Chapter 272: Is Flying That Amazing? Thunder Storm!

"The captain's SS-class ability has been exposed."

"With so many major forces here today, it's only natural it would get exposed."

"True, but now the people from Jing University are going to panic."

"......"

Morning team matches at Magic University consisted of only one match, which ended.

Everyone, including Kong Shi, sat in Magic University's spectator area watching.

They naturally saw the online leaks about Xu Jingming's SS-class ability.

But they didn't take it too seriously, since they had already anticipated this moment.

Xu Jingming was one of their own at Magic University—they were proud of him.

Those who should be panicking were the other university teams.

Although there were five team matches scheduled for the morning, all ended just after 11 a. .

Under normal circumstances, five matches shouldn't end this quickly.

Even matches between evenly matched teams often lasted two or three hours.

However, the team match format had a special mechanism: if a match exceeded twenty minutes,

the energy shield surrounding the entire arena would begin contracting inward at one meter per second.

Any contestant touching the energy barrier was eliminated.

With the arena measuring four hundred meters in length, the shield would fully contract in under seven minutes.

That meant a team match could last at most half an hour.

Of course,

matches like Xu Jingming's, which ended in just half a minute, were exceptional cases.

After the morning matches ended, spectators excitedly discussed the results and the online leaks before leaving to eat and rest.

Given Xu Jingming's current popularity, appearing in public would instantly draw a crowd of curious spectators.

So he directly took Song Qiuyun and his aunt's family to the sports complex's internal cafeteria with the team.

Perhaps because of the many comments under online news articles,

Song Qiuyun had tightly held Xu Jingming's hand the entire time without letting go.

As for his aunt's family, including cousin Tang Qi, they were equally stunned after seeing the online leaks.

Who could have imagined that Xu Jingming's original E-class weak-electricity ability had evolved into SS-class Heavenly Thunder?

Uncle Tang Daolin believed it was an accidental breakthrough during a life-or-death crisis.

He said Xu Jingming had great fortune—maybe he should try buying lottery tickets.

Aunt Xu Qingwan believed it was ancestral protection, the family grave emitting auspicious smoke.

She even said that as soon as the league ended, they'd immediately return to Jiangcheng to burn incense for all the ancestral spirits.

Xu Jingming offered no further explanation.

After all, who would believe he had a magical system that could directly add points?

Even if he told them, no one would believe it...

After lunch, the spectators outside the sports complex dispersed, and Song Qiuyun finally took his aunt's family back to the villa to rest.

Xu Jingming led the Magic University team to Professor Yang Zhentian's villa.

Since the individual matches were scheduled for the afternoon, Yang Zhentian analyzed not only the strengths of each contestant from Suzhou-Hangzhou Institute of Esoteric Studies for tomorrow's team match,

but also the top competitors from other universities—including their abilities and combat techniques.

In fact, not just Magic University, but Jing University, Jin University, and seven other universities were doing the same work.

Analyzing the strengths of each university's team members.

Xu Jingming, who had just been exposed as possessing an SS-class ability, was naturally a key focus for all universities.

Kong Shi, Yao Fang, and others were all fourth-year seniors at Magic University, with well-documented growth paths.

Everyone knew what abilities they possessed and which combat techniques they mastered.

But Xu Jingming was only a first-year student, had spent long periods in the Wild Zone, and had his information deliberately concealed by Deputy Principal Ling Shuang.

So when they analyzed him, they were all stunned.

Aside from knowing he had previously mastered some A-class combat techniques like "Thunder Spear" and "Thunder Prison,"

and that he had learned one special S-class body-training technique from Yang Zhentian, they knew nothing else.

Jing University knew he also mastered the S-class "Thunder God Finger," since their own instructor had taught it to him.

But beyond that, they were completely in the dark about any other techniques he possessed...

"The Bingshan team is too weak—they couldn't even probe Xu Jingming's true strength!"

A coach from another university secretly fumed.

As a result, the Bingshan team members, who had just been crushed by Xu Jingming in the morning, were unfairly blamed.

