Chapter 920: Gathering! Another Radiance-Level!

Entering the marketplace, the lobby was bustling with people, mostly psychics, thrumming with energy.

Xu Jingming took the elevator and quickly reached the third floor, entering a private room in a café on that level.

Inside the room were three people: Su Yu, Catherine from the United States, and Andre from Bear Nation.

As soon as Xu Jingming stepped in, the three who had been talking immediately turned to look.

But when they sensed the faint aura of an eighth-rank Grand Master emanating from Xu Jingming, their gazes differed.

One held admiration, another reflection, and the third shock.

"It hasn't been long since we last met—do you not recognize me anymore?"

Xu Jingming sat down with a smile.

He had seen Catherine just a few days ago, and Su Yu several times during his time on Star Fall Continent.

Only Andre, since the Talent Competition ended, he had not seen again.

"It's not that we don't recognize you—your changes are too great," Su Yu remarked.

When he first met Xu Jingming on Star Fall Continent, the man had been only seventh rank; now, in the blink of an eye, he was already eighth rank.

And in just a few days in the Ember World, he had already forged his own renown.

One of only two Radiance-Level beings in the Ember World!

When he first heard this news upon entering the Ember World, Su Yu had been utterly stunned.

After all, Meng Yu, who had defeated them on Blue Star, was merely a Bright Light-Level cultivator.

"That's right—if we're being serious, we should all call you Senior."

Catherine chuckled teasingly.

With her golden hair and blue eyes, she remained as beautiful and captivating as ever.

Yet as America's prodigy, she unconsciously spoke to Xu Jingming in Great Xia language.

"Fine, I don't mind."

Xu Jingming smiled, then continued: "You've been in the Ember World for several days now—how do you find it?"

"Its depth is immense, and the number of prodigies is unimaginable."

Su Yu's gaze sharpened. "Just among those I know, there are thirteen SS-rank psychics.

S-rank exceeds two hundred, and there are even two SSS-rank ones!

Currently, Blue Star may have fewer than seven SS-rank psychics, and not a single SSS-rank..."

Here, Su Yu suddenly realized and turned to Xu Jingming:

"By the way, your psychic ability must have evolved to SSS-rank, otherwise you couldn't have passed the Radiance-Level certification."

At these words, the private room fell silent; Catherine and Andre both looked curiously at Xu Jingming.

"You've figured it out."

Xu Jingming didn't hide it, smiling: "Lucky break—my lightning psychic ability evolved to SSS-rank."

"Really SSS-rank?!"

Though they had prepared themselves mentally, when the news was confirmed,

Su Yu and Andre couldn't help but widen their eyes, faces filled with shock.

Catherine, having witnessed Xu Jingming's ability before on Star Fall Continent's wilderness, was less surprised.

"Three evolutions of your psychic ability—you're truly outrageous," Su Yu couldn't help but exclaim.

"Think of it differently—maybe my psychic ability was always SSS-rank,

and it simply hadn't manifested before."

Xu Jingming smiled.

"You can do that?" Su Yu murmured in amazement. "I give up.

After the Talent Competition, I thought I could catch up to you—now it seems I'll have to wait until my next life."

Shaking his head, Su Yu continued: "By the way, you probably don't know yet.

Across Blue Star, ferocious beasts are showing signs of agitation.

The frequency of beast surges along Great Xia's borders has clearly tripled or quadrupled."

"The same is true in our country," Catherine nodded.

"In Bear Nation, things are similar to before, but we've received reports of similar beast agitation along our borders."

Andre, who had remained silent until now, also spoke thoughtfully.

"Oh?"

Xu Jingming frowned. "With nearly a quarter of Blue Star's strongest cultivators now in the Ember World, the beasts are likely trying to exploit this opportunity."

"That's probably it."

Su Yu nodded. "Once the Void-Piercing Tower incident is over, we'll likely need to purge the beasts upon returning."

"Alright, if Chairman General needs any help, just call me."

Xu Jingming's eyes gleamed.

A quarter of the strongest—this was an enormous number.

If this were a regular army, withdrawing so many troops would invite a fatal strike.

But humanity's conflict with beasts isn't like ordinary warfare.

As long as humanity's supreme elders remain on guard, the beasts dare not stir.

Even to say it bluntly,

even if every other psychic died, as long as humanity's supreme elders lived, the beasts wouldn't dare launch a large-scale invasion.

That's the deterrent power of top-tier cultivators.

In other words, if anything happened to humanity's supreme elders, the beasts would certainly launch a massive invasion.

But judging by current circumstances, the probability of this happening is low.

After all, the emergence of the Ember World has added three more supreme elders to humanity's side.

"Regardless, your own strength is most important.

This journey through the Void-Piercing Tower—I must kill as many beasts as possible to earn psychic points."

Xu Jingming thought silently.

The day after his gathering with Catherine and the others was September 22nd.

Today was also the day the Void-Piercing Tower opened.

Before eight in the morning, the area around the Void-Piercing Tower was already packed with crowds, everywhere filled with figures.

Roughly estimated, there were at least hundreds of thousands of people!

As a Radiance-Level permit holder of the Ember Temple, Xu Jingming naturally stood at the very front of the crowd.

He wore a black battle suit, tall and lean, his gaze resolute.

Faint black lightning flickered across his body, radiating an aura both powerful and deadly.

To his left stood Su Qingli.

She wore a silver-white battle suit, her figure tall and elegant.

Paired with her ethereal beauty, like a celestial maiden descending, she appeared utterly otherworldly.

To his right stood Ling Shuang.

She wore a pale black battle suit, her figure full yet slender, her black hair slightly pinned up.

The Nine Kite Hairpin rested gently atop it, enhancing her refined, mature aura.

After the Void-Piercing Tower opened, she would go to the Void Temple to begin training under Himan.

"It's Xu Jingming! The new Radiance-Level!"

"Regardless of anything else, his bearing is truly extraordinary."

"Lightning SSS-rank psychic ability—absolute offensive power! He'll surely shine in the Void-Piercing Tower."

"Hmph, Lord Allen is the strongest—just a Blue Star man."

"..."

Many in the crowd turned their gazes toward Xu Jingming, whispering among themselves.

The Void-Piercing Tower had stood in the Ember World for over a century.

No one knew where it came from or who created it.

But one thing they were certain of: within the Void-Piercing Tower lay great fortune!

Hence, this opening drew a massive number of psychics.

Among them, Xu Jingming, as a Radiance-Level, was naturally regarded as one who might claim the Tower's fortune.

"Lord Allen!"

"It's Lord Allen's vehicle—he's here!"

Suddenly—

The crowd stirred, turning toward another direction.

Xu Jingming instinctively looked over and saw a blue battle aircraft speeding toward them.

It hovered midair, and seven figures leapt down, landing on the ground.

Leading the group was a tall, slender young man, handsome, with an earring on his right ear.

A wicked smile played on his lips, his demeanor arrogant, as if towering above all, radiating absolute self-confidence.

He was the Ember Temple's other Radiance-Level—Allen.