from the Li family, so she had no choice but to hide over at Mo Da.

Speaking of which, she's quite impressive—even without Lei Ting Wu Guan's resource supply,

she still broke through from eighth-rank lower to eighth-rank middle in just three years."

Liu Yushan said with a smile.

"This girl's temperament is indeed stubborn enough.

For ordinary ability users, it would be a once-in-a-lifetime blessing they couldn't ask for, yet she instead avoids it like the plague.

She even hid away to Mo Da directly, just so as not to drag Lei Ting Wu Guan down with her.

Still, if it's her, then I can rest easy."

The old man nodded slightly.

The entire manor soon returned to quiet and tranquility once more......