105: Chapter 105 Jiang Chen: I can only compensate you with myself.

A string of zeros.

Exactly nine zeros.

Under the faint blue light of the phone screen, this string of numbers appeared exceptionally glaring, yet also incredibly enticing.

This was Jiang Chen's entire net worth.

Relying on that godly operation of "selling the Nobel Prize," combined with ruthlessly fleecing the Eagle Sauce, and the continuous advance payments for the Photonic Chip.

He had finally scraped together that one billion.

"Whew..."

Jiang Chen sat cross-legged on the bed, his finger hovering over that golden [Upgrade] button, yet he hesitated to press it.

It hurts.

It really, truly hurts.

This is one billion energy points!

Converted into gold, that would be one hundred tons!

Converted into RMB, that's tens of billions!

In this world, how many people couldn't earn even a fraction of this amount in several lifetimes?

And now, he was about to squander this massive sum all at once just to buy a "ticket."

"Is this really going to see my wife?" Jiang Chen sucked his teeth, his face full of conflict: "This is clearly just burning money for fun!"

But then he reconsidered.

That silver-haired girl still waiting foolishly for him in the cold wind of the Wasteland.

That resource planet containing fifty billion tons of gold and an entire ocean of Helium-3.

And the Empress who had entrusted her entire life and fortune to him.

"Damn it, I'll go for it!"

Jiang Chen gritted his teeth, a gambler's madness flashing in his eyes.

"Money is something you can't take with you when you're born, and you can't take it with you when you die."

"If the old doesn't go, the new won't come!"

"As long as I can get my hands on that planet, this one billion is just a toll fee!"

Having figured this out, he no longer hesitated.

He pressed his finger down heavily.

"All in!"

"Ding—!!!"

A crisp and pleasant notification sound rang out, yet it made Jiang Chen's heart bleed.

The number on the screen instantly cleared to zero.

The balance that had originally given him such a sense of security had become a bare "0."

Immediately after, the phone began to vibrate violently and heat up.

[System Prompt: Massive energy injection successful!]

[Activating "Two-way Physical Crossing Module"...]

[Constructing quantum leap channel...]

[Progress: 1%...5%...]

Watching the slowly climbing progress bar, Jiang Chen slumped onto the bed and let out a long breath.

The money was spent.

The deed was done.

Next, it was time to report to that "creditor."

He picked up his phone again and opened the chat box with Jiang Wanqiu.

Looking at her avatar which was still lit up, Jiang Chen gathered his emotions.

He couldn't show weakness now.

Although he was a pauper and couldn't provide a return gift, he absolutely couldn't lose in terms of aura.

Zhao Gang was right.

Since he couldn't afford to pay with money, he would pay with himself.

What was this called?

This was called "offering oneself in marriage."

"Wanqiu."

Jiang Chen typed quickly, every word exuding a sense of "deeply affectionate" sweet-talking: "I have received your dowry."

"It is very generous, and I like it very much."

"But as you know, although the God Realm is prosperous, there are some things that money cannot buy."

"I have searched through the entire treasury of the God Realm, yet I could not find a single return gift worthy of your sentiments."

Send.

The other side of the screen replied in seconds; clearly, Jiang Wanqiu had been guarding her phone the whole time.

[Jiang Wanqiu: God Father! You are too polite! Wanqiu does not want a return gift! As long as you are happy, that is the greatest reward for Wanqiu!]

"No."

Jiang Chen's lips curled into a mischievous smile, and his fingers tapped out that crucial "killer move" on the screen: "Reciprocity is the rule."

"Since all the worldly objects on this Earth are unworthy of you."

"I have thought about it…"

"And I can only offer myself to you."

"Do you… want it?"

The moment the message was sent, Jiang Chen felt as if he could hear a scream crossing dimensions.

Wasteland, Dawn City.

Jiang Wanqiu was sitting in front of the vanity in her sleeping palace, holding a comb, carelessly combing her silver hair.

When she saw this message, "Clatter." The comb fell.

