Chapter 1686: I

"Senior Sister Yeli?"

Xu Jingming's heart stirred slightly; he whispered softly to Lin Qianxue in his arms:

"Rest for now. I'm going into the Virtual Universe to meet Senior Sister."

"Mmm..."

Lin Qianxue murmured an indistinct reply.

She wriggled her slender waist restlessly but did not rise or leave.

"This glutton—still can't let go even in this state."

Xu Jingming couldn't help shaking his head with a smile.

Keeping this posture, he split off a thread of his consciousness and entered the Virtual Universe.

Virtual Universe, Tianfeng Mountain, Yeli's private training ground.

It was a vast simulation of starry space.

Countless stars revolved, and in the distance, a star slowly burned.

Yeli stood silently in the void.

Today she wore a fitted black training suit that accentuated her curvaceous figure.

Her jet-black hair was tied into a high ponytail, hanging behind her.

It drifted gently in the Virtual Universe's soft breeze.

Her face was coldly beautiful, as if frozen with ice that had never melted in ten thousand years.

Her eyes were as black as ink, sharp as swords.

Merely standing there, she naturally radiated a piercing sword intent that kept all strangers at bay.

But now,

her icy lips curled into the faintest smile as she gazed at Xu Jingming, who had just materialized.

"Little brother, you've come."

"Senior Sister."

Xu Jingming nodded in greeting, his gaze sweeping over Yeli, silently praising her in his heart.

Senior Sister Yeli's appearance and aura were truly peerless.

Especially that sword-like brilliance—unmatched by any other.

"You've caused quite a stir lately.

Have you already completed the third phase of the Starfire Project?"

Yeli spoke softly, her voice clear as a spring stream.

"Yes, a bit of luck."

Xu Jingming did not deny it.

"That's not something luck alone can achieve.

Royce is furious right now.

Only two more phases remain—you'll win the bet."

A flicker of admiration passed through Yeli's eyes.

But she did not dwell on the topic; instead, she shifted the subject:

"The Primordial Ancient Battlefield has surfaced. You've heard about this, right?"

"Just now learned." Xu Jingming nodded.

"Do you want to go?"

Yeli looked at Xu Jingming. "Many Starfire Project members are preparing to head there.

I've also made plans with several friends to go together.

If you're going, you can join me."

"I'm going too, but I prefer to act alone—no need to trouble Senior Sister."

Xu Jingming grinned.

With his current strength,

there are very few Immortal Stage experts who can threaten him.

"Act alone?"

Yeli's slender brows furrowed slightly. "The Ancient Battlefield is dangerous.

This time, all races across the universe have learned of it—there are many Immortal Stage prodigies.

Acting alone is too risky."

"I know it's dangerous."

Xu Jingming smiled, yet remained unmoved:

"But I have my own path to walk. If you take me with you this time,

what about next time? You can't protect me forever."

Yeli stared at him for several seconds, then suddenly smiled, praising him:

"Fine. If that's how you feel, I won't insist.

But if you encounter any trouble in the Ancient Battlefield you can't handle, remember to contact me.

Starfire Project members have a special encrypted communication channel.

Your smart assistant should already have it activated."

"Thank you, Senior Sister."

Xu Jingming sincerely thanked him.

Ye Li, though outwardly cold, truly took good care of him as her junior brother.

She was the type who was cold outside but warm inside.

After finishing the main business, the two chatted a while longer about the ancient battlefield's intelligence and precautions.

Ye Li then proactively ended the communication.

The virtual scene dissolved, but Xu Jingming did not leave the virtual universe.

"The Tai Chu Ancient Battlefield—a place teeming with Immortal Realm experts."

Xu Jingming's eyes burned with battlelust:

"But before I go, I still need to prepare further."

He activated his thoughts and ordered:

"Vera, tally my current assets."

"Got it!"

Vera's cheerful voice rang out, and soon she reported:

"Master, you currently possess 2.174 million crystals and 321.33 billion military merits."

