Future Plans

After more than half an hour of revelry, the excited members of the Golden Spear Squad finally calmed down. No one was in a hurry to eat. Sitting around the enormous round table in the private room, they began dividing the money.

"To fit all these Lord-level materials, we threw away all the Beast General-level Monster materials we couldn't carry. Deduct that portion from my share," Xia Zhi said.

The corpses of several Lord-level monsters were all enormous. To fit them in, the four of them had used up every backpack and container they had. Everything else that was not worth much had been discarded.

Captain Qin Feng nodded in agreement. Even brothers had to settle accounts clearly; this had been agreed upon beforehand.

"We sold this haul for a total of 23 billion Huaxia Coin. Although it was Xia Zhi's opportunity, according to our martial artist squad's rules, we'll take out 20 percent—4.6 billion Huaxia Coin—and divide it among the others."

"The Monster materials we abandoned earlier were worth around twenty million in total. The portion belonging to the three of us should also be deducted from Xia Zhi's remaining 18.4 billion, which comes to roughly..."

"Captain, I'll just take out 4.7 billion to split among everyone. There's no need to calculate the rest so precisely," Xia Zhi suddenly said.

"Haha, this tycoon doesn't care about such small money anymore. Captain, let's do it that way," Liu Yan said as well.

Seeing that everyone else agreed, Qin Feng nodded. "All right, then let's keep it simple. Of these 4.7 billion, Xu Kui and Liu Yan get 1.6 billion each, and I'll take 1.5 billion."

"No objections?" Qin Feng asked.

"No objections!" everyone replied.

The usual rules for dividing earnings in a martial artist squad were based on contribution and strength. However, this time, everyone was receiving a share of Xia Zhi's harvest, so there was no need to follow the rules in such detail.

Xu Kui and Liu Yan received the same amount. As captain, Qin Feng was usually the main force when hunting General-level monsters, so over the years, he had earned several times, even ten times, what the others had earned.

Therefore, as long as it was not a matter of principle, he would generally let the others take a little more.

"Then let's divide the money. Xia Zhi is treating us tonight," Qin Feng said with a smile.

"That's right! We're going to fleece this tycoon good," Liu Yan shouted.

"I'm not the only tycoon here. Everyone in this room is a billionaire now," Xia Zhi said with a laugh.

After laughing and joking for a while, Xia Zhi quickly made the transfers.

"Ding."

"Transfer successful."

Notifications sounded one after another from their communication watches. Xia Zhi looked down and saw that his balance had decreased by 4.7 billion Huaxia Coin, while the others received their payment notifications as well.

Afterward, the ecstatic Golden Spear Squad ordered a table full of fine dishes. They ate, drank, chatted, and laughed casually, all of them in exceptionally high spirits.

Every time they returned from the Wilderness Zone, it was like walking back from death's door!

Having returned safely to the Base city and gained such a huge fortune, everyone needed alcohol to unwind.

"Drink!"

"Come on, let's have a toast."

"That was satisfying. Thanks to Xia Zhi, we came back alive and instantly made fortunes worth over a billion."

"Come on, let's raise another toast to Xia Zhi."

The celebration did not end until after nine in the evening. They went to a nearby tea room, ordered cups of clear tea, and after resting briefly, began discussing their plans for the future.

"Come to think of it, when we were surrounded by those rampaging monsters, I was already prepared to die there."

Liu Yan, whose face was flushed red from drinking, suddenly spoke. "Captain, Xia Zhi, Shi Tou. I want to retire."

After looking around at everyone, she continued, "I chose the path of a martial artist in the first place so my family could live better lives.

"This time, thanks to Xia Zhi, I earned more money than I ever dared dream of.

"I don't want to risk my life anymore. These past few years, I've been too tired.

"It really is harder for a woman to become a martial artist and fight monsters."

"Yanzi, I've seen all the hardship you've endured these past few years. I support your decision," Qin Feng said solemnly.

"Sister Yan, if you want to retire, then retire. You could teach at a martial arts hall. Finding a stable job won't be difficult," Xu Kui said.

For a martial artist with General-level strength, even without hunting monsters, finding a high-paying job in a Base city was extremely easy. Of course, it could not compare to making money by risking one's life to hunt monsters.

"Shi Tou, what about you?" Qin Feng asked Xu Kui.

