The dean and the others held a deep trust in Xu Jingming, aware of his immense talent. But upon hearing his words, they were taken aback, finding it hard to believe!
"How is that possible?" The trio was baffled.
Xu Jingming could only clarify, "Dean, I did kill Natuo. Over a century ago… Roughly five years after we entered the Primordial Gold Mountains, one of my scout clones stumbled into a trap set by the Abyss demon, Shadow Transcendence, while pathfinding."
"A trap by Shadow Transcendence?" Tower Master inquired, puzzled.
"Yes, Shadow Transcendence was Natuo's ally," Xu Jingming elaborated. "They laid numerous traps in the Primordial Gold Mountains for high-dimensional explorers. After dismantling that trap, I traced the karmic connection and teleported to Shadow Transcendence's side in the Heart Realm. There, I also found Natuo. Both were in the same cave abode, so I killed them."
"You killed not one but two?" Spacetime Island Lord expressed astonishment.
Xu Jingming nodded. "Shadow Transcendence was relatively weak, easily incinerated by the Black Lotus Fire. Natuo was far stronger. I even dispatched a clone to pursue him into the Abyss before finishing him off."
Dean Chu, who had remained quiet, studied Xu Jingming and finally couldn't resist asking, "Jingming, how did you manage it?"
"Yes, even the three of us aren't confident about confronting Natuo in his cave abode. How did you pull it off?" Tower Master questioned.
"The cave abode couldn't hinder me. Once I locked onto his position, I could teleport to his side," Xu Jingming revealed. "Then, I used my psychic weapon to eliminate him."
"Psychic weapon?"
The dean, Tower Master, and Island Lord pondered.
"It's this spear." Xu Jingming casually flipped his hand, revealing an ethereal, transparent spear.
The trio immediately scrutinized the weapon. Spacetime Island Lord, perplexed, said, "This is just an ordinary psychic weapon."
"Yes, it's merely an ordinary psychic weapon," Xu Jingming confirmed.
But in his hands, even ordinary weapons could unleash extraordinary power!
"I assumed you had acquired a third-realm weapon and relied on its might for such an achievement," Eternal Tower Master confessed, curiosity piqued. "You killed Natuo with this ordinary psychic weapon?"
"Eliminated in a single strike," Xu Jingming confirmed without reservation.
"One strike?" The dean, Tower Master, and Island Lord's hearts raced.
Xu Jingming held the ghostly psychic spear. "Those whose minds and consciousness can withstand my spear, live. Those that cannot, perish."
Xu Jingming didn't conceal his power.
Given the mineral resources in the Primordial Gold Mountains, conflicts with other high-dimensional beings were likely. By revealing his strength to the dean and the others, they could devise an effective strategy against any foe.
"Those that cannot, perish?" The dean and the others exchanged glances.
"We've nearly exhausted this small mineral deposit. Let's depart from here first." As they conversed with Xu Jingming, the dean and the others continuously wielded the power of the three forbidden weapons to bombard the mountain rocks. At that moment, all the Primordial Gold Beads had been collected.
"Let's move!"
With a whoosh, the quartet swiftly left the area.
…
The dean and the others paused when they arrived at another vacant tunnel. They barely paid attention to their small mineral deposit harvest. Instead, their curiosity was piqued by Xu Jingming's impressive strength!
As Xu Jingming was a member of the human race, the stronger he was, the more exhilarated the dean and the others felt.
However, they couldn't fathom the source of Xu Jingming's power.
"Jingming, it's been less than 10,000 years since you ascended to the Eternal Realm, but you've already reached this level in the psychic weapon lineage?" The dean found it hard to believe. "I've lived for so long, but I've never heard of anyone progressing so rapidly. I hope you didn't resort to any unorthodox methods!"
"You haven't participated in Abyss Sacrifices, have you?" Tower Master inquired.
Xu Jingming shook his head, replying, "I haven't! Dean, as you know, I've previously studied the half-step third-realm legacy, Heart Divine Weapon."
Xu Jingming had mentioned this in their earlier conversations.
"Before acquiring this legacy, one of my clones was captured by a third-realm being and thrown into a separate world," Xu Jingming continued. "Back then, over five million high-dimensional lifeforms were captured."
"Over five million high-dimensional lifeforms captured by a third-realm being?" The dean, Tower Master, and Island Lord were astonished. Xu Jingming had never mentioned this before.
"Yes," Xu Jingming confirmed. "Over five million high-dimensional lifeforms were forced to compete in that world; those who failed would die, along with all their clones outside. The competition in that world was ruthless. Even most half-step third-realm powerhouses and Abyss Overlords would perish there. Very few survived."
"I was trapped in that world for over 5,000 years and was fortunate to escape alive," Xu Jingming added.
The dean, Island Lord, and Tower Master breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.
"Though that world was treacherous, surviving the ordeal proved to be a great blessing for me," Xu Jingming explained. On the one hand, he had experienced a mental breakthrough, and on the other, he had obtained a valuable prize—the silver parchment.
Xu Jingming dared not mention the silver parchment at all.
Given the ability of half-step third-realm powerhouses to observe the past and future, they might detect traces of it. Should they sense it, half-step third-realm powerhouses would go mad with desire and seize it at any cost!
