Chapter 1379

Yongzhou Archipelago, Island F-001.

There is no night here; every day is daylight.

The star's radiance falls upon the island's lake, shimmering across its surface.

Xu Jingming sat cross-legged in the center of the courtyard, dark golden lightning swirling around him as he meditated on the mysteries of the Source Core Secret Scripture.

Suddenly—

"Hum!"

A strange spatial-temporal ripple spread outward, like a stone cast into water, sending out concentric waves.

Xu Jingming snapped open his eyes, lightning flashing in his pupils as he stared warily ahead.

Ripples formed in the air, and a figure slowly materialized.

He was a tall young man, clad in a white robe embroidered with golden patterns, his features refined and handsome.

He merely stood there.

The surrounding space-time seemed warped by an invisible force, even light bending unnaturally.

'Eternal Deity?'

Xu Jingming's heart tightened; he rose instantly, his expression Solemn.

"Don't be tense."

The young man smiled faintly. "I am Colte, direct disciple of the Master of Time."

"Master Colte?"

Xu Jingming frowned slightly, puzzled.

The Master of Time is one of the Five Supreme Masters of Star穹 Academy.

But I've never contacted him—why has he suddenly come here?

As if sensing his confusion, Colte spoke bluntly:

"Xu Jingming, I come on my teacher's orders to invite you to join the Time Line."

"Join the Time Line?"

Xu Jingming's eyes widened, then he shook his head. "Apologies, but I've already taken the Frost Crown Master as my teacher."

"A mere nominal disciple."

Colte shook his head, smiling. "If you join the Time Line, my teacher will accept you as his direct disciple."

"He will grant you one million credits and provide all future cultivation resources, enabling you to reach the Eternal Stage in the shortest possible time."

For a Star Radiance peak cultivator, this promise was undeniably irresistible.

Yet, contrary to Colte's expectations,

Xu Jingming showed no reaction, only shaking his head:

"Thank you for the Master of Time's favor, but I have no intention of switching to the Time Line."

With the Deep Blue System, his desire for external resources was minimal.

For him, what mattered most were the secret scriptures!

All kinds of secret scriptures!

With secret scriptures and Source Points, his strength could continuously rise.

Without secret scriptures, even the System and Source Points were useless.

He did not believe this so-called Master of Time could offer a scripture as extraordinary as the Source Core Secret Scripture.

"Oh?"

Colte narrowed his eyes, studying Xu Jingming. "Interesting—you're still unmoved by this?"

"What if I told you that after you reach the Eternal Stage,

even if you perish, my teacher can reverse time and pull you back from the river of time?"

Reverse time?

Xu Jingming's spirit trembled.

The Time Law is one of the universe's most mysterious laws.

It grants little combat advantage, so he had never studied it deeply.

Yet he never imagined the Master of Time, having perfected the Time Law, had grown so powerful as to reverse time itself!

"Well?"

Colte smiled with quiet confidence. "Such a condition—the Frost Crown Master cannot offer you."

Xu Jingming fell silent.

Colte's smile grew even brighter.

Reverse time! Resurrect after death!

He believed no one could refuse such a condition.

Yet the next moment, Xu Jingming's low voice rang out:

"Reversing time to resurrect you is indeed tempting—but I decline."

"What?"

Colte's smile froze. "You're certain?"

"Certain." Xu Jingming nodded calmly.

The reason was simple: he was not the type to break his word.

Having already taken the Frost Crown Master as his teacher, he would not change.

Moreover, among all the conditions offered by the Master of Time.

What interested him most—the reversal of time to revive the dead—could only be attempted once he reached the Eternal Life realm.

The Eternal Life realm was still far beyond his current state.

Yet the Source Core Secret Scripture, if successfully cultivated, would immediately enhance his strength.

Moreover, he did not believe such a time-reversal revival technique came without cost.

Otherwise, the Eternal Divine Beings of the Cosmic Human Race would not have perished.

"Foolish!"

Seeing Xu Jingming persist, Korte could not help but sneer:

"Do you truly believe the Frost Crown Dominator values you?

Five eons ago, I too became a disciple of the Frost Crown Dominator.

But what was the result? I wasted five hundred years!

I didn't even know where those years had been squandered!

I don't know what demands she gave you, but I tell you—you will never fulfill them!

Give up. The Time Dominator is your truest path."

Korte had once been a disciple of the Frost Crown Dominator?

This was something Xu Jingming had never anticipated.

Yet he quickly recovered and spoke:

"What my lord Korte could not accomplish does not mean I cannot."

His expression was deeply respectful, yet his body stood rigidly straight, like an unyielding, upright spear!

"Good, good, good! You, a mere Starlight Realm cultivator, dare speak to me this way?

Do you know what manner of being you are confronting?"

Korte laughed in fury, and the terrifying aura of an Eternal Divine Being erupted violently!

Boom—!

The entire island trembled; the lake churned, and the flowers and grass in the courtyard instantly turned to ash!

Xu Jingming felt an overwhelming pressure descend, as if the entire universe were crushing down upon him!

Yet his spine remained straight, his gaze sharp as a blade—he did not retreat.

Just at this critical moment—

"Korte, you have overstepped."

A cold, clear voice suddenly sounded.

The next instant, space shattered like glass, and a tall, slender black silhouette stepped forth.

Ye Li!

She wore a black battle robe, her long sword strapped to her back, her frosty beauty covered in ice.

"Ye Li?!"

Korte's expression changed instantly, his aura retracting at once.

Ye Li's gaze was icy as she swept him with a single look: "Go."

A single word, yet it carried boundless chill.

Korte's face darkened, then brightened, then darkened again; finally, he let out a cold snort:

"Xu Jingming, I hope you won't regret this five hundred years from now!"

With those words, his figure dissolved like a bubble into the air.

The courtyard fell silent once more.

Xu Jingming exhaled deeply and looked at Ye Li, bowing respectfully: "Thank you, Senior Sister."

"Mm."

Ye Li nodded slightly, glanced at him, then said: "You were right to refuse him."

"Huh?" Xu Jingming froze.

"Reversing time is not without cost."

Ye Li's voice was calm, clear, and melodious: "Each revival consumes vast amounts of the Dominator's primordial energy.

In severe cases, it may cause grave injury and plunge them into slumber.

Generally, the Supreme Dominators who master the Time Dao do not use this ability."

"So it is." Xu Jingming understood inwardly.

"The Source Core Secret Scripture is difficult, but if you succeed, its benefits far surpass the Time Dominator's promise," Ye Li continued.

"I understand." Xu Jingming nodded solemnly.

"Enough. Go to the training ground.

Show me your full strength—I will chart your next cultivation path based on your current level."

Ye Li turned her beautiful eyes toward him.