Chapter 373: Has Senior Sister Su Given It All to You? Fan Ren

"Come on, join us, and you'll get plenty of resources!"

Inside the private room,

Fan Ren said with great confidence.

He believed that after explaining the critical stakes to him,

his junior brother would change his mind.

Yet, facing Fan Ren's confidence, Xu Jingming shook his head:

"I'm sorry to disappoint you, Senior Brother, but I don't want to join you."

"Hm?"

Fan Ren blinked in surprise, utterly baffled:

"That doesn't make sense—what the Deputy Director can offer you, I can offer too.

You can explore any combat technique in the library, and even receive instruction from an eighth-rank supreme Lightning Elementalist.

The only thing the Deputy Director can't give you is probably that rare SS-rank..."

Here, Fan Ren's pupils shrank to needle-points, incredulous:

"Has Senior Sister Su already given you that SS-rank Soul-Refining Art?"

"As her direct disciple, isn't it natural that I learned her unique combat technique?" Xu Jingming replied with a faint smile.

"No, no, no—it's not that simple."

Fan Ren quickly shook his head, "The rarity of an SS-rank Soul-Refining Art far exceeds your imagination. If I were Senior Sister Su,

even if you possessed an SS-rank ability, I'd still need to observe your character for one or two years before deciding whether to pass it on."

In reality, Xu Jingming was Senior Sister Su's first student.

Logically, she should have been even more cautious before transmitting any combat technique.

"Observe for one or two years? Is it really that extreme?" Xu Jingming exclaimed.

"It really is that extreme, bluntly speaking.

If Senior Sister Su were to share this SS-rank Soul-Refining Art, her position in the training hall would be utterly unshakable!"

Senior Brother Fan Ren sighed, finally processing the news before raising his cup:

"A scholar dies for one who understands him; a woman adorns herself for one who delights her.

Since Senior Sister Su has already given you this great gift, there's no point in me trying to persuade you further.

You'll go further with her."

He knew that Senior Sister Su had personally gone to the league venue to recruit Xu Jingming.

But he never imagined the recruitment condition was giving away an SS-rank Soul-Refining Art outright.

"I thought if I refused, I wouldn't be allowed to leave this room."

Xu Jingming also smiled and raised his cup.

The SS-rank Soul-Refining Art wasn't especially important—after all, an SSS-rank Soul-Refining Art was waiting for him in Base 3.

He didn't want to switch sides; he simply didn't want to break his word.

Besides, Ling Shuang had treated him well when they were at the Magic University, and Ling Shuang was on Senior Sister Su's side.

For that reason alone, he could never align himself with the Deputy Director.

"We're senior and junior brothers—do you think I'd ever attack you?"

Fan Ren laughed heartily as he drained his cup.

"What garbage Deputy Director? I can at most speak well of him—I won't ever suppress you, not a chance!

But I must warn you: Wang Dong is very strong; try not to cross paths with him.

He's got only one year left anyway—just endure him for a year.

Once he graduates, who in the entire training camp can hold you back?"

As he spoke, this talkative senior brother's expression grew serious.

"Understood." Xu Jingming nodded slightly, offering no rebuttal.

Honestly, he still couldn't defeat this sixth-rank lower-tier adept with an S-rank ability.

But he shouldn't have to wait until the man graduated to surpass him...

Xu Jingming had expected his refusal to make Senior Brother Fan Ren grow cold, even distant.

But unexpectedly, in the latter half of the banquet, the man remained as warm as ever.

Even after dinner, he invited Xu Jingming to continue to the next venue, saying there were better girls there.

Xu Jingming, uninterested, naturally declined.

"Since you're not going, I won't go either—I'll just go back and tell them you refused."

Beside Shunxing Garden Restaurant, Senior Brother Fan Ren said casually.

Then, with a faint flicker of his space ring, a wooden box appeared in his hand, offered to Xu Jingming:

"According to the Master's rules, a senior brother must give a gift to his junior brother or sister upon first meeting.

My resources aren't plentiful—this A+-rank cultivation resource is my gift to you."

"Thank you, Senior Brother," Xu Jingming said with a smile, accepting the wooden box.

"No need to thank me—I've already gotten plenty back from other senior brothers and sisters."

Fan Ren chuckled, then waved his hand, "That's it for today—I'm off.

