Chapter 1250: Cross-Rank Challenge! Your Manifestation Is Still Just Beginner Level, Isn

After defeating Phil, Xu Jingming was like a drawn sword.

In the following matches, he shone brilliantly, winning all with overwhelming force.

He won the championship of Starlight Seventh Rank!

In addition, Raymond also swept through every match.

On the 13th day, he faced a Starlight Third Rank from the Lingshu Sacred Ground.

And ultimately defeated him, claiming the championship of Starlight Third Rank.

Notably, at Starlight Second Rank,

Ye Lan also defeated the Lingshu Sacred Ground's opponent and won the championship of Starlight Second Rank.

Raymond possesses an extremely rare Giant Clan bloodline; defeating the Lingshu Sacred Ground is only natural.

But as for Ye Lan, Xu Jingming found it incomprehensible.

By all outward measures of strength, he should never have been able to defeat the Lingshu Sacred Ground.

Yet Ye Lan did it.

But whether or not he understood it, Ye Lan defeating Lingshu Sacred Ground's contestants was a fact.

Thus, the Lingshu Sacred Ground, which had gone undefeated for tens of thousands of years,

This time suffered three losses—all coming from the Noah Sacred Ground!

"The heavens have changed! The Lingshu Sacred Ground lost three matches!"

"Noah Sacred Ground is rising powerfully! Top prodigies in both Starlight and Starlight Ranks!"

"Xu Jingming, Raymond, Ye Lan—how far will they ultimately go?"

"......"

The entire Lingshu Empire was shaken; the buzz about this exchange competition skyrocketed across the Virtual Universe.

In the Noah Sacred Ground, the names of Xu Jingming, Raymond, and Ye Lan were repeatedly mentioned.

Among them, Xu Jingming, who had already been confirmed to challenge Apollo of the Lingshu Sacred Ground's Starlight Eighth Rank, became the epicenter of attention.

Countless media outlets competed to report on this genius from a primitive civilization universe.

Some hoped he would continue creating miracles; others waited to see him soundly humiliated by Apollo.

Xu Jingming, busy hunting beasts in the Trial Zone, naturally had no interest in these interviews.

The Lingshu Sacred Ground naturally knew how to create a sensation.

They scheduled Xu Jingming's match against Apollo as the first match of the Cross-Rank Challenge.

Thus, the media and audience were left eagerly anticipating the match.

On the 16th day of the Sacred Ground Exchange Competition, the same-rank rankings had concluded; this was the first day of the Cross-Rank Challenge.

That morning, the sky over the sixth planet of the Lingshu Empire was crystal clear.

A circular arena over 1,000 kilometers in diameter floated in space, its surrounding tens of millions of spectator seats fully occupied.

As soon as the Virtual Universe live stream opened, hundreds of trillions of viewers flooded in.

"Xu Jingming! Xu Jingming!"

"Lord Apollo will win!"

"Today we must show Noah Sacred Ground what for!"

"......"

In the spectator stands,

Many held glowing light signs flashing the names of Apollo and Xu Jingming.

Though supporters of Apollo still outnumbered the rest, Xu Jingming's fanbase was rapidly growing.

They wore black T-shirts emblazoned with lightning symbols, faces flushed, screaming their chants hoarsely.

Notably, the vast majority were young women.

Clearly, Xu Jingming's appearance had won audience approval.

In the VIP lounge at the very top of the arena, the Immortal Gods had taken their seats.

Nikki sat gracefully in a floating chair, clad in a red long dress.

Her long, slender legs crossed, her porcelain skin glimmering like pearls under the lights.

Her crimson lips pressed slightly together, her beautiful eyes gleaming with dangerous light.

Seeing Lu Yunji treated that way, as the team's mentor, she naturally felt displeased.

But the Lingshu Sacred Ground was their home ground; even if she was furious, she could only resolve it through the exchange competition.

Fortunately, she knew Xu Jingming's true strength—he would have no trouble with Apollo.

To prevent Xu Jingming from holding back, she planned to remind him again shortly.

In the contestant area beneath the stands, all members of the Noah Sacred Ground were present.

