Chapter 1224

Above the void.

Several immortal deities stood suspended in midair, the surrounding space subtly warping around their presence.

"The secret realm collapsed so suddenly—it seems the last of the Purple Nightmare Lord's power has been exhausted."

The Black Light Deity stood with his hands behind his back, his dark robe stirring without wind in the void.

"Sixty thousand years have passed; even a lord's lingering consciousness cannot resist the erosion of time."

Niki sighed lightly, a trace of regret flickering in her beautiful eyes:

"What a pity—if only he had held on a little longer, someone might have claimed his final legacy."

"Most of the Purple Nightmare Lord's legacy was taken fifty thousand years ago; what remains is merely scraps."

Another deity clad in silver armor shook his head slightly, "Even if the secret realm collapsed, there's nothing to regret."

"Indeed."

The several deities nodded slightly.

They all believed the secret realm's collapse was due to the Purple Nightmare Lord's insufficient residual power.

None suspected that someone had already claimed the lord-level legacy.

Generally, solving all the secret runes within months to complete a lord's legacy is already astonishing.

Yet from the opening of the secret realm to its collapse, only twenty-three hours had passed.

Even the most prodigious genius could not decipher all the secret runes in such a short time.

"The city below probably can't continue anymore."

Niki looked down at the still-busy robots and shook her head slightly.

With the disappearance of the lord-level legacy realm, the Dead Zone will return to stillness; no one will come here again.

"With the secret realm collapsed, there's no reason for us to linger here."

One immortal deity withdrew his gaze and departed first.

Niki was about to do the same when two figures flew up toward her from below.

It was Xu Jingming and Ye Lan.

"Teacher."

Ye Lan bowed respectfully to Niki, her silver-white battle suit accentuating her increasingly alluring curves.

Beside her, Xu Jingming stood tall as a spear, his dark eyes calm as still water.

"Oh? Ye Lan, what is it?"

Niki's gaze shifted between the two, her red lips slightly upturned.

She noticed that when her prized student stood beside Xu Jingming, there seemed to be an inexplicable harmony between them.

"Teacher, Xu Jingming has broken through to Starlight Seventh Stage. He wishes to apply for a change in his Sacred Ground Exchange Competition roster position."

Ye Lan's clear voice echoed through the void.

"Starlight Seventh Stage?"

Niki's beautiful eyes flickered with surprise as she carefully examined Xu Jingming.

The three remaining immortal deities who had not yet left all fixed their gazes on the young man; an invisible pressure caused the surrounding space to stiffen.

Xu Jingming remained neither humble nor arrogant; though his one-ninety-five-centimeter height seemed small against the deities' aura, he carried an unyielding presence of his own.

"Indeed, he has reached Starlight Seventh Stage."

Black Light nodded slightly, stars swirling in his eyes:

"Four months ago, he was still at Starlight Fourth Stage."

"This rate of cultivation is among the highest in Noah Sacred Ground's history."

"Lu Wen's fellow really got himself a fine seedling."

His tone carried a hint of envy.

Whether in talent or comprehension, Xu Jingming was unquestionably top-tier.

Unfortunately, he did not cultivate the Dark Law—otherwise, he would have fought tooth and nail to bring Xu Jingming into his own sect.

"S... Starlight Seventh Stage?"

Nearby, beside the immortal deity Kai Yi, Raymon's eyes widened.

Though he possessed Giant Clan bloodline, he had only just advanced from Starlight Second Stage to Starlight Third Stage during this period.

And during the initial rating assessment, Xu Jingming had been at the same Starlight Second Stage as him!

It had been barely over half a year.

Xu Jingming had already reached Starlight Seventh Stage!

The gap was simply enormous!

He even felt that Xu Jingming was the one with Giant Clan bloodline, while he himself was merely ordinary human bloodline.

Lu Yunji's beautiful eyes shimmered with unusual light.

She had already known of Xu Jingming's strength.

Yet seeing even the immortal deities astonished by him, she felt a faint sense of pride.

"Starlight Seventh Stage—if your teacher Lu Wen were here, he'd already be boasting."

Niki, whose fair complexion also showed a touch of surprise upon sensing Xu Jingming's level, said:

But she did not immediately agree to change his competition slot; instead, she paused and said:

"Your breakthrough speed is indeed rapid, but if your Manifestation, combat techniques, and domain have not caught up—"

"Your actual strength may not match those veteran students who have long stabilized at Starlight Seventh Stage."

Upon hearing this, Ye Lan froze, a flicker of embarrassment crossing her delicate oval face.

She only then realized she had been too excited to consider this point.

Indeed.

Xu Jingming's level rose so rapidly; he must have devoted all his time to the Divine Energy Cultivation Art.

He probably didn't invest much effort in other areas, especially the Manifestation.

For the Sacred Land Exchange Competition, one only needs to be at Starlight Sixth Stage or higher.

The Manifestation has already reached Advanced Proficiency, sufficient to manifest the True Form.

But Xu Jingming's Manifestation is likely still stuck at Beginner Proficiency—the gap is simply too vast.

Xu Jingming was about to speak in explanation when a clear, melodious voice sounded from the side:

"My lord Niki need not worry—Xu Jingming's strength is formidable. I have proof."

A blue figure flew over from the side—it was Lu Yunji.

Her impressive figure, wrapped in a blue battle robe, stood out strikingly; her crimson eyes shimmered with confidence.

"Oh? What proof?"

Niki regarded her with interest; the several Immortal Gods also felt curious.

"My lord Niki, please look."

Lu Yunji's crimson lips curled slightly as she waved her jade hand.

Hum—

A holographic image unfolded in the void.

Within the image was unmistakably Xu Jingming battling Taker and others.

Xu Jingming took a step forward, and jet-black lightning surged forth like a volcanic eruption!

The Lightning Domain and the Domain of Destruction unfolded simultaneously, clashing head-on with Taker's Gold and Earth dual domains.

"Lightning Domain, Fifteenth Layer? Domain of Destruction, Eighth Layer?"

Kai, Lu Yunji's teacher and an Immortal God, easily judged the layer count of Xu Jingming's domains.

But even more shocking was yet to come.

When Taker summoned his T8-level Jin Gang Demon Monkey Manifestation, Xu Jingming's back manifested a towering T7-level Thunder Abyss Devouring the Sun Form!

The black Manifestation writhed with countless destructive lightning serpents, its might staggering the heavens!

"True Form of the Manifestation?!"

Niki froze in shock; Hei Guang and the other Immortal Gods also wore expressions of astonishment.

The image continued playing, showing Xu Jingming fighting six at once.

The Abyss-Swallowing-Sun Manifestation opened its arms, and the Destruction Lightning Sea swept in all directions.

Taker's Jin Gang Demon Monkey Manifestation shattered piece by piece; the other five's T9-level Manifestations collapsed instantly!

"Advanced Proficiency? Your Abyss-Swallowing-Sun Manifestation has already reached Advanced Proficiency?"

Niki's sultry face was filled with shock; her full chest rose and fell slightly, "In just four months—from Beginner to Advanced Proficiency, this..."

The image ended; the void fell into dead silence.

Even for Immortal Gods with vast experience,

Xu Jingming's monstrous talent far exceeded their imagination.