Chapter 85: Sparring? Are You Sure?

No time to waste—Xu Jingming’s mental energy began circulating according to the method recorded in the S-rank combat technique, “Heavenly Thunder Art.”

Simultaneously, the Purple Thunder of the Divine Lightning was activated.

Zzzzz~

A thin layer of blue-purple lightning flickered across Xu Jingming’s skin, flashing and fading unpredictably.

As the lightning danced, a low, rumbling thunder echoed from the night sky, as if responding in kind!

Boom boom boom~~~

Boom boom boom~~~

“Huh? Why did it suddenly thunder? It doesn’t look like rain’s coming.”

In the square before the Combat Technique Library.

Several students, just recovering from the screeching cry of the White-Ring Black Feather Eagle, looked up in surprise.

Beneath the starry sky, the moon shone brightly—clear enough to see the White-Ring Black Feather Eagle circling high above.

Not a single cloud in sight.

Then where did the thunder come from?

As the students puzzled over this, Xu Jingming, his body faintly wreathed in lightning, lifted his head slightly.

His focus locked onto the White-Ring Black Feather Eagle in the sky, then he exhaled slowly:

“Heavenly Thunder Art!”

BOOM!!!

The night sky suddenly blazed bright—a terrifying pressure descended as a blue-purple lightning bolt, stretching from heaven to earth, split down!

It struck the White-Ring Black Feather Eagle mid-flight!

The White-Ring Black Feather Eagle’s feathers were not only extremely resilient but also non-conductive.

Added to its powerful physique as a Rank-3 ferocious beast,

ordinary natural lightning would barely affect it.

Yet the instant it touched this lightning,

it ceased to be the mighty Rank-3 beast—it became as fragile as a sand toy.

Before it could even scream, it vanished entirely midair!

Sizzzz!

Only then did the deafening thunder finally reach the distant onlookers...

“Ding~~, defeated one Rank-3 Mid-tier White-Ring Black Feather Eagle. Ability Points +34.”

The system alert chimed in his mind; Xu Jingming’s eyes glinted slightly:

“This is the S-rank combat technique, ‘Heavenly Thunder Art!’”

To be fair, the power of Heavenly Thunder Art exceeded his expectations.

He’d assumed the lightning would simply kill the White-Ring Black Feather Eagle.

But he hadn’t expected this single strike to obliterate the entire beast on the spot!

“Though it has a few seconds of casting delay, the power makes it worth it.”

Xu Jingming nodded in satisfaction.

As a Rank-2 Upper-tier Ability User,

without using a technique, his Purple Thunder Ability could extend only about fifteen meters.

Yet the casting range of Basic Heavenly Thunder Art was nearly one kilometer!

Meaning, as long as an enemy entered his one-kilometer radius, he could strike them remotely with Heavenly Thunder Art!

And as his level and technique proficiency increased, the attack range would grow further.

“Also, the ability drain is substantial.

That one strike consumed nearly a quarter of my ability.” Xu Jingming thought silently.

Of course, that’s the usual drawback of high-rank techniques.

Once his level rises, this won’t be an issue.

“Heavenly Thunder Art’s power has been tested. Time to head back and sleep.”

He yawned and walked away.

Meanwhile, the other students in the square remained stunned by the sudden lightning:

“Thunder from clear skies!”

“It completely obliterated the White-Ring Black Feather Eagle—who’s the high-rank lightning ability user behind this?”

“That’s a Rank-3 ferocious beast! Unreal!”

“......”

Since Xu Jingming’s technique activation was subtle,

the few students in the square didn’t suspect him.

Only one tall, slender youth stared at Xu Jingming’s retreating figure, his expression thoughtful.

The next day, Xu Jingming woke early.

After a full night’s rest, he felt his mind crystal clear.

“With four hours, I should be able to grasp the basics of the other S-rank technique, ‘Nether Hell Thunder Armor.’”

After washing up and eating breakfast, confident, Xu Jingming descended to the second floor.

“Big Brother Ming, leaving so early?”

On the first floor, Liu Wentao sat on the living room sofa, biting into bread.

“Yeah, heading to the Combat Technique Library.”

Xu Jingming nodded with a smile.

“Just got back from the Wildlands and you’re already grinding? You’re not even human...”

Watching Xu Jingming’s tall figure hurry off, Liu Wentao muttered in awe.

