Chapter 1561: The Only Five-Star General! I

Nine days later.

After passing through several massive cosmic star gates for ultra-long-distance teleportation.

The Dark Lord spaceship finally arrived at the frontline hub of the Third Combat Zone: the Aries Planet Fortress.

Following the planet's guidance signal, the ship slowly landed at the designated aerospace port.

The cabin door opened, and Xu Jingming stepped out in a black battle suit, his posture upright, his aura contained like a deep abyss.

The moment his feet touched the ground, a figure rushed forward to meet him.

"Respected Five-Star General Mr. Xu, welcome to Aries Planet."

The voice was crisp and melodious.

The speaker was a female staff member clad in a white standard battle armor, her features lovely, her figure tall and slender.

She wore a professional smile as she introduced herself:

"I am the receptionist Laura; I will guide you through your check-in process. Please follow me."

Xu Jingming's gaze swept lightly.

This staff member named Laura had reached Cosmic Ninth Stage.

But she was clearly not a frontline combatant—more like an administrative or logistics officer.

"Thank you for your trouble," Xu Jingming nodded and followed her steps.

The two walked one behind the other, passing through the bustling port corridors.

"Mr. Xu, you are the last batch of conscripts to arrive."

As she led the way, Laura volunteered:

"So far, over thirteen hundred people have checked in, mostly Eight-Star and Nine-Star Generals..."

She paused, glancing sideways at Xu Jingming, a hint of unmistakable curiosity flashing in her eyes:

"You are the only Five-Star General among them."

The sole Five-Star General among over a thousand—indeed, unusual.

Xu Jingming offered no further explanation, silently pondering in his heart.

The conscripts were all Eight-Star and Nine-Star Generals—so Lin Qianxue must be here too.

Seeing his silence, Laura did not press further and continued:

"You will be assigned to a temporary residential zone; specific mission details will be announced collectively once all personnel have arrived."

"Is there any insider information you can reveal about this gathering?" Xu Jingming asked casually.

Laura shook her head with an apologetic smile:

"I'm merely a logistics warrior from Aries Planet, temporarily reassigned to reception duties—I know nothing of core intelligence."

Xu Jingming nodded and said no more.

Clearly, the detailed intelligence on the Starfall Secret Realm is of extremely high secrecy.

The two walked onward until they reached a tranquil residential area.

The area consisted of individual silver-white villas, offering exceptional privacy.

"This is the temporary accommodation prepared specifically for all conscripts."

Laura pointed to a distant silver-gray villa:

"That is your assigned location; the smart access permissions have been activated. I'll take you there now."

The two walked along the main road.

Along the way, they occasionally encountered other figures, each radiating powerful qi, eyes sharp as hawks.

Clearly, all were elite generals summoned here—none were ordinary individuals.

Xu Jingming even sensed several subtle spiritual forces scanning him.

But with the Invisible Divine Armor on him, they naturally obtained no information.

"Our Assassination Divine Temple people are finally gathered again."

"Haha, isn't that true? In this outer battlefield, this is the only chance we get to reunite."

On the open-air pavilion of the second floor of a villa in the residential area, several generals clad in dark red battle armor were chatting and laughing.

They were all from the Assassination Divine Temple, and now summoned together, they naturally clustered.

Among them was Jior, commander of the Blood Hammer Warband.

"I heard you've been making big waves on Planet Fortress 102, Jior—almost pushing the Ember Warband into second place?"

Someone mentioned Jior and asked with a laugh.

The bald, burly Jior raised his wine cup and grinned:

"Lin Qianxue's strength is decent, but when it comes to leading a warband, she's still too green.

In half a year, the Hundred Warband Rankings will be finalized—my Blood Hammer Warband will be the undisputed number one."

"Take it easy—Lin Qianxue is here specifically for the Starfall Secret Realm.

Don't give her a chance to rack up military merits and pull off a comeback."

The man seated at the head spoke up, his face as rugged as stone.

"Brother Luo, rest assured—we're far ahead in military merits now.

Unless Lin Qianxue finds that rumored inheritance inside the Secret Realm, she can't possibly turn the tide."

Upon hearing the man speak, Jior quickly replied respectfully.

Luo Si, Nine-Star General.

In strength, he even surpasses Lin Qianxue.

Among the Cosmic-tier ranks of the Assassination Divine Temple, he is considered a leading figure.

"That's good."

Ross nodded.

The Starfall Secret Realm has opened dozens of times; everyone always rushes in for the legacy—but who has ever claimed it?

Lin Qianxue's chance of finding the legacy is virtually zero.

"Jiao er suppressed her at Fortress 102,

now that we've gathered here on Aries Star, we must crush the Eternal Star Alliance!"

A battle general from the Godslayer Martial Temple chuckled.

"Exactly! Especially that Lin Qianxue—she must not be allowed to steal the spotlight!"

The others joined in laughter, the atmosphere lively.

Externally, humanity has always been extremely united.

But internally, the three major human factions compete with each other—it's been standard on the frontier battlefields for ages.

Now that so many battle generals have gathered here, the hidden rivalries will only intensify.

This is precisely what humanity's high command wishes to see.

Without competition, humanity's internal ranks would become stagnant water.

At that moment, Jiao er's gaze idly swept toward the window and caught Xu Jingming passing by on the street.

He frowned, a flicker of confusion in his eyes:

"Huh? Why is he here?"

A companion beside him followed his gaze and saw Xu Jingming's youthful face; he asked in puzzlement:

"What's wrong?"

"That's Xu Jingming—a mere Universe Rank One brat, and also Lin Qianxue's junior disciple.

I don't know why he's here."

Jiao er gave a brief explanation.

"Oh? A Universe Rank One brat?"

"That doesn't make sense—the summoning orders should only have called for Eighth or Ninth Star battle generals."

The others also looked puzzled.

Battle generals are at least Universe Peak.

When did a Universe Rank One slip in?

"He probably wasn't summoned by the order."

Jiao er shook his head, guessing: "Back at the planetary fortress, Lin Qianxue always showed special care for this junior disciple.

Now she's probably uneasy and brought him along as a lackey."

"You can do that?"

The others found it strangely novel.

"Heh, coming to Aries Star on a mandatory summoning mission—and bringing a dead weight?"

Jiao er shook his head with scorn: "Lin Qianxue has really regressed.

But then again… it gives me an opportunity..."

A flash of cold light gleamed in Jiao er's eyes.

That forty-million military merit "old debt"—he'd never forgotten it!

He'd planned to settle accounts back at Fortress 102, but now he'd run into him here.

"I have old grudges with Xu Jingming. Stay seated—I'll go deal with him."

Jiao er set down his cup, stood up, and wore a cruel smile.

This isn't Fortress 102—so long as no one dies, Aries Star imposes no restrictions on combat.

"A mere Universe Rank One? Worth your personal attention?" someone asked in confusion.

Jiao er sneered:

"You don't know—he's a weird bastard.

Last time at the fortress, he and Lin Qianxue teamed up to swindle me out of forty million military merits.

Now that I've run into him, it's the perfect chance to settle the score!"

With that, he leapt from the second-floor balcony.