It was already eight o'clock in the evening when he returned to the mining machine.
After requesting energy replenishment and mining machine maintenance, Tian Xiao stood in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling window, feeling remarkably calm.
Eight thousand nine hundred a day wasn't much.
He had seen big bucks.
On missions with the security team, his daily income could reach three thousand. Encountering Zerg or Star Beasts, capturing even a low-level specimen alive could net him over a hundred thousand.
He remembered the most dangerous operation, when the team brought back a half-destroyed Thornhound. It was a mutated F3-class Zerg warrior with comprehensive combat power, worth over ten million. He had already taken a two-million share of the profits.
Looking down at the base building, brightly lit as daylight, Tian Xiao silently discarded the empty nutrient solution tube, showered, and then showered.
The body in the mirror was perfectly normal, but lacking the striking eight-pack abs and mermaid lines, especially the curve of his back, a sign of a complete lack of exercise.
"It's time to get in shape."
"Once you become a citizen, even if you can wield various weapons, without a strong enough physique, you'll only be able to use point-and-shoot firepower. You won't be able to control mechas and combat aircraft, and even your combat uniform won't be fully utilized. You'll be nothing more than a worthless fighter."
"To truly meet the standards of a warrior, your muscle strength and muscle flexibility must be increased to over 12 points."
The standard for adults is 10 points;
The standard for warriors is 12 points.
Bioenergy is the product of muscle strength and muscle flexibility.
Tian Xiao's muscle strength is only 9.7, his muscle flexibility is 9.3, and his bioenergy is 100 units. Compared to those elite warriors who often reach over a thousand points of bioenergy and possess muscle strength and muscle flexibility exceeding 30, he's a far cry from them...
With his current physical fitness, he's not even as good as some of the more outstanding security personnel at the base.
Too young!
There are many ways to improve your physical fitness.
A slower approach, with daily exercise, can achieve warrior-like physique within six months.
A quicker approach is injections.
Gene-enhancing injections cost millions of dollars each, the most common being the "Gene Enhancement Injection" and the "Gene Activation Injection." These are only affordable to the wealthy and those who have truly transcended their boundaries and achieved financial freedom.
Another method, developed by Earth's celestial forces, is another.
Using the pancreas of some ferocious beasts, insect beasts, and star beasts, combined with saliva, and then thoroughly tempered and swallowed, it produces a genetic enhancement-like effect that lasts a full day.
During these twenty hours, the user's training effects will be increased tenfold, or even more.
Currently...
This method has likely not yet been adopted by the military.
Tian Xiao perked up and turned to leave the living room.
This was the most suitable shortcut for him to improve his physique at the moment.
Coincidentally, he had used this method frequently in his previous life to strengthen his physique.
Miners rarely come into contact with ferocious beasts, insectoids, or star beasts, but many planets have some.
The base's security personnel, when free, often go hunting to various locations, honing their combat skills and supplementing their income.
Tian Xiao, having previously served as a security officer at the base, was well versed in this area.
He even knew that some members of the security team particularly enjoyed collecting the carcasses of ferocious beasts and insectoids as trophies.
Leaving the base building, he happened to run into a group of people on the street outside.
There was Li Ying, the logistics team leader, whom he had recently met; his rumored ex-girlfriend, Wang Jingyi; and Zhu Xiaotian, whom he had met via video call.
There were three other people, a Western man and a woman, close friends of Wang Jingyi; and another tall, thin man wearing gold-rimmed glasses.
The tower liaison officer, Gao Chong.
Tian Xiao had a strong impression of this person. This man had a terrible reputation. He appeared to be a gentle and refined person, but in reality he was a sly beast who enjoyed drugging girls, using a combination of chip interference and hypnosis.
Many women at the base had suffered at his hands.
Afterward, he was kicked out of Yunzhong Group and eventually became a mercenary, but his nature remained unchanged, and it seemed he was eventually murdered.
Tian Xiao noticed Gao Chong standing next to Zhu Xiaotian, fawning over him eagerly.
"Tian Xiao?!"
Zhu Xiaotian was the first to notice someone emerging from the building, blurting out, drawing everyone's attention to Tian Xiao.
Including Li Ying and Gao Chong.
The two exchanged a subtle glance.
The gold-rimmed glasses shifted slightly, a hint of brilliance.
"Wow."
"Isn't this our base's lucky star today?"
"So you're Jingyi's friend too."
"Let's go!"
"Let's sing together?"
Li Ying stepped forward and invited.
Wang Jingyi, Zhu Xiaotian, and the others were all shocked when this was said.
"You're the one who earned 27,000 yuan in sales in one day?"
"No wonder you didn't show up for Jingyi's birthday. Did you find a gold mine?"
"But... it's a bit strange not to show up for a friend's birthday."
"It's just about money."
Several of Wang Jingyi's friends, both men and women, spoke with a touch of sourness.
As the center of attention at the gathering, Wang Jingyi was still quite embarrassed.
She had just introduced Li Ying to her friends, and ended up running into Tian Xiao, her rumored ex-boyfriend, who wasn't supposed to show up. To say she wasn't embarrassed would be a lie.
At this point, she could only bite the bullet and extend an invitation:
"Tian Xiao, we're all classmates. Today's my birthday, old classmate. You wouldn't even give me a little face, would you?"
He had a pitiful expression.
"Sorry, I have something else to do. I won't join in the fun. Have fun." Tian Xiao walked past the group without even stopping.
Everyone was stunned.
They had never expected Tianxiao to be so ruthless, completely disrespecting Wang Jingyi.
Wang Jingyi's face was grim.
Li Ying's face was ashen.
Gao Chong chuckled softly in Zhu Xiaotian's ear, "Oh, so disrespectful? What friend?"
"..."
Zhu Xiaotian couldn't put her finger on it.
The moment Tianxiao passed by them, she knew that Wang Jingyi and Tianxiao had truly become two separate worlds.
Things had changed!
She didn't know why Tianxiao had changed so drastically.
Had he discovered something?
Or...
What had happened?
Zhu Xiaotian stared at Tianxiao's back, not bothering to answer.
This scene caught Gao Chong's eye!
A cold glint appeared in Gao Chong's eyes. He turned his head and stared in the direction Tianxiao had disappeared, his stern expression flickering in the light.
Li Ying had introduced him to Wang Jingyi's best friend—Zhu Xiaotian.
Zhu Xiaotian was indeed good-looking, possessing a unique aura that other girls lacked.
From the moment they met, he had already identified Zhu Xiaotian as his next target.
When he saw that his target was staring at another man... his mood suddenly soured.
A recent graduate...
What a boast!