Chapter 1640: Xu Jingming

From Barock Star to Star Dome Academy, only six days of travel are needed to arrive.

Xu Jingming had originally thought he'd have to wait until the next trip to the Outer Battlefield.

He needed to kill enough alien races and accumulate 400 billion source points before he could spend points to break through to the Eternal Life Realm.

But the appearance of the Jade Marrow Heavenly Peach offered him another possibility.

So, on the journey, Xu Jingming began consuming the Jade Marrow Heavenly Peaches.

The energy of the Heavenly Peach is immense; one can eat at most two per day.

When his internal Yuan energy was fullest, he felt as if he were about to explode.

At such times, Xu Jingming would choose to train to release the pressure.

Or he would practice the Twin Star Divine Scripture with Lin Qianxue.

Either way, the rhythm of eating the Heavenly Peaches could not stop.

Practicing the Twin Star Divine Scripture was not merely physical pleasure.

Under the convergence of yin and yang, with the twin stars resonating together,

it also allowed their cultivation to mutually reinforce each other, accelerating rapid growth.

The vast Yuan energy was also more efficiently refined and absorbed as it flowed between the twin stars.

Lin Qianxue's newly attained Eternal Life Realm became even more stable.

Meanwhile, Xu Jingming's internal Yuan energy accumulated and surged at an astonishing rate.

Six days later, Star Dome Academy.

On an open-air square dedicated to instruction, the sunlight was just right.

Over a hundred students sat cross-legged.

They listened intently as a Deathless Dominator on the raised platform explained.

This Dominator's form was ethereal, as if woven from countless starlights.

Yet his voice clearly reached every ear:

"...... The core of advancing from the Star Realm to the Cosmic Realm lies in the condensation of the Fate Core.

As long as the Fate Core is not destroyed, life is immortal.

This is the first true leap in the level of existence......"

Among the students below, Yue Ying wore a silvery-white cultivation robe, her figure slender and graceful.

Her silver hair shimmered faintly in the sunlight, her exquisite face cold and focused.

Beside her,

Yan Ji wore a crimson long dress, her alluring face tinged with thoughtfulness.

Beth wore a light blue combat suit, her golden hair tied into a high ponytail, appearing efficient and sharp.

Nearly nine years had passed since the end of the Genius War.

The prodigies who had emerged from the various star regions had, for the most part, broken through to the Star Realm.

Among the most outstanding, such as Yan Ji and Beth, had entered the Star Realm Second Stage.

Yue Ying herself had even entered the Star Realm Third Stage.

This pace was absolutely shocking in the outside world.

"Alright, today's lesson ends here."

After a while longer,

the Deathless Dominator's figure slowly dissipated, his voice lingering:

"If you have questions, you may reserve a consultation in the Virtual Universe."

Whoosh—

The square immediately burst into activity.

Students gathered in small groups, exchanging insights from the lesson.

Yue Ying, Yan Ji, and Beth also came together.

"This lesson is good, but it requires an S-class resource to complement cultivation.

My credits are already depleted; I can't even afford to buy it."

Yan Ji rubbed her temples, her alluring face unusually troubled:

"Last week's mission: hunting three Star Realm Fifth Stage magma giant lizards.

I nearly got killed, and ended up with only the base reward.

After deducting expenses, I netted less than five thousand credits."

"I'm worse off than you."

Beth shook her head with a bitter smile, "I took a mission to collect Azure Ice Crystals.

Then, that star region suddenly erupted with spatial turbulence.

The ship was damaged and repairs cost a lot—I ended up earning nothing."

Credits!

Credits!

Still credits!

Within the academy, following the standard cultivation routine is fine.

But if you want to break through quickly,

to exchange for rare cultivation resources, combat techniques, and secret methods,

you must work tirelessly on missions to earn credits.

And their backgrounds are useless here.

Star Dome Academy gathers the resources of the entire human universe.

Many valuable items cannot be found by families—they can only be exchanged for academy credits.

The three were speaking.

Yan Ji suddenly turned to Yue Ying, blinked, and asked:

"By the way, Yue Ying.

How is Xu Jingming doing? Has he completed his mission?"

At these words, Beth immediately turned her curious gaze toward her.

Around them, other students who heard the name "Xu Jingming"

all involuntarily fell silent and strained their ears.

More than ten days ago, Xu Jingming publicly shouted down Colter on Virtual Universe's Tianfeng Mountain.

The bet he made has already spread like wildfire throughout the academy.

All students were stunned by the boldness of this genius Battle Champion,

and intensely curious about what would happen next.

"Jingming said the mission is complete—he's on his way back to the academy," Yue Ying replied softly.

A faint, nearly imperceptible anticipation surfaced in the depths of her beautiful eyes.

It added a touch of warm vitality to her cold, exquisite features.

After more than two years apart, Xu Jingming was finally returning.

"Already completed?!"

Yan Ji frowned, her alluring face clouded with concern:

"Ko'erte is too treacherous.

He claimed in front of everyone that gathering intelligence counts as passing.

But the mission system's official criterion requires capturing or killing the target.

If he insists on that point and refuses to honor the bet,

Xu Jingming will be in trouble!"

In fact,

she simply couldn't understand it.

Why would Xu Jingming wager his withdrawal from the Frost Crown lineage?

That was the lineage of the Supreme Sovereign!

If it were her,

even if she sacrificed everything, she would never abandon her lineage.

"Yes, I told him.

He told me not to worry—he has a way."

The sharp-witted Yue Ying had naturally thought of this too.

And she had spoken to Xu Jingming about it.

She trusted Xu Jingming with near-blind faith.

If he said it was fine, then it was fine.

"Really?"

Yan Ji and Beth exchanged glances.

Though still somewhat doubtful,

seeing Yue Ying's calmness, they felt slightly reassured.

At this moment,

Beth seemed to remember something and asked curiously:

"Yue Ying, do you know what rank Xu Jingming is now?

He's been in the Outer Battlefield for over two years.

Given his monstrous talent, his progress must be substantial, right?"

"I don't know his exact rank.

He's been roaming the Outer Battlefield and rarely logs into the Virtual Universe.

As for his strength, I never specifically asked."

Yue Ying shook her head slightly.

"I see."

Beth nodded in understanding, then her eyes sparkled as she enthusiastically proposed:

"Since he's almost back, how about we make a bet?

Guess what rank he is now?"

"Sure!"

Yan Ji immediately perked up, smiling seductively:

"I bet he's Universe Rank Three!

Though only over two years have passed,

in a place like the Outer Battlefield, where life-and-death battles are constant, breakthroughs come easiest.

He was Universe Rank One when he left."

With his talent, reaching the third tier is entirely possible!

Beth thought for a moment and said, "I guess Universe Tier Four!"

Even for the prodigies of Star Dome Academy.

After entering the Universe Tier, advancing each level is extremely difficult.

It usually takes a century, even several centuries.

But Xu Jingming... can never be judged by ordinary standards.

So their guesses were all extremely bold.

Yueying heard this and paused in thought.

Her crisp voice carried deep pride:

"I guess... Universe Tier Six!"