Chapter 849: SHOCKED COUNCIL MEMBERS! XIA MENG!

"Nine-stage combat power? When did Xu Jingming become this strong?"

"A prodigy! Too much of a prodigy!"

"This growth rate is too fast!"

"......"

On the National Council seats, these nine-stage experts who had witnessed countless events.

Each one was stunned, murmuring in shock.

And the nine-stage experts who clashed with Xu Jingming, like the Li and Wang families, all changed expression.

Especially Hu Jinyu, whose face darkened instantly.

Trouble!

Xu Jingming already has nine-stage combat power!

Within this Thunder Martial Hall, aside from the three directors and deputy directors, Xu Jingming is now the strongest!

The appointment of Xu Jingming as Demon City Inspector is completely without issue.

"You knew about Xu Jingming's true strength all along?"

Hu Jinyu glared at Su Qingli with a grim expression.

"What? Was what I said earlier not clear enough?"

Su Qingli's cold voice rang out, "Xu Jingming's appointment is entirely justified."

Just those words immediately silenced Hu Jinyu.

He had assumed Su Qingli was using her authority for personal gain, never imagining she had truly appointed him based on his actual strength...

"Congratulations, Director Su."

"The student surpasses the master. Director Su, you have an outstanding student."

"I'm sure before long, Xu Jingming will have his own seat here."

"......"

After the shock, each of the nine-stage council members offered their congratulations to Su Qingli.

Just as a mother gains status through her child, the same applies to teacher and student.

The more outstanding Xu Jingming becomes, the greater the value of cultivating a relationship with Su Qingli.

Besides, Su Qingli herself is a genius—she's merely limited by side effects that cap her potential.

Some nine-stage council members who already knew about Xu Jingming's appointment as Demon City Inspector promised to bring him a grand gift at his inauguration banquet.

Facing these gestures of goodwill, Su Qingli responded to each one while secretly reflecting inwardly.

Great Xia has forty nine-stage council members; twenty-five possess S-rank abilities, and the remaining fifteen all have pseudo-S-rank abilities.

With only a low-tier nine-stage rank and no possibility of further breakthrough, her presence in the National Council had never been strong.

Yet unexpectedly, she now commanded such immense attention—all because of Xu Jingming.

"Choosing to personally recruit Xu Jingming at the National University Exchange Competition was indeed the right decision."

Su Qingli couldn't help but think this, a faint smile subtly lifting the corners of her red lips.

After the national meeting ended, the high-speed fighter jet had already entered Great Xia's territory and was nearing its destination.

"Everyone, we're almost there."

Xue Jian's voice rang out, followed by an order: "AI, reduce speed and altitude. Activate external environment simulation."

Hum—

With a soft hum, the fighter jet's speed noticeably slowed.

Simultaneously, the cabin environment abruptly changed.

As if the fuselage had become transparent, the outside environment was now directly visible.

They were flying above a lush forest, surrounded by white clouds.

Below, the roars and shrieks of ferocious beasts could be heard, and even flying beasts flew alongside the jet.

But Xue Jian's aura had already erupted; these low-tier flying beasts sensed it and immediately fled, daring not to linger a moment.

A thousand meters ahead of the jet, a mountain peak stood towering.

The peak was immense, piercing the clouds.

What was even more shocking was that across its massive surface, two enormous characters were carved in bold, flowing strokes—Xia Meng!

These two characters, formed by deep grooves, created a powerful visual impact against the colossal mountain.

"This is Xia Meng—the residence of Director Zhou," Xu Jingming scanned the surroundings carefully.

Most high-stage cultivators have their own power bases.

Even Supreme Commander Zhou Yuanwu was no exception.

But his power base was self-established; theoretically, all Great Xia elites belong to Xia Meng.

Internationally, Xia Meng also represents Great Xia's cultivator community.

"I heard these two characters were written by Director Zhou over 130 years ago, right after he broke through to Supreme Commander."

"When I first came here, I was equally stunned."

Ling Shuang smiled beside him.

With the power of a nine-stage Martial Saint, destroying a mountain over two thousand meters tall piercing the clouds wouldn't be difficult.

But carving these two characters so fluidly onto the mountain itself? Impossible.

Boom—

The fighter jet's engines roared as the black obsidian-class jet rapidly ascended.

It soared into the sky above two thousand meters and landed smoothly atop the peak.

Unlike ordinary peaks, the summit here was an extremely broad, flat surface.

A hundred meters ahead stood three modern skyscrapers, over a hundred meters tall, radiating a sci-fi aesthetic.

"This is the Xia Meng headquarters. All of Great Xia's resource reserves are stored here.

Once you reach the nine-stage, you may stay here for a month free of charge to receive direct guidance from the Supreme Commander."

After leading everyone off the jet, Xue Jian explained:

"Of course, you may also choose to become core members of Xia Meng and remain here permanently.

If you don't wish to become core members, each day here costs ten thousand contribution points."

"Ten thousand contribution points?" Xu Jingming inwardly whistled.

His account held only 110, 00 contribution points—barely enough for eleven days here.

But if he could receive guidance from the Supreme Commander, the cost was worth it.

As for becoming core members of Xia Meng, these powerful individuals already affiliated with other factions would likely refuse.

"Let's go submit the rare herbs and plants," Xue Jian said, leading the group toward the distant building.

"Director Xue Jian, welcome."

"Director Xue Jian."

"Haha, Xue Jian, long time no see! Let's get together later!"

"......"

Along the way, many greeted Xue Jian.

The lowest-ranked among them were six-stage; Xu Jingming even spotted several nine-stage experts.

"Finally arrived."

Under Xue Jian's guidance, Xu Jingming's group entered the first building and took the elevator to the seventh floor.

As soon as they stepped out, a middle-aged man in a gray robe stepped forward eagerly.

"Let me introduce you—this is Councilor He Rui, our Great Xia's chief administrator.

He oversees resource distribution for all official military units, guilds, and major cultivator universities."

Xue Jian smiled as he introduced him.