Chapter 1607

"It's really going to take this long?"

Xu Jingming frowned.

He had assumed that enslaving the Queen of the Insect Race would grant him an endless supply of troops for harvesting Source Points.

But judging by this incubation time, it's nowhere near enough for me to kill!

Yet, upon further thought.

The Golden Armor Beetles have strength approaching Eighth- or Ninth-Star War Generals, enough to match ordinary Immortal Stage One beings.

Haili can incubate one every thousand years—this ability is already monstrous.

"Master, my incubation speed is already extremely fast among the Insect Race."

As if sensing Xu Jingming's disappointment, Haili quickly added:

"Ordinary Insect Queen incubation times for warriors are several times longer."

"However, there are ways to accelerate incubation speed."

"Oh?"

Xu Jingming became interested. "What method?"

"Collect as many Insect Race warrior corpses as possible."

Haili's sapphire compound eyes flickered with sharp brilliance:

"The Hive can recycle the corpses of kin, extracting their life essence and genetic templates."

"Thus, the time to incubate new warriors will be drastically reduced."

"If corpses are abundant, incubation time can be shortened to as little as one-tenth of the original!"

Xu Jingming's eyes lit up:

"If I were to kill all your current Insect Race warriors,

how long would it take you to incubate them again after recycling the corpses?"

Haili calculated briefly, then replied respectfully:

"Approximately one hundred years."

She paused, then added:

"Shall I summon them now?"

Her tone was calm.

As if she were speaking not of warriors she had incubated, but of recyclable materials.

In fact, that's exactly what they were.

Though the Insect Race warriors were incubated by her,

their genetic templates were stored in the Hive—not descendants in the traditional sense.

She felt little emotion toward these warriors.

In the Insect Race worldview, warriors were merely consumables, serving only war and evolution.

"Not yet," Xu Jingming waved his hand.

Killing these Insect Race warriors would yield only another five or six hundred million Source Points.

For him now, that's of little use.

Better to keep them alive so Haili maintains her baseline combat strength.

Besides, while she can't kill her own warriors, she can kill warriors incubated by other Insect Queens later.

Then have Haili recycle them—killing two birds with one stone!

"I only hope I encounter more Insect Race later."

Muttering this to himself, Xu Jingming shifted his thoughts.

A pale blue virtual panel unfolded in his mind.

【Source Points】: 13.84 billion

"No wonder they're the strongest in the Insect Race.

They just handed me six billion Source Points at once."

Xu Jingming smiled.

A great battle, abundant gains.

But this is still far from enough.

"I hope I encounter more Starfall Beasts or Insect Race later."

Xu Jingming activated his mind, and Haili was absorbed into the World Ring.

The Thunderwing spread behind him.

His entire body shot forward like a black lightning bolt toward the Starfall Divine Palace.

This was the advantage of having a World Ring.

Otherwise, he'd have to wait until his senior sister awoke before proceeding.

Two days later,

Lin Qianxue slowly awakened from her slumber, opening her eyes gradually.

Her pale golden eyes first gazed blankly at the carved wooden ceiling above, then turned toward the window.

Through the half-open window, a lush forest swayed gently in the breeze.

This tranquil, peaceful scene stood in stark contrast to the memory of the insect sea battle and the thunderous roar of Lei Ting.

"Where… is this?"

She whispered softly, her voice hoarse from waking.

She tried to push herself up.

The silver battle suit rustled slightly with her movement, outlining a breathtaking curve.

Especially those straight, slender jade legs.

Now bent and pressed together, the suit's fabric glowed with a soft luster in the morning light.

"Hm? Senior sister, you're awake?"

Outside,

Xu Jingming, flying at breakneck speed, noticed the situation inside the World Ring.

"Haley, take over for me."

"Yes, Master."

Swish—

Haley's form replaced Xu Jingming's position, wearing the World Ring, and flew toward Starfall Divine Palace.

Xu Jingming appeared inside the small pavilion within the World Ring.

"Senior sister, you're awake." He pushed open the door and stepped in.

"Little brother?"

Lin Qianxue turned her head, a look of confusion crossing her exquisite face:

"Where are we?"

"Why do I feel better than ever before?"

Logically, after consuming the Extreme Spirit Pill—a forbidden drug that burns the life core's origin—

Even if she barely survived, she should have fallen into a prolonged state of exhaustion.

Yet now, she felt no weakness at all.

Instead, her body felt light, her spirit full and vibrant.

"Inside my World Ring."

Xu Jingming walked to the bedside and smiled as he explained:

"After you passed out, I brought you in here.

As for your condition, it's because I gave you Moon Spring."

"Moon Spring?"

Lin Qianxue's beautiful eyes widened slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing her gaze.

As a direct disciple of the Frost Crown Lord, she had naturally heard of this SSS9-grade healing elixir.

It was exceedingly rare even across the entire human realm—priceless, unavailable for sale.

"Moon Spring can heal physical and soul injuries, but it does nothing for cracks in the life core."

Xu Jingming's voice carried regret.

"It's fine."

Lin Qianxue smiled faintly, her Bai Xi, delicate face glowing brightly in the morning light:

"This is already the best outcome.

The life core's injury—once we leave the secret realm, my teacher can fix it."

How easily could a life core injury be fixed?

Even her Frost Crown teacher might not have a solution.

Yet long before using the Extreme Spirit Pill, she had already accepted the consequences.

Xu Jingming fell silent at this.

He wasn't foolish—he knew Lin Qianxue was merely comforting him.

But Moon Spring was already the best healing elixir he possessed.

If Moon Spring couldn't help, he had no other options.

Just then—

"Tsk tsk.

A mere crack in the life core? Solving it would be effortless."

A playful, sweet voice rang out.

A flash of pink-purple light.

Vera, the succubus little girl, floated out from Xu Jingming's consciousness, hovering midair.

She swung her feet gently and said carefree:

"Aren't you still carrying a Life Core inside you? Try using it."

Since their first meeting, she had noticed Xu Jingming's astonishing stamina.

After spending more time with him, she had finally pinpointed the uniqueness of this Life Core.

"Can the Life Core be used this way?" Xu Jingming's eyes lit up.

"I'm only saying it's possible—it might not work," Vera shrugged her small hands.

"As long as there's a chance."

Xu Jingming hurriedly said, "What should I do next?"

Lin Qianxue lifted her head slightly, hope rising in her beautiful eyes.

"Simple."

Vera extended her slender index finger, pointing at Lin Qianxue:

"To guide life core energy, physical contact is required."

You grasp her hand.

Then you actively guide the power of the Life Core into her body.

Remember, the first time you enter, don't exert too much force—be gentle, progress gradually."

"Hm?"

Xu Jingming raised his swordlike brows.

He always felt Vera's tone of description was not quite serious.