Chapter 793: Swordbearer Forum! Su Qingli

Following Su Qingli's instructions, Xu Jingming opened the website of the Swordbearer Forum and completed identity verification and account registration.

"Account registration successful. Please confirm your nickname."

A virtual pop-up appeared before his eyes.

Xu Jingming frowned—he hated this nickname selection step most, because he almost never came up with a good one.

After a moment's thought, he suddenly remembered something, a faint smile tugging at his lips, and typed in "Bloodkill."

"Bloodkill? That's the name of the Tianming Sect's Red Robe Master Zongshi killed by Ling Shuang?"

Su Qingli's call had not been disconnected; she was startled to see this.

"Exactly. Using this alias to carry out Tianming Sect missions is perfect." Xu Jingming grinned.

Bloodkill, Eighth-Rank Middle-Grade Master Zongshi of the Tianming Sect!

Their first meeting in the Thundering Secret Realm had left an extremely deep impression on him.

His overwhelming blood qi could directly shatter the life force of any third- or fourth-rank adept who came too close!

Before Bloodkill, even he—with his SS-rank ability—was like an ant, forced to rely on Ling Shuang to save him.

But now, an Eighth-Rank Middle-Grade Master Zongshi like Bloodkill could be effortlessly crushed by him.

"Alright, I've added you as a friend. Accept the request."

Su Qingli nodded, and Xu Jingming saw her friend request.

Her nickname was also two characters: "Qingli."

No surprise—no wonder she was Professor Su; even her forum name was just a direct excerpt from her real name.

"I've transferred the task to you. Take a quick look at the details—if nothing's wrong, just accept it."

Shortly after adding her as a friend, Su Qingli said softly.

The Swordbearer Forum allowed any Eighth-Rank Master Zongshi to join.

Investigation tasks targeting a specific Eighth-Rank Master Zongshi could never be made public.

They circulated only among trusted powerhouses, otherwise the target would be alerted and escape.

This task couldn't be posted on the forum—it could only be privately forwarded.

"Got it."

Xu Jingming skimmed the task details; the content matched what Su Qingli had just described.

But when he read the final few lines, he frowned: "This task requires cooperation with the Metropolis Public Security Bureau?"

"This task originally came from the Public Security Bureau, but they've been swamped lately and can't spare an Eighth-Rank adept.

Tonight's Tianming Sect gathering is an unexpected event—if we don't catch Lu Wenliang now, the next chance to trap him will be much harder.

That's why they've released the task to us."

Su Qingli explained, then added curiously, "You dislike the Public Security Bureau because of the Leng Chang incident?"

"Professor Su, you even know about that?"

Back then, Leng Chang was rescued from the Public Security Bureau by the Tianming Sect, nearly causing Xu Jingming's high school class monitor, Lin Qingyin, to be killed.

Because of that incident, the Public Security Bureau had left him with an unreliable impression.

What surprised him more was that Professor Su seemed to know every detail of it.

"Of course."

Su Qingli smiled smugly, her red lips curving slightly:

"During the National University Exchange Competition, to get you to join my Lei Ting Martial Arts Gym, I compiled your entire file."

She paused, then added: "Don't worry this time—the Public Security Bureau is only there to assist.

You hold full autonomy over the mission, and the requirements are clear: confirm identity, then eliminate immediately.

Lu Wenliang won't get a chance to be captured and then rescued like Leng Chang did."

"Good."

Xu Jingming nodded and clicked to confirm accepting the task.

This task was rated S+ on the Swordbearer Forum.

The reward was also substantial: ten billion Dayangzhou Credits.

Ten billion Dayangzhou Credits counted as a fortune for the vast majority of adepts!

Even ordinary Eighth-Rank Grand Masters needed half a year to a full year to accumulate that much.

But for Xu Jingming right now, it meant nothing.

He took this task mainly for the Ability Points.

After all, this was a Tianming Sect gathering—even if Lu Wenliang didn't show up,

there would still be Divine Blood Messengers to kill.

After ending Su Qingli's call, Xu Jingming began browsing the forum posts.

"Wanted: One unit of Black Lord Tyrannosaurus blood. Price negotiable."

"Dayangzhou Wilderness Zone: Eighth-Rank Master Zongshi squad seeking an auxiliary ability user. Contact if interested."

"Black Dragon Legion: Recruiting Commander of the First Legion. Rank must be at least Eighth-Rank Middle Grade."

"......"

Like any ordinary forum, it was filled with countless posts, constantly increasing.

The posts covered many areas: buying carcasses of ferocious beasts, major job postings.

Some were casual chats about real-time news, like a new Eighth-Rank ferocious beast emerging in a Dayangzhou wilderness zone, requiring prompt elimination.

