Chapter 879: The Pure Prodigy! Catherine

Dayangzhou, the megacity of Moben.

Here, the United Nations has stationed a ninth-rank peak warrior, and over twenty ninth-rank warriors from various nations are garrisoned here.

Xu Jingming's teleportation destination was right inside Moben city.

He had originally planned to leave immediately after arriving, via Moben's air port, returning to Daxia.

Unexpectedly, he encountered Catherine, so after teleporting in, he found a quiet café and decided to sit for a while before leaving.

"It's only been a few months since we last met, yet you've already broken through to the eighth rank."

In a quiet private room of the café.

Catherine gazed at the young man before her, her fair, delicate face filled with profound astonishment.

She couldn't understand why Xu Jingming's breakthrough speed was so fast.

Even celestial treasures that accelerate cultivation have side effects and cannot be consumed indefinitely.

"It's just how good one's talent is." Xu Jingming smiled.

The System was something he was born with; calling it talent wasn't wrong.

Catherine choked slightly upon hearing this.

She had expected Xu Jingming to show a bit of modesty, but he was this blunt.

After her sigh of wonder, she fell silent.

As the descendant of an ultimate powerhouse and the Holy Church's Divine Daughter, an SS-rank psychic awakener, she had never doubted her own talent.

Yet now, after successive blows from the Ember Temple and Xu Jingming, she had grown somewhat lost.

"Divine Daughter, you must not doubt yourself."

Sensing her mood, Mo Nika's mental voice echoed in Catherine's heart:

"As I said before, the Ember Temple originates from the Second Civilization Era, with profound depth. Under equal ranks, it's normal you cannot defeat them.

As for Xu Jingming..."

Mo Nika paused, then continued: "He is a pure prodigy—impossible to analyze or predict by ordinary logic.

I firmly believe that if you continue cultivating, one day you will surpass them."

Surpass them?

Surpassing someone from the Ember Temple might still be possible.

Surpassing Xu Jingming, already at the eighth rank? There was not the slightest possibility.

Though she thought this in her heart, Catherine's willpower was extremely strong; she quickly shook off her brief confusion and looked at Xu Jingming with curiosity:

"Since you're so strong, why didn't you accept Meng Ke's challenge?"

"Meng Ke? Who's that?" Xu Jingming looked puzzled.

"Of course—you didn't even know about this."

Catherine wore an expression of "I knew it," then softly spoke:

"About half a month ago, three men claiming to be from the Ember Temple arrived; all possessed SS-rank psychic abilities..."

Catherine briefly recounted the events, then took a small sip of tea before continuing:

"The Ember Temple is extremely mysterious—each SS-rank is followed by a ninth-rank peak warrior.

To this day, no country on Blue Star knows their origins.

But if you want to know, I'll tell you for free—just decide whether you want to hear it."

As she finished, a faint mischievous glint appeared on Catherine's fair face.

Since meeting Xu Jingming, he had seemed capable of everything—except that one time with the Light Essence.

Now, finally, she could see Xu Jingming flustered again.

"The Second Civilization Era's Fireseed Project." Xu Jingming said calmly.

"How do you know?" Catherine's eyes widened, her face filled with disbelief.

This information was top secret—even among America's ninth-rank warriors, only a handful knew.

She herself learned of it only after being defeated by the Ember Temple's prodigies, when her mother told her to comfort her.

Xu Jingming smiled and offered no further explanation.

Any nation with even one ninth-rank peak warrior gains some international influence.

No nation would conceal having a ninth-rank peak warrior, let alone three appearing at once.

Aside from the Second Civilization Era, he could think of no other possibility.

"Since you know, I won't explain further."

After her shock, Catherine shook her head:

"The Second Civilization Era has reemerged after two thousand years—and their first move is to challenge us. I wonder what they're planning."

"Just to draw attention."

Xu Jingming's eyes flickered. "I suspect that after some time, their true purpose will become clear."

"True," Catherine nodded slightly.

Afterward, Xu Jingming obtained much more intelligence about the Ember Temple from Catherine.

After roughly half an hour, he took his leave.

"Aunt Mo Nika, do you think Xu Jingming will accept Meng Ke's challenge?"

After Xu Jingming left, Catherine asked curiously.

"He probably will. All nations on Blue Star harbor deep resentment toward them.

If Xu Jingming steps forward, it will greatly boost Daxia's prestige."

Mo Nika mused.

Meng Ke is a peak seventh-rank SS-class, but Xu Jingming has already broken through to eighth-rank.

Defeating the opponent would be almost absurdly easy.

"Meng Ke is a sure win — it just depends on whether he wants to challenge Green," Mo Nika added.

"Green..." Catherine's gaze sharpened.

This one is a mid-eighth-rank SS-class ability awakener of the Ember Temple, and has already defeated several ninth-rank ability users.

His strength is extremely formidable; even Xu Jingming as he stands now cannot necessarily guarantee a win.

"Aunt Mo Nika, let's not go to the wilderness zone for now."

After a moment's thought, Catherine spoke softly.

She had a premonition — with Xu Jingming's return, those arrogant fellows at the Ember Temple were about to start having a run of bad luck...

The Obsidian-class fighter jet was very fast.

In less than an hour, Xu Jingming had arrived at Magic Capital and returned to his villa.

In the villa's living room, Su Qingli wore a long cyan dress, her eyes slightly closed, sitting quietly on the sofa.

Cyan lightning coiled around her, her breathing steady — she seemed to be practicing an ability training method.

The sunlight from outside the window fell on her, and paired with her Bai Xi delicate features, she looked even more like a fairy, utterly otherworldly.

"You're back?"

Sensing the movement, Su Qingli on the sofa slowly opened her eyes.

"Teacher."

Xu Jingming bowed respectfully, then glanced around in confusion: "Teacher Ling and the others aren't here?"

"They went to the wilderness zone for training; they probably won't be back until evening."

Su Qingli replied first, then immediately noticed something off about Xu Jingming's aura.

Her spiritual force swept out, paused briefly on Xu Jingming, and she said in pleasant surprise: "You've broken through to eighth-rank?"

"Earlier, in the Yale Secret Realm, I consumed an SSS-rank exotic flower and herb, and combined with the Purple Cloud Pill afterward, I managed to break through to eighth-rank."

Xu Jingming explained with a smile.

"That's right — with the boost of two major cultivation resources, it would be hard not to break through."

Su Qingli nodded slightly.

But the next moment, a hint of anger faintly rose on her Bai Xi pretty face:

"Your coming back is perfect — your teacher has something she needs you to handle."

"What is it?" Xu Jingming was somewhat surprised.

Teacher Su Qingli had always been cold and aloof by nature — who could have provoked her to such anger?

"While you were away, an Ember Temple cropped up.

These fellows are far too arrogant — I need you to teach them a proper lesson."

Su Qingli said coldly.

"Ember Temple?"

Xu Jingming hadn't expected to hear that name again so soon.

Before he could ask in detail, Su Qingli took a virtual helmet out of her spatial ring:

"Enter the virtual world first — once you're inside, everything will be clear."