Chapter 512: A Brilliant Golden Age! Four SS-Grades!

"His name is Su Yu, twenty-six years old this year, rank six mid-tier, possessing an Enhancement-type Divine Beast series SS-grade ability.

As for the specific name of the ability, I didn't know before the competition began.

Once the round ends and we go out, we should find out."

Cao Ren explained.

Coming from a family of peak ninth-rank ability users, he had broader channels of information than ordinary ability users.

"Enhancement-type Divine Beast series ability..." Xu Jingming's eyes flickered.

Unlike the Beast series, Enhancement-type Divine Beast series abilities start at S-grade from the very beginning!

This Su Yu's SS-grade ability, paired with his rank six mid-tier level, would only make his strength even more terrifying.

Boom—!

While he was pondering, in the sky ahead of everyone, boundless starlight gathered, forming the figure of an old man.

This old man had a head full of white hair, yet his body stood ramrod straight.

His eyes were not only free of the cloudiness common to ordinary old men, but instead gleamed sharply, seeming to contain a terrifying aura.

The old man wore a long robe, with a five-clawed black dragon embroidered on it.

It spread from the shoulder area all the way down to the waist.

"Grand Ancestor?"

Cao Ren's eyes lit up, and Xu Jingming also recognized the old man's identity.

This man was named Cao Jun, possessing the 'Celestial Azure Dragon' ability.

This ability also belonged to the Enhancement-type Divine Beast series, rated S-grade!

At the same time, this Cao Jun was also the founder of the Black Dragon Legion.

His rank reached peak ninth-tier, and he was a member of the Great Xia National Council.

Many people present also recognized the old man's identity.

While letting out low exclamations, the entire scene quickly fell into a hush.

"In the Global Genius Exchange Competition, our Great Xia has a total of 100 competition zones. You are the number one person in each of your respective zones!"

A deep voice rang out, causing the entire heavens and earth to tremble.

Cao Jun's gaze swept over those below, bringing immense pressure to everyone:

"In other words, you are the strongest among the younger generation of our Great Xia!

You represent the future of Great Xia!

I am very gratified that among these 100 of you, there are six S-grade ability awakeners and... two SS-grade ability awakeners!"

At these words, the entire audience erupted, and Xu Jingming was also secretly shocked in his heart.

He knew there was one other SS-grade ability awakener, but he hadn't expected there to be so many S-grade ability awakeners either.

"With the increase in elemental energy concentration, the probability of rare ability awakeners appearing has risen. Having this many S-grades is hardly surprising."

Cao Jun waved his great hand, and a holographic projection suddenly cast itself into the sky.

On the holographic projection, an absolutely beautiful girl with golden hair and blue eyes held a sacred longsword, with three pairs of huge pure white wings flapping behind her!

"Holy light shall purify all!"

Accompanied by a crisp, pleasant voice, she hovered in mid-air.

Beneath her feet, the city was like an ocean of terrifying golden holy light raging wildly!

"Besides our Great Xia, a batch of rare ability awakeners has also emerged in other countries on Blue Star.

This one is Catherine Hepburn from the United States.

She possesses the Enhancement-type Illusory God series SS-grade ability 'Sacred Angel'.

She is twenty-five years old this year, yet her rank is already six mid-tier!"

Swoosh—

The scene shifted, changing to a tall, burly youth.

He rode atop a massive blizzard, and wherever he passed, the cities all transformed into a forest of ice sculptures!

"This one is Andrey from Bear Country. He possesses the Elemental-type Ice series SS-grade ability 'Polar Ice Soul'!

Twenty-six years old this year, rank six lower-tier."

Swoosh—

The scene shifted again, and yet another entirely new figure appeared.

"This one is..."

The scene kept shifting, as strong individuals from other countries made their appearances one by one under Cao Jun's introductions.

These powerhouses all had abilities of S-grade or above, and ranks of sixth-tier or above.

This undoubtedly brought a heavy pressure upon these newly promoted Great Xia prodigies.

"This edition of the Prodigy Competition.

There are a full 35 S-grade ability awakeners, and as for SS-grade ability awakeners, there are even four!

Without a doubt, this is the most brilliant golden age humanity has ever seen!"

After this round of introductions, Cao Jun's tone had already taken on a somewhat epic quality.

"S-grade ability awakeners are still manageable; the key ones are those three SS-grades."

Xu Jingming, somewhere in the crowd, said silently in his heart.

Among all the SS-grade ability awakeners in this edition of the Prodigy Competition, only he was at five-tier upper, while the other three were all at six-tier.

There were even two at six-tier mid-tier. He also had to raise his rank to six-tier as quickly as possible.

Otherwise, the battles ahead might add quite a few variables.

"Once we return, I'll head straight into the 4th Demon Cave to slay the beasts and harvest ability points," Xu Jingming said to himself.

The appearance of these three SS-class ability awakeners made him feel 'pressure'—a sensation he rarely experienced.

He didn't dislike the feeling; on the contrary, he was somewhat excited.

After all, it had been far too long since a peer prodigy of roughly similar age could cross hands with him.

And this Prodigy Tournament gave him hope of a fight at full strength.

"I called you all here for no other reason—I simply wanted you to see the contestants from other countries."

Cao Jun's low, deep voice continued:

"Our Great Xia is flourishing in the martial way. I hope that in the end, you can claim a quarter of the thirty-two slots in the Prodigy Tournament.

Those who meet the requirement will receive additional rewards from Great Xia, on top of the official Prodigy Tournament prizes.

The higher the ranking, the greater the reward."

He did not say what the rewards specifically were, but one could imagine they would absolutely not be ordinary items!

"Information on contestants from other countries will be sent to your email later. Check it yourselves.

The second stage of the Prodigy Tournament will officially begin in two days.

Now, you may return."

Cao Jun waved a great hand, and one figure after another vanished from this stretch of heaven and earth in an instant.

Xu Jingming had also prepared to return, only to find he had not been teleported away.

In the same situation was that Su Yu.

"Xu Jingming, Su Yu, come here."

Just as Xu Jingming was puzzled, Cao Jun's voice rang out, and Xu Jingming could only step forward.

"A year ago, when you were still on the Demon University study trip, I already knew about you.

But only now is this our first real contact. Are your Teacher Su and Teacher Ling doing well?"

Cao Jun turned his gaze over; at this moment, the fierce, oppressive aura from earlier was completely gone.

He looked just like an ordinary old man in relatively good health, a kindly smile on his face.

"Reporting, Senior—my two teachers are both doing well," Xu Jingming replied quickly.

"That's good."

Cao Jun gave a slight nod. "I have a decent relationship with the previous head of Lei Ting Martial Hall.

Your Teacher Su Qingli—I watched her grow up myself.

As for that girl Hearing Ling Shuang, back then she was always hanging around Su Qingli, acting like a big sister.

She's also a junior I paid particular attention to and was close to."

A trace of reminiscence surfaced in Cao Jun's eyes, and then he said with a kindly smile:

"After I learned of your existence later on, you too became a junior I kept an eye on.

That incident in Sakura Country—I was the one who arranged for Blood Sword to go clear the field."

"So it was you helping out last time, Senior," Xu Jingming said quickly, offering thanks.

He knew the upper echelons of Great Xia had always been watching him, but he hadn't expected it to be this Cao Jun, a peak ninth-tier.

One had to understand that Cao Jun was a powerhouse who had survived all the way to the present since the Primordial Energy Revival two hundred years ago.

In terms of seniority, even across the entire Blue Star, he was among the oldest batch.