Chapter 1213: Star Rank Beast! Black Sand Storm!

Xu Jingming reached out and grabbed.

The nine-colored Xuan Lotus floating in midair was immediately stored in his space ring.

A Level A5 celestial treasure, worth 700 million cosmic credits!

Enough to buy a thunder talisman capable of killing a Star Rank cultivator!

Yet, before he could rejoice for long,

A chilling sense of danger suddenly surged up his spine.

"This aura..."

Xu Jingming's pupils shrank sharply as he snapped his head upward toward the horizon.

Far away, the clouds tore open as if ripped by an invisible giant hand—a colossal beast burst through the sky!

The beast resembled a giant lizard, its entire body covered in dark golden scales, each one gleaming with metallic coldness.

Its body exceeded a kilometer in length, its limbs thick as pillars holding up the heavens.

A single sweep of its tail shattered several mountain peaks.

Most terrifying were its crimson vertical pupils—cold, emotionless, as if gazing down at ants.

"Spirit Blood Beast, Golden-Scaled Earth Dragon—this one has reached Star Rank!" Lu Yunji's face turned pale.

Star Rank!

Xu Jingming's heart sank.

The gap between Starlight and Star Rank was like a chasm between heaven and earth.

Even the weakest Star Rank One could effortlessly crush a Starlight Peak cultivator!

And this Golden-Scaled Earth Dragon's aura far surpassed ordinary Star Rank One—it was at least Star Rank Two!

"Run!"

Without hesitation, Xu Jingming and Lu Yunji both transformed into streaks of light, racing away in the opposite direction of the Golden-Scaled Earth Dragon.

"Eva, activate the ship to extract us!"

Xu Jingming commanded urgently in his mind.

"Impossible!"

Eva's voice responded instantly, "The ship requires five minutes to accelerate to light speed. The Golden-Scaled Earth Dragon is less than five hundred kilometers away."

Its flight speed reaches two hundred times the speed of sound—we'll be caught long before the ship accelerates beyond its velocity!"

Xu Jingming cursed under his breath.

Cosmic ships had far inferior maneuverability at short range compared to Star Rank beasts; now, escape depended solely on their own strength!

"Senior sister, can your ship help us escape?" Xu Jingming asked urgently.

"No, my ship has faster acceleration than yours, but it still can't match this Star Rank Golden-Scaled Earth Dragon!" Lu Yunji shook her head.

"Roar—!"

At that moment, the Golden-Scaled Earth Dragon let out a deafening roar.

The sonic wave rolled forward like a solid force, cracking the earth and warping the air wherever it passed.

Xu Jingming and Lu Yunji were struck by the residual shockwave, staggering and churning with disrupted qi and blood.

"This won't work."

Xu Jingming gritted his teeth, his cold, sharp eyes flashing with resolve.

His fingers twitched slightly, and a deep blue talisman wreathed in destruction energy appeared silently in his palm.

It was unmistakably the thunder talisman his teacher Lu Wen had given him as a last-resort lifeline!

Once activated, it would grant him temporary Star Rank combat power!

"Thunder talisman? You actually still have this?"

Lu Yunji exclaimed in surprise—clearly aware of its power.

"Yes, my teacher gave it to me. Guess I won't be keeping it this time."

Xu Jingming nodded.

Yet, just as he prepared to crush the talisman,

Lu Yunji's slender, jade-like hand suddenly gripped his wrist:

"Thunder talismans are exceedingly rare—don't use yours yet. Let me try first."

Before Xu Jingming could respond,

She swallowed a pill, and a sickly flush spread across her fair, delicate face.

In the next instant, crimson flames erupted behind her, and the T7 Law Form—"Crimson Flame Heavenly Phoenix Form"—reappeared!

Scorching flames swept across the sky, coalescing into a phoenix with a wingspan of a kilometer.

Unlike before, this phoenix's wings were now fully solidified, each feather glowing with molten-like radiance.

"Get on!"

Lu Yunji seized Xu Jingming's waist and leapt onto the phoenix's back with him.

Xu Jingming felt a rush of fragrant wind, and the next second he was tightly held against her chest.

Her arms encircled his waist; her full, soft breasts pressed firmly against his back, their warmth and texture unmistakable.

"This..."

Xu Jingming was momentarily stunned.

He'd held many women before, but never had he been carried through the air like this—by a woman.

"Hold on tight!"

Lu Yunji snapped, and the phoenix's wings slammed down violently!

Boom—!

Crimson flames slashed through the sky, speed instantly surging!

The golden-scaled earth dragon's roar rapidly receded behind them.

But Xu Jingming could feel that terrifying pressure still closing in!

"My Dharma Form's true body excels in speed, combined with the pills I've taken.

I should be faster than the golden-scaled earth dragon, but I can only maintain this for ten minutes!"

Lu Yunji's crisp, melodious voice grew faint in the wind, "If you haven't shaken it off after ten minutes, use the Thunder Talisman."

Xu Jingming nodded quickly, his vast spiritual force constantly sensing the movements behind him.

Beneath the night sky, the golden-scaled earth dragon's massive form flickered in and out of the clouds, its dark-gold scales reflecting cold light.

Its speed was slightly slower than the Phoenix Dharma Form, but they couldn't gain distance.

If things continued like this, they'd be caught the moment Lu Yunji's pill effects wore off.

"Looks like I'll have to use the Thunder Talisman."

Xu Jingming frowned, silently pondering in his heart.

The pressure from a Star Grade beast far exceeded his imagination.

If not for Lu Yunji's unique Dharma Form, they would have been caught and torn apart long ago!

Yet at that moment, the distant horizon, already dark, suddenly seemed draped in a hazy filter.

A vast expanse of black "mist" was sweeping toward them at astonishing speed, warping light and subtly trembling space wherever it passed!

"It's the Black Sand Storm!"

Lu Yunji's beautiful eyes lit up.

The Black Sand Storm was an extreme weather phenomenon unique to Black Stone Star, composed of countless hard black grains.

Each grain was as hard as Starlight Grade metal, capable of shredding the flesh of Starlight Grade cultivators when whipped by hurricane-force winds.

Generally, upon encountering a Black Sand Storm on Black Stone Star, one immediately turned and fled.

But now, behind them chased a Star Grade beast; compared to the Star Grade beast, the Black Sand Storm's danger was far lower.

"Enter the Black Sand Storm!"

Xu Jingming decided instantly, "The golden-scaled earth dragon is massive—its movement will be restricted inside the storm. Perfect chance to shake it off."

"Good!"

Lu Yunji turned without hesitation, the Phoenix Dharma Form diving straight into the churning storm.

In an instant, countless black grains rained down like a deluge.

Xu Jingming immediately activated his Thunder Domain; dark Lei Guang formed a shield around him, annihilating every grain.

"Roar—!"

The golden-scaled earth dragon's furious roar came from behind, but now carried clear signs of agitation.

Xu Jingming turned to look—endless black sand hammered against its body, sparks flying constantly from its dark-gold scales.

Though it inflicted no damage, it drastically slowed the beast's movements.

"It's working!"

Xu Jingming's eyes brightened; Lu Yunji also sensed the disturbance behind them.

The Phoenix Dharma Form flapped its wings, weaving nimbly through the Black Sand Storm, pressing deeper into its heart.