There were also official announcements posted by the Dayangzhou government.

The content on these posts was inaccessible to ordinary adepts.

This is an internal information channel belonging to the Great Xia Eighth-Rank Master Zongshi.

"Looks like after hunting an Eighth-Rank ferocious beast, I won't need to sell the materials to martial academies or other factions anymore."

"Just post it on the forum—I'm sure someone will pay a high price for it."

Xu Jingming's face broke into a smile.

Lei Ting Martial Academy's purchase price for high-rank ferocious beast materials isn't low either.

But the earnings from posting it on the forum will surely be higher.

After all, these high-rank ferocious beast materials might be exactly what some Eighth-Rank Grand Masters need.

As for negotiating the price, he doesn't need to worry at all—just hand it over to Eva...

Qingjing, upscale villa district.

On the rooftop balcony of a villa, a man sat cross-legged with his eyes half-closed.

His build wasn't particularly muscular, but his muscles were perfectly proportioned.

His face was cold and stern, radiating an astonishingly icy aura of slaughter.

He was Xue Jian, the Ninth-Rank Mid-Grade Martial Saint of Great Xia.

Possessing the enhanced Divine Beast-type S-Class ability: "Shadowblood Leopard"!

His strength, even among Great Xia's many Ninth-Rank councilors, ranked among the upper tier.

"Dingdong~~~"

A chime sounded; a cyan holographic orb appeared beside him, alerting:

"Administrator, Xu Jingming has successfully registered as a Swordbearer Forum member, codename: 'Bloodslayer'."

Although Xue Jian was an administrator of the Swordbearer Forum, he didn't need to review every piece of information or registration application.

Artificial intelligence managed them—only certain individuals, once they joined the forum, required notification.

And Lanxing's number-one prodigy, Xu Jingming with his SS-Class ability, was naturally one of those specially monitored.

"Oh? Xu Jingming registered on the forum? What's his first assigned task?"

Xue Jian opened his eyes; his pupils were deep as a bottomless pool.

"Confirm Lu Wenliang's identity as a Tianming Sect member and eliminate him," the orb replied.

"It's this task."

Xue Jian frowned.

He had learned of this task only a few hours ago.

This task was extremely dangerous—if Lu Wenliang weren't the Tianming Sect's Crimson-robed Grand Pontiff, it might still be manageable.

But if he was, and caught on-site, a battle would likely erupt!

Keep in mind,

Lu Wenliang was already a Mid-Grade Eighth-Rank Master Zongshi; after activating his Divine Blood Secret Art, his strength would surge again, brushing against the Upper-Grade Eighth-Rank Master Zongshi realm!

And when Lu Wenliang struck, he would almost certainly unleash lethal, no-holds-barred techniques—danger level off the charts.

Thus, though this task had been posted for hours, no one had taken it yet.

And Xu Jingming had previously slain only a Lower-Grade Eighth-Rank Tianming Sect Master Zongshi.

Facing Lu Wenliang head-on? A hundred percent disaster.

"Did Xu Jingming take this task himself?" Xue Jian asked, frowning.

"No, it was transferred by his teacher, Su Qingli," the orb replied again.

"Su Qingli transferred it?" Xue Jian's furrowed brow relaxed.

Su Qingli was Xu Jingming's teacher—she certainly understood his strength better than he did.

If Su Qingli dared entrust this task to Xu Jingming, then he had nothing to worry about.

Otherwise, he would have immediately contacted her to inquire.

After all, Xu Jingming must not fail.

Of course, this wasn't because he believed Xu Jingming could defeat Lu Wenliang.

It was because Su Qingli was backing him—this wouldn't go awry.

"Has Xu Jingming's strength improved this fast? Why is Su Qingli letting him spar with Lu Wenliang?"

"Never mind—I'll see the outcome after tonight's mission ends."

Shaking his head, Xue Jian didn't dwell on it.

In his view, this task was merely a trial for Xu Jingming.

In the end, Ling Shuang or Su Qingli would likely intervene personally.

After all, less than a month had passed since Xu Jingming killed the Lower-Grade Eighth-Rank Tianming Sect Master Zongshi.

Even if Xu Jingming was a prodigy, his strength couldn't have improved this rapidly.

On the other side, Xu Jingming, having accepted the task, soon received a call from the Metropolis Public Security Bureau.

For tonight's operation, the bureau would assign a Seventh-Rank Peak Spirit-type Master as support.

The bureau's adepts excelled in interrogation and perception.

This Seventh-Rank Peak Master specialized in the latter, tasked with real-time monitoring of Tianming Sect gathering activity.

Meanwhile, the Metropolis Public Security Bureau also suggested whether additional Seventh-Rank Masters should be deployed.

