Chapter 357: REPORT! The High Command of Great Xia Has Acted!

Xu Jingming arrived in Magic City at just after two in the afternoon.

By the time he returned to Magic City Institute of Psychic Abilities, it was already four in the afternoon.

Back at Magic City Institute, Xu Jingming hurried straight to Vice Principal Ling Shuang's office after parting ways with Xiao Nan and the others.

He had barely reached the office door, still not yet knocking, when Ling Shuang's melodious voice came from inside:

"Back already? Come right in."

"Click—"

He turned the doorknob and opened the door, stepping inside.

Inside the office, Ling Shuang sat behind her desk, dressed in a light black ancient-style robe that exuded elegance and grandeur.

Her clear eyes, with tear moles at the corners, scanned him carefully before she gave a slight nod and spoke:

"Your aura has grown much stronger—looks like you gained quite a bit from the No. 9 Civilization Ruin."

"I did gain something."

Xu Jingming nodded with a smile. "But I also encountered plenty of dangers along the way."

"On the first day I entered the ruin space, I discovered that the Eighth-Rank Master Zongshi from Sakura Nation's Tenryo Dojo had also arrived."

"He seemed to be searching for me, aiming to kill me."

"Huh? They really dare?!"

Ling Shuang's eyebrows twitched sharply, her tone thick with murderous intent. "What's the name of that Eighth-Rank Master Zongshi?"

"He's called Juejing. Deputy Director of Tenryo Dojo."

Xu Jingming blinked, sensing that this man was about to be in serious trouble.

"Good." Ling Shuang gave a slight nod, silently committing the name to memory.

"The Eighth-Rank Master Zongshi is secondary—after entering the ruin space..."

Xu Jingming then gave Ling Shuang a general account of his journey through the civilization ruin.

When she heard that Xu Jingming had single-handedly slain four Sixth-Rank Psychic Warriors from Sakura Rin's squad,

even Ling Shuang, an Eighth-Rank Master Zongshi herself, couldn't help but widen her eyes slightly in astonishment.

"You're a Fourth-Rank Lower, yet you crossed two major ranks to kill four Sixth-Rank Lower? And you did it one-on-many?"

Such a feat was nearly impossible—even for an SS-Rank Psychic.

"I'm not Fourth-Rank Lower anymore. I'm Fourth-Rank Upper, Vice Principal Ling. I've advanced."

Crackling—

Brilliant golden lightning swirled around Xu Jingming's body as his full Fourth-Rank Upper Psychic aura erupted.

"Advanced?!"

Ling Shuang froze for a moment, then slowly reacted, murmuring:

"I thought you were still using your Concealment Technique to hide your true level—never imagined you'd truly reached Fourth-Rank Upper."

"Your advancement speed... I honestly don't even know what to say..."

Fast advancement was one thing—but a Fourth-Rank Upper defeating four Sixth-Rank Lower and winning?

That kind of record was terrifying too.

"What about Sakura Nation's S-Rank, Sakura Rin?" Ling Shuang asked next.

"She had other trump cards—she ultimately escaped."

Xu Jingming offered the excuse he'd already prepared.

"She's an S-Rank—having hidden cards is only natural."

Ling Shuang didn't press further. After a pause, she added:

"Now that you've reached Fourth-Rank Upper, aren't you preparing to go to Lei Ting Martial Hall's Prodigy Training Camp?"

"That's exactly what I came to tell you, Vice Principal."

Xu Jingming smiled. "I plan to apply for early graduation as soon as I get back."

"Magic City Institute's resources offer little value to a Fourth-Rank Upper Psychic. Applying for early graduation is wise."

Ling Shuang nodded slightly. "Just submit the application on the school's official website—it should take three or four days to get a response."

An early graduation application requires approval not just from the three vice principals, but also from Magic City Institute's principal himself.

"Understood. Then, Vice Principal, may I take my leave?"

"Don't rush. Leave the Smart Armguard and the Spatial Beast Bone behind."

"I thought you'd forgotten about these two items..."

Xu Jingming reluctantly pulled out the Smart Armguard and the Spatial Beast Bone.

The former was essentially a walking encyclopedia; the latter, a lifesaving artifact.

Giving them up now, he truly felt reluctant.

