Chapter 1027

In the fighter cockpit, Xu Jingming sat in the pilot's seat, organizing the fruits of this mission.

First, the Ability Points.

Over 15 days, he rested not a single moment, sweeping across one-third of the Sakura Nation's wasteland.

He acquired a total of 8.54 million Ability Points.

Of these, 4 million Ability Points were used to upgrade the Lightning Domain, raising it from Level Two to Level Three.

The Domain now met the requirement to learn an SSR-tier combat technique, so he immediately spent 100,000 Ability Points to learn the SSR-tier Starlight Lightning Shield.

He then spent another 2 million Ability Points to upgrade the Spirit Refinement Art from Level Six to Level Seven.

His mental strength, originally 778,000 Hz, surged by 200,000 Hz, reaching 978,000 Hz.

He was just 22,000 Hz away from breaking the 1 million Hz threshold.

"Pity, neither level nor Ability can be upgraded."

Xu Jingming shook his head silently.

He had held onto the 8.54 million Ability Points until yesterday, but no plus signs appeared beside level or Ability.

With no choice, he finally used them to upgrade the Domain and the Spirit Refinement Art.

According to his estimate, upgrading level would likely require tens of millions of Ability Points.

As for Ability, there must be tiers beyond SSS.

But he had a hunch that the Ability Points needed for another transformation of Ability would be astronomical.

"Once the UN meeting ends, I'll clear out the remaining ferocious beasts in the Sakura Nation's wasteland—I should gain nearly 20 million more Ability Points."

Xu Jingming's gaze flickered.

He missed the Void-Piercing Tower.

If all these ferocious beasts in Sakura Nation were demonic beasts, his Ability Points would have doubled.

"S-Class, you won't believe what the public opinion in Sakura Nation has turned into."

At that moment, Eva's cute face appeared on the cockpit's large screen.

"What kind of public opinion?" Xu Jingming asked, puzzled.

Her green twin tails swayed behind her as Eva giggled:

"The people of Sakura Nation still revere Sakura Morin as a saintess—and her prestige is even higher than before!"

After saying that, Eva played a video.

The video showed Sakura Morin, dressed in full ceremonial attire, announcing her appointment as Chief Administrator, taking command of the Tianyu Dao Hall.

Below the video were a stream of comments.

"So beautiful! That's our saintess!"

"The Beast of the North Plain is dead—our saintess will lead us to new glory!"

"Hah, saintess? Did you forget the moment she knelt before Xu Jingming? Your saintess has been used up!"

"Don't you dare speak like that about Lei Di and the saintess! Lei Di came to save us—she and he are a perfect match!"

"Exactly! Don't you dare insult our great Lei Di my lord!"

"......"

The vast majority of these comments were positive; even the occasional negative one was immediately rebutted by others.

Some of the comments defending him and Sakura Morin even left Xu Jingming speechless.

Damn.

I killed your ninth-rank, and instead of blame, I'm now seen as a savior?

"Is this astroturfing?" Xu Jingming raised an eyebrow.

"According to the information shared by my sub-entities, there was indeed astroturfing at first, but the later comments were all left by the people themselves,"

Eva giggled.

Before heading to the wasteland, she left a smart sub-entity with Sakura Morin to assist with propaganda.

"Oh? Then how did their opinion of me change so quickly?"

Xu Jingming was surprised.

He remembered clearly that when he first appeared at the Tianyu Dao Hall headquarters, most people had held hostility toward him.

"Actually, it's all because of Kitahara Sohkei—he left such a terrible impression, groveling shamelessly to America."

Plus, Sakura Morin acted out of revenge, so the public held no ill will toward her.

As for you, S-Class, through constant propaganda, you've become the hero who slew the evil dragon—and now they respect you too."

Eva replied with a smile.

"Oh? So the people of Sakura Nation are quite easy to tame."

Xu Jingming was surprised, then chuckled: "But they've got one thing wrong—I didn't come to save them. I came to exploit them."

Sakura Nation is a country, rich in cultivation resources.

He would take every last bit of those resources—not a single one for Sakura Nation's people, at most a few scraps for Sakura Morin.

Soon, Sakura Nation's Ability users would find cultivation resources far harder to obtain than before.

Sakura Nation would never produce another ninth-rank Ability user again.

And this, he considered, was the blessing he left behind for Sakura Nation.

"S-Class, you're really mean," Eva chuckled.

The fighter soon hovered above the Tianyu Dao Hall headquarters building.

Below, in front of the headquarters, Sakura Morin and all the other eighth-rank Grand Masters of the Tianyu Dao Hall had already gathered to wait.

Dressed in the Tianyu Dao Hall's form-fitting uniform, which accentuated her slender figure, Sakura Morin bowed deeply, her delicate waist bending low.

Without regard for others present, he knelt directly in the tuxu zuo posture:

"Welcome, Master, back!"

As his words fell, the remaining eight-stage Grand Masters all bowed respectfully: "Welcome, Lei Di, back!"

It wasn't that they didn't wish to kneel — it was because Sakura Rin had long ago decreed that kneeling was her exclusive privilege.

Even they could only address Xu Jingming as Lei Di, never as Master...

"No wonder ancient emperors loved being emperors — this feeling truly is excellent."

Xu Jingming laughed heartily; a flash of black Lei Guang shot out from the open cargo hatch.

"Finally out!"

In the open-air café beside the Tianyu Dojo headquarters, Tian Hen no longer concealed himself — his ability erupted violently!

Whoosh—!!!

Terrifying violet flames surged outward, devouring everything around them.

Others seated in the café didn't even have time to scream — they were instantly vaporized by the million-degree-high heat!

"Xu Jingming, die! This is the gift the Tianming Sect has prepared for you!"

Tian Hen's wild laughter rang out.

Boom!!

Endless deep-purple flames coalesced in the sky into a fearsome face three meters in diameter.

The writhing tongues of fire suddenly tore apart, revealing a monstrous mouth of molten lava and fangs.

Then it opened wide — and, before the horrified eyes of Sakura Rin and the others below, swallowed Xu Jingming whole!!

"Ha! Success! Once hit by my Youhuo Guimian, death is inevitable!!"

Tian Hen's face glowed with ecstatic joy.

Youhuo Guimian — a SSS+ elemental fire technique he had honed to Master-level proficiency.

Combined with his S-grade elemental fire ability, its power was limitless.

Normally, it required at least ten seconds to prepare.

But he had waited here all along — his spiritual force and ability were already fully prepared.

Taking advantage of surprise, Xu Jingming, just stepping out of the aircraft, had no chance to react.

And with the power of Youhuo Guimian, if you dodged, you might still survive.

But if you didn't dodge — death was certain!