Chapter 1253

Xu Jingming and Elina's cross-rank challenge match was scheduled for the next day.

The audience was eager, but the Lingshu Sacred Ground bore immense pressure.

Apollo had already been defeated; if Xu Jingming lost next, it would be only natural.

But if Elina lost, the Lingshu Sacred Ground would suffer unbearable disgrace.

Fortunately, given Xu Jingming's current displayed strength, the probability of Elina losing was extremely low.

At least, that's what the people of the Lingshu Sacred Ground believed.

But for Xu Jingming, who held nearly a hundred thousand source points:

Surpassing Elina required only a flick of his finger.

Still, he didn't rush to allocate points; after agreeing to meet in the afternoon,

he went as usual to the Lingshu Sacred Ground's beast trial zone.

5:34 p. m.

The sunset's afterglow bathed the architecture of the sixth planet of the Lingshu Empire, dyeing the entire city gold and crimson.

Xu Jingming emerged from the beast trial zone, his face weary.

Eight continuous hours of intense combat left even him exhausted.

Fortunately, it was all worth it.

【Source Points】: 316,000

All options on the system panel—including level—could now be allocated points to!

'Tomorrow against Elina, after the gathering, I can start allocating points.'

Xu Jingming thought silently.

Aside from level, which still couldn't be touched, his Phantasm and Domain could both be raised further.

But that would wait until tonight.

For now, the gathering was more urgent.

Balance tension and relaxation to endure long.

Lately, he had devoted nearly all his spare time to the beast trial zone—he truly needed to relax.

Shhh—

Lightning crackled around him as Xu Jingming shot through the sky like a black bolt toward the Aurora Pavilion.

But as soon as he moved, he received a communication request from Lu Yunji.

He tapped to accept, and Lu Yunji's bright face appeared in the holographic projection, smiling:

'Xu junior, where are you? We're just missing you and Sister Lan.'

In the holographic background, Raymon, Yuli, and other Noah Sacred Ground competitors were all present.

'I'll be there in a few minutes, but has Sister Ye not arrived yet?' Xu Jingming asked, puzzled.

'Yeah, Sister Lan said she'd be here soon.'

'But we've waited over ten minutes and still haven't seen her—I'll try contacting her again.'

Lu Yunji also looked confused.

'I'll contact her—you guys go ahead and start.'

After ending the call, Xu Jingming instructed Eva to dial Ye Lan's communicator.

'Duuu… duuuu…'

The communicator rang for a long time with no answer.

Xu Jingming frowned slightly; Ye Lan was always punctual—this was rare.

'The villa district isn't far from here—I'll go find her myself.'

Shhh—

He reversed direction and flew toward the villa district.

Lightning sliced through the sky as he landed swiftly in Ye Lan's garden.

The entire villa was silent, curtains drawn tight, radiating an odd aura.

'Something seems off,' Xu Jingming murmured, frowning.

But since the Lingshu Sacred Ground had inscribed special secret runes around the villa,

he couldn't sense the interior with his spiritual force.

'Forget it—I'll just knock first.'

As Xu Jingming reached the villa's front door, a peculiar aura seeped out from within.

'This is… demonic energy?!'

The demonic energy was extremely faint, but thanks to his Zi Yan Demon Body, Xu Jingming instantly sensed it.

'Could someone be trying to assassinate Sister Ye?'

Xu Jingming's expression changed; lightning surged violently around him as he smashed through the door without hesitation.

'Sister Ye, are you—'

His voice cut off abruptly.

The scene before him froze him in place.

In the center of the living room, Ye Lan stood with her back to him.

But she was no longer her usual cold, noble self.

Her ankle-length purple hair cascaded like a waterfall, the tips glowing with eerie violet light.

Semi-transparent membranes unfurled from her back, and a slender tail with a heart-shaped tip swayed gently.

Most astonishing was her skin, which had once been pale white but now glowed with a faint pink flush.

Under the dim light, it emitted a seductive sheen.

Hearing the noise, Ye Lan whirled around, her violet eyes filled with shock and panic.

When she saw that the intruder was Xu Jingming, her exquisite face instantly lost all color.

"Xu... Xu Jingming?"

Her voice trembled, brimming with unprecedented panic.

Only then did Xu Jingming notice what Ye Lan was wearing—or rather, what she wasn't.

A thin, gossamer purple veil barely covered her vital parts, making her graceful curves even more tantalizingly visible.

Her ample chest rose and fell with her rapid breaths; her slender waist contrasted sharply with her exaggerated hips, creating a breath-stealing silhouette.

Xu Jingming had once thought such a figure existed only in certain adult-only manga.

He never imagined he'd see one in real life.

Especially that one spot—so full, it looked soft enough to sink into.

The two fell into a deathly silence.

But the next instant, Xu Jingming snapped back to awareness.

Damn!

So Ye Lan wasn't human—she was a demon race hiding among humans!

And a succubus at that!

"How did the Noah Sanctuary allow a succubus to slip in?"

A thought flashed through his mind, but battle-hardened Xu Jingming wouldn't be swayed by mere beauty.

Shhh—

A flash of Lei Guang, and Xu Jingming blasted out of the villa.

His speed was so swift that even Ye Lan inside the villa was stunned.

"S-rank. Ye Lan doesn't seem to be of the demon race—more like a human with demon blood."

Just as Xu Jingming pulled out his communicator to report an alien presence infiltrating the Nikki Sanctuary,

Eva's holographic projection appeared, speaking thoughtfully.

"Oh?" Xu Jingming raised an eyebrow.

Based on the Purple Nightmare Demon Body's sensation, the demonic aura emanating from Ye Lan was indeed impure.

"Of course—if she were a pure demon race,

Teacher Nikki, as her mentor, should have easily noticed during her daily cultivation."

Xu Jingming suddenly understood.

Besides, Ye Lan's expression just now, her state—something seemed off.

She appeared to be suffering from demonic aura torment; a true demon wouldn't react this way.

"Let me observe further."

A flash of Lei Guang, and Xu Jingming re-entered the villa.

But as soon as he stepped in, he met Ye Lan's gaze—laden with grievance:

"Xu junior, you run pretty fast."

"Better safe than sorry," Xu Jingming coughed lightly.

He was about to speak further when Ye Lan suddenly let out a pained moan.

The demonic aura around her grew denser; her delicate brows knitted tightly as if enduring immense agony.

"Senior, should I notify Teacher Nikki?" Xu Jingming ventured.

Since acquiring the Purple Nightmare Demon Body, he had studied much material on special bloodlines.

He hadn't realized it earlier, but now it was clear—this was the awakening of her bloodline!

What he hadn't expected was that Ye Lan possessed succubus blood.