Chapter 1058: Lei Ding

"What? You want to steal it?"

Zhou Yuanwu's eyes narrowed.

A sea-like surge of blood qi erupted, coalescing behind him into a colossal phantom of a Qilin.

Crimson Blood War Qilin!

Enhanced-type Divine Beast SS-class ability!

When his ability activated, the entire heavens and earth seemed filled with an arrogant, domineering aura!

"Tsk, haven't seen him use his ability in years—still as formidable as ever."

"Starlight Stage Two, this aura is truly extraordinary."

The surrounding supreme experts whispered in awe.

Decades ago, after humans signed a peace pact with ferocious beasts, the supreme experts had rarely fought.

Yet even just this aura clearly distinguished the difference between Starlight Stage One and Two.

"Not stealing—I think this realm space should be divided equally among all of us. I believe everyone else feels the same."

Lei Ding tried to rally the other supreme experts to act together.

But to his surprise, not a single one of the other supreme experts, including Evelyn, responded to him.

'These old foxes don't want to move.'

Lei Ding's heart burned with anger.

Like Zhou Yuanwu, he was also a Starlight Stage Two supreme expert.

But if they truly fought, without others' help, it would be hard to determine a winner.

Yet for the Embrace of the Fiery Sun, he had to try!

Whoosh—

Just as he prepared to activate his ability, a glow rippled across the teleportation channel behind Zhou Yuanwu.

Xu Jingming stepped out of the teleportation channel, flanked by Su Qingli and Ling Shuang.

Although he had anticipated other nations' supreme experts would be waiting outside the realm.

He hadn't expected six of them to be here—even Lei Ding from the Ember World had arrived.

'Of course, inviting Zhou Yuanwu was the wise choice. Alone, I couldn't possibly handle them.'

Xu Jingming thought silently.

The international community operates on survival of the fittest—no courtesy exists.

If only he, Su Qingli, and Ling Shuang had been here, they never could have held onto this realm space.

"It's Xu Jingming! He's inside?!"

"This aura—he's broken through to Ninth Stage Mid-Level?!"

"Impossible! His breakthrough speed is this fast?!"

"..."

The supreme experts scanned with their spiritual senses and instantly detected Xu Jingming's level change—each face twisted in shock.

Catherine, beside Evelyn, also hadn't expected to meet Xu Jingming here; after her surprise, she couldn't help asking:

"Mother, has Xu Jingming broken through to Ninth Stage Mid-Level?"

"Correct."

Evelyn's beautiful eyes fixed on Xu Jingming, her gaze holding a trace of Solemn.

She had underestimated his breakthrough speed.

Lei Ding, seeing Xu Jingming, frowned, then spoke directly:

"Xu Jingming, this realm space was created by my Master Rui Tian. I'm willing to pay a high price for your harvest within the realm."

"I'm sorry, I don't know who this Master Rui Tian is," Xu Jingming replied calmly and without deference.

He wouldn't be foolish enough to admit to Lei Ding that he knew who created this realm space.

"Huh?!"

Xu Jingming's attitude instantly ignited Lei Ding's fury.

In his view, no matter how talented, anyone not yet a supreme expert was an ant!

And for an ant to repeatedly display indifference before a dragon was itself an insult!

An ant must behave like an ant!

"Xu Jingming's harvest belongs to Great Xia. Lei Ding, if you want to trade, come to Great Xia and find me."

Zhou Yuanwu did not let Xu Jingming respond. "Jingming, let's go."

"Alright."

Xu Jingming nodded, not glancing at Lei Ding again.

Then he had Ling Shuang retrieve the bracelet and fully shut down the realm's teleportation channel.

Just as Xu Jingming and the two women prepared to board Zhou Yuanwu's warcraft, the tall white man beside Evelyn suddenly spoke:

"Xu Jingming, you kept the rare flowers and herbs—when do you return Eric?"

Charlotte, EU's supreme expert.

"Eric?"

Xu Jingming raised an eyebrow, then remembered—"Soon. He'll return to your EU tomorrow."

Had Charlotte not spoken, he'd forgotten capturing her disciple during the last auction.

At these words, the surrounding supreme experts all exchanged murmurs of disbelief.

They all knew Xu Jingming had swindled Eric out of an SSR-level rare flower.

But he hadn't released them until the main party asked, then he remembered.

Xu Jingming paid no attention to the reactions of these people; he led Su Qingli and Ling Shuang aboard Zhou Yuanwu's fighter.

Swish—

The supersonic engines ignited; the fighter instantly accelerated and vanished into the horizon.

"Sh*t! Arrogant bastard!"

As Xu Jingming and the others left, Charlotte's expression changed instantly.

"Xu Jingming, the top prodigy of Blue Star, a mid-rank ninth-stage SSS-class, truly has the right to be arrogant.

Not to mention he has Emers and Zhou Yuanwu as his powerful backers. Charlotte, just accept defeat this time."

The Heizhou powerhouse joked beside him.

Bihai Lingpo Orchid, an SSR-grade rare herb capable of increasing the probability of breaking through to powerhouse.

Even a powerhouse who lost such a resource would feel deep pain.

But since it wasn't his own loss, he could only gloat.

Facing Galka's teasing, Charlotte snorted coldly and swept away with his sleeve.

"Pity, such a great battle vanished like this."

"Xu Jingming came out so quickly—looks like this secret realm had nothing valuable."

"Whether it had value or not doesn't matter to us; with Zhou Yuanwu here, we've wasted our trip."

"......"

The remaining powerhouses also departed one by one.

"Mother, let's return and resume training."

After a deep breath, Catherine's beautiful eyes flickered with quiet determination.

Xu Jingming's breakthrough speed was simply too fast; she couldn't afford the slightest slack.

"Alright," Evelyn nodded, though inwardly she pondered deeply.

At Xu Jingming's current breakthrough pace, he would likely begin challenging the powerhouse realm within four or five years.

She would never allow Xia to produce a second powerhouse!

【Once we return, I'll try again to get the Tianming Sect to act...】

Having made her decision, Evelyn quickly took Catherine and left.

Only Lei Ding remained alone in the sky, his face dark.

If Xu Jingming handed his gains over to Zhou Yuanwu, then acquiring the Embrace of the Blazing Sun would demand an enormous price!

"Not necessarily—if the secret realm's core is with that Ling Shuang.

This secret realm was likely first discovered by Xu Jingming, and Zhou Yuanwu merely guarded it for him.

A mid-rank ninth-stage SSS-class like him would gladly lend a hand.

Either way, I must probe further.

But this Xu Jingming is too arrogant; once he goes to the Void Divine Temple, Lu Ke must give him a proper beating."

As a powerhouse, Lei Ding instantly conceived several possibilities and departed.

To trade in Xia, I must return and prepare some S-class resources...