Chapter 97: Xu Jingming Steps onto the Arena! The Stunning Aura!

"Before the competition officially begins, I'll reiterate: you needn't worry about injuring or killing opponents with excessive force."

"Top-tier AI Eva is monitoring the arena at all times; should any life-threatening danger arise, a protective barrier will automatically activate."

"We also have a professional medical team on-site, including the Dean of the Auxiliary College, who possesses an A-rank healing ability."

"As long as the head isn't severed, we can revive them."

After delivering his final instructions, Dean Sun waved his hand: "Eva, begin."

"Got it! Activating energy defense barrier!"

Accompanied by Eva's cute voice.

Along the entire perimeter of the massive arena, a transparent energy wall rose like rippling water.

The energy wall sealed shut at the top, forming a colossal cubic energy shield!

Thus, any residual attack waves would not reach the nearby spectator seats.

"All students on the arena, prepare yourselves!"

"3... 2... 1... Begin!"

The moment "Begin!" rang out, every freshman on the arena unleashed their Qi and activated their abilities.

The freshmen, who had seemed ordinary moments before, suddenly transformed!

"Roar—"

Some with enhanced beast-type abilities partially transformed into beasts, letting out primal roars.

"Boom—"

Others, elemental users, were surrounded by flames.

Some encircled by water waves, others forming earth shields, still others whipped by howling wind blades!

In addition, there were giants whose bodies had swollen to enormous size, wielding two-meter-long greatswords in brutal combat.

Others closed their eyes slightly, and every student within a five-meter radius around them collapsed without exception.

These were formidable mental-type ability users!

Those who entered the Metropolis Ability University were all geniuses from their provinces and cities, and the commotion they unleashed in battle was extraordinary!

Yet, among them, the most striking was undoubtedly Li Chengzhi, the provincial champion of Qinghai.

His second-rank lower-tier Qi radiated like a crane standing among chickens—utterly conspicuous on the arena.

"Whoa, who's that? He's already broken into second rank?!"

"That's Li Chengzhi, the provincial champion of Qinghai!"

"So it's the provincial champion! No wonder."

"......"

The freshmen on the field erupted in stunned murmurs; even the upperclassmen in the stands were taken aback.

In their own freshman cohort, not a single second-rank ability user had ever appeared.

And now, amid this group of first-rank users, a second-rank user had suddenly emerged—like a lion entering a flock of sheep!

Indeed, the first round of this hundred-person free-for-all ended in just half an hour.

Li Chengzhi, the provincial champion of Qinghai, advanced to the second stage with the remarkable feat of defeating 36 opponents in a row.

"Thirty-six people! Xu Jingming, as an S-rank ability awakener, I wonder if your first-stage score can surpass mine."

After stepping off the arena, Li Chengzhi couldn't resist boasting to Xu Jingming.

"This guy is beyond saving," Liu Wentao muttered, watching Li Chengzhi walk away, rubbing his forehead.

I've seen people who court disaster, but never one who did it so thoroughly!

As for this boasting, Xu Jingming himself showed no great reaction.

In his view, Li Chengzhi's behavior was as childish as a toddler's.

"Boss, Li Chengzhi broke into second rank—should we list him as our top target?"

In the spectator stands.

Someone from the Meteorite Society asked.

Xu Jingming, who possessed an S-rank ability, was their primary recruitment target, but ability rank was only one factor.

The speed of breakthrough was another critical metric—Li Chengzhi, who had surpassed Xu Jingming in reaching second rank.

Already qualified to be listed as a primary recruitment target.

"No."

Society leader Wu Yuan shook his head and smiled: "Xu Jingming isn't just first-rank upper-tier."

"Oh? Boss, do you have insider info?"

The girl who had spoken earlier brightened.

"Not exactly insider info—I saw it with my own eyes."

Wu Yuan shook his head, offering no further explanation.

He recalled the scene he'd witnessed in the pre-dawn hours days ago, in his combat technique library.

