Chapter 727

An hour later, the director meeting ended.

Over the past year, the Lei Ting Martial Arts Gymnasium as a whole underwent considerable changes.

For example, the reconstruction of the Myanmar branch and the appointments of four new eighth-rank Grand Masters.

Of course, the most notable was the position adjustment concerning the Dayangzhou Mobei Branch.

More precisely, it was Xu Jingming's position change.

No one expected that Xu Jingming had taken only four months.

To break through from sixth-rank to seventh-rank, and to rise from a Talent Training Camp trainee to deputy director of the Mobei Branch.

You should know that Wang Dong, who was originally the top person in the Tianjiao Training Camp, has now broken through to the mid-tier of the sixth rank.

But in the Lei Ting Secret Realm Branch, his position was merely Chief Supervisor.

He couldn't compare at all with Xu Jingming—the gap was not small at all.

"Congratulations, Director Xu! Your future is boundless!"

"Director Xu, I'm Lin Hai, director of the Shanghai Branch. Could I add your contact?"

"Director Xu, if you have time to come to Qingjing, I'll surely treat you as a host."

"......"

After the director meeting ended, Su Qingli, Hu Jinyu, and Master Gu Ming—the directors and deputy directors—left first.

The remaining directors and invited guests did not leave; instead, they all gathered around Xu Jingming.

Each wore smiles, vying to exchange contact information and get to know him.

These people were mostly seventh-rank Grand Masters, plus over a dozen eighth-rank Grand Masters.

As for sixth-rank Energy Users, not a single one was present.

Because they knew that sixth-rank Energy Users were utterly unworthy before Xu Jingming, so they naturally didn't dare to intrude.

"Director Xu, hello, I'm Zheng Ren, director of the Jiangnan Province Branch."

A middle-aged man who looked refined and scholarly smiled as he introduced himself to Xu Jingming.

Others around him instinctively stepped back, clearing a space.

"Hello." Xu Jingming nodded slightly, shook hands, and exchanged contact information.

He also made a point of memorizing this man's name.

Shanghai and Jiangnan were the two places where he had spent the most time.

He might need this man's help someday.

"By the way, Director Xu, you actually came from our Jiangnan Province."

"Now that you're back in Greater Xia, won't you visit your hometown?"

Zheng Ren smiled, his eyes faintly tinged with nostalgia.

Two years ago, Xu Jingming was still the top scholar of Jiangnan's Wu Ke examination.

Back then, he'd been surprised—never expected a place like Jiangcheng could produce a Qilin child.

Yet, only two years later, Xu Jingming had grown into a dragon!

Even he, an upper-tier eighth-rank Master Zongshi, had to treat him with caution and seek to befriend him warmly.

"No, only my little aunt lives back home."

"With virtual worlds so convenient now, we can just meet there."

Xu Jingming replied with a smile.

It was only April; no major Energy User universities had released summer break yet.

Song Qiuyun, Jiang Chuxuan, and his cousin Tang Qi were all at the Shanghai University City.

He'd just return to Shanghai; as for his little aunt and uncle, meeting them virtually was enough—no need to go back in person.

"True."

Zheng Ren nodded and smiled:

"Next time Director Xu returns to Jiangnan, be sure to let me know—I'll arrange a proper welcome feast for you."

"Of course." Xu Jingming nodded slightly.

Though surrounded by a crowd, none of them interrupted casually.

Instead, they lined up like waiting for an audience, taking turns to introduce themselves to Xu Jingming.

Even Ling Shuang received the same treatment.

"Those two guys..." Liu Shan watched them from afar.

Compared to the dazzling crowd surrounding Ling Shuang and Xu Jingming, his side was eerily empty.

Technically, Ling Shuang had tricked him.

But he had no intention of confronting her—he knew it would be useless.

It would only make him look even more incompetent.

"Wait. I'll reclaim the Mobei Branch soon!"

He silently resolved within himself, then left without lingering, sweeping his sleeve away.

He had originally planned to stay longer in Greater Xia, but now he had to return early to prepare for his posting in Nixi.

After the director meeting ended, Xu Jingming stayed another half-hour.

He met nearly every seventh- and eighth-rank director and deputy director in the Lei Ting Martial Arts Gymnasium before leaving.

But he didn't return to his villa—he went to Ling Shuang's villa.

Their relationship was already public; living together made no difference.

"Sister Shuang, take this Fengwei Flower."

In the villa's living room, Xu Jingming took the Phoenix Tail Flower out of his spatial ring and handed it to Hearing Ling Shuang.

"Phoenix Tail Flower... an SSS-grade cultivation resource. Without it, Li Hao is probably going to feel the pain."

"At this point, you've thoroughly offended the Li family."

Hearing Ling Shuang said, slightly worried.

"From the moment I made a move against Li Hao, I had already offended the Li family.

Since I've already offended them, I might as well take an extra SSS-grade resource."

Xu Jingming was quite calm about it.

The Li family has a total of three Councilors, among them the Li family head, Li Changfeng.

He possesses an Elemental-type Fire-system S-grade ability, and his rank is as high as Ninth-Tier Upper!

As for the other two Ninth-Tier ability users, they are Li Changfeng's father Li Chen, and his elder brother Li Yang.

The former also possesses an S-grade ability, but it's Enhancement-type, and his rank is only Ninth-Tier Middle.

As for the other one, Li Yang, although he only possesses an A-grade ability, his rank is also Ninth-Tier Middle.

Of the three Ninth-Tiers, two are S-grade.

It can be said that the Li family is, apart from the only two Ninth-Tier Peak great clans of Great Xia, the most powerful family!

And the fact that they could indulge Li Hao in harassing Hearing Ling Shuang for so many years is enough to show what sort of people the Li family are.

Once you offend a family like this, there's basically no possibility of reconciliation.

"True enough." Hearing Ling Shuang nodded slightly.

The Li family has colluded with Deputy Hall Master Hu Jinyu, plotting to take over Lei Ting Wu Guan — they're already enemies.

When dealing with enemies, one naturally must strike them as hard as possible within reasonable limits.

Although Li Hao is disgusting, his crimes don't warrant death. Taking the Phoenix Tail Flower as punishment is just right.

"Then I'll accept this Phoenix Tail Flower. It really is of great use to me." Hearing Ling Shuang said softly.

"With this Phoenix Tail Flower, Sister Shuang, can you really break through to Eighth-Tier Upper within a year?"

Xu Jingming asked, somewhat curious.

Spatial-system abilities are extraordinarily wondrous. Even Hearing Ling Shuang at Eighth-Tier Middle is already very hard to kill.

Once she breaks through to Eighth-Tier Upper, Hearing Ling Shuang's strength will surely become even more formidable.

"Unlike other rare flowers and herbs that directly boost physique or spiritual power,

the Phoenix Tail Flower's greatest effect is increasing an ability user's primal energy absorption speed.

The effect lasts one year, and it doesn't conflict with other heavenly materials, treasures, or pills."

Hearing Ling Shuang said gently, a faint unusual light glimmering in her beautiful eyes:

"I can't say it's a hundred percent, but a year from now, I have an 80% probability of breaking through to Eighth-Tier Upper."

"Then let me offer an early congratulations to Teacher Ling on her successful breakthrough." Xu Jingming said with a smile.

At that moment, Yiwa's crisp voice suddenly rang out in his mind:

"S-grade, your authority within Lei Ting Wu Guan has been raised to Deputy Hall Master level."

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