Chapter 737: Sakura Country Plan! Departure!

April 19, 3: 0 PM.

The day was clear and cloudless, perfect for travel.

After spending four full days in Metropolis, Xu Jingming prepared to return to Dayangzhou.

Outside the villa, Song Qiuyun and Jiang Chu's faces were heavy with reluctance.

Four short days were not enough to ease their longing.

"Don't miss me too much—I'll be back in a month."

Xu Jingming ruffled both girls' heads gently.

If he had a choice, he would gladly stay in Daxia with them.

But the seventh stage was merely a beginning for him—he was far from ready to rest.

His ability points on the system panel were exhausted; only in Dayangzhou could he harvest them more efficiently.

"Once you have a Black Obsidian-class fighter, it'll be fine."

Ling Shuang smiled. "Then you could travel to Dayangzhou anytime, even from Metropolis."

The Black Obsidian-class fighter's cruising speed was twice the speed of sound.

Its adjustable speed reached four times the speed of sound; its maximum speed hit a terrifying eight times the speed of sound.

At maximum speed, flying from Metropolis to Dayangzhou—kilometers round trip—took just over two hours.

"Black Obsidian-class fighter? I'll have to pay more attention to that."

Xu Jingming nodded slightly.

But for now, the Chixiao-class fighter was sufficient.

"S-level, are you leaving?"

At that moment, Eva's holographic projection stumbled out of her smart bracer, yawning.

Xu Jingming teased, "Looks like you didn't sleep well last night?"

Eva was an AI lifeform—she didn't sleep; this was merely her way of showing fatigue.

"It's not just last night!"

Eva widened her eyes and began counting on her fingers:

"The night before last, and the night before that—I didn't sleep well either!

S-level, you're having fun, but I've been working day and night repairing damaged energy modules!

Worse, you won't even let my sub-units enter your bedroom!

That's too much!"

Eva started with complaints, but her topic gradually veered off.

Ling Shuang, Song Qiuyun, and Jiang Chu all looked slightly uneasy.

The events of these past nights were so intense even they felt embarrassed recalling them.

What if Eva had seen them?

Though they had recorded some clips and stored them in their space rings...

"Yes, yes, Eva, you've worked hard."

Xu Jingming hurriedly said, "Once we're back in Dayangzhou, I'll let you rest properly."

Eva's lips curled slightly upward; she waved her small hand.

A small flying robot emerged from the villa, carrying neatly stacked energy modules, and gently placed them on the ground.

"Twenty-four energy modules—all fully repaired."

Eva puffed out her modest chest proudly.

"Oh?"

Xu Jingming's eyes lit up. "Does that mean we can open a civilization relic now?

I remember you said fifty energy modules could open one."

With the thirty-one he already had, he now possessed fifty-five intact energy modules.

"Technically yes, but that relic is far away—in the North Pole."

Eva hesitated. "And it's just a research relic—opening it probably won't yield anything valuable."

The twin-tailed girl added:

"I suggest gathering ten more modules—then we'll have sixty-five total.

With those, I can open a research base left behind by a ninth-stage spiritual ability user.

Its value far exceeds that North Pole relic."

"The Martial Arts Guild headquarters has no more energy modules. Gathering enough will take time," Xu Jingming mused.

Energy modules were rare; intact ones sold out instantly even at Lei Ting's Guild store.

Damaged ones were ignored, but he'd bought every last one at headquarters—none remained.

At that moment, Ling Shuang pondered and spoke:

"The Mocheng branch probably has some damaged modules. We can check the warehouse after returning to Dayangzhou."

"Oh? Then we might still scrape together enough."

Xu Jingming nodded and asked Eva: "Where is this spiritual ability user's relic?"

"Wait, let me check."

A holographic map of Blue Planet appeared before them.

After comparing it with the database's terrain data, Eva pointed to an area near Daxia's map.

"A long, worm-like region," she said:

"Though a thousand years have passed and the terrain changed, this civilization base is likely within Sakura Country."

"Sakura Country?" Xu Jingming's eyebrows rose.

How convenient—he'd planned to go there anyway.

"I'll need to ask Sakura Rin later how her mission is progressing."

Xu Jingming thought silently.

"Jingming, you're going to Sakura Country?" Song Qiuyun blinked.

"Yes. First back to Dayangzhou, then Sakura Country," Xu Jingming nodded.

Even if he didn't gather enough modules this trip, he had to go to Sakura Country.

After all, he was eager for the ferocious beasts stockpiled there.

"Then wish you a safe journey. Be careful in Sakura Country—

Though local experts are few, American experts are stationed there, so stay alert.

Song Qiuyun stepped forward, her long, shapely legs carrying her to Xu Jingming, and carefully adjusted his collar.

Though her heart ached with reluctance, she knew:

A prodigy like Xu Jingming shouldn't be tied to women like them.

"Don't worry. A tiny place like Sakura Country won't hurt me."

Xu Jingming pinched Song Qiuyun's soft cheek.

He didn't favor one over the other—he also ruffled Jiang Chu's head.

Then, a flash from his space ring—the Chixiao-class fighter materialized before the villa.

The hatch opened; Xu Jingming leapt aboard first, followed by Ling Shuang.

"Qiuyun, Chu Xuan, we're off," Xu Jingming said goodbye.

"Alright, but don't forget to bring Shuang-jie back with you in a month," Jiang Chu giggled.

Beside her, Song Qiuyun's face flushed faintly.

"Got it," Xu Jingming grinned.

Ling Shuang instinctively crossed her arms over her chest, grumbling:

"You're still acting like a baby. Next time, I'll do the same to you!"

Xu Jingming nearly laughed out loud.

Like him, Jiang Chu was an orphan.

Perhaps that's why she felt an inexplicable attachment to Ling Shuang—someone slightly older, especially regarding certain things.

Though he was attached to those things too...

"See you in a month."

Shaking his head, Xu Jingming stopped thinking further and waved goodbye.

Under the gaze of Song Qiuyun and Jiang Chu, the fighter's hatch slowly closed.

Then, engines roared—the futuristic Chixiao-class fighter shot into the sky, shrinking into a black dot and vanishing beyond the horizon.