Generally, a local security bureau was fortunate to have even one Seventh-Rank Master.

But this was Metropolis—the Metropolis Public Security Bureau was founded over two hundred years ago, during the initial resurgence of Yuan Energy, with deep roots.

Even now, its top combat strength included two Eighth-Rank Grand Masters and six Seventh-Rank Masters.

Though those two Eighth-Rank Grand Masters were occupied elsewhere, Seventh-Rank Masters could still be dispatched.

Facing the Public Security Bureau's inquiries, Xu Jingming naturally chose to refuse.

Before Lu Wenliang, a mid-level eighth-rank, even more seventh-rank Masters would be useless—and might even drag him down.

"Understood. Director Yang Yao will arrive at your residence precisely at 6 p. m."

A clear, melodious voice sounded from the other end of the phone.

The Yang Yao she mentioned was that seventh-rank peak Jingshenxi Master Zongshi.

"Good."

Xu Jingming nodded and hung up the phone.

"By the way, Catherine wanted to see our Metropolis—why not bring her along for tonight's operation?"

Xu Jingming thought silently.

The Tianming Sect has countless ties to the United States.

If we can capture Lu Wenliang this time, perhaps we'll find some information in his space ring.

If Catherine truly learns the United States' filth, I wonder what her reaction will be.

For this, Xu Jingming actually felt some anticipation...

Perhaps it was to avoid disturbing Xu Jingming.

Catherine didn't return to the villa until 9 a. m.

When she learned that Song Qiuyun and Jiang Chuxuan's abilities had both evolved into S+ rank, her lovely face inevitably showed shock.

She knew Elemental Essence could cause an adept's ability to evolve into S rank, but she never imagined it could evolve into the even rarer S+ rank!

"As long as no SS-rank ability emerges, your two girlfriends are undoubtedly the top prodigies!"

A faint trace of astonishment lingered on Bai Xi's lovely face.

Although the rate of Yuan energy resurgence has peaked in recent years, the number of awoken rare abilities has increased dramatically.

Yet S+ rank abilities remain as rare as ever!

She had previously paid little attention to Elemental Essence, but now she felt a touch of envy.

If she could obtain Elemental Essence, the United States could gain several more prodigies...

Catherine had helped repair the Light Elemental Essence.

Therefore, Xu Jingming kept his promise and took her around Metropolis.

He also brought along Song Qiuyun and Jiang Chuxuan.

Most of the time he spent hunting beasts in the Wild Zone—this was, in a way, accompanying them on a shopping spree.

But one man with three women was far too unusual, and their looks and aura far surpassed ordinary people.

In sparsely populated areas, it was fine—but once they entered the city, they would inevitably become objects of crowd-watching and filming.

In the end, Xu Jingming had to get everyone a pair of large sunglasses to ease the situation slightly.

Catherine had come to Great Xia with the mindset of a savior.

But the more places she saw, the more confused she became.

Why did Great Xia feel so different from what she had been told—even completely opposite?

Xu Jingming didn't bother explaining; too many explanations would make Catherine disbelieve him—let her experience it herself.

When the time neared 6 p. m., Xu Jingming prepared to return to the villa with the others, waiting for the Public Security Bureau's arrival.

On the way, Catherine finally couldn't hold back, her beautiful eyes filled with confusion:

"Are all of Great Xia's cities like Metropolis?"

"Economic development and city size may differ, but law enforcement methods and contraband control are the same," Xu Jingming replied.

"How is that possible!"

Catherine instinctively objected, "Don't you even ban Lokawan?"

Lokawan is a Grade-One pill.

It has hallucinogenic effects and relatively low bodily harm.

Thus, despite its addictiveness, it remains wildly popular throughout the United States.

Many ordinary citizens even take it.

"You can't do it doesn't mean we can't," Xu Jingming said calmly.

In overall strength and number of strong experts, Great Xia and the United States are roughly equal.

But in terms of state control, Great Xia utterly crushes the United States.

Upon hearing this, Catherine's pupils shrank sharply, and she fell silent.

Before coming to Great Xia, she had guessed Great Xia might differ from the version she knew.

But now, after truly understanding it, she realized this wasn't just a slight difference—it was two entirely opposite extremes!

After all, Lokawan wasn't just popular in the United States—it was also used by nearby the EU and Heizhou.

Yet she found not a single trace of it in Metropolis.

Nor did she see any signs of Great Xia's citizens living in misery.

As an SS-rank ability awakener, Catherine was naturally extremely intelligent.

At this moment, she realized the domestic propaganda targeting Great Xia had serious problems.

But before she could continue pondering why her country would do this, Xu Jingming's voice sounded beside her:

"I'm about to carry out a mission—to eliminate the Tianming Sect. Do you want to come along?"