Chapter 56: Club Invitation! Dorm Mixer

"Crushing! Still crushing!"

"Four or five seconds, and he actually unleashed four combat techniques in a row — isn't that a bit exaggerated?"

"Not only that, the transitions between the techniques were incredibly smooth!"

"......"

The Bloodburst Pill forcibly pushed Lei Zhou's level up to Second Tier Lower, and everyone had originally thought Lei Zhou could pull off a comeback from the brink.

Yet, it was still Xu Jingming's one-sided crushing!

And the most terrifying part was that Xu Jingming's grasp of the timing for unleashing his combat techniques was simply too good.

When he didn't move, he didn't; when he did, it was with the force of a thunderbolt!

The continuous chain of combat techniques left Lei Zhou with no chance to fight back at all.

The battle ended right there!

"And the most important thing is, he actually managed to forcibly stop his combat technique at the end! That's the most terrifying part!"

Once a combat technique is unleashed, it's extremely hard to stop; even if you force it to a halt, you'll suffer a backlash of qi and blood yourself.

Yet Xu Jingming stopped the technique as if nothing had happened, without even the slightest disturbance in his breathing.

This made some of the students unable to hold back their amazement.

"Speaking of which, Xu Jingming's combat techniques all look pretty powerful — are they all B-rank combat techniques?"

"Probably. The power is just too strong — Lei Zhou's flame barrier couldn't even hold for a single second before it was broken."

"Four B-rank combat techniques, impressive. The highest combat technique I've mastered is only C-rank."

"......"

Indeed,

Xu Jingming's four lightning-type combat techniques gave them a sense of power completely unlike that of low-level techniques.

In the back of the spectator stands, Liu Ming, hearing these freshmen discuss, was completely dumbfounded.

Others might not know the ranks of these combat techniques, but as a fellow disciple senior brother, how could he not?

Lei Mao, Chain Lightning Spear, Thunder Prison, and Lightning Flash — they were all A-rank combat techniques!

"Four A-rank combat techniques, junior brother, you really dared to pick them!"

Liu Ming couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice.

As Xu Jingming's senior brother, when Liu Ming first became Yang Zhentian's disciple, he too received a list of combat techniques.

Yet in the end, he only picked one A-rank combat technique, 'Lightning Flash.'

The rest he chose were B-rank and C-rank combat techniques.

It wasn't that he didn't want to pick higher-ranked combat techniques.

Rather, the higher the rank of a combat technique, the harder it was to learn, and the longer the cycle required!

Naturally, he wouldn't pick too many high-rank techniques and slow down the pace of his own strength improvement.

Yet Xu Jingming not only picked A-rank combat techniques, he picked four of them in one go!

What's even more outrageous is, he mastered them all!

"How am I supposed to hold my head up as a senior brother who spent over four months just learning 'Lightning Flash'?"

Liu Ming shook his head and sighed.

With such an outstanding junior brother, the pressure on him as a senior brother was simply immense......

"Xu Jingming, this time I lost, completely and utterly convinced.

The credits and Daxia coins are all yours. Also, I'll make the payments to your aunt on time."

On the arena, Lei Zhou finally recovered from the intense pain.

After taking a long look at Xu Jingming, he covered his shoulder, endured the pain, and turned to leave the arena.

He had lost.

This time, he had lost completely!

And it could basically be considered a total defeat!

He couldn't win in his normal form, and even after taking the Bloodburst Pill, he still couldn't win!

Everything that had just happened had already given him a severe sense of defeat.

Additionally, his right scapula was shattered, and he would need to pay a hefty price to hire a healing-type ability user for treatment.

And after another ten-odd minutes, once the Bloodburst Pill's effects wore off, his entire body would immediately lose all strength.

For the next two months or so, he could only rest in bed.

One step slow, every step slow!

For freshmen who had just entered Magic City Ability University, this period was the golden time to improve their strength.

Unable to cultivate for two months, he was essentially half-ruined.

Even if he could barely catch up later, he would never be able to become part of the top tier among the freshmen.

Wanting to catch up to Xu Jingming was nothing short of a fool's dream.

But did he regret it?

Lei Zhou did not regret it.

Before taking the Bloodburst Pill, he had already prepared himself to bear any outcome.

He just hadn't expected Xu Jingming's strength to be so freakishly abnormal......

"Student Xu Jingming, congratulations on your victory."

The referee teacher Zhou Yun gave a slight smile.

