Chapter 731: The Li Family

Virtual world, Da Xia, Qingjing.

Unlike the real world, dozens of floating islands hung silently above the entire city of Qingjing.

Each floating island had its own style—some were towering peaks, others endless rivers.

Between these peaks and rivers stood meticulously built villas.

Such architectural marvels could not possibly be constructed under the rules of the real world.

But this was the virtual world—anything was possible if you willed it.

These floating islands were Qingjing's famed architectural wonders.

Only the pinnacle Qiangzhe had the privilege to reside here.

Among the dozens of floating islands, No. 1, the largest in area, was the Li family's base.

Huh—

Huh—

On the rooftop terrace of the base villa, a man sat cross-legged.

His breath was steady, yet around him swirled high-temperature black flames.

They shifted shape with his breathing rhythm, appearing extraordinarily fluid.

Li Changfeng, head of the Li family.

Holder of the Element Fire S-class ability "Black Bone Spirit Flame," rank Nine Upper, one of Da Xia's top Qiangzhe.

"Big brother, I'm here."

Shh—

A burly man appeared out of thin air on the terrace.

Li Changfeng then retracted the flames and opened his eyes.

A pair of pitch-black eyes, as deep as the stars, radiated overwhelming pressure.

"How is Hao? Is he alright?" Li Changfeng asked.

"No major issues—he'll fully recover after ten days of rest, though he'll have to endure some pain along the way."

Li Yang shook his head.

Xu Jingming's kick had shattered Li Hao's entire pelvis and all organs within his abdominal cavity.

Any lower than a fourth-rank ability user would have died instantly.

But Li Hao was an Eighth-Rank Grand Master, his vitality formidable—he faced no immediate life threat.

A single Eighth-Rank healing ability technique could restore him.

Yet the physical injury was secondary; the real problem was the SS-level Daitian Divine Thunder surging wildly inside him.

It couldn't be removed all at once—it required over ten days of gradual separation.

The removal process was excruciating, like being gnawed by ten thousand ants.

"Hao's temperament is arrogant and unruly; enduring some hardship won't hurt."

Li Changfeng nodded. "How do you plan to handle this next?"

"Hao was clearly at fault. We'll offer the SSS-level Phoenix Tail Flower as compensation."

"Additionally, I intend to gift Xu Jingming an SS+ level cultivation resource, to show our sincerity in apologizing."

Li Yang mused.

The incident in the Thunder Martial Arts Academy's conference hall had spread only within a small circle so far.

But it was easy to imagine that within a few days, the news would fully erupt.

Soon, all of Da Xia would know Xu Jingming had broken through to the Seventh Rank.

A Seventh-Rank Grand Master at twenty—his talent was terrifyingly prodigious.

For such a prodigy, it was better to befriend than to antagonize.

This had always been the Li family's approach.

Yet what he didn't expect was that Li Changfeng, the family head, shook his head:

"No need to flatter Xu Jingming. He severely injured Hao—he deserves suppression."

"Why?" Li Yang frowned, puzzled.

Li Hao was his son, beaten to this state—if it were anyone else, he'd have already sought revenge.

But the opponent was the limitless-potential Xu Jingming—too dangerous to provoke.

For the family's sake, he'd been willing to swallow his pride—yet his own brother, the family head, disagreed.

"Xu Jingming is under Su Qingli's protection."

As long as we don't abandon our plans for the Thunder Martial Arts Academy, we will inevitably clash with Xu Jingming."

"To befriend Xu Jingming, we'd have to give up the Thunder Martial Arts Academy—do you think we can abandon it?"

Li Changfeng countered.

"Give up the Thunder Martial Arts Academy?"

Li Yang paused, then shook his head without hesitation: "No."

Their infiltration into the Thunder Martial Arts Academy had lasted too many years—since their father's generation.

Now, just as harvest was near, they couldn't possibly abandon it.

"Then it's settled—from the start, we and Xu Jingming are enemies."

Li Changfeng said coldly. "Xu Jingming himself isn't worth targeting yet, but we must issue a warning."

"After all, the Li family isn't someone anyone can trample on."

Although Xu Jingming appeared to have struck Li Hao, he had actually struck the Li family's face.

If the Li family did nothing in response, and instead tried to appease him, other families would look down on them.

Even if Xu Jingming was an SS-level prodigy, the Li family was equally a top-tier clan with three councilors.

After being slapped, how could they pretend nothing happened and smile to befriend him?

"Understood."

Li Yang nodded thoughtfully, then vanished from the terrace.

Elsewhere, at the Mocu Ability University, Ling Shuang Villa's living room.

Song Qiuyun and Jiang Chuaxuan learned the full story from Ling Shuang ten minutes later.

Though both had accepted Ling Shuang's existence, they still found the situation too surreal.

Ling Shuang—the former vice principal of Mocu University—

An S-class, Eighth-Rank Middle Grand Master—had somehow become their sister.

Something they could never have imagined.

Another shocking revelation from Ling Shuang's account:

Xu Jingming appeared to possess Eighth-Rank Grand Master-level combat power.

"It's true—I've broken through to Seventh Rank."

Facing the two women's skeptical gazes, Xu Jingming replied calmly.

During his time in Dayangzhou, he'd mostly hunted ferocious beasts.

Even when he contacted them, he rarely mentioned his cultivation progress.

"S-seventh rank?"

Song Qiuyun and Jiang Chuaxuan's eyes widened in shock.

Their full chests rose and fell rapidly—clearly unsettled inside.

They knew Xu Jingming's talent was prodigious, but never imagined he'd reach Seventh Rank so quickly.

After shock came a sense of desolation.

Though they'd been training hard, their gap with Xu Jingming kept widening...

"Don't compare yourself to me—my talent is different from yours."

Xu Jingming, sensing their mood, soothed them:

"You're already excellent. Just cultivate at your own pace."

He spoke the truth.

At Mocu University, Jiang Chuaxuan's talent might be slightly inferior.

But Song Qiuyun's talent and strength were top-tier.

"Also, I brought back resources to accelerate your cultivation."

Xu Jingming smiled, flicking his right hand.

Instantly, a pile of rare flowers, herbs, pills, and exotic fruits, exuding a faint, refreshing fragrance, appeared on the coffee table.

"Grade Five pill—Juyuan Pill? Grade Six spirit fruit—Fire Phoenix Fruit?"

Song Qiuyun and Jiang Chuaxuan glanced casually.

They immediately spotted several S-class resources; the rest were all A-class and B-class materials.

"I don't need these. Take them all."

"If you can't use them, return them to Mocu's Resource Department—they'll convert them into credits."

Xu Jingming declared generously.

With the Deep Blue System, resources that accelerated cultivation were largely useless to him.

As for resources that boosted blood or spiritual power, his current attributes were already extremely high.

Resources above S+ level are needed for any significant improvement to him.

Ordinary S-level resources are better given to Song Qiuyun and Jiang Chu than used by him himself.

"This..."

Song Qiuyun and Jiang Chu exchanged a glance, both visibly stunned.

Just how much good stuff did Xu Jingming pull in over on Dayangzhou?

How could he not even value S-level resources?

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