Chapter 1459

After a long while, Yue Ying seemed to realize something.

Her slender body trembled slightly, and with a hint of shyness, she released her grip and took a small step back.

Two faint blushes rose on her exquisite face, spreading all the way to the pointed tips of her elf ears.

She raised a hand to smooth her disheveled silver hair, lowering her gray eyes.

She dared not meet Xu Jingming's gaze, her voice soft yet tinged with embarrassment:

"Sorry, I got too carried away just now."

The usually cold and proud elf princess now appeared utterly flustered.

Indeed, this was the first time she had ever been so intimate with a man.

Seeing this, Xu Jingming couldn't help but smile and teased:

"It's fine, I don't mind."

Yue Ying's curvaceous figure was one no man could refuse to hold a moment longer.

These words made Yue Ying's already shy face flush even redder.

Seeing this, Xu Jingming stopped teasing her and smiled:

"Let's go. We should find a place to rest."

Yue Ying's green battle attire was smeared with mud and bits of grass.

Her silver hair was tangled, strands clinging to her damp forehead.

Though her breathing had steadied, slight tremors still lingered in her body.

Clearly, she needed rest.

"Okay." Despite her shyness, Yue Ying knew her condition and nodded.

Xu Jingming gently swept his spiritual energy and soon spotted a hidden natural cave several hundred meters away.

"Can you walk? There's a cave over there—better to rest there." Xu Jingming said.

"I… I feel like I've lost all my strength."

Yue Ying had intended to say she could walk, but the words changed on her lips.

"Then I'll carry you."

Xu Jingming didn't doubt her.

For Yue Ying, a Star Stage Two cultivator, the pressure from a Star Peak Void Reaver was indeed overwhelming.

Exhaustion from fleeing was only natural.

So Xu Jingming extended his strong arms.

He lifted Yue Ying into a bridal carry and flew toward the cave.

"Mmm~~"

Yue Ying was already shy.

Now, being held again, she inhaled the masculine scent emanating from Xu Jingming.

She involuntarily let out a soft cry, a strange sensation surging through her body, causing her to instinctively clamp her long legs together.

Only after entering the cave and stepping out of his arms did that strange feeling gradually fade.

Undeniably, Yue Ying possessed a notably sensitive constitution…

"Huh—"

Inside the cave, the air was dry, the ground smooth stone.

At the center lay a pool about five meters in diameter, the air carrying a faint scent of earth and moss.

Yue Ying sat down on the rock, her rounded, firm buttocks pressing against the surface, letting out a long breath.

Her tense nerves finally relaxed, and only then did she feel the aching muscles and weakness from depleted elemental energy.

"Here, recovery potion." Xu Jingming handed her a recovery potion issued by the Beast Hunting Championship.

He rarely used these himself—his space ring still held around thirty bottles.

"Thank you." Yue Ying had already used up her own recovery potion.

Without pretense, she thanked him and swallowed it immediately.

After closing her eyes and meditating for a moment, her weakness eased slightly.

When she opened her eyes again, her gaze unconsciously fell upon Xu Jingming.

He sat near the cave entrance, calmly watching the forest outside.

His profile, illuminated by the starlight, was sharply chiseled, coldly handsome.

Unable to suppress her curiosity and awe, Yue Ying couldn't help asking:

"Jingming, how did you become so strong? You killed that Void Reaver in one blow."

Her curious voice echoed clearly in the quiet cave.

Indeed, nine months ago, Xu Jingming had been strong—but clearly not this strong.

Xu Jingming turned his head, meeting her gray eyes filled with questions.

He paused, then shook his head:

"Strong? I think the Void Reaver was just weak."

"Weak?"

Yue Ying's beautiful eyes widened. "That was a Royal Blood Star Peak!

And he had fully mastered spatial laws—yet you still call him weak?"

"Void Reavers are stealth assassin beasts. Once you avoid their fatal strike, counter-killing is easy."

Xu Jingming explained with a smile.

Common beast beasts mostly have thick, tough hides.

But the Void Raiders belong to the fragile type of beast beasts, their defense being among the lowest in their respective tier—they truly aren't that strong.

"Counter-killing is as easy as flipping your palm?"

Yue Ying looked at Xu Jingming with a strange expression.

Even the Star Peak experts in this Beast Hunt didn't have such confidence, did they?

Wait!

Only then did Yue Ying suddenly become aware of Xu Jingming's aura:

"You've broken through again?"

"Mm, I'm now at Star Level Nine."

Xu Jingming didn't hide it; he nodded.

"Star Level Nine..."

Yue Ying murmured the words again, feeling a wave of dizziness.

From Star Radiance to Star Level Nine in less than three years?!

This cultivation speed... utterly unheard of!

Even the Frost Crown Sovereign's direct disciple shouldn't progress this absurdly fast, right?!

Immediately after, another thought struck her, and she hurriedly asked:

"What about the Laws? How far have you advanced with your Lightning Law and Destruction Law?"

Xu Jingming paused briefly, then decided to tell the truth—he'd reveal his strength before the final month anyway—and said:

"My Lightning Law has entered the Origin Realm; my Destruction Law is currently at the Ninth Reckoning, fully perfected."

As his words faded, the cave fell into deathly silence.

Yue Ying's rosy lips parted slightly; she stared blankly at Xu Jingming, as if turned to stone.

If anyone else had said this, she'd have thought they were joking.

But after everything she'd witnessed, she knew: if Xu Jingming said it, he'd truly done it.

After a long while, she muttered with a hint of resentment:

"Fine, you're ruthless."

Even though she knew she could no longer keep up with Xu Jingming in cultivation.

His breakthrough speed was simply despair-inducing.

After her complaint, her beautiful eyes suddenly lit up:

"By the way, my Silver Moon Bloodline has a special sensitivity to heavenly treasures."

Since entering this forest, I've felt something pulling me from deep within."

I suspect it's a heavenly treasure—I doubt I can reach it alone. How about you come with me?

We split whatever we find!"

She'd originally been heading that way, but had encountered a Void Raider and been forced to flee for over an hour.

"If we don't find any heavenly treasure, I'll still give you a share after the competition."

Yue Ying added quickly, "Of course, if you're busy with something else and can't come, forget it."

With her Silver Moon Bloodline, her sensing ability should be reliable.

"Heavenly treasure? Sure, no problem."

Xu Jingming didn't hesitate; he agreed immediately.

He'd just entered this forest and hadn't explored it extensively yet.

Even if he accompanied Yue Ying, it wouldn't delay her killing beast beasts or earning Source Points.

"Alright, let's set out once I've fully recovered."

Yue Ying exclaimed in delight, then turned her gaze to the pool of water in the center of the cave.

As a Star Level Two cultivator, she normally didn't sweat.

But just now, she'd pushed herself to her limit, and the lethal pressure from the Void Raider had forced her to sweat profusely.

She hadn't noticed before, but now that she'd calmed down, she felt sticky and uncomfortable all over.

Fortunately, there was a pool here—perfect for a good wash.

The only problem: Xu Jingming was still here. Was it appropriate to wash now?

The only problem is Xu Jingming is here too—would it be inappropriate to clean now?