Chapter 1558: Shocked Wildfire Squad! Setting Out Again!

Three hours later, in the Sky of Leisure, the top-tier viewing suite.

Beyond the massive floor-to-ceiling windows stretched the dazzling night view of the planetary fortress, the distant deep stars spread like ink-colored silk.

Inside the suite, a purple-crystal dining table large enough to seat over ten people was laden with rare delicacies.

At this moment, Duke and the others had all arrived.

"Whoa, Brother Xu, you're really going all out with this banquet!"

Duke stared with eyes like copper bells at the dishes on the table, their rich aromas wafting, and couldn't help but whistle:

"That's 'Dragon Scale Stew,' right? One serving costs thirty thousand military merits!"

"And this—'Star Core Marrow Wine'—this flask alone is at least fifty thousand military merits!"

"This entire meal must cost at least five million military merits?"

Duke's voice trembled slightly.

Though he was a Two-Star War General with accumulated military merits, he still couldn't bring himself to waste them like this.

"Captain, don't be so formal with Brother Jingming."

"He just made a fortune off Jior, so he owes you this meal."

Lai Er wore a dark red long dress, her high ponytail still sharp and neat.

She lifted a cup of amber-colored liquor, her crimson lips curving slightly, eyes glinting with amusement:

"Over forty million military merits."

"Tsk tsk, Jior must be so furious he can't even eat his dinner now."

"Oh? You all know already?"

Xu Jingming, seated, was slightly surprised.

"Of course we do."

Lai Er giggled, her expression brimming with charm:

"You made such a scene in the Exchange Hall—over twenty million military merits in loot."

"Plus the 'generous gift' of forty million from Captain Jior—it's already spread throughout the entire fortress."

She leaned forward slightly, her bright eyes fixed on Xu Jingming with unhidden curiosity:

"By the way, I didn't expect you'd gone back to the Outer Battlefield again."

"And in just two months, how did you accumulate so many military merits?"

"Did you actually wipe out an alien clan's stronghold?"

At these words, Duke, Shi Shan, and the others immediately turned curious glances his way.

Even You Yue, who had been silently seated by the window, lifted her gaze slightly, her cold, clear eyes landing on Xu Jingming.

Facing everyone's stares, Xu Jingming did not hide anything.

He subtly shifted his thoughts, slowly releasing the aura concealed by the Invisible Divine Armor.

Boom—

A surge of energy, far stronger than a Cosmic Stage One, quietly spread through the room!

"This… is Cosmic Stage Three?!"

Duke was stunned, "Didn't you only have Cosmic Stage One power two months ago?"

"Lucky break, some opportunities."

"My current combat power is roughly around Two-Star War General level."

"Going out once, earning twenty million military merits isn't too hard for me."

Xu Jingming smiled faintly.

He still did not reveal his true strength.

"Two-Star War General?!"

Everyone was stunned.

Two months ago, Xu Jingming had been strong, but only at Cosmic Stage Eight combat power.

Now, he had leapt directly to Two-Star War General!

This was simply too exaggerated.

And with the loot as proof, no one doubted he was lying.

"Two-Star War General? I spent four thousand years to reach this level!"

"You did it in less than a year?"

Duke felt like his life was a lie.

No way—were the Supreme Sovereign's disciples really this terrifying?

Even Commander Lin Qianxue hadn't been this strong before!

"Monster… truly a monster…"

He muttered to himself, then burst into loud laughter, slapping Xu Jingming's shoulder hard:

"Good! Excellent! With a genius like you in Wildfire Squad, we all look good!"

Lai Er snapped back to herself, took a small sip of liquor, and her beautiful eyes flickered with complexity:

"No wonder you got so many military merits."

"With Two-Star War General combat power, you're certainly qualified to hunt alone on the Outer Battlefield."

She paused, looking at Xu Jingming, her tone tinged with probing:

"You didn't just invite us here for dinner, did you?"

Xu Jingming nodded, his expression growing more serious:

"I've called you all here because I have something important to say."

His gaze swept over the group, and he spoke slowly:

"I'm leaving the Wildfire Team to operate alone."

As his words fell, the private room fell silent.

Duke's smile froze slightly; Lai Er's hand paused mid-grip on his wine cup.

Shi Shan scratched his head, as if still processing it.

You Yue lifted her eyes, her cold gaze meeting Xu Jingming's for an instant before lowering them again.

"Operate alone..."

Duke fell silent for a moment, then exhaled heavily and grinned:

"Fine!"

He raised the wine cup on the table, his voice loud:

"With your current strength, you truly deserve to stand on your own!"

Though he said this, a flicker of reluctance passed through his eyes.

Though they'd only known each other for half a year.

But honestly, Xu Jingming's personality suited him perfectly.

Yet he never expected they'd part so soon.

Lai Er sighed softly, her tone tinged with a hint of pique:

"We've only worked together for half a year—how did you grow so strong so fast that you're ready to fly solo?"

She shook her head, then smiled again, raising her cup:

"Never mind, everyone has their own path.

Sister wishes you great success—may you make a name for yourself on the Outer Battlefield!"

"Thank you, Sister Lai Er."

Xu Jingming raised his cup in return.

Shi Shan also raised his cup with a simple grin, his voice deep and rumbling:

"Brother Xu, if you ever need help, just call out!"

"I will."

Xu Jingming smiled.

You Yue slowly raised her wine cup as well.

She still said nothing.

She merely raised her cup slightly toward Xu Jingming, then tilted her head back and drained the wine in one gulp.

Deep within those cold eyes, a faint ripple seemed to flicker.

Once, she had looked down on this newcomer from Universe Rank One.

She thought he dragged down the team's mission efficiency.

Yet in barely over half a year, he had grown to a level she could no longer reach.

This disparity left her heart tangled with mixed emotions.

The meal lasted three hours.

Laughter and chatter filled the room as they recalled their joint battles over the past half year, the atmosphere lively.

Only when the starlight beyond the window gradually dimmed did the banquet finally end.

"Let's go! Stay in touch!"

Duke hugged Xu Jingming tightly, then strode off with Shi Shan.

Lai Er walked up beside Xu Jingming, her red lips brushing his ear, her breath sweet:

"Little Brother Jingming, if you ever need anything, remember to come find Sister, okay~"

She laughed softly and departed with a swaying gait.

You Yue gave Xu Jingming a slight nod—her farewell.

Then she dissolved into a shadow and vanished at the end of the corridor.

Xu Jingming stood at the doorway of the private room, watching the retreating backs of the others, exhaling softly.

His half-year team career had come to an end.

"Now, it's time for me to act alone."

Xu Jingming did not linger.

He turned and left Xiao Yao Tian, heading straight for the planetary fortress's spaceport.

"Vera, launch the ship. Destination—Putrid Poison Bog."

Xu Jingming took out the Dark Lord spaceship and stepped into the control room, giving his order.

"Got it~"

The phantom form of the succubus girl Vera appeared before the control panel.

Her small hands moved swiftly; the Dark Lord's engines ignited silently, gliding slowly away from its berth.

The next instant.

Boom!

The ship's rear spewed forth a deep blue flame, accelerating abruptly.

It became a streak of black light, tearing through the cosmic void, racing toward the depths of the stars!

This time, I won't return until I've reached the pinnacle of the cosmos!