Chapter 282

Ziziziz~~~

On the alloy arena, residual golden lightning still splashed and danced.

The five Jin University members protected within the energy shield, except their captain Han Shan, were all covered in blood and had fainted on the spot!

Han Shan himself still had consciousness, but his entire body was charred black, a sight too gruesome to behold.

Yet compared to his physical injuries, the psychological blow was undoubtedly more painful.

Three S-class elemental shields, several A-class elemental shields, plus his SS-class life-sharing and S-class life tide.

This was the absolute defense system he took pride in, designed to win the team competition championship!

Yet before Xu Jingming's Thunder God Finger, it collapsed at the first touch.

Along with his pride, the hope of Jin University winning the team championship was also stripped away...

"Is an SS-class ability really this strong? He's only third-rank upper tier..."

Looking at the towering figure standing afar, surrounded by golden lightning,

like a demonic god, Han Shan couldn't help muttering.

"We won!"

"No wonder you're captain! Amazing!"

Human joys and sorrows do not communicate with each other.

Compared to the pained Han Shan, the Ma University team was undoubtedly in high spirits.

A faint smile also graced Xu Jingming's resolute face.

Jin University's defense system was indeed powerful—if you couldn't break the shields,

with a recovery-type ability user present, the entire team could sustain combat indefinitely.

But unfortunately, Thunder God Finger, enhanced by Lei Jitai and Gu Wan's S-class combat technique boost, had utterly exceeded Jin University's limits.

Like a spring, no matter how much you pull, it always returns to its original shape.

But if you snap the entire spring in half, there's no chance of recovery.

Had the arena not had a protective mechanism, that single Thunder God Finger would have wiped out every Jin University member...

"Protective shield activated. All members of Jin City Institute of Esoteric Abilities eliminated! This match is won by Ma City Institute of Esoteric Abilities!"

The referee on the arena's edge promptly announced the end of the match.

The holographic scoreboard in midair instantly jumped Ma University's win count from seven to eight!

Jin University's loss count rose from zero to one.

"Ma University won!"

"So this is the full power of Lei Di! Incredible!"

"Indeed, Lei Di's single technique decided the outcome!"

"He said we could fight for a full minute—this is it? Couldn't even withstand one strike!"

"..."

The audience was immersed in a stunned yet jubilant atmosphere.

After watching so many matches, many had realized Xu Jingming hadn't been using his full strength.

They had all been waiting for his explosion.

But no one expected his first explosion to be this astonishing!

He single-handedly wiped out the entire top-tier university, Jin City Institute of Esoteric Abilities!

"Han Shan and the others actually lost..."

In the inner spectator seats, Jiang Mo, who had been so confident, was now stunned.

Others might not understand the strength of this defense system—but as their team's instructor, didn't he know better?

He had personally tested it: even a fifth-rank lower-tier ability user with an A-class ability couldn't shatter it!

Yet Xu Jingming had done it.

Though Gu Wan's support ability had contributed, it still proved the sheer terror of Xu Jingming's own power.

"At third-rank upper tier he's already this fierce—what will he be like when he reaches fourth rank?"

Jiang Mo couldn't help a bitter, shaking laugh.

SS-class ability was one thing, but Xu Jingming's cultivation speed and comprehension were absurdly high!

He still remembered: the Thunder God Finger technique seemed to be chosen by Xu Jingming from Jing University's Combat Technique Library after the study trip.

A top-tier S-class technique like this usually took ordinary ability users nearly two years to master completely.

Yet only four months had passed since the December study trip, and Xu Jingming could already cast it fluently.

Simply monstrous...

"Principal Jiang, it seems Ma University has the upper hand."

At that moment, Ling Shuang's clear eyes turned toward him.

Instantly, Jiang Mo's eyelid twitched as he sighed and reluctantly pulled a wooden box from his space ring:

"A bet is a bet. This is the SS-class heavenly treasure, 'Crimson Flame Spirit Fruit.'

Principal Ling, it's yours now."

The Crimson Flame Spirit Fruit greatly enhances an ability user's physical body.

More crucially, fire-type ability users who consume it have a certain probability of undergoing ability evolution and metamorphosis!

Know that

Any heavenly treasure capable of triggering ability metamorphosis is rated at least S-class or higher!

This SS-class rating proves the Crimson Flame Spirit Fruit's probability of triggering evolution is not insignificant.

He had purchased it at great cost during a recent auction, intending it for a fire-type ability user among his family's younger generation.

Yet he never imagined it would slip from his grasp before he even warmed it...

"Tsk tsk, SS-class Crimson Flame Spirit Fruit—Jiang Mo's been hit hard."

Xu Ping, delighted yet slightly grave, remarked:

"But Xu Jingming's Lei Jitai combined with Thunder God Finger is terrifyingly strong—Wang Qi and the others must prepare thoroughly."

Whether Jin University or Ma University, both sides had revealed their trump cards.

Though those trump cards remained powerful, with careful preparation, their impact would be greatly diminished.

"It seems even heaven favors us this year, letting us appear last and gain the advantage of intelligence..."

Thinking of this, Xu Ping couldn't help a faint smile.

After winning the team competition, the Ma University team descended from the arena amid the crowd's cheers.

Meanwhile, the Jin University team was carried off on stretchers for treatment.

Tomorrow they face Jing University—if they can't recover, it'll be trouble.

"Excellent. We've secured eight victories in the team competition—only one match remains against Jing University the day after tomorrow.

Once we win the team championship, I'll apply to the school for double the credit reward for you all."

As soon as they returned to the spectator seats, Yang Zhentian clapped and encouraged them.

"Double the reward! Amazing!"

"Now we can buy plenty of resources before graduation."

Yao Fang and the others immediately beamed with joy.

According to Ma University's rules, winning the team championship grants:

Main members four thousand credits, substitutes three thousand.

This doubling raised them to eight thousand and six thousand!

"Let me be clear: reward only if we win. No win, no reward."

Seeing them getting carried away, Yang Zhentian reminded them.

"With our captain, defeating Jing University is child's play. Director, rest easy."

Bingshan Yao Fang giggled.

Jing University's team, with Wang Qi as their fourth-rank upper-tier ability user, was no weakling.

Yet during this training and competition period, Xu Jingming's overwhelming strength had left an indelible impression on them.

Even facing Jing University, they felt no pressure whatsoever.

"Xu Jingming, come here."

At that moment, Vice Principal Ling Shuang's voice called Xu Jingming over.

During the National University League, Xu Jingming had been summoned by Ling Shuang more than once.

Yao Fang and the others were used to it—but Ling Shuang's next move left them slightly stunned.

She pulled a small porcelain bottle from her space ring and handed it directly to Xu Jingming:

"."

"Huh?"

Looking at the small porcelain bottle in Ling Shuang's jade hand, Xu Jingming was baffled.

What's going on?

We haven't even won the team championship yet—why is the reward being handed out already?