Chapter 98

Boom!!

The aura of a second-rank upper-tier psychic erupted onto the spacious arena.

The intense pressure caused every fighter on the arena to freeze mid-motion!

"Is this… the aura of a second-rank upper-tier psychic?!"

One of the freshmen struggled to swallow, instinctively turning toward the source of the aura.

There he saw Xu Jingming, standing firm with a dark-gold spear in hand, lightning swirling around his body like Lei Shen!

"It's Xu Jingming! He's a second-rank upper-tier psychic!"

At this moment,

every freshman on the arena was stunned.

After all, Li Chengzhi's second-rank lower-tier status was already astonishing enough.

Yet now, another even more monstrous second-rank upper-tier psychic had appeared!

How could anyone else compete?!

Among them, several freshmen who were only first-rank mid-tier felt their entire worldview shatter:

"Am I even taking part in the Freshman Competition?"

We're all freshmen—how come you're more than one full rank above me?!

Due to Xu Jingming's sudden outburst of aura,

the freshmen who had been fiercely battling on the arena all fell into a state of existential doubt.

In fact, it wasn't just the freshmen on the arena who were stunned—even the upperclassmen in the audience were bewildered.

"What the hell?! Second-rank upper-tier? Is this really what a freshman should be capable of?!"

"I could accept second-rank lower-tier, but now a second-rank upper-tier shows up?!"

"Damn it, how am I supposed to feel as a third-year who just barely reached second-rank upper-tier?!"

"......"

Especially the seniors and senior girls who had spent two or three years just to reach second-rank upper-tier were nearly in tears.

It felt like all those years had been wasted on dogs...

"Second-rank upper-tier?"

Meteor Society.

The girl who had spoken earlier was startled, then immediately turned to look at their leader, Wu Yuan:

"Leader, you knew this already, didn't you?"

"Sort of."

Leader Wu Yuan nodded, smiling: "Now do you see Xu Jingming's potential?"

"Yes! Xu Jingming remains our top recruitment target—follow the original plan to recruit him after the Freshman Competition!"

The girl nodded firmly.

A corner of the audience seats.

The white-haired girl Jiang Chuxuan gazed at the tall figure on the arena, her beautiful eyes brightening:

"It really is you, Senior! No, wait—I should call you Junior!"

"You fooled me for so long—no good, I have to go find him after this."

Thinking she'd see Xu Jingming again soon, Jiang Chuxuan's face lit up with a lovely smile.

"Second-rank upper-tier!"

Gazing at the tall figure gripping the spear on the arena, Li Chengzhi's face darkened.

He had planned to crush Xu Jingming with his own second-rank lower-tier power,

then ride on the fame of Xu's S-rank psychic ability to make his name known across the entire school.

Perhaps even earn an S-rank access level upgrade from the school.

But now, the power Xu Jingming had just unleashed shattered that dream completely!

Yet, as he spotted a slender figure on the arena, Li Chengzhi's eyes suddenly lit up:

"Xu Jingming, Xu Jingming—if this were any other round, you'd have won for sure.

But that guy just happens to be in the second round too. Let's see how you handle this!"

Li Chengzhi's face broke into a relaxed, smug smile—as if the presence of that man guaranteed Xu Jingming's defeat.

"Including me, there are 103 freshmen this round. Then I'll just push through them all."

On the arena, Xu Jingming gripped his spear, ready to charge.

Suddenly, a loud voice rang out across the arena:

"Everyone, Xu Jingming is a second-rank upper-tier psychic—and he also possesses an S-rank psychic ability!

If he clears each opponent one by one, we'll all be eliminated!

So why not unite and eliminate Xu Jingming first?"

It was a magnetic male voice, its origin unknown.

The voice carried strong hypnotic power, and its suggestion instantly sparked interest in the previously dazed freshmen, their eyes glinting with intent.

"The voice carries strong hypnotic power—is he a mental-type psychic?"

Xu Jingming frowned, sharply sensing something off about the voice.

At that moment, the male voice spoke again:

"There are 103 of us here. Excluding Xu Jingming, we still have 102.

