Chapter 1059

Lei Ding is a very domineering man, and you already have a grudge with him.

The secret realm you opened belonged to his teacher; from now on, just tell everyone outside that all the gains from the secret realm were handed over to me.

Inside the cabin, Zhou Yuanwu spoke up to give instructions.

Clearly, he had substantial knowledge about what had happened to Xu Jingming in the Ember World.

"Thank you, Council Chairman," Xu Jingming quickly said in gratitude.

With Zhou Yuanwu helping to cover for me, it will indeed save a lot of trouble.

"It's nothing, just a small favor."

Zhou Yuanwu waved his hand and smiled: "It won't be long before Lei Ding comes to Xia to find me.

If you have any resources you obtained from the secret realm and wish to trade with him, just give them to me.

Then I'll see if I can fleece him for a good profit."

"Fleece him?" Xu Jingming looked puzzled.

"He's one of the supreme powerhouses who survived the Second Civilization Era."

He has plenty of valuable items; if I don't fleece him, I won't be able to live with myself."

Zhou Yuanwu laughed heartily and patted Xu Jingming on the shoulder. "Just like when you dealt with Eric.

This time too, Lei Ding needs us — the initiative is in our hands, just not as forcefully as before.

By the way, you handled the Eric affair quite well."

"I see."

Xu Jingming suddenly understood and smiled: "I thought Council Chairman might disapprove of how I handled Eric."

"Disapprove? How could I?"

Zhou Yuanwu chuckled. "Making that old Charlotte fellow suffer is your talent — I'm delighted."

Also, you don't need to keep calling me 'Council Chairman.'

I'm not much older than you; if you don't mind, just call me big brother."

Xu Jingming's eyes lit up; he knew Zhou Yuanwu was trying to draw closer to him, so he quickly called out: "Big brother!"

"Good, good, good — never thought I, Zhou Yuanwu, would one day gain a younger brother."

Zhou Yuanwu laughed warmly, his tone growing even more affectionate: "As your big brother, I've nothing special to give you.

How about this: you and your sisters-in-arms can each go to the Xia Resource Vault and pick one item for free.

Whatever you want, just take it."

"Thank you, big brother."

Xu Jingming quickly expressed his gratitude.

He already had the Black Armor; his battle robe wasn't lacking.

But the SSR-grade spear he held was the lowest quality version — perfect to exchange for a better one.

Of course,

he still had enough contribution points; even without this free opportunity, he could still redeem one.

"Thank you, Council Chairman," Su Qingli and Ling Shuang's beautiful eyes lit up as they also voiced their thanks.

The Xia Resource Vault was a storage facility no Lei Ting Martial Hall could match.

"Jingming calls me big brother — why are you still so formal?" Zhou Yuanwu feigned annoyance.

Su Qingli and Ling Shuang exchanged glances; though somewhat uncomfortable, they still bowed respectfully: "Thank you, Brother Zhou."

"That's better."

Zhou Yuanwu laughed heartily. "If you weren't so young and in your prime for rapid power growth, I'd already be urging you to have children.

SSS and SS class pairing — hah! I can't even imagine how high your offspring's talent will be!"

After this playful tease made Su Qingli and Ling Shuang's cheeks flush slightly, he turned to Xu Jingming:

"This secret realm was opened by Master Rui Tian — after your search, do you have any idea what Lei Ding is after?"

"It should be this Ember Embrace — a perfect-grade elemental weapon once used by Rui Tian."

Xu Jingming didn't hide it; he took the Ember Embrace out of his space ring.

Instantly, flames surged, and the temperature inside the cabin began to rise sharply.

"A perfect-grade elemental weapon — both its materials and the engraved secret runes are top-tier.

Even among perfect-grade elemental weapons, it ranks among the best — too bad it's already damaged."

Zhou Yuanwu shook his head with regret, then ordered: "Smartbrain, scan this bracelet."

Hum —

With a soft sound, a pale blue virtual beam projected from the cabin onto the Ember Embrace.

It meticulously scanned the entire object.

"Big brother, what are you doing?" Xu Jingming asked, puzzled.

"I'll have a weapons master craft an identical Ember Embrace to trade with Lei Ding; keep this original one yourself," Zhou Yuanwu explained with a smile.

"You can do that?" Xu Jingming was stunned.

Holy crap!

Who knew you, Zhou Yuanwu, with your honest face, were so skilled at tricking people!

I thought you'd just use the original Ember Embrace to swindle Lei Ding for a high price — but you've pulled off a full switcheroo.

"Won't this be too risky? If Lei Ding finds out, it might cause trouble," Xu Jingming couldn't help but speak up.

"Don't worry — with a weapons master's skill, it won't be easily detected.

Besides, even if he finds out, so what? We'll firmly insist the bracelet we got from the secret realm was this one."

Even if he clearly knew he'd been set up, there was nothing he could do to us."

Zhou Yuanwu didn't really mind, "Of course, this is based on the fact that he and I are at the same rank.

Lei Ding doesn't have the ability to flip the table, so even if he's been set up he can only swallow the loss himself, with no way to retaliate."

After a pause, he restrained his smile, looked at Xu Jingming seriously, and spoke again:

"Jingming, you must remember.

Apart from Great Xia, whether it's fierce beasts or other Apex-level powerhouses, they are all our enemies.

It's just that right now, with fierce beasts as an external pressure, us Apex-level powerhouses have temporarily united together.

Of course, this is only a superficial unity; over the years, other countries have been making small moves constantly.

You should have a deep understanding of this."

"Understood." Xu Jingming's gaze flashed.

After Tianming Sect made several moves against him, the United States' direction was always behind them — he naturally understood this principle.

"Good that you understand. With your talent, in another four or five years you should be able to attempt breaking through to Apex-level. When the time comes, I will mobilize the entire nation's strength to fully assist your breakthrough.

Once you break through, you and I joining hands will bring an entirely new change to the entire Blue Star's landscape!

Zhou Yuanwu's tone carried an unprecedented domineering air.

"I also look forward to that day."

Xu Jingming grinned, and asked curiously: "Big brother, you just said Lei Ding is the same rank as you, so what rank are you all?"

"Starlight Second Rank."

Zhou Yuanwu didn't hide it, "On the entire Blue Star, only I, Evelyn, and Lei Ding are Starlight Second Rank; everyone else is only Starlight First Rank.

Starlight ranks are strictly hierarchical — don't think it's just a single rank difference.

In reality, the gap of this one rank is even greater than the gap between a First Rank and a Ninth Rank ability user."

"That exaggerated?" Xu Jingming's eyes went wide.

A Ninth Rank ability user can make a First Rank explode just by releasing their aura — does every rank of Starlight have that kind of dominating power too?

"It's not that exaggerated. It's just that the total amount of elemental energy absorbed at each Starlight rank is as much as from First Rank to Ninth Rank of ability users."

Realizing Xu Jingming had misunderstood, Zhou Yuanwu explained, "Of course, Starlight Second Rank is unquestionably a crushing force over Starlight First Rank.

It's just that it can't reach the level of making the opponent's body explode from aura alone."

"So that's how it is." Xu Jingming nodded slightly.

From entering the Voidbreak Tower to leaving, and up to now, only a little over three months had passed.

Yet his rank had skyrocketed all the way from Eighth Rank Lower to Ninth Rank Middle!

The Starlight rank corresponding to Apex-level was not that far off for him either.