Chapter 884: 8th Rank Challenge Board? No Problem!

Ziziziz~~~

On the arena, pitch-black SSS-class Chaotic Divine Thunder danced across Xu Jingming's battle suit.

He had not entered Thunder Extreme State or Thunder Storm State.

Yet even so, the staggering aura naturally radiating from him plunged the entire stadium into stunned silence.

"Grand Master? He's a Grand Master?"

"When did he break through? I swear he was only mid-7th Rank a few months ago!"

"Hah! I knew it—Lei Di would never disappoint me!"

"......"

Hundreds of millions of spectators were swept into wild jubilation.

Young men and women who idolized Xu Jingming turned crimson with excitement, screaming his title and name frantically.

"8th Rank?"

In the VIP lounge, Meng Yu's expression froze in shock.

Before the battle, she had anticipated Xu Jingming would be strong—perhaps even push her brother Meng Ke into a grueling fight.

But she never imagined he had already broken through the 7th Rank and attained the 8th Rank Grand Master status!

Beside her, Green, who had been meditating with closed eyes, slowly opened them and gazed at Xu Jingming on the arena.

His previously impassive expression finally showed a flicker of disturbance upon sensing that formidable aura.

But only just a flicker...

"Meng Ke will lose this match. Inform the teachers."

After speaking, Green closed his eyes again.

"Will lose..."

Meng Yu clenched her teeth, lips pressed tight, her beautiful eyes filled with unwillingness.

Their goal was to maintain an unbroken winning streak and fulfill the High Priestess's mission.

But she knew the gap between 7th and 8th Rank was like a chasm between heaven and earth.

Both possessed S-rank abilities; no matter how powerful their combat techniques, they could not bridge this abyss.

"Understood. I'll notify them right away."

Taking a deep breath, Meng Yu sent messages to all three of her teachers...

"If you've already broken through to 8th Rank, why choose the 7th Rank Challenge Board?"

In mid-air above the arena,

Meng Ke's dragon-like form had lost its earlier arrogance; his face was now grim.

"I didn't choose you—you chose me."

Xu Jingming's voice was steady and firm, "Besides, didn't you say just now?

Anyone younger than you can challenge you.

I'm 21 this year—surely I'm not older than you, the 26-year-old prodigy?"

He emphasized the word "prodigy."

Anyone could hear the mockery in it—Meng Ke included.

"You—!"

Meng Ke's once-handsome face flushed dark purple.

He never imagined his own words from a minute ago would now rebound like a boomerang straight to his face.

Worse—he had no rebuttal!

"Lei Di is right!"

"Exactly! You chose this yourself—even as an 8th Rank, you must fight on!"

"Phew, that's better. Only Lei Di can do this."

"......"

In stark contrast to Meng Ke's fury, the audience erupted in cheers.

No surprise—24 top warriors from various nations had all fallen to Meng Ke.

It was suffocating!

Now, for the first time, they saw a glimmer of victory—they had to let it out.

"Since the challenge stands, let's continue."

Xu Jingming's gaze sharpened; he clenched his right hand in midair.

Crackling—

Endless black lightning surged toward his palm, coalescing in an instant into a pitch-black thunder spear.

The spear crackled with electricity, as if he held a bolt of lightning in his grip.

The violent aura it emitted made Meng Ke's face turn pale even from kilometers away.

Such overwhelming energy!

Can't take it head-on!

"Dragon Scale Blood Armor!"

Without hesitation, he activated his strongest SSS-class defensive technique.

A massive crimson dragon-shaped shadow enveloped his body.

Then he beat his wings, transforming into a black phantom and streaking away!

His flight speed was immense—already supersonic!

In the blink of an eye, he shot over a hundred meters!

But at that moment, Xu Jingming on the ground moved.

He twisted his waist, using it to power his entire right arm, and hurled the spear forward with all his strength!

BOOM!!

A deafening sonic boom erupted as the thunder spear shot out like lightning.

The audience had no time to react before a flash of black light struck Meng Ke—then exploded violently!

BOOM BOOM BOOM!!

Violent black lightning erupted, shredding the Dragon Scale Blood Armor and swallowing Meng Ke's massive form whole!

Arcs shrieked, thunder roared!

Meng Ke never even screamed—he was obliterated instantly.

"Contestant Meng Ke deceased. Winner of this match: Xu Jingming!"

The victory alert echoed throughout the stadium, followed by a wave of stunned murmurs.

"That technique—wasn't that the Thunder Spear, an A-rank lightning technique?"

"Yes, definitely an A-rank technique."

"Meng Ke's Blood Armor was an SSS-rank technique—it once withstood a full-power strike from a 8th Rank peak Saint! How did an A-rank technique shatter it?"

"Terrifying. Absolutely terrifying."

"......"

Xu Jingming's victory over Meng Ke was expected—8th Rank versus 7th Rank.

But no one expected it to be this effortless!

"This..."

In the VIP lounge, Meng Yu was equally stunned.

Unlike ordinary spectators, she knew the true defensive power of the Dragon Scale Blood Armor.

It could withstand a full-force strike from a 9th Rank low-tier Saint before shattering!

Now it was crushed by an A-rank technique.

Even accounting for rank differences, this power was absurdly excessive.

Moreover, according to the intelligence they had gathered,

Xu Jingming possessed two other enhancement forms that drastically boosted his power.

If his base form was this strong, what would he be like when activated?

And...

Wasn't the Supreme Thunder of the Heavens supposed to be gold? Why was it black?

As she pondered, Meng Ke was teleported back into the virtual world.

"Brother, are you okay? Just now..."

Seeing Meng Ke's grim expression, Meng Yu hurried forward with her long legs.

But before she could finish, Meng Ke stepped forward and smashed straight through the VIP lounge's floor-to-ceiling window.

His wings spread wide, he hovered in midair and roared at Xu Jingming still on the arena:

"Xu Jingming, I refuse to accept this! You're only stronger because of your rank! If we were equal, you couldn't beat me!"

The virtual world perfectly simulated reality; for a 7th Rank peak warrior, shattering a window was trivial.

His booming voice now echoed throughout the entire stadium, drawing every spectator's attention again.

"Hah! Can't handle losing? You set the rules—you have to accept them!"

"A clown. Even at the same rank, Lei Di would crush you."

"Bullshit Fire God Temple—I thought it was some high-end place, but turns out it can't even afford to play!"

"......"

Meng Ke's remarks naturally drew uniform mockery from audiences across nations, in their respective languages.

But Meng Ke's mind was still reeling from his earlier defeat; his eyes locked onto Xu Jingming on the arena, and he continued speaking:

"By rank, you shouldn't even be fighting me!"

"If you've got guts, go challenge the Rank 8 Challenge List!"

"Only then, if you actually win, will I truly respect you!"

Xu Jingming is merely Low Rank 8, while Green is Mid Rank 8!

A single rank difference is enough to crush these geniuses!

He was certain Xu Jingming would never dare challenge the Rank 8 Challenge List!

Thinking this, Meng Ke's face once again wore his familiar smugness and arrogance.

Though he'd relied on his boss's influence, it still forced Xu Jingming to submit—somewhat washing away the shame of his crushing defeat.

Just as he thought this, a cold voice came up from below the arena:

"The Rank 8 Challenge List? Fine, I accept your challenge."