Chapter 1555: Is that it? Not even enough for my pocket change!

The main building's loot processing level was bustling with people.

Joel's group's blatant mockery immediately drew many glances.

"That's Joel, leader of the Blood Hammer Clan!"

"Who's that black-clad young man? Why is Leader Joel targeting him personally?"

"Heh, you're new here, aren't you? That's Xu Jingming, a rookie of the Ember Remnant Clan! Lin Qianxue's personal junior brother!"

"Whoa… so it's him! No wonder!"

"......"

A low murmur of understanding spread through the crowd.

The feud between Joel and Lin Qianxue had long been no secret in the 102nd Planet Fortress.

The two top-tier clans constantly clashed over the top spot among the Hundred Clans.

Joel's current targeting of Xu Jingming was obvious to anyone with eyes—he was slapping Lin Qianxue's face.

Facing Joel's taunts and the surrounding stares, Xu Jingming remained calm.

As if he hadn't heard a word, he walked straight toward the merit exchange window.

"Stop!"

Joel stepped forward, blocking Xu Jingming's path, a smug grin on his face.

He pointed at a tall, stern-faced Cosmic Rank Seven warrior behind him and announced loudly:

"See that? This is our Blood Hammer Clan's most outstanding rookie of this batch, Carlos!"

"He just returned from a cleanup mission—his loot value is far higher than yours!"

His gaze swept over Xu Jingming's bulging tactical backpack and sneered:

"Your pack's so full—did you really pick up a pile of alien trash just to pad your numbers?"

At his words, several members of the Blood Hammer Clan burst into laughter.

The surrounding warriors watching the spectacle also turned curious eyes toward him.

"Wait, don't all of you guys from the Godslayer Martial Palace talk this much?"

Xu Jingming finally stopped walking.

He'd simply had enough of these flies buzzing in his ears.

Before Joel could respond, Xu Jingming continued:

"What if my loot value is higher than his?"

Joel froze, then laughed as if hearing the funniest joke in the universe:

"Hahahaha! You actually dare to take that bait?"

"A Cosmic Rank One rookie dares to compare loot value with our Cosmic Rank Seven?"

He waved his hand grandly:

"Simple!

If your loot value really exceeds Carlos's,

I, Joel, will pay you double the difference in merit points!"

Is there such a good deal?

Xu Jingming paused, then nodded:

"Deal."

In his mind, the demon girl Vera was laughing so hard she couldn't stand straight:

"Where did this idiot come from?"

"Your backpack is full of space rings—how's he supposed to compete?"

Xu Jingming kept walking toward the exchange window, but Joel's eyes sharpened and he called out:

"Wait! What if your loot is less than Carlos's? What then?"

"Just as simple—I'll pay you five million merit points if I lose," Xu Jingming said coolly.

"Five million merit points?!"

Joel was taken aback, then sneered:

"You're bluffing without even making up a story!"

"You're a Cosmic Rank One rookie who's only been here for half a year—where'd you get five million merit points?"

His tone dripped with contempt: "Who'd believe empty words?"

"If you don't believe him, then do you believe me?"

At that moment, a voice as cold as an icy spring rang out from beyond the crowd.

It wasn't loud, yet it carried an uncanny penetrating power, instantly drowning out the hall's noise.

The crowd automatically parted.

A tall, icy beauty stepped forward, her breathtakingly long, slender legs moving with deliberate grace.

She wore a form-fitting black combat suit that accentuated every curve.

Most striking of all were her legs—straight, rounded, impossibly long.

Encased in the black suit, each step seemed to tread upon the heart, cold and radiating power.

Above, her waist was slender enough to be clasped in one hand, her curves bold and commanding.

Her black hair cascaded like a waterfall down to her waist, her skin pale and cool.

Her pale golden eyes swept over the crowd with detached superiority.

It was Lin Qianxue, leader of the Ember Remnant Clan.

"Team Leader Lin!"

"She actually came herself!"

A suppressed murmur rose through the hall.

Many male warriors' gazes involuntarily followed those long legs.

Yet they quickly averted them under the icy aura.

Joel's expression flickered slightly upon seeing Lin Qianxue.

But he quickly recovered, grinning:

"If it isn't Team Leader Lin herself—then of course, no problem."

His gaze lingered for an instant on Lin Qianxue's stunning figure.

A flicker of heat glimmered in his eyes, then he turned to Xu Jingming:

"The bet is binding! Everyone here is a witness!"

"Senior sister."

Seeing Lin Qianxue arrive, Xu Jingming called out.

"Oh? So this is your senior sister?"

Not bad! That figure and face."

"Even among our succubus clan, she's top-tier."

The succubus little girl Vera's exclamation echoed in his mind.

Among the succubus clan, no one lacks looks.

She herself is a first-class beauty.

Yet seeing Lin Qianxue, she still felt a sudden dazzle.

"You've made me search hard—waited two full months for you to return."

Lin Qianxue's pale golden eyes fixed on him, but she said no more:

"First, settle the bet. We'll discuss the details later in my office."

"Understood."

Xu Jingming nodded.

Joel, confident, waved his hand:

"Carlo, you're up!"

The cosmic seventh-rank warrior named Carlo stepped forward.

His face was stern; he took trophies from his space ring and placed them on the appraisal platform before the exchange window.

Hum—

The appraisal screen lit up, scanning rapidly.

"Cosmic seventh-rank Fire Demon's horn, integrity 92%, estimated military merit: 10,000."

"Hellfire crystal stone, seventeen kilograms, estimated military merit: 80,000."

"Damaged standard demon race battle armor, estimated military merit: 16,000."

"......"

One by one, the trophies were identified and valued.

Finally, the screen flashed a total:

【Total valuation: 457,000 military merit】

"Whoa... A cosmic seventh-rank rookie, earning nearly 450,000 military merit in one mission?"

"Truly impressive! This efficiency equals an ordinary squad slaving for half a month!"

"Blood Hammer Squad picked up a real gem this time!"

"......"

A chorus of exclamations rose around them.

Many squad leaders regarded Carlo with admiration.

A cosmic seventh-rank warrior achieving such results clearly possessed strength, courage, and luck.

With a bit of cultivation, he'd surely become a squad pillar.

Joel's smug expression deepened.

He challenged Xu Jingming:

"Well, Xu genius?"

"Admit defeat now, pay me five million military merit, and I'll let you keep some dignity."

Xu Jingming smiled.

Is that all?

It doesn't even reach his pocket change!

Then, before everyone's stunned gazes,

Xu Jingming took down the bulging tactical backpack from his back.

"Whoosh—!!"

He upended the backpack's mouth downward!

In an instant, it seemed as if a spatial torrent had been unleashed!

Clatter-clatter—

A dense swarm of space rings, like a flood of black tide, poured onto the appraisal platform!

One, ten, a hundred, a thousand...

The rings clinked together with crisp sounds, quickly piling into a mound half a person's height!

Silver light flashed, nearly blinding everyone's eyes!

The entire hall fell utterly silent in an instant.