Chapter 28: Ten Thousand Points! The Stunned Little Aunt

“The three top universities—those are the ultimate dream for countless students.”

Principal Zhao Yao sighed, “But for you, it’s within reach. No, that’s not right—they’ll beg you to enroll.”

“Beg me to enroll?” Xu Jingming tilted his head, puzzled.

“With your scores, you already qualify for special admission.”

“Once the national rankings are released, all of the top ten universities in the country will offer you all kinds of incentives to attend their schools.”

“What else could you call that but begging you to enroll?”

Principal Zhao Yao burst into laughter.

Special admission is a privilege reserved only for the top three in the province.

And Xu Jingming clearly falls into that category.

“I suggest you go home and research the top three universities thoroughly.”

“Don’t wait until the special admission day and still have no idea what you’re doing.”

“Also, don’t get dazzled by the special admission offers—what matters most is choosing the school that suits you best.”

“Of course, any of the three top universities will guarantee you a brilliant future!”

Principal Zhao Yao outright dismissed the other seven schools in the top ten and gave him serious advice.

“I understand. Thank you, Principal.”

Xu Jingming nodded, showing he understood.

With the Wu Ke college entrance exam over, he now needed to seriously consider which school to attend.

It took over an hour to drive from the military zone to the city center.

By the time Xu Jingming returned home, it was already 11:23 p.m.

Exhausted, he didn’t even bother to wash up—only stripped off his battle suit, reeking of blood.

He collapsed onto the bed and fell into a deep sleep.

He didn’t wake until just after nine the next morning.

“Phew, I slept over ten hours straight.”

Glancing at the time on his phone, Xu Jingming leapt out of bed and dashed into the bathroom.

“Splashing~~~~”

Warm water streamed from the showerhead, washing over Xu Jingming’s bare body.

“Perfect!”

After twelve hours of combat, he’d sweated profusely, his skin sticky and grimy.

Now, the warm water washed over him, instantly refreshing him—he opened his system panel.

【Name】: Xu Jingming

【Level】: Awakened

【Ability】: Purple Thunder Divine Lightning (S)

【Physique】: 183 Qi (+)

【Spirit】: 185 He (++)

【Skills】: Gunplay (Advanced+), Lightning Wind Break (Advanced+)

【Ability Points】: 2534

The Wu Ke college entrance exam, beyond scores, yielded the greatest reward: Ability Points!

“2534 Ability Points—enough to last me a while once I enter an Ability University.”

Xu Jingming thought silently.

The importance of Ability Points was undeniable; in a normal wilderness zone, it would be impossible to gain so many in such a short time.

This was thanks entirely to the Wu Ke exam.

“I wonder if Ability Universities have similar monster-killing competitions. If they do, I’ll be the first to sign up.”

Xu Jingming felt cheerful.

After humming a tune while showering, he returned to his bedroom, turned on his computer, and searched for information on the three top universities.

The three top universities had each existed for over a century, prestigious institutions that had trained countless powerful figures for Great Xia.

As he browsed the data, Xu Jingming couldn’t help but gasp in astonishment.

“So the current Nine-Stage Nation-Protecting Master graduated from Qingjing Ability University!”

“Most of the top Ability cultivation methods are exclusive to these elite universities?!”

“...”

He hadn’t realized—until he looked, he was stunned.

Nearly half of the well-known high-level Ability users in the country today came from the three top universities!

Half!

That was an terrifying proportion.

After all, there were thousands of Ability universities nationwide.

Many others had studied abroad at foreign Ability universities before returning home.

Yet the total number of powerful individuals produced by all these domestic and international schools combined was barely equal to that of the three top universities.

This alone proved their profound heritage!

More importantly, it was the Ability cultivation methods.

As the foundation for an Ability user’s advancement, these methods varied greatly in quality—and the speed of cultivation differed drastically!

For example:

Using the worst beginner-level Ability cultivation method, most Awakened needed three to four years to advance.

But with a top-tier cultivation method, advancement could be achieved in less than half a year!

