Chapter 1642

As the square buzzed with awe at Xu Jingming's cosmic peak cultivation,

Suddenly, a figure tore through space and appeared abruptly above the square.

It was Colt!

As a direct disciple of the Master of Time,

he wielded spatial primordial energy with extreme proficiency.

He had received word the moment Xu Jingming appeared in the square and teleported in immediately.

"Xu Jingming!"

Colt's gaze stabbed toward Xu Jingming like a blade.

The pressure of his Immortal Peak cultivation surged down like a tidal wave, instantly silencing the noisy square.

But the next instant,

deep in his eyes, he glimpsed an unmistakable flicker of shock.

Cosmic Peak?!

How could Xu Jingming's cultivation have risen so fast?

Colt's heart churned with envy.

He himself had spent twenty thousand years of grueling effort to advance from Cosmic Stage One to Peak!

Yet this boy had done it in barely two years!

But he quickly forced his emotions down—this was not the time to dwell on it.

He locked his eyes on Xu Jingming, his voice cold and hard:

"You're back? Where's the mission? Did you complete that SSS-level task?"

"Of course I completed it."

Facing Colt directly, Xu Jingming showed not a trace of fear.

Instead, a faint, mocking smile curled at his lips.

Didn't expect Colt to be this eager.

He hadn't even gone looking for him—Colt had come straight to him.

"Completed?"

Colt's eyes narrowed sharply, glinting with cold light:

"Your idea of 'completed' isn't just strolling around like a tourist, is it?

You went to Barock Star, gathered some trivial intel on the fugitive, and called it done?"

Xu Jingming, don't forget our original agreement!

When I said 'completed,' I meant fulfilling the actual objective set by the SSS-level mission system!

Capturing or killing the traitor Ares!

Not playing word games or exploiting loopholes!"

At these words, the entire crowd erupted!

"What the hell! Is he really this shameless? Lying right to his face?"

"Back at Tianfeng Mountain, he clearly implied gathering intel was enough—now he's clinging to the system's official judgment?"

Though they'd expected it,

hearing Colt so brazenly renounce his own earlier suggestive words,

the students still felt a surge of furious indignation.

A full Immortal Peak instructor,

using such tactics against a Cosmic Stage student—this was utterly beneath him.

But Colt ignored the surrounding stares, sneering:

"What? Can't produce real proof? If you're just bluffing, you can still back down now!"

This was obviously a lie.

He wanted Xu Jingming to honor his promise and quit the Frost Crown Line!

"So eager?"

Xu Jingming raised an eyebrow.

He slowly lifted his left hand, revealing the smart bracer on his wrist:

"It seems you're not only dark-hearted, but also have a terrible memory.

When I said 'completed,' I meant it literally."

Before he finished speaking, he tapped his fingertip lightly.

A clear holographic projection screen instantly unfolded before everyone.

It displayed the official notification from the Eternal Star Alliance mission system:

【Mission ID: SSS-7824】

【Executor: Xu Jingming (Student ID:...)】

【Mission Status: Completed】

【Completion Method: Target Captured】

【Completion Time: Star Sea Calendar...】

【Mission reward points have been credited to your account.】

【Note: Target Ares (Immortal Stage Three) has been captured and handed over to peripheral member Richie. His divine body sustained over 80% damage and is now in stasis.】

In the lower-right corner of the screen.

The official certification emblem of the Eternal Star Alliance Task Division rotated slowly, confirming the authority of the information.

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

Colt's pupils shrank sharply.

This mission was indeed forcibly issued by him using his authority.

But he was not the direct issuer and could not view the mission completion details in real time.

He never imagined that Xu Jingming could actually capture Ares!

A Cosmic-tier, capturing a Numinous Stage Three?

This was sheer fantasy!

He quickly recovered and snapped his gaze toward Lin Qianxue beside Xu Jingming:

"There's something wrong with this mission record!

Xu Jingming, the agreement clearly stated you must complete it alone!

Did she help you fight?

Do you think you can cheat your way out of this? Never!"

Lin Qianxue had already broken through to Numinous.

As a disciple of the Frost Crown Sovereign.

Dealing with a Numinous Stage Three fugitive was no difficulty.

"Colt."

Lin Qianxue's cold voice rang out, laced with unhidden mockery:

"You're as shameless as ever.

This is the video recording of my junior brother's mission—watch it yourself!"

With a light flick of her hand, another larger holographic projection screen unfolded and began playing.

The footage clearly showed Xu Jingming alone capturing Ares in its entirety.

Throughout, Lin Qianxue remained hovering at a distance, never once intervening.

As the video played, the entire square rapidly fell into silence.

Only the thunderous roars in the footage and Ares's desperate screams remained.

"That's Xu Jingming?!"

"No way! He's too strong!"

All students—including Yan Ji, Beth, and even Yue Ying—

stared dumbfounded at the towering figure on the screen, resembling Lei Shen Jiang Shi,

crushing a Numinous Stage Three with absolute power, their minds blank.

This... this was the combat power a Cosmic Apex could possess?!

That terrifying black thunder domain, that effortless suppression of three Numinous-tier beings!

This had completely exceeded their comprehension!

Colt's face had shifted from initial certainty to a deep iron-gray.

His expression was pitch-black, yet not a word escaped him.

The video record was undeniable: Xu Jingming hadn't just completed the mission alone—

he'd done so with overwhelming, crushing dominance!

His meticulously laid trap had now become the perfect backdrop highlighting Xu Jingming's monstrous strength!

The video ended quickly. Xu Jingming gazed calmly at Colt:

"Master Colt, you've watched the video.

My mission was completed independently, with irrefutable evidence.

As agreed, shouldn't you pay me the five million credits?"

Five million credits!

Even for a Numinous Apex like Colt, this was no trivial sum to accumulate.

If he paid now, half his savings would vanish instantly!

But he couldn't refuse.

He had no grounds to argue.

If Xu Jingming reported this to the Frost Crown Sovereign and took it to the Time Sovereign, trouble would follow.

"Fine! Fine! Fine!

No wonder you're the top prodigy of Star Dome Academy!

A Cosmic Apex truly can crush a Numinous Stage Three!

I misjudged you.

Five million credits—I'll transfer them to your account as soon as possible!"

After uttering these words through gritted teeth,

Colt gave Xu Jingming one final piercing look, then teleported away.

At the same moment, Xu Jingming's academy account received a notification of credit deposit.

"Five million credits!

Colt, you really did me a huge favor!"

Xu Jingming could no longer hold back—he burst out laughing.

This left those around him—Yan Ji, Beth, and others—staring in envy.

They struggle desperately to complete missions just to earn a few thousand or ten thousand points.

But Xu Jingming, in the blink of an eye, had already acquired five million points.

The gap between them is simply enormous!