Chapter 647: Can

BOOM BOOM BOOM!!

The entire sky above Lei Hai was choked with dark clouds, forming a stark contrast with the blue skies and white clouds surrounding it.

Violent golden lightning arcs darted and flickered through the clouds, as continuous thunderclaps exploded without end.

The shock vibrated through the audience seats, making the students' eardrums ache slightly.

On the arena, Xu Jingming's back erupted with a wildly spinning Radiant Thunder Ring.

One after another, violent, brilliant golden lightning bolts slammed into George, over a hundred meters away!

As a reinforcement-type S-class awakened, he was now completely charred black from head to toe.

Crimson blood seeped from his skin, making him look utterly horrific.

The hard alloy ground around the arena had been blasted into countless craters by the violent lightning.

"Can't even close the distance? Teacher George?"

"How is this possible? The Furious Ape Armament is an SSS-level combat technique!"

The arrogance of the Sacred Spirit Martial Arts Academy students, so loud just moments ago in the lobby, vanished completely.

In its place: stunned silence and bewilderment.

To them, Coach George had always been a godlike figure.

They had personally witnessed George defeat a powerful Seventh-Stage Master of Sacred Spirit Martial Arts Academy.

Yet before Xu Jingming, he was locked in place—unable to even get close!

If you can't close the distance, what can a martial artist use against an elemental master?

Not only were the students stunned—George himself was filled with disbelief.

Everyone who watched the Talent Tournament knew Xu Jingming trained both as an elemental master and a martial artist.

And his close-quarters combat was far stronger than any elemental technique!

In the end, it was only his long spear that allowed him to defeat Catherine.

Yet he couldn't even withstand Xu Jingming's elemental assaults—how could he possibly engage in close combat?

"How can he be this strong?! He's just a Sixth-Stage Awakened—I'm a Seventh-Stage Master!"

George's eyes bulged, his mind screaming silently.

Xu Jingming's lightning strikes hit him like iron hammers weighing tens of thousands of kilograms.

They inflicted massive damage—and delivered crushing impact force.

He felt as if trapped in quicksand, unable to move his legs at all.

He could only endure passively the relentless lightning bombardment.

Yet the formidable vitality and regenerative power of a Seventh-Stage Master awakened—

seemed utterly useless against this lightning!

He felt the lightning surging wildly inside him, tearing through his body at will.

Every cell in his body screamed in agony; he even smelled the scent of death!

At this moment, he realized:

The SSS-level combat technique he had spent years cultivating was utterly useless before Xu Jingming!

"Damn Xia! Despicable Xia people!"

George had always looked down on Xia people—but now,

he realized that if he didn't surrender, he might die here.

"I surrender..."

He opened his mouth to yield.

But another bolt of lightning struck—cutting him off mid-sentence!

"Think you can surrender that easily? Impossible!"

Xu Jingming's eyes, wreathed in golden lightning, held an unprecedented coldness.

"Thunder God Finger!"

BOOM BOOM BOOM~~

A thick finger of golden lightning emerged from the clouds and slammed straight into George!

"AHHHH!!!"

Amid a piercing scream, a golden lightning mushroom cloud rose above the arena.

George, already a bloody mess, was instantly charred and carbonized—waves of roasted meat scent spread through the air.

Pain! Too much pain!

With this Thunder God Finger, George felt his entire body was about to shatter.

Yet he couldn't speak—he could only stare desperately at Ling Shuang, begging with his eyes that he didn't want to fight anymore.

But Ling Shuang acted as if she hadn't seen—she ignored him completely.

"Fu*k!"

At this moment, George finally understood.

"Surrender ends the match"? Total bullshit!

Xu Jingming and Ling Shuang were trying to kill him!

"Whoa, that's terrible."

"Even fully carbonized and still won't yield? No wonder he's the head coach of Sacred Spirit Martial Arts Academy!"

Murmurs of shock rippled through the crowd.

Unaware of George's true state, the spectators marveled at his iron will.

"This guy... he's gotten even stronger..."

Catherine bit her red lip lightly.

She couldn't fathom how fast Xu Jingming was improving!

At this rate, when would she ever be able to recruit him into the Holy Church?

"And his elemental weapon... it's no ordinary thing."

Catherine stared thoughtfully at the golden ring behind Xu Jingming.

Xu Jingming followed Ling Shuang's instructions with absolute seriousness.

He bombarded George with lightning for nearly a full minute—only stopping when Ling Shuang called him off.

And now,

on the alloy arena, a deep crater had been carved out around George.

Within it, violent golden lightning arcs flickered and danced continuously.

George had long since lost consciousness.

He looked utterly horrific—his entire body charred and carbonized.

Had it not been for his faint, shallow breaths,

everyone would have thought him dead.

"George has lost consciousness. First match: Xu Jingming wins!"

Ling Shuang showed no surprise at the result, announcing loudly.

"Tch, thought George was strong—turns out he's this weak?"

"Funny. We all came over expecting a showdown—and ended up watching his humiliation."

"The Thunder Emperor is the top prodigy of Blue Planet. Even if he's one stage lower, he still crushes him."

"..."

The media crew all shook their heads.

Before the match, George had claimed he would defeat Xu Jingming.

He'd even had press releases prepared in advance.

Yet in the end, Xu Jingming crushed him effortlessly.

"Careful—don't apply pressure!"

"Sh*t! What the hell are you doing? George's body's about to crumble!"

The first match ended.

The Sacred Spirit Martial Arts Academy students rushed onto the arena, carefully lifting George down.

Afraid that even a slight mishandling might shatter his carbonized body.

"About 40% of his flesh and muscle have been carbonized—must be completely excised."

"Even with my healing, it'll take at least a month to fully recover."

The Seventh-Stage healing awakened from Sacred Spirit Martial Arts Academy examined George, then spoke grimly.

"40% carbonized?!"

The students gasped, their gazes toward Xu Jingming filled with dread.

Only George's formidable physique had saved him—if this had been an ordinary Seventh-Stage Master, he'd be beyond saving.

"No wonder he's the Thunder Emperor! So strong!"

"Coach Xu is awesome!"

While Sacred Spirit Martial Arts Academy was somber, Lei Hai Martial Arts Academy erupted in cheers and joy.

George was famous—before the match, they'd worried about Xu Jingming.

Yet after the fight began, Xu Jingming defeated George effortlessly without even using the second-level enhancement...