4: Spaceship Evolution, Heaven and Hell

"System, upgrade the spaceship."

Gu Pingsheng's voice echoed in the empty Captains Quarters.

As the command was issued, more than half of the resources in the warehouse instantly vanished.

[Consumed: Spaceship Core Fragment x10, refined iron x100, energy cube x5.]

[Basic upgrade in progress...]

The entire spaceship jolted violently.

It felt as if a slumbering behemoth had suddenly awakened, its heart beginning to beat powerfully.

The metal plates on the cabin walls began to writhe and reorganize, making a tooth-gritting grinding sound. The original mottled rust peeled away, revealing a brand-new alloy skeleton beneath that shimmered with a cold luster.

But this wasn't enough.

Gu Pingsheng raised his right hand and pressed his palm against the control console.

A purple-gold light flashed deep within his eyes.

"Hand of God, activate."

“Buzz—!!!”

A terrifyingly massive amount of energy instantly surged into the spaceship's core.

The originally step-by-step upgrade process was like being injected with a stimulant, accelerating frantically.

"Ding! Critical Hit triggered!"

"Basic Upgrade -> +Tier 3 Critical Hit!"

[Congratulations Player! The vehicle has undergone a qualitative change!]

[Dilapidated Escape Pod (Grey) -> Black Iron Class Assault Frigate (Blue)!]

Rumble—

The space inside the spaceship began to expand violently.

The originally narrow and cramped corridors instantly lengthened and widened. The low ceilings rose upward, revealing complex piping and bright lighting systems.

The girls outside screamed in panic.

"Is it an earthquake?!"

"The walls are moving! The spaceship is getting bigger!"

"Oh my god! What kind of black technology is this?!"

By the time the vibrations stopped, everyone was dumbfounded.

The original fifty-square-meter tin can had now turned into a small warship a hundred meters long.

The streamlined hull was covered in thick black armor. On both sides of the bow, two pitch-black energy cannons emitted a heart-stopping cold light.

The roar of the engine was no longer a gasp that felt like it would cut out at any moment, but had become a deep, powerful bellow, like a giant whale in the deep sea.

[Black Iron Class Assault Frigate (Blue)]

[Durability: 5000/5000]

[Defense: 200 (Ordinary firearms cannot penetrate)]

[Firepower: 50 (Twin-linked Pulse Cannons, one shot can shatter an asteroid)]

[Traits: Space Folding (Internal space expanded 5x), Basic Stealth (Difficult for radar to detect).]

Gu Pingsheng looked at the data on the panel and nodded with satisfaction.

This was the capital needed to establish a foothold in the sea of stars.

He turned to look behind him.

The originally simple rest cabin had now completely changed.

[Luxurious Captains Quarters]

A full hundred square meters.

Beneath his feet was a soft, long-piled carpet; stepping on it felt like sinking into clouds.

A huge leather sofa sat in the center, with a solid wood desk next to it.

The most extravagant part was the entire wall of panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows.

Where he could previously only peer outside through a narrow porthole, now the entire brilliant galaxy was laid out before his eyes without reservation.

The visual impact was simply breathtaking.

"Now this is living."

Gu Pingsheng walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, looking out at the deep universe.

He snapped his fingers.

"Turn on the constant temperature water system."

The bathroom door slid open automatically.

Inside was a massive massage bathtub, with steaming hot water flowing from a golden faucet.

This was an incidental facility produced by the Critical Hit earlier.

Gu Pingsheng took off his clothes and lay comfortably inside.

The warm water wrapped around his body, and every pore seemed to cheer with joy.

The nerves that had been tense for the past few days finally relaxed completely at this moment.

After bathing, he put on a clean bathrobe.

Gu Pingsheng walked over to the bar.

There sat a steak that had just been sublimated using the Hand of God.

[Top-Tier Marbled Steak (Blue - Excellent)]

[Description: Taken from the finest cut of a Mutant Bull. The meat is tender and melts in the mouth. Strength +2 for 1 hour after consumption.]

There was also a bottle of red wine.

[Century-Old Vintage (purple - Epic)]

[Description: A fine wine that has settled over the long river of time for a hundred years. Every drop is liquid gold. Spirit recovery speed +100% after drinking.]

He fired up the stove and added oil.

The steak sizzled in the hot frying pan.

A rich meaty aroma instantly filled the air.

That smell of fat mixed with a charred fragrance was the deadliest poison for people who had been starving for days.

Gu Pingsheng didn't close the door.

Or rather, he did it on purpose.

The fragrance drifted through the ventilation ducts into the public area outside.

...

Public Area.

Although the space had become larger and was no longer crowded, it still felt empty and cold.

The girls sat on the floor in small groups, holding the purified water and compressed biscuits they had been allocated.

While much better than the moldy bread from before, it was still just enough to fill their stomachs.

Suddenly.

Someone sniffed the air.

"What's that smell?"

"It smells so good... like roasted meat..."

"I smell it too! It's steak! Definitely steak!"

Everyone's eyes turned toward the tightly closed door of the Captains Quarters.

