Chapter 284: Xu Jingming! Suffocating Power! Wang Qi Steps Up!

The second stage of the National University League competition.

It brings together the top 10 universities selected from thousands of psychic universities across the entire Great Xia Nation.

Those who fight their way into the top eight of the individual competition are rare prodigies among ten thousand.

According to past tournament experience, the strength gaps among the top eight are not enormous.

A match often lasts over ten minutes, even up to half an hour.

Yet, the match had barely begun for a few seconds when Xu Jingming executed an instant kill.

So fast was his speed that the host, Feng Le, was still stunned.

Only after Sun Jie on the arena completely passed out did he snap back to reality and immediately announce Xu Jingming's victory.

Meanwhile, the audience seats erupted in waves of incredulous shouts:

"He charged forward, then swung his spear— and that's it? He won?"

"Instant kill! Hasn't happened in the top-eight qualifying matches of recent years, has it?"

"Invincible Lei Di! So overwhelmingly powerful!"

"......"

Since the individual competition began, Xu Jingming had crushed every opponent without exception.

But no one expected that even in the top-eight qualifying match, it was still a crushing victory.

It seemed no one could force him into a truly even fight.

"And have you noticed? Sun Jie's battle blade is already deformed! How immense must his physical power be?" an audience member exclaimed.

A-grade alloy, incredibly hard! It can even withstand missile strikes without damage!

Yet this battle blade forged from A-grade alloy was utterly destroyed by Xu Jingming with just one spear thrust...

"This is a lightning affinity? Even a强化系 doesn't have this much physical power! He's practically a humanoid monster!"

Humanoid monster!

This was not an insult—it was the most fitting praise the audience could offer for Xu Jingming's astonishing strength.

At this moment, those who had previously questioned why Sun Jie had dodged in the team match finally understood.

It wasn't that Sun Jie was cowardly—it was that Xu Jingming's spear could not be blocked head-on!

"We were wrong about him. If Sun Jie hadn't tried to block that spear to prove himself,

the match might have lasted longer."

The fans of Su University felt regret.

"Naive! Do you really think Lei Di's spear thrust was that easy to dodge?"

At this moment, an audience member at the fourth-rank level couldn't help but speak up in rebuttal:

"Lei Di's charge speed is too fast—I'm a mid-level fourth-rank psychic and I didn't even see it, let alone Sun Jie!

By the time Sun Jie saw Lei Di's figure, the spear had already swept toward him—he had no time to dodge!

He could only force a block. From the very start, Sun Jie's instant kill was inevitable."

This fourth-rank psychic's explanation instantly caused a stir among the surrounding audience.

"No way! I thought only I didn't see Lei Di's charge—I didn't realize even fourth-rank psychics couldn't see it!"

"Lei Di's speed is truly terrifying. I'll watch the holographic slow-motion replay later—at least then I'll catch something."

The audience marveled, and among the inner seating, Su Hang Psychic University's team coach couldn't help but smile bitterly and shake his head.

In past years, Mo University was strong too, but in individual matches they could at least fight for several minutes.

This year, however, it was instant kill—utterly suffocating in its dominance!

"Xu Jingming... so this is your true strength."

In the Jing University audience section, Wang Qi, as team captain, slightly smirked, his eyes faintly burning with battle intent:

"Finally, in this match, I've found a worthy opponent..."

The second round of the top-eight qualifying match ended; the third round began immediately.

"The third round of the individual competition is about to begin! Please welcome Yao Fang from Mo University and Wang Qi from Jing University!"

The host's loud voice rang out.

"It's my turn."

In the Mo University audience section, Yao Fang took a deep breath and stood up from her seat.

"Go on, try to make it to the top four," Xu Jingming encouraged.

"Facing Wang Qi? I don't even hope for the top four.

But even if I lose, I'll show Mo University's spirit!" Yao Fang shook her head.

Against anyone else, she still had confidence to win.

But facing Wang Qi, a top-level fourth-rank psychic, she had no strategy at all.

