Chapter 803

After Catherine left, Xu Jingming went to find Professor Yang Zhentian at Magic University again.

Upon learning that Xu Jingming's Body Strengthening Art had reached SSS rank, Yang Zhentian was left speechless with shock.

He desperately wanted to share this joy with other instructors, but with the Martial Arts Competition approaching, he had to hold it in for now.

After spending some time with Professor Yang, he once again attended class with Song Qiuyun and Jiang Chu in the classroom.

The next day, he departed from Magic City under the reluctant gazes of the two women, flying toward the Lei Wu Guan headquarters.

"Director, good day."

"Good day, Director Xu!"

The fighter jet landed at the entrance of the Lei Wu Guan headquarters.

Xu Jingming retracted the jet and entered the martial arts compound, where respectful greetings echoed along the way.

Ordinary deputy directors of Lei Wu Guan branches did not receive such treatment.

But Xu Jingming's Mocheng branch was arguably the most important overseas branch.

Even as a deputy director, his status far exceeded that of most branch directors within the country.

Moreover, Xu Jingming was a student of Director Su Qingli—his status was even more exalted.

"Come to the villa to find me."

Su Qingli's melodious voice echoed in his mind.

Before departing, Xu Jingming had already sent Su Qingli a message; as soon as he entered the compound, she sensed his presence with her spiritual force.

Flight was prohibited within the Lei Wu Guan headquarters grounds, so Xu Jingming did not unfold his Lei Long Wings, merely quickening his pace slightly.

One minute later, Xu Jingming met Su Qingli in the director's villa beside the main building.

Perhaps because she was not in her office, she was not wearing the Lei Wu Guan uniform.

Instead, she wore a white strap dress.

The dress clung slightly to her figure, accentuating her graceful, curvaceous silhouette.

A delicate pale blue sash tied at her waist revealed her slender waistline.

White clothing was not something every girl could pull off, as it might expose skin imperfections.

But on Su Qingli, it was perfect—her fair skin shimmered in harmony with the dress, enhancing each other.

Combined with her naturally cold and exquisite beauty, she exuded an otherworldly aura, like a celestial fairy.

"Teacher, I've come."

Xu Jingming stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

Like Ling Shuang, Su Qingli had given him much help.

So even though his strength had grown, he still maintained proper etiquette.

"Mm, sit down."

Su Qingli nodded slightly, and after her assistant Liu Wei poured Xu Jingming a cup of hot tea, she smiled and said:

"You handled the Magic City Security Bureau mission well—now the Swordbearer Forum is buzzing about who the Blood Killer is, and Zhou Yu even called to thank me."

She had assigned him the mission only after learning from Ling Shuang that Xu Jingming had advanced again, even defeating an eighth-rank upper elemental master from the Spirit Fox Guild.

Still, she had prepared for the mission to fail—the Mocheng branch already had an eighth-rank upper grand master standing by.

As soon as Xu Jingming called her, she would dispatch someone to clean up.

But in the end, Xu Jingming's performance had not disappointed her.

"Teacher, no matter how difficult your mission, I will complete it."

Xu Jingming grinned.

After all, this mission was given to him by Su Qingli.

If he had failed, not only would he have a failed mission record, but Su Qingli would also lose face.

"Oh?"

Su Qingli raised a delicate eyebrow, curiously asking: "If I told you to fight a ninth-rank Wu Sheng, would you go?"

Xu Jingming did not hesitate—he nodded. "I'll give it a try."

He couldn't defeat a ninth-rank Wu Sheng, but escaping should still be possible.

"You're quite the talker."

Su Qingli chuckled wryly, then shook her head.

"Even as an SSS-rank awakened talent, you cannot fight a ninth-rank energy user across two major ranks."

"What if I reach eighth rank?" Xu Jingming asked curiously.

"Still impossible," Su Qingli replied, shaking her head again.

"Are ninth-rank energy users really that strong?" Xu Jingming became interested.

"They really are that strong."

Su Qingli nodded slightly. "Currently known eighth-rank upper grand masters with S-rank abilities can barely hold their own against A-rank ninth-rank Wu Shengs—and still have a long way to go before winning."

"Even I, after reaching the peak of eighth rank, could barely defeat an A-rank ninth-rank lower-tier Wu Sheng—and even then, it was extremely difficult."

"I estimate you'll need to reach mid- or upper-eighth rank before you can even attempt it."

"I see." Xu Jingming's eyes gleamed.

That was true for ordinary SSS-rank talents—but he had a system.

He might still defeat an A-rank ninth-rank lower-tier Wu Sheng even at eighth-rank lower tier.

He planned to test the strength of ninth-rank energy users in the virtual world after returning to Mocheng.

"Don't reach too high," Su Qingli warned.

"Just steadily strengthen yourself—ninth rank means nothing to you."

Su Qingli added gently.

In truth, for warriors like her, ninth rank was merely the beginning.

Beyond it lay a far vaster world—but she would never see it.

Having rapidly advanced to ninth rank by consuming an SSR-grade celestial treasure early on, she had lost all potential for further advancement.

"Understood." Xu Jingming nodded seriously.

Watching Xu Jingming's reaction, Su Qingli's clear, beautiful eyes betrayed unmistakable satisfaction.

A seventh-rank mid-tier master at age twenty!

The first in history!

Xu Jingming had every right to be proud—even arrogant!

Yet she saw none of those flaws in him—this was precisely what she admired most.

"Perhaps that's why Sister Shuang likes him."

Su Qingli suddenly thought.

She and Ling Shuang—one S-rank lightning, one S-rank space—had once crushed all prodigies of their age.

No awakened talent had ever drawn their attention.

Only someone like Xu Jingming could truly capture their interest.

Unfortunately, no such prodigy had appeared back then...

Shaking her head, Su Qingli did not dwell further.

With a flick of her right hand, an ancient blue-purple manual appeared in her grasp, which she extended toward Xu Jingming:

"This technique is called Heavenly Thunder Divine Punishment Sword—the single-target SSS-rank lightning technique you requested."

"Created by my father, it can only be learned by those with S-rank or higher lightning abilities."

"When activated, it summons a sword forged from lightning that descends from the heavens to strike the enemy."

"Heavenly Thunder Divine Punishment Sword?" Xu Jingming's eyes lit up instantly.

If he mastered this technique, his single-target damage output would finally be complete.

"Heavenly Thunder Divine Punishment Sword?" Xu Jingming's eyes instantly lit up.

If he learned this combat technique, his single-target damage output would no longer be lacking.