Chapter 898: The Hotly Discussed Xu Jingming! Departure!

The entrance to the Firewood World is located in the coldest region of Antarctica; if we depart now, we'll arrive around three in the afternoon.

In the villa's living room, Xu Jingming and the women—Su Qingli and others—discussed their next course of action.

The promotional flyer for the virtual world has already marked the entrance to the Firewood World, located more than twenty thousand kilometers straight from Magu.

Accounting for dangerous detours along the way, even at the Black Obsidian-class fighter's maximum speed of seven times the speed of sound, it will take nearly three hours to reach.

"Qiu Yun, Chu Xuan, you two stay in Magu. I'll go with Sister Shuang and Su Laoshi to check the situation first."

Xu Jingming looked toward Song Qiuyun and Jiang Chuxuan.

Three days ago, after learning of the Breakthrough Tower from Meng Yu, Ling Shuang and Su Qingli had already decided to go.

Song Qiuyun and Jiang Chuxuan are too weak, only at the fourth rank; even with the ninth-rank Thorn Sword Grass, they wouldn't necessarily be safe.

So he didn't plan to take the two of them along this time.

"Alright." Both women nodded simultaneously.

They knew that with their current strength, accompanying them would only be a burden—it was better to stay in Magu and improve their cultivation.

"Su Laoshi, have you arranged everything at the martial arts academy?"

Xu Jingming turned to look at Su Qingli.

This time, they would likely stay in the Firewood World for two or three months.

Without the three of us, Hu Jinyu might cause trouble at Thunder Martial Arts Academy.

"Yes, with Master Gu holding the fort, nothing will go wrong."

Su Qingli nodded slightly and spoke softly.

Since Xu Jingming defeated Liu Shan and became Magu's Inspector, and since Ling Shuang revealed her eighth-rank upper-level power.

The entire Thunder Martial Arts Academy has now aligned with her side; Vice Director Hu Jinyu is merely clinging to life.

"Good."

Xu Jingming smiled.

If nothing goes wrong, once we leave the Firewood World,

it will be the moment to finally kick that old dog Hu Jinyu out of the Thunder Martial Arts Academy.

"S-rank: a call request from Blood Sword."

At that moment, Eva's alert sounded.

"Why is Blood Sword Lord contacting me now?"

Xu Jingming hesitated, then accepted the call.

With a hum, a holographic projection appeared before him—there, unmistakably, was Blood Sword's figure.

Blood Sword, as always, wore an expressionless face; even through video call, the chilling aura radiated coldly.

"Xu Jingming."

Blood Sword looked over, a faint smile appearing on his icy face:

"Your performance on the eighth-rank challenge board the other day was excellent—you gave the Great Xia a much-needed victory.

Now that the Firewood World has opened, what are your plans?"

"I'm just about to depart and take a look," Xu Jingming replied.

"Oh? Would you like to join me?"

Blood Sword smiled. "I have two ninth-rank friends who are also heading to the Firewood World."

After a moment's thought, Xu Jingming shook his head: "No thanks—I'll go with Su Laoshi and the others."

Traveling with ninth-rank upper-level Blood Sword would certainly be safer.

But he only invited me—he didn't mention Su Laoshi or Teacher Ling.

Even if I asked, he'd probably bring them along too, but I don't want to trouble him.

Besides,

my purpose in going to the Firewood World isn't just to seek possible opportunities.

More importantly, it's to hunt ferocious beasts and gain Ability Points.

Traveling with Blood Sword and his group offers far less freedom than going with my two teachers.

"Alright."

Blood Sword nodded, not pressing further: "Also, Chairman Zhou has issued a notice.

The Firewood Shrine is a friendly faction; adepts may join voluntarily, and the Great Xia will impose no excessive restrictions.

This notice will be disseminated nationwide shortly."

"Thank you, Blood Sword Lord, for letting me know," Xu Jingming said, eyes brightening.

He was genuinely interested in the Firewood Shrine.

Of course, primarily because of their preserved SSR-grade combat technique manuals.

"No need to thank me—I would've told you soon anyway."

Blood Sword nodded. "Then let's meet inside the Breakthrough Tower."

"Breakthrough Tower it is."

Xu Jingming ended the call.

