Chapter 1540: He Still Needs Time to Grow! Xu Jingming

The top floor of the Battle Corps headquarters.

Lin Qianxue, tall and slender, stood before the panoramic window.

She listened to Duke's report, her pale golden eyes calm and unruffled.

"Commander, Xu Jingming is truly a genius in every aspect."

Duke's voice rang loud, brimming with unhidden admiration:

"In just half a year, his battlefield adaptation has been astonishing, his combat awareness top-tier, and his comprehension ability exceptional.

Next mission, he can start taking on A-class assignments."

Geniuses come in many types.

Some advance rapidly in cultivation but possess pitiful combat strength.

Others excel in human civil wars but can't even unleash two-tenths of their power against alien races.

But Xu Jingming is different—he is a true, all-around genius!

"Good, handle it as you see fit."

Lin Qianxue gave a slight nod.

During her time on the Outer Domain battlefield, she had also been in contact with her teacher and Sister Yeli.

She had long heard from them of this junior brother's many deeds.

His performance didn't surprise her much.

"Understood!"

Duke nodded, then turned and strode out quickly.

Shi Shan was still waiting in Xiaoyao Heaven; he needed to get back.

The room fell silent again.

Lin Qianxue's pale golden eyes gazed out the window.

Xu Jingming was indeed outstanding, yet...

She raised her slender hand and summoned a holographic projection: the latest Battle Corps rankings displayed on it:

Rank 1: Blood Hammer Battle Corps (Military Merit:. 3 billion)

Rank 2: Ember Remnant Battle Corps (Military Merit:. 7 billion)

Over the years, Blood Hammer Battle Corps had expanded wildly, its membership growing steadily.

Its accumulation of military merit had also accelerated rapidly, and now it had overtaken her.

Though the gap was small, Jor would surely press hard, giving her no chance to breathe.

With only one and a half years left until the Hundred Corps Ranking War settlement, if she failed to reclaim first place,

the "Void Origin Crystal" would fall irrevocably into Jor's hands.

It was the key to her breakthrough into the Immortal Stage.

Lin Qianxue's delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly, a trace of Solemn flashing across her exquisite face.

Xu Jingming is indeed a genius, but... he still needs time to grow.

At present, he cannot offer any real help.

"The Battle Corps ranking must rely on me alone.

Fortunately, there's another opportunity in one year.

During this time, I must avoid any mishaps.

If I suffer serious injury, I'll lose this critical chance.

This year, I'll stay here at the fortress to recuperate."

Lin Qianxue thought silently to herself.

"Still, I should check on my junior brother's situation."

She sent Xu Jingming a message requesting a meeting.

In the 17th-floor room, the energy tides had fully calmed.

Xu Jingming slowly opened his eyes; deep black irises flashed with Lei Guang before fading.

He sat cross-legged on the alloy floor, the flickering black lightning arcs around him quietly retracting into his skin.

A power unlike any before surged through every limb and bone.

With each breath, he felt as if he could stir the fabric of space itself.

"Cosmic Stage Three..."

He murmured softly, his voice clear in the silent room.

With a flicker of thought, a pale blue system interface unfolded in his mind:

【Name】: Xu Jingming

【Level】: Cosmic Stage Three

【Ability】: Doushen Shenlei (T2 Tier)

【Physique】:. 7 billion Qi (+)

【Spirit】:. 3 billion He (+)

【Skills】: Spear Intent (Intermediate), Tianlei Wing (T2 Tier, Perfect)…

【Body Cultivation】: Xinghe Lei Gang Ti (T0 Tier, First Layer)

【Spirit Cultivation】: Jiuzhuan Cuishen Fa (T0 Tier, First Layer)

【Origin】: Lightning Origin (Fourth Layer), Destruction Origin (Fourth Layer), Life Law (Fifth Layer)

【Gene】: Yuanhe Midian (Second Layer)

【Bloodline】: Hell Demon of Lei Gang (Tier T0, Fourth Layer, Purple Nightmare Demon Scripture)

【Source Points】: 11.234 million

His gaze swept across the interface, and Xu Jingming couldn't help but smile slightly.

