Chapter 1570: He Learned It Already? How Dares He!

On the square, the crimson light had barely sunk into everyone's brow for only a few breaths.

Most of the battle generals were still immersed in the profound inheritance of the Killing Battle Art, frowning as they tried to sort out its patterns.

Over at the God-Slaying Martial Temple.

The bald giant Jor slowly opened his eyes, his face grave, and rumbled out:

"This Killing Battle Art is truly exquisite!"

"I estimate... it'll take over twenty days just to barely enter its foundation."

Beside him, the rock-like cold man, Ross.

He had just finished comprehending the information and opened his eyes; upon hearing this, he merely replied calmly:

"I'm confident I can enter its foundation within ten days."

"Ten days?!"

Jor's eyes widened, then his face filled with admiration, "No wonder you're Brother Luo!"

Ross gave a slight nod and said no more.

His gaze drifted toward the direction of the Eternal Star Alliance, lingering for an instant on Lin Qianxue's tall, icy beauty.

Then he spoke:

"Other top-tier Nine-Star Battle Generals, like Lin Qianxue, should be roughly at the same pace.

Who ultimately becomes the first will come down to luck."

Top-tier Nine-Star Battle Generals aren't elevated by mere time spent.

At this level, their innate talent and aptitude are already at the peak of the cosmic tier—there's little difference between them.

Ross himself was a direct disciple of a supreme sovereign of the God-Slaying Martial Temple, with deep foundations.

This first round of talent comparison now hinges on who understands the essence of killing more deeply, and who gains insight faster.

Thinking of this, Ross no longer distracted himself.

His spirit sank fully into his mind, preparing to devote all his focus to comprehending this precious secret art.

Yet—

In the silent square, where a pin could be heard falling.

A calm, clear voice suddenly rang out, shattering everyone's initial immersion:

"Nine Sword my lord, I've entered the foundation."

Ross's tightly closed eyes snapped open, his sharp, hawk-like gaze locking instantly onto the source of the voice!

Xu Jingming had somehow already risen to his feet.

Dressed in a black battle robe that accentuated his upright posture, he faced the empty space where Nine Sword Sovereign had vanished, his expression composed.

Not just Ross.

Lin Qianxue also suddenly opened her eyes, her pale golden irises filled with shock and disbelief.

Not... how much time has passed? Can it really be this fast?

After a brief, dead silence, the entire square erupted in chaos!

"What?!"

"Xu Jingming? What did he say? Entered the foundation?!"

"Are you kidding?! The inheritance just finished!"

"......"

Dozens of stunned, incredulous gazes instantly converged on Xu Jingming.

"Wait, Brother Xu, are you really that insane?"

Duncan's mouth hung open.

"Hah! That's right!

Let all of you be shocked! I can't be the only one who's seen his monstrous talent!"

Inside his consciousness, the demon girl Vila grew ecstatic.

Xu Jingming's talent was simply too outrageous.

If she told others about all the breakthroughs she'd witnessed during the past half-year spent with him, no one would believe her!

Shhh—

The towering figure of Nine Sword Sovereign silently reformed above the square.

His icy face, as cold as eternal ice, fixed its gaze on Xu Jingming.

For the first time, it carried a clear hint of scrutiny: "Are you certain?"

He had some memory of Xu Jingming.

After all, he was the only Five-Star Battle General among the 1,476 conscripted generals.

"I am certain," Xu Jingming replied, his tone steady, utterly unruffled.

As his words ended, he subtly shifted his intent.

"Hum—"

A cold, savage aura, as if forged from endless mountains of corpses and seas of blood, suddenly surged from his body!

Visible to the naked eye, a dark red current, alive as if sentient,

emerged from within him and coiled around his body.

These currents were not energy—they were pure manifestations of killing intent!

They spiraled, radiating a chilling, soul-shaking malevolence.

As if merely glancing at them, one's ears would hear the wails of countless dead souls and the clashing of steel in endless battle.

The hallmark of entering the Killing Art: Qi of Killing takes form!

"Sssss—!"

A chorus of sharp intakes of breath echoed across the square.

It truly worked!

Genuine Qi of Killing!

And judging by its solidity, it's far from the flimsy form of mere initial condensation!

A barely perceptible ripple passed over the Nine Swords Lord's rock-hard face.

"You have indeed entered the art."

He nodded slowly, his voice still cold, yet carrying a hint of approval so faint it was nearly imperceptible.

He raised his hand, a streak of Jin Guang sinking into the void:

"Ten billion military merits have been credited to your account, counted as if earned by slaying an enemy."

"Thank you, Nine Swords my lord," Xu Jingming bowed slightly.

And at this moment, the remaining others in the square.

Including Lin Qianxue, Ross, Yin Hongyu, and all other top combat generals, all stood as if trapped in a surreal dream, unable to snap back to reality.

It's not... he already learned it?

From the moment the transmission descended to the moment the Qi of Killing took form, less than half a minute had passed!

Many hadn't even sorted out one-tenth of the art's transmission.

You've already condensed the Qi of Killing and secured ten billion military merits?

Is this talent not impossibly overpowered?!

Lin Qianxue's crimson lips parted slightly as she stared at the slowly receding dark red Qi of Killing around Xu Jingming, her heart shaken like a storm-tossed sea.

She knew her junior brother's talent was terrifying, his growth rate astonishing—but this comprehension... it was absurdly beyond reason!

Yet upon reflection, the military merits were credited directly to Xu Jingming's personal account.

And since he was already a member of the Remnant War Band, these ten billion military merits would naturally raise the band's overall rating and ranking.

Thinking of this, a flicker of relief arose in her heart.

Thank goodness, my junior brother is a member of my own war band.

A short distance away, Yin Hongyu's alluring face was filled with astonishment and deep interest.

She licked her crimson lips, her eyes gliding, whispering softly:

"This little brother Jingming never fails to surprise me with each passing moment."

"Sister is growing ever more curious about you."

Over at the God-Slaying Martial Hall, Jiao's face flushed alternately pale and crimson.

He stared at Xu Jingming, then at Ross beside him, whose expression was as still as water, and for a long while, not a word escaped him.

Ross, however, fixed his gaze on Xu Jingming, and in his rock-like eyes, a trace of Solemnity appeared for the first time.

Xu Jingming paid no heed to the myriad glances cast his way.

He lifted his head, gazing at the Nine Swords Lord in the air, and asked:

"Nine Swords my lord, I have entered the Killing Art. What is the next training arrangement?"

The Nine Swords Lord withdrew his gaze, his majestic voice echoing across the square:

"Now that the Killing Art has been transmitted, the next phase is real combat refinement within the Virtual Universe."

"You will face simulated opponents from various peak races, honing your Qi of Killing through life-or-death combat."

"Internalize the essence of the art, and learn to counter each race's unique combat styles and innate abilities."

"So the next three months will be like this?" Xu Jingming confirmed.

The Nine Swords Lord gave a slight nod: "Roughly so, until the final selection of two hundred."

"I understand," Xu Jingming nodded.

After a brief pause, before everyone had fully recovered from the shock of his instant mastery,

he spoke again, his voice clear and resolute, carrying across the silent square:

"Nine Swords my lord, I wish to apply for self-directed training at my own pace."

As his words fell, the entire square fell utterly silent.

This time, not even a whisper of surprise stirred.

Everyone was frozen, as if paused, their expressions stunned, bewildered, even bordering on the look one gives a madman.

All eyes fixed on the black-clad youth who had made this unusual request.

Train at your own pace?

In a brutal training regimen set by the Supreme Lord himself, tied to qualification for the Starfall Secret Realm?

How... how dare he?