Lu Yunji had fully recovered; today she had specially changed into a brand-new battle suit.

Her long hair tied high, giving her a striking, martial appearance.

Yet when her gaze fell upon Xu Jingming, her beautiful eyes still carried a trace of concern.

"Xu Jingming, however Apollo treated Lu Yunji,

just hit back however you want—I'll bear the pressure from the Lingshu Sacred Ground."

Xu Jingming, meditating with closed eyes, suddenly heard Nikki's cool, melodious voice in his mind.

"Teacher, rest assured—I won't hold back."

Xu Jingming replied inwardly.

He had already prepared to go all out.

But with Nikki's promise, he felt more confident.

【Apollo......】

Xu Jingming turned his gaze toward the Sacred Lingshu contestants' area.

The Sacred Lingshu team was also fully present; Apollo stood beside Elenora.

As if sensing Xu Jingming's gaze, Apollo looked back.

He made a mocking throat-slitting gesture, utterly arrogant.

But Xu Jingming showed not the slightest emotional reaction—he knew the match was about to begin.

Time passed swiftly, until it reached exactly 9:00 a. m.

The host's voice echoed throughout the arena:

"Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the second stage of the Sacred Arena Exchange Tournament—the Ascension Challenge!"

The music surged with intensity, and spotlights struck the central stage.

The host, clad in a magnificent battle robe, projected his voice through the amplification system across the entire arena:

"I'm sure everyone is already familiar with the contestants of the first match.

Without further delay, let us first welcome the Starlight Eighth-Stage powerhouse from the Sacred Lingshu—Apollo!"

Apollo soared into the arena amid roaring cheers.

Radiant golden light radiated from his body, dazzling as the sun.

"Apollo, Starlight Eighth-Stage Champion!

Fire Domain, seventeenth layer; Light Domain, seventeenth layer.

His T7 Phase, the 'Solar Golden Crow Phase,' has reached peak mastery! Renowned as the 'Son of the Sun!'"

Amid the host's announcement, thunderous cheers erupted; Apollo's fans wildly waved their light signs.

"And his opponent is the Starlight Seventh-Stage Champion from the Noah Sacred Arena—Xu Jingming!

He wields dual Domains of Lightning and Destruction, pursuing an extreme path of brute-force offense! Known as the 'Lei Di!'"

His flawless record naturally earned him this title.

And coincidentally, it was identical to the one he bore on Blue Star.

"Lei Di!"

"Xu Jingming!"

"Lei Di!"

"......"

Amid the deafening cheers and shouts, Xu Jingming likewise flew into the arena.

"Both contestants, prepare! The match begins now!"

Under the gaze of countless spectators, the host gave the order—the match officially began!

"Xu Jingming, I'll make you regret stepping onto this arena!"

Apollo, long impatient, instantly unleashed his full power.

Boom—!!

Blinding golden light surged skyward; a golden crow phase with a wingspan exceeding a kilometer materialized abruptly.

The searing heat warped the air around the arena.

"Only with advanced mastery can you manifest a true Phase body! Xu Jingming, your Phase is probably still at beginner mastery, isn't it?"

Beneath the colossal golden crow phase, Apollo did not strike immediately; instead, he sneered.

"Oh? Is that so?"

Xu Jingming raised his sword-like brows; black lightning erupted from his body like a volcanic eruption!

"Boom—!!!"

The entire arena was instantly swallowed by endless thunderstorms; a terrifying pressure descended abruptly.

Tens of millions in the stands choked as if strangled by ancient monstrous beasts.

"This commotion—could it be...?"

Inside the VIP lounge, all the Immortal Gods except Nikki wore expressions of astonishment.

Crack!

The void seemed torn apart by an invisible hand.

Before the stunned gaze of tens of millions of spectators, a towering black shadow stepped forth from the rift in space!

It stood over a kilometer tall, its entire form forged from liquid lightning, every inch of its body flowing with destruction-charged thunder.

Where its head should be, there were no features—only two vertical pupils of violet lightning, tearing through the night sky as it gazed down upon all beings like ants.

When it appeared, the surrounding space trembled as if in fear...