Xu Kui smiled. "I can't stand retiring now and staying in a Base city. I need a few more years. We can talk about it once I truly can't kill monsters anymore."

"Fine. Then recover from your injuries first, and we'll act again afterward."

Seeing that Xia Zhi had remained silent, Qin Feng asked with a smile, "What about you, Xia Zhi?"

After glancing at everyone, Xia Zhi said, "For the time being, I don't want to leave the city. I want to rest for a while and cultivate properly. I'll head out again when I need combat."

The implication was that Xia Zhi did not intend to act with the squad again anytime soon.

Ever since revealing his strength as a Mind Controller and experiencing the exhilarating freedom of unleashing his power without restraint, Xia Zhi had decided that he wanted to work alone in the future.

Moreover, apart from the first half month, he had not cultivated properly during the past few days in the Wilderness Zone. Xia Zhi could already sense that his strength was on the verge of a breakthrough.

Cultivation and actual combat were both important, but martial artists generally only went into the Wilderness Zone to fight after their progress slowed from secluded cultivation. There, they could gain more resources and temper themselves through life-and-death battles.

Right now, his strength was still rising rapidly. He wanted to cultivate freely, and when he wished to test his martial techniques in real combat, it would not be too late to visit the Wilderness Zone then.

Hearing Xia Zhi say this, everyone fell silent.

A full minute passed before Captain Qin Feng finally broke the silence.

"That's fine. Xia Zhi is a Mind Controller, and this is the period when his strength is rapidly improving. Besides, the Global Elite Training Camp will send a special envoy to assess him. It's good to steady things for now."

Then, noticing Liu Yan's expression shift as though she wanted to speak, he waved his hand. "Shi Tou needs to recover, and I need to buy manuals and cultivate as well. No matter what, improving our own strength is the key. We are teammates and brothers for one day, and brothers for life, regardless of what status we may have in the future."

"Good!" everyone answered, and the atmosphere became lively again.

Afterward, they chatted until deep into the night before parting ways at the HR Alliance Mall and taking the train back to their respective homes.

Outside Villa 188 in Mingyue Residential Area, Yangzhou City, Xia Zhi, who had been away for seven or eight days, finally returned home.

He opened the fingerprint lock and entered the courtyard, only to see that the living room lights were still on. His grandfather, Xia Dahai, hurried out.

"Grandpa, didn't I tell you I'd be back late? You should have gone to bed early. You didn't have to wait for me."

Having returned home from the Wilderness Zone, where monsters were everywhere and danger covered the ground, Xia Zhi's eyes reddened when he saw his grandfather again.

This was his closest family member in this world!

It was already late at night. Because he had been waiting for his grandson to return, Xia Dahai had kept vigil, all so he could see him come home safely at the very first moment. That was family!

Seeing Xia Zhi in his combat uniform, noticeably thinner after just a few days away, tears began streaming down his face.

"It's good that you're back safely. Good that you're back safely. Come on, let's go home."

For the past few days, Xia Dahai had been constantly worried about Xia Zhi, who had entered the Wilderness Zone for the first time. Now that he had finally returned, apparently uninjured, the weight in his heart was finally lifted.

Only after returning home did Xia Zhi truly relax completely.

That night, he did not cultivate. Instead, he took a long hot bath in the spacious, comfortable tub, allowing himself to relax completely in both body and mind.

As the tension drained away, Xia Zhi could even sense that he was only a hair away from breaking through.

Once his body broke through again, he would enter the Intermediate Wargod level. Since a Mind Controller was two levels higher than their physical level, he would reach the Beginner War God level.

He vaguely felt that once his Mind Controller strength broke through to the War God level, some different change would occur.

This is the second chapter today. If you like it, please add it to your collection! Thank you to reader ending in 7129 for the reward and encouragement! I received your encouragement! I'm especially touched and warmed!

The pace will pick up from here as we pass through the early stage, become War Gods, and reach the Planetary level. The Earth arc will end as soon as possible. If you like the book, please add it to your collection. Thank you!

Honestly, I wouldn't even need more than a billion. If I had one hundred million, I wouldn't be working right now. I'd write at home every day. Even if writing didn't make money, I'd still be willing to do it for love!

Enough talking. Time to wash up and sleep, then dream of making one hundred million... When that happens, I'll give huge red envelopes to everyone who supports me!