Chapter 1285: Task Information! Deal with the Demon Qi!

"Huh? Already over?"

"I hadn't even gotten my fill."

"What a shame."

"......"

Even after Xu Jingming's figure vanished beyond the arena, the audience remained reluctant to leave.

"Mide, what do you think of Xue Sha?"

Steve spoke with a smile.

"He's incredibly strong—no one in the Star Torch Sacred Ground is his match."

Mide shook his head with a bitter smile.

The feeling was complex.

He knew there were more talented prodigies among all of humanity.

But he never expected one to exist right within the Star Torch Empire—stronger than them by far!

"Indeed."

Steve nodded slightly. "The Sacred Ground's high command is probably already gathering information on him."

"Can we get access to the Virtual Universe?" Mide asked, surprised.

The Virtual Universe was created by the Eternal Star Alliance and had extremely strict confidentiality protocols.

If the target didn't wish to leak information, no one else could obtain it.

"Naturally, we won't start from the Virtual Universe."

Steve shook his head. "Since this powerful figure emerged within our Star Torch Empire's territory,"

"He must have left traces before this—start from there."

"That makes sense. Once we find out, I want to see exactly how Xue Sha became this strong."

Mide's eyes gleamed.

The Eternal Star Alliance is about to host the once-every-five-thousand-years Cosmic Talent War.

Prodigies in seclusion are all emerging.

He had a hunch that after Xue Sha, even more powerful figures will appear...

Xu Jingming was naturally unaware of the audience's reactions after he left.

At this moment, he had arrived at the Noa Sacred Ground and reached Ye Lan's villa.

"Younger brother, you've come."

A clear, melodious voice came from the living room.

Xu Jingming looked up and saw Ye Lan seated elegantly before a tea table beside the floor-to-ceiling window.

Today she wore a white long dress, her purple hair cascading like a waterfall, making her skin appear as white as snow.

Seeing Xu Jingming arrive, the deep purple eyes in her delicate oval face held a faint hint of delight.

"Long time no see, Senior Sister Ye—you've become even more beautiful."

Xu Jingming smiled.

Over the past year, he had met Ye Lan several times in the Virtual Universe.

But it was still the Virtual Universe—naturally not as beautiful as reality.

"You know how to flatter."

Ye Lan's lips curved slightly as she gently pushed the teacup before her:

"Freshly brewed spirit tea—perfect temperature."

Xu Jingming sat down at the tea table and lifted the cup to sip lightly.

The tea's fragrance penetrated the heart and soul—clearly top-grade spirit tea.

Moreover, the brewing technique was highly refined, the temperature perfectly calibrated.

"Senior Sister Ye's tea art is excellent," Xu Jingming praised.

"Younger brother, you flatter me."

Ye Lan's expression was humble, yet the slight upward curve of her lips betrayed her delight.

Indeed, she had used C1-grade resources for the tea leaves.

She had even specifically studied the brewing technique—so the resulting tea was naturally extraordinary.

Of course, she would not elaborate on these details in front of Xu Jingming.

"Younger brother trained for nearly a year on Black Rock Star—your strength must have improved significantly."

Ye Lan smiled faintly and instinctively sensed with her spiritual force.

When she sensed the surging spiritual energy emanating from Xu Jingming's body,

she froze in shock, then exclaimed incredulously:

"This spiritual energy—you've broken through to Star Radiance Ninth Stage?!"

Her voice carried unmistakable astonishment.

As a prodigy of equal talent, Ye Lan knew perfectly well how difficult it was to break from Star Radiance Seventh Stage to Ninth Stage!

She herself had taken over a decade—but Xu Jingming had done it in just one year!

"Just lucky—the accumulated foundation from the Spirit Pivot Holy Spring, plus a year of hard cultivation, finally paid off."

Xu Jingming set down the teacup and smiled.

High-level cultivators could easily perceive the ranks of lower-level ones.

So he had no intention of hiding his level.

"Luck? I wish I had your luck."

Ye Lan's violet eyes shimmered with deep envy.

Fortunately, she had long been aware of Xu Jingming's monstrous talent.

After her admiration, she immediately returned to the matter at hand:

"The demon race mission is issued by the Sacred Ground."

Any mission rated as S-class danger requires at least a Star Rank cultivator to intervene."

If the intelligence is correct, there should be many demons lurking there."

Over a thousand of them, and the strongest may have already reached Star Rank."

With a light wave of her jade hand, a holographic projection instantly appeared before them.

The mission rating is indeed S-class; completing it grants 200 million credit points.

Compared to the 30 billion credit points awarded in the Sacred Ground Exchange Competition, it's pitifully small.

But for an S-class mission, such a reward is already quite decent.

She paused, then added:

"See if you're certain about going. If you are, I'll arrange it early."

"Go? Of course we're going."

Xu Jingming did not hesitate for a moment.

Hunting demons not only grants more Source Points.

It also lets him absorb demonic qi to strengthen his Purple Nightmare Demon Body—twofold benefit. He naturally wouldn't let this slip away.

"Alright, when do we leave? I need to rent a spaceship equipped with a warp engine."

Ye Lan's beautiful eyes brightened slightly.

Opportunities to be alone with Xu Jingming were rare.

Moreover, with Xu Jingming present, the side effects of her succubus bloodline wouldn't be an issue.

"Tomorrow."

Xu Jingming mused.

"Alright. Including travel time and the mission duration."

We'll likely wrap it up in seven or eight days—won't delay the Universe Genius Battle."

Ye Lan nodded slightly.

With official business concluded, the parlor fell silent.

Ye Lan sipped her tea slowly, her violet eyes glancing occasionally at Xu Jingming.

She had already handled demonic qi countless times during the Sacred Ground Exchange Competition.

Yet now, after a year without seeing him, she didn't know how to bring it up.

But Xu Jingming, of course, had already anticipated this—he smiled and spoke:

"How's your control over the demonic qi been over the past year? Still need my help?"

Upon hearing this, Ye Lan exhaled in relief and whispered:

"My bloodline's control has improved, but I might still need you to help me clear some... "

As she spoke, she immediately activated her succubus bloodline.

Shhh—

Vast waves of purple demonic qi surged forth.

Her already slender figure became even more alluring.

The waist beneath her purple gown was impossibly slender, barely a handful to grip; her hips curved full and lifted.

Her chest was profoundly voluptuous.

If one word were to describe it, it would be "lewd."

To Xu Jingming, who hadn't returned in a year, it was infinitely tempting.

After a deep breath, he suppressed the surging blood and placed his hand on Ye Lan's shoulder.

Instantly, the vast demonic qi surged into his body as if finding its source!

"Mmm~~~"

As the demonic qi was drawn away, Ye Lan involuntarily let out a soft, blissful moan.

This sent Xu Jingming's suppressed blood surging again.

Undeniably, Ye Lan's succubus form was far too alluring.