Chapter 644

An hour later, the regular meeting ended.

Ling Shuang returned to her office to continue working, while Xu Jingming went back to his villa.

"Welcome back, Head Coach."

A smart prompt sounded, and the villa's front door slowly swung open on both sides.

As soon as Xu Jingming stepped inside, he saw Xia Lan sitting on the sofa in the first-floor living room.

"Jingming, you're back?"

Xia Lan wasn't surprised by Xu Jingming's return—she had already seen him in the building just now.

But what puzzled her was that before entering the building, he had been wearing a bloodstained black battle suit.

Why had he changed into loose training gear by the time he got back?

"Glad you're here—I have a question to ask you." Xu Jingming walked over with a smile.

Tomorrow, the Sacred Spirit Martial Arts Hall will send people over; besides Head Coach George, they'll surely bring some students too.

There will definitely be a segment where students exchange and spar with each other.

But he knew nothing about the elite training camp's top fighters, so he had to ask Xia Lan.

Xia Lan, besides receiving Ling Shuang's private instruction, trained only in the public training room.

She naturally knew every strong fighter in the camp and told Xu Jingming all of them.

"Thanks. After tomorrow's Sacred Spirit Martial Arts Hall business is done, I'll treat you to dinner."

Xu Jingming, now well-informed, expressed his gratitude.

"Sure."

Xia Lan's eyes lit up, nodding eagerly, then she grew curious:

"Aren't you going back to the Wild Zone?"

"I'll rest for a few days. After Lunar New Year's Eve and the Spring Festival, I'll go." Xu Jingming replied with a smile.

Today is February 16th; the Great Xia Lunar New Year's Eve falls on February 19th.

Even if he planned to enter the Wild Zone, a day or two more wouldn't matter.

After all, Lunar New Year's Eve is about reunion—perfect timing to take Teacher Ling out to dinner.

I'll also meet up with my aunt and Song Qiuyun in the virtual world.

"That makes sense." Xia Lan nodded in agreement.

Other holidays could be skipped, but Lunar New Year's Eve and the Spring Festival were different.

On the second floor of the villa, Thorn Sword Grass took root in thick black soil, continuously drawing nutrients.

The entire living room resembled a primeval forest, filled with the stems and sword-shaped leaves of Thorn Sword Grass.

Rustle rustle rustle~~

As soon as Xu Jingming stepped up, the Thorn Sword Grass trembled its branches and leaves, as if welcoming his return.

"Eva, when will Thorn Sword Grass reach seventh rank?"

Looking at the Thorn Sword Grass, noticeably more lush than when he left, Xu Jingming asked aloud.

During this period, to help the Thorn Sword Grass grow faster,

he hadn't taken it into the Wild Zone—he'd kept it here in the villa for cultivation.

"About another fifty days," Eva replied. "This growth rate is decent, but the narcissus milk is nearly depleted—you need to restock soon."

"No problem. Just place the order with Aileen—only narcissus milk, no thick black soil needed."

Xu Jingming still had dozens of cubic meters of thick black soil stored in his space ring.

More than enough for the Thorn Sword Grass to reach seventh rank.

After checking the cultivation status of the Thorn Sword Grass, Xu Jingming sat down on the sofa.

He opened his system panel and looked at the Ability Points section.

【Ability Points】:

650, 00 Ability Points!

This was Xu Jingming's earnings over the past month, including another trip to the Mocheng frontline battlefield.

The entire system panel was covered in plus signs.

But unfortunately, the most crucial ability and its rank still couldn't be upgraded.

"Fine, the ability is one thing—going from SS to SSS might require countless Ability Points.

But why can't I even upgrade my rank?"

Xu Jingming frowned slightly.

He had spent 510, 00 Ability Points to advance from sixth-rank lower to sixth-rank middle.

Logically, 650, 00 Ability Points should have been enough to upgrade again.

"It should be soon. Next time I enter the Wild Zone, I'll likely reach sixth-rank upper."

Xu Jingming exhaled deeply and walked into his bedroom.

Though it was still early—only just past seven in the evening—

he had just returned from the Wild Zone and desperately needed rest.

"Teacher Xu, could you guide me on this combat technique?"

"Coach Xu, I heard you've been in the Wild Zone this whole time—is that true?"

"Coach Xu, are you free tonight? Can I treat you to dinner?"

"Coach Xu, are you free tonight? Could I invite you to dinner?"

The next day, to welcome the Sacred Spirit Martial Arts Hall,

Xu Jingming donned the Thunder Martial Arts Hall instructor uniform for the first time in a long while and appeared on the second-floor training hall.

As soon as he showed up, he was surrounded by students.

Some lightning-affinity students wanted to ask about combat technique cultivation.

Others were curious about where he'd been these past weeks; some young girls directly invited him to dinner.

Among them was Elena, who had only joined the camp a month ago.

This Westland Princess was less interested in the training camp than in Xu Jingming himself.

She clung to Xia Lan and stayed by Xu Jingming's side without leaving.

She pulled Xia Lan over and stayed right by Xu Jingming's side without leaving.

Golden lightning flared as Xu Jingming ignored the gossip and invitations, focusing entirely on demonstrating combat techniques for the students.

After all, he was Head Coach—he had to teach them something, right?

As for George and the Sacred Spirit Martial Arts Hall crew, since he already knew their nature, there was no need to wait in the hall for them.

It wasn't until 11 a. ., two hours later, that someone came to inform him the Sacred Spirit Martial Arts Hall group had arrived.

"Let's go. Let's see what kind of people these are—daring to bring the media along."

The wild, brilliant golden lightning receded as Xu Jingming led the way toward the elevator.

Behind him followed the elite training camp's students.

"Sh*t! Xu Jingming didn't even come out to greet us! What the hell is this Thunder Martial Arts Hall thinking!"

"They invited us over, yet treat us like this?"

"I was planning to hold back, but given this attitude, during the sparring session, we'll have to beat them senseless!"

"I was going to hold back, but given how things are, we'll have to beat them senseless in the sparring session!"

On the first floor of the Thunder Martial Arts Hall's lounge, the Sacred Spirit Martial Arts Hall group had arrived.

Behind them trailed a team of media personnel, holding professional-looking filming equipment.

Several white men were loudly complaining in English.

George, the team's lead instructor, was tall, with a high nose bridge and a classic Western appearance.

Instead of stopping his students' complaints, he shook his head to Catherine beside him:

"The Great Xia people are truly barbaric—they don't even know basic courtesy."

Catherine blinked but said nothing.

From her understanding of Xu Jingming, he wasn't an impolite man.

This situation felt deliberate—like he was deliberately ignoring them.

Then again, bringing so many news reporters here was clearly a challenge.

Of course he wouldn't give them a warm welcome!

It would be strange if they showed them any courtesy!

none of this had anything to do with her.

She wasn't from the Sacred Spirit Martial Arts Hall—she was just here to watch the show.

Just as the white men's complaints were escalating, a puzzled voice rang out from afar:

"Where did these stray dogs come from? Why are they barking so annoyingly?"

"Where did this stray dog come from, barking so annoyingly?"

George, who had been speaking to Catherine, immediately narrowed his eyes and looked ahead.

He saw Xu Jingming, tall and radiating an aura of pressure, approaching with a group of people.

He saw Xu Jingming, tall and radiating a faint sense of oppression, leading a group toward them.