In the Wildlands, to avoid ferocious beasts, ability users constantly kept their minds tense.

Prolonged mental tension causes problems.

Thus, many ability users, upon leaving the Wildlands, choose their preferred way to relax.

Like reckless shopping, clubbing all night, or getting massages and foot baths at upscale places.

Even without good relaxation options, they usually take a few days off to unwind.

But Xu Jingming was different—he showed zero signs of slacking.

Last night, Liu Wentao trained his ability exercise method on the first-floor sofa until past midnight, yet Xu Jingming never returned!

He figured after staying so late at the Combat Technique Library last night, Xu Jingming would sleep in today.

Yet here it was, barely seven a.m., and he was rushing out again...

“Fine. After breakfast, I’m training too.”

Liu Wentao felt spurred on, eating his bread faster.

Outside the dormitory.

Perhaps due to the approaching semester, Dormitory Zone 3, housing first-year students, was nearly full.

Though it was still early,

the path already had groups of students walking together.

“Today’s August 28th. The opening ceremony is on September 1st. New students have definitely arrived.”

The Magic City Ability University’s opening ceremony is held once per academic year.

Only first-year students attend.

Teachers don’t waste time on fluff—everything centers on the New Student Competition.

Xu Jingming had heard this from his senior, Liu Ming.

“By the way, last time I called the teacher,

he said Senior Liu went to the southwest for a battle. I wonder how he’s doing now.”

Xu Jingming held deep respect for Senior Liu Ming, who had trained with him diligently for over a month.

“Forget it. After learning the technique, I’ll call him again.

Last time the line didn’t connect—I wonder if it’ll be the same this time.”

Shaking his head, Xu Jingming didn’t dwell on it and walked along the path.

As he neared the dormitory exit, the number of students on the path increased.

All were new students, some even having enrolled just yesterday.

Though they’d survived the Wu Ke college entrance exam, they were still around eighteen years old.

Many gazed curiously around, chatting and laughing with their roommates,

filled with anticipation and longing for the opening ceremony and future campus life.

Compared to these youthful newcomers, Xu Jingming—having spent over a month in the Wildlands,

with five lives on his hands, having survived the rat swarm’s life-or-death crisis—appeared calm, cold, and out of place.

Add his height of nearly one meter eighty-nine to a crowd averaging one meter seventy, and he stood out sharply.

Yet,

it drew no unusual glances.

Instead, it sparked quiet murmurs among some new female students, who occasionally stole glances.

Xu Jingming paid no attention to this, continuing forward with steady steps.

Suddenly, he spotted a familiar, slender figure among the students ahead.

“Song Qiuyun?” Xu Jingming’s eyebrows lifted slightly.

It wasn’t that he deliberately paid attention—rather, Song Qiuyun’s graceful, curvaceous figure was impossible to forget after just one glance.

Compared to the backs of the other girls around her, her silhouette was unmistakable...

The girl caught in Xu Jingming’s gaze seemed to sense something and turned around, revealing a delicate, oval face.

Indeed, it was Song Qiuyun, whom he hadn’t seen in over a month.

Upon seeing Xu Jingming, Song Qiuyun’s face lit up with surprise.

That dazzling smile, like a hundred flowers blooming, left several male students around them momentarily stunned.

Song Qiuyun pushed against the flow of students, closing the distance in two strides.

“Xu classmate, long time no see—when did you get back?”

Her beautiful eyes fixed directly on him.

“Yesterday,” Xu Jingming replied with a smile.

“So you just got back yesterday—that means you spent nearly a month and a half in the Wild Zone. That’s quite a while.”

Song Qiuyun sighed with emotion, then blinked her clear, large eyes and asked:

“Xu classmate, you haven’t forgotten, have you? You promised me a sparring match before.”

Song Qiuyun was a serious person.

She had always wanted to know the source of the beast aura on Xu Jingming.

Unfortunately, he hadn’t been at school for over a month.

She hadn’t found an opportunity to spar and probe further...

She also couldn't find an opportunity to test her limits through sparring...

Xu Jingming paused slightly, recalling that he had indeed promised her on the day he left Magic Capital University.

“But are you sure you want to spar with me?”

“What? I’m also the top scorer from Sichuan Province—don’t underestimate me.”

Song Qiuyun’s slender eyebrows lifted slightly.

Song Qiuyun’s willow brows lifted slightly.