Chapter 304: Stronger? Sorry, Just Pure Personal Talent!

The time was nearly ten o'clock.

Song Qiuyun lay limp as mud beneath the covers, while Xu Jingming remained fully alert.

"Can't do it? Then don't challenge me—now you're not showing off anymore, are you?"

Standing by the bed, the tall Xu Jingming shook his head and placed the Earth Spirit Spring on the nightstand.

"Rest a bit longer—I'm heading to the gym now."

Before leaving, he patted the plump, firm curve like a ripe peach, causing Song Qiuyun's body to tremble slightly.

At this moment, Song Qiuyun's flushed face still bore a lingering blush, radiating deep satisfaction.

She knew Xu Jingming's physique was formidable, but only last night and just now did she truly feel the extent of that strength.

The saying "There's no land worn out, only oxen exhausted" applied here.

But for her, it seemed reversed...

"And this is just his normal form—if he activates his enhanced form..."

At some thought, Song Qiuyun's face instantly turned crimson.

She instinctively buried her head in the quilt, only to realize the entire blanket was damp.

Her already flushed cheeks blushed all the way to her ears.

"Looks like I'll need to wash the sheets first..."

"Ah, Xu Jingming's here! Let me introduce you—this is from the Radiant Legion..."

Upon arriving at the gym, Xu Jingming was led by Teacher Yang Zhentian into a meeting room to meet with second-in-commands from numerous factions.

These individuals were all at least Eighth-Stage Lower Grand Masters!

A single glance from them could make a Fourth-Stage Adept tremble.

But Xu Jingming was already accustomed to Deputy Principal Ling Shuang, and had even met Ninth-Stage Martial Saints twice before.

Moreover, Teacher Yang was with him the entire time.

Their pressure had no effect on him whatsoever.

Factions capable of fielding Eighth-Stage Grand Masters were no minor groups.

Almost all had been mentioned or heard of on major Daxia national news sites.

Their recruitment offers were extraordinarily generous—money, power, combat arts, equipment, even women were all on the table.

Some conditions even made Seventh-Stage Peak Grand Master Yang Zhentian whistle in astonishment.

But when Xu Jingming asked if they had any SS-rank Spirit-Refining combat arts, whether from legion or guild,

Their earlier boastful "Whatever you want, I've got it" demeanor instantly vanished.

For Xu Jingming, who possessed the Deep Blue System, resources were merely icing on the cake—not particularly vital.

Only combat art manuals were the true foundation.

Faced with this, Xu Jingming naturally declined them all.

"What a pity..."

In the meeting room,

Wu Yuan, Deputy Director of the National Education Bureau, also rejected, sighed and shook his head.

After a pause, he asked with hopeful anticipation:

"But Xu, could you share your experience on how you grew stronger?

We're willing to purchase it with a single SSS-rank cultivation resource."

Elite students from top universities all trained using the finest Adept Enhancement Methods.

But they typically only reached Third-Stage Upper at age 21, during their junior year.

Their cultivation speed was largely identical, differing by at most a minor sub-stage.

But Xu Jingming was different—Third-Stage Upper at age 19!

When he first enrolled, he'd been nothing more than an Awakened!

In barely half a year, he'd forcibly crossed three major stages!

If such terrifying advancement speed could be replicated among every student, Daxia as a whole would become far stronger.

"Experience on growing stronger?"

Xu Jingming paused slightly, then smiled and replied:

"My advancement speed is purely due to personal talent—not a universal method.

Director Wu, you needn't waste that resource..."

After all, the System's stat allocation could count as his talent, couldn't it?

"Personal talent?"

Though he'd anticipated this possibility, hearing it from Xu Jingming still left Wu Yuan disappointed.

"Of course—if such a universal method existed, the past two hundred years since the emergence of Yuan Energy would have seen at least one great master discover it."

Shaking his head, Wu Yuan rose to take his leave: "Then I'll take my leave.

I wish Magic University great success in the upcoming Survival Competition.

Also, the conditions I mentioned earlier remain valid—feel free to contact me anytime to join the National Education Bureau."

After leaving his personal contact information, Wu Yuan promptly rose and exited the meeting room.

"So all morning I did nothing but collect a pile of phone numbers."

After Wu Yuan left, Xu Jingming, having just added contacts to his phone, muttered under his breath.

"You little brat, don't act like you're being hard done by! Many would kill for these contacts and still can't get them!"

Sitting beside him, Yang Zhentian scolded with a laugh, yet secretly felt a pang of awe.

As a Seventh-Stage Peak Adept who had climbed to his position, he'd built his own network over decades.

But he felt his decades-long network might not match what Xu Jingming gained in just one morning.

"I was just joking, you know."

Xu Jingming grinned, checked his phone—it was exactly noon—and asked:

"Teacher, are there any other factions I need to meet?"

"Two guilds and two legions remain—after lunch, we continue at two p. ."

"Four more factions?"

Xu Jingming sighed helplessly, but knowing they were all Eighth-Stage Grand Masters, he nodded:

"Then I'll head back for lunch and return later."

"Not eating here at the gym?" Yang Zhentian was surprised.

Throughout this period, Magic University's team had been dining in the gym cafeteria.

"No, better to eat at home," Xu Jingming shook his head.

Though he'd left Song Qiuyun a bottle of Earth Spirit Spring, it was their first time—he should check on her more...

After Xu Jingming left the gym, Xu Ping from Jing University received confirmation from Jin University agreeing to cooperate.

He immediately gathered all members of Jing University's team.

"Jin University has agreed to cooperate—tomorrow's Survival Competition will be a joint effort between our two schools.

We eliminate all Magic University competitors first, then compete among ourselves—understood?"

In the villa's living room,

Vice Principal Xu Ping's low voice echoed.

"Understood!"

Before Xu Ping, all eight members of Jing University's team, including captain Wang Qi, nodded.

"Good. Dismissed."

Xu Ping waved his hand decisively, and the team promptly left the villa.

"With Jin University's help, Magic University can't possibly win now!"

"True—with Jin's captain's Life Sharing, even Xu Jingming can't defeat us!"

"It's a bit unsportsmanlike, but we have no choice."

"..."

As Jing University's team exited the villa, they exchanged murmurs, each secretly reflecting.

Before the tournament, who could have imagined that elite students from top universities

Would one day need to cooperate just to defeat another university?

But the name Xu Jingming loomed like a nightmare over them.

Some felt this tactic violated martial spirit.

Yet as members of Qingjing Adept University, nearing graduation,

They wanted to secure as much glory as possible for their school before leaving.

So when Vice Principal Xu proposed this, none refused.

"Xu Jingming, we're winning unfairly this time. When you graduate from Magic University,

If we meet again, we'll make amends to you face-to-face..."

Wang Qi silently thought.

As for Xu Jingming winning—he didn't even consider it possible.

After all, Jin University's captain's Life Sharing was simply too monstrous.

The more people there are, the less damage each person bears!

The two schools' powerful alliance has already sealed Xu Jingming's fate—he cannot lead Magic University to victory.