Chapter 525: Wang Zhen's Methods! The Public Opinion Offensive!

In the vast arena, 100 ability-users stood.

Everyone released their auras, building momentum for the free-for-all to come.

And among this group, the one standing at the very center of the arena—Kathleen—was the most eye-catching.

She was seen holding a sacred longsword, standing quietly in place.

She did not erupt with any aura like the other competitors around her, yet the feeling she gave off was utterly oppressive.

Like a deity walking among mortals, her expression carried a cold contempt for everything.

Combined with her fair, delicate oval face, she gave off a unique kind of beauty.

"All competitors, please prepare yourselves! The match... begins now!"

The moment the announcer's voice fell, the entire arena instantly erupted with all manner of ability auras.

Kathleen at the very center also decisively activated her ability.

Whoosh—

Three pairs of pure-white wings unfurled behind her, and her entire body slowly rose upward, finally hovering in midair.

"Holy Light Adjudication!"

Endless golden sacred light erupted, Kathleen seemingly transforming into a small golden sun!

And the radiance that poured down from it plunged the entire arena into a chorus of wailing!

The lower-ranked Tier-5 ability-users simply evaporated into thin air.

The higher-ranked Tier-6 ability-users—those walking the martial-artist path—could hold out a little longer.

But ability-users walking the elementalist path found their elemental shields pierced after holding for only three or four seconds, their entire bodies consumed by the sacred light.

In just five seconds, including Kathleen herself, only 10 people remained in the entire arena......

"That's... it?"

"Only 5 seconds! America's Kathleen is actually this terrifying?!"

"Too terrifying. Worthy of the SS-rank ability 'Sacred Angel'!"

"......"

The 100 million spectators on-site were all somewhat shaken.

Too fast!

Kathleen's advancement speed was far faster than that of the other three SS-ranks!

And the Great Xia audience members, who had originally been excited over Lei Di's advancement speed, now felt even more worried about this.

"Our Great Xia's two SS-ranks—one took 1 minute 30 seconds, the other took 30 seconds. Isn't that gap a bit too big?"

The previous Global Genius Exchange was the first place Great Xia had ever won.

For this edition of the Genius Tournament, everyone naturally wanted to continue that glory.

But Kathleen's appearance made them feel a strong sense of crisis.

"Su Yu is a reinforcement-type ability-user, so in terms of kill speed he really can't compare to Kathleen, who can wield the power of the light element.

But the result of the arena free-for-all doesn't prove anything—the Peak Tournament tests individual strength.

Who's stronger and who's weaker, we'll still have to wait until they actually fight to know."

A high-rank ability-user spoke up to explain, and only then did the crowd's doubts fade.

"Possessing both the powerful physique of a reinforcement-type ability-user and the elemental control of an elemental-type ability-user, as well as formidable area-clearing capability—

This SS-rank ability 'Sacred Angel' really is well-rounded."

Xu Jingming silently pondered, while Song Qiuyun beside him remarked with feeling:

"Her ability to control the light element is far stronger than my 'Dawn Light'......"

Her A-rank light-element ability usually gave her an extremely powerful combat boost in battle.

But now, compared to the opponent's sacred light, its might was inferior by more than a single tier.

"What? Feeling the limits of your ability?" Xu Jingming teased.

"A little, I suppose, but it's fine.

Once an ability awakens, it can't be changed. Not everyone has the chance for ability evolution like you, Jingming."

Rather than wallowing in self-pity, it's better to devote myself to cultivation. Once I reach the peak, my combat power won't be lacking either."

Song Qiuyun said with a resolute gaze.

Ability is only one of the factors that affect combat power,

Xu Jingming smiled.

Ability evolution really is rare, but he happened to have a light-element essence on hand that could evolve abilities.

Once it was repaired, it could cause Song Qiuyun's ability to undergo a metamorphosis and evolve to S-rank.

"Now's not the time. Once the elemental essence is repaired, I'll give Qiuyun a surprise."

Xu Jingming murmured to himself.

Additionally, Jiang Chuxuan possessed an ice-element ability, sharing the same origin as the water-element ability.

That water-element essence might also be able to cause her ice-element ability to undergo a metamorphosis......

After watching Kathleen's battle, Xu Jingming didn't linger any longer in the virtual space and returned to the real world.

"S-rank! That old bastard Wang Zhen is up to something!"

The moment Xu Jingming took off his consciousness helmet, Yiwa's crisp voice rang out beside his ear.

"The National Assembly begins in three days.

All handling methods will be decided by the councilors. What could Wang Zhen possibly stir up?" Xu Jingming asked with a smile.

"Here, see for yourself."

With a casual wave of her small hand, Eva caused article after article to materialize in mid-air.

The headlines of these articles were also extremely eye-catching.

"Shocking! SS-class ability awakener Xu Jingming wantonly killed human ability users, yet faced no punishment!"

"Breaking! Son of ninth-rank Martial Saint Wang Zhen was slain by Xu Jingming; he went to demand answers, only to be suppressed by the Lei Ting Wu Guan through sheer power!"

"Destroying the corpse and erasing the traces, not even leaving a body behind! Where is justice! Where is the law!"

"..."

Clicking into any article at random, the contents inside were all about Xu Jingming killing Wang Mang.

As well as related content about Wang Zhen going to the Lei Ting Wu Guan to demand an explanation and failing.

The descriptions were indeed more or less accurate, but they concealed the fact that Wang Mang had first hired assassins.

Completely framing him as a victim!

Beneath the articles, there were also a string of follow-up comments from onlookers.

"Ability users can kill people and face no punishment? Absurd!"

"Looks like there's a problem with our country's laws. So what if he's SS-class? When the emperor breaks the law, he is punished the same as commoners!"

"Huh? I was just watching Xu Jingming's match a moment ago, I didn't expect him to be this kind of person."

"..."

The comments below were almost unanimously siding with Wang Zhen.

Occasionally there were comments like "The truth of the matter might not be like this" and "I know Xu Jingming, he is absolutely not the kind of person who kills the innocent."

But they were all drowned out among the flood of comments, and even received verbal attacks from others.

"The National Assembly is about to convene. That old fellow Wang Zhen is clearly using public opinion to build momentum for himself."

Xu Jingming narrowed his eyes.

These news articles were basically all published uniformly two hours ago.

It was obvious at a glance that someone was pulling strings behind the scenes.

To the point that every article concealed the fact of why he had taken action against Wang Mang.

"S-class, do you need me to step in and wipe all these news articles out?"

Eva said eagerly, itching to try.

In Great Xia, although ability users had special privileges, when it came to killing, there would still be some punishment.

If public opinion were allowed to ferment, it might really affect the National Assembly's ruling three days from now.

"No need."

Xu Jingming shook his head. "Since that old fellow Wang Zhen dares to brazenly distort the facts like this,

just publish the cause of the whole matter online. I believe the eyes of the masses are sharp."

"You got it!" Eva's eyes lit up, and she immediately began her operations.