Chapter 713: Liu Shan

Just as Xu Jingming and Ling Shuang were enjoying boundless springtime warmth.

Liu Shan also met Vice Director Hu Jinyu in the virtual world.

"What's so urgent that you sent me several messages?"

Hu Jinyu asked calmly.

As a ninth-rank mid-tier Law Saint, he spent considerable time daily on cultivation.

Only during moments like this could he spare a little time to handle trivial matters.

"Director, something's happened on my end," Liu Shan said with a bitter smile, recounting the morning's events.

"What? Xu Jingming has already reached the seventh rank? So fast?"

Hu Jinyu frowned.

Xu Jingming only ascended to the sixth rank during the Talent Competition.

Counting the time, only slightly more than four months have passed.

Yet he directly broke through from sixth to seventh rank!

This pace is simply monstrous!

"Yes."

Liu Shan nodded slightly; despite Xu Jingming being a rival, he couldn't help but marvel:

"They say the higher the rank of an adept, the slower the advancement.

But this rule seems to have no effect on Xu Jingming.

His teacher, Su Qingli, broke from peak sixth rank to ninth-rank Martial Saint in just two and a half years.

I suspect Xu Jingming will break his teacher's record and shorten the time to reach ninth rank even further."

"That's not certain. The difficulty multiplies from seventh to eighth to ninth rank.

Unless Xu Jingming, like Su Qingli, relies on external aids, it's nearly impossible to reach ninth rank within two and a half years."

Hu Jinyu shook his head.

Take Liu Shan himself—he's been stuck at peak eighth rank for nearly five or six years.

Yet he still hasn't taken that final step; he might never break through to ninth rank at all, which alone proves the point.

"External aids?" Liu Shan paused, hearing this term for the first time.

"An extremely rare SSR-grade cultivation resource.

It propelled her rapidly to lower ninth rank, but left behind massive side effects."

Hu Jinyu said no more, offering only a brief explanation.

In truth, the side effects were far greater than imagined.

If Su Qingli wished to advance further to mid-ninth rank, the difficulty would exceed that of breaking from ninth-rank peak to Supreme.

Of course,

Even so, Su Qingli, with her S-rank Lightning-element adept power, was not someone a normal ninth-rank Law Saint could provoke.

"I see. That's why her breakthrough speed was so fast."

Liu Shan suddenly understood.

Remember, when Su Qingli reached ninth rank, she was only twenty-nine years old.

The entire Blue Planet was shaken at the time—yet no one knew the truth behind it was external aid.

"Don't spread word of Su Qingli's affair—it would damage the reputation of our Lei Ting Martial Gym."

Hu Jinyu warned.

On one hand, Su Qingli is still Lei Ting Martial Gym's top combatant; if she falters, the entire gym will suffer.

On the other hand, it's also a hidden card.

If revealed someday, it could become the final straw that topples the camel and completely bring Su Qingli down.

"Don't worry, I understand," Liu Shan replied with a smile.

"Good."

Hu Jinyu nodded, "Also, the fact that Feng Kuan is a Tianming Sect spy must be tightly sealed—don't let it leak."

"Right after the battle ended, I already ordered all bystander adepts to keep that fight confidential.

Otherwise, the video would've spread everywhere by now."

Liu Shan replied with a smile.

To minimize impact as much as possible, he had already acted immediately.

"Good," Hu Jinyu nodded approvingly.

Liu Shan's strength is solid, and his work is reliable—he's the subordinate Liu Shan most favors.

Moreover, once Liu Shan breaks through to ninth rank, he'll become a powerful asset to me.

"But regarding Ling Shuang—did she really only ask you for the positions of Vice Director and Head Administrator?"

Hu Jinyu asked, puzzled.

Put yourself in her place—if I were Ling Shuang, I'd exploit this opportunity to crush you completely.

"That's why they say long hair means short vision. Even as an eighth-rank mid-tier Grand Master, she's incapable of great things."

Liu Shan replied with disdain, then immediately shifted expression, smiling ingratiatingly:

"Besides, you're still at headquarters—Ling Shuang has no power to overthrow me."

"True," Hu Jinyu nodded, finally putting aside his last doubts and suspicions.

April 13, 10:00 a. m.

Today was a clear day, sunlight pouring down from the sky.

The artificial lake of the entire Donghu Community shimmered under the wind, rippling gently, appearing serene and peaceful.

Villa 102, second-floor bedroom.

Xu Jingming awoke on a bed three meters wide.

Beside him, Hearing Ling Shuang lay naked, her white, graceful body stretched out, a faint blush still lingering on her lovely face.

Thinking of what had happened last night, Xu Jingming couldn't help but smile with satisfaction.

The first time, he was in a negative Divine Blood state; the experience was present but not good.

The second time was a brief taste in the bathroom.

Only last night's third time did he truly gain the best experience.

"Jingming..."

At that moment, Hearing Ling Shuang let out a soft sigh and awoke from sleep, her face still flushed with lingering afterglow.

She sat up on the bed and leaned her soft, delicate body against Xu Jingming's chest.

"How are you? Are you alright?" Xu Jingming asked instinctively.

"I'm fine," Hearing Ling Shuang shook her head lightly.

In truth, even she hadn't expected her tolerance to be so strong.

"Good," Xu Jingming smiled.

If it had been Song Qiuyun or Jiang Chuxuan, they wouldn't have recovered in half a day.

"It's all your fault—my feet are still a little sore."

Hearing Ling Shuang pouted playfully.

"Then I'll wash you later," Xu Jingming replied with a smile.

Food safety issues must be personally overseen by me.

"You're so thoughtful."

Hearing Ling Shuang gave Xu Jingming a sultry glance, then paused, speaking with a hint of confusion:

"Jingming, I think I had a dream last night—I saw a beautiful woman.

She called herself the Void Deity and said I had triggered her inheritance, making me a qualified candidate.

She told me to find a treasure called the Divine Kite Pearl, and that all her inheritance was stored within it."