Both the Lightning Primordial Force and the Destruction Primordial Force broke through to the Fourth Layer, and the Life Law was also casually upgraded to the Fifth Layer.

After allocating these points, over a million source points remained.

"Over a million source points—once, this would have been an astronomical sum."

"But now, it can only buy upgrades to physique or mental strength."

Xu Jingming shook his head.

There were too many things to upgrade, and source points were always insufficient.

This was still only the early stage of the Cosmic Rank.

The further ahead he went, the more the source points required for each upgrade would multiply.

"Looks like I need to find a way to acquire more source points."

The captain gave him two months of rest.

But for Xu Jingming,

Rest? Impossible!

The thrill of growing stronger was sometimes even more exhilarating than the attentions of Yueying and the others!

He would not miss a single opportunity to grow stronger.

"Still, the way Captain Duke and the others take missions is too inefficient."

He frowned slightly.

In half a year, over fifty battles.

For the Wildfire Squad, this was already high-intensity deployment.

After all, every mission required long-distance travel, target acquisition, tactical planning, and post-battle recovery...

But for Xu Jingming, this was far from enough.

"Most of the time is spent traveling—actual combat takes less than one-tenth."

"And B-rank missions have limited enemy numbers; Cosmic High-Rank foes are rare."

"If only I could go straight to the enemy's stronghold..."

The moment this thought surfaced, it grew like wild grass.

The Seventh Combat Zone was vast and boundless; humanity had built planetary fortresses.

The mechanical race, demon race, insect race, and other hostile factions

Naturally had their own bases, nests, and even forward fortresses.

Those places were teeming with enemies and brimming with powerful beings.

For ordinary warriors, they were death traps with nine chances out of ten to die.

But for him, it was different.

"After my breakthrough, my strength should be around Cosmic Rank Nine."

"Combined with the protection of the SS5-grade Azure Thunder Armor and the Lei Gang shielding of my Star-Core Lei Gang Body,"

"Even Cosmic Peak experts won't break through my defenses in a short time!"

"That means, as long as I don't encounter Eternal Rank foes, or high-ranking warriors like Senior Sister Lin Qianxue, I won't be in mortal danger!"

"And I still have the secret treasure I won in the Beast Hunting Competition—the Void Shadow Dasher!"

Xu Jingming's mind flickered, and a faint glow shimmered from his space ring.

A one-meter-long, surfboard-like shuttle appeared before him.

The Void Shadow Dasher!

Infused with Space and Shadow Primordial Forces, usable for ultra-fast flight and concealment.

Even capable of short-range space jumps.

An escape technique—absolutely top-tier!

"If I can't win, can't I at least run away?"

Xu Jingming smiled.

The plan was feasible!

There was risk, but compared to the potential gains, it was negligible!

"Still, I can't act recklessly."

He quickly calmed down. "The chosen enemy stronghold can't be too strong—otherwise I might get crushed—but it can't be too weak, or it's pointless."

Thinking this through, Xu Jingming no longer hesitated.

"One."

"Master, One is at your service."

A virtual AI girl in academy uniform instantly appeared in the room, bowing respectfully.

"Display the star map around Planet Fortress 102, and filter out known enemy bases, nests, or forward fortresses."

"Also, filter targets meeting the following criteria:

First, no more than one thousand light-years from the fortress.

Second, estimated garrison strength primarily Cosmic Rank, with less than 5% probability of Eternal Rank presence.

Third, possess relatively complete intelligence data."

"Yes, Master."

No. 1's eyes flashed with rapidly scrolling data streams.

Just seconds later, a massive holographic star map unfolded before Xu Jingming.

Stars dotted the expanse, routes crisscrossing.

Four locations were highlighted, each with a brief description attached.