If you need anything, just call me. Don't pay attention to Wang Dong and his crew.

If they push too hard, I'll just quit them and come help you!"

Though he'd accepted some favors from the Deputy Director, he wasn't deeply bound to him like Wang Dong and the others.

At worst, we part ways—neither of us fears the other.

"Thank you, Senior Brother. Goodbye, Senior Brother."

"Goodbye."

Senior Brother Fan Ren turned and left; Xu Jingming withdrew his gaze, silently sighing inside.

Though this was their first meeting, this Senior Brother seemed to have a decent personality.

"Senior Brother has seen it—dinner is finished; now, I should return to the villa to continue studying the Divine Mind Art."

Xu Jingming put the wooden box back into his space ring and strolled slowly toward the villa.

"I've tried already—my junior brother is unmoved by either persuasion or pressure; he refuses to join our side."

While Xu Jingming continued studying the Divine Mind Art, Senior Brother Fan Ren had already arrived at Wang Dong's villa to report.

Inside the villa's training room, only Wang Dong and Chen Hai were present.

Fan Ren wasn't particularly surprised by this.

Calling him a sycophant might be excessive, but Chen Hai was undoubtedly Wang Dong's top lackey.

Most of Wang Dong's affairs were handled by Chen Hai.

Naturally, Chen Hai had reaped many benefits because of this.

In less than a year since entering the training camp, he had broken through from Peak Fifth Stage to Sixth Stage, his strength extremely formidable.

"He didn't agree?"

Wang Dong, seated cross-legged on the training room floor, frowned. "Alright, I understand. You may leave."

"The resources we can offer him are clearly far greater than what Director Su provides."

How could Xu Jingming refuse? Could Fan Ren not have spoken up for us?"

After Fan Ren left, Chen Hai couldn't help but frown deeply.

"Given Fan Ren's character, he shouldn't have been careless on this point."

Wang Dong shook his head, a faint glimmer of brilliance flickering in his eyes:

"The only possibility is that Director Su has already offered something even better."

"Something even better?"

Chen Hai froze slightly, then immediately realized, whispering in shock: "SS-grade Divine Mind Art?!"

"Aside from this, Director Su likely has no other leverage."

Wang Dong took a deep breath.

If Director Su had offered this SS-grade Divine Mind Art back then to recruit him, he might never have joined the Deputy Director's faction.

Yet he hadn't gotten it—instead, Xu Jingming had obtained it.

"Then again, an SS-grade Energy Awakened, especially an Electric-type, truly deserves this Divine Mind Art more than I do."

After a moment of silence, Wang Dong continued:

"I recall there's still over a month until your first-year assessment matches begin, right?"

The assessment matches are held once a year by grade; all members of the Talent Training Camp participate.

Xu Jingming had just joined the Lei Ting Martial Arts Academy Training Camp, so he was classified as a first-year student and must take part in the assessment matches.

Although Chen Hai was already twenty-seven, he had only entered the Talent Training Camp last year.

The Talent Training Camp does not divide grades by strength, but solely by time of entry.

Therefore, Chen Hai was also classified as a first-year student.

"That's right."

Chen Hai nodded, immediately understanding Wang Dong's meaning, and smiled:

"Don't worry—leave it to me. He can't beat me."

An SS-grade Energy Awakened, merely by that title, Chen Hai couldn't harm him directly.

But on the arena, a few minor tricks would suffice.

Making Xu Jingming lose face and reduce his influence would be easy.

"Don't be overconfident. Teacher Qin and the others didn't lie—this guy's true combat power is likely at Sixth Stage." Wang Dong mused.

"Those Sixth Stage fighters from Tianyu Dojo?"

Chen Hai sneered. "They're all just trash—I could kill such trash with one hand.

Xu Jingming's little record means nothing."

He had great confidence in his own strength.

After all, among nearly four hundred students in the Talent Training Camp, his strength was unquestionably in the top tier.

"Not necessarily. Sixth Stage Lower might not even be his limit—pay special attention to this."

Wang Dong added one final warning.

"Alright, I'll have someone test him first."

Chen Hai shrugged indifferently.

Wang Dong was a fourth-year student, soon to be promoted to fifth year.

He had no reason to act against Xu Jingming himself—it was most appropriate for me to suppress him during the assessment matches...