Chapter 368

The southernmost area of the Thunder Martial Arts Global Headquarters.

This region is an entire district of instructor villas.

Unlike ordinary row houses, each villa here comes with its own estate.

At the very center of this instructor villa district stands a villa estate spanning tens of thousands of square meters.

This is where the head of the Thunder Martial Arts Academy, Su Qingli, resides.

At this moment, inside the luxurious villa at the estate's center, Su Qingli sat cross-legged on the training room floor, her body flickering with emerald thunder.

That terrifying thunder seemed capable of erasing space itself.

"Qingli, I'm here."

A spatial gate coalesced, and Ling Shuang's slender figure stepped out.

"Ling Shuang."

Su Qingli opened her eyes, smiling at Ling Shuang; upon noticing her attire, she was slightly surprised:

"Huh? Why aren't you wearing your traditional robes?"

Both Ling Shuang and she favored a classical, elegant style of dress.

But Ling Shuang preferred muted tones, while Su Qingli favored red or black.

"Sometimes I just want to try a different style, don't I?" Ling Shuang sat down on a chair against the training room wall.

What she didn't say was that before leaving home that morning, she had planned to wear her traditional robes.

Yet, at the last moment, she'd inexplicably switched to this fitted dress.

"This outfit actually suits you well."

Su Qingli paid it no further mind, rising to sit across from Ling Shuang, smiling:

"Your employment paperwork was completed yesterday.

You are now a Special-Level Instructor at our Prodigy Training Camp.

As for the Space-type A-Rank Awakening I mentioned earlier—his name is Xia Lan.

His full dossier has been sent to your academy account; check it when you return.

For now, he's the only student assigned to you. If you wish to take on others, that's entirely up to you."

"Understood."

Ling Shuang nodded slightly. "But you didn't call me back just for the student matter, did you?

I know you're short-staffed. If you need something done, just assign it.

With my Space-type ability, I can handle plenty for you."

"No rush. You haven't been back in three years. Settle in first, get familiar with things here."

Su Qingli shook her head.

"Fine."

Ling Shuang didn't press further. "By the way, at the Shanghai airport, I gave Xu Jingming a rough overview of you and the deputy head."

"You can fill him in later on the deputy head's students—he should be prepared."

"Alright." Su Qingli nodded.

She'd planned to brief Xu Jingming anyway; Ling Shuang's head start saved her time.

"Qingli, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave.

It's been over three years—I need to clean up my residence."

"Go ahead. Just remember to check Xia Lan's dossier."

"Don't worry, I won't forget."

With those words, Ling Shuang stepped forward, her long legs sheathed in black stockings, re-entered the spatial gate, and vanished.

Su Qingli slowly closed her beautiful eyes. Thunder rumbled, and the training room was once again filled with terrifying lightning.

"Head, we're here."

Not long after Ling Shuang left, Xu Jingming entered the villa's living room, led by Liu Wei.

There, casually seated on the living room sofa, was Su Qingli, wearing loose training gear with a massive blue lightning emblem on her back.

Afternoon sunlight streamed through the windows, illuminating her delicate face.

It made her already beautiful profile glow like polished jade.

"Director Su." Xu Jingming's expression turned solemn, and he bowed respectfully.

Compared to the overwhelming aura of an Eighth-Rank Grand Master, Su Qingli, as a Ninth-Rank Law Saint, didn't feel as oppressive.

Yet every gesture and movement carried the air of a deity—calm, absolute, in total command.

This sense of being utterly out of one's own control made Xu Jingming's body tense involuntarily.

"No need to be so formal. Sit."

Su Qingli was friendly, waved Liu Wei away, then regarded Xu Jingming with faint admiration:

"I thought after our last meeting, you'd take at least half a year to respond.

I didn't expect your advancement to be this fast.

In just over two months, you've reached Upper Fourth Rank—and your combat power is already at Sixth Rank!"

As head of the academy, Su Qingli had already consulted instructors like Qin Zheng after the Ninth Civilization Ruins incident went public.

She knew Xu Jingming's achievements weren't rumors or exaggerations.

"Director, you flatter me." Xu Jingming smiled as he sat down.

"I'm not flattering you. In truth, your real strength is probably even higher, isn't it?"

Su Qingli said with keen interest.

That gaze, as if seeing straight through him, startled Xu Jingming.

Indeed,

even a Mid-Level Sixth-Rank Awakener could be slain by him now.

Yet he didn't know how this Director Su had figured it out...

Su Qingli offered no explanation. Her space ring flickered, and a paper contract appeared, handed to him:

"Since you've decided to join the Thunder Martial Arts Academy, the formalities must still be completed.

Review this contract. If you have questions, ask. If not, sign it."

Xu Jingming took the contract and studied it carefully.

"Student Xu Jingming, joining the Thunder Martial Arts Academy on June 17, will undergo training in the Prodigy Training Camp.

Over the five-year training program, the following terms are agreed upon..."

The contract's content was simple—it merely formalized the four conditions Su Qingli had mentioned earlier.

As for his post-graduation placement, Xu Jingming could choose freely.

But all choices had to be within positions offered by the Thunder Martial Arts Academy.

Xu Jingming had known this already.

After all, the academy wasn't a school—it trained you to serve the academy.

Most prodigies were assigned posts by the academy after graduation,

but his right to choose his own path granted him exceptional autonomy.

After confirming the contract was flawless, Xu Jingming signed his name.

Two copies were made: one given to Su Qingli, the other kept by himself.

"Contract finalized. You are now a member of my Prodigy Training Camp."

Su Qingli nodded with a smile. "As previously agreed, I shall take you as my personal disciple..."

"Master Su, greetings!"

Xu Jingming immediately rose from the sofa and bowed deeply.

Modern apprenticeship didn't require prostration or kowtowing, but proper etiquette and respect were still essential.

"We're master and disciple, but our ages aren't far apart. Don't be overly formal."

Su Qingli spoke those words, yet her expression clearly showed deep satisfaction with Xu Jingming's gesture.

She then extended her pale right hand, lifting it slightly in the air.

Xu Jingming instantly felt an invisible force gently straighten his posture.

"This is the spiritual power of a Ninth-Rank Law Saint? So formidable?" Xu Jingming thought silently.

He felt that even without using her Lightning ability, Su Qingli's spiritual power alone could crush him to death.

"I told you before—I'm an Elemental Master.

Now that you've become my disciple, I'll grant you the SS-Rank Spirit Refinement Art."

Her space ring flickered again, revealing an ancient-looking manual in her hand:

"This Spirit Refinement Art is called the 'Great River Contemplation Method.' You can't learn it yet, but you may begin familiarizing yourself with its contents..."