Chapter 208: New Talent List, Part Five

"Lu Jing, are you okay?"

Hearing no sound from inside, the anxious Jiang Fanxin sprang a kick at the training hall's main door.

Boom—

The iron gate shattered instantly, and Jiang Fanxin looked inside.

Inside the training hall lay utter wreckage, with splattered shards of stone and charred marks everywhere.

Moreover, within this sealed space, sensations of towering heaviness or searing flames flickered intermittently, ending with a gentle breeze on the face......

Jiang Fanxin opened his mouth wide, not knowing what had actually happened inside the training hall.

It was as if several Master Realm strongmen were engaged in a life‑or‑death battle inside.

Otherwise, how could this place be ruined like this?

One should know the training hall was originally for students to practice the Martial Way, and its construction materials and equipment were the most robust kind.

Jiang Fanxin glanced toward a corner of the training hall.

Sure enough, the centuries‑old dummy, used for over a hundred years, had vanished, leaving only a field of fragments.

"Lu Jing, did you cause this?!"

Jiang Fanxin suddenly stared at Lu Jing, his face full of surprise.

Lu Jing said somewhat embarrassed, "It was me, sorry, I was just trying out a punch..."

"It's fine. If the damage occurred during Martial Way training, the school repairs it for free; I'll report it to the school for you, don't worry."

Jiang Fanxin, seeing Lu Jing was okay, let out a sigh of relief, "It's meal time. I promised to treat you, so it's time to keep that promise. I heard a new restaurant called Dengyun Pavilion opened next to the school!"

"Sure, let's go out and eat something together."

Lu Jing didn't refuse; Jiang Fanxin had indeed helped him a lot.

After Lu Jing and Jiang Fanxin left the training hall, they boarded a bus that went straight off‑campus.

If Lu Jing were traveling alone, he would probably walk, but now there's a girl, so he has to consider her.

The bus seats were very comfortable, all driverless, and rides were free for the school's students.

Its speed was also fast, rivaling the subway.

During the ride, Lu Jing's phone rang.

"Hello, Lu Jing, this is Leng Yueyue!"

On the other end, Leng Yueyue's sweet voice came through.

Hearing a woman's voice, Jiang Fanxin, sitting beside Lu Jing, instantly perked up his ears.

"What's up?"

"Do you have class today? Can we go out for a meal?"

Lu Jing was slightly startled; what a coincidence, they were both heading to the same place.

He glanced at Jiang Fanxin, who nodded at him.

"Alright, come to Dengyun Pavilion; I'll be there in twenty minutes."

"Okay!"

After hanging up, before Lu Jing could even explain, Jiang Fanxin spoke first:

"Is your girlfriend coming?"

"No, a high‑school classmate, we're on good terms."

"Oh......"

Mufu Martial University sits at the heart of Kyoto University City, surrounded by a thriving entertainment industry that forms a massive commercial district.

The commercial district boasts several food streets, with the scent of cuisine drifting everywhere.

Two youthful, pretty girls walked the street in a lively manner.

One wore a sleek black outfit, the other a short skirt with white thigh‑high socks.

The contrast of mature dashingness and pure cuteness was striking, instantly drawing everyone's eyes.

Even passing girls couldn't help turning to stare a few more times.

"Whoa, which school's girls are these? So awesome!"

"Don't even mention the guys; even I as a girl…"

"Stop looking, she already has a boyfriend; didn't you see the guy in the middle?"

"Probably not a boyfriend; in this day and age, no girl would share a boyfriend with someone else."

Between the two girls stood a handsome young man about 1.9 m tall in a white T‑shirt.

A blue‑purple long blade hung from his waist, his gaze calm and deep.

Lu Jing felt a bit surprised; he hadn't expected Leng Yueyue and Jiang Fanxin to become so familiar so quickly, calling each other sisters.

"Sister Jiang, did you and Lu Jing meet at Mufu Martial University?"

Leng Yueyue smiled and greeted Jiang Fanxin.

"No, we knew each other before that," Jiang Fanxin glanced at her, "Let's go to Dengyun Pavilion first, eat while we chat."

Although called a food street, the avenue was absurdly wide, with storefronts lavishly decorated, beyond what ordinary people could afford.

The three stopped in front of a restaurant called Dengyun Pavilion.

Guided enthusiastically by a server, they sat at the only remaining window seat on the fourth floor.

"I heard the owner of Dengyun Pavilion is a foreigner; the dishes are varied, some you can't find elsewhere."

It was clear Jiang Fanxin wasn't visiting Dengyun Pavilion for the first time; he introduced the dishes to Lu Jing.

The food arrived quickly; Jiang Fanxin slipped a slice of sashimi as thin as a cicada wing into his mouth, chewed lightly for a moment, then swallowed.

"Lu Jing, have you ever ventured into the Zaoji Tower?"

Not yet, I've been soaking in the training chamber lately, and I still haven't gone to the Pinnacle Tower.

Lu Jing answered while wolfing down his food.

After resolving the loopholes and flaws in the Martial Way, his mood improved greatly, and even his appetite got better.

I suggest you, if you have time these two days, go reserve a chance to challenge it, otherwise you might have to wait until next month to reserve.

Jiang Fanxin picked up the lemon water nearby, took a sip, and advised.

"Why do you say that?"

Lu Jing asked.

Beside them, the cute-looking Leng Yueyue's eyes lit up upon hearing them mention the Pinnacle Tower: "I know, if I'm not mistaken, it's because the students from Yanghai Martial University are coming to challenge the tower; the news has spread far and wide, even our school has heard of it!"

"Yes, I didn't expect Junior Sister Leng's news to be so well-informed."

Jiang Fanxin smiled and said: "Feng Zichang from Yanghai Martial University is ranked fifth on the National Newcomer Ranking; if he personally comes to challenge the tower, he's very likely to break the Shogunate Martial University record."

"He's fifth on the Newcomer Ranking; I wonder what realm he is?"

Lu Jing's heart was originally calm, but upon hearing that the Pinnacle Tower might be seized by other schools, he immediately became uneasy.

He won't bother with or pay too much attention to sparring among senior students.

But since the matter of the Pinnacle Tower touches upon his own interests, Lu Jing has no choice but to start caring about it.

He looked out the window; from here he could clearly see the full view of the Pinnacle Tower.

It can be said to be the tallest building Lu Jing has ever seen; the tower tip swallows clouds and spits mist, rosy light encircles it, and its aura is majestic.

"That Feng Zichang is a fourth-year student at Yanghai Martial University; recently there were reports that he broke through to the Eight Realm Martial Master level—I don't know if it's true, but it's likely nine out of ten."

Jiang Fanxin ate while explaining to Lu Jing: "Otherwise he wouldn't pick this time to rush the tower."

【Note: Really not just water, Jiang Fanxin and Leng Yueyue are laying foreshadowing, to be used later.】

【Note: This book temporarily has no female lead plot; please rest assured, it's not a harem story.】