Chapter 986

"No wonder it's an SS-class ability—my physique has been enhanced in every aspect!"

After testing his defense, Xu Jingming’s eyes gleamed.

Even a strengthening-type SS-class ability is this strong—what if it were SSS-class? How powerful would that be?

His system panel still had 2.812 million ability points.

The plus sign on his system panel meant he could instantly upgrade the Great Void Dragon ability to SSS-class anytime.

"Last time I upgraded the All-Heaven Thunder to SSS-class, it cost me 1.5 million ability points."

"This time, upgrading the Great Void Dragon to SSS-class should cost about the same."

Xu Jingming silently pondered.

Upgrading a strengthening ability to SSS-class should further enhance his physique.

But doing so would delay his breakthrough to Eighth Stage Upper for a long time.

He still had a Sacred Essence Pill in hand—if he could use the system to break through to Eighth Stage Upper, he could leap directly to Ninth Stage!

"Ninth Stage and Eighth Stage are a dividing line—once an ability user breaks through to Ninth Stage, their power undergoes a qualitative transformation."

"Once I reach Ninth Stage, I’ll gain the abilities of indestructible matter and elementalization."

"Given that, I should hoard ability points first, then upgrade my ability after breaking through to Eighth Stage Upper."

Xu Jingming quickly made his decision.

With the SSS-class Chaos Divine Thunder already at his side, he no longer craved strengthening-type SSS-class abilities as desperately.

Compared to that, breaking through to Ninth Stage was far more critical.

"Su Teacher, it’s your turn."

Xu Jingming smiled, stepped out of Thunder Form, and shut off the Great Void Dragon ability.

"Alright." Su Qingli gave a slight nod.

Seeing Xu Jingming’s transformation, she too felt anticipation for her own SS-class ability.

The essence of lightning was a blue lightning orb the size of a basketball.

Su Qingli sat cross-legged on the ground, her Jade Pure Thunder cautiously approaching.

Crackling—

The moment Jade Pure Thunder touched the orb, it erupted in a violent thunderous shriek!

Immediately, the entire blue lightning orb exploded!

Boom—!!

Blue lightning engulfed Su Qingli’s slender frame.

Yet there was no sign of harm—instead, it entwined with her Jade Pure Thunder.

The two merged, as if purging impurities, and Jade Pure Thunder’s color deepened continuously.

Meanwhile, Su Qingli’s aura surged upward relentlessly!!

"S-class Jade Pure Thunder—I wonder what her lightning ability will ultimately evolve into."

Xu Jingming watched Su Qingli’s transformation with anticipation.

"The Noah Civilization really is incredible—there are artifacts capable of evolving abilities to SS-class. I wonder if any exist that can evolve to SSS-class."

The little girl Eva also felt anticipation, but her expectations were entirely different from Xu Jingming’s.

A few more minutes passed.

The lightning surrounding Su Qingli grew even deeper, shifting from jade-green to pure blue!

Simultaneously, Su Qingli’s aura reached its peak.

Whoosh—

The storm of lightning receded; Su Qingli slowly opened her eyes.

Her eyes, already clear as spring water, became even purer.

Her crimson lips curved slightly, revealing a dazzling, radiant smile:

"Jingming, my ability has evolved successfully."

"It’s the SS-class lightning ability—Upper Clear Thunder! This was a lightning form that appeared in the early Second Civilization Era."

"But that ability user died at Seventh Stage before fully developing Upper Clear Thunder’s potential."

Eva, who had already scanned the lightning, quickly confirmed.

"Upper Clear Thunder, SS-class ability."

Crackling—

Pure blue lightning flowed along her fingertips; Su Qingli stared in awe.

She had thought herself lucky to possess S-class Jade Pure Thunder.

Yet she never imagined she’d gain an SS-class lightning ability!

And all of this was thanks to Xu Jingming...

"Congratulations, Su Teacher, on your successful ability evolution."

Xu Jingming smiled warmly. "We can’t celebrate properly now—once we return to Blue Star, we’ll have a proper feast."

"We should celebrate, but even with this evolution, I still can’t beat you."

As she reabsorbed Upper Clear Thunder, Su Qingli felt joy—but also a touch of helplessness.

Still, with her ability evolved, the gap between them wouldn’t widen much further.

"Not necessarily." Xu Jingming reached out, his large hand pulling her into his arms with a mischievous grin.

"What are you doing?"

Feeling the warmth of his hand, Su Qingli felt her whole body go limp.

"Want to." Xu Jingming grinned.

After evolving into Upper Clear Thunder, Su Qingli’s ethereal aura had become even more otherworldly.

It made him want to defile her thoroughly.

"Huh?" Su Qingli’s almond eyes widened—she never expected such a reply.

"Xiao Lian, dig a hole!"

Iron Lotus quickly dug a tunnel straight down a hundred meters.

Xu Jingming led Su Qingli into it.

The strengthening-type SS-class ability, Great Void Dragon, granted him absolute calmness.

The violent, bloodthirsty side effects from absorbing dragon beast blood had vanished completely.

But another trait hadn’t disappeared—it had grown even stronger.

Perhaps this was the nature of dragon beasts.

More than two hours later, Xu Jingming emerged again with Su Qingli, leaving behind a chaotic underground space...

Blue Star, Great Xia.

Yuehu Community, downtown Metropolis.

This community was one of Metropolis’s most upscale villa districts—and also the family villa zone for Thunder Martial Arts Academy.

In this villa district, even the lowest-ranked patrol guards were at least Fourth Stage!

At the most luxurious core of this district stood a mansion covering over a thousand square meters!

Every passerby gazed at the mansion with envy.

This was the residence of Xu Jingming, Metropolis Inspector of Thunder Martial Arts Academy.

Without power or strength, no one could possibly live here.

Xu Jingming possessed both—and he was not just Great Xia’s, but Blue Star’s absolute top prodigy!

These passersby all hoped to chance upon him and receive some guidance.

"Did you hear? Deputy Director Gu has decided to leave our academy."

"I heard. Once Director Gu leaves, Director Hu will have full control of Thunder Martial Arts Academy."

"Isn’t that true? Who’d have thought Director Hu would move so fast—right after the Director and Inspector left, he struck immediately."

"That’s decisiveness! If he waited any longer, he’d never get this chance again."

"Hah, decisiveness is useless—once the Director returns, won’t she settle accounts with him?"

"Not necessarily. You don’t know yet—Li Family’s Ninth Stage has already moved into the academy headquarters!"

"What the hell? Really?"

"Do you think I’m lying? Once Li Family takes over, it’ll be a done deal—they’ll publicly declare Thunder Martial Arts Academy their subordinate force. Even if Su Director returns, it’ll be too late!"

"Tsk tsk—we’d better pick a side soon."

"..."

Near the mansion, several Sixth Stage ability users gathered.

They were assigned to secure the mansion.

But the chance of an enemy infiltrating such a place was negligible.

So during patrols, they often gathered to gossip.

The recent dramatic changes in Thunder Martial Arts Academy were their main topic.