Chapter 727: The Stars Gather Around the Moon! Authority Upgraded!

An hour later, the director meeting ended.

Over the past year, the Thunder Martial Arts Academy 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 change was the reassignment of positions at the Melbourne branch in Oceania.

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

No one expected that Xu Jingming had achieved this in just four months.

He broke through from sixth-rank to seventh-rank, and rose from a prodigy training camp student to deputy director of the Melbourne branch.

Keep in mind that Wang Dong, originally the top trainee at the Heavenly Prodigy Training Camp, has now advanced to mid-sixth tier.

But in the Thunder Secret Realm branch, his position was merely Chief Supervisor.

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

"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 ever come to Qingjing, I'll make sure to host you properly."

"..."

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

The remaining directors and invited guests didn't leave—they gathered around Xu Jingming.

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

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

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

They knew sixth-rank Adepts had no standing before Xu Jingming, so they wouldn't dare intrude.

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

A refined-looking middle-aged man smiled as he introduced himself to Xu Jingming.

Others nearby instinctively stepped back, giving him space.

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

He made a special note of the 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're originally from Jiangnan Province."

"Now that you're back in Great 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 exam.

Back then, he'd been surprised—Jiangcheng, such a small town, had produced a prodigy.

Yet in just two years, Xu Jingming had grown into a dragon!

Even he, an eighth-rank upper Grand Master, now had to treat him with caution and cultivate his favor.

"No, only my aunt lives back home."

"Virtual reality is so convenient now—we can just meet there."

Xu Jingming replied with a smile.

It was only April; no martial arts universities had released summer break yet.

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

He'd return to Shanghai—his aunt and uncle could be met virtually; no need to make a special trip.

"True."

Zheng Ren nodded and smiled:

"Next time you return to Jiangnan, be sure to let me know—I'll arrange a proper welcome."

"I will." Xu Jingming nodded slightly.

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

Instead, they lined up like waiting guests, taking turns to introduce themselves to Xu Jingming.

Even Ling Shuang received the same treatment.

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

While Ling Shuang and Xu Jingming were surrounded like stars around the moon, his side was eerily quiet.

Technically, Ling Shuang had betrayed him.

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

It would only make him look more powerless.

"Wait. I'll reclaim the Melbourne branch soon!"

He silently resolved, then left without lingering.

He'd planned to stay longer in Great Xia, but now he had to return early to assume his post in Nisi.

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 Thunder Martial Arts Academy before leaving.

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

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

"Shuang-jie, take this Phoenix Tail Flower."

In the villa's living room, Xu Jingming pulled the Phoenix Tail Flower from his space ring and handed it to Ling Shuang.

"Phoenix Tail Flower... SSS-grade cultivation resource. Li Hao must be furious without it."

"Now you've truly offended the Li family."

Ling Shuang said, slightly worried.

"From the moment I struck Li Hao, I'd already offended the Li family."

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

Xu Jingming was utterly calm about it.

The Li family had three councilors: Li Changfeng, the family patriarch.

He possessed an S-elemental Fire-type ability, ranked ninth-rank upper!

The other two ninth-rank Adepts were Li Changfeng's father, Li Chen, and his older brother, Li Yang.

The former also had an S-grade ability, but of the Enhancement type, at ninth-rank middle.

As for Li Yang, though he only had an A-grade ability, he too was ninth-rank middle.

Of the three ninth-ranks, two had S-grade abilities.

The Li family was, outside the two sole ninth-rank peak clans of Great Xia, the most powerful!

That Li Hao could harass Ling Shuang for years with impunity proved the family's true nature.

Once you offend such a family, reconciliation is impossible.

"You're right," Ling Shuang nodded slightly.

The Li family had conspired with Deputy Director Hu Jinyu to seize control of the Thunder Martial Arts Academy—they were already enemies.

Against enemies, one must strike as hard as possible within limits.

Li Hao was detestable, but not deserving of death—taking the Phoenix Tail Flower as punishment was fitting.

"Then I'll accept this Phoenix Tail Flower—it's truly useful to me," Ling Shuang said softly.

"With this Phoenix Tail Flower, will you really break through to ninth-rank upper within a year?"

Xu Jingming asked curiously.

Space-type abilities were incredibly mysterious—even eighth-rank middle Ling Shuang was hard to kill.

Once she broke through to ninth-rank upper, her power would surge further.

"Unlike herbs that directly boost physique or spirit force,"

"the Phoenix Tail Flower's greatest effect is accelerating an Adept's Yuan energy absorption."

"It lasts a year and doesn't conflict with other rare treasures or pills."

Ling Shuang said gently, her beautiful eyes shimmering faintly:

"Not a hundred percent, but I have an 80% chance of breaking through to ninth-rank upper within a year."

"Then I'll wish you success in advance, Teacher Ling," Xu Jingming smiled.

At that moment, Eva's crisp voice suddenly echoed in his mind:

"S-grade: Your authority level in the Thunder Martial Arts Academy has been upgraded to Deputy Director."

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