Chapter 804: Both Teacher and Friend! Su Qingli

"The Heavenly Thunder Divine Punishment Sword is extremely difficult to master; even I spent nearly half a year learning it."

"After you receive the secret manual, if you encounter anything you don't understand during your cultivation, come find..."

Su Qingli hadn't finished speaking when she remembered Xu Jingming's terrifying comprehension.

She unconsciously pressed her full lips together, her tone losing interest:

"Forget it. Even an SSS-rank combat technique would probably be no challenge for you."

Xu Jingming's talent was unquestionably the most aberrant she had ever seen—even she was far behind him.

At first, she thought this was fine; it saved her effort.

But later, she realized her role as his teacher seemed useless to him.

Sometimes, it was Xu Jingming who taught her combat techniques and spirit-refining arts instead.

It was less a teacher-student relationship and more one of mutual mentorship and friendship.

"I'm giving you this Heavenly Thunder Divine Punishment Sword. There's nothing left of mine for you to learn."

"If you want stronger combat techniques afterward, you'll have to find them yourself."

Su Qingli picked up the teacup on the table, took a light sip, then set it down slowly.

When she first found Xu Jingming, she thought it would take at least four or five years—or longer—to fully transmit all these techniques.

Yet she hadn't expected him to drain her completely in less than a year...

"That won't do."

Xu Jingming chuckled, "I'll still have many questions to ask you, Teacher."

"For example, restriction-type combat techniques, movement-type techniques, and so on."

He spoke the truth.

But these techniques were still sufficient for now; there was no need to learn too many.

After all, he already possessed too many combat techniques.

"Really?"

Su Qingli blinked, unaware of the delight that surfaced in her expression upon hearing this.

"Of course."

Xu Jingming smiled, "By the way, Teacher Su, I'd like a Qianghua -type SSS-rank gun technique."

"I don't have any Qianghua -type techniques here; you can just check the library."

"But why do you want a Qianghua -type gun technique? Qianghua -techniques only activate your muscles and blood qi."

"They can't activate your Thunder affinity. It would be a complete waste of most of your power."

"Even if you eventually master it, its power might not surpass the SS+ rank Cangleibawangqiang I gave you last time."

Su Qingli asked, puzzled.

Having a Thunder-affinity cultivator train a Qianghua -technique was like going south to reach the north.

In fact, if Xu Jingming hadn't trained his body-refining art,

the SSS-rank Qianghua -technique he eventually mastered might be weaker than even an A-rank Thunder technique.

"I want to use this SSS-rank Qianghua -gun technique as a foundation to create a Thunder-affinity SSS-rank gun technique."

Xu Jingming didn't hide it; he said it plainly.

"Huh?" Su Qingli froze.

Even she, accustomed to Xu Jingming's absurdity, was stunned by this line of thinking.

Qianghua -techniques and Thunder-affinity techniques were entirely different paths—how could one be converted into the other?

Even if possible, it would consume Xu Jingming a tremendous amount of time.

"You don't need to rush for a Thunder-affinity SSS-rank gun technique. Your current strength is already more than sufficient."

Su Qingli hurriedly advised, then added, "If you really want one, let me find a way."

Because she had ascended to the ninth stage so recently, she had accumulated no significant connections.

But she had none—her father didn't.

Her father was at least a ninth-stage peak Law Sage; even after being missing so long, he still retained residual influence.

If she personally asked, those elders would likely help locate a Thunder-affinity SSS-rank gun technique.

Xu Jingming's heart warmed at this, and he smiled: "No need, Teacher Su. I have confidence."

"My body-refining art has already been upgraded from SS-rank to SSS-rank."

"Combat techniques are over ten times simpler than body-refining arts—they're no problem for me."

In truth, if he had enough ability points, he could probably just directly rank up SSR-rank techniques.

"What did you say?!"

Su Qingli's eyes widened in disbelief: "SSS-rank body-refining art? You've already successfully developed it?"

"Not officially rated yet, but in terms of power, it's definitely SSS-rank."

Xu Jingming replied with a smile.

"SSS-rank body-refining art... created at age twenty..."

Su Qingli murmured to herself, feeling as if she were dreaming.

She thought she had fully grasped Xu Jingming's extraordinary comprehension.

But she had still vastly underestimated his aberrance.

Creating an SSS-rank body-refining art at twenty—she'd never even dreamed of such a thing!

"Since you've already created an SSS-rank body-refining art, I won't stop you."

"Your library access has been upgraded to the highest level. If you see any technique you want, just register and take it."

Su Qingli took a deep breath, calming her inner shock.

"Yes!"

Xu Jingming's eyes lit up; he stood and said, "I'll head to the library now to search for techniques. I'll come back later."

"Go," Su Qingli waved him off.

Xu Jingming turned to leave, and Liu Wei stepped forward to whisper to Su Qingli:

"Director, Deputy Director Hu is pressing again about the appointment of the Magu City Inspector."

Su Qingli's delicate brows furrowed at this.

Magu City, bordering the sea, had extremely frequent trade with foreign nations.

And due to the vast number of sea monsters, many cultivators gathered there to hunt them.

As a result, Magu City's economic development ranked among the top three in all of Daya.

The Thunder Martial Arts Pavilion had established twenty branch pavilions across all administrative districts of Magu City.

The Inspector was responsible for overseeing these branches and preventing corruption or bribery.

This position held authority above all branch directors, second only to the three directors and deputy directors.

The previous Magu City Inspector had perished over two years ago.

Since then, no new Inspector had been appointed; Deputy Director Hu Jinyu had repeatedly proposed assigning someone.

But how could Su Qingli entrust such a critical position to anyone else?

So she had consistently refused, and Hu Jinyu had quieted down for over a year.

But after Liu Shan was removed from his post and reassigned to the Nixi Branch, Hu Jinyu had revived his ambition for the Magu City Inspector position.

He wanted Liu Shan appointed as Magu City Inspector.

And Liu Shan was one of Thunder Martial Arts Pavilion's few ninth-stage peak Grand Masters—his request was reasonable.

But Su Qingli had always refused, citing Liu Shan's serious misconduct.

"Same answer as before: Liu Shan committed grave errors; he cannot be appointed Inspector."

Su Qingli gave her order with clear eyes.

The Magu City Inspector position was too vital; she could not let Hu Jinyu's faction control it.

But she also knew this excuse could only delay things for two or three months at most.

After all, in the previous Tianming Cult incident, Liu Shan bore no primary responsibility—he was merely implicated.

Previously, there had been no suitable candidates, so the Inspector position remained vacant.

But now that Liu Shan, a ninth-stage peak cultivator, was available, prolonged delay would no longer be credible.

"If all else fails, I'll have to put Shuang on the position."

Su Qingli felt deep concern.

The Thunder Martial Arts Pavilion always followed strength as the sole criterion.

Ling Shuang had exceptional escape ability, but her direct combat power couldn't match Liu Shan, who had been at ninth-stage peak for years.

If they competed for the Inspector position, Liu Shan's chances of winning were higher.

But now, she could only take it one step at a time.

She had too few reliable subordinates—if Ling Shuang lost,

even if she resisted, she might have no choice but to appoint Liu Shan as Magu City Inspector...