Chapter 745

Inside the base building, seeing the two figures suddenly appear before her, Sakura Rin's delicate face subtly changed color.

She never imagined Sato Ken would show up here—and bring Deputy Director Kudo Shuuchuu with him!

Opposite them, Kudo Shuuchuu glanced at Xu Jingming, then at Sakura Rin, then narrowed his eyes and said in a low voice:

"Holy Maiden, give an explanation."

Kudo Shuuchuu was not tall—indeed, he was quite short, standing only about one meter sixty.

Yet the aura radiating from him was as cold and venomous as a serpent.

"Director Kudo, I don't know what Sato Ken is talking about—he's merely a friend of mine."

Sakura Rin quickly composed herself and bowed respectfully:

"My friend is only Seventh-Rank Mid-Level. I have no idea who Sato Ken means by 'Eighth-Rank Master Zongshi.'"

As she spoke, Xu Jingming, wishing to avoid further trouble, cooperatively revealed his aura, simultaneously unveiling his Fire-elemental ability transformed by Lei Huo.

"So he's truly only Seventh-Rank Mid-Level?"

Sato Ken blinked in surprise, then immediately snapped:

"No—this is completely different from the aura I sensed just now! This is disguise! Absolutely disguise!"

"Though methods to conceal one's aura are rare, they are not nonexistent."

Kudo Shuuchuu did not immediately believe him, but turned to Xu Jingming and said:

"There are few Seventh-Rank Grand Masters in our country, and I know most of them.

Friend, you only need to tell me your name.

Even if I don't recognize you, I can ask others—so long as your identity is confirmed.

Otherwise, the appearance of an unknown Seventh-Rank Master Zongshi beside our Heavenly御 Dojo's Holy Maiden is bound to raise suspicion."

Hearing this, Xu Jingming frowned.

His appearance had been temporarily altered—he had no fake identity in Sakura Country.

"Director Kudo, this gentleman is Young Master Qing Shan YuanYang of the Qing Shan family.

We met by chance at a banquet; he came here specifically to find me."

At that moment, Sakura Rin suddenly thought of a solution.

Qing Shan YuanYang, Seventh-Rank Mid-Level, possesses a Fire-elemental ability.

Perfectly matches Xu Jingming's current profile—and the Qing Shan family resides deep within Dashan.

They rarely appear before the world; she had never seen him, and Kudo Shuuchuu likely hadn't either.

"Qing Shan YuanYang."

Kudo Shuuchuu frowned, a faint cold smile curling at his lips:

"Though I've never met Qing Shan YuanYang, Holy Maiden, you can't be this careless with me, can you?

By the calendar, Qing Shan YuanYang should be over forty years old—does he look like someone over forty?"

Damn it!

Sakura Rin's heart skipped.

She had only heard the name—but never realized Qing Shan YuanYang was this old!

Then again—

In our Sakura Country, a Seventh-Rank at thirty is already called a genius!

Forty or fifty is the average age for a Seventh-Rank Master Zongshi.

Otherwise, Sato Ken, who reached Sixth-Rank Upper at twenty-seven, wouldn't be revered as the Holy Son.

And Xu Jingming's current appearance is no older than thirty.

There is no Seventh-Rank Mid-Level Master Zongshi in our country who matches him.

"Friend, if you cannot clearly explain your origins, this matter will become very difficult."

Kudo Shuuchuu's eyes suddenly turned emerald green, staring at Xu Jingming with chilling, icy intent.

Instantly, fine scales sprouted across his exposed skin.

He was an ability user, like the Tian Yao, possessing a strengthening-type beast-based snake ability.

The aura unique to an Eighth-Rank Master Zongshi filled the entire space, heavy and suffocating.

This forced both Sato Ken and Sakura Rin to hold their breath.

One's expression was excitement; the other's, anxiety.

Sakura Rin was not anxious about Xu Jingming's possible danger—she feared Kudo Shuuchuu would be instantly slain.

