Chapter 578

"The Saint has arrived."

"Saint, are you alright?"

Around her were all members of the Holy Church; as soon as Catherine appeared, they hurriedly asked with urgency.

Catherine unconsciously touched her white forehead—the spot just pierced through by Xu Jingming's spear.

The virtual world's Genius Competition is 100% pain simulation; that's how you die.

For her, it was undeniably cruel.

Is this guy this ruthless toward everyone?

Couldn't he have chosen a different spot...

Though her heart was gloomy, Catherine still spoke softly:

"I'm fine, you don't need to worry."

Her voice was as flat as she could make it, yet those around her still detected a hint of anger in her words.

This surprised them; Catherine, like a true angel, rarely showed emotional fluctuations.

Yet now, she had revealed such obvious emotional color.

"Xu Jingming... I didn't beat you in the Finals, but in the Defense Challenge, I will outlast you!"

Catherine bit her pearl-like teeth, silently resolving within her heart.

In fact,

she still had some doubts about the previous battle.

S+ rank combat techniques are not easily activated.

Especially the same technique; at least a cooldown period is required before release.

Yet Xu Jingming's two spears came with virtually no gap, seamlessly linked in the blink of an eye.

Precisely because of this, she failed to react in time, leading to her ultimate defeat.

"After the Genius Competition ends, I can add him as a friend and ask him in detail."

Gazing at the tall figure on the arena,

despite her anger, Catherine's heart could not help but flicker with a faint curiosity.

Besides, though she lost this time,

the Lord's radiance still needs to be spread; she must make Xu Jingming feel the Lord's greatness.

"Lei Shen Jiang Shi! From its power alone, this is definitely an SSS-rank combat technique!"

"Indeed, and the technique's effect is tied to reducing the cooldown between techniques."

"Without this technique, Xu Jingming could never have released the S+ rank Thunder Piercing Demon Killing Spear twice in succession."

"......"

Compared to Catherine, the experts in the VIP lounge naturally had sharper eyes.

In just a few words, they had already analyzed Xu Jingming's winning method.

The truth was indeed this.

The SSS-rank combat technique "Lei Shen Jiang Shi" greatly reduces the casting time of spell-type techniques.

Its principle lies in accelerating spiritual force circulation and speeding up the condensation of lightning-based abilities according to spell technique timing.

The S+ rank "Thunder Piercing Demon Killing Spear," though a close-combat fighting technique, requires bodily coordination to cast.

Yet it still demands the lightning-based ability to condense onto the spear in a specific manner.

This meant the Thunder Piercing Demon Killing Spear also received amplification from Lei Shen Jiang Shi.

Although Xu Jingming commonly uses his right hand, under Thunderstorm State, his physical attributes multiplied several times over.

He was like a human dragon-like beast!

His left-hand proficiency was similarly high, allowing him to successfully cast the Thunder Piercing Demon Killing Spear with his left hand.

"Yet Xu Jingming's battle awareness is truly terrifying.

Amid such intense combat, he still conceived such a tactic.

The Finals champion—deservedly so."

Not only were the Daxia experts praising him; even foreign experts nodded in agreement.

Many foreign experts closely allied with Daxia even bowed to Cao Jun in congratulations.

Cao Jun's face glowed red, a faint smile on his lips—he was clearly delighted.

"Xu Jingming's performance was excellent!

Xiao Li, after the Genius Competition ends, I will personally apply for a reward for you.

Cao Jun said cheerfully.

Noticing Ling Shuang beside him, he slapped his forehead and immediately added:

"How forgetful of me—I recall Shuang girl was Xu Jingming's vice-principal at Mo University, right?

Xu Jingming's current strength owes you some credit; I'll apply for a reward for you too."

"Thank you, Grandpa Cao."

Su Qingli and Ling Shuang's faces lit up, quickly thanking him.

"Also, Xu Jingming's body cultivation technique was learned from a teacher at Mo University.

I remember that teacher's name is Yang Zhentian, right? You did well—your reward is included too."

Cao Jun's voice rang out again.

Even I get a reward?

Yang Zhentian in the corner was surprised.

As a lower-rank Grandmaster of the eighth tier, he was hardly conspicuous in this VIP hall.

But the moment Cao Jun called his name, gaze after gaze of envy turned their way.

Yang Zhentian also hurriedly rose to offer his thanks: "Many thanks, Senior Cao."

"Tsk, I've only ever heard of a mother rising in status through her son — never imagined that when a disciple excels, the teacher would actually get a reward too."

"When one flourishes, all flourish; when one suffers, all suffer — haven't the rules of our Great Xia always been like this?"

"True enough — if only Xu Jingming were my student."

"......"

Many of Great Xia's powerhouses were murmuring among themselves, gaze after gaze of envy falling on Su Qingli, Ling Shuang, and Yang Zhentian.

The kind of reward that could make Cao Jun file an application was extremely generous — at the very least, it started at SS-rank!

More importantly,

as Xu Jingming continued to grow in the future, scenes like this would very likely play out again.

Tell me — who wouldn't want such an outstanding disciple?

"The Global Genius Exchange Tournament's Summit Finals has concluded. Next up is the match for third and fourth place.

Once third and fourth place are decided, the Summit Tournament officially ends, and the Attack-and-Defense Tournament will begin right after.

All 100,000 contestants who passed the preliminaries, please enter the Virtual World five hours from now to take part in the Attack-and-Defense Tournament.

Anyone who fails to show up on time will be deemed to have forfeited."

On the arena stage, the announcer was laying out the schedule for what came next.

The Attack-and-Defense Tournament would simulate frontline battlefield scenarios for each contestant.

Therefore, it was impossible to give all one billion contestants of the Genius Tournament a chance to take part.

The computing load would simply be too great — even the Virtual World couldn't handle it.

Only those who passed the preliminaries would have the chance to participate.

Having finished, the announcer removed his earpiece and came before Xu Jingming with extreme deference:

"Mr. Xu, the Summit Tournament championship trophy, along with the champion's reward,

will be presented together at the Genius Tournament awards ceremony after the Attack-and-Defense Tournament concludes. You may teleport back to the audience seating now, Mr. Xu."

Xu Jingming nodded and tapped the teleport option that appeared before his eyes.

His whole body vanished on the spot, reappearing in the audience seating between Song Qiuyun and Jiang Chuxuan.

"First in the Championship Match! Amazing!"

"Jingming, you're incredible!"

The instant he teleported back, Xu Jingming received two enthusiastic kisses, one from each side.

Before he could even speak, another message appeared before his eyes — a teleport invitation sent by Teacher Su Qingli.