Chapter 716

They don't know you're using the alias Zhou Xuan, fighting on the frontlines.

You needn't care about these rumors.

At the entrance to the Thunder Martial Arts Academy's headquarters compound, Ling Shuang softly comforted him as she heard the faint murmurs around them.

"I never cared to begin with," Xu Jingming shook his head.

Since entering the seventh stage, he has already been on a different level from Catherine, Su Yu, and others.

His opponents are stronger eighth-stage Grand Masters and eighth-stage ferocious beasts.

Even when they were still training in the wilderness zones of Dayangzhou, he was already fighting across the frontlines.

The level of danger between them was never the same from the start.

"Ling Shuang, Jingming, welcome back."

Zhi—

A flash of jade-blue lightning revealed Su Qingli's slender figure before them.

"Teacher Su," Xu Jingming bowed respectfully.

"Let's go, we'll talk at the villa," Su Qingli looked at Ling Shuang.

As her spatial power spread, the three vanished instantly before the respectful gazes of those around them.

"How's it going? Are you settling in well on Dayangzhou?"

At the academy director's villa, Su Qingli leaned back on the sofa, her beautiful large eyes fixed on Xu Jingming.

Liu Wei, the director's assistant, was also present, wearing her usual black-rimmed glasses.

A long black braid was tied into a single ponytail, loosely hanging beside her shoulders.

She exuded a quiet, elegant aura, as if steeped in scholarly spirit, like a secretary.

In truth, Liu Shan was doing secretary work, busy pouring tea for the three of them.

"Everything's decent enough, but it still doesn't feel as good as Da Xia," Xu Jingming smiled.

"Of course—Da Xia is the best place to settle."

Su Qingli smiled, "Once we handle Liu Shan, you two can stay on Star Fall Continent for another one or two months, then return."

Once Ling Shuang and Xu Jingming fully ascend, it will be easy to replace the Mocheng branch's staff with their own people.

At that point, the Mocheng branch will be firmly under her control.

Though Ling Shuang is highly capable in management, strength is the priority—the director has too many duties.

She couldn't let Ling Shuang waste all her time on mundane academy affairs.

As for Xu Jingming, cultivation is the focus; vice-director is merely a title.

Of course, even if the two return from Star Fall Continent, she won't revoke their director privileges or benefits.

"Jingming, let's go—to the outdoor training ground."

"Let me see how strong you've become since reaching the seventh stage."

Su Qingli gazed intently at Xu Jingming.

But these words made Liu Wei's right hand tremble, nearly spilling the tea from the pot, her heart surging with shock.

Has Xu Jingming already reached the seventh stage?

She still remembered when she first greeted Xu Jingming outside the Thunder Martial Arts Headquarters building—he was only upper fourth stage then.

Less than a year has passed; she's still stuck at seventh stage peak, yet Xu Jingming has surged to seventh stage!

What an astonishing breakthrough speed?

"Xiao Wei, you didn't expect this either?" Seeing Liu Wei's stunned expression, Su Qingli couldn't help smiling.

"Yes, Xu's progress is astonishing," Liu Wei murmured, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Haha, then come along—let's watch Jingming's strength since reaching seventh stage."

Su Qingli's crimson lips curved slightly upward.

Nothing pleased her more than hearing others praise her student.

Su Qingli's villa was large; behind it lay not only a small garden but also an outdoor training ground one hundred meters long and wide.

Now, Su Qingli and Xu Jingming stood at opposite ends of the training ground, forty meters apart.

Ling Shuang and Liu Wei stood to the right of the training ground as spectators.

"I've reinforced this space—your combat backlash won't spill beyond the training ground."

A surge of spatial power spread from Ling Shuang, enveloping the entire outdoor training ground.

Xu Jingming possesses eighth-stage mid-level combat power; if he fought freely, the entire villa district would be destroyed—he must be restrained.

"Jingming, I'll suppress my power to eighth stage and won't use any elemental weapons."

"You may fight as you wish—though I still prefer you use your elemental master techniques."

Crackling—

Jade-green thunder, like shattered porcelain, erupted around Su Qingli's slender frame.

S-class elemental ability—Yùqīng Divine Thunder!

The moment her ability ignited, a terrifying aura swept outward, pressing heavily upon all present.

This was merely the pressure from her suppressed eighth-stage power—if she revealed her ninth-stage might,

Everyone here might struggle to breathe.

"Understood."

Xu Jingming took a deep breath, holding nothing back.

Golden thunder flared; a dense, piercing roar of lightning erupted instantly!

Dōutiān Divine Thunder!

Thunderstorm State!

Ultimate Radiant Thunder Ring!

Thunder Domain!!

In an instant, Xu Jingming—already tall—transformed into a terrifying, dragon-like beast.

Within five meters around him, wild golden thunder swirled; behind him blazed a golden halo.

"So it's a domain!" Su Qingli exclaimed in awe.

To master a domain at seventh stage—what would happen if he reached ninth?

"Teacher Su, watch out!"

Crackling—

A towering Thunder God phantom coalesced above Xu Jingming's head.

Sizzle—sizzle—sizzle…

With a flick of his right hand, five bolts of golden lightning, as thick as water barrels, slammed toward Su Qingli!

Chain Heavenly Thunder Technique!

"Good! Thunder Dragon Technique!"

Su Qingli's hair whipped wildly as a thunderous dragon roar echoed—behind her, a thunder dragon emerged.

It devoured every bolt of heavenly lightning, then surged toward Xu Jingming, undiminished.

"Roar—"

Another dragon roar rang out as Xu Jingming summoned his own thunder dragon!

BOOM—

The two dragons collided, jade-green and golden thunder devouring each other.

The golden thunder appeared to have the upper hand.

"Xu… has his power become this monstrous?" Liu Wei stared in shock.

This was Su Qingli!

Before Xu Jingming appeared, she was hailed as the number one prodigy of Blue Planet.

Now, despite being a full major stage higher than Xu Jingming, she was barely holding her ground!

"If even Director Su is being suppressed, would I be instantly obliterated by a single Heavenly Thunder?"

Liu Wei couldn't help thinking.

She also recalled recent online criticisms of Xu Jingming over the past month or two—and found them laughable.

Sixth-stage peak rankings?

Xu Jingming has already broken into seventh stage—who's still playing in sixth stage with you?