Chapter 367: Sixth-Rank Combat Power? Must Be Rumor

"Alright, we've arrived."

His consciousness blurred, and when he came to his senses again, Xu Jingming stood before a magnificent gate.

Beside this gate stood a pillar over twenty meters tall!

The pillar was segmented, like a spine, shimmering with lightning.

Across its surface were carved eight massive characters:

Thunder Martial Arts Academy Global Headquarters!

At the top of the pillar rested a large blue lightning emblem of the Thunder Martial Arts Academy.

Xu Jingming merely glanced at it, and immediately felt a powerful pressure sweep over him.

His expression subtly changed:

"A ninth-rank Beast Emperor's bone?!"

Xu Jingming sensed an aura similar to that of a Space Beast Bone.

Yet the aura from this pillar was countless times stronger than that tiny Space Beast Bone!

"To be precise, it's the spine of a ninth-rank Lightning-type Dragon-class ferocious beast."

Ling Shuang smiled lightly, "It was crafted by Master Luo Heng, the founder of the Thunder Martial Arts Academy.

Over a hundred years ago, he slew that Dragon-class ferocious beast and carved its spine into this pillar.

Just this single spine has frightened countless prodigies on their first visit to headquarters.

Your reaction is quite good—it shows your willpower is strong."

Ling Shuang still remembered how, over a decade ago, she herself had been stunned into a daze upon first seeing this spine.

"So it really is a spine? No wonder it looked so familiar."

Xu Jingming was deeply shaken.

Even after death, its spine still radiated such terrifying energy—and could still summon lightning.

What would a living ninth-rank Lightning-type Dragon-class ferocious beast be like?

And such a ninth-rank Beast Emperor's spine must serve some greater purpose.

Yet it's simply erected at the headquarters gate—proof enough of the Thunder Martial Arts Academy's sheer audacity.

As he pondered, a young woman stepped forward from beneath the pillar:

"Lady Ling, Student Xu, welcome to our Thunder Martial Arts Academy Global Headquarters.

I'm Liu Wei, Assistant to Director Su."

The woman had a lovely face, wearing black-rimmed glasses.

Her long black hair was tied into a single ponytail, casually hanging beside her shoulders.

She carried a quiet, refined aura, like a secretary always at a VIP's side.

Yet Xu Jingming sensed from her an aura nearly equal to his teacher Yang Zhentian's!

This… a seventh-rank peak Master?

Xu Jingming inwardly marveled.

No wonder the Thunder Martial Arts Academy's Global Headquarters—truly teeming with hidden talents!

"Little Wei, long time no see. Your strength seems to have improved."

Ling Shuang clearly knew the woman, greeting her with familiarity.

"My modest progress means nothing compared to Lady Ling's."

Liu Wei smiled humbly, "Director Su is already waiting for you at the villa. Just head over directly."

"Alright, I'll leave Xu Jingming in your hands."

Ling Shuang nodded slightly, her slender figure stepping swiftly into the space gate and vanishing.

"Student Xu, follow me.

I'll first take you to your quarters, then introduce you to our Thunder Martial Arts Academy Prodigy Training Camp."

"Thank you."

Xu Jingming followed Liu Wei through the main gate into the headquarters.

"The Prodigy Training Camp is located within this headquarters, occupying roughly one-third of the entire area.

Among them..."

As Liu Wei spoke, Xu Jingming glanced curiously around.

The entire Thunder Martial Arts Academy headquarters was built with extreme luxury, each structure uniquely styled.

There were modern high-rises over ten stories tall, and palace complexes in ancient architectural style—two distinct aesthetics seamlessly blended.

Among these buildings were scattered precious flowers, trees, and artificial hills with flowing streams.

Occasionally, personnel clad in Thunder Martial Arts Academy lightning uniforms passed through buildings or walked along paths.

Every one of them was an Adept, and none were of low rank.

Looking around, Xu Jingming didn't spot a single Adept below fourth-rank.

"Including you, our Prodigy Training Camp has 323 students.

Each is assigned a standalone two-story villa with over eight hundred square meters of space.

The villas have training rooms, swimming pools, and entertainment rooms—but the most important training facilities aren't inside them."

Liu Wei pointed to the tallest building in the center of the complex—over twenty stories high:

"That's the Practical Training Building. All training and study for Prodigy Camp members occurs there.

You've been to the Thunder Tower—this building contains similar facilities that enhance your understanding of Lightning abilities.

There are also gravity chambers unearthed from ancient civilizations.

Of course, using these facilities requires points.

These points are similar to your Magic University credits—the camp's hard currency.

You'll need them for everything—you'll understand later..."

Under Liu Wei's guidance, they wound through the headquarters until stopping before a villa.

"The Prodigy Training Camp has a five-year program. Each year, about sixty students graduate and sixty new ones are admitted.

This villa, No. 234, will be your residence for the next five years here at headquarters.

The villa has already been authorized to you—just go inside and complete your final identity verification.

Once verified, I'll take you to meet Director Su."

Accompanied by Liu Wei, Xu Jingming entered the villa and quickly registered his iris and fingerprint data.

Then, under Liu Wei's guidance, they headed toward Director Su's villa.

"Wait—that's… Xu Jingming?!"

"That's right! He actually came to our Thunder Martial Arts Academy!"

"Of course he did—Director Su personally invited him. How could he refuse?"

"True. With an SS-rank Lightning Adept joining our Prodigy Camp, things are going to get interesting."

"..."

Arriving at the residential zone, they were now firmly within Prodigy Camp territory.

Along the way, many young Adepts recognized Xu Jingming's identity.

They whispered among themselves, discussing not just his identity but his combat power.

"Didn't he cause a huge stir in the No. 9 Ruins Space recently? Even a ninth-rank Martial Saint was startled!"

"I even heard from Teacher Qin and others who went to the No. 9 Ruins that Xu Jingming personally killed a sixth-rank Adept!"

"Hah, you believe that? Xu Jingming is only a fourth-rank upper-tier Adept. Even with an SS-rank ability, his combat power couldn't possibly be that high.

He only beat the Tianyu Dojo guys because of those two seventh-rank Golden Guardians.

Honestly, I could've done the same."

"That's true, but Xu Jingming's advancement speed is incredible—he's already fourth-rank upper-tier at such a young age."

"His cultivation speed is undeniable, but regarding combat power, you need to see him fight to know for sure."

"..."

Xu Jingming's achievements had spread days ago through accounts from Qin Zheng and others.

But the idea of a fourth-rank upper-tier Adept instantly killing a sixth-rank lower-tier was too astonishing.

Many students dismissed it as exaggerated rumor, remaining skeptical.