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Starting Cultivation in Wasteland

Chapter 972 - 838: Tough Stance · Oct 13, 2026

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Chapter List (1233)

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951 Chapter 951 - 819: Such Deep Hatred 2026-10-13
952 Chapter 952 - 820: Caught Off Guard 2026-10-13
953 Chapter 953 - 821: The Gathering Storm 2026-10-13
954 Chapter 954 - 822: An Overlooked Flaw That’s Not a Flaw 2026-10-13
955 Chapter 955 - 823: Refusing to Yield 2026-10-13
956 Chapter 956 - 824: Anticipation (First Update Requesting Monthly Ticket) 2026-10-13
957 Chapter 957 - 825: Warning Signs (Second Update) 2026-10-13
958 Chapter 958 - 826: Man Proposes, God Disposes 2026-10-13
959 Chapter 959 - 827: Glory 2026-10-13
960 Chapter 960 - 828: Here We Go Again! 2026-10-13
961 Chapter 961 - 829: So It Was You 2026-10-13
962 Chapter 962 - 830: A Game for the Clever 2026-10-13
963 Chapter 963 - 831: Skillful Coordination 2026-10-13
964 Chapter 964 - 832: Is It Difficult? 2026-10-13
965 Chapter 965 - 833: A Great Surprise [Celebrating Master He Meng and Scorpio Star Lord] 2026-10-13
966 Chapter 966 - 834: Cultivation Level Is Too Low – 835: Never Leave, Never Forsake (Two-in-One - , Asking for Monthly Ticket) 2026-10-13
967 Chapter 967 - 834: Cultivation Level Too Low, Chapter 835: Never Abandon or Give Up (Double - ) 2026-10-13
968 Chapter 968 - 834: Cultivation Level Too Low - 835: Never Abandon, Never Give Up (Double-length - ) 2026-10-13
969 Chapter 969 - 834: Cultivation Level Too Low – Chapter 835: Loyalty and Devotion (Double - ) 2026-10-13
970 Chapter 970 - 836: Man Proposes, God Disposes 2026-10-13
971 Chapter 971 - 837: I’m Here 2026-10-13
972 Chapter 972 - 838: Tough Stance 2026-10-13
973 Chapter 973 - 839: Drank Too Much 2026-10-13
974 Chapter 974 - 840: Tough Stance 2026-10-13
975 Chapter 975 - 841: Letting Go 2026-10-13
976 Chapter 976 - 842: Digital Battleship 2026-10-13
977 Chapter 977 - 843: Double-Edged Sword 2026-10-13
978 Chapter 978 - 844: Suicide and Murder 2026-10-13
979 Chapter 979 - 845: The Death of Balrog 2026-10-13
980 Chapter 980 - 846: There’s Always a Next Time 2026-10-13
981 Chapter 981 - 847: The Tree Wishes for Calm, but the Wind Will Not Cease 2026-10-13
982 Chapter 982 - 848: Clues and Traces 2026-10-13
983 Chapter 983 - 849: Ingenious Ideas 2026-10-13
984 Chapter 984 - 850: Homeland 2026-10-13
985 Chapter 985 - 851: Differential Treatment 2026-10-13
986 Chapter 986 - 852: The Great Net 2026-10-13
987 Chapter 987 - 853: That’s It? 2026-10-13
988 Chapter 988 - 854: Eat More 2026-10-13
989 Chapter 989 - 855: Remote Control 2026-10-13
990 Chapter 990 - 856: Calamity Out of Nowhere 2026-10-13
991 Chapter 991 - 857: What Attribute 2026-10-13
992 Chapter 992 - 858: Dilemma 2026-10-13
993 Chapter 993 - 859: Missing Contact 2026-10-13
994 Chapter 994 - 860: Not Fresh 2026-10-13
995 Chapter 995 - 861: Suspect 2026-10-13
996 Chapter 996 - 862: Letting Things Be 2026-10-13
997 Chapter 997 - 863: Financial Crisis 2026-10-13
998 Chapter 998 - 864: Uneasy 2026-10-13
999 Chapter 999 - 865: Such Nerve 2026-10-13
1000 Chapter 1000 - 866: Arrogance Before, Deference After 2026-10-13

Chapter 972: Chapter 838: Tough Stance

The two armed merchant ships quickly prepared to launch but didn’t blindly take off.

The two captains were very experienced and first asked the ground if there was an opportunity to take off.

The ground didn’t give a formal response; instead, someone shouted hoarsely, ”Fierce firepower, be careful!”

This wave of assault indeed came too fiercely and suddenly.

In total, six starships attacked not only five fortresses but also knocked out the tower.