She then transferred all the credits and Daxia coins to Xu Jingming's account.

Including Lei Zhou's 50 credits and 3.2 million Daya currency.

At this point, Xu Jingming's student account held 422 credits.

His bank account also held 7.31 million Daya currency.

"Gambling fights really do make money fast."

Xu Jingming shook his head.

With the battle over, his grudge against Lei Zhou was effectively settled.

And from the way the other looked, he was truly terrified—there would be no more trouble from him.

Slipping the spear over his shoulder, Xu Jingming leapt down from the arena.

"Boom!!"

Xu Jingming himself weighed 120 kilograms, and with the 210-kilogram Obsidian Spear behind him, the total reached 330 kilograms!

Jumping down from a platform over a meter high, it was like dropping a massive block of iron.

The ground trembled slightly under the impact, causing his roommate Liu Wentao, who was walking over from the stands, to flinch:

"Brother Ming, how heavy is this spear? Feels like a lot."

"210 kilograms," Xu Jingming replied flatly.

"210 kilograms!"

Liu Wentao's eyes widened—he himself weighed only 65 kilograms.

This one spear was equal to three of him?!

"No wonder Lei Zhou didn't dare clash with you head-on—two hundred kilograms crashing down, who could take that?"

Liu Wentao whistled in amazement.

In his estimation, not even Lei Zhou, but any provincial champion from another province would dare not block that spear head-on.

"Xu Jingming, are you interested in any clubs?"

Suddenly, a girl appeared before Xu Jingming, smiling as she asked.

The girl had a beautiful face and a tall, slender figure.

Her legs beneath the black skirt were round and long, glowing white.

Unlike ordinary female students, her makeup was highly mature, not like a college student at all.

She looked more like a top executive from the outside world.

"Who are you?"

Xu Jingming asked, puzzled—he didn't know her.

"Deputy head of the Spirit Fox Club, Su Man."

Su Man smiled sweetly and handed him a business card.

It bore her name, title, and the club she belonged to.

"Your battle just now was spectacular. We need fresh blood like you in the Spirit Fox Club."

Su Man cut straight to the point, "The Spirit Fox Club ranks among the top clubs in the entire school.

Our president is a third-rank upper-tier adept. Besides organizing cultivation exchange sessions,

we occasionally take members into the wilderness to hunt ferocious beasts and enhance practical combat skills.

Also, we distribute resources monthly.

In short, joining our club has many benefits—would you be interested?"

Su Man listed off the club's advantages in one breath, then looked at Xu Jingming expectantly.

This scene was noticed by several nearby students.

"Spirit Fox Club? I think they're an elite club, right?"

"Yes, that's them—I saw their recruitment notice on the school forum before."

"But aren't they only accepting second-rank adepts? Why approach Xu Jingming?"

"Heh, do you really think whether Xu Jingming is second-rank matters now?"

"Hmm… I guess you're right."

"Man, Spirit Fox Club—I'm jealous."

"..."

As a higher education institution, Magu Adept University naturally had its share of clubs.

But unlike ordinary cultural schools' electronics clubs or Go clubs,

Magu Adept University's clubs don't require you to master any special skill.

As long as you're an adept, you can join.

Of course,

some clubs set recruitment thresholds.

For example, at least second-rank mid-tier, or at least second-rank upper-tier.

Clubs with thresholds above second-rank are called elite clubs.

Since their members are all strong,

whether exchanging cultivation insights or hunting ferocious beasts together, the experience is excellent.

The Spirit Fox Club, as an elite club, is one many new students dream of joining.

But they're stuck—unable to meet the rank requirement, they can't even qualify for an interview.

Yet now, the Spirit Fox Club's deputy head directly invited Xu Jingming—how could they not envy him?

"Spirit Fox Club?"

Xu Jingming's sword-like eyebrows lifted slightly.

He had no objection to joining a club.

But he still needed to learn what kind of club the Spirit Fox Club actually was.

"Su Man, your Spirit Fox Club has broken the rules."

At that moment, Senior Brother Liu Ming walked over frowning from nearby.

"President Liu, I didn't expect to find you here—forgive the interruption."

Su Man's lovely face changed slightly; after hurriedly apologizing, she swiftly walked away with a swaying gait.

"Senior Brother, what's this about?" Xu Jingming was puzzled.

"Nothing."

Liu Ming waved his hand, "Clubs normally begin recruiting new students only after the Freshman Trials.

