Chapter 790: This Time Won

Catherine made preparations for her departure to Daxia, while Xu Jingming sought out the master armorer who had forged his SS-rank Melted Ash Obsidian Spear for him.

He ordered two long spears: one SSS-rank, 2. meters long, for normal use.

One SS-rank, 3. meters long, for use in Thunderstorm Mode.

He had originally planned to customize both spears as SSS-rank, but his funds were insufficient.

Xu Jingming would not use Ling Shuang's money just because she was his woman.

Ten billion Star Credits was no small sum; Ling Shuang needed resources for her own cultivation and consumed vast amounts of capital.

So the three hundred billion Star Credits had already transferred one hundred billion to Ling Shuang last night.

Forging one SSS-rank spear required thirteen billion Star Credits; forging two would need twenty-six billion—his funds were simply inadequate.

The cost of an SS-rank spear was far lower, needing only six billion Star Credits.

"I'm broke again."

After paying the deposit, Xu Jingming's bank account held only one billion Star Credits.

Once the two spears arrived in a month and he paid the remaining balance, his account would be left with just one billion Star Credits...

But Xu Jingming wasn't overly concerned.

His equipment had already been upgraded to SSS-rank; there was no immediate need to spend money.

Even if he truly needed funds, he could ask the Song family or Ling Shuang.

"Now, I just wait for Catherine to contact me."

Xu Jingming quickly returned to the Thunder Martial Arts Academy's director's office and stayed with Ling Shuang.

Ling Shuang worked at her desk while he silently practiced his Ability Training Method.

At 11 a. ., two hours later, he received Catherine's call announcing her departure.

After hanging up, he met Catherine at the North District Aviation Port.

Xu Jingming then retrieved his Chishao-class fighter from his space ring and flew Catherine to Daxia.

This return was primarily to enhance the Abilities of Song Qiuyun and Jiang Chu, with no other business—so he didn't bring Ling Shuang along...

At 6: 4 p. ., southern border of Daxia.

The crimson afterglow of the setting sun blazed at the horizon, dyeing the entire sky orange-red.

A black avian phantom sliced through the sky like a blade, piercing through the orange-red clouds.

The sonic booms surrounding it roared like wild beasts.

Proving the fighter's speed had shattered the sound barrier.

"S-rank, entering Daxia's border in ten minutes—arrival at Magu City."

Inside the fighter's cabin, Eva's clear, melodious voice rang out.

"Finally arriving," Catherine lazily stretched.

Unlike her elaborate, ornate religious attire at the Holy Church,

her current outfit resembled that of an ordinary twenty-something woman—even more provocative.

She wore a cropped top exposing her midriff and tight shorts.

Her slender waist and long, straight legs were unmistakably displayed.

Add to that her Caucasian skin, glowing white all over.

Any ordinary woman seeing her would feel inferior.

"Now you're in your own territory—aren't you going to give me a tour? You're the host, after all."

Catherine's beautiful emerald eyes fixed on Xu Jingming, arms crossed, slightly displeased.

Since boarding the fighter, Xu Jingming had closed his eyes and remained in cultivation, speaking almost nothing.

"My description won't compare to seeing it yourself—I doubt you'd believe me anyway."

Xu Jingming opened his eyes, speaking calmly.

Catherine, raised in America since childhood, had been brainwashed; even if he explained more, she might not listen.

"Who says that!"

Catherine bristled, thrusting her chest forward proudly:

"The first city we're arriving at is Magu City, right? Before coming, I already researched plenty!"

"Oh? Then tell me what you found," Xu Jingming asked, intrigued.

He didn't believe Catherine had uncovered anything useful.

Otherwise, during the Talent Competition, she wouldn't have thought Daxia lived in dire suffering.

"Magu City is one of Daxia's ten major cities, with economic indicators ranking among the highest."

But that's just surface appearance—in Magu City, Ability Users tower over ordinary people and can kill them at will.

Addictive drugs circulate openly; not just ordinary people, but even Ability Users consume them!