The tower was not only responsible for directing takeoffs and landings but also the communication hub of the star body, capable of sending information externally.

The tower’s defense wasn’t bad, but it ultimately wasn’t a war fortress; it was riddled with holes at first strike and eventually collapsed.

The five fortresses were much harder to crack, especially since they were prepared, with strong defenses from the start that rapidly escalated after the attack.

However, it was ultimately useless, as under Little Lake’s coordination, four small ships maneuvered nimbly to evade and attack.

Before long, most of the firepower points were precisely picked off one by one.

Without firepower points, the fortresses were like toothless lions, unable to muster any decent attack.

After about five minutes of battle, a fortress explosively blew up—triggered by ammunition cook-off.

Dealing with four remaining fortresses with six starships was even easier.

As for those small firepower points, they simply couldn’t withstand the arbitrary bombardment from the ship cannons.

The attack on the hospital followed the same line; the hospital had defense firepower, but it still wasn’t adequate.

Qu Jianlei, upon realizing this was the hospital, instructed Little Lake to keep up the assault here.

It’s not that he was dark-minded and felt attacking a hospital showed brutality; rather, the hospital was one of the key structures of this star body.

It housed not only medical staff and patients but also concentrated considerable protection forces.

Another crucial point was the starship repair factory, which the warships, now free to act, wildly bombarded.

Fortunately, the star body received a heads-up; to be safe, a starship awaiting repair was removed a day earlier.

Some starships with minor faults flew away by themselves, and no starship could come in for repair in the short term.

Nonetheless, the destruction of various repair equipment in the factory was enough to make Sanhe Company painfully jump.

Qu Jianlei initially didn’t discover the two starships in the underground docking bay, as such docks are typically quite hidden.

However, any starship, once activated, would emit energy fluctuations.

The docking bay’s concealment facilities were quite good, and with the ongoing bombardment outside, the energy fluctuations weren’t very noticeable.

Nonetheless, although the two armed merchant ships hadn’t taken off, they continued to ramp up their energy shields.

As a result, the strong energy fluctuation could no longer be hidden from Qu Jianlei.

Now that some combat power could be mobilized, he decisively ordered, ”8384 Ship, attack the location of the surface energy fluctuations!”

The armed merchant ships in the docking bay realized they’d been discovered once 8384 Ship shifted its target, and promptly ordered the reinforcement of dock defenses.

However, to prevent the dock’s discovery, they had set the energy shields too low, and raising them now was too late.

Secrecy and defense cannot coexist; one side has to be sacrificed.

Under a round of artillery barrage, the docks collapsed by more than half.

Luckily, the two armed merchant ships had raised their protective shields and, hiding deep within the dock, remained temporarily safe.

However, the passage for takeoff was completely blocked, and attempting to break out would inevitably expose them to intense firepower.

No one had the courage to make that decision—the opposing force’s firepower was truly fierce.

As the second fortress was breached, the other fortresses displayed signals of ”surrender.”

Simultaneously, all firing points ceased fire, although energy protection was not reduced.

This was also routine, not signifying defiant resistance; they were merely worried the opposition wouldn’t accept the surrender and had to protect themselves.

Seeing this, Qu Jianlei spared the remaining three fortresses, focusing fire on other places.

Quickly, those areas also showed ”surrender” signals and halted counterattacks.

The 8384 Ship also showed a signal, meaning ”only accept unconditional surrender!”

For Sanhe’s people, they were like meat on the chopping block, no one dared resist, and the once bustling battlefield turned silent momentarily.

The four small attack ships returned to the starship to replenish energy and ammunition, and Qu Jianlei opened the public channel again.

”Those two armed merchant ships... still not stopping?”

”Okay, stopping, stopping right away,” replied a voice from the opposite side, sounding somewhat tearful.

This wave of attack came fast and fiercely; although Sanhe Company was prepared early on, they were still completely routed.

The power of the two armed merchant ships slowly came to a stop, and the crew rushed out in droves, only the two captains stayed aboard.

At this moment, staying in the merchant ships was more dangerous; better to seek safety in the open.

Seeing the thorough execution by the opposition, Qu Jianlei spoke again.

”I need five billion Silver Notes, and taking these two merchant ships... next time won’t be so cheap.”

He didn’t bother with explaining the causes and effects; with the distinctive traits of the 8384 Ship, he needed no further explanation.

However, the other party spoke up, ”Sir, please listen to our explanation, this matter...”

”There’s no need for explanations,” Qu Jianlei coldly interrupted, ”We’re not negotiating, we’re informing you!”

