Chapter 718: Confident Xu Jingming! The Arrival of Li Hao!

"It really is him?" Su Qingli was shocked.

Back when she and Ling Shuang were still in the elite training camp of the Lei Ting Wu Guan, they had plenty of suitors.

The more mature Ling Shuang, in particular, was even more beloved by those young geniuses.

Back then, no one could count the young geniuses who pursued Ling Shuang.

Among them were no shortage of direct-line descendants from ninth-rank ability-user clans.

But without exception, they were all rejected by Ling Shuang.

She had assumed Ling Shuang was wholeheartedly devoted to pouring her energy into cultivation.

She never expected that now a bombshell piece of news would explode out at her!

Not only did she have a partner, but that partner was actually her student...

"A bit unexpected, isn't it?"

Once she actually said it out loud, Ling Shuang relaxed as well and asked with a smile.

"Not a bit unexpected — very unexpected."

Su Qingli shook her head, but on second thought, it didn't seem to matter much.

Xu Jingming was immensely powerful; at only twenty years old, he already possessed mid-eighth-rank combat ability.

He was the undisputed number-one prodigy of Blue Star.

Even surpassing S-rank Ling Shuang in strength was only a matter of time.

In terms of pure strength, the two of them were indeed a good match.

As for age, that was even less of an issue.

For high-rank ability-users with long lifespans, a difference of several decades between spouses was no problem at all.

Let alone the fact that Ling Shuang and Xu Jingming were only fifteen or sixteen years apart.

The only possible shortcoming was their respective statuses — after all, Ling Shuang was also half a teacher to Xu Jingming.

Back then, they had even come up together from Demon University.

But that wasn't really a big problem either; it might even become a fine tale for the ages.

"But no matter what, congratulations to you."

Su Qingli broke into a bright smile. "Xu Jingming really is a fine partner."

Composed, resolute, heaven-defying comprehension, astonishing talent — Xu Jingming carried far too many labels.

His handsome looks, by comparison, became the least worth mentioning of all his traits.

He was like a sun, radiating brilliant light at every moment.

A man like this held a fatal attraction for both young maidens and mature young women alike.

Ling Shuang was her best friend, and having Xu Jingming as a partner — naturally, she offered her congratulations.

"The only downside might be that he has too many women." After a pause, Su Qingli added.

"On that point, I'm actually not too worried."

Ling Shuang's crimson lips curved slightly upward. "Because I know that no matter how many women he has, his feelings for us will never change."

"Tsk tsk, just how much love potion has he been feeding you? Already defending him."

Su Qingli clicked her tongue in wonder, then suddenly thought of a question:

"Oh right, what does Jingming call you now?"

"The same as what you call me." Ling Shuang, too, realized what Su Qingli was worried about, and couldn't help covering her mouth with a light laugh.

"The same as you?"

Su Qingli's rosy lips parted slightly as she said, somewhat speechlessly:

"Well, that's great — with that one move of yours, the whole seniority is thrown into chaos."

"It's fine. Compared to 'Sister Shuang,' he still prefers to call me Teacher Ling."

Ling Shuang's pretty face flushed faintly red, as something occurred to her.

"Really?"

Su Qingli was a little puzzled, but didn't dwell on it; her pearly teeth gently bit into her red lips as she said fiercely:

"That brat Xu Jingming — without a word, he went and stole my Sister Shuang right out from under me.

No way, later I absolutely have to teach him a proper lesson."

Had she known it would be like this, during the earlier ability test she never should have held back!

An hour later, when Xu Jingming's ability had fully recovered and he opened his eyes,

he saw Ling Shuang and Su Qingli sitting on the sofa opposite; Ling Shuang sent him a look that said 'there's nothing I can do.'

Su Qingli, however, fixed a pair of eyes as clear as a baby's on him and said with a half-smile:

"Xu Jingming, you sure are something, aren't you."

This was one of the rare occasions Su Qingli had addressed Xu Jingming by his full name.

"Looks like Su Laoshi knows everything already."

