Chapter 957

“Xu Jingming? That Auroral-ranked one?”

Qiao Lin blinked, then immediately realized, hurriedly saying:

“Quick! Synchronize your mental perception with us.”

“Alright.”

The ninth-rank youth nodded, and instantly a scene appeared in the other three’s perceptions.

In the scene, a young man and a slender woman were flying rapidly in another direction.

The leading young man was tall, his body wreathed in black lightning.

It was unmistakably Xu Jingming—the one who had passed the trial and earned the Auroral certification!

“It really is him!” Qiao Lin’s eyes lit up.

“Should we strike? There are only two of them over there.” The Law Saint youth mused.

“Of course. This guy dared to refuse the Divine Sovereign’s invitation—he must be taught a lesson.”

Qiao Lin sneered, paused, then added:

“But we don’t need to kill them—just take their space rings.”

As a core member of the Firelight Divine Temple, she had her own code of conduct.

Unless necessary, she wouldn't easily kill others.

Especially someone like Xu Jingming, a prodigy with limitless potential.

A good beating would suffice.

As for Xu Jingming retaliating after growing stronger, she didn’t even consider it.

With Lord Allen watching over them, no matter how talented Xu Jingming became, he could never surpass him.

“Understood.”

Both youths nodded, but Xina hesitated before speaking:

“Xu Jingming was still eighth-rank lower when he earned his Auroral certification.

Now he’s risen to eighth-rank middle—his strength must have increased dramatically.

Shouldn’t we be more cautious? Observe a bit longer before acting.”

As an SS-rank energy awakener,

Xina naturally possessed her own pride and confidence.

But the scene of Xu Jingming achieving Auroral certification right before her eyes had been too shocking.

So much so that even now, seeing him triggered psychological shadows.

“Xina, when did you become so hesitant?”

Qiao Lin frowned; though petite, her temper was fierce:

“This man committed an act of blasphemy against the Divine Sovereign—he must be punished.

If you’re afraid of Xu Jingming and unwilling to act, leave now. We won’t blame you.”

“Who’s afraid?”

As if struck a nerve, Xina nearly jumped, her aura flaring faintly:

“Let’s go—I must make him pay for that day’s humiliation.”

To be honest, she still worried about Xu Jingming’s strength.

But on our side: two ninth-rank lower,

one eighth-rank peak SS-rank, plus myself—an eighth-rank middle SS-rank.

Even if Xu Jingming is a prodigy, we’ll still crush him!

“Haha, now this is the Xina I know! Let’s go!”

With a tinkling laugh, Qiao Lin levitated into the air, transforming into a silver streak that shot skyward, carrying Xina and the others toward Xu Jingming.

“Someone’s coming.”

Far in the sky, Xu Jingming’s rapid flight suddenly halted.

He turned his head to the right—four black dots were swiftly approaching.

“Two ninth-rank lower, one eighth-rank peak, one eighth-rank middle.

Their ranks aren’t high, but their energies are unusual.”

Su Qingli’s expression turned grave.

The two ninth-ranks felt ordinary—likely just S-rank energies.

But the two eighth-ranks were different; under her mental perception, they resembled Xu Jingming’s energy state before its last evolution.

Meaning these two were likely SS-rank energy awakener.

“Two S-ranks, two SS-ranks—their energies are truly unusual.”

Xu Jingming grinned, lips curling slightly, “The key point is, Qiao Lin is among these four.”

“Qiao Lin?”

Su Qingli paused, then realized with shock: “The one you gathered intel on—possibly holding the Crimson Cloud Fruit?”

“Exactly her.” Xu Jingming nodded. “I hadn’t even gone looking for her, yet she came to me.

Teacher Su, it seems your bottleneck may finally be solvable.”

Hearing this, Su Qingli’s clear, beautiful eyes instantly filled with unprecedented excitement.

Since childhood, she had always been a child of destiny.

Her greatest dream was to become a ninth-rank peak Law Saint like her father.

Even to surpass him—to reach the Supreme Rank!

Yet the SSR-rank heavenly treasure had trapped her at ninth-rank lower for four years, possibly forever!

She pretended to have accepted it, but how could she truly?

Any chance to break through, she would never let slip.

Shhh—

A faint glow from her space ring, and a blood-red pill appeared in her pale palm.

Grade Nine Blood-Explosive Pill!

It would multiply her strength instantly!

But in return, after the effect faded, she’d suffer a three-month weakness.

Yet if she could obtain the Crimson Cloud Fruit, it would all be worth it.

“Jingming, I’m ready. Let’s strike.” Su Qingli said solemnly.

“Grade Nine Blood-Explosive Pill?”

Xu Jingming stared in shock, then chuckled wryly:

“Teacher, no need for that. You and Ironvine handle the two ninth-ranks—I’ll take the two eighth-ranks.”

After killing Li Hao, he spent seven days in the Eighth Layer of the Void-Breaking Tower.

Though the beasts grew scarcer, he still gained 1.433 million energy points.

Adding the 1.58 million from killing Li Hao and the others, his system panel now held 3.013 million energy points!

Unfortunately, his rank still couldn’t be upgraded—though Divine Mind Art and Body Forging Art could be enhanced.

Still, he held onto the points, hoping to create a Body Forging Art capable of absorbing Magma Beast blood, so he never spent them.

Even so, dealing with Qiao Lin and Xina was more than enough.

“I got too excited.”

Hearing Xu Jingming’s plan, Su Qingli snapped back, returning the Blood-Explosive Pill to her space ring.

Indeed, Xu Jingming’s combat power was now wildly overpowered—he didn’t need her to risk herself.

“No problem. Stick to the original plan.”

Xu Jingming smiled, silently reflecting.

Clearly, the unbreakable bottleneck had deeply affected Teacher Su.

“Xu Jingming! Hand over your space rings!”

At this moment, Qiao Lin’s group was less than a thousand meters away.

Qiao Lin’s crisp, shrill command echoed across the distance.

“Oh? Just you?”

Xu Jingming raised his sword-like brows, black lightning swirling around him, his towering frame radiating demonic might as he grinned like a villain:

“Hand over your space rings—I’ll spare your lives.”