Chapter 36: When Did I Ever Say I

The straight-line distance between Jiangcheng and Magu is nearly six hundred kilometers, and even by high-speed rail it takes over three hours.

Before boarding the high-speed train, Xu Jingming called Zhang Zhaoyang, intending to notify him of his arrival today.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Zhaoyang was unusually enthusiastic, saying he would drive ahead to wait at Magu's high-speed rail station.

Xu Jingming couldn't refuse him, so he let him do as he wished.

After boarding the train, Xu Jingming put away his luggage and found his seat.

He closed his eyes and rested lightly against the window.

At the same time, he recalled the content of the Ability Training Method.

Besides the two million yuan bonus and a villa, the most important thing Jiangcheng gave him was this Ability Training Method.

It was a method called the Abyss Sea Training Method.

Like Abilities themselves, Ability Training Methods also have different rankings.

They are divided into four levels: Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, and Top-tier.

The higher the level, the faster the cultivation speed.

This Abyss Sea Training Method was an Intermediate Ability Training Method.

The original copy of the Ability Training Method was held by the Jiangcheng government; what was given to Xu Jingming was merely a duplicate.

But the content was identical, and cultivation made no difference.

The content of the Ability Training Method wasn't extensive.

With his mental strength of 180 He, Xu Jingming memorized all of it in just over two days.

"According to the Ability Training Method, a special energy floats throughout heaven and earth.

Only by absorbing this energy can one enhance the power of one's Ability..."

On the very first day he received the Ability Training Method, Xu Jingming sensed this special energy as described.

At the same time, a "+" symbol appeared after his level on the system panel.

But he didn't immediately choose to spend Ability Points to level up.

Because, according to the Abyss Sea Training Method, when an Awakened One transcends into an Ability User,

the greater the level of the Ability Training Method used for the breakthrough, the greater the gains afterward.

And once he entered Magu Ability University, he would be able to access Top-tier Ability Training Methods.

Naturally, he wouldn't choose to break through using an Intermediate Ability Training Method.

"The first thing I'll do after registering for school is to check the library for Ability Training Methods."

Xu Jingming thought silently.

Since the journey was unbearably boring and he couldn't train,

he had only intended to rest with his eyes closed, but leaning against the window, he felt sleepiness overwhelm him and simply fell asleep face-down on the table...

The high-speed train from Jiangcheng to Magu stops at several stations along the way.

One of them is Ning'an City, the provincial capital of Jiangnan Province.

The seats around Xu Jingming had been empty, but after Ning'an, they were all filled.

The newcomers seemed to be several young people; one of the boys sat down and wouldn't stop talking.

Soon, his chatter completely dispelled Xu Jingming's already fading drowsiness, forcing him to stop napping and open his eyes.

His seat was a four-person arrangement with a table in the middle.

Now, the seat opposite him, previously empty, was occupied by a young man and a young woman.

Beside him sat another girl wearing glasses.

The one who had been talking nonstop since boarding was the boy directly across from Xu Jingming.

"... Huangpu Ability University is a decent school in Magu; last year's minimum admission score was 406.

My score this time was 421—not much higher, but I'm basically guaranteed admission.

Plus, my older brother went to Huangpu Ability University too; when we get to Magu, I can take you guys for a tour inside.

Huangpu Ability University usually doesn't allow outsiders in, so you're lucky to have my brother."

The boy dressed well and spent most of his speech boasting about his Wu Ke Gaokao score and his connections at Huangpu Ability University.

The girl beside Xu Jingming with glasses occasionally murmured in agreement.

But the quieter girl beside the boy across from him seemed subtly impatient, barely responding at all.

In fact,

Liu Qian's patience with Zhang Qiang had nearly reached its limit.

After the Wu Ke Gaokao, she and her best friend both wanted to apply to universities in Magu.

So they bought today's high-speed train tickets to visit in person.

But they hadn't expected to meet Zhang Qiang on board; after learning their purpose, he began boasting incessantly.

At first, she was patient and even smiled in agreement.

But as time passed and he repeated these two things over a dozen times, she grew increasingly annoyed.

