Chapter 1423: Farewell, Frost Crown Sovereign! Direct Disciple!

When the instrument lit up with light.

The air in the room seemed to freeze, leaving only Ye Li's slightly hurried breathing.

This immortal peak deity, who rarely showed emotion.

Now, due to excitement, her magnificent chest rose and fell violently.

On her cold, elegant face, a rare mixture of shock, disbelief, and a hint of daze appeared.

"Senior sister, are you alright?"

Seeing Ye Li's slightly uncomposed state, Xu Jingming released his grip on the metal sphere and asked with concern.

Only then did Ye Li seem to be awakened from her shock.

She took a deep breath, and her violently rising chest gradually calmed.

But the ripples in her eyes had not fully subsided.

She shook her head slightly, her voice still clear, yet now carrying a faint, almost imperceptible tremor:

"I'm fine, just... somewhat shocked."

More than just somewhat shocked!

In just over half a year, she had completed the first level of the Source Core Secret Scripture!

This could no longer be described merely as "exceptional talent."

Remember, she herself had spent over four hundred years!

The gap between them was no longer measurable by "talent"—it had utterly shattered her understanding.

She looked at Xu Jingming with complex eyes.

On his sharply defined, stoic face was calmness and composure.

As if the shock he had just caused was a trivial matter.

Ye Li suddenly recalled her harsh questioning and near-certainty of doubt just moments ago.

That had been far too hasty...

Thinking of this, she unconsciously pressed her red lips together and spoke with slight apology:

"I'm sorry—I misunderstood you just now. I thought you made up this lie just to see me."

Remember, she was an immortal peak deity, a figure revered by countless students of the Star Dome Academy.

For her to sincerely apologize to a mere Star Rank Two was proof of her sincerity.

"Senior sister, you're too kind."

Xu Jingming quickly waved his hand.

Put yourself in my place.

If someone told him a Star Rank had mastered in half a year a secret scripture requiring centuries for an immortal deity to even begin,

he too would have thought it absurd.

"That's good."

Ye Li exhaled softly, a faint smile appearing on her cold, elegant face:

"Your talent far exceeds expectations—even the Master probably didn't anticipate you'd succeed so quickly.

Now that you've entered the first level, according to the Master's agreement, you're qualified to become her formal disciple.

I'll take you to meet her now."

As she finished speaking, Ye Li lightly tapped the void with her jade finger.

An invisible mental wave carried specific information.

Instantly piercing through space, it traveled toward the black crystal pavilion atop Tianfeng Peak.

This was the secret method to directly contact the Frost Crown Sovereign.

Within mere breaths, a response, as cold as an icy spring yet carrying boundless will, echoed in her mind:

'Bring him here.'

"The Master agrees. Let's go."

Ye Li's eyes glinted slightly as she spoke to Xu Jingming.

Without further delay, she extended her white, jade-like right hand and lightly rested it on Xu Jingming's shoulder.

Xu Jingming felt the spatial laws around him ripple slightly; the scenery before him instantly blurred and twisted.

The next instant, their figures faded and vanished from the parlor.

…

At the peak of Tianfeng Peak, clouds and mist swirled.

The ancient, simple pavilion built of deep black crystal stood silently.

Its surface runes glowed with mysterious luster under eternal starlight.

Ye Li and Xu Jingming appeared directly before the pavilion's entrance, without walking the mountain path.

Clearly, for Xu Jingming—who had already passed the preliminary trial—she skipped the formalities.

"Follow me."

Ye Li stepped forward, her long legs carrying her black combat boots up the steps.

Xu Jingming stilled his mind and followed closely behind.

The instant they crossed the threshold, the familiar shift of scenery occurred again.

The pavilion, which appeared small from outside, revealed within an endless starry realm.

Stars revolved, star maps stretched vast, starlight paved the ground beneath their feet, extending into the depths of the cosmos.

Following the path of starlight, they arrived once more before the floating ice crystal Wang Zuo.

Only then was it seen that the Frost Crown Sovereign sat upon the Wang Zuo, clad in an ice-blue battle robe that shimmered with the luster of a galaxy.

Her beauty was unlike anything of this mortal realm—her skin whiter than snow, her neck long and elegant, her collarbones exquisitely defined.

Most awe-inspiring were her silver-blue eyes.

They seemed to contain the ultimate truth of cosmic creation and destruction; where her gaze fell, all things appeared transparent.

"Teacher, we have arrived," Ye Li bowed and called out.

"Teacher."

Xu Jingming followed immediately with a bow.

His heart could not help but stir once more.

Facing one of the known highest combat powers.

Even though this was their second meeting, the overwhelming sense of pressure and reverence, rooted in the disparity of life tiers and the essence of power, remained intense.

Soon after, Xu Jingming felt the Frost Crown Sovereign's gaze turn toward him.

This time, the scrutiny in her gaze was deeper than during their first meeting.

As if piercing through his flesh and bones to directly peer into the very core of his life essence.

After several breaths, the Frost Crown Sovereign's cold voice echoed through the starry space, carrying a faint hint of surprise:

"The fluctuation of the Life Source Core has indeed changed.

The gene layer has improved by approximately fifty percent; the soul's essence has also undergone a corresponding elevation.

This is indeed the hallmark of completing the first level of the Source Core Secret Scripture."

Her voice remained as calm as still water.

But for those familiar with her, such as Ye Li,

it was possible to detect beneath that calm a barely perceptible note of surprise and approval.

"Xu Jingming," the Frost Crown Sovereign called softly.

"Disciple is here," Xu Jingming replied quickly.

"To complete the cultivation of the Source Core Secret Scripture within half a year—

your performance far exceeds expectations. From today, you are my personal disciple."

The Frost Crown Sovereign spoke slowly, her voice clear and melodious.

Boom!

Though he had anticipated it, when those words truly came from the Frost Crown Sovereign's lips,

Xu Jingming felt a slight shock in his mind, an indescribable surge of joy and excitement rising in his heart.

Personal disciple!

This meant he had truly entered the highest tier of inheritance within the Star Dome Academy.

He now possessed the direct guidance and protection of this supreme sovereign of humanity!

"Disciple Xu Jingming, pays homage to Teacher!"

He suppressed his inner excitement and performed a solemn, deep bow.

This time, it was a true master-disciple initiation rite.

The Frost Crown Sovereign gave a slight nod, formally acknowledging this master-disciple bond.

Her gaze turned to Ye Li, standing beside her:

"Ye Li, you have performed well in representing me to teach and supervise."

"It is my duty as a disciple," Ye Li replied respectfully, a faint smile appearing on her cold, beautiful face—pleased for Xu Jingming.

"Over countless eons, I have taken countless recorded disciples.

Yet very few have ever become personal disciples.

Xu Jingming, you are the fourth—and the youngest, the most gifted of them all."

The Frost Crown Sovereign's gaze returned to Xu Jingming:

"Your senior sister Ye Li is my second disciple; your eldest senior brother is already the Imperishable Sovereign, stationed in a cosmic nation.

Your third senior sister is at the peak of the cosmos, now roaming the Outer Battlefield, seeking the key to break through to the Eternal Stage.

These two senior siblings—I will introduce you to them when the opportunity arises."

"Disciple understands," Xu Jingming nodded.

Yet inwardly, he was stunned.

After all, the Frost Crown Sovereign was a Supreme Sovereign!

Her lifespan, conservatively estimated, spanned millions of years.

And yet, including himself, she had only four personal disciples.

The Source Core Secret Scripture truly was not something any ordinary person could master.

Including myself, there are only four direct disciples.

The Source Core Secret Scripture truly is not something just anyone can learn.