This is a rule long established by all major clubs, yet some still try to sneak in behind the scenes."

"I see," Xu Jingming realized.

Clubs set this rule mostly to assess students' strength during the Freshman Trials before recruiting.

"Of course, I understand them—after all, younger brother, you're too outstanding."

Liu Ming patted Xu Jingming on the shoulder: "Alright, the observation's over—I'm heading back to the dorm."

"Goodbye, Senior Brother."

Xu Jingming nodded; Liu Ming waved and turned away.

"Liu Ming, a peak third-rank energy user, wields the A-rank Lightning ability Jade Pivot True Thunder."

He is also the vice-president of the elite club Ash Club.

"Senior Brother Liu Ming is even more refined in person than in the school photos."

Watching Liu Ming's figure recede, Liu Wentao—the campus gossip—could not help but sigh.

The Shanghai Energy University had roughly four thousand enrolled students.

Most were first- or second-rank; those reaching third rank numbered no more than two hundred.

As for the higher fourth rank, though some existed, almost none stayed on campus.

After his sigh, Liu Wentao turned again to Xu Jingming:

"By the way, Ming-ge, have you ever been to Shanghai's city center?"

"No."

Xu Jingming shook his head.

These past few days, he'd devoted all his time to training—he hadn't even left campus, let alone the city center.

"Perfect—I haven't been either. How about we go to the city center tonight?"

"Alright."

Xu Jingming thought for a moment, then nodded.

He understood the principle: only by alternating exertion and rest can one endure long.

After training so long, he truly needed to relax.

Besides, he was quite curious about Shanghai, one of the most prosperous cities in Great Xia.

"Good, but just the two of us wouldn't be much fun.

I'll post a dorm mixer thread on the school forum—see if anyone wants to join. If there are girls, that'd be best."

Liu Wentao proposed enthusiastically, pulling out his phone and typing away as he followed Xu Jingming away.

Soon, a thread titled "Anyone want to go to Shanghai's city center tonight?"

appeared on the Shanghai Energy University student forum.

The post clearly stated his and Xu Jingming's identities and their plan to visit the city center that evening.

"Qiu Yun, look—Xu Jingming and the others are going to Shanghai's city center tonight and looking for company!"

On the spectator seats, Qi Dongxia, who had just risen to leave, suddenly spotted Liu Wentao's post on her phone.

Her face lit up: "Qiu Yun, let's go together—consider it a dorm mixer!"

"Xu Jingming..."

Gazing at the tall figure walking toward the exit.

Song Qiuyun, who usually had no interest in such mixers, paused briefly, then nodded: "Alright."

On another side, after leaving the training building, Xu Jingming received a call from his aunt Xu Qingwan.

"Xiao Ming, is everything alright in Shanghai?"

"Yes, fine."

"Haha, good, good—I forgot to tell you last time I called: your cousin Tang Qi has been accepted by your school in Shanghai."

Clearly, his aunt was in high spirits, her voice brimming with laughter.

"Oh? Which school?"

"Linjiang Energy University—it's not too far from your Shanghai Energy University."

"Linjiang Energy University? That's indeed not far from here."

Xu Jingming smiled.

This campus area of Shanghai had five Energy Universities; Linjiang Energy University was one of them.

Its national ranking was decent—around number one hundred.

"When will Cousin Tang Qi report to school?"

"Official reporting is on September 1st. She wants to report early, but hasn't decided on a date yet."

"Alright, when Qi Dongxia decides, let me know, and I'll pick her up at the station."

After chatting a bit longer, Xu Jingming hung up the call.

Teacher Yang Zhentian hasn't been at school lately.

So he didn't go to the teacher's villa; instead, he picked up his long spear and entered the second-floor training room to begin solo training.

Meanwhile, on the first-floor sofa, Liu Wentao was both happy and troubled.

He was happy because many people had commented under his post, wanting to go together.

He was troubled because there were too many people, and he had no idea whom to choose.

"Huh, this Qi Dongxia seems to be Song Qiuyun's roommate, right?"

Suddenly, Liu Wentao spotted a familiar name in the comments, and his eyes lit up:

"In that case, let's first invite Qi Dongxia and the others."

"But four people still seems a bit few—not lively enough. Adding two more would be better."

"Then I'll just let the little rooster pick—whoever it points to, that's who it is..."

Thus, Liu Wentao casually selected another dormitory's comment.