Chapter 759: Wu Guan Exchange Competition! Right Here!

"Let me explain."

Xu Jingming organized his thoughts and briefly recounted the whole story from beginning to end.

"What? The essence imprint Liu Yushan left has a backdoor? You suspect he might be performing mental manipulation on you?"

After hearing the whole story, Cao Jun furrowed his brow, thought for a moment, then continued:

"Jingming, it's not that I don't believe you.

But is it possible that that Zhakeli deceived you, and in reality the essence imprint has no backdoor at all?

Based on our understanding of Councillor Liu Yushan, he shouldn't have done something like this."

Damn it!

Xu Jingming's heart sank at those words.

Cao Jun simply didn't believe him!

Then again, Liu Yushan was after all a ninth-rank mid-tier councillor; one couldn't simply deny him based on a single sentence.

As for Zhakeli deceiving him, there was simply no possibility of that!

Because after learning the Soul-Calming Tower, he himself could discover the flaw and backdoor left on the essence imprint.

"It is indeed possible that Zhakeli deceived me.

But it's better to believe it might be true than to believe it isn't; I feel we should still conduct an in-depth investigation into this issue."

In Cao Jun's view, Xu Jingming was a lightning-system ability user, so being deceived by a ninth-rank peak mental-system master was perfectly normal.

No matter how much he argued, the other party might not necessarily believe him, and would instead find it unpleasant.

Therefore, Xu Jingming didn't press the point further, only offering a suggestion.

"Fair enough."

Cao Jun nodded slightly. "I've noted this matter. I'll arrange for people to investigate next."

"Thank you, Grandpa Cao." Xu Jingming hurriedly expressed his thanks.

He wasn't expecting to bring down Liu Yushan in one go; as long as an investigation began, that was enough.

Once Liu Yushan revealed any trace whatsoever, it would drag him into an irrecoverable abyss.

"Oh right, the Wu Guan Exchange Competition seems to be starting soon, doesn't it?

Ling girl, has your Lei Ting Wu Guan prepared its expedition team yet?"

With the serious business concluded, Cao Jun continued chatting casually.

"It still has three months before it starts."

Hearing Ling Shuang replied with a smile, "Our Lei Ting Wu Guan's expedition team is still being prepared; the final roster hasn't been decided."

"Wu Guan Exchange Competition? What's that?" Xu Jingming was somewhat puzzled.

"It's a competition between the major martial halls around the world, the purpose being to flex muscles and see who's stronger."

Cao Jun explained with a smile. "Whichever country's martial hall performs better, its corresponding international influence will be greater.

Our Great Xia's two major martial halls—your Lei Ting Wu Guan, and the other Violent Bear Wu Guan—will both participate."

"Oh? So martial hall students go fight?" Xu Jingming asked in confusion.

Before this, he seemed to have never even heard of such a competition.

"Of course not."

Hearing Ling Shuang shook her head and laughed. "Since it's about flexing muscles, every martial hall will almost always send out its own strongest members.

The participants are basically all eighth-rank Grandmasters."

The Wu Guan Exchange Competition is held once every two years; she had only participated once, before going to Mo Da.

"I see." Xu Jingming suddenly understood.

"Our Great Xia's performance in the last Wu Guan Exchange Competition wasn't that great—we only placed third.

I hope your Lei Ting Wu Guan can shoulder this responsibility and raise our Great Xia's ranking a bit."

Cao Jun couldn't help but offer a reminder, then paused and looked at Xu Jingming again, smiling as he said:

"Although Jingming, you're still only seventh-rank, your actual combat power has already reached eighth-rank mid-tier.

You can follow along and participate in this Wu Guan Exchange Competition to gain experience.

The Genius Competition is, after all, only a contest among prodigies.

The Wu Guan Exchange Competition is what truly constitutes a battle among the strong.

Fighting the strong more often will benefit your subsequent breakthrough to eighth-rank, or even ninth-rank."

"Alright." Xu Jingming nodded respectfully.

Originally, he had no interest in this Wu Guan Exchange Competition.

