Chapter 357: REPORT! GREAT XIA

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 and hadn't yet knocked when Ling Shuang's melodious voice came from inside:

"Back already? Come right in."

"Click—"

He turned the handle 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 nodded slightly and spoke:

"Your aura has grown even stronger. It seems you gained quite a bit from the No. 9 Civilization Ruin."

"I did gain something."

Xu Jingming smiled and nodded. "But I encountered plenty of dangers along the way.

On my first day in the ruin's space, I discovered that the Eighth-Rank Grand Master from Sakura Nation's Tianyu Daochang 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 Grand Master?"

"He's called Juejing. Deputy Director of Tianyu Daochang."

Xu Jingming blinked, feeling somehow that this man was about to suffer.

"Good." Ling Shuang gave a slight nod, silently noting the name.

"The Eighth-Rank Grand Master is secondary—after entering the ruin's space..."

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

When she heard he had slain four Sixth-Rank Psychic Abilities users alone,

even Ling Shuang, an Eighth-Rank Grand Master, couldn't help widening her eyes slightly in astonishment:

"You're a Fourth-Rank Lower, yet you killed four Sixth-Rank Lower? And you did it one-on-many?"

Such a feat was nearly impossible—even for an SS-grade Psychic Ability user.

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

Crackling—

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

"Advanced?!"

Ling Shuang froze for a moment, then slowly murmured:

"I thought you were still using your Concealment Technique. I didn't expect you'd truly reached Fourth-Rank Upper.

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

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

That result was terrifying too.

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

"She had other trump cards. In the end, she escaped."

Xu Jingming offered the excuse he'd prepared.

"She's an S-rank. Having hidden cards is normal."

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 the Thunder Martial Arts Academy's Prodigy Training Camp?"

"I was just about to tell you that."

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. Applying for early graduation is wise."

Ling Shuang nodded slightly. "Just submit it on the school's official website. You'll get a response in three or four days."

An early graduation application required not only the approval of the three vice principals but also the principal's consent.

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

"Don't rush. Leave the smart bracer and the space beast bone behind."

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

Xu Jingming reluctantly pulled out the smart bracer and the space 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 called Sun Rui to come. 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 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 then 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, Juejing, Deputy Director of Sakura Nation's Tianyu Daochang, appears to have intentions to kill him."

"Huh?"

On the other end of the line, the previously delighted voice turned icy cold:

"Understood, Vice Principal Ling. I'll handle this."

Strong ones must grow through blood and fire.

Flowers in a greenhouse are never fit for great tasks.

Thus, Great Xia does not interfere much in the growth of prodigies.

Take Xu Jingming, with his SS-grade Psychic Ability.

They never assigned an Eighth-Rank Grand Master to shadow him like a nanny—only provided him with extra escape tools.

But non-interference doesn't mean lack of attention.

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

If one day he perished in a monster's jaws, they'd accept it—merely exterminate that branch of the beast clan.

But what they could never tolerate was another nation's high-rank Psychic Ability users daring to strike at Xu Jingming!

This was an outright provocation to their sacred pride—punishment must be swift and thunderous!

Ling Shuang clearly anticipated the high command's reaction. She nodded slightly and hung up.

"Xu Jingming is heading to the Prodigy Training Camp. I should tell Qingli as well."

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

Upon hearing Xu Jingming planned to apply for early graduation, Su Qingli's voice on the other end brightened with delight:

"As long as Xu Jingming comes, that's good. What about you? Have you decided to return yet?"

"I have. Magic City Institute's resources are too limited. I'd be better off returning to assist you."

Ling Shuang said softly.

Besides, her term as vice principal would end in a few days.

Leaving now wouldn't disrupt the school's normal operations.

As for the guardian of the Combat Technique Library, someone else would need to be chosen.

"Double joy! When you come, bring Xu Jingming along."

"No problem."

Ling Shuang nodded, then added thoughtfully:

"When you see him, don't reveal my identity yet. Just say a mentor is going with him."

For some reason,

she suddenly wanted to see the look on Xu Jingming's face when he discovered she'd be joining him at the Prodigy Training Camp.

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

Su Qingli naturally wouldn't refuse such a small request.

"The Americans' vermin won't dare act themselves—so they send lackeys to probe?!"

"I'll cut off their claws before they learn what pain feels like!"

Inside a training room,

Liu Yushan, clad in a white training robe, snorted coldly and dialed a number:

"Xue Jian, go to Hokkaido. Kill Juejing, Deputy Director of Tianyu Daochang.

Also, destroy their Hokkaido branch."

"Old Man Liu, did Tianyu Daochang provoke you? That's a brutal response."

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

It's not that they annoyed me—it's that they planned to move against Xu Jingming and failed.

When you go there, you must teach them a harsh lesson.

Otherwise, they'll really think Great Xia has such a good temper!'

Liu Yushan snorted.

'Huh? Daring to target our SS-class? Understood, I'm on my way now.'

The phone was quickly hung up.

Meanwhile,

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

Immediately after, a burly middle-aged man shot into the sky and sped swiftly toward Hokkaido...