Chapter 717: Demonstrating Our Relationship! Su Qingli

Boom—

Above the villa, dark clouds gathered, lightning flashed and thunder roared.

Su Qingli often tested combat techniques at her villa; nearby residents had long grown accustomed to it.

With Ling Shuang's space-based ability isolating the lightning, they had no idea that within the thick clouds, there were not only green lightning but also furious, brilliant golden lightning!

"Su Laoshi, you win—I can't beat you."

In the open-air training ground, Xu Jingming had reached his physical and ability limits, gasping for breath.

He immediately retracted the lightning and exited Thunderstorm State.

"You won."

A clear, melodious voice rang out; Su Qingli's eyes held unmistakable shock and awe:

"Your lightning's power exceeds mine—your endurance is just slightly weaker."

"But since I'm a ninth-rank Law Saint, my ability endurance naturally far surpasses yours."

"But Su Laoshi, you didn't even use an elemental weapon," Xu Jingming said helplessly.

He had already deployed the top-tier elemental weapon, Extreme Radiance Jiyao Jiyao Lei Huan.

And due to repeatedly releasing high-level lightning combat techniques, he had completely drained all stored energy from the Extreme Radiance Jiyao Jiyao Lei Huan.

Thunderstorm State, Thunder Domain, Lei Shen Jiang Shi.

The boosts from these three enhancements were indeed formidable—but the corresponding energy consumption was terrifyingly high!

If not for the Extreme Radiance Jiyao Jiyao Lei Huan supporting him, he likely couldn't have lasted five minutes.

Yet Su Qingli hadn't even used an elemental weapon to amplify her ability's power.

Who was superior was obvious at a glance.

"If I used an elemental weapon, it wouldn't be testing your strength—it'd be bullying you," Su Qingli shook her head.

Her elemental weapon was a staff, carrying her complete lightning-based ability.

Once deployed, Xu Jingming wouldn't stand a chance.

"Xu Jingming's strength is formidable—he far surpasses peers like Catherine and others."

"To fight this well, he's already a crushing-level existence among today's generation on Blue Planet."

」

Assistant Director Liu Wei couldn't help speaking up.

Though she still called him "Student Xu," her gaze and tone carried a hint of respect.

Because she knew that as a seventh-rank Peak Master herself,

Before Xu Jingming, she might be defeated by just a single thread of lightning.

"Jingming, you've only just entered the seventh rank—there's still plenty of room to grow. Don't rush."

"Beating Su Laoshi is just a matter of time."

Ling Shuang smiled at Xu Jingming.

???

Su Qingli was instantly filled with question marks.

She felt her best friend had returned from Dayangzhou and now seemed even more biased toward Xu Jingming.

Though she'd always been biased toward Xu Jingming anyway...

"I know you favor Xu Jingming, but to just blurt it out like that—doesn't that hurt a little?"

Su Qingli pursed her lips, feigning melancholy, sighing softly.

Beside her, Xu Jingming couldn't help smiling.

The always pure and ethereal Su Qingli, among close friends, occasionally revealed an adorable side.

Nearby, Ling Shuang unconsciously touched her cheek.

Do I show it that clearly?

But she soon let it go—she was going to tell Su Qingli anyway; whether obvious or not didn't matter.

"To celebrate Jingming's breakthrough to the seventh rank, I'll treat everyone later."

"Jingming, you're tired—go back to your villa and rest."

For ability users, after reaching the sixth rank, they could sustain their own energy consumption by absorbing Yuan Energy.

As long as they didn't engage in intense combat, eating once every ten days or so was fine.

Xu Jingming, Su Qingli, and the others had even reached the level of Abstaining from Grain—able to fully sustain themselves solely on absorbed Yuan Energy.

Of course, eating more beast meat benefits the body.

Even seventh-rank ability users generally didn't choose Abstaining from Grain, completely replacing food with Yuan Energy.

Meal times were entirely up to personal preference; though it was only just past eight in the morning, far from lunchtime.

Back in the villa's living room, Liu Wei went to arrange the meal.

Xu Jingming sat on the sofa, eyes half-closed, silently practicing his ability cultivation method to restore his energy.

Ling Shuang called Su Qingli to the balcony.

"What? It's only been four months—Sister Shuang, you're dragging me aside for a secret chat already?"

Su Qingli teased with a smile.

In public, to maintain her authority as head of the Thunder Temple, she always called Ling Shuang by name.

But in private, she'd always called her Sister Shuang.

"Remember how we used to sleep together, whispering at night, talking about our futures?"

"Saying that once we grew stronger, we'd build a palace of our own and stay together every day."

A wistful hue floated across Hearing Ling Shuang's pretty face, then she shook her head:

"Right now the two of us are one eighth-rank, one ninth-rank.

We've indeed grown much stronger, and we have the ability to build a palace, but we've long lost those thoughts from back then."

"If Sister Shuang wants to, you can stay at my place tonight.

It's perfect — it's been ages since the two of us spent time together like this."

Su Qingli said with a beaming smile.

"Tonight?"

Hearing Ling Shuang paused slightly, thought of Xu Jingming in the living room, and replied instinctively:

"Let's wait a couple of days."

Compared with her best friend Su Qingli, she still wanted more to spend time with Xu Jingming.

This must be what they call once you've tasted the marrow, you can't forget the flavor......

"!!!!"

Su Qingli widened her eyes and, feigning disbelief, said:

"Sister Shuang, you don't want your dear best friend anymore? You didn't go to Dayangzhou this time and have your heart stolen away by some man, did you?"

This was just a tease — Su Qingli was also looking forward to seeing Hearing Ling Shuang's flustered, embarrassed denial.

This was a common occurrence in the old days too.

But upon hearing this, Hearing Ling Shuang did have a touch of bashfulness on her face, yet she wasn't annoyed, let alone refuted it.

"No way!"

Su Qingli froze for a moment, reined in her smile, and stopped joking. She blinked her clear, big eyes and asked tentatively:

"Sister Shuang, you really found that person?"

"Mm." Hearing Ling Shuang nodded.

"Oh? Who is it?"

Gossip is a woman's nature, let alone when the subject of the gossip is Hearing Ling Shuang. Su Qingli was instantly intrigued and asked with a curious face.

"You know this person too."

Hearing Ling Shuang let out a soft breath.

Although she had long since decided to tell Su Qingli about this, at this very moment she was still a little nervous.

"I know them too?" Su Qingli grew even more curious and asked, puzzled: "Who on earth is it?"

"It's Jingming." Hearing Ling Shuang tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and said briefly.

"Jingming?!"

Su Qingli wore an expression as though she'd seen a ghost, widened her eyes, and confirmed again: "That Xu Jingming in the living room?"

"That's right, it's him." A tender look surfaced on Hearing Ling Shuang's pretty face as she affirmed.