If that happened, the aftermath would become extremely troublesome.

Amid the suffocating atmosphere, Xu Jingming sighed and looked at Kudo Shuuchuu:

"I never intended to act—why are you forcing me?"

"What?"

Kudo Shuuchuu frowned, preparing to speak again—

When he saw the man's eyes suddenly filled with wild, golden Lei Ting!

The lightning was magnificent and beautiful, radiating a sacred yet deadly danger.

The next instant,

A sharp *crack! *—a brilliant golden lightning bolt slammed forward!

Even with Kudo Shuuchuu's astonishing reflexes, he had no time to react.

*Crackle-pop—*

Lei Guang flashed—the lightning did not consume him, but was blocked by a pale white membrane.

"An eighth-grade protective talisman? I didn't expect you to have a treasure like this."

Xu Jingming's sword-shaped brows rose slightly, somewhat surprised.

In his eyes, Sakura Country — with its tiny land area — shouldn't have such abundant resources.

"It's you! Xu Jingming!"

Seeing that signature golden Lei Ting, the horrified Kudo Hidenaka instantly recognized Xu Jingming's identity.

"It's actually Xu Jingming?"

Sato Ken was dumbfounded; he never imagined that Sakuragi Rin would be mixed up with Great Xia's Xu Jingming.

"Sakuragi Rin, you actually dare to secretly collude with Great Xia!"

After a low shout, Kudo Hidenaka — having recovered from his shock — looked at Xu Jingming with eyes that gradually grew excited:

"Xu Jingming, instead of staying in Great Xia, you've actually come to our Sakura Country.

I don't know if you're stupid or naive — do you really think that just because of Lord Xue Jian's warning, we wouldn't dare to make a move against you?"

Shwa—

A long sword was drawn from his spatial ring, his aura erupting as it steadily climbed to its peak!

Lord Xue Jian's threat was indeed great, but once he killed Xu Jingming, he could flee straight to America and apply for asylum!

By then, resources, wealth — everything would be his for the taking!

As for whether Sakura Country would become Great Xia's target for venting its anger, it wasn't even within his consideration.

After all, by that time, he would already be an American.

Sakura Country?

Irrelevant, that's all.

"Oh? Not choosing to run, but instead wanting to make a move against me?"

Xu Jingming narrowed his eyes; a roughly two-meter-one-long Molsa Obsidian Spear was already gripped in his hand.

Golden Lei Guang coiled around the spear's shaft, and paired with its own crimson red, it appeared all the more chilling and resplendent.

"Run? Why would I run?"

As if hearing some joke, Kudo Hidenaka's face was full of contempt:

"Killing an eighth-rank mid-tier who only rose through secret arts — you really think you can go up against a true eighth-rank mid-tier?

Daydreaming..."

Before he could finish speaking, lightning flashed, and Xu Jingming's figure instantly vanished from where he stood, appearing before Kudo Hidenaka.

Thunder-Piercing Demon-Slaying Spear!

Almost in the blink of an eye, the long spear, radiating terrifying energy fluctuations, thrust out like a flood dragon, piercing straight through his skull!

Splurt—

Kudo Hidenaka's expression was forever frozen in that instant of contempt, then he exploded with a thunderous boom!

Blood sprayed out in a splatter pattern, drenching Sato Ken right beside him, his whole body soaked through with fresh blood.

Shwa—

Xu Jingming expressionlessly withdrew the long spear, gave it a forceful shake, and all the blood clinging to it was flung down onto the ground.

Adding an extra note of bloodiness to the already gruesome scene.

"Just an eighth-rank mid-tier Weida Sect master — I don't know where he got the confidence to fight me."

In Xu Jingming's eyes, wreathed in lightning, there was a hint of contempt.

Before his breakthrough, he could already defeat ordinary A-rank eighth-rank mid-tier Weida Sect masters.

After the breakthrough, even if it was only the Thunder Extreme State, he could still complete an instant kill.