Chapter 1541: Shocking Senior Sister! Starts Fishing!

Xu Jingming swiftly scanned the outpost information provided by No. 1.

"No. 2 Bug Nest, insectoid breeding base, unknown number of Cosmic-tier insectoids, but excels in swarm tactics—risk too high...... exclude."

"Mechanical Fortress 'Iron Curtain,' a small stronghold of the Mechanical race, heavily fortified. The Mechanical race's technology surpasses even that of the Eternal Star Alliance—this is problematic."

"Moreover, I've never killed a member of the Mechanical race; I don't know if killing them grants Source Points."

"This outpost is also excluded......."

He evaluated each of the four outposts in turn.

In the end, Xu Jingming selected one location.

"Black Flame Demon Nest, a forward outpost of the Demon race, over 200,000 Cosmic-tier demons stationed permanently, several Immortal-tier."

"Approximately 113 light-years from Fortress Planet No. 102."

"Perfect. This Black Flame Demon Nest it is."

Xu Jingming gave a slight nod.

With the Purple Nightmare Demon Body, the notoriously difficult demonic qi of the Demon race was utterly useless to him.

He was, in essence, a natural antithesis to the Demon race!

And among these outposts, the Black Flame Demon Nest was the closest to the planetary fortress.

Should any unforeseen situation arise, he could return in time.

"Little brother, come to me."

At that moment, a message from Senior Sister Lin Qianxue suddenly appeared on his smart armband.

"Huh? Senior Sister needs me?"

Without hesitation, Xu Jingming shut off the holographic projection and left the room.

Soon, Xu Jingming arrived at the office on the top floor of the garrison.

There, behind a large alloy desk in the center of the room.

Lin Qianxue sat in a chair.

Today, she wasn't wearing her battle suit, but had changed into a sharply tailored black civilian outfit.

The top was fitted, its fabric perfectly contouring the breathtaking curves of her upper body.

Below, a matching black short skirt, its hem ending precisely midway up her thighs, revealing the absolute domain.

At this moment, her right leg was elegantly crossed over her left.

Those legs, already stunning beneath the battle suit, now lay completely exposed to the air.

Starlight streamed in from the side.

Outlining every inch of her skin's delicate luster and undulating contours.

These were not the bony, stick-thin "chopstick legs."

But perfectly proportioned, long limbs with a healthy, subtle fullness—plump yet not bulky.

Xu Jingming's gaze unconsciously lingered for an instant on those legs.

He immediately gathered his thoughts and stepped forward: "Senior Sister."

Lin Qianxue seemed not to have noticed his brief glance.

Her pale golden eyes settled on Xu Jingming, about to speak.

But the next instant, her relaxed posture tensed abruptly.

She leaned forward slightly, her cold voice laced with shock:

"You...... broke through the Source Core Scripture?"

Xu Jingming's heart stirred slightly.

When he first returned, he was Cosmic Tier One.

If he now revealed his Cosmic Tier Three aura, his advancement speed would seem too abnormal.

So he deliberately activated the Hidden Divine Inner Armor.

Yet he hadn't expected Lin Qianxue to miss the tier change entirely.

But she had sensed his breakthrough in the Source Core Scripture.

"Yes, I just broke through recently." He nodded calmly.

Compared to tier advancement, his Source Core Scripture had remained at First Layer for nearly three years.

Now breaking through was normal enough.

Lin Qianxue fell silent for several seconds.

She had long heard from their master and Senior Sister Yeli that this little brother possessed astonishing insight.

She hadn't truly grasped it before—today, she witnessed it firsthand.

She recalled that when she herself broke from First Layer to To Second Layer, it had taken nearly three thousand years...

"Good that you broke through. If I fight you now as a Cosmic Tier Four, I probably won't win."

Lin Qianxue's tone carried unhidden admiration.

"Senior Sister flatters me," Xu Jingming replied humbly.

