Chapter 35

"Xiao Ming, you're here."

A muscular man walked out from the study.

"Uncle," Xu Jingming greeted politely.

This man was his uncle, Tang Daolin.

"Sit down for a bit; I'll brew you some tea."

Uncle Tang Daolin nodded with a smile, then called upstairs:

"Qiqi, your cousin is here."

Dēng dēng dēng...

With footsteps echoing, Tang Qi descended the stairs with long, graceful strides.

"Sister Qi," Xu Jingming smiled and called out.

"Jingming, excellent—you actually got provincial top scorer."

"I didn't have time to call earlier; is it still okay to congratulate you now?"

Tang Qi smiled sweetly and sat beside Xu Qingwan.

"Of course it's still okay."

Xu Jingming smiled and said, "By the way, these are gifts I brought for you."

"A face mask for Auntie, skincare for Sister Qi, and tea for Uncle."

Xu Jingming took out the gifts one by one.

"You're so thoughtful, Xiao Ming."

Auntie Xu Qingwan didn't bother with false modesty and was about to accept them—until she noticed these gifts were all high-end brands.

Altogether, they cost at least ten to twenty thousand—her eyes widened:

"Why buy such expensive gifts? You'll need money for university soon."

"Take them back right now and return them. When you start earning, you can buy us something then."

"Auntie, I earned these myself."

Xu Jingming grinned, "The city awarded me two million yuan, plus a special cultivation technique and a luxury villa, because I got provincial top scorer."

These gifts costing ten or twenty thousand? They're nothing to me."

Of course, even without the city's reward,

Given how much Auntie's family has helped me over the years, buying them something valuable is only right.

"Qingwan, just take them—I saw the city's reward announcement online too."

"Besides the city, many local Jiangcheng companies have publicly offered to give you equipment and resources."

Uncle smiled as he placed a steaming cup of clear tea before them.

"So that's how it is."

Xu Qingwan nodded and stopped refusing, "You can accept the city's reward, but don't take anything from those companies."

Xu Jingming nodded, understanding.

The municipal government has official backing; accepting state-issued rewards is perfectly fine.

But private companies? Accepting their gifts might bring trouble later.

"By the way, Uncle just said the city gave you a villa—where is it?" Auntie Xu Qingwan asked curiously.

"The city said I could pick anywhere within Jiangcheng, but I haven't decided yet," Xu Jingming replied.

"Then just pick our Jinghu Community—it'll make visiting easier," Xu Qingwan immediately suggested.

"Fine," Xu Jingming agreed readily.

For him, an orphan with no parents,

a house was just a place to sleep—anywhere would do.

Since Auntie wanted him here, he'd come here.

Uncle Tang Daolin, listening, felt a pang of emotion.

He had spent most of his life working to earn this house.

Now, Xu Jingming didn't have to spend a single cent.

Others were even fighting to give him one!

Truly, the young generation is formidable.

"I've got some training issues—once you move in, I can ask you for advice."

Tang Qi smiled sweetly.

Though she used a dagger and Xu Jingming used a long spear,

his combat experience was clearly far greater—he could guide her in training.

"Sure."

Xu Jingming nodded, then hesitated slightly: "But I won't be able to guide you long. Once everything's settled here, I'm leaving."

"Leaving? Where to?" Xu Qingwan's heart jumped.

"To report for enrollment in Magu City."

Xu Jingming pulled out his admission letter: "Just now, I was accepted by Magu City Institute of Supernatural Abilities."

"Already accepted? But the Wu Ke Gaokao applications haven't even started yet!"

Xu Qingwan blinked in surprise.

Applications open three days after Wu Ke Gaokao results are announced.

"Xiao Ming is provincial top scorer—he's under special admission; he doesn't need to wait for applications."

Uncle Tang Daolin shook his head and answered.

"Special admission... I didn't expect you'd have to report for enrollment this soon."

Xu Qingwan felt a little disappointed.

She had originally planned to take Xu Jingming out to have some fun during this break.

But she also knew that the Magic City Ability University was the nation's top institution.

Xu Jingming's choice to report early surely had his own considerations.

"The child has grown up after all."

Xu Qingwan shook her head, her mood quickly recovering:

"Going to Magic City Ability University is a good thing! Today's my treat — I'll take you all out for a big meal! It also counts as celebrating Xiaoming's provincial top scorer!"

"Yay, I want a lobster feast!"

Tang Qi's eyes lit up, and Xu Jingming also showed a smile.

And so, the whole big family happily headed out the door.

In the days that followed, Xu Jingming first made an appearance at a city government event and received a cash reward of two million.

Then he picked out a standalone villa in Jinghu Community — two stories, with a total footprint of over four hundred square meters.

All the furniture in the villa was brand new; as for the original furnishings in the community, he left them untouched.

In addition, he treated his old high school buddies Zhang Hao and Liu Jie to a meal.

At the dinner table, the two buddies were green with envy over Xu Jingming's rise.

Upon learning that Xu Jingming had been struck by lightning and his ability had mutated from E-rank to S-rank, they could only exclaim at his dog-shit luck.

They spitefully ordered a few more big lobsters.

Of course, the two of them had also done quite well on their exams.

Liu Jie scored 245 on the Wu Ke Gaokao, so Ability University was a sure thing for him.

Zhang Hao, who took the cultural college entrance exam, also reached the first-tier admission cutoff.

But compared to the Magic City Ability University that had admitted Xu Jingming, there was naturally no comparison.

In the end, both Zhang Hao and Liu Jie got thoroughly drunk.

"Ah Ming, once you're in Magic City Ability University, you absolutely have to get me an autographed photo of Goddess Jiang for me!"

Before getting into the taxi, Zhang Hao was still mumbling hazily.

Goddess Jiang, real name Jiang Chuxuan, is an ability user from Magic City Ability University.

In the past half year, she went viral online thanks to a video of her slaying a fierce beast.

In the video, her breathtaking beauty and crisp, clean killing style formed a stark contrast.

Thus the title "Goddess Jiang" came about, and Zhang Hao was one of her die-hard fans.

Xu Jingming naturally agreed wholeheartedly, and only after much effort managed to soothe him and put him in the taxi.

At this point, all matters in Jiangcheng had been settled.

The next day, June 16th.

Under the watchful eyes of his aunt's family, Xu Jingming, suitcase in hand, boarded the high-speed train to Magic City.

"Once Xiaoming leaves, he's probably going to soar straight to the heavens."

Uncle Tang Daolin watched the high-speed train pull away, his face full of emotion.

Before this, who could have imagined that Xu Jingming would become the provincial top scorer and be admitted to Magic City Ability University?

"Oh right, Qiqi, it's about time to start filling in your college preferences, isn't it?

Since your cousin Jingming is going to Magic City Ability University, try to pick a university over in Magic City too, so you two can look out for each other in the future."

"Your dad's right. Magic City is developing well, the economy is strong, and it's not far from Jiangnan — a good choice."

"Mom, Dad, I know..."