According to the data Xu Jingming found, most of Great Xia’s top-tier Ability cultivation methods were stored in the libraries of the three top universities!

“No wonder online rumors claim the three top universities are arrogant academies that hoard their cultivation scriptures...”

Xu Jingming suddenly understood—but he didn’t care much.

How valuable were top-tier Ability cultivation methods?

Trying to pressure universities into sharing them through public opinion? That was unthinkable.

“Ding dong~~~”

As he prepared to continue researching, the doorbell rang outside.

“Who could be here so early? Could it be my little aunt?”

Curious, Xu Jingming rose and opened the door.

Two women stood at the entrance—one tall, one young.

The older one, in her thirties, wore elegant attire with refined features.

The younger one, about Xu Jingming’s age, was tall and strikingly similar to the older woman—seven or eight parts alike, but colder and more aloof.

These two were unmistakably his little aunt, Xu Qingwan, and his cousin, Tang Qi.

“Little aunt, cousin.”

Xu Jingming smiled and ushered them into the living room.

But awkwardly, due to his Ability evolution last night, the entire living room looked like it had been burned down.

The floors and walls were charred black; the sofa, coffee table, and all furniture had been reduced to ash.

The spacious living room had no place to sit.

“Xiao Ming, did your house catch fire?”

Little aunt Xu Qingwan panicked, grabbing Xu Jingming to inspect him: “When did this happen? Were you hurt?”

“Just a small accident. Nothing serious.”

Seeing his worried little aunt, Xu Jingming felt a warm surge in his chest.

Since his parents passed away, only his little aunt had ever given him the warmth of family.

“Good, good, you’re unharmed.”

Little aunt Xu Qingwan exhaled in relief, then said, “I came today mainly to ask about your Wu Ke exam results.”

“Didn’t Qi-jie tell you?” Xu Jingming was surprised.

“I thought it was better if you told Mom yourself,” cousin Tang Qi smiled mischievously.

“I see.”

Xu Jingming nodded. “Let’s go downstairs and find a place to sit and talk.”

Xu Jingming took them downstairs to a coffee shop he often visited, called “Chenguang Small Shop,” beside the residential complex.

It was around ten in the morning; the café wasn’t crowded.

Xu Jingming found a window seat and ordered three hot coffees.

Chenguang Small Shop didn’t sell premium hand-ground coffee.

Soon enough, the server brought the three steaming cups to the table.

“Enjoy your drinks, please.”

The server smiled warmly and walked away.

“So, can we finally reveal the mystery?”

Little aunt Xu Qingwan smiled, cradling her coffee cup. “Your sister made such a big fuss—she’s just afraid I’ll beat you up like I used to when you were little.”

Don’t worry, think about it—since you started high school, when have I ever hit you?

Even when you wanted to take the Wu Ke exam, didn’t I agree?

This time, no matter how badly you do, I won’t hit you.”

Listening to his aunt Xu Qingwan’s words, Xu Jingming awkwardly rubbed his nose.

His aunt was a typical Jiangnan woman, gentle and demure—though that only applied when there was no final exam.

But once his final exam scores dropped, he’d be greeted with a painful beating of bamboo shoots stir-fried with pork.

And he couldn’t resist.

After all, when his parents died, he was only eleven—his aunt was the officially appointed legal guardian...

“Mom, don’t worry, this time my cousin won’t let you down.”

Seeing his mother misunderstand his intent, Tang Qi quickly explained.

“Oh? Really? So Xiao Ming, you did pretty well this time? How many points? Did you hit a hundred?”

Aunt Xu Qingwan’s eyes lit up, pressing eagerly for details.

One hundred points was the nationally recognized minimum admission threshold.

Scoring above a hundred meant a chance to attend an Ability University.

“I got a hundred.”

Xu Jingming nodded with a smile, “And way more than a hundred—it’s ten thousand.”

“T-ten thousand?!”

The score was so shocking that Aunt Xu Qingwan’s beautiful eyes widened, and she froze in place, stunned.