The fragrance was wafting out from there.

*Gulp.*

The sound of people swallowing saliva rose and fell.

Liu Ruyan stared fixedly at that door; the compressed biscuit in her hand suddenly lost its appeal.

"He's eating steak..."

She gritted her teeth, her voice full of jealousy and resentment.

"We're gnawing on biscuits while he's eating steak... and even drinking red wine..."

A girl next to her whispered: "But... those are his things. And he's the one who upgraded the spaceship."

"So what!" Liu Ruyan snapped her head around, her eyes red. "We're all classmates, why does he get to eat alone? Why do we have to live like beggars?"

No one answered.

But that sense of imbalance had already begun to sprout in everyone's hearts.

This was human nature.

It's not scarcity that people fear, but inequality.

If everyone was eating husks and wild vegetables, it wouldn't matter.

But now, they were separated by only a wall.

Inside was heaven; outside was hell.

Lin Qinghan sat in a corner, silently wiping the ice sword in her hand.

She smelled the fragrance.

It was very tempting.

But she knew better than anyone that there was no such thing as a free lunch in this world.

To get something, one must pay the price.

Gu Pingsheng had already demonstrated his value; now, it was their turn to demonstrate theirs.

"Stop thinking about it."

Lin Qinghan spoke coldly, interrupting everyone's fantasies.

"If you want to eat meat, go kill monsters. When we encounter Void Beasts, whoever kills more will have the right to trade for it."

These words were like a bucket of cold water, dousing the agitation of many.

But some people's minds began to wander.

Killing monsters was too dangerous.

Was there... an easier way?

Liu Ruyan looked down at herself.

Although she hadn't bathed for a few days and was a bit dirty, her silk nightgown still outlined her graceful figure.

She was the department belle.

Since she was a child, as long as she hooked her finger, countless men would go through fire and water for her.

Gu Pingsheng was also a man.

As a man, it was impossible for him not to have weaknesses.

She stood up.

"What are you doing?" Zhao Min asked with a frown.

"I'm going to the bathroom."

Liu Ruyan gave a casual excuse and turned to walk toward the end of the corridor.

She didn't go to the bathroom.

Instead, she found a deserted corner and used the reflective metal wall to tidy her hair.

She pulled down the neckline of her nightgown, revealing a large area of snowy skin.

Then she squeezed out what she thought was her most charming and pitiful smile.

And then.

She took a deep breath and walked with a feline grace toward the door that represented power and enjoyment.

...

Inside the Captains Quarters.

Gu Pingsheng was cutting a piece of steak and putting it in his mouth.

The tender juice exploded on his tongue, paired with a sip of mellow red wine.

Perfect.

Just then.

"Knock, knock, knock."

The sound of knocking echoed.

Very light, very soft.

Carrying a hint of testing and temptation.

Gu Pingsheng put down his knife and fork, his lips curling into a playful arc.

Here it comes.

Faster than he had expected.

He didn't go to open the door immediately; instead, he unhurriedly wiped his mouth and swirled his wine glass.

Let the bullet fly for a while.

The person outside seemed to get a little anxious.

The knocking got slightly louder, accompanied by a sweet, delicate voice.

"Student Gu... are you in there?"

"We're all classmates, could you... open the door?"

"I... have something I want to ask of you..."

Gu Pingsheng stood up and walked to the door.

He placed his hand on the sensor lock.

*Click.*

The door opened.

Liu Ruyan stood at the door.

She had clearly dressed up (under the limited conditions).

Though her hair was a bit messy, it had a certain disheveled beauty. One strap of her nightgown had slipped halfway down, revealing a rounded shoulder and a deep cleavage.

Seeing Gu Pingsheng, her eyes lit up, and she leaned her body forward as if about to fall inward.

"Brother Gu... I'm so hungry..."

That voice was so sultry it could melt one's bones.

Gu Pingsheng stepped aside.

Liu Ruyan lunged into empty air, nearly falling flat on her face.

She stumbled, steadied herself against the doorframe, and a flash of embarrassment crossed her face, but she quickly replaced it with that aggrieved expression.

"Brother Gu... why are you avoiding me..."

Gu Pingsheng leaned against the door, holding his red wine glass, looking down at her.

There wasn't a trace of desire in his eyes.

Only scrutiny.

As if he were looking at a commodity waiting to be priced.

"Something the matter?"

He asked flatly.

Liu Ruyan bit her lip, her gaze drifting past Gu Pingsheng's shoulder into the room.

That huge leather sofa, that still-steaming bathtub, and that half-eaten steak on the table.

Her throat bobbed.

Greed.

Naked greed.

"Brother Gu..."

She moved a step closer, almost pressing against Gu Pingsheng.

The smell of cheap perfume mixed with the body odor of several days without bathing made Gu Pingsheng frown slightly.

"I want... I want to live with you..."

Liu Ruyan looked up, her eyes misty, her finger tracing circles on Gu Pingsheng's chest.

"It's too cold outside... and the floor is so hard..."

"As long as you let me move in... you can do whatever you want... anything..."