Lin Qianxue leaned back against the chair, her right leg elegantly crossing over her left again.

The black short skirt rose slightly with the motion, revealing a sliver of skin closer to her thigh's root.

The flesh there was more pronounced, the curve breathtaking.

But she clearly paid no attention to such details—she merely looked at Xu Jingming and asked:

"Have you grown accustomed to the Outer Realm battlefield these past six months?"

"Yes."

Xu Jingming nodded. "My teammates in the Wildfire Squad have been very supportive, and I've adapted well to the mission rhythm."

"That's good."

Lin Qianxue gave a slight nod. "The Outer Battlefield is no academy—here, it's far more brutal."

Though your talent is high, remember to stay humble and patient; steady progress is the path to longevity."

"After this return, don't rush into anything else—rest well..."

Lin Qianxue instructed.

This surprised Xu Jingming somewhat.

This senior sister, though cold and distant, showed considerable concern for him, her junior brother.

Afterwards, the two briefly exchanged updates on the squad's recent situation and the progress of the Hundred Squad Ranking War.

Lin Qianxue's words were filled with guidance and care.

Yet Xu Jingming did not mention his plan to go to the Black Flame Demon Nest.

He guessed his senior sister would not let him go to such a dangerous place—at least not yet.

"The pills I bought last time haven't been used much."

"My weapons and gear are fine—next, I can depart directly."

After leaving Senior Sister Lin Qianxue, Xu Jingming went straight to the third spaceport of the planetary fortress.

With a light wave of his right hand, a completely black, triangular starship materialized out of thin air.

Its prow was razor-sharp, like the fang of an ancient beast.

A-Class-1 starship: Dark Lord!

The starship awarded to him by the Star Torch Emperor.

During his time at the academy, he mostly used the academy's public ships or teleportation arrays.

Later, when he was with Yueying, he rode her S-Class-1 private starship.

On the Outer Battlefield, he rode the squad's starship.

He had barely used the Dark Lord at all.

Now, finally, it was time for it to be put to use.

"One, take control of the ship's systems. Target: Black Flame Demon Nest."

Upon entering the ship, Xu Jingming immediately ordered.

Since Eva returned to her main body, his auxiliary AI had been handled by One.

Fortunately, the Star Dome Academy's AI was advanced enough to meet basic operational needs.

"One received. Ship systems now under control."

"Entering warp drive. Estimated arrival at target zone in three days."

With the sound of the warp engine activating,

the entire Dark Lord starship shot skyward and soon vanished into the vast starry expanse.

Three days later, the Dark Lord gave a slight tremor and exited warp drive.

The streaking light beyond the viewport faded, revealing normal starlight once more.

"Target star system reached. Black Flame Demon Nest is approximately one light-year away."

One's voice chimed.

"One light-year—this distance is perfect."

Xu Jingming, inside the cabin, nodded slightly.

He would never be foolish enough to charge straight into the Black Flame Demon Nest to kill demonkind.

That would be suicide!

One light-year out was roughly the zone where demonkind were most active.

"Still, some disguise is needed."

Swish—

Xu Jingming flew into space and waved his right hand, retracting the Dark Lord.

He then switched to another starship, entirely silver-white but clearly far inferior.

It was spoils seized by the Wildfire Squad over the past six months—an A-Class-9 starship.

Even if this level of starship were destroyed, he wouldn't care.

At the same time, Xu Jingming deactivated the stealth inner armor's ability to suppress his aura.

He revealed his Cosmic Stage Three aura.

"One, take control of this ship's systems. Reduce speed to sub-light."

Xu Jingming, back inside the ship, ordered.

"Understood, Master."

The ship began traveling at sub-light speed.

"An A-Class-9 starship, plus a Cosmic Stage Three human."

"That should attract the demons' interest."

"I just hope the first wave of demons I meet aren't too weak."

Xu Jingming was already eager to encounter his first unlucky target.