Chapter 228: Heading to Thunder Pond

Looking for thunder-attribute ore?

Lu Jing examined the mission details with interest.

【B-rank mission: Go to Thunder Pond forbidden zone in Zang Province to find 10 kg of thunder ore, no time limit, reward 30 credits and 50,000 cash upon completion!】

This mission doesn't seem difficult; it's listed as B-rank because the journey to Zang Province is far, time-consuming and laborious.

The reward is fairly standard, which explains why it's hung at the mission center for over a week with no takers.

For Lu Jing, it's just on the way.

While Lu Jing was lowering his head to check the mission, the girl behind the counter furtively observed him with her peripheral vision.

Is that the genius who supposedly conquered the Pinnacle Tower and ascended to the extreme?

His features are handsome, his eyes bright, his fair skin even smoother than hers.

The girl continued looking down, seeing his clear jawline and prominent Adam's apple, exuding masculinity.

"Gurgle—"

She couldn't help but swallow.

Just then Lu Jing stood up, "Take this mission for me, any other convenient ones?"

"Ah, none, only this one."

The girl hastily withdrew her gaze, pretending to be busy.

"I've already processed it for you; later I'll send the mission details to your phone via text."

"Hmm."

Lu Jing nodded, turned and left.

"Huh—"

After Lu Jing left, the girl let out a sigh of relief.

"I messed up last time, luckily he didn't remember me."

Her relieved tone mixed with a hint of disappointment.

After leaving the mission hall, Lu Jing headed straight back to the dormitory.

He called Ma Houshi.

"Lu bro, what do you need?!"

Upon receiving Lu Jing's call, Ma Houshi reacted with great excitement.

"Tell the remaining five Martial Universities' Pinnacle Towers that I'll come to conquer them all in a week; have them prepare."

"Gasp— Leave it to me, Lu bro, I'll get it done!"

Ma Houshi first inhaled a breath of cool air, then solemnly promised.

After hanging up, Ma Houshi clutched his phone and jumped up.

"Haha, Lu bro actually entrusted me with this important matter; I'll promote it big time—let the freshmen of Yanghai Martial University tremble!"

After settling things, Lu Jing greeted Jiang Fanxin and Leng Yueyue.

Early the next morning, he boarded the High‑Speed Rail to Zang Province.

Because money was no issue, he directly booked the top‑class business seat.

Sitting in the spacious, comfortable business seat, Lu Jing stretched his body.

Looking at his reflection in the window, his muscles bulged, his stature was tall and straight, and a faint blue stubble appeared on his face.

Lu Jing realized that, without noticing, he was no longer a youth......

The High‑Speed Rail departed, and Lu Jing casually glanced at the nearby passengers.

Sitting opposite him were two girls around twenty, chatting and laughing, occasionally emitting bell‑like laughter.

Beside them was a middle‑aged man in formal attire holding a five‑ or six‑year‑old child.

Lu Jing raised an eyebrow; the man's heartbeat was fast, his face bore faint tiny scars, seeming quite nervous.

Moreover, his strength was not weak; by observing the density of his Blood Qi, Lu Jing judged him at least in the Master Realm.

He seemed to be someone with a story.

Lu Jing withdrew his gaze, opened his phone and browsed information about the Thunder Pond forbidden zone.

"This place is really remote—how do I get there......"

The High‑Speed Rail can only reach Laishan City, where the Thunder Pond forbidden zone is located; the destination is still far away.

Lu Jing thought for a moment, contacted a tour group, and booked a package to join them into the mountains.

Ma Houshi lived up to expectations; within a few hours he spread the news that Lu Jing would conquer all Pinnacle Towers in a week.

Across major media, forums, and websites, everything was about Lu Jing's impending tower assault.

It was exactly noon.

Normally at this time students would be crowded in the cafeteria, but due to the pressure Lu Jing exerted,

many students gathered beneath the Pinnacle Tower.

The lounge and the area around the Pinnacle Tower were almost packed with people.

The atmosphere was heated; everyone eagerly charged the tower, hoping to improve their scores before Lu Jing arrived.

Even hotter than the scene were the discussions across the major networks......

A string of hot‑search topics instantly occupied half of the hot list.

【Bakufu Martial University student Lu Jing will simultaneously challenge all Pinnacle Towers in a week!】

【An unprecedented challenge—is it arrogance or confidence?!】

【Shocking! Lanshan Martial University declares: If Lu Jing dares to come, we'll make him crawl back; let's wait and see!】

【Martial Top Scholar Lu Jing declares he'll challenge all Martial Universities' Pinnacle Towers; the strongest dark horse in history is about to rise!】

In a moment, the hype about Lu Jing charging the tower had already reached the point where simply registering a new media app would get you a push notification……

Lu Jing's current influence and popularity are so extensive that they even rival that time when the martial examination ended!

As for why?

Besides the heat of the matter itself and the traffic Lu Jing naturally brings, there is also a force that deliberately bought hot searches for him, continuously amplifying the topic.

……

On the Coiling Mountain Road two hundred li outside Lai Mountain City.

A bus bearing the "Thunder Pond Tour Group" sign was slowly crawling uphill.

Inside the bus, the enthusiastic and pretty female guide held a microphone and was introducing the tourists to information about the Thunder Pond forbidden zone.

"Everyone, stay alert—the bus might get a bit bumpy, try not to sleep; you can sleep later when we arrive!"

The female guide drew everyone's attention and continued, "When we reach the lodging point, we'll arrange for you to rest one night, then set out early tomorrow morning to go into the mountains and take you to see the sights!"

"By the way, at the lodging place there will be a small task for everyone—please follow me to buy some local specialties; they're very cheap, and you can't buy them outside. If you miss this, you'll regret it for life!"

As soon as they heard there was a shopping segment, some middle‑aged women immediately couldn't sit still.

"What's wrong with you, guide? You promised earlier that this trip would have no forced shopping—what's going on?!"

"Exactly, we have no money, we won't buy those things!"

"And what about the accommodation? I saw the reviews say meals are included—is that true?"

The female guide smiled and patiently replied, "Don't worry, we're not forcing anything—if you don't want to buy, we won't push you. As for the accommodation, rest assured, they're all star‑rated hotels, safe and hygienic!"

In the back seat of the bus, a young man wearing a baseball cap was dozing against the window.