Chapter 1328: The Star Torch Sovereign Extends an Offer! Xu Jingming Declines!

After Xu Jingming and the Star Torch Sovereign left.

Noah Sovereign, Lu Wen, and others exchanged glances, their shock deepening further.

Through the previous conversation, how could they not understand?

The newly appointed Abyssal King of the Star Torch Empire recently was Xu Jingming!

"At the Starlight Stage, he mastered the Lightning Principle—and even ascended to Abyssal King?"

Niki's crimson lips parted slightly, still stunned and unable to recover.

As one's level rises, so too does one's comprehension of cosmic principles.

The difficulty of comprehending a principle at the Starlight Stage is tens of thousands of times greater than at the Star Stage!

Conversely, if one comprehends a principle at the Starlight Stage,

then upon entering the Star Stage, one's rate of principle comprehension will become utterly absurd!

This is precisely why even the Sovereigns value Xu Jingming.

"I never expected Jingming had reached this level."

Lu Wen was equally stunned, then smiled: "Regardless, he's truly about to soar beyond the heavens..."

"Indeed."

Noah Sovereign nodded slightly.

He had been considering whether to take Xu Jingming as his disciple.

Now that the Star Torch Sovereign has come, he likely no longer has the qualifications to even take him as a disciple.

"The Star Torch Sovereign's personal visit—even within the Star Torch Sacred Land—is a rarity once every million years."

"Xu Jingming's potential is even more terrifying than we imagined."

Here, Noah Sovereign turned to Lu Wen and Niki and said solemnly:

"Transmit my order: from today onward, Xu Jingming's family and hometown are to be placed on the Empire's highest protection list!"

"Understood."

Lu Wen and Niki nodded simultaneously.

In the living room of the Yunhai Community villa, the lighting was soft.

Xu Jingming sat upright on the sofa, a cup of steaming Spirit Tea placed before him on the coffee table.

Opposite him, the Star Torch Sovereign sat casually, yet still radiated an overwhelming aura of towering majesty.

The star patterns on his golden imperial robe shimmered, as if each star were a miniature replica of a real galaxy.

"Xu Jingming, your performance in the Talent War was excellent.

The Lightning Principle—even among the cosmic human race—few comprehend it at the Starlight Stage."

The Star Torch Sovereign spoke; his voice was calm, yet seemed to carry the will of the cosmos:

"I have come specifically to ask:

Would you be willing to become my student and accompany me to Star Torch Imperial Star for cultivation?"

The Star Torch Sovereign's voice carried a certain magic, causing the air in the entire living room to still.

"Become your student?"

Xu Jingming's pupils contracted slightly.

Even with his famously composed nature, his heart now quickened.

A Sovereign-level powerhouse had personally offered to take him as a disciple?

And not just any Sovereign—a ruler who had founded a high-tier civilization universe!

How many prodigies in the cosmic human race would dream of such an opportunity?

Yet now, it was within his grasp.

"Correct."

The Star Torch Sovereign nodded slightly, his voice calm yet profoundly alluring:

"The competition in the Cosmic Talent War is immense; among high-tier civilization universes, prodigies abound."

"Even if your talent is exceptional, if you cannot rank among the top one hundred, you will not receive the Eternal Star Alliance's most core cultivation resources."

"Why not follow me instead?"

"The resources of a high-tier universe can ensure you break through to the Immortal Stage within ten thousand years!"

"Ten thousand years? Immortal Stage?!" Xu Jingming's heart trembled.

Recall that Noah Sovereign, after eons of cultivation, had barely reached the peak of Immortality.

Yet the Star Torch Sovereign promised he could break through to Immortality within ten thousand years!

This was no small gesture!

Even he, with the Deep Blue System, was uncertain whether he could reach the Immortal Stage within ten thousand years.

Yet after a moment's thought, he spoke:

"Thank you for your gracious favor, Sovereign, but I would like to give you my answer after the Talent War concludes."

If becoming the top ranker in the Talent War was beyond his confidence,

he still had faith he could reach the top one hundred.

And according to the Star Torch Sovereign's words,

if he entered the top one hundred and received the Eternal Star Alliance's most core cultivation,

it would actually be superior to following him.

"Ambitious."

Upon hearing this, the Star Torch Sovereign regarded him with deep eyes, showing no displeasure—instead, he nodded slightly.

"The Talent War is indeed a rare opportunity for cultivation; if you can make further progress through it, that would be all the better."

"However......"

He paused, his tone carrying a hint of warning:

"The human territories of the cosmos are vast; true prodigies far surpass your imagination."

"If your final results fall short of expectations, the gates of the Star Torch Empire remain open to you at any time."

Xu Jingming nodded solemnly: "Thank you, Emperor!"

The Star Torch Emperor smiled faintly, waved his hand, and a golden token floated before Xu Jingming.

The token was engraved with a star pattern, faintly swirling with cosmic laws.

"This is my token; infuse it with your spiritual force, and you may contact me at any time."

"During the Talent War, I will remain in the Noah Empire."

"When the competition ends, I look forward to your reply."

"Additionally, I will provide you with data on other cosmic nations' prodigies, so you may prepare accordingly."

As his words faded, the Star Torch Emperor's figure gradually dimmed, finally dissolving into specks of starlight.

As if he had never appeared at all.

Only when that vast pressure fully vanished did the oppressive atmosphere in the villa gradually lift.

"Phew—"

Xu Jingming exhaled deeply, his tense nerves finally relaxing.

"Jingming!"

Ye Lan, Ling Shuang, Song Qiuyun, and the other women hurried out from the adjacent room, their faces still marked by shock.

"That was the Star Torch Emperor? So terrifying!"

Ling Shuang patted her full, high chest, still trembling with relief:

"In the next room, I didn't dare breathe too loudly."

"Me too!"

Yuli's sultry eyes were filled with astonishment:

"He didn't even deliberately release his pressure—yet just sitting there, I felt as if facing the cosmic origin itself!"

"This is what a Dominator-level... is like. So powerful."

Ye Lan whispered softly, her gaze toward Xu Jingming burning with intensity.

Even such a being was willing to cross countless star systems just for Xu Jingming.

This alone proves Xu Jingming's astonishing talent.

"S-Class—the Star Torch Emperor is a true apex power of the cosmos!"

The holographic projection of the green-haired, twin-tailed little girl Eva popped up, excitedly saying:

"Did you really not consider his offer?

Break through to Immortality within ten thousand years—no even the Abyss Arena can offer such a condition!"

"Not yet. Wait until the Talent War ends."

Xu Jingming shook his head, his gaze resolute:

"If I truly make it into the top one hundred of the entire cosmos—even the top ten—then the choice will be mine."

"If I cannot......"

He looked at the golden token in his hand and whispered: "The Star Torch Emperor's offer is indeed the best choice."

True, the Deep Blue System gave him a way to breakthrough without relying on external resources.

But if better cultivation conditions exist, he would naturally not refuse them.

Now it seems, gaining core cultivation from the Immortality Star Alliance is the optimal choice.