She stood frozen as if struck by lightning, her ruby-like eyes wide open, her lips trembling, unable to make a sound for a long while.

Offer himself… to me?

Did God Father mean… he is coming?

He is really coming?!

"Ahhhhhhh!!!"

A scream loud enough to shatter glass instantly resounded throughout the entire sleeping palace.

Jiang Wanqiu jumped up violently; where was there any trace of the Empress's dignity left?

She was like a little fangirl who had just learned she would meet her idol tomorrow, spinning around in excitement three times before kicking open the palace door.

"Grand Commander Lei Zhen! Grand Commander Lei Zhen! Where the hell did you go!"

Grand Commander Lei Zhen, who was patrolling outside, was so startled he shuddered, shouldering his gun and rushing in: "Your Majesty! Is it an enemy attack?!"

"Attack your head!"

Jiang Wanqiu grabbed Grand Commander Lei Zhen by the collar, her beautiful face full of ecstasy and madness: "Quick!"

"Pass on my orders! Assemble the entire army!"

"Bring out the best honor guard for me! Lay out the best red carpet! Lay it from the city gate all the way to my bed… no, lay it to the altar!"

"God Father is coming!"

"He is descending in his true form!!!"

Grand Commander Lei Zhen was stunned, his gun nearly dropping on his foot: "Re… really?!"

"Don't talk nonsense! Go!"

Jiang Wanqiu pushed him away, turned, and rushed back into the room, starting to frantically rummage through cabinets.

"Clothes! Where are my clothes?"

"Where is that black tactical nightgown? And those newly made silk stockings?"

"No, this one is too revealing, it doesn't look dignified enough… That one is too conservative, God Father won't like it…"

"It's over, it's over! I haven't washed my hair! I haven't put on makeup!"

Watching the Empress who was usually decisive in killing and cutting, but now flustered in front of her wardrobe, Grand Commander Lei Zhen scratched his head, a simple, honest smile appearing on his face.

It seemed the sky of Dawn City was truly about to brighten.

...Real world.

Jiang Chen looked at the [Progress: 100%] prompt on the screen, his heartbeat accelerating.

[System Prompt: Cross-dimensional physical teleportation channel has been constructed.]

[As this is the first teleportation, it may be accompanied by slight dizziness, nausea, and a sensation of spatial tearing.]

[Teleportation countdown started: 10 minutes.]

[Please prepare yourself, check your belongings, and ensure the surrounding environment is safe.]

"Ten minutes?"

Jiang Chen sprang up from the bed.

He looked around, surveying the luxurious bedroom he had lived in for several months, and a hint of melancholy called "parting" actually rose in his heart.

However, this melancholy was quickly washed away by the excitement of being about to see his wife.

"Nothing much to prepare."

Jiang Chen patted the specially made tactical trench coat on his body—it was something Academician Chen Shuyin had made specifically for his self-defense, filled with various little self-defense gadgets.

He had his phone in his pocket and a space-folding watch (a storage grid gifted by the system) on his wrist.

This was his entire gear.

"Still have to leave a note for the house."

Jiang Chen thought for a moment, picked up the paper and pen on the table, and scribbled a few lines.

"Academician Chen Shuyin, Zhao Gang."

"I'm going into seclusion to study the core technology of that 'Sun.'"

"I'll be back in a few days, don't look for me, and don't call the police."

"Guard the house well."

After writing it, he placed the note on the coffee table and held it down with that empty cola can.

Time ticked away, second by second.

The vibration in the air became stronger and stronger.

In the center of the bedroom, a visible blue ring of light was slowly forming, like a door leading to another world.

"Whew…"

Jiang Chen took a deep breath and tidied up his hairstyle.

He looked at the ring of light, a confident smile curling the corner of his lips.

"Wasteland."

"Empress."

"And those fifty billion tons of gold."

Jiang Chen took a step and, without hesitation, stepped into the ring of light.

"I'm… coming!"

"Hum—!!!"

The light flared brightly, instantly swallowing his figure.

The bedroom returned to silence.

Only the note under the cola can fluttered slightly, blown by the residual airflow.