Chapter 519: Scheduled! Sen Bai Gorge!

After returning to the real world, Xu Jingming told his teacher Su Qingli and Ling Shuang, then entered Dungeon No. 4.

Compared to the Kanda Wilderness Zone, the number of ferocious beasts in Dungeon No. 4 was naturally far fewer.

Over four days, Xu Jingming rested almost not at all, continuously hunting ferocious beasts.

Yet in the end, he only gained 50,000 Ability Points, bringing his system panel total to 270,000 Ability Points.

But it still hadn't reached the point requirement for advancing to sixth rank.

"No good, the efficiency of harvesting Ability Points in Dungeon No. 4 is too low."

I don't even know how many Ability Points are needed to advance to sixth rank—I must go to the frontlines.

When I return, I'll ask Teacher Su which frontline battlefield is currently the most intense."

Xu Jingming silently thought to himself as he stepped out of Dungeon No. 4.

The frontline battlefield doesn't see combat every day, but once fighting begins, humans and ferocious beasts engage in extremely bloody slaughter.

The second break period of the Finals is five days from now, meaning he must go to a frontline battlefield where combat could erupt soon.

"Time is tight; without reaching sixth rank, I have no chance to compete against other SS-class opponents."

"I must seize every moment and use all available resources to improve..."

In Xu Jingming's clear eyes shone unwavering determination.

Swish—

His brilliant Thunder Dragon Wings unfurled behind him, and he shot skyward, swiftly flying away from the place.

First, he went to the Black Dragon Legion and handed over all the ferocious beast materials he had collected to Cao Ren.

Then he flew back to the Lei Ting Martial Arts Headquarters.

Upon returning, Xu Jingming immediately found Su Qingli and explained his desire to go to the frontline battlefield to kill ferocious beasts.

"You only have five days of rest after entering the Top 16, and you want to spend those five days going to a frontline battlefield?"

Su Qingli was stunned by Xu Jingming's idea.

The frontline battlefield is a massive bloody meat grinder, with an ability user death rate of at least 50%!

Much higher than in the wilderness zones!

Within the Great Xia, aside from large military legions and guilds that assign ability users to fight,

Unless utterly desperate or driven by greed for money, very few ability users voluntarily join frontline slaughter.

"Great Xia has three frontline battlefields, located along the northern, western, and southern borders."

Though surprised, Su Qingli quickly said:

"The northern and western battlefields are currently in ceasefire, with low combat intensity.

Only the southern Sen Bai Gorge has a large concentration of ferocious beasts gathering, as if preparing for a new war.

A few days ago, they were recruiting ninth-rank ability users to defend it—if you go, I can accompany you."

"The southern Sen Bai Gorge is already this serious? Even ninth-rank ability users are needed?"

Xu Jingming's expression froze.

Humans and ferocious beasts had signed a peace agreement.

One clause stated that, across the entire Blue Planet, no matter which battlefield,

If a ninth-rank ability user or a ninth-rank Beast Emperor joins the fight,

It is considered a breach of the agreement, and humans and ferocious beasts return to full-scale war.

After all, the destructive power of a ninth-rank powerhouse is simply too great.

Once they enter combat, even greater casualties will occur.

Under this restriction, for the past several decades,

Although ferocious beasts and humans have continued to wage war, it has largely remained within controllable limits.

"I am only assigned to defend the battlefield, not to engage in slaughter."

Su Qingli shook her head, a faint glint of cold light in her beautiful eyes:

"In recent years, ferocious beasts have launched beast floods on the frontline more frequently.

Even ninth-rank Beast Emperors have appeared—we must prevent them from launching sudden attacks.

Unilaterally tearing up the peace agreement and inflicting devastating losses upon us."

Ferocious beasts are inherently brutal; they signed the peace agreement only because they were beaten into submission.

After decades of recuperation, it's hard to guarantee they won't reconsider restarting the war.

Especially now, with the surge in Yuan energy concentration, the emergence of human prodigies, and several new ninth-rank Beast Emperors among the ferocious beasts.

"Going to the frontline battlefield isn't bad—it'll let you experience the baptism of war early, greatly benefiting your future.

When you reach seventh rank, you'll also be better prepared for this level of combat intensity."

For a nation, low-rank ability users have little actual role on the frontline battlefield.

Especially for a great power like Great Xia—below seventh-rank Master level,

The state imposes no mandatory responsibilities; their only duty is to rapidly improve their strength.

But once one achieves seventh-rank Master status, they must assume corresponding responsibilities.

Each year, they must go to the frontline battlefield to resist ferocious beast invasions.

Of course,

If one is a long-term stationed legion member or an ability university instructor, this requirement does not apply.

Ability users like Su Qingli, seventh-rank Masters under Lei Ting Martial Arts, are each required to fight annually.

When Xu Jingming reaches seventh rank, he will have the same requirement.

"I understand, Teacher," Xu Jingming nodded slightly.

In reality, even without this requirement, after reaching the seventh tier he would spend most of his time on the front-line battlefield anyway.

In fact, after this Genius Competition ends, in order to earn more Ability Points, he would head over early as well.

"The fifth day's free-for-all begins promptly at midnight. If there's nothing else, you should head back and rest.

Your group has a few rather tricky opponents, so it's better to adjust your condition to its peak."

Su Qingli reminded him gently.

She had clearly already familiarized herself beforehand with the information on the other contestants in Group 856, where Xu Jingming's free-for-all would take place.

With a wave of her jade-like hand, three holographic projections appeared before their eyes.

These were three male foreigners — two white and one black — all burly and broad-chested, their pectoral muscles slightly bulging, clearly not people to be trifled with.

"These three — one mid sixth-tier, two lower sixth-tier — all come from the United States.

Two are Enhancement-type A-rank Abilities, one is an Elemental Wind-type A-rank Ability.

One-on-one, not a single one of them is your match. But if the three of them team up, they might cause you some trouble."

The free-for-all has a total of 1,000 match groups, running in rotation 24 hours a day.

The match-up list for each group has long since been published.

In Xu Jingming's group, several of the sixth-tier fighters are from the United States, so it's very likely they'll gang up and target him.

"Don't worry, Teacher. Even if they team up, they still can't beat me."

Xu Jingming grinned, full of confidence:

"Back in the day, Teacher, you swept the entire Blue Planet's geniuses and took first place in the Genius Competition.

As your student, I can't fall behind either. The free-for-all is just the beginning.

My goal is... first place!"

In the previous Global Genius Exchange Competition, Su Qingli, who was 27 years old at the time, naturally participated as well.

That edition of the Genius Competition saw no other SS-rank Ability Awakeners appear — only S-rank Ability Awakeners.

And Su Qingli, relying on her peak sixth-tier strength and her terrifying Lightning-type S-rank Ability,

forcefully suppressed a host of prodigies and claimed first place in the Peak Division, shaking the entire world.

Although he was only 15 years old at the time, he had also heard about it.

"I knew it."

On Su Qingli's delicate, pretty face was an expression that said 'I saw right through you long ago.' She then shook her head:

"Still, if you want to take first place this time, the difficulty is far too great.

That SS-rank from our Great Xia is already very hard to deal with, and besides, both the United States and Bear Country have SS-ranks.

You're five or six years younger than them, so it's normal that your tier can't keep up.

The next Genius Competition, five years from now, is when you'll truly have your moment to shine."

To be honest, Xu Jingming's current strength already greatly satisfied her.

One could say he sweeps aside Ability Users of the same age across the entire Blue Planet. There's no need to force a comparison with Ability Users four or five years older.