"There's nothing we can do—we'll have to monitor Xu Jingming's matches and adjust tactics accordingly."

Under these circumstances, many universities decided to closely watch every single one of Xu Jingming's matches.

They couldn't afford to miss even the tiniest useful detail...

"Magic University has an SS-class ability awakener! Amazing!"

"No kidding! Magic University really knew how to keep quiet about it."

"The Thunder Emperor's individual match is this afternoon—I can't wait."

"Thunder Emperor? You mean Xu Jingming?"

"Yeah, you didn't know? That's what they call him inside Magic University."

"Actually, that title does have a certain ring to it."

"......"

Before two p. ., the massive sports complex was once again packed to capacity.

Spectators chatted, their conversations almost entirely centered on Xu Jingming.

Even Xu Jingming's nickname at Magic University had been dug up and was now circulating among them.

If a normal lightning-ability user had the nickname "Thunder Emperor," they'd dismiss it outright.

But for Xu Jingming, the title was perfectly fitting...

"Welcome back, everyone, to the National University League!"

"In today's registration, 64 competitors from the ten universities signed up for the individual matches."

"This afternoon, we'll hold 32 matches to determine the 32 strongest competitors!"

At precisely two p. ., host Feng Le appeared on the podium.

His powerful, magnetic voice echoed throughout the arena.

All ten universities, including both official team members and substitutes, had a total of 80 participants.

But not every team, like Magic University, had prepared two support-type ability users.

Hence, only 64 competed in the individual matches.

"Now, let our artificial intelligence randomly generate the 32 match pairings!"

Under the spectators' eager gaze, the host waved his hand.

A holographic projection appeared in midair, displaying 64 names, then pairing them randomly.

Soon, the full list of 32 matches was displayed.

"I'm in match six—my opponent is from Suzhou-Hangzhou Institute of Esoteric Studies. Perfect for scouting tomorrow's team match."

"I'm in match twelve—ha, my opponent is a substitute from Bai University; I'll crush him in under a minute."

"Mine's later—match twenty-eight..."

On Magic University's spectator seats, everyone, including Xu Jingming, saw their match number and opponent.

Xu Jingming's match was number three—his opponent was Zhou Chao, a fourth-rank lower-tier wind-ability user from Jin City Institute of Esoteric Studies.

"This AI is truly intelligent—strong competitors didn't face each other in the first round."

Scanning the massive holographic match list, Xu Jingming immediately noticed this.

Of course, that was normal.

The National University League also needed to maintain viewership and build suspense.

If the strongest two were randomly matched in the first round, what would be left for the finals?

Also, the pairing system ensured that competitors from the same university wouldn't face each other in the first round.

"Individual matches proceed in rounds of four! Let the first round begin! Please welcome the eight competitors in matches one through four!"

To finish all 32 matches in one afternoon, they couldn't possibly hold them one by one.

With a thunderous rumble, a cross-shaped fissure split open in the center of the 400m x 400m arena used for the morning team matches.

The entire arena was then evenly divided into four 200m x 200m combat platforms.

Above each platform, from one to four, holographic projections displayed the corresponding match numbers.

"I'm competing in the first round..."

Xu Jingming raised his sword-like eyebrows, nodded to his teacher and teammates, then walked toward platform three.

"Xu Jingming is competing in the first round!"

"Amazing! Thunder Emperor, go!"

"Magic University, go! Thunder Emperor, go!"

「......

When Xu Jingming stepped onto the arena, the audience burst into loud cheers!

Not just Xu Jingming—all competitors standing on the arenas had supporters cheering for them!

But the cheers for Xu Jingming were the loudest and most numerous!

A closer look revealed many of them were young women.

Inside the arena, universities and factions alike focused their attention primarily on Xu Jingming.

"Xu Jingming from Magic University? I can't believe I'm so unlucky..."

Arena 3,

Xu Jingming and Zhou Chao from Jincheng Psychic University stood facing each other, a full 100 meters apart.

Xu Jingming's expression was calm, but Zhou Chao wore a grimace.

Facing Xu Jingming meant his solo match would end in a single round.

