Chapter 1633: Equipment Major Upgrade! Next Target!

"First! We're number one!"

"Haha, let's see how those Blood Hammer bastards dare to be arrogant now!"

"Tsk tsk, forty billion military merits! This is insane!"

"......"

After Joel left in disarray, Du Ke and the others could no longer hold back their cheers.

But Lai Er did not join in immediately.

Her sultry eyes darted back and forth between Xu Jingming and Lin Qianxue.

Gossip burned fiercely in her heart.

She blinked, a mischievous smile spreading across her face as she drawled:

"Captain, what's going on between you two...?"

At these words, Du Ke, Shi Shan, and You Yue also turned curious glances their way.

Lin Qianxue's pale, lovely face instantly flushed crimson.

Yet she did not pull away; instead, she pressed herself even closer to Xu Jingming.

Soft, tender light shimmered in her pale golden eyes.

This delicate, feminine demeanor was utterly unlike her usual cold, aloof Bingshan image.

The four members of Wildfire Team stared in stunned silence, wondering if they were hallucinating.

Feeling the soft warmth of her arm around his waist.

Xu Jingming smiled and said plainly:

"There's nothing to hide—my senior sister is with me now."

Though he had already guessed seven or eight out of ten from their intimate posture.

Yet hearing Xu Jingming admit it outright.

Du Ke still couldn't help but gasp, blurting out:

"Holy shit! Xu brother, you're truly incredible!"

Daring to wrap his arm around the Captain's waist—and making her wear that expression.

This achievement was even more shocking than defeating Joel!

"Alright, alright, so this is how you play it, huh?

You've kept us in the dark long enough!

To celebrate our Captain going single—and to celebrate Yujin's rise to the top—double joy!

You two main characters, aren't you going to treat us?"

"Dinner! You must treat us!"

Lai Er's eyes sparkled with a teasing, goading gleam.

"I was already planning it.

Tonight, we're going to the fortress's most expensive 'Star Dome Banquet'—no one leaves until they're drunk!"

Xu Jingming nodded readily.

Add to that the reward from the Nine Swords Dominator.

He still had 38.2 billion military merits sitting in his account.

Why not use it?

"Generous!"

Du Ke burst into laughter and slapped Xu Jingming's shoulder hard:

"It's settled then! We've got to celebrate properly tonight!"

Lin Qianxue leaned against Xu Jingming's side.

Listening to his plans, a faint smile curled at her red lips.

She bore none of her usual cold, decisive demeanor as Captain.

As if everything were now left in the hands of the man beside her.

This gentle, submissive demeanor once again left those who knew her well silently astonished.

Their admiration for Xu Jingming surged like an endless river.

Xu Jingming and Lin Qianxue returned together.

Not only had they propelled Yujin Squad to the top with astonishing military merits, but rumors also spread that he had won the heart of the Bingshan beauty.

Like a whirlwind, the news swept through the entire 102nd Planet Fortress the next day.

In the mission hall, training grounds, leisure zones... everywhere, people were talking about it.

"Damn! Forty billion military merits? That's insane!"

"Not just that! Someone swears they saw Lady Lin clinging to Xu Jingming the whole time—she looked... tsk, like a completely different person!"

"My goddess! How could she... sigh!"

"......"

Many officers who secretly admired Lin Qianxue heard the news.

They felt their hearts shattered, sinking into gloom.

The fortress's taverns saw a noticeable boost in business.

As for the outside chatter, Xu Jingming and Lin Qianxue paid it no mind.

After the celebration banquet, the two returned to Lin Qianxue's quarters in the fortress.

In a few days, the Hundred Squad Rankings would be settled.

When the Void Source Crystal is obtained, Lin Qianxue can attempt to break through to the Eternal Stage.

So she quickly entered a state of seclusion and meditation, adjusting her body and mind.

To make final preparations for the impending breakthrough.

Xu Jingming, meanwhile, began handling his own affairs.

With ample military merit, he first upgraded his equipment.

First, the spaceship.

He had grown tired of the speed of the A1-class spaceship.

After carefully screening the Military Merit Mall,

he spent 20 billion military merit to purchase a brand-new SS1-class spaceship, the "Star Scar."

The ship had sleek, elegant lines and a dark silver hull.

Equipped with the latest warp engine and spatial stabilization device, its top speed reached two hundred times the speed of light!

Returning from the Star Dome Academy headquarters to Blue Star would take only half a month—truly incredibly convenient.

In addition, he transferred the 4.8 billion military merit he owed Lin Qianxue.

With interest, totaling 5 billion military merit, all at once.

Although his senior sister was now his woman,

even brothers must settle accounts clearly; what must be repaid must be repaid.

This was principle, and also his respect for this bond.

Also, the Ninefold Lei Yu Spear.

He spent 11 billion military merit to upgrade it from SSS9-grade to SSS6-grade.

The original 3,600 "Thunder Scale Blades" forming the spear were directly expanded to 14,400!

At the same time, the Ninefold Lei Yu Spear gained a new ability.

Thunder Blade Realm!

The 14,400 thunder blades scattered simultaneously, forming a terrifying Thunder Blade Realm.

Its power rivaled a T1-level combat technique!

But after all this spending, his account was left with only 2.2 billion military merit.

"Earn money fast, spend it faster," Xu Jingming couldn't help shaking his head and laughing.

The stronger one's power, the higher the level one interacts with, the more astronomical the resources required.

And not just military merit—his system panel's Source Points were also nearly depleted.

But how to obtain Source Points next was a problem.

Originally, having Vera cast the Allure Divine Art to attract demon clans for killing had been sufficient.

He thought the rate of Source Point acquisition had been fast enough.

But after gaining hundreds of billions of Source Points in one go within the Starfall Secret Realm,

he had grown somewhat dismissive of this method.

But insect races weren't easy to encounter.

"Vera, which battlefield zone has the most insect races?"

Xu Jingming mused.

The petite soul-form of the succubus girl immediately appeared in the room, grinning.

Her tiny wings fluttered lightly, eager:

"What's up, my dear master? Are you thinking of getting beaten again?"

If so, just let me handle it—I'll make you perfectly satisfied!"

"Hmm? Feeling itchy again?" Xu Jingming raised an eyebrow.

That Vera.

Whether because she was a Dominator-class soul,

the Erosion Mark's effect wasn't as strong as it had been on Haley or Lin.

She still retained her self-awareness and occasionally acted up.

Of course, with the Erosion Mark's ability to sense emotions and control life and death,

Vera couldn't possibly rebel.

"Ahem."

Hearing this, Vera immediately shrank her neck, dropped her playful grin, and said seriously:

"If you want to know this, you shouldn't ask me—you should ask Haley."

Xu Jingming paused, then suddenly understood.

Right—how could he have forgotten Haley?

He thought of her, and the space beside him rippled slightly.

The insect queen Haley, with three pairs of transparent wings and reduced to a height of 1.7 meters, appeared silently in the room.

She bowed her head respectfully, her mental wave gentle and clear: "Master."

Since leaving the Starfall Secret Realm,

Xu Jingming had kept Haley inside the World Ring, carrying her with him at all times.

With a mere thought, he could summon her forth.

"Haley, which region of the Outer Battlefield do your insect races frequent most?" Xu Jingming asked directly.