That thunder, like divine punishment, was utterly incomparable to what Li Chengzhi could muster.

"Boss, I hate riddles," the girl said with a mournful gaze.

"Haha, you'll know soon enough—don't rush," Wu Yuan smiled.

"First stage, first round of the Freshman Competition concluded. Now selecting participants for the second round."

The medical team stationed beside the arena swiftly moved to carry away the severely injured freshmen unable to move.

Meanwhile, the AI Eva initiated the selection process for the second round.

Hum! Hum! Hum!......

Over a hundred beams of light successively erupted among the new students on the open ground, and Xu Jingming was enveloped by one of them.

Among the four, only he was selected.

"Lucky break—I got picked in the second round."

Xu Jingming smiled faintly, drawing his Dark Cloud Gale Spear from behind his back and gripping it tightly.

"Xu classmate, good luck."

Although Xu Jingming's dominance was already certain, Song Qiuyun and Qi Dongxia still cheered him on with bright smiles.

"Big Brother Ming, show Li Chengzhi what you're made of!" Liu Wentao was also excited.

"Alright."

Xu Jingming nodded and walked onto the arena with the others.

"Holy shit! It's Xu Jingming!"

"How unlucky—we got drawn in the same round as him."

"This is over—we've lost one qualifying spot; now we're fighting for only four left."

"At least it's not that bad—those who got drawn with Li Chengzhi? Now that's terrible!"

"......"

Although Xu Jingming had nearly vanished from public view since a month and a half ago.

Yet the new students still held deep wariness for this Jiangnan Province top scorer who shattered fist-power records, completely crushed Lei Zhou, and possessed an S-rank ability.

So, once on the arena,

all the new students retreated far away, turning a fifty-meter radius around Xu Jingming into a forbidden zone.

"Think staying far away makes you safe? Naive."

Xu Jingming shook his head, his cold, sharp eyes faintly stirring with battle intent.

"Is that the new disciple Master Yang took on recently?"

"Yes, that's him—the S-rank Lightning-type ability user who awakened Doushen Shenlei."

"His aura looks strong—very sharp."

"......"

On the podium, the dean and instructors paid close attention to Xu Jingming, who had awakened an S-rank ability.

Seeing him appear on the arena, they began discussing among themselves.

"I heard he was just an Awakener before enrollment—he advanced to First-Rank Upper Tier within a month and a half. That cultivation speed is terrifying."

"True—if not for the earlier gap, he might have reached Second Rank like Li Chengzhi."

"Yes, hey? This aura is...?!"

High-rank ability users possess powerful spiritual energy.

At close range, a single glance is enough to sense the rank of low-rank ability users.

Now, Xu Jingming was two to three hundred meters away—they had to deliberately use spiritual energy to perceive his rank.

Yet, as soon as the instructors sensed it, they were stunned.

Xu Jingming's rank had reached the astonishing Second-Rank Upper Tier!

"What the hell?! How did Xu Jingming's rank jump so much?!"

One instructor, holding a teacup, nearly spat out his tea upon sensing the rank!

The dean and other instructors likewise wore expressions of shock.

"Old Yang, such a huge piece of news—and you didn't say a word beforehand? You really know how to hide it!"

Dean Sun couldn't help but exclaim in awe.

While the instructors on the podium were stunned by Xu Jingming's rank,

on the arena, an energy barrier rose, and the AI Eva's voice echoed simultaneously:

"All students participating in the second round, prepare yourselves!"

"3... 2... 1... Begin!"

As in the previous round,

the moment the match began, the new students on the arena unleashed their abilities and auras.

"Of course—compared to fighting beasts, I still prefer battling humans!"

Feeling the surging auras and energy fluctuations around him, Xu Jingming's lips curled slightly with battle fervor:

"Doushen Shenlei!"

Boom—!

Amidst the deep rumble of thunder, a blue-purple lightning, radiating primal, ancient energy, exploded forth!

Simultaneously, an aura far surpassing every new student on the arena erupted from Xu Jingming!