Chapter 1473: Yeli

As Yeli finished speaking, the VIP room fell silent.

Colt stared wide-eyed, as if he'd heard something unbelievable.

Aiden looked utterly confused: "Who is Xu Jingming?"

"This Xu Jingming is only ranked 15th? Are you sure you're choosing him?"

Ross glanced at the holographic projection below, then confirmed again after seeing Xu Jingming's rank.

Before Yeli could speak, Colt frowned and spoke first:

"Yeli, if you want to participate, I won't stop you.

But why choose Xu Jingming instead of Luo Li? Do you think Xu Jingming is stronger than Luo Li?"

"No need to concern yourself."

Yeli's expression remained calm, her gaze still fixed on Xu Jingming's projection below, her voice cool.

She had originally assumed Xu Jingming was still at Star Level Six.

But two months ago, a Cosmic-level rescue officer came to her alone to report.

He said Xu Jingming had broken through to Star Peak and might have awakened the Thunder Origin.

He swept through over five hundred competitors in a valley, including several Star Peak cultivators.

At first, she found it hard to believe.

But after personally questioning Blood Axe, she confirmed it was true.

Star Peak... Thunder Origin.

Though she didn't know how Xu Jingming had achieved this in barely over half a year since entering Blood Refinement Star,

with the Source Core Secret Scripture and the T0-level body refinement technique, Star Core Thunder Lei Gang Body,

even if Xu Jingming hadn't yet awakened a higher origin, his current strength was indeed greater than Luo Li's.

As for this guy Colt,

she'd never cared for him much, so she had no intention of explaining.

"You!"

Colt was speechless, his face darkening, yet he couldn't say much more.

He simply gave up trying to intervene.

He wanted to see.

How could Xu Jingming, a Star Level Six who climbed through pills, possibly compete for first place?

"Fascinating! Extremely fascinating!"

Ross burst into laughter. "A 15th-ranked fighter, and the famed Night Goddess is betting on him?

He must have something extraordinary!

As for me, I choose Louis of the God-Slaying Martial Temple!"

Louis, the top fighter of the God-Slaying Martial Temple this year.

Star Peak, awakened both Dark and Destruction Origins.

Currently ranked first on the points leaderboard, universally recognized as the strongest.

"This is 'Star Sea Crystallization.'

SSS5-grade resource, capable of aiding Immortal Gods in refining their divine bodies—my wager."

He simply withdrew from his space ring a crystal emitting a faint blue aura.

Placed it gently on the crystal table before him.

Seeing the priceless Star Sea Crystallization, Ross and the other three all grew solemn.

SSS5-grade?

They had expected to simply contribute some SSS9 or SSS8-grade celestial treasures.

But they hadn't expected Yeli to go this big right away.

"Hahaha, good, good, good!

It seems Instructor Yeli has great confidence in Xu Jingming!

If so, I won't hold back either.

SSS5-grade celestial treasure—Soul Fragrance Birth—consumption significantly enhances spiritual power."

Ross laughed again, producing another cultivation resource.

The remaining two, Aiden and Colt, said nothing more and each produced their respective treasures.

The bet was now settled.

Xu Jingming on Blood Refinement Star was naturally unaware of the commotion outside.

At this moment, his gaze was fixed on the 3D holographic coordinate map projected by his smart bracer.

Blood Refinement Star's vast terrain was rendered in a dark red base tone, simplified on the map.

Mountains, river valleys, forests, deserts—all marked with different colored blocks.

Most striking were the over seventy thousand faintly glowing dots.

Each dot represented a competitor.

Above each dot floated a small line of golden text.

Indicating their name and real-time rank.

Xu Jingming's gaze was calm as he swiftly scanned the area within a five-thousand-kilometer radius centered on himself.

The dense clusters of dots resembled summer night stars, so numerous they dazzled the eye.

Yet his current rank was already 15th.

He had no interest in any competitor outside the top 100.

After all, eliminating a competitor ranked below 100 yields barely any points.

It might not even make up for the time and energy spent traveling.

He wanted big fish—those who could propel his ranking upward again!

Those also in the top 100, especially the top-tier experts ranked higher than him!

Xu Jingming's gaze moved slowly across the coordinate map like the most precise scanner, filtering out useless information.

Suddenly, his eyes locked onto a glowing dot at approximately three thousand kilometers northeast of the map.

Above the dot, a brilliant golden numeral "7" floated silently, radiating an intangible pressure.

Beside it were the two characters: "Chi Huang."

"Chi Huang?"

A flash of cold light flickered in Xu Jingming's deep eyes. "Fate has brought us together again!"

I never expected that after the coordinates were made public, the first high-ranked opponent near me would be you."

He hadn't forgotten the stance on the Star Mother Ship.

That condescending posture of his, as if he were utterly powerless against Xu Jingming.

"Jingming, are you planning to target Chi Huang first?"

Yue Ying, noticing Xu Jingming's gaze, spoke hesitantly. "Maybe I shouldn't come with you from now on? I'm afraid I'll hinder your performance."

"Hinder my performance?"

Fighting Chi Huang doesn't require me to be this cautious!

Or rather, no competitor on Blood Refining Star could make me wary!"

A wild, arrogant smile spread across Xu Jingming's cold face.

After lying low for nearly a year, the time has finally come for "I don't eat beef."

He certainly wouldn't hold back.

"From now on, you just follow me."

Be my cheerleader—stay beside me and cheer!"

He forcefully reached out, and with a soft cry from Yue Ying,

he wrapped his arm around her slender, supple waist and gently lifted her up.

"Hold on tight."

Xu Jingming wasted no more time; he stirred his will slightly.

Boom!

A pair of vast, magnificent black thunder wings erupted violently from his back!

The wings were entirely formed of condensed, ultimate black lightning, their edges flowing with profound destructive energy.

With a wingspan exceeding ten meters, each feather was clearly visible, brimming with terrifying thunder power.

It was the perfected T2 flight technique—Heavenly Thunder Wings!

Unlike before, the color of the Heavenly Thunder Wings had shifted from dark gold to pure black.

That was the transformation brought by his Thunder Ability ascending to T2 level—Annihilation Divine Thunder—and his Thunder Dao entering the Primordial Realm.

The black thunder wings were not only faster but also carried a terrifying aura of annihilation, one that made souls tremble.

"Go!"

Xu Jingming tightened his grip on Yue Ying and gently flapped the black thunder wings.

Sssshhh—!!

A faint yet piercing sound of lightning tearing through air rang out.

Where they had stood, only a fading black electric trace remained.

Their figures had already become a black lightning bolt too swift for the eye to capture.

They tore through the crimson air of Blood Refining Star, hurtling eastward, toward the location of Chi Huang!

Their speed far surpassed that of ordinary Star Peak experts!