Chapter 42: Becoming a Disciple

Under the butler’s guidance, Xu Jingming and Tan Mingyang entered the villa’s parlor.

As soon as they stepped inside, Xu Jingming saw two people seated on the sofa.

The one on the right was a young man, roughly the same age as Tan Mingyang.

His appearance was ordinary—the kind you’d overlook in a crowd unless you looked closely.

Yet his aura was sharply intense; merely sitting there, he radiated an inexplicable sense of oppression.

Beside the young man sat a middle-aged man.

The man wore a gray combat suit, his physique robust, his eyes flashing with lightning-like brilliance!

Meeting his gaze, Xu Jingming felt as if he’d been locked onto by the mightiest dragon-like beast—every hair on his body stood on end!

Compared to this middle-aged man, the young man’s aura seemed faint and elusive.

Xu Jingming, who had previously checked his mentor’s information via Eva in the villa, naturally knew.

This middle-aged man,

was Yang Zhentian, dean of the Weaponry Academy and a seventh-rank upper-tier adept known as the Thunder Spear!

“Dean Yang, I’ve brought them here.”

The butler said respectfully.

“Alright, you may leave.”

Yang Zhentian dismissed the butler, then turned his gaze directly to Xu Jingming, a faint smile appearing on his face:

“You must be Xu Jingming—Zhang Zhaoyang already informed me.

Come, let’s go to the training room.”

With that, he rose and headed upstairs; Xu Jingming quickly followed.

Tan Mingyang, who had witnessed the entire scene, stood frozen, bewildered.

Dean Yang Zhentian of the Weaponry Academy was notoriously strict.

The rules and regulations under his command were the most numerous among the five academies of Metropolis Adept University!

Thus, students privately nicknamed him “Yang the Hell-Lord.”

His usual stern, expressionless face fit the nickname perfectly.

Yet just now, he had seen Yang the Hell-Lord smile!

And worse—he seemed to know Xu Jingming, and had taken him straight to the training room.

Clearly, he intended to personally assess him.

‘Just what is Xu Jingming’s background? Is he the chancellor’s son?’

Tan Mingyang quickly dismissed the thought.

Even the chancellor’s own son wouldn’t receive such treatment from Yang the Hell-Lord.

Only the chancellor himself might come close...

“Mingyang, same as before?”

The remaining young man on the sofa smiled over.

Tan Mingyang snapped back to himself, his expression brightening as he bowed: “Then I’ll rely on you, Senior Liu.”

With that, the two headed together toward the ground-floor combat room.

Aside from taking on disciples,

other students wishing to become Yang Zhentian’s disciples must demonstrate corresponding strength.

This Senior Liu was one of Yang Zhentian’s many students.

Whoever could defeat Senior Liu, even if he used only one-tenth of his power, would be deemed qualified.

Yet over the past half-year, he had never succeeded once...

On the other side, under Yang Zhentian’s guidance, Xu Jingming arrived at the training room.

It was a room roughly a hundred meters long, with weapon racks lining the walls, holding various arms.

Among them was the long spear Xu Jingming recognized.

“I’ve watched your Wu Ke entrance exam video—your combat ability is indeed strong, and your spear technique has reached advanced level.

But before that, I’d like to see your S-rank ability: Purple Thunder Divine Lightning.”

Yang Zhentian watched Xu Jingming with anticipation.

S-rank lightning ability: Purple Thunder Divine Lightning!

Ever since he learned from Zhang Zhaoyang a few days ago that a student had awakened an S-rank lightning ability and chosen Metropolis Adept University, he had been waiting for Xu Jingming’s arrival.

He never expected the student to wait until today to enroll.

Facing Yang Zhentian’s request, Xu Jingming showed no hesitation and activated his ability immediately.

Crackling—

Zzzt—

Amidst the deep rumble of thunder and the hiss of crackling arcs, Purple Thunder Divine Lightning materialized, swirling around Xu Jingming.

The blue-purple lightning carried an ancient, primordial aura—powerful and timeless.

The moment Purple Thunder Divine Lightning appeared, the entire training room filled with an inexplicable grandeur.

“This is the S-rank ability—Purple Thunder Divine Lightning!”

Yang Zhentian gazed, entranced, at the blue-purple lightning enveloping Xu Jingming.

Though he himself possessed a lightning ability, and as a seventh-rank upper-tier adept,

even a trace of his own thunder held unimaginable power,

his A-rank ability, Wind-Fire True Thunder, could never possess such an aura!

This was a gap in the ability’s origin—something no rank could bridge!

After several deep breaths, Yang Zhentian’s racing heart gradually calmed.

He looked at Xu Jingming, his expression solemn:

“Xu Jingming, I know your purpose. With your ability and potential, becoming my disciple is unquestionable.

But I must clarify one thing: when I once traveled the world,

I made some allies, but also gathered many enemies.

If you become my disciple, you will face consequences after graduation.

Some enemies may even target you directly—do you still wish to proceed?”

“Student is willing.”

Xu Jingming showed no hesitation, bowing respectfully in the master-disciple salute.

Please.

Which high-rank adept’s rise wasn’t stained with blood and chaos?

An adept like Yang Zhentian, famed for slaughter, must have slain countless beasts and enemies.

If one refuses even this risk,

then not a single suitable teacher could be found across all of Metropolis Adept University.

“Good, good, good! From today, you are my thirty-second disciple!”

Yang Zhentian said “good” three times in succession, his emotions slightly stirred.

An S-rank ability awakener appears in all of Greater Xia only once every few years.

And even when one does appear, the ability is usually of another type.

In the past twenty years, he had taken over thirty disciples—some with A-rank lightning abilities, others B-rank,

even some with C-rank lightning abilities.

But Xu Jingming was the first S-rank lightning ability awakener he had ever taken.

“Most of your senior brothers and sisters have graduated; only three remain on campus.

The one downstairs, Liu Ming, is one of your senior brothers.

The other two, I’ll introduce to you when I have time.”

With that, Yang Zhentian’s ring glowed faintly.

Two scrolls appeared in his hand, which he handed over.

“These are the supreme ability cultivation method and the body-strengthening combat technique I created.”

Xu Jingming took the two scrolls.

The ability cultivation method was titled “Ultimate Ability Cultivation Method”; the combat technique, “Thunder Indestructible Body.”

Combat techniques are categorized—movement techniques, sword techniques,

such as Xu Jingming’s “Lightning Wind Shatter,” a spear technique.

Body-strengthening combat techniques differ from ordinary ones, primarily enhancing physicality.

They are far rarer than ordinary combat techniques...