Chapter 695: Prepare to Fish! Break Through Seventh Rank!

"Hmm, Sister Shuang, this mission of yours definitely has suspicious points."

Xu Jingming nodded, exited Thunder Form, and sat beside Ling Shuang on the sofa, asking:

"Was the task for the eighth-rank Master Zongshi issued by the headquarters where Su Laoshi is stationed?"

"No."

Ling Shuang shook her head, "It was assigned directly by the branch director—that is, Liu Shan."

"Liu Shan? Could he be from the Tianming Sect?" Xu Jingming frowned; this was truly a troublesome matter.

After adepts reach high rank, the gap created by ability levels is not as vast as it is at low ranks.

Liu Shan is a peak eighth-rank adept, though his ability is only Class A.

But in direct combat, Ling Shuang, an upper eighth-rank adept, could defeat him but could not kill or capture him.

"We can't confirm it yet, but we can't rule it out either."

Ling Shuang pursed her lips and continued:

"Not just Liu Shan—the other two deputy directors can also assign missions."

"So currently, there are three suspects?"

Xu Jingming mused.

"Yes, it could be one of the three, or all three."

"Or even some others we haven't considered but are genuinely involved."

Ling Shuang's expression was solemn.

"All three could be? Is the Tianming Sect that powerful?"

"Why abandon their positions as branch director and deputy directors to join a cult?"

Xu Jingming found this hard to understand.

From any perspective, the Lei Ting Martial Hall was infinitely better than the trash of the Tianming Sect, who could only operate in the shadows.

Such places usually attracted only adepts who had committed capital crimes.

"It's not about which side is better."

Ling Shuang shook her head gently, "It's about mental-type adepts—or possibly ferocious beasts skilled in mental manipulation—forcibly brainwashing them."

After brainwashing, the adepts still retain their own thoughts and their actions show no outward change."

But deep inside, they unconsciously regard themselves as members of the Tianming Sect."

That's also why, during the academic excursion, Councilor Liu directly imposed the Soul Seal on you upon learning you possessed an SS-class ability."

In fact, both I and your Su Laoshi have trained in mental defense techniques."

"I see."

Xu Jingming immediately understood, then asked curiously:

"But aren't such techniques only learnable by mental-type adepts? How can a space-type adept learn them?"

"Mental-type adepts are simply those whose spiritual power has a specific enhancement or trait compared to ordinary adepts."

Once adepts reach high rank, their spiritual power grows strong enough that they can naturally learn techniques related to mental control."

Ling Shuang explained, "By the time you reach seventh rank, your spiritual power should be sufficient to meet the requirements for learning such techniques."

Then you can check the headquarters for suitable mental-type techniques."

"Alright."

Xu Jingming nodded and returned to the main topic: "Should we call Su Laoshi for this operation to catch the infiltrators?"

"There's no time."

Ling Shuang shook her head, "Your Su Laoshi and several ninth-rank councilors went to the Wildlands; they won't return for ten days."

It's only the seventh day now—we can't even contact her."

But even if she doesn't come, it doesn't matter—we don't need to kill the infiltrators, only to expose them."

With my space ability, I can easily escape; once we identify who belongs to the Tianming Sect, the matter becomes simple."

"But they know you have a space ability to escape."

"They wouldn't be so foolish as to come forward and attack, then expose themselves, would they?"

Xu Jingming asked, puzzled.

"That depends on your performance."

Ling Shuang turned her beautiful eyes toward him and smiled lightly:

"To the Tianming Sect, my injuries are likely still unrecovered, and I cannot use my space ability."

You can pretend to know nothing and leak this information to the director and the others."

They've invested so much effort—even deploying a ninth-rank Beast Emperor who controls space—and still failed to kill me."

They must be furious; once they learn I'm severely wounded and can't use my space ability, they'll strike again."

"I get it—like last time at Magic University, spreading false information to lure them in."

Xu Jingming instantly understood.

"Clever."

Ling Shuang smiled brightly, "Last time in Greater Xia, no Tianming Sect Red Bishop took the bait."

Let's see if this time it works—but even if it fails, we lose nothing."

More importantly, once we confirm that the director or one of the deputy directors is from the Tianming Sect,"

We can use that as a breakthrough to charge Liu Shan with mismanagement and remove him from his position as director."

Then, her goal in coming to Dayangzhou will be half accomplished."

"Alright, when we get back, Sister Shuang, just watch me work."

As for acting, Xu Jingming still had full confidence in himself.

"By the way, aren't you going to break through to seventh tier?"

"Break through right here—it's perfect, no one knows this villa is mine."

Hearing Ling Shuang smiled sweetly, her beautiful eyes faintly shimmering with unusual light.

Before breaking through, Xu Jingming had already been able to kill an eighth-tier Master Zongshi head-on.

Once he breaks through to seventh tier, he should be able to assist in the subsequent fishing operations.

"Alright."

Xu Jingming nodded, sat cross-legged on the sofa, and opened his system panel.

【Name】: Xu Jingming

【Level】: Sixth Tier Upper (+)

【Ability】: Dou Tian Shenlei (SS)

【Physique】: Qi Blood (+)

【Spirit】: He (+)

【Skills】: Gunplay (Master Zongshi), Fist Technique (Master+), Wan Leitian Lei Tianlao Yin (SSS, Beginner+), Lei Shen Jiang Shi (SSS, Beginner+)......

【Body Cultivation】: Shen Lei Bu Mie Shen (SS, Ninth Layer)

【Spirit Refinement】: Lei Hai Guan Xiang Fa (SSS, Fourth Layer+)

【Domain】: Lightning Domain (First Layer+)

【Ability Points】: 943,000

After killing the two seventh-tier peak Divine Blood Envoys, Xu Jingming gained 30,000 ability points.

But that eighth-tier Master Zongshi didn't seem to be a Divine Blood Envoy—he didn't use any Divine Blood secret arts, and killing him yielded no ability points either.

"I already have 940,000 ability points, yet there's still no plus sign after the ability."

"It seems the ability points needed to evolve from SS to SSS are even more than I imagined."

Taking a deep breath, Xu Jingming no longer hesitated—he directly used his mind to click the plus sign next to his level on the system panel.

Ability Points -850,000!

【Level】: Sixth Tier Upper → Seventh Tier Lower!

From first to ninth tier—the nine levels of an ability user—starting at seventh tier, a qualitative change occurs!

The higher the tier, the greater the gap between levels!

That's why seventh-tier ability users are called Master Zongshi-class powerhouses.

It's because seventh-tier ability users are powerful enough to establish their own sects and sustain a mighty ability user clan!

At the very moment Xu Jingming began his advancement, the ambient Yuan energy around him surged wildly into his body!

Simultaneously, boundless power surged within him—his physique and ability underwent a cataclysmic transformation!

Above the entire villa, a colossal Yuan energy vortex formed!

The terrifying aura radiated outward, instantly causing all ability users within a ten-mile radius to turn their heads, their expressions filled with shock and uncertainty.