Chapter 562

"If he hadn't suddenly advanced and made it into the top four, we might not have been so eager yet."

The man on the phone chuckled.

Xu Jingming may have great talent, but he hasn't fully grown yet.

But once he reaches the sixth stage, everything changes.

In less than two years, he broke through from an Awakened to a sixth-stage Ability User.

This means Xu Jingming's potential has risen another level—he's very likely to break through to the ninth stage within the next four or five years.

Become a highly sought-after national legislator!

And at that time, Xu Jingming will only be twenty-four or twenty-five years old!

Naturally, one must cultivate ties with such an endlessly promising star in advance.

Directly giving gifts to Xu Jingming would surely be refused, and he might even suspect ill intent.

One must approach through those close to Xu Jingming.

But Xu Jingming is an orphan with no family of his own; there's no way to assist him through business channels.

And every one of Xu Jingming's teachers is a major figure.

So they recalled the incident not long ago, when Xu Jingming, along with Song Song Qiuyun and Jiang Chu, killed the son of a ninth-stage Ability User in a rage.

This clearly indicates their close relationship.

Jiang Chu is also an orphan, so there's no way to draw closer to him.

But Song Song Qiuyun is different—she stands behind the entire Song family!

Coincidentally, the Song family is currently in crisis.

They have no objection to doing a favor and helping the Song family along the way.

"Old Wang, thank you. If not for you, I'd still be in the dark."

"When you have time, I'll treat you to a meal."

Song Feng let out a long breath, finally understanding.

"No problem at all. If your Song family truly becomes in-laws with Xu Jingming, don't forget our Guild."

"Don't worry, I won't."

Song Feng nodded and hung up the phone.

"Could Xu Jingming really have this much influence? Even the Black Dragon Legion, a major force, would place orders with our Song family because of him?"

Song Hai, who had listened the whole time, still found it hard to believe.

In his mind, wasn't Xu Jingming still just a rising prodigy in development?

"I didn't expect it either."

Song Feng's face was equally filled with awe.

If this had happened earlier, would the Elders' Council even have approved my separation from my elder brother Song Zhan?

"But this is better—now that we've split, my brother can't interfere with me anymore."

"He won't be able to come and take a share of the profits like before!"

Song Feng's eyes gleamed; after a pause, he continued: "This time, we've benefited from Xu Jingming's light."

He may not even know it himself, but we can't ignore it."

"I'll send Song Qiuyun a message right away and ask her to arrange a meeting with Xu Jingming."

Though his daughter is Xu Jingming's girlfriend, he didn't take it for granted.

On the contrary, he felt this profit should be shared with Xu Jingming...

"Catherine! Catherine!"

"Saint! Saint!"

"..."

In the virtual world, the stadium erupted with deafening cheers like a tidal wave.

The top-eight advancement match required only four battles.

Xu Jingming was the first to step onto the stage and crushed Aileen, the EU's top fighter, with overwhelming force.

The following three battles—Andrei, Su Yu, and Catherine—also ended in decisive victories.

"The top-eight advancement match is over. The four finalists are Xu Jingming and Su Yu from Great Xia, Andrei from Bear Nation, and Catherine from the United States! Congratulations to them!"

After Catherine was teleported off the arena, the host's voice rose again:

"Unlike previous tournaments, this year's top four are all SS-rank Ability Awakeners!"

"The semifinals and final will officially begin on November 23rd at 9 PM, national time!"

"I guarantee this will be the most intense pair of matches since the Talent Tournament began!"

"We welcome all viewers to attend on time!"

With that, the central holographic projection in the stadium dimmed, and the crowd cheered as they prepared to teleport away.

Song Song Qiuyun, who had intended to pull Xu Jingming away, suddenly received a message from her father, Song Feng.

"Huh? My dad says he wants to meet you—he's asking when you're free."

Song Song Qiuyun relayed the message.

"Mr. Song wants to meet me? What's it about? Can we meet in the virtual world?" Xu Jingming asked, puzzled.

"He didn't specify, but he said he wants to meet in person—at your Lei Ting Martial Arts Headquarters."

Song Song Qiuyun shook her head, her beautiful eyes filled with curiosity.

It felt like her father was hiding something from her.

"Tell him I'm free 24 hours a day—he can just come over."

After a moment's thought, Xu Jingming murmured.

The semifinals begin at 9 PM international time on November 23rd, which is 9 AM on the 23rd in Great Xia.

It's currently 10 AM on November 22nd; Mr. Song can arrive from Sichuan in just a few hours—plenty of time.

It is now 10 a. m. on November 22nd; Uncle Song will arrive from Sichuan Province in just a few hours, so there is more than enough time.

Song Song Qiuyun nodded, then suddenly suggested, her eyes twinkling: "Since my courses at Magic University aren't heavy these two days, what if I come with Chu Chu Xuan to your Lei Ting Martial Arts Headquarters?"

"Sure. After the peak match, we get two days off before the offense-defense rounds start."

"I can take you around the area then."

Xu Jingming smiled.

"Song Qiuyun, your dad will be coming too—should I come along? Won't that be awkward?" Jiang Chu hesitated.

"It's fine—Dad doesn't care about these formalities." Song Song Qiuyun hugged the white-haired girl tightly.

"Good." Jiang Chu sighed in relief, fully at ease.

She unconsciously gripped Xu Jingming's large hand, looking forward to the upcoming meeting.

Though the virtual world offered full sensory immersion, she always felt something was missing.

Meeting in person made her feel more secure...

Sichuan is over 1,200 kilometers from Lei Ting Martial Arts Headquarters in Nanning, Guizhou Province.

Magic City's Ability University is over 2,000 kilometers from Lei Ting Martial Arts Headquarters.

Song Feng should have arrived first, but something delayed him.

Instead, Song Song Qiuyun and Jiang Chu arrived first, landing in Nanning, Guizhou Province, at 2 PM on the 22nd via a combat aircraft.

Upon receiving word of their landing, Xu Jingming went to wait at the main entrance of Lei Ting Martial Arts Headquarters.

Instead, Song Song Qiuyun and Jiang Chu arrived first in Ningnan City, Guizhou Province, at 2 p. m. on the 22nd, aboard a military aircraft.

"I never expected to see Lei Di on my first visit to Lei Ting Martial Arts Headquarters—this is amazing!"

"Oh, I wish I could ask for an autograph, but I'm too scared."

"I never expected that on my first visit to Lei Ting Martial Arts Gym, I'd see Lei Di! This is amazing!"

Thanks to his brilliant performance in the Talent Tournament,

Xu Jingming had barely appeared at the main gate of Lei Ting Martial Arts Headquarters when he drew the attention of many passersby.

Had he not deliberately released a faint aura of pressure, the crowd would have already surrounded him completely.

"Huh? Is that Xu Jingming?"

At that moment, Xia Lan, stepping out of the martial arts hall with Zhou Zhou Xiaoman, also noticed Xu Jingming.

Her beautiful eyes instantly brightened.

Since returning from Myanmar, Xu Jingming had seemed constantly occupied with other matters.

This was the first time she'd encountered him outside the Talent Tournament.

"Let's go say hello."

Xia Lan's face lit up with a bright smile as she took Zhou Zhou Xiaoman's hand and walked toward him.

"Let's go over and say hello."

Xia Lan's lovely face beamed with a bright smile as she strode forward with her long legs, pulling Zhou Zhou Xiaoman along toward them.