Peak World Lord Zhen Li

A moment later, atop the uppermost floor of the most central building in this Qianwu Dojo.

It was an incomparably vast martial arts arena, built entirely from E-grade alloy and exceptionally sturdy.

"Attack with all your strength."

The speaker was a man clad in dark crimson battle armor, so handsome that his looks carried an almost demonic air.

A magnificent lightning mark rested between the man's brows. Even as he spoke, arcs of lightning flowed through his pupils.

"Yes, sir."

As Shen Mu's voice fell, vast spiritual force surged forth and poured into the Arc Blade Disc.

The next instant, the Arc Blade Disc broke apart into twenty-eight dazzling streaks of light. Pale blue threads intertwined among those twenty-eight streams, forming two discs, one above and one below.

Buzz!

The two discs spun in opposite directions as pale blue Source Law power poured out. The second level of the secret technique "Horizon's End," 'Surging Waves,' was unleashed, forming a miniature storm around a sea eye.

Boom!

The instant the miniature sea-eye storm flew from his hand, it seemed to transform into truly monstrous waves, roaring as they crashed toward the World Lord-Level expert.

"Remarkable, remarkable."

A faint smile appeared on the demonic-looking young man's face. As he spoke, an invisible, formless, mysterious force spread outward, effortlessly obliterating Shen Mu's attack.

"For a Star-Level warrior to possess such profound Law comprehension—none of those Star-Level youngsters in the secret realm can compare to you."

"My name is Zhen Li. I am a World Lord-Level Member of the Qianwu Secret Realm, as well as the person in charge of the Black Dragon Mountain Branch of the Qianwu Dojo."

Zhen Li's attitude toward Shen Mu shifted from mere admiration and high expectations to something far more cordial.

"Greetings, Lord Zhen Li." Shen Mu bowed slightly.

Zhen Li said with a smile, "No need to be so formal. Once you join the Qianwu Secret Realm, you may call me Senior Brother."

Hearing this, Shen Mu asked quietly, "Senior Zhen Li, doesn't joining the secret realm require passing an assessment?"

"That is for ordinary mediocrities. Without comprehending the mysteries of the Source Laws, even possessing the Ninth Level Domain makes it difficult to pass the assessment."

Zhen Li patiently explained things to Shen Mu. Shen Mu's talent and potential were wholly worth lowering his stance to win him over.

For an ordinary Star-Level genius, even stepping across the threshold of the Source Laws would not be enough to make Zhen Li humble himself to befriend them.

After all, Zhen Li was also a World Lord-Level Member of the Qianwu Secret Realm, of whom there were only several dozen in total. Every one of them had earned the Laws' acknowledgment and far surpassed ordinary World Lord-Level experts.

Several hundred thousand years ago, Zhen Li himself had been a Star-Level genius renowned throughout the Qianwu Universe Country. He had participated in that session of the Genius Battle hosted by the Giant Axe Fighting Arena, and had come just short of breaking into the top thousand.

Shen Mu's current Law Attainment was far deeper than Zhen Li's had been at the Star-Level. There was great hope that, in the upcoming Genius Battle, he could accomplish the feat Zhen Li himself had failed to achieve.

Shen Mu then asked several more questions that concerned him.

For instance, after joining the Qianwu Secret Realm, could he receive guidance from Lord Qianwu?

Shen Mu's idea startled even Zhen Li, who laughed. "You really dare to dream, kid. How many years has it been since the great Lord Qianwu last guided a Star-Level youth... Still, it isn't entirely impossible."

At this point, Zhen Li gave Shen Mu a meaningful glance. "If you can step across the threshold of the High-Level Laws while still at the Star-Level, you might have a chance to meet Lord Qianwu. But whether you can receive his guidance is hard to say."

Shen Mu understood. Once he entered the Qianwu Secret Realm, he would reveal his attainment in the Space Source Law and express his wish to take Lord Qianwu as his master.

Even if he did not yet qualify to become a disciple, he could at least make an impression. Then all he needed to do was cultivate diligently and improve at a mad pace, and Lord Qianwu would surely summon him.

By the time Shen Mu emerged from the Qianwu Dojo, more than half a day had already passed.

"Brother Mu!"

The moment Luo Feng saw Shen Mu come out, he hurried over with two Cosmic-Level ninth-rank guards.

Shen Mu gave Luo Feng a slight nod, then said, "It's settled. We'll talk about the details once we get home."

"Alright." Luo Feng nodded hastily. The group boarded the spacecraft and returned to Light Source Star.

At the Light Source Star manor, Shen Mu and Luo Feng sat side by side on a sofa.

A virtual screen hovered before them, displaying Hong and Thunder God as they underwent their training.

"So, Shen Mu has to leave in six months?" Thunder God looked at Shen Mu.

Shen Mu nodded slightly. "Yes. At the end of February next year, a Qianwu Secret Realm spacecraft will arrive at Yan Lin Star to pick me up."

"The end of February... looks like we can still spend the New Year at home." A faint smile hung on Hong's face as he offered his blessings for Shen Mu's decision to join the Qianwu Secret Realm.

"Yes. I plan to stay on Earth for these six months