No matter how much is said, the other party knows he issued a Shelter Card, yet they still forcibly extorted... that’s enough.

As for the reasons, he didn’t want to hear them at all—I only know you’re blatantly provoking us.

In fact, Sanhe could indeed list some reasons, even claiming it was unavoidable.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t dare to ignore a Protective Talisman issued by a Supreme team.

These reasons might not convince the other party, but objectively they could mitigate responsibility and strive for a relatively better result.

However, if the other party doesn’t listen at all, it’s frustrating.

This person dared not argue too forcefully anymore; facing the wrath of a Supreme team, the consequences of not knowing one’s place would be severe.

But there’s one point he had to clarify, ”Sir, an Armed Merchant Ship is not Sanhe’s asset.”

”What does that have to do with me!” Qu Jianlei bluntly stated, ”The starship you forcibly extorted is Sanhe’s asset?”

”Stop with the nonsense, within half an hour, I want to see five hundred million Silver Notes!”

”Sir, we truly don’t have that many Silver Notes,” the opposite side was on the verge of tears, ”This is just a rest area!”

This was the truth; Silver Notes were hard currency in the asteroid belt, but there was no need to stockpile so many.

Here, apart from a lack of minerals, everything was lacking; having more Silver Notes was useless.

Upon hearing this, Qu Jianlei snorted coldly, ”Then everyone should come out; we will destroy everything here!”

If you can’t grab the money, you resort to destruction—this wasn’t his invention, nor exclusively the practice of star thieves.

In the asteroid belt, there were plenty of forces doing this.

Destroying the opponent’s production and living resources, although harmful to others and not beneficial to oneself, here it’s said, ”If you’re not ruthless, you won’t stand firm.”

Moreover, from a competitive perspective, the opponent’s loss is a strengthening of one’s own competitiveness, such is the nature of the jungle society.

But this demand really spelled doom for the Sanhe Company.

The opposite side couldn’t care about much anymore, and shouted directly on the public channel, ”Spare us, Sir, if you do that we will die!”

Indeed, they would die—although Tears was considered a sizable star body, it had no atmosphere on its surface!

As the central hub and rest area for Sanhe, the infrastructure here was complete.

Just think about Lanyun Market, where even air could be sold!

If all of Sanhe’s facilities were destroyed, how would so many people survive? Even the Oxygen Generating Agents would probably not be enough.

”Your lives and deaths have nothing to do with us,” Paranoid spoke coldly.

”If you come out now, you can at least hold on until the Oxygen Generating Agents run out; if you don’t agree, you’ll die immediately!”

The other party urgently discussed and proposed a compromise: can we first pay as much as we can?

Sanhe had around eighty million in cash and over ninety million in Energy Blocks on the Tears Star Body.

The central hub’s significance lay in this—it must have certain energy reserves to deal with any emergency at a mine.

These Silver Notes could be handed over immediately, but the Energy Blocks... they could only provide seventy million; they needed to keep enough to survive.

In other words, the other party was willing to pay one hundred fifty million, and the remaining three hundred fifty million... would have to be on credit.

Of course, whether they could collect the remaining money depended on the strength of the Rhodiola rosea team.

Qu Jianlei knew this as well, so he agreed without hesitation.

Not to mention whether he would have time to chase the debts in the future, if he didn’t agree now, others would look down on him!

However, the matter couldn’t end just like that. After receiving the IOU, he commanded the starship to destroy two more residences.

There was no other intention, purely to vent his anger!

The task of collecting Energy Blocks was left to Flower Scorpion and Paranoid, who swept the warehouse empty with a mass of Storage Talismans in hand.

Then the two starships carrying the two Armed Merchant Ships soared into the sky, soon disappearing without a trace.

From their arrival to departure, it took only about an hour; they came and went like the wind.

The reason for the swift action was primarily due to the fear of being caught between internal and external threats.

The whereabouts of the Balrog team were still unknown, and the military was intensifying its crackdown on the asteroid belt; they really couldn’t stay long.

Even at Lanyun Market, the 8384 ship did not linger for long, for the same reason.

If not for this, Qu Jianlei wouldn’t have let Sanhe Company go so easily.

However, he felt as though he let them off easily, yet the people of Sanhe were so furious they were jumping and cursing.

”I’ve never seen such a greedy bastard, two starships plus five billion... worse than star thieves!”

”Exactly, even when we extorted others, we paid; he just outright robbed us!”

”If he’s so capable, why not vent his anger elsewhere? Or wait a bit longer for the military to mediate!”

”Was our money so easy to snatch? We must spread the word, someone will take care of him!”

”But... to spread the news, we first have to repair the tower and communication equipment!”

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