For powerful Ability Users, Magu City is paradise; for ordinary people, it's unquestionably hell!"

Catherine wore an expression of having seen through everything, then her demeanor grew reverent:

"Such a city, such a nation—only the Lord of Light can save it."

Her purpose in coming to Daxia, besides verifying its condition,

was also to try establishing the Holy Church on this religious soil.

Xu Jingming opened his mouth to speak, but finally shook his head:

"Forget it. If it makes you happy."

Ability Users holding higher status than ordinary people was true everywhere.

As for arbitrary killings—that was impossible, given the Public Security Bureau's oversight.

Addictive drugs were nonsense; Daxia strictly forbade them, punishing any discovery severely.

Catherine's description didn't match Daxia—it resembled America instead...

The fighter soon landed at the Waterfront Community, in front of Jiang Chu's secluded villa.

Song Qiuyun and Jiang Chu had already been waiting at the community gate.

It was nearly seven p. .; Magu City Ability University classes had long ended.

Hss—

The fighter's cabin door opened; Xu Jingming and Catherine jumped down one after the other from the four-meter-tall aircraft.

Song Qiuyun and Jiang Chu were initially delighted to see Xu Jingming—but when they saw Catherine, they were startled.

They naturally recognized this American prodigy who had fought Xu Jingming evenly during the Talent Competition.

But they never imagined Catherine would return with him!

"This..."

Song Qiuyun and Jiang Chu exchanged glances, both reading shock in each other's eyes.

Last time, Xu Jingming brought back Principal Ling Shuang—now she was their sister.

This time, did Catherine become the same?

"Hi, I'm Catherine Hepburn, a friend of Xu Jingming's—call me Catherine."

Catherine, unaware of their thoughts, extended her right hand warmly.

"Hello, I'm Song Qiuyun."

"Jiang Chu."

After greeting Catherine, Song Qiuyun stepped beside Xu Jingming and whispered:

"Jingming, is Catherine also...?"

Xu Jingming immediately recognized the misunderstanding and laughed:

"She wanted to visit Daxia, and since I was returning, I brought her along."

"I see."

Song Qiuyun exhaled in relief; Jiang Chu, however, looked slightly disappointed.

This Catherine was quite beautiful too...

"Let's go inside."

Amid the amazed glances of several onlookers, Xu Jingming stored the fighter in his space ring and led the three women into the community.

Fortunately, the Waterfront Community was located in Magu City's suburbs, geographically remote.

Otherwise, the crowd wouldn't have been limited to just these passersby.

"This time, I could buy a new villa."

Xu Jingming thought silently.

The Waterfront Community, though remote, was just an ordinary villa district.

It had many decorative elements like artificial hills and flowing water.

But the roads only accommodated pedestrians and vehicles—no fighter could land.

Jiang Chu's villa had a small backyard with a roof—also unsuitable for parking a fighter.

To buy a villa in Magu City with a landing pad would cost at least five to six hundred million Daxia Credits.

For Xu Jingming now, this amount meant nothing.

"Jingming, you came straight to Magu City—didn't you return to the Thunder Martial Arts Academy headquarters?"

In the villa's living room, Song Qiuyun served everyone hot tea, curiously asking.

"Did you forget what I told you before?"

The space ring flickered faintly, and two glowing spheres, one gold and one blue, each the size of a basketball, appeared out of thin air, hovering about twenty centimeters from Xu Jingming's palm.

"There, this is the surprise I prepared for you two."

"What is this?" Song Qiuyun and Jiang Chu both wore expressions of confusion on their lovely faces.

Yet each could feel the spheres' pull toward her, as if it were an instinct of life itself.

"Elemental essences."

Xu Jingming smiled and explained, "They'll elevate both of your abilities from A-rank to S-rank."

"What?!!"

Song Qiuyun's eyes widened, her face filled with disbelief.

Could such a wonder even exist? Could it directly raise an ability user's rank?

