Chapter 1439: To Deal With You, There's No Need for the Arena!

Xu Jingming's steps paused, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly, and he turned toward the sound.

He saw five or six people walking out of the door of a high-end coffee shop on the diagonal side.

The one at the head was none other than Chi Huang.

His fiery-red short hair and crimson-gold heterochromatic eyes were extremely eye-catching in the crowd.

A roguish, cynical smirk hung on his face.

Yet the one who spoke was not Chi Huang himself.

It was a youth clustered at his side, standing slightly forward.

This youth was over two meters tall, with a burly, powerful build.

He wore a black sleeveless combat vest that accentuated his muscles, and his exposed arms bore intricate dark-red tattoos.

His aura was fierce, clearly reaching the Sixth Order of the Stars.

Moreover, his origin energy was condensed and solid, and the faint ripples of law emanating from him showed his comprehension of the Laws of Flame was quite formidable.

His features were rough and wild, and his eyes carried undisguised mockery and provocation.

He was squinting sidelong at Xu Jingming—clearly that snide remark had just come from his mouth.

"What?"

The burly youth saw Xu Jingming looking over.

Far from restraining himself, he stepped forward instead.

He raised his voice further, the derision in his tone growing even more obvious.

"Relying on my lord Yeli being your senior sister, you pulled strings on the team roster.

You don't have to honestly form a team with the rest of us.

Now the whole world knows about it, and you still have the nerve to stroll around openly with a female companion?

Your skin really is thicker than most!"

His words were like a stone thrown into a still lake.

In an instant they stirred up even larger ripples among the relatively dense crowd at the entrance.

The students who had only been whispering among themselves now had their gazes snap over in unison.

Curious, scrutinizing, amused, and even schadenfreude-laden looks swept back and forth between Xu Jingming and the provocative youth.

The matter of Xu Jingming being specially approved to skip team formation had already been a hot topic of discussion lately, and countless people were dissatisfied.

Being publicly exposed in such an unkind manner naturally drew even more attention.

"It's someone from Senior Chi Huang's side!"

"That's 'Blazing Flame' Barton, right? A tough character who can rank in the top thirty among Sixth Order of the Stars, and I heard he reached the standard for solo action long ago, but this time he still formed a team according to the rules?"

"Is he stepping up for those who are dissatisfied?"

"Going straight at Xu Jingming for pulling strings? Now this is getting interesting."

"This is awkward, I wonder how Xu Jingming will respond."

"Fight! Fight!"

"..."

The surrounding crowd buzzed with discussion, and there were plenty of trouble-loving onlookers hoping the two sides would come to blows.

Before Xu Jingming could speak, a layer of frost instantly shrouded Bai Xi's pretty face.

Her cool, clear eyes turned sharply toward Barton, and faint ripples of the Laws of Life gathered around her.

She stepped forward half a pace, seeming about to speak.

But Xu Jingming reached out and gently held her back.

His expression remained calm; only those deep, profound eyes narrowed slightly.

His gaze passed over the blustering Barton and went straight to Chi Huang behind him, who was lounging at his ease with a watching-the-show smile on his lips.

When Chi Huang met his gaze, he not only did not look away but raised an eyebrow, his smile widening.

'Hmm?'

Xu Jingming's sword-like brows rose.

He was well aware of everyone's dissatisfaction with him during this period.

It was just that this was Senior Sister Yeli's decision, and he didn't think these people could stir up much trouble.

He hadn't expected that now someone would actually jump out to make trouble for him.

And from the looks of it, Chi Huang was backing them.

He didn't seem to have offended him, had he?

Xu Jingming slowly shifted his gaze back, settling once more on the aggressively posturing Barton before him.

The corner of his mouth actually curved into a very faint arc, and his voice, though not loud, spread clearly to all around:

"Whether my skin is thick or not isn't decided by words, and as for whether I qualify for solo action..."

He paused, his gaze calmly meeting Barton's eyes: "Want to try?"

At these words, Barton nearly burst out laughing on the spot.

He had originally thought he'd need to waste more breath, even resort to some goading tactics, to force Xu Jingming into accepting a fight.

After all, the other party was a registered disciple of the Supreme Overlord, with a special status.

He might not be willing to step in easily in a setting like this.

Even if Xu Jingming didn't fight, there was nothing Barton could do about him.

He hadn't expected this Xu Jingming to be such an impulsive hothead who couldn't keep his cool!

He had only casually needled him a couple of times, squeezing him with words.

Xu Jingming immediately grew flustered and took the initiative to pick up the topic.

This was exactly what he had been hoping for!

Barton secretly rejoiced, his mocking smile deepening.

He already seemed to see Xu Jingming humiliated and beaten by his own hands.

Beside Xu Jingming, Yueying's delicate face had paled slightly, a flicker of anxiety flashing in her clear gray eyes.

She quickly whispered to Xu Jingming:

"Jingming, don't fall for his provocation! This man is Star Level Six—his strength is immense!"

Although on Meteorite Star, Xu Jingming defeated a Star Level Seven demon.

But that's nothing like the Star Level Six from the academy.

Everyone here is among the top prodigies of the Cosmic Human Race.

Each one nearly masters the higher and basic laws matching their level.

Xu Jingming's level was forcibly raised by heavenly treasures; his understanding of the laws hasn't caught up.

He simply can't take a hit!

"Hah!"

Barton caught Yueying's anxious expression and let out a triumphant, bell-like laugh:

"We all heard it—he himself said he wanted to try!"

He turned his gaze to Xu Jingming, his tone brimming with provocation and pressure:

"What? Now you want to back out?"

If you're afraid, you can still admit defeat now."

"But I'll laugh at you for the rest of your life!"

He deliberately raised his voice, ensuring every spectator nearby heard him clearly.

Then, Barton's gaze grew slightly colder.

A tangible aura of battle intent radiated as he pointed toward the upper training zone of the mothership:

"Let's go—the training zone has a ready-made arena!"

"Let's settle who's superior—and let everyone see whether you truly deserve to operate alone!"

By convention, student sparring matches.

Entering the virtual universe for combat is the most convenient and safest choice.

It causes no real harm and allows full expression of skill.

But Barton never mentioned virtual combat.

His intent was clear.

He wanted to brutally beat Xu Jingming senseless on a real arena, before everyone's eyes!

Only real, flesh-to-flesh strikes could humiliate the opponent to the fullest extent and fulfill Chi Huang's orders.

The onlookers grew excited.

Their gazes darted between Xu Jingming and Barton; whispers grew louder.

Everyone wanted to see what this Xu Jingming—recently at the center of controversy—would choose.

Would he yield under pressure, or stubbornly step onto the arena?

Yet,

Facing Barton's aggressive challenge and countless watching eyes,

Xu Jingming merely shook his head calmly.

"No need for all that trouble."

Xu Jingming spoke, his voice low but steady, carrying clearly into every ear:

"To deal with you, I don't need the arena."