Chapter 1522

At the peak of Tianfeng Mountain, clouds and mist swirled endlessly.

Xu Jingming looked at the elf woman before him, clad in silver robes and silver hair, her beauty exquisite, and his heart gave a slight jolt.

Lord Lin Ge?

How could the supreme ruler of the elves appear here? And why was she waiting specifically for him?

Could it be because he'd taken the Eternal Core for free?

But that had been personally gifted by the Lord of Yongge.

Could a supreme ruler really come all this way just to block a mere Cosmic Stage cultivator over something so trivial?

Xu Jingming's mind raced with thoughts, yet his expression showed not the slightest hint of disturbance.

He merely bowed respectfully: "Disciple Xu Jingming, pays homage to Lord Lin Ge."

Lin Ge's moon-silver eyes regarded him silently, her gaze as if piercing flesh and bone to peer straight into the depths of his soul.

After a moment, her crimson lips parted, her voice cold as moonlight: "Dual core nuclei... quite rare."

Xu Jingming's heart leapt.

Indeed, the perception of a supreme ruler was terrifying indeed.

He had deliberately concealed his aura, yet she had seen through him at a glance.

"Giving you the Eternal Core wasn't a waste," Lin Ge said, her beautiful eyes fixed on Xu Jingming.

Even so, Xu Jingming couldn't help but feel—

that on that flawless face of hers, there lurked a hint of displeasure.

After all, he, an outsider, had unlocked the T0-level supreme technique, "Eternal Green Emperor Scripture."

And he'd taken one of her clan's most treasured artifacts—the Eternal Core—for free.

Anyone in her place would likely feel a pang of resentment.

"But—"

Lin Ge's tone shifted, a deep glimmer flashing in her silver eyes:

"You unlocked a T0-level supreme technique from the Sacred Stele, which proves you carry the bloodline of my elf clan."

"I have elf bloodline?"

Xu Jingming froze.

Bloodline?

He was pure human—where did elf blood come from?

"Though faint, the Sacred Stele's recognition is proof enough."

Lin Ge's cold voice carried an air of absolute certainty:

"If so, would you be willing to become my disciple?"

After all, you're already partnered with Yueying—coming here would let you be with her.

I'll handle Shuangmian."

Xu Jingming's scalp prickled.

This big shot was here to poach him!

The Eternal Core couldn't be given away for free, so now she wanted to drag him in too?

"Senior."

Xu Jingming forced himself to speak: "I am indeed pure human, with no elf bloodline.

My ability to unlock the Sacred Stele's technique comes entirely from... insight."

Yes, the brute-force hacking via Deep Blue's stat points counted as part of his insight.

"I say you have it, you have it."

Lin Ge's eyebrows arched slightly, a flicker of displeasure crossing her silver eyes. "Or are you refusing?"

The atmosphere froze instantly.

Even a trace of a supreme ruler's pressure was enough to make a Cosmic Stage cultivator tremble in spirit.

Xu Jingming felt the surrounding space harden, his breath growing difficult.

Yet his posture remained as straight as a spear; he shook his head:

"Thank you for your kindness, Senior, but I already have Master Shuangmian. I will not change sects."

"Hmph." Lin Ge let out a light laugh.

The sound revealed no emotion, yet every hair on Xu Jingming's body stood on end.

At that moment—

"Lin Ge, you've regressed with age."

A cold, mocking voice suddenly emerged from deep within the clouds.

Xu Jingming's tension eased.

Shuangmian, clad in an ice-blue long gown, stepped through the air, accompanied by Night Li in black robes.

The two rulers hovered in midair, both of peerless beauty, yet utterly different in aura.

Shuangmian was cold as ice; Lin Ge, noble as the moon.

Where their gazes met, invisible primordial laws clashed, causing the surrounding clouds to churn violently.

"So I'm not worthy to take disciples?"

Lin Ge sneered, her silver eyes sweeping toward Shuangmian.

"Worthiness isn't decided by you," Shuangmian said coolly. "Forced fruit is never sweet. Surely, after living millions of years, you understand that."

