Chapter 880: Seventh-Stage Challenge List! Accept the Challenge!

Xu Jingming and Su Qingli put on virtual helmets and entered the virtual world.

To Xu Jingming's surprise, the entry point was not at Su Qingli's villa, but at the square in front of the Lei Ting Martial Arts Academy's headquarters building.

Compared to the real world, the headquarters building of the Lei Ting Martial Arts Academy in the virtual world appeared even more magnificent.

The square had a diameter of about forty to fifty meters, its ground inscribed with a blue lightning emblem representing the Lei Ting Martial Arts Academy.

"Chief, greetings."

"Inspector, greetings."

"Chief, greetings."

"......"

On the square, many members of the Lei Ting Martial Arts Academy were heading toward the headquarters building.

Upon seeing Su Qingli and Xu Jingming suddenly appear, none failed to bow respectfully and greet them.

Xu Jingming scanned the surroundings but saw nothing unusual.

Just as he was puzzled, Su Qingli waved her hand.

The night sky above the square instantly transformed, revealing three massive leaderboards.

These three leaderboards resembled the global genius exchange competition ranking list from earlier.

Each was over ten kilometers long and five to six kilometers wide.

They stretched across the entire night sky, ensuring anyone on the ground could read their contents from any direction.

At the top of each leaderboard, in bold, flowing characters, were written the words "Xinhuo Divine Temple."

The three leaderboards glowed in vivid red, purple, and gold.

Their names differed: the Sixth-Stage Challenge List, the Seventh-Stage Challenge List, and the Eighth-Stage Challenge List.

Each list was divided into two columns: the Defeated List and the Avoided Challenge List.

"USA, Catherine, Defeated!"

"Great Xia, Su Yu, Defeated!"

"Bear Nation, Andrei, Defeated!"

"......"

Xu Jingming saw many familiar names on the Sixth-Stage Defeated List.

He turned to the Seventh-Stage List; few names on the Defeated List were familiar.

But on the first position of the Avoided Challenge List, he saw his own name—"Great Xia, Xu Jingming, 23 days unresponsive, Avoided Challenge!"

"The Xinhuo Divine Temple's leaderboard!"

"Shame! Utter shame!"

"Can't even one person from Great Xia defeat them?"

"Don't rush—Lei Di has returned. They won't be arrogant much longer."

"......"

When the leaderboard appeared, everyone passing through the square showed expressions of furious anger.

Yet many also glanced toward Xu Jingming, hoping he would act.

"This... is the Xinhuo Divine Temple's leaderboard?" Xu Jingming narrowed his eyes.

Although the virtual world was developed and operated by the United Nations, it was not free.

Advertisements present in the real world also appeared in the virtual world—even more exaggerated.

This kind of leaderboard spanning the entire night sky counted as an advertisement, though users could choose to block it.

Seeing this advertisement, Xu Jingming finally understood why Su Qingli was so angry.

They didn't just defeat you—they hung your name on a public leaderboard for the whole world to see. It was outright mockery!

Even if you refused to fight, you still ended up on the Avoided Challenge List—no way to hide.

"The Xinhuo Divine Temple really knows how to stir up hatred," Xu Jingming shook his head.

The fact that no one had yet defeated them under these conditions proved they truly had some skill.

"Jingming, during the time you were in Dayangzhou..."

Su Qingli's crimson lips moved slightly, preparing to explain the situation.

But Xu Jingming waved his hand.

"Teacher, I already understand the Xinhuo Divine Temple's situation—and I know their origins."

Then Xu Jingming recounted his encounter with Catherine in the Dayangzhou wilderness.

As for the Xinhuo Divine Temple's origins, they would inevitably be exposed soon, so there was no need to conceal anything—he revealed it all.

"So they truly come from an ancient civilization..."

As Xu Jingming finished speaking, Su Qingli's beautiful eyes lit up with sudden understanding.

"You suspected this already?" Xu Jingming was surprised.

"They've always communicated with us using ancient civilization language."

International observers long suspected they were survivors from the Second Civilization Era."

But such speculation was never loud.

Most still believed they deliberately used ancient language to conceal their true national origins."

Su Qingli explained briefly, then sighed in realization:

"No wonder they're so strong—they're not even from our era..."

Blue Star had only just entered the peak of Qi Resurgence, yet already numerous SS-rank prodigies had emerged.

The upper civilization era had endured the peak of Qi for over a hundred years; their prodigies were far beyond what today's could match.

This was evident from how ancient civilization combat manuals unearthed from ruins were treated as treasures.

"But no one, no matter who they are, will trample on you—or on Great Xia's dignity!"

Su Qingli's eyebrows arched sharply, azure lightning swirling around her, her almond eyes blazing with fury.

The description of Xu Jingming's avoidance on the Seventh-Stage Challenge List enraged her most.

On both international and domestic networks, there were always people provoking trouble.

Especially foreigners.

Their own prodigies had been defeated by Xinhuo Divine Temple members, so they naturally wanted to see Xu Jingming humiliated.

Thus, online discourse over Xu Jingming's refusal to fight had grown intense.

Many claimed he avoided battle out of fear of defeat, even casting doubt on the entire Lei Ting Martial Arts Academy.

"Teacher, I understand. Leave this to me."

Xu Jingming's gaze turned cold.

Though he didn't know why the Second Civilization Era had to be so brazen,

since the enemy had already launched direct mockery, he would not show fear.

Hearing Xu Jingming's steady, resolute voice, Su Qingli couldn't help but smile in satisfaction.

With Xu Jingming's current talent, he would likely surpass her within half a year.

Yet he still maintained sufficient respect for her as his teacher—just that alone was impressive.

"With your current strength, challenging the Eighth-Stage of Xinhuo Divine Temple wouldn't be a problem."

"But since your name still hangs on the Seventh-Stage Avoided Challenge List, you must first respond to the Seventh-Stage—it was they who targeted you first."

A rare mischievous smile appeared on Su Qingli's face.

She eagerly anticipated the global reaction when Xu Jingming instantly crushed the Seventh-Stage peak of Xinhuo Divine Temple.

"How do I respond?" Xu Jingming asked.

"Very simple—the leaderboard itself is the entry point. After verifying your identity, you can accept the challenge."

Su Qingli replied with a light laugh.

Hearing this, Xu Jingming immediately turned his gaze to the list—sure enough, a window interface popped up.

"Verifying identity..."

"Identity verified. Xu Jingming of Great Xia, you are a challenged participant on the Seventh-Stage Challenge List. Do you accept?"

"Yes."

Xu Jingming did not hesitate—he nodded firmly.

BOOM!!!

A purple column of light descended from the central leaderboard, engulfing Xu Jingming.

Simultaneously, the Seventh-Stage Challenge List in the sky erupted in brilliant radiance, coalescing into colossal characters that illuminated the entire heavens:

"Great Xia, Xu Jingming, Accepts Seventh-Stage Challenge!"