Xu Jingming had long expected this and said calmly, "I'll treat Teacher Ling well.

And following me, she can also reach the pinnacle of Blue Star. I have that confidence."

Xu Jingming's frankness caught Su Qingli somewhat off guard.

It took her quite a while to recover, and she said in exasperation, "You certainly are confident."

"That's not confidence — it's fact."

Xu Jingming raised one finger, his voice steady and forceful:

"In just a few months, my strength will surpass Teacher Ling's.

In just one year, my strength will surpass your peak condition, Su Laoshi.

As my strength grows, the speed at which I harvest ability points increases—surpassing Ling Shuang is simply too easy.

As for Su Qingli, the ninth-rank lower-tier S-class, she is indeed somewhat difficult, but a year is more than enough.

"This..."

Su Qingli and Ling Shuang exchanged a glance, both seeing a flicker of shock in each other's eyes.

This was the first time they had ever heard Xu Jingming voice his ambition.

And given their understanding of Xu Jingming, anything he said aloud, he could almost certainly accomplish.

"Good!"

Su Qingli's eyes revealed a hint of admiration. "I'll wait to see if you can fulfill your promise in a year."

At this moment, Su Qingli felt something strange—like her best companion had been taken away.

In truth, that was exactly how it was; she didn't have many friends, and among them, none were closer than Ling Shuang.

Though Ling Shuang hadn't been taken—only gained a companion—she still felt an inexplicable reluctance...

Lei Ting Martial Arts Gym is one of the two top martial arts gyms in Great Xia!

Its branches spread throughout all of Great Xia.

The Lei Ting Martial Arts Gym director meeting gathers numerous directors and deputy directors to attend.

It's much like a regular company's annual meeting—summarizing the year's gains and losses, arranging appointments, and so on.

Of course, not every director can attend; only those with a rank of sixth tier or higher are eligible.

After all, Lei Ting Martial Arts Gym has too many branches.

Directors appointed in remote cities are often only third or fourth tier—too low in rank.

Additionally, many ability-user families, guilds, and military units send people here to take advantage of the opportunity.

To build good relations with Lei Ting's directors and deputy directors.

Among them is the Li family, whose three members sit on the council.

And the person they sent over is naturally Li Hao, who has long been infatuated with Ling Shuang.

"SSS-grade rare herb, Phoenix Tail Flower, Director Hu, look—how beautiful."

In Deputy Director Hu Jinyu's villa, Li Hao held open a wooden box.

Inside the box lay a flower, its form like a phoenix's tail, radiating brilliant light.

The flower glowed brilliantly, emitting a faint, peculiar vibration; it swayed slightly, appearing both mesmerizing and lovely.

"Tomorrow at the director meeting, I'll give this Phoenix Tail Flower to Ling Shuang—she'll surely love it."

Li Hao said with a smile.

As a suitor of Ling Shuang, upon learning she had returned from Dayangzhou, he rushed immediately to the Lei Ting Martial Arts Gym headquarters.

He had even prepared this SSS-grade rare herb, all to win Ling Shuang's favor.

Yet Deputy Director Hu Jinyu merely glanced at it and said nothing.

Based on his understanding of Ling Shuang, not even an SSS-grade rare herb—

Not even an SSR-grade rare herb—would she accept.

Of course, his emotional intelligence wasn't so low as to bluntly discourage Li Hao.

Especially since Li Hao was backed by the colossal Li family.

PS: Brothers, tomorrow is August. In July we ranked 113th on the gift chart; in August, Wan Feng wants to break into the top 30.

You don't need to send expensive gifts—this novel still has 45,000 steady readers; just click "Love Power" every day.

I still owe six chapters from the Spring Festival; all will be made up in August. If we make the top 30 by month's end, I'll add five extra chapters.

Additionally, each Great Master certification adds one chapter; each Gift King adds three. (If I don't deliver, feel free to curse me—come scold me in my livestream too.)

In August, let's charge forward hard!

Deep Blue, show me your limits!