Several days ago, he and Su Qingli and Ling Shuang had already prepared all the pills and gear needed for the journey to the Firewood World.

Now that the entrance coordinates have been revealed, he didn't bother preparing more.

He left the ninth-rank Thorn Sword Grass with Song Qiuyun and Jiang Chuxuan to ensure their safety.

He took with him the two top-tier plant lives in the midst of evolving toward ninth rank: "Ironwire Lotus" and "Purple Blood Vine."

Then, with Su Qingli and Ling Shuang, he boarded the fighter and flew toward Antarctica.

Green of the Xinhuo Divine Temple consecutively defeated five Level-9 psychics.

After being defeated by Xu Jingming, another Level-9 psychic challenged Green.

But the final outcome was still a crushing defeat, undoubtedly proving once again Xu Jingming's strength!

Even though his rank was merely Low-Level Eight, his true combat power had already reached the upper-mid tier of Low-Level Nine!

This strength was not weak on the international stage.

Thus, aboard the fighter jet flying toward Antarctica.

Along the way, people kept calling him, inviting him to enter the Xinhuo World.

Most of them were Level-9 psychics he had met at the welcome banquet for the Magu City Patrol Officers.

A few were Peak-Level-Eight Grand Masters.

For this, Xu Jingming naturally rejected them all.

Catherine, Su Yu, and other opponents from the Talent Competition also called.

They weren't here to form teams—only asking whether Xu Jingming planned to go.

After all, they knew Xu Jingming was no longer on the same level as them.

The Leng Yuexi sisters also called, saying they would enter the Xinhuo World.

Notably,

After Leng Yuexi's father consumed the pill crafted from the SS+ grade rare herb Xu Jingming had given him,

his injuries improved considerably; he was no longer in immediate danger for the next four to five years.

"I feel like your reputation as a Patrol Officer is now bigger than mine as a Director."

Inside the cabin, Su Qingli smiled teasingly as she watched Xu Jingming hang up another call.

The truth was exactly as she said.

She herself had received only four or five calls, but Xu Jingming had already received over ten.

One could say that Xu Jingming was now the most sought-after powerhouse across all of Daya.

"I'd rather not have this kind of fame," Xu Jingming said, helplessly shrugging.

These callers were all powerful figures; hanging up directly wasn't polite, so he could only refuse over the phone.

"Just within Daya, at least a third of the Level-9 powerhouses will be going."

I suspect other countries are the same; lower-level Level-7 and Level-8 psychics will likely be even more numerous."

Ling Shuang's fair, delicate face turned to Xu Jingming, worriedly saying:

"The Tianming Sect will probably take action, sending out Level-9 powerhouses.

You killed their Divine Son in the secret realm last time—this time, you must be extra careful."

"We already have three Level-9 combatants.

In a month, when the two plant lives break through, we'll have five Level-9s.

Three of them are S-Rank Level-9s—I'd like to see what the Tianming Sect can do about it."

Xu Jingming's gaze turned cold, his voice brimming with lethal intent:

"They'd better not come provoke me. If they push me too far, I'll cleanse them all."

Killing the Bloodline Envoys and Tianming Divine Envoys still grants psychic points—he wouldn't mind if they moved first.

Even if the Tianming Sect sends high-tier combatants into the Xinhuo World,

with Ling Shuang here, we can't win but we can still escape.

Hearing this, Ling Shuang beside him suddenly snapped back to awareness.

That's right!

They already had three Level-9s, and soon would have five!

Even for the Tianming Sect, this would be an extremely hard bone to chew.

And all this change had been brought about by Xu Jingming.

"Two years ago, Jingming, you were still carrying out Tianming Sect missions at Magu University."

"Now, two years later, you've gained the strength to challenge the Tianming Sect..."

Ling Shuang gazed at Xu Jingming, her beautiful eyes brimming with boundless admiration.

Xu Jingming's advancement had simply been too fast—she hadn't fully processed it yet.

After all, she had spent three years at Magu University and had only advanced from Low-Level Eight to Mid-Level Eight.

Yet, having been with Xu Jingming for less than a year, her strength had already reached Peak-Level Eight.

Beside them, Su Qingli watched Ling Shuang's gaze, thick with longing, and felt strangely extraneous.

If she'd known this, she never should've boarded the same fighter jet with them...