But since even Councillor Cao had spoken up, he naturally wouldn't go against it.

After chatting for a while longer, Xu Jingming and Hearing Ling Shuang finally took their respectful leave and returned to the real world.

"Grandpa Cao has no intention of launching a large-scale investigation against Liu Yushan.

Jingming, you'll have to be careful from now on. After all, you're only seventh-rank lower-tier."

Hearing Ling Shuang sat on the sofa, her delicate brows slightly furrowed, her beautiful eyes filled with worry.

"Don't worry. With the Soul-Calming Tower here, he has no way to deal with me.

As long as the higher-ups begin investigating Liu Yushan, he'll eventually show his hand."

Xu Jingming grinned. "Also, Sis Ling, you got one thing wrong."

"Oh? What did I get wrong?" Hearing Ling Shuang blinked, puzzled.

"I'm not seventh-rank lower-tier; I've already broken through to seventh-rank mid-tier." Xu Jingming replied with a smile.

"Seventh-rank mid-tier?! No way?!" Hearing Ling Shuang hadn't even processed it yet.

Just then, a sizzling sound rang out as a bolt of golden Lei Ting flickered around Xu Jingming's body.

As his aura bloomed slightly, a powerful presence instantly enveloped the office.

"This... is really mid-seventh rank!!"

Sensing the aura that was different from before, Hearing Ling Shuang's pupils suddenly contracted, her pretty face full of shock.

Although she had long grown accustomed to Xu Jingming's monstrous talent, she had never expected him to be monstrous to this extent!

One must know,

Xu Jingming had broken through from upper-sixth rank to seventh rank in less than half a month!

How could he have broken through again?

"Jingming, you wouldn't be taking some pill or natural treasure that speeds up breakthroughs, would you?"

Ling Shuang said with a Solemn expression.

"Don't worry, I wouldn't destroy my own future."

Xu Jingming said with a smile, "Over in Sakura Country, besides Zakri's inheritance, I also obtained some other opportunities.

That's how I broke through from lower-seventh rank to mid-seventh rank."

"Other opportunities as well?" Ling Shuang's alluring face now looked somewhat adorably dumbfounded.

A peak ninth-rank inheritance was already considered a top-tier opportunity, yet she hadn't expected Xu Jingming to have other gains!

"How come your luck is so good? You're making me want to go out with you next time."

Ling Shuang said wistfully.

"Sure."

Xu Jingming naturally had no objection, "By the way, Sister Shuang, are you still busy?"

"There's quite a lot to handle today, I might need to pull an all-nighter, what's up?"

Ling Shuang tucked her hair back and asked in confusion.

"Nothing much, I just wanted Teacher Ling to help me deal with some things."

Xu Jingming's large hand had already caressed a certain round, perky place.

"Mmm~~"

Although she had felt this large hand more than once, Ling Shuang still instinctively let out a soft moan.

She naturally understood what Xu Jingming meant by the "things" he wanted handled.

Thinking of this, her alluring face, with its tear mole at the corner of her eye, gradually flushed red, and her slender waist began to squirm restlessly.

But at this moment, Xu Jingming withdrew his right hand and said with a mischievous grin:

"But since Teacher Ling is still busy, let's leave it for next time."

"You're such a bad guy!"

Ling Shuang gave Xu Jingming a coquettish glare, then said primly:

"I suddenly remembered I'm not busy."

"Really? Teacher Ling, don't lie to me." Xu Jingming still wore his mischievous grin.

"If I say I'm not busy, then I'm not busy. Why would I lie to you?"

Ling Shuang glared at Xu Jingming, then grabbed his large hand.

Space force spread out, about to teleport away, but was stopped by Xu Jingming.

"Teacher Ling, let's do it right here, I prefer the scholarly atmosphere of this place."

Ling Shuang: "????"

You like the scholarly atmosphere of an office? I'd believe that when pigs fly!

PS: Three chapters done, still owe 1 chapter for the Spring Festival, on my knees begging for free gift support!