"But then again, what if I win?

Defeating an SS-rank psychic? That's an incredible honor!"

He silently spurred himself on, and his fighting spirit flickered back to life.

His gaze sharpened as he waited silently for the match to begin.

"All eight competitors on the arenas, prepare yourselves—the match is about to begin!"

Not long after, as the host finished speaking, transparent energy shields rose around all four arenas.

Immediately afterward, holographic numbers appeared above them.

Simultaneously, the mechanical electronic countdown of the AI echoed in the ears of all eight competitors.

"3!"

"2!"

"1!"

"Begin!"

Crackling—

As the match began, Xu Jingming instantly activated his Doutian Divine Thunder.

Golden lightning coiled around his entire body as he gripped the Liuyun Golden Peak Spear, ready to charge.

But his opponent, Zhou Chao, activated his own A-rank elemental wind ability.

Swift gales swirled around him, lifting him directly into the air!

"Oh? He already has flight capability?"

Xu Jingming paused his step, eyes narrowing as he gazed at the figure in midair.

"Indeed, never underestimate any psychic..."

Generally, a psychic with an A-rank elemental wind ability could only achieve flight at the upper tier of the fourth rank.

Yet Zhou Chao had mastered this ability even at the lower tier of the fourth rank—clearly gifted.

"Xu Jingming! Didn't expect this, did you? I can fly!"

Zhou Chao's voice rang from above, "Before I exhaust my psychic energy, you won't even touch me!"

Zhou Chao was extremely cautious around Xu Jingming, constantly shifting his position even while flying.

As if afraid Xu Jingming's lightning might strike him.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!...

Around him, swirling gales launched dozens of emerald wind blades, hurtling toward Xu Jingming faster than sound!

Around him, fierce winds swirled, and countless green wind blades struck Xu Jingming at speeds exceeding sound!

Xu Jingming moved like a nimble cheetah, effortlessly dodging the wind blades.

They struck the C-rank alloy ground, exploding with thunderous force, leaving deep craters in the hardened surface!

For wind blades he couldn't dodge, he swept his spear and shattered them easily.

As he dashed and dodged, he silently calculated.

"My maximum jump height is 32 meters. He's flying at least 70 meters up—I can't reach him even if I leap.

The Lei Mao's range is sufficient, but he keeps moving—I can't aim properly."

As a wind psychic, Zhou Chao's movement speed was no small thing.

Estimated at least 60 meters per second!

Under these conditions, even if the Lei Mao moved at several times the speed of sound, Zhou Chao could simply dodge it by watching Xu Jingming's initial motion.

"Entering Leiji Mode could take him down instantly.

But this is just a low-tier fourth-rank opponent—do I really need to go all out?"

Xu Jingming frowned slightly.

Admittedly, the flight ability of wind psychics was a nuisance.

"If only I had some kind of suction to slow his movement...

Suction? Got it!"

Xu Jingming's eyes lit up. He shifted his intent, unleashing his SS-rank Doutian Divine Thunder in full force!

Xu Jingming's eyes lit up; with a flick of his will, his SSS-tier ability, Daitian Shenlai, erupted fully!

Dense golden lightning filled a 40-meter radius around him.

Nearly a quarter of the entire arena became a sea of golden lightning!

The terrifying energy radiating from the lightning made Zhou Chao's eyelids twitch.

His body wasn't reinforced like a physical-type psychic—any contact with even a single spark would leave him critically wounded.

"Xu Jingming! It's useless! I'm flying at 75 meters! Your lightning can't reach me!" he blurted out.

"Oh? Flying is impressive?"

Xu Jingming's lips curled into a smile. "Before a storm of lightning, even a fighter jet I'll drag down!"

A smile curled on Xu Jingming's lips, "Before a thunderstorm, even a fighter jet I'll drag down!"

Under his mental command, the entire golden sea of lightning erupted violently!

Before Zhou Chao's stunned gaze, it coalesced into a colossal golden lightning storm over thirty meters tall.

In Zhou Chao's stunned gaze, a massive golden thunderstorm rose over thirty meters high!