"Also, I've already sent Professor Sun Rui to you—she'll restore your appearance."

"Huh? You reminded me—I'd completely forgotten about that."

Next,

Xu Jingming waited another ten minutes in Vice Principal Ling Shuang's office.

Only after Professor Sun Rui arrived and restored his face did he leave.

"Two months—from Fourth-Rank Lower to Fourth-Rank Upper. This talent... incredible..."

Watching Xu Jingming's retreating figure, Ling Shuang's face was filled with boundless amazement.

She immediately pulled out her phone and dialed a number:

"Councilor Liu, Xu Jingming recently went to the No. 9 Civilization Ruin and advanced from Fourth-Rank Lower to Fourth-Rank Upper."

However, the deputy director of the Sakura Nation's Tenmi Dojo, Ju Jing, seemed to show a tendency to kill Xu Jingming.

"Hm?"

On the other end of the phone, the voice that had previously been delighted by Xu Jingming's astonishing advancement speed suddenly turned cold:

"I understand, Principal Ling. I'll handle this matter myself."

Strong ones must grow through trials of blood and fire.

Flowers grown in a greenhouse are ultimately unfit for great tasks.

Therefore, the Great Xia Nation does not interfere excessively in the growth of prodigies.

Take Xu Jingming, who possesses an SS-rank ability, for example.

They did not assign an eighth-rank Master Zongshi to follow him like a nanny; they merely provided him with additional means of escape.

But non-interference does not mean lack of attention.

Xu Jingming's growth has always been under the watchful eyes of Great Xia's high leadership.

If one day Xu Jingming were truly killed by a ferocious beast, they would accept it—merely exterminating that branch of the beast clan.

But what they could not tolerate was that high-rank ability users from other nations dared to strike at Xu Jingming!

This was undoubtedly touching their scales of wrath! It must be met with a thunderous strike!

Ling Shuang clearly anticipated the high leadership's reaction; she nodded slightly and hung up the phone.

"Xu Jingming is heading to the Prodigy Training Camp. I might as well inform Su Qingli."

After a moment of thought, Ling Shuang dialed Su Qingli's phone.

Upon learning that Xu Jingming planned to graduate early, Su Qingli's voice on the other end rang with faint delight:

"It's good that Xu Jingming is coming. What about you? Have you decided to return yet?"

"I've decided. The resources here at Magistrate University are limited. I'd be better off returning to assist you."

Ling Shuang said softly.

Besides, in a few days, her term as vice-principal for this academic year would end.

Even if she left, it would not disrupt the school's normal operations.

As for the guardian of the Combat Technique Library, a new person would need to be selected.

"Two blessings at once! Then, Ling Shuang, when you come, bring Xu Jingming along."

"No problem."

Ling Shuang nodded, then added, as if remembering something:

"When you arrive, Qingli, don't reveal my identity to him yet—just say a mentor is going with him."

For some reason,

she suddenly wanted to see what kind of expression Xu Jingming would wear when he discovered she would also be going to the Prodigy Training Camp.

"Alright, it's settled then. I'll be waiting for you both at the camp."

Su Qingli naturally had no objection to such a small request.

"The American vermin dare not act themselves, so they send lackeys to probe?!

If I don't cut off their claws, they'll never learn pain!"

In a training room,

Liu Yushan, clad in a white training uniform, let out a cold snort and dialed a number with a dark expression:

"Xue Jian, go to Hokkaido at your earliest opportunity and kill the deputy director of Tenmi Dojo, Ju Jing.

Also, destroy their branch in Hokkaido."

"Liu the Old Man, did Tenmi Dojo provoke you? That's a harsh response."

A hearty laugh came from the other end of the line.

"It's not that they provoked me—they tried to strike at Xu Jingming and failed.

This time, you must teach them a brutal lesson.

Otherwise, they'll truly think Great Xia has such a gentle disposition!"

Liu Yushan snorted.

"Hm? They dare target our SS-rank? Understood. I'm leaving now."

The phone was swiftly hung up.

Meanwhile,

across an endless wasteland, a crimson sword qi, as if piercing heaven and earth, erupted suddenly.

Immediately after, a burly middle-aged man shot skyward, speeding toward Hokkaido...