Still, out of politeness, she couldn't just tell him to shut up.

Now, even the quiet person across from her had been woken up!

Liu Qian was about to apologize when she saw the boy's face—and her eyes brightened.

So handsome!

The boy across from her had sharp eyebrows, a high nose bridge, and strikingly handsome features.

His appearance was no less impressive than any male celebrity on TV.

Though she wasn't a fangirl, seeing such a handsome guy naturally stirred her liking.

Especially with a relentless fly buzzing beside him.

"Sorry, I disturbed you."

Liu Qian said with a hint of apology.

Xu Jingming waved his hand, indicating he didn't mind.

"Hello, I'm Sun Rui. Are you also going to Magu?"

Compared to Liu Qian's quiet demeanor, the glasses-wearing girl beside Xu Jingming was clearly much more outgoing.

Seeing that Xu Jingming was about her age, she took the initiative to greet him.

"Xu Jingming. I'm also going to Magu."

In response to Sun Rui's question, Xu Jingming nodded politely.

"We're all going to Magu—we must be fatefully connected."

Liu Qian smiled sweetly and added warmly, "I'm Liu Qian. I'm heading to Magu to visit the Psychic University there in person."

"I'm going for tourism, and I'll drop by Huangpu Psychic University to see my brother."

The boy beside Liu Qian also stepped forward: "I'm Zhang Qiang. Are you also going to Magu to visit schools?"

"Sort of," Xu Jingming replied without elaborating.

"That's great—I'll take you all to visit Huangpu Psychic University later."

Zhang Qiang grinned, his tone laced with faint superiority, "Don't get me wrong—among all the universities in Magu, Huangpu Psychic University is definitely one of the top ones!"

"After I finish filling out my college applications, I'm going to Huangpu Psychic University too."

Hearing this, Xu Jingming was momentarily speechless.

Magu, as an international metropolis, did indeed have several decent psychic universities besides the absolute top-tier Magu Psychic University.

But among these institutions, Huangpu Psychic University—with an admission score of only four hundred and something—was certainly not considered good.

Of course, for ordinary applicants, it was still regarded as a prestigious school.

Xu Jingming had little desire to talk with strangers.

Liu Qian was also a quiet girl, while Sun Rui was slightly more lively.

But rather than talking, she seemed to prefer listening.

Thus, in the ensuing conversation, Zhang Qiang naturally took the lead.

He enthusiastically boasted about his Gaokao score and his connections at Huangpu Psychic University, trying to win Liu Qian's attention.

But his tactics were too clumsy; even Xu Jingming couldn't help shaking his head inwardly.

Not to mention Liu Qian—she was barely hiding her disgust.

Still, compared to when they first boarded the train, Liu Qian's patience had improved immensely.

After all, there was now a handsome young man to look at, wasn't there?

So, in the time that followed, Liu Qian's gaze drifted almost entirely toward Xu Jingming...

Time flew by; by noon, the train finally arrived at Magu High-Speed Rail Station.

Xu Jingming and the others followed the crowd toward the exit.

Along the way, Zhang Qiang tried to get Liu Qian's contact information—but was met with a cold shoulder.

Soon, the group stepped out of the station.

Outside, rows of taxis and private cars waited for passengers.

Seeing one particular sedan, Zhang Qiang's eyes lit up. He hurried over to Liu Qian and fawned:

"My brother's car has arrived. Come with me—we can all go visit Huangpu Psychic University together."

Then he feigned apology toward Xu Jingming: "But my brother's car only has enough seats for four—if you want to come along, you'll have to take a taxi yourself."

"Don't worry—I'll wait for you at the school gate."

A typical sedan has five seats; four of them would fit perfectly.

He said this deliberately to push Xu Jingming away.

After all, he wasn't blind—during the ride, Liu Qian's attention had been almost entirely on Xu Jingming.

Even a fool could see Liu Qian had a crush on him.

But if he could drive Xu Jingming off, he might still have a chance.

Yet his maneuver didn't achieve the desired result.

Instead, it drew Xu Jingming's gaze—one that looked at him as if he were an idiot:

"When did I ever say I wanted to go with you?"