Even if Xu Jingming is a second-rank upper-tier psychic, 102 against 1—we can wear him down until he collapses!"

Also, my name is Shi Liao. I have an A-rank psychic-type ability, and I've already gathered nearly twenty people.

As long as the rest of you also follow my command, I guarantee I'll take down Xu Jingming with the smallest possible cost!

Think this through carefully — defeating an S-rank ability user isn't an opportunity you get every day."

As those words fell, Xu Jingming clearly noticed the freshmen around him subtly redden their eyes.

The gazes directed at him actually carried a burning fighting spirit!

"Not fighting means waiting to be eliminated. Fighting might still give me a chance! Screw it, I'm in!"

"Defeating an S-rank ability user — I might only get this chance once in my life! I'm in too!"

"Shi Liao, tell us — what should we do!"

"..."

Under the bewitching influence of Shi Liao's voice.

On the arena, every single freshman except Xu Jingming had actually united together!

"Oh? This Shi Liao's got something going for him — he really got the freshmen to unite!"

"Now Xu Jingming's in a bit of trouble. He's probably going to crash and burn this round."

"I remember Shi Liao is Dean Long's disciple, right? Impressive as expected."

"..."

On the rostrum, the teachers were all somewhat surprised.

They had assumed Xu Jingming, a peak second-tier ability user, could advance casually through this first stage of the competition. Who would have thought such an accident would occur midway?

Additionally, quite a few teachers looked enviously at a middle-aged man.

This middle-aged man was Long Ke, the Dean of the Tactics Academy. Shi Liao was the disciple he had taken in recently.

"Little Liao's success is purely luck — it doesn't count for real."

Long Ke, Dean of the Tactics Academy, said with a smile.

Those words were half modesty, and half genuinely because Shi Liao had been quite lucky.

If Xu Jingming hadn't been an S-rank ability user, hadn't erupted with the aura of a peak second-tier ability user.

Shi Liao could never have so easily pulled the other freshmen onto the same battle line.

"Luck is also part of strength, but Xu Jingming's in for it now."

"If an awakened S-rank ability user can't even pass the first stage of the Freshman Grand Competition, then this joke might be a bit too much."

A teacher said hesitantly.

If there were only a hundred-plus beasts on the arena, it would still be easy to handle.

But what's on the arena now is over a hundred ability users!

Enhancement-type, Element-type, Support-type, Psychic-type — abilities of every category were present!

And these people were all heaven's favored children from every corner!

Now united together, with Shi Liao acting as commander, they could practically be called a small battle group with almost no weaknesses!

A hundred-person battle group like this, wanting to take down a peak second-tier ability user, would be as easy as reaching into a bag!

Of course, Xu Jingming is no ordinary peak second-tier ability user either.

Next, it all depends on which side has the upper hand.

While the deans and teachers on the rostrum were discussing among themselves.

Xu Jingming finally used his powerful spiritual force to locate the source of the voice several hundred meters away.

It was a slender boy, not even one-meter-seventy tall, with very delicate features.

He wore a black combat suit and carried no weapons on his hands.

But surrounding him were over a dozen figures, male and female, with powerful auras, guarding his side.

"Shi Liao, A-rank psychic-type ability user — interesting."

Xu Jingming narrowed his eyes.

To be able to rope in all the other freshmen so quickly — this Shi Liao was no simple matter.

"Xu Jingming, if you had found me and taken me out before I spoke my second sentence, you might still have broken the deadlock."

"But now everyone has already decided to follow my arrangement — you don't have a chance anymore!"

As if noticing Xu Jingming's gaze, Shi Liao slightly raised his head, a smile surfacing on his delicate face:

"One against one hundred and two — how are you going to turn this around?"

"Turn it around? What makes you think I'm at a disadvantage?"

Xu Jingming's sword-shaped brows lifted slightly, a smile surfacing at the corner of his mouth.

The Dark Cloud Swift Wind Spear was lightly planted into the ground, then his strong right hand clenched empty air:

"Lei Mao!"

Endless blue-purple lightning converged toward his palm, and the shape of a thunder lance gradually took form.