"Twelve years of dedicated study—it all comes down to this day!" The voice of the homeroom teacher, Chen Fan, rang out in the classroom. "The exams are right around the corner, but you still need to keep your composure!"
"Those of you taking the liberal arts subjects, check tonight to make sure all your necessary stationery is accounted for and in good order," he continued, sweeping his gaze across the class.
"And those of you taking the martial arts exams, don't forget to prepare your combat gear and weapons…"
Sitting at his desk, Xu Jingming recalled the information about the graduation exams stored in his memory. In Great Xia, universities were divided into two types: those for studying cultural knowledge, and those for training individuals with extraordinary combat abilities, the so-called Superpower Universities. Correspondingly, the graduation exams were also split into liberal arts exams and martial arts exams.
The liberal arts exams were straightforward—you simply sat in a classroom and answered questions. But the martial arts exams were an entirely different matter. Examinees, dressed in combat attire and armed, had to go to a designated location and fight ferocious beasts to the death! The final score was based on the number and types of beasts killed.
Students chose which type of exam to take. If someone wasn't confident in their abilities or had awakened a weak power, they could choose the liberal arts exam and become an ordinary person. Although Xu Jingming's predecessor had only awakened an E-level ability, he had still chosen the martial arts exam. Xu Jingming fully approved of this decision. After all, participating in the martial arts exam offered a chance at success. If one didn't even try the combat exam, they would certainly be relegated to an ordinary life…
"I'll stress this one last time: the martial arts exam carries a risk to life. I do not recommend it for those whose abilities are below D-level," Chen Fan paused, his eyes sweeping over the class. "You still have a chance to change your selection before nine o'clock tonight. If anyone has second thoughts, please come and see me."
"That's all, class dismissed," he concluded, throwing a pointed glance at Xu Jingming.
Xu Jingming involuntarily rubbed his nose, understanding the homeroom teacher's meaning. After all, among all those in the graduating class 3-5 who chose the martial arts exam, he was the only one with an E-level ability…
According to past statistics, the majority of fatalities in the martial arts exam were students with abilities below D-level.
"I know the teacher is worried about me, but in this world, without combat skills, you can't get by…" Xu Jingming thought, gathering his bag.
To prevent the invasions of ferocious beasts, every city in Great Xia was equipped with strict defensive measures: high-voltage grids, armed forces, superpower user squads, and so on. But these measures were not absolutely reliable. From time to time, cities were breached by waves of beasts, and countless residents perished. Xu Jingming didn't want to be caught in such a situation without the ability to defend himself.
"Even if I only have an E-level ability, I'll still participate in the martial arts exam. Especially since I'll soon have an even rarer S-level ability," Xu Jingming focused his gaze forward.
"Jingming, are you absolutely sure you don't want to change your choice?" asked the guy with the bowl cut sitting in front, turning to face him.
"No," Xu Jingming shook his head.
The guy with the bowl cut was his best friend, Zhang Hao, who also had an E-level ability. They were in the same predicament, but after awakening his E-level ability two years ago, Zhang Hao decided to focus on liberal arts and chose the corresponding exam.
"You're awesome!" Zhang Hao gave a thumbs-up. "In our entire graduating class, out of the six or seven people with E-level abilities, you're the only one who dared to choose the martial arts exam."
"What, you want to join me too?" Xu Jingming raised an eyebrow.
"Heh-heh, I'm going to an ordinary university and enjoy four years of carefree life with the girls," Zhang Hao smirked. "Heroic deeds like defending the homeland, I'll leave those to great superpower users like you."
"Get outta here," Xu Jingming rolled his eyes and, ignoring his friend, walked out of the classroom.
Xu Jingming's parents died during a beast invasion when he was just over ten years old. Aside from the house and a little over a million yuan in compensation, they left nothing. Therefore, upon returning home, Xu Jingming was completely alone. Fortunately, he was also an orphan before transmigrating to this world and was already accustomed to such an atmosphere. Besides, Xu Jingming had more important things to attend to now.
"Novice Gift, here I come!" Staring at the blue virtual window in his consciousness, Xu Jingming pressed the "Receive" button without hesitation!
[Novice Gift dispensed, 200 Ability Points credited to the account]
[Dispensing S-Rank ability Purple Sky Divine Thunder commencing, progress 10%... 20%... 30%...]
Boom!!
Along with a dull thud, Xu Jingming felt an endless power explode within his body. Then, countless blue-purple lightning bolts began to flicker and jump across his body's surface. It seemed as if he had transformed into a sphere of blue-purple lightning.
Crackle!!!
Accompanied by the piercing shriek of electrical arcs, endless lightning spread outward from Xu Jingming in all directions, consuming the entire living room! The sofa, the television, the coffee table… Everything the lightning touched was instantly pulverized! The lightning, mixed with flames, shattered the windows and burst outside!
"Mama, the big brother across the street has a fire!" a child's voice sounded from the street.
"Quick, call the fire department!" an adult replied.
"That's young Xu's house, isn't it?" another voice was heard.
Such a conspicuous explosion naturally attracted the attention of the neighborhood residents, and many called the fire department. However, Xu Jingming, inside the room, was oblivious to all this. He only felt his body filling with warmth and power.
[50%…60%…70%…]
The transformation was still ongoing.
Apparently due to the ability transformation, the clear midday sky outside was suddenly blanketed with clouds, as if night had fallen! There was no rain, but dull rumbling of thunder could be heard. Within the clouds, one could even see purple lightning, like dragons piercing the sky!
"Why did the sky suddenly turn dark?" people on the streets wondered.
"What terrifying lightning! I feel some kind of heavy pressure," the city residents exchanged anxious whispers.
"Jiangcheng Third Corps, assume combat readiness, prepare for the worst!" military commands rang out.
Such strange weather changes plunged the residents of the entire Jiangcheng into a panic. People feared it might be a sign of an invasion by a ferocious beast capable of controlling lightning. The military units stationed in Jiangcheng also mobilized, moving into a state of combat readiness.
[80%…90%…95%…98%…99%…]
Inside the room, Xu Jingming's ability transformation was also nearing completion!
CRASH!!
At this moment, the sky flashed brightly, and a massive, dragon-like purple lightning bolt struck from the heavens directly into Xu Jingming's body through the shattered window!!
As if its purpose had been fulfilled, after the lightning strike, the clouds outside dispersed, and the sky became clear again. Inside the room, Xu Jingming's ability transformation reached 100%! The blue-purple lightning surrounding his body receded completely, like an ebb tide being fully drawn back.
A moment later, Xu Jingming, standing in the middle of the living room, abruptly opened his eyes. A momentary flash of purple lightning flickered in his pupils.
"Ability transformation successfully completed!"
Xu Jingming felt his body brimming with power. He instinctively raised his right hand. With a mere thought, countless purple electrical arcs coiled around his arm. Unlike the previous pale blue-white lightning, these purple arcs contained an ancient and potent energy, causing the heart to tremble.
"This is it, the S-Rank ability—Purple Sky Divine Thunder!"
Xu Jingming's eyes sparkled. He had a premonition that if he were to strike a human body with this lightning, the result would no longer be merely a taser shock. More likely, the person would simply be torn to shreds!