Xu Jingming nodded slightly.

Over the past year and more, he had fought ferociously on the extraterrestrial battlefield.

He destroyed ten alien planetary fortresses and eradicated numerous insectoid outposts on the Seven Stars Continent.

He converted the earned military merits and war spoils into crystals.

Accumulated together, they had reached over two million!

In addition, there were over three hundred billion military merits.

His assets were by no means insignificant.

"With this capital, I have more than enough to upgrade my gear."

Xu Jingming pondered for a moment, then said:

"But first, allocate a portion to Blue Star."

"Vera, teleport me to the Blue Star villa."

"Yes!"

In the virtual universe, Blue Star, Magic City, Xu Family Estate Villa.

In the living room, light and shadow flickered, and Xu Jingming's figure materialized.

"Jingming!"

"You're back!"

Inside the villa,

Ling Shuang and the other women nearly always kept a sliver of their consciousness linked to the virtual universe.

The moment Xu Jingming appeared, their faces lit up with delight.

Although Xu Jingming was on the extraterrestrial battlefield,

through the virtual universe, they could still meet frequently.

Yet every meeting still filled their hearts with joy.

"Mm, I came back to see you."

Xu Jingming smiled and pulled Ling Shuang, who rushed forward first, into his arms, his gaze sweeping over the women.

Since his last departure from Blue Star, nearly four years had passed.

With abundant resources and guidance from Immortal Realm teachers, the women had advanced rapidly.

Ling Shuang, Su Qingli, and several others had reached Starlight Peak, just one step away from the Star Realm.

The rest of the women, even the lowest-ranked, were all at Starlight Stage Five!

"Shuang'er, how has things been on Blue Star lately?"

Xu Jingming asked Ling Shuang in his arms.

"Everything is fine."

Ling Shuang rose from Xu Jingming's embrace, smoothed her slightly disheveled hair, and said seriously:

"Teacher Nikki still hasn't sent word.

But Lord Noah has arranged other Immortal Realm teachers for us—more than enough to guide our cultivation.

Blue Star's defense system is also continuously improving.

We have now deployed three 'Planetary Energy Shields,' sufficient to repel attacks below Cosmic Stage Seven.

Also, Mu Feng, Xinghe, and Xinglan all miss you terribly and often ask when Father will return."

Mentioning their children, Ling Shuang's cold and beautiful face softened with a gentle smile.

Xu Mufeng.

The son of Ling Shuang and Xu Jingming.

Hearing this, Xu Jingming's heart warmed, and he nodded:

"You've worked hard."

While he trained outside, Blue Star's affairs were entrusted entirely to Ling Shuang and the others.

Fortunately, they had managed everything with meticulous order.

"Lord Noah has been quite considerate toward us."

Ling Shuang added: "He didn't just assign teachers—he also allocated substantial resources to Blue Star to aid our development."

"Last time you broke through to the Immortal rank, he even sent over a grand gift."

"Mm."

A trace of emotion flickered through Xu Jingming's eyes.

The Nation Lord of Noah, a peak-Immortal powerhouse.

Back when he had first entered the cosmos and arrived at the Noah Sacred Ground, this was still an existence he had to look up to.

Now, with his own strength, he could probably kill the man with a casual flick.

"The Noah Empire has done Blue Star a great kindness.

If he runs into trouble on his side in the future, I can lend him a hand."

Xu Jingming thought to himself, then opened his mouth:

"The reason I've come back this time is to transfer a sum of funds to you all."

He looked at the women and said with a smile: "Roughly 500,000 crystal coins."

"500,000, and in crystal coins?!"

The living room instantly fell silent.

All the women widened their beautiful eyes, their faces filled with shock.

Crystal coins!

The highest currency of trade among the human race in the cosmos!

Last time Xu Jingming left Blue Star, he had only left behind a few dozen crystal coins.

And it had already sped up Blue Star's development by a huge margin!

Yet now, he opens his mouth and it's 500,000!

Isn't this a bit too exaggerated?