Hearing this, Xu Jingming said nothing more, only nodded: "Go on."

"Shi Zun!"

"Shi Zun!"

"Bingshan!"

"Bingshan!"

"......"

Any competitor who reached the top eight of the individual competition had undoubtedly amassed massive popularity.

As soon as Wang Qi and Yao Fang stepped onto the arena, the stadium erupted in wild cheers and shouts.

Because Wang Qi possessed a pseudo-S-grade elemental earth affinity, he was also known as Shi Zun.

As for Yao Fang, she was still called Bingshan.

"The third round of the singles quarterfinal advancement match — begin now!"

Once the match began, Yao Fang, a ranged-output-type ability user, unleashed her ice-type ability and quickly retreated toward the rear.

On the other side, Wang Qi was entirely surrounded by thick yellowish-brown earth elements.

Having unleashed his ability, he did not rush to attack Yao Fang; instead, his gaze shifted.

He looked toward Xu Jingming in the spectator stands, and spoke in a low voice:

"Xu Jingming! Don't think you're the only one who's trained body-tempering combat arts — I have too!"

Immediately after, his muscles swelled, and his frame shot up to over two meters tall.

Earth elements covered his body, forming an immensely thick suit of armor!

"Desert Sandstorm!"

Wang Qi swept his right hand, and a yellowish-brown sandstorm, dozens of meters tall, surged madly toward Yao Fang!

"Oh? An ability user walking the same path as me..."

Xu Jingming, seated, raised his sword-shaped brows slightly.

Unlike enhancement-type ability users, who can only engage in close-quarters combat.

Element-type ability users can choose ranged, can choose close-quarters, and can even choose both.

It's just that balancing close-quarters and ranged requires far too much energy.

One must not only learn body-tempering and close-quarters combat arts, but also learn ranged spell-type combat arts.

Even at Demon University, where prodigies gather like clouds, very few choose to do so.

Only ability users like Song Qiuyun, who have the backing of a rank-eight grandmaster family with enough resources, dare to attempt it.

Of course, Xu Jingming himself also balances close-quarters and ranged.

It's just that he has a system, so learning combat arts costs him neither time nor energy.

He hadn't expected that this captain of Capital University would be in the same situation.

"I had planned to unleash everything in the finals, but since you pulled off an instant kill, naturally I won't fall behind!"

Amidst unrestrained laughter, Wang Qi withdrew his gaze from Xu Jingming.

Gripping his battle blade, he charged toward Yao Fang!

"Ice Cascade Diamond Rain!"

Yao Fang, whose steps were held back by the sandstorm's powerful suction, paled slightly and unhesitatingly unleashed her S-rank combat art!

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!......

Countless ice diamonds radiating biting cold shot toward Wang Qi, yet every one of them was blocked by the earth shields swirling around him!

"I'm a rank higher than you, and my ability is stronger than yours — your attacks are useless!"

Wang Qi crossed the two-hundred-plus-meter distance in an instant; the battle blade in his hand bloomed with thick earth-element aura as he slashed violently:

"Thick Earth Slash!"

"Ice Armor."

Seeing she couldn't dodge, Yao Fang's face changed slightly and she hastily activated her S-rank defensive combat art.

A layer of thick ice armor spread rapidly, wrapping her entire body within!

Boom!!

The battle blade struck it, and the ice armor shattered instantly!

Though the sharp blade did not cut further inward, the tremendous impact force transmitted through it — even after being weakened by her A-rank combat suit —

Still hit her like a high-speed locomotive, slamming brutally into her body!

The intense pain made her, already frail of body, spit out fresh blood and instantly lose consciousness.

Her whole body, like a torn sandbag, was sent flying directly away!

Only after being hurled dozens of meters did she drop weakly to the ground.

"Instant kill! Another instant kill! Let's congratulate Capital University's Wang Qi! Congratulations on his advancement to the semifinals!"

Having learned from Xu Jingming's previous match, the host this time kept his eyes locked on the fight.

Upon discovering Yao Fang had lost consciousness, he immediately announced the result!