Chapter 1318

In the outer space of the third planet of the Ling Shu Empire, at the starfall where Di Er perished.

Suddenly, a phantom portal, resembling a black hole, snapped open.

Whoosh—

Space rippled like water, and three figures stepped slowly out of the void.

The leader wore a silver-white long robe embroidered with countless star trajectories.

As he moved, those stars seemed to truly revolve and flow.

His face was shrouded in a hazy glow of starlight, revealing only a pair of eyes utterly devoid of emotion.

The Prophet's Sanctum!

A power towering above countless races of the universe, standing entirely apart.

"Arrived. Begin the investigation."

The leader's voice was cold, devoid of any warmth, like ancient ice unchanging in the depths of the universe.

Behind him, two attendants in identical attire stood in silent stillness.

Each held a strange instrument in their hands.

On the left was a hollow metallic sphere, within which nine crystals of different colors floated.

The crystals rotated slowly like nebulae, appearing dazzlingly beautiful.

On the right was a circular mirror whose edge was inlaid with twelve gemstones shaped like eyes.

"Temporal rewind, activate."

At the envoy's cold command.

The instruments in their hands began to glow.

The nine colored crystals spun rapidly within the metal sphere, and the twelve gemstone eyes on the mirror simultaneously opened.

A force beyond reason spread through this space!

The next instant.

The surrounding space grew hazy; the flow of time seemed to reverse!

Scenes replayed in the void.

All spacecraft that had passed through this location over the past year were rewound.

Finally, the image froze at the moment of Di Er's death.

But the image was extremely blurred, showing only flickering black lightning and a spear piercing through Di Er.

"Rewind complete. One strike, fatal.

The perpetrator launched from the Ling Shu Sacred Land, wielded a spear, and mastered Lightning and Destruction domains."

The leader's deep voice echoed.

The instruments in the hands of the two envoys gradually lost their glow, and the rewound images slowly faded.

"Let's go. We have our conclusion."

Whoosh—

Space rippled again, and the three figures stepped into it, vanishing soon after.

Meanwhile, in the Noah Empire, far away, Ethan.

Also received the message simultaneously, along with an extremely blurred facial image.

Though the facial image was extremely blurred,

based on Ethan's vast experience,

this was not a demon race, but far more likely human!

"A human?!"

Ethan's pupils sharply contracted.

Flames erupted around him, warping the entire starry sky with his furious aura!

"Someone actually dared kill my grandson!"

He spun around, stomped one step and shattered the void, instantly appearing before the palace of Lance the Everliving.

"Lance!"

Ethan burned with raging fury, his voice booming like thunder:

"The Prophet's Sanctum's findings are in! The killer of Di Er is a human.

He wields Lightning and Destruction domains, and specializes in the spear!"

Hm?

Lance's expression froze.

Lightning, Destruction, spear...

This description... why does it sound so familiar?

Shhh—

Ethan waved his hand, and a blurred facial projection appeared before Lance.

The facial contours seemed familiar.

This looks... could it be Xu Jingming?

Lance's expression involuntarily flickered.

Logically, as an Everliving God, he had no reason to pay attention to a Sacred Land prodigy.

But recently, due to Xu Jingming's meteoric rise in rankings,

within the imperial palace, he and other Everliving Gods had reviewed no small amount of Xu Jingming's records.

The more he looked, the more his heart raced with shock!

A 24-year-old Starlight Ninth Stage—his talent was truly monstrous, leaving an extremely deep impression on him.

Therefore, the instant he saw the blurred facial projection,

he immediately recognized that the silhouette resembled Xu Jingming.

"Huh?!"

Ethan's gaze sharpened instantly, locking onto Lance, "Do you know who it is?"

"It might not be him—just a suspicion."

Lance shook his head, "The Noah Empire is vast, and there are many powerful masters who control lightning. I need time to investigate..."

"Lance! Don't hide anything from me!" Ethan roared in fury.

Lance fell silent for a moment, then spoke:

"The silhouette resembles one of our Sacred Ground's students.

But he's only at Starlight Stage—he shouldn't have the power to kill Di'er."

"Though rare, there are artifacts that allow Starlight Stage cultivators to fight beyond their level!

And you know well—Di'er, though a Star Stage cultivator, was weak in combat."

Ethan's eyes locked onto Lance with deadly intensity: "Tell me his name! Otherwise, I'll go to your Noah Sacred Ground myself and investigate!"

At this, Lance frowned.

If anyone else had killed Di'er, they would have paid a heavy price.

But Xu Jingming was different.

He is currently among the top five in Zone 65 of the Talent Competition!

Remember,

this is the highest ranking the Noah Empire has ever achieved in its endless history!

He may even represent the Noah Empire and the Torch Empire

in the wars among the higher civilizations of the cosmic human race!

Compared to this, the glory of the Noah imperial family means nothing.

But if I don't tell Ethan, he'll find out the truth himself soon enough.

'This matter requires reporting to the Emperor.'

Lance activated his will, sending a thread of spiritual energy into the Virtual Universe.

Virtual Universe, Zone 65.

Xu Jingming was still unaware his killing of Di'er had been exposed.

At this moment, he stood above the city, his black battle suit snapping in the wind, his gaze cold as he stared into the distance.

Boom—!!

From the southwest, a violent aura erupted suddenly!

Fiery waves and piercing golden light intertwined,

forming a colossal energy storm that stained half the sky crimson-gold.

"Ha! Xu Jingming, ranked fifth! I never expected my luck to bring me here to meet you!"

A deep, thunderous voice echoed across heaven and earth.

Xu Jingming narrowed his eyes and saw a massive, mountain-like figure stride through the air.

He was a giant nearly three meters tall.

His muscles bulged like cast metal, his skin shimmering with a dark golden luster.

With every step he took, the air trembled, and visible shockwaves erupted beneath his feet.

Lei Kuang! Zone's fourth-ranked!

Around him glowed a field of crimson and golden radiance.

He wore a dark red battle armor.

His exposed arms were wrapped in crimson-gold patterns, like molten lava flowing over metal.

"Fire and Metal dual domains perfected."

Xu Jingming raised an eyebrow slightly, "No wonder he reached fourth place."

"Fourth versus fifth!"

"So thrilling! To witness a battle of this caliber—even if I die watching, it's worth it!"

"Lei Kuang is a prodigy of the Torch Imperial Star—Xu Jingming is done for."

"..."

Around the city ruins,

as two top-five-level warriors prepared to clash,

the fleeing competitors all halted, their eyes burning with fanaticism as they gazed upward.

Some even found nearby cover and settled in, ready to observe every moment of this peak battle!

This was a clash between the top prodigies of Zone 65!

Even at the risk of being killed by the residual waves, they would not miss it!