Song Qiuyun was stunned; the white-haired girl Jiang Chu wasn't far behind.

Her moist red lips parted slightly, her expression dazed.

She had assumed the "surprise" Xu Jingming mentioned might be an SS-rank cultivation resource.

But she never expected it to be this kind of wonder!

This was absolutely the thing every elemental ability user dreamed of!

Even ninth-rank ability users were no exception.

After all, the higher the ability rank, the stronger the combat power!

"Back when we were in Qingfeng Secret Realm, he fought off a host of prodigies to repair these two elemental essences—and later even asked me to restore the light elemental essence."

Catherine added with a smile.

In truth, restoring that light elemental essence had taken her considerable effort.

"Jingming, why didn't you ever tell us about any of this?"

Song Qiuyun and Jiang Chu looked at Xu Jingming.

Both pairs of beautiful eyes were already brimming with affection.

If Catherine weren't here, they would have already thrown themselves at him.

"I just wanted to surprise you."

Xu Jingming smiled, then turned to Catherine beside him.

"Aren't you curious what our Metropolis is like? You can go now."

"See for yourself whether our Metropolis citizens live in misery, as you claimed."

"But didn't we agree you'd come with me?" Catherine asked, puzzled.

"I have something tonight. Come find me tomorrow."

Xu Jingming hadn't expected Catherine to be this clueless; he cleared his throat.

Catherine had helped him restore the elemental essences; taking her along for a tour of Great Xia wasn't unreasonable.

But not now.

"You have something to do?"

Catherine glanced at Xu Jingming, then at Song Qiuyun and Jiang Chu, who were nearly pressed against him.

Only then did she realize; her fair cheeks flushed slightly. "Alright, I'll come find you tomorrow."

Saying this, she rose quickly from the sofa and strode out of the villa on her long, fair legs.

"Jingming, is it really fine to let Catherine leave like this?"

Watching Catherine's retreating figure, Song Qiuyun said with concern.

Catherine was America's SS-rank prodigy—if anything happened to her in Great Xia, it could spark hostility between the two nations.

"Don't worry. Catherine's mother is an Ultimate. She must have a life-saving talisman on her."

Besides, Great Xia isn't America—it won't attack her."

Xu Jingming smiled.

He pulled Song Qiuyun and Jiang Chu into his arms, one in each hand.

Feeling the lush softness in his grasp, he felt deeply satisfied.

He truly disliked those stick-thin figures.

"Jing... ingming, not here—let's go to the room..."

Sensing Xu Jingming's strong masculine aura, Song Qiuyun's face flushed crimson; her slender body melted against him like boneless silk.

Jiang Chu, beside her, had nowhere to go—she clutched his left arm tightly, forcing it deep into her alluring curves.

"Don't rush. Absorb the elemental essences first."

Xu Jingming gently tapped them; both women shuddered.

Song Qiuyun gave him a slightly resentful glance: "You could've told us sooner..."

She brushed a strand of hair aside and adjusted her clothes.

Once composed, she asked: "How do we absorb the elemental essences?"

"Simple. Release your abilities and touch the elemental essences."

Xu Jingming replied.

"Alright."

Song Qiuyun and Jiang Chu nodded simultaneously, each releasing their abilities.

Whoosh—

Two distinct glows burst from their bodies: gold and blue.

Song Qiuyun's A-rank light-element ability, "Dawnlight," radiated warmth with considerable destructive power.

Jiang Chu's A-rank ice-element ability, "Frost Soul," emitted mesmerizing blue frost, radiating biting cold.

The golden light and blue frost swiftly wrapped around the two separate elemental essences.

BOOM!!

The two elemental essence spheres exploded violently!

Instantly, boundless light element and water element engulfed Song Qiuyun and Jiang Chu respectively.

The original colors of their abilities deepened gradually, and a faint aura of danger began to emanate.

"Their abilities are beginning to evolve!"

Xu Jingming watched them intently.

He was eager to see what changes their abilities would undergo after ascending to S-rank.