The Frost Crown Sovereign said coolly, "A fruit forced from the vine isn't sweet; surely you, who have lived for millions of years, understand this principle?"

Lin Ge fell silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled lightly: "Shuang Mian, you're still just as protective of your own."

"My people, I naturally protect."

"Fine."

Lin Ge said no more.

She merely gave Xu Jingming a deep look, as if trying to see through him from within to without.

Instantly, her slender figure slowly faded, dissolving into the moonlight as if vanishing from the spot.

Only a faint, drifting voice carried on the wind:

"Xu Jingming, if you ever change your mind, come find me at Tianfeng Mountain anytime."

The pressure lifted; Xu Jingming exhaled deeply.

He quickly bowed to Shuang Mian Zhu Zai and Ye Li: "Thank you, Master, thank you, Senior Sister, for coming to my aid."

"After the Beast Hunt Competition, your talent has spread through the top ranks of the Star Alliance."

"I never expected Lin Ge would lower herself to come here and snatch you away directly."

Shuang Mian Zhu Zai nodded slightly, her ice-blue eyes settling on him.

"I didn't expect it either."

Xu Jingming smiled bitterly.

"Let's go. We'll speak again in the palace."

Shuang Mian Zhu Zai swept her sleeve lightly, and space rippled outward.

The next instant, the three of them stood inside the grand palace that had been constructed.

Ye Li stood quietly to one side, her cold eyes occasionally glancing at Xu Jingming, holding a hint of curiosity.

It had been over half a year since they last met; this junior brother's aura had grown even more grounded.

Though he was only at Cosmic Stage One, he gave off the feeling of being unfathomably deep.

"In these past half-years, you've deepened considerably."

Shuang Mian Zhu Zai, seated upon the Wang Zuo, spoke slowly.

"You spent time with your family on Blue Star. Though you stopped fighting, your foundation has become far more solid."

Xu Jingming nodded with a smile.

It was the truth.

During those half-years on Blue Star, he completely set aside cultivation.

He traveled with Ling Shuang and the others, hiking mountains and wandering waters, teaching his children.

He hadn't even looked at the T3 or T2 combat techniques required after entering the Cosmic Stage.

"Good."

A flicker of approval passed through Shuang Mian Zhu Zai's eyes:

"Only by alternating tension and relaxation can one endure long."

The Dao of cultivation is not about relentless ascetic training to reach the summit.

Sometimes, the deepening of one's heart-mind matters more than breaking through a realm."

"Disciple remembers," Xu Jingming replied respectfully.

Shuang Mian Zhu Zai said no more and lightly waved her right hand.

Hum—

A brilliant silver-blue radiance emerged from her palm, slowly coalescing into an exquisitely crafted crown.

The crown was entirely carved from ice crystal.

Its surface flowed with countless fine silver patterns, as if a galaxy revolved within. Nine deep-blue gemstones, each the size of a thumb, were embedded along its rim, each radiating a soul-stirring resonance.

Merely glancing at it, Xu Jingming felt his consciousness sea tremble slightly, as if summoned by some unseen force.

"This is the 'Bingxin Crown,' an SSS1-level soul defense artifact."

Shuang Mian Zhu Zai's voice echoed through the hall:

"Place it within your consciousness sea, and no one below the Master Stage can enslave your soul."

"It will also greatly weaken damage from soul-based attacks."

SSS1-level artifact!

With this, he no longer needed to fear soul enslavement!

Xu Jingming's heart burned with excitement; he quickly said:

"Thank you, Master!"

He bowed respectfully and received the Bingxin Crown with both hands.

The crown felt cool to the touch, yet not piercing—instead, it had a smooth, jade-like warmth.

Xu Jingming no longer hesitated; his spiritual energy surged forth.

He imprinted his spiritual signature upon it.

Shhh—

The instant the imprint was made, the crown shrank abruptly, becoming a streak of light that shot into his consciousness sea.

Gong—

It felt as if a star had exploded within his consciousness sea!

The Bingxin Crown hovered at the center of his consciousness sea.

The nine deep-blue gemstones lit up one by one, emitting a gentle yet vast soul resonance.

His consciousness sea, already rock-solid, now became as immovable as a mountain!