A spear technique left by an Ultimate existence! What kind of chaos would it unleash? The mere thought left Xu Jingming uneasy. It seemed likely that half-step third-realm powerhouses would obliterate a dominion in their frenzied rivalry.
"It's thanks to the gains from that world that my psychic weapon has reached this level," Xu Jingming clarified.
"So that's how it happened."
The dean and the others experienced a mix of emotions.
"We never expected you to endure such a catastrophe silently all these years," the dean admitted. "We didn't notice anything since you never mentioned it."
"Talking about it would only worry you," Xu Jingming smiled.
"Joy follows hardship!" Spacetime Island Lord grinned, saying, "The brutal competition among over five million high-dimensional participants clearly had its benefits. It granted you your current strength."
Eternal Tower Master sighed with emotion. "I wondered why you didn't explore the endless dominions after reaching the Eternal realm. So that's the reason."
Xu Jingming nodded. "I didn't want to be sidetracked."
Upon reaching the Eternal realm, individuals from the Heart Realm lineage often journeyed across the universe, exploring dominion after dominion in pursuit of opportunities.
"After surviving that world, I've already sent clones to explore," Xu Jingming explained. "I'm confident that if I visit enough places, I'll eventually discover a chance to learn a third-realm legacy."
"Haha, we'll be relying on you to get a shot at learning a third-realm legacy," Tower Master said, grinning.
"I will find it," Xu Jingming assured them. With his Heart Realm clone's speed as it traversed dominions, he knew he would uncover it someday.
The dean sighed, remarking, "I never imagined that our Primordial Research Institute's protégé would surpass the three of us so quickly."
"In my opinion, with Jingming's talent, he might even reach the half-step third realm," Eternal Tower Master observed, looking at Xu Jingming.
"I concur with Xihe's assessment," Spacetime Island Lord added.
Xu Jingming just smiled, not responding.
"Let's divide the Primordial Gold Beads now," the dean suggested. He promptly split the harvested Primordial Gold Beads into four portions.
Each person received a share of about 1,500 Primordial Gold Beads, including Xu Jingming.
As a pathfinder, Xu Jingming made significant contributions, such as discovering the small mineral deposit.
Usually, Heart Realm explorers received more than the average share in teams. On Myriad Star Island, high-dimensional human lifeforms shared equally when collaborating.
"Why do I feel like I'm taking advantage of Jingming, with both of us receiving equal portions?" Eternal Tower Master asked, chuckling.
"I received a share from killing Asinus and the Abyss Thousand-Eyed Spider Demon back then. Wasn't I taking advantage of you then?" Xu Jingming countered.
"Hahaha…"
The dean and the others laughed, filled with a mixture of emotions. They had once taken care of Xu Jingming, but now the tables had turned, and it was Xu Jingming looking after them.
If Xu Jingming reached the half-step third realm in the future, he would become the indisputable leader of the human race. The dean and the others eagerly awaited that day.
******
Upon leaving the Myriad Species World, Xu Jingming began dispatching clones to explore the infinite dominions in search of extraordinary opportunities.
One dominion after another, they teleported with the power of a peak Eternal from the Heart Realm lineage. Their speed was remarkable, crossing numerous dominions in a single day.
Nine Secrets 3302 dominion. Xu Jingming arrived in a new dominion and made a beeline for its most bustling trading center.
I've journeyed for over 1,500 years, but I haven't found an opportunity to learn a third-realm legacy, Xu Jingming thought, filled with emotion. The difference between having and lacking a legacy's guidance meant the difficulty of reaching the half-step third realm was night and day.
For most high-dimensional Eternal lifeforms, acquiring a third-realm legacy was an unattainable dream.
Those of us from the Heart Realm lineage can travel ceaselessly. As long as I venture far enough, I believe I'll find an opportunity, Xu Jingming mused, displaying great patience as he observed the thriving marketplace before him.
Countless floating mountains hovered nearby, each hosting shops and buildings guarded by high-dimensional lifeforms.
Xu Jingming scanned the vicinity and located a Heart Realm lineage powerhouse with the most potent aura.
Whoosh.
Xu Jingming touched down in front of a shop on one of the mountains, and a slender alien emerged to greet him.
"I'm Wu Ming, a traveler of numerous dominions," Xu Jingming introduced himself courteously.
"Greetings, Brother Wu Ming. I'm Yun Fansheng. Welcome," the slender alien responded with a smile. He could sense Xu Jingming's aura, which was likely on par with his own.
Xu Jingming entered.
Throughout his travels across many dominions, he visited various trading hubs and met with Heart Realm lineage powerhouses. After all, they tended to be well-informed.
"Brother Wu Ming, what are you looking to purchase from me?" the slender alien inquired.
"Is there a learning opportunity for a third-realm legacy available?" Xu Jingming cut to the chase. A third-realm legacy was highly coveted among several high-dimensional human lifeforms.
"I don't have one here, but I do know of a place that does," the slender alien replied with a grin.
Oh? Xu Jingming's eyes sparkled with anticipation.
After more than 1,500 years of travel, he had finally caught a whiff of something promising.
"Where? I'm willing to pay for the information," Xu Jingming offered.
"Brother Wu Ming, just keep traveling. I believe it won't be long before you uncover this information. There's no need to pay for the intel," the slender alien assured him, smiling. "The place I'm referring to is a dominion far from here. There's a city called Feather Fire City."
