Chapter 857

"This feeling..."

Xu Jingming's pitch-black dragon pupils turned toward Su Qingli, then his heart stirred.

Crackling—

The entire expanse of blue lightning sea suddenly boiled, then all of it surged toward Su Qingli!

"What?! My thunder?!"

A look of shock spread across Su Qingli's fair, delicate face.

The Jade Clear Divine Thunder, which had been under her control, was now showing signs of losing control!

"Domain activation!!"

Sizzling—

Her hair whipped wildly as blindingly bright blue lightning erupted once more from Su Qingli's body!

Under the power of her domain, the previously uncontrollable Jade Clear Thunder regained stability.

Yet even so, a force still resisted her!

It was as if the other were the true master of this lightning, while she was merely its user.

"Jingming, what ability is this?"

Su Qingli's face no longer held its usual cold serenity—instead, it was filled with astonishment.

"I just discovered it myself. I seem to be able to control your lightning."

Xu Jingming mused.

"Huh? It can do that?"

Su Qingli was utterly stunned.

Among lightning-based abilities, a higher-rank ability naturally crushes a lower-rank one—that's normal.

But she had never heard of a higher-rank ability controlling a lower-rank one!

For example, her own S-rank Jade Clear Divine Thunder could at most suppress B-rank lightning abilities—never once had it been able to control them!

"So this is the SSS-rank Chaos Divine Thunder? It has such formidable properties..."

Su Qingli swallowed hard.

Remember, she was a Ninth-Rank Law Saint!

While Xu Jingming was only a Seventh-Rank Upper Master!

There was a full two major ranks between them!

If Xu Jingming entered the Eighth-Rank Grand Master realm, she might not even regain control even with her domain.

Even if she could reclaim it, her ability's release would be severely restricted.

For a Law Saint, this would be a fatal blow!

"Jingming, from now on, any lightning-based ability user will be inferior before you."

Su Qingli couldn't help whispering in awe.

"I think so too, but I still need more practice to understand how to use this ability properly."

Xu Jingming nodded, deeply satisfied.

He never expected that sparring with Teacher Su would accidentally reveal another ability hidden within the Chaos Divine Thunder...

Although the Chaos Divine Thunder possessed extraordinary control over lightning-based abilities,

Su Qingli was still a Ninth-Rank Law Saint who had mastered domain power.

Thus, the rest of their battle became Su Qingli dominating Xu Jingming.

Meanwhile, as the two fought, news of Xu Jingming's battle against Liu Shan began to spread.

It caused a massive uproar throughout the Thunder Martial Hall!

"Instantly killed an Eighth-Rank peak! How strong is Lei Di now?"

"Holy shit! Lei Di is awesome!"

"In just one year, from elite training camp student to deputy director of Mocheng, then to Magistrate of Mo City—unbeatable!"

"I knew it—Director Su's appointment was right! All the haters shut up!"

"..."

In an instant, Hu Jinyu's manufactured public opinion completely reversed.

Countless people marveled at Xu Jingming's almost demonic rate of advancement.

Mo City, central district, Thunder Martial Hall building.

Regional Chairman Pang Tian sat in his office, a cup of hot tea on his desk.

Before him, a holographic projection displayed nothing but information related to Xu Jingming.

After a long while, he closed the forum and paused before dialing a number.

The call was answered quickly; a middle-aged man appeared on the holographic projection.

"Chairman Ma, have you seen the forum posts?"

Pang Tian smiled at the hologram.

Ma Shan, General Chairman of the Jiangnan Province Thunder Martial Hall.

"I've seen them. This Xu Jingming is too monstrous."

"He's only been in Dayangzhou for less than a year, and now back in Daxia, he's already this strong."

Ma Shan chuckled bitterly.

Xu Jingming was born in Jiangcheng, Jiangnan Province.

Two years ago, when Xu Jingming unexpectedly won the Jiangnan Province Wu Ke championship, he had once represented the Thunder Martial Hall to offer sponsorship.

He never imagined that now, the man had become his direct superior.

"Indeed."

Pang Tian sighed, "I thought the public opinion might still turn. But Xu Jingming returned to Daxia and immediately crushed Liu Shan."

He paused, then his expression turned serious: "This means Xu Jingming's appointment as Magistrate of Mo City is now certain."

"Chairman Ma, it's time to make your choice."

Since the previous director of the Thunder Martial Hall obsessed over seeking the path to ultimate strength, the entire organization had been managed by Hu Jinyu.

Mo City, Jiangnan Province, and Suzhou-Hangzhou Province naturally grew close to Deputy Director Hu Jinyu.

Even after Su Qingli took over, they remained so.

But now, with Xu Jingming assuming the role of Magistrate of Mo City with such overwhelming force,

they were forced to reconsider their allegiance.

"Is there even a choice? Director Su has Former Director Gu, Ling Shuang, and now Xu Jingming."

"Liu Shan will soon leave the Thunder Martial Hall—Hu Jinyu's influence is collapsing."

Ma Shan said firmly.

Though they had grown close to Hu Jinyu over the years, their ties weren't deep enough to be irreversible.

"Agreed. I think the same. Once Magistrate Xu returns to Mo City, we'll visit him immediately."

Pang Tian nodded slightly.

Here, he had already changed his address to Xu Jingming—and his tone had grown respectful.

"Magistrate Xu is powerful, but young."

"If we show proper respect, the review process shouldn't be an issue."

Ma Shan smiled, "When Magistrate Xu arrives in Mo City, let me know—I'll go with you."

The Magistrate's greatest power is the authority to investigate!

If they found anything wrong, they could even suspend regional chairmen like them.

If it were a seasoned Grand Master in his forties or fifties, they might still worry.

But with a young man like Xu Jingming, there's no need to fear too much.

"By the way, you didn't invite Chairman Li, did you?" Ma Shan suddenly asked.

"Why would I invite him?" Pang Tian quickly shook his head.

Li Gang, General Chairman of the Suzhou-Hangzhou Province Thunder Martial Hall and a member of the Li family.

He was personally appointed by Deputy Director Hu Jinyu.

If Ma Shan and Pang Tian's ties to Hu Jinyu were not yet deep, Li Gang of the Li family was unquestionably Hu Jinyu's staunch supporter.

"Good," Ma Shan sighed in relief.

Xu Jingming had previously defeated Li Hao, humiliating the Li family.

Bringing Li family members now would only invite trouble.

If we take someone from the Li family this time, it's only inviting trouble.