Lin Xinghai nodded in sudden understanding. He hadn’t realized the Merit Medal represented not just honor, but also came with such practical benefits.

"By the way, Captain Song, how do you know about all these benefits that come with the Merit Medal?" Lin Xinghai asked curiously.

After all, Zhang Yue had left in a hurry right after telling them about their rewards, saying he had other matters to attend to. He hadn’t had time to explain the uses of the Merit Medal.

It wasn’t just Lin Xinghai; Qin Wenbo and Fang Tianhe also turned to Song Yao with curiosity.

"Actually, once you break through to the Blood Qi Realm, the military will come to recruit you. You’ll find out about all their benefits then," Song Yao said.

He also revealed something else: within two years of breaking through to the Blood Qi Realm, you’re required to perform military service. Of course, the term wasn’t long—only one year.

As for why this military service was compulsory, Song Yao said he didn’t know.

However, upon hearing Song Yao’s words, Lin Xinghai and Fang Tianhe couldn’t help but exchange a look. They instantly knew they were both thinking the same thing.

Others might not know the reason, but the two of them had met Elder Wei and heard some secrets. How could they not understand the reason for this compulsory military service?

It was, of course, because of the ever-increasing number of Abyssal Passages.

Ordinary people could live under the nation’s protection, oblivious to the matter of the Abyssal Passages, and thus had no need to worry about it.

But once someone reached a level like the Blood Qi Realm, they were considered part of the absolute backbone of society, no matter where they were. Naturally, they needed to know the dangers humanity faced and contribute their strength to the cause.

"Captain Song, maybe you’ll understand why after you complete your military service," Fang Tianhe said in a cryptic tone. He was dying to see the look on Song Yao’s face when he finally learned about the Abyssal Passages.

Song Yao paused, slightly taken aback, but before he could say anything, Lin Xinghai quickly changed the subject. "Weren’t we supposed to be celebrating? Let’s not just stand around here. Come on, let’s go get a drink!"

At Lin Xinghai’s words, everyone nodded and started walking toward the Mercenary Guild’s bar.

He Jianbo, who had been eavesdropping from the side with his ears perked, saw the group about to leave. He threw all caution to the wind and shamelessly tagged along.

’After all, this was a chance to latch onto some powerful patrons!’

’Even if he managed to borrow some Merit now, it would just be a one-time deal. But if he could get on good terms with these three mercenary corps, he could ask them to help him exchange for military-grade weapons in the future!’

Of course, He Jianbo wasn’t the only one with this idea. Upon spotting the Three Major Mercenary Corps in the Mercenary Guild, the others couldn’t help but gather around to offer their congratulations.

While congratulating them, they would also subtly inquire if the Three Major Mercenary Corps were willing to trade their Merit. They made it clear they wouldn’t mind a higher exchange rate for a large-volume trade.

However, as they inquired, they quickly learned from He Jianbo about the special perks of the Merit Medal. This made the other Mercenary Corps Leaders burn with envy and resentment.

This also caused another shift in their attitude. Many of the corps leaders dropped their airs of dignity and began to openly suck up to them.

Seeing this, Song Yao and Qin Wenbo agreed to help only a few of the Mercenary Corps they were already acquainted with to exchange for some military-grade weapons. As for the inquiries from the other corps, they began to give evasive, non-committal answers.

Although they could use their Merit Medals and Points to exchange for military-grade weapons, there was a limit to everything. If they took it too far, especially if they used it for profit, they might provoke the military’s ire.

That was why they didn’t dare to promise help to too many people. When the other leaders saw the two corps being evasive, they immediately turned their attention to the Heaven-Sundering Mercenary Corps.

At the same time, Song Yao and Qin Wenbo also took the opportunity to introduce some of the corps leaders they knew to Lin Xinghai.

During the introductions, they made it clear that when Lin Xinghai was piloting a Mecha, he was even more powerful than they were.

They emphasized that if it hadn’t been for Lin Xinghai this time, forget about receiving a Merit Medal; it was questionable whether they would have even made it back alive.

Naturally, their words caused another stir.

Everyone was certainly familiar with Lin Xinghai, the Gun God. It was just that back then, they had been more focused on his terrifyingly fast money-making abilities.

Nearly every Third Level Mercenary Corps had extended an olive branch to Lin Xinghai at some point. But back then, in their minds, Lin Xinghai was just a money-making tool; they had no clear understanding of his actual combat strength.

But now, with the accounts from Song Yao and Qin Wenbo, combined with the million Points next to his name on the merit leaderboard, it was all telling a clear story: Lin Xinghai had grown to a level that most of them could only gaze up at in awe.

Lin Xinghai had well and truly stepped from behind the scenes into the spotlight, allowing everyone in the Mercenary Guild to recognize him as a true powerhouse.

Faced with the crowd of Mercenary Corps Leaders who were swarming him with compliments and attempts to build connections, Lin Xinghai simply smiled and directed them all to Fang Tianhe.

This made the leaders of the Second and Third Level Mercenary Corps who had swarmed over, hoping to strike up a conversation, absolutely burn with envy toward Fang Tianhe.

They couldn’t understand what kind of dumb luck he’d had to recruit a rising star like Lin Xinghai. In such a short time, their group had not only been promoted from a First Level Mercenary Corps to a Second Level Mercenary Corps, but at this rate, they were probably not far from becoming a Third Level Mercenary Corps either.

Of course, regardless of what they were really thinking, they all hurled endless compliments at him for the sake of getting access to Merit, and the praise flowed so freely that Fang Tianhe started to feel a bit light-headed.

Amidst a chorus of flattery, the group soon arrived at the Mercenary Guild’s bar.

When they reached the bar, they found it was incredibly bustling. The venue, which could hold a thousand people, was already nearly full.

The Three Major Mercenary Corps had arrived in full force. Excluding those who had died in battle or were too injured to attend, their combined number was still nearly 400 people.

Clearly, there was no room for them.

Just as Lin Xinghai was thinking they could skip the drinking and head straight back, Song Yao and Qin Wenbo stepped forward to leverage their reputation.

The two men announced that they hoped the mercenary corps present would be willing to make some room for them. As compensation, of course, they would cover everyone’s tab for the day.

If any ordinary mercenary corps had dared to make such a request, the hot-tempered mercenaries in the crowd might have just scowled and told them to get lost.

However, the person saying it was Song Yao, a Blood Qi Realm expert. Furthermore, he was representing three mercenary corps that now possessed Merit Medals. The weight behind his words was entirely different.

Moreover, Song Yao only asked the regular members of the various mercenary corps to leave. He invited all the corps leaders, vice-leaders, and any expert who had broken their third Genetic Lock to stay and celebrate with them.

Under these circumstances, not a single mercenary corps dared to disrespect the Three Major Mercenary Corps—not even the other Third Level Mercenary Corps. After all, they also had a need for military-grade weapons.

And just like that, the Three Major Mercenary Corps essentially took over the entire bar as the regular members of one corps after another were asked to leave.

As most of the mercenaries were clearing out, Lin Xinghai spotted a familiar face in the crowd.

"Gao Mountain, have the members of the Mountain and Sea Mercenary Corps stay behind!" Lin Xinghai said, speaking for the first time since they had entered the bar.