Chapter 718

"Could it really be him?" Su Qingli was stunned.

When she and Ling Shuang were still in the Thunder Martial Arts Academy's elite training camp, they both had no shortage of admirers.

Even the more mature Ling Shuang was especially favored by those young geniuses.

Back then, the number of young geniuses pursuing Ling Shuang was countless.

Among them were several direct descendants from ninth-rank psychic clans.

Yet without exception, all were rejected by Ling Shuang.

She had assumed Ling Shuang was fully devoted to her cultivation.

But now, she was hit with a shocking revelation!

Not only did she have a partner—but that partner was her own student...

"Surprised?"

Once she spoke it aloud, Ling Shuang relaxed and smiled.

"Not just surprised—completely stunned."

Su Qingli shook her head, yet upon deeper thought, it didn't seem so strange.

Xu Jingming was incredibly strong; at just twenty, he already possessed eighth-rank mid-level combat power.

He was unquestionably the number one prodigy on Blue Planet.

Surpassing Ling Shuang's S-rank strength was merely a matter of time.

In terms of power alone, the two were perfectly matched.

As for age, that was no issue at all.

For high-rank psychics with long lifespans, a difference of several decades in a partner meant nothing.

Especially since Ling Shuang and Xu Jingming were only fifteen or sixteen years apart.

The only possible flaw might be their status—after all, Ling Shuang was somewhat Xu Jingming's teacher.

They had walked the same path since their days at Mo University.

But that wasn't a major problem; it might even become a celebrated tale.

"Regardless, congratulations."

Su Qingli smiled, "Xu Jingming is indeed an excellent partner."

Steady, resolute, with astonishing insight and incredible talent—Xu Jingming carried too many labels.

His handsome appearance had become the least remarkable trait among them.

He was like a sun, radiating brilliant light at all times.

Such a man held a deadly allure for both young maidens and mature women alike.

Ling Shuang was her best friend; having Xu Jingming as her partner was something she wholeheartedly celebrated.

"The only downside might be that he has too many women." Su Qingli paused, then added.

"As for that, I'm not worried at all."

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

"Tsk tsk, how much sweet talk has he fed you? You're already defending him."

Su Qingli clucked in amazement, then remembered a question:

"By the way, what does Jingming call you now?"

"Just like you call me," Ling Shuang understood what Su Qingli was worried about and chuckled softly, covering her mouth.

"Like you call me?"

Su Qingli's lips parted slightly, speechless:

"Now you've messed up the generational order completely."

"It's fine. Compared to 'Shuang-jie,' he still prefers calling me 'Ling Laoshi.'"

Something crossed Ling Shuang's mind, and her cheeks flushed faintly.

"Really?"

Su Qingli frowned slightly but didn't press it; she bit her crimson lip and growled:

"That kid Xu Jingming—he quietly stole away my Shuang-jie without saying a word!

No way. I'm going to give him a proper scolding later."

If she'd known this was the case, she wouldn't have held back during the power assessment!

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

he saw Ling Shuang and Su Qingli sitting across from him on the sofa; Ling Shuang gave him a helpless look.

Su Qingli, however, fixed him with eyes as clear as a baby's, smirking:

"Xu Jingming, you're something else."

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

"So you've found out already."

Xu Jingming had expected this; he replied calmly, "I'll treat Ling Laoshi well.

And with me, she'll reach the pinnacle of Blue Planet. I have that confidence."

Xu Jingming's frankness caught Su Qingli off guard.

It took her a long moment to recover, then she grumbled, "You're awfully confident."

"This isn't confidence—it's fact."

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

"In just a few months, I'll surpass Ling Laoshi's power.

In one year, I'll surpass your peak state, Su Laoshi."

As his power grew, his rate of harvesting psychic points accelerated—surpassing Ling Shuang was effortless.

Surpassing ninth-rank lower-tier S-rank Su Qingli was harder, but a year was more than enough.

"This..."

Su Qingli and Ling Shuang exchanged glances, both seeing shock in each other's eyes.

This was the first time they'd heard Xu Jingming voice his ambition.

And knowing Xu Jingming as they did, anything he said aloud, he would accomplish.

"Good!"

Su Qingli's eyes gleamed with admiration, "I'll see if you can deliver on that promise in a year."

Su Qingli felt something strange—like her best companion had been taken away.

And indeed, she didn't have many friends; the closest was unquestionably Ling Shuang.

Though Ling Shuang hadn't been taken—only gained a partner—she still felt inexplicably reluctant...

Thunder Martial Arts Academy was one of the two top academies in Great Xia!

Its branches spread across the entire nation.

The academy's director meeting gathered numerous directors and deputy directors.

It was much like a corporate annual meeting—reviewing the year's gains and losses, assigning appointments, and so on.

But not every director could attend; only those of sixth-rank or higher were eligible.

After all, Thunder Martial Arts Academy had too many branches.

Directors appointed in remote cities were often only third- or fourth-rank—too low in rank.

Additionally, many psychic families, guilds, and military units sent representatives to seize this opportunity.

To build relationships with Thunder Martial Arts Academy's directors and deputy directors.

Among them was the Li family, whose three members sat on the Council.

The person they sent was Li Hao, who had long been devoted to 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 lay a flower resembling a phoenix's tail, radiating brilliant light.

The flower shimmered with an eerie, faint vibration, swaying gently—both mesmerizing and exquisite.

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

Li Hao smiled as he spoke.

As one of Ling Shuang's suitors, upon learning she had returned from Dayangzhou, he rushed immediately to Thunder Martial Arts Academy's headquarters.

He'd even prepared this SSS-grade rare herb, solely to win her favor.

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

Knowing Ling Shuang as he did, even an SSR-grade rare herb wouldn't move her.

Of course, he wasn't so tactless as to bluntly discourage Li Hao.

Especially since Li Hao was backed by the mighty 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, 00 loyal 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 top 30 by month's end, I'll add five extra chapters.

Also, each Great Master certification adds one extra chapter; each Gift King adds three. (If I don't deliver, feel free to curse me—come to my livestream and yell all you want.)

Additionally, each Great God certification adds one extra chapter, and a Gift King adds three extra chapters. (If I don't fulfill this promise, feel free to curse me—come yell at me in my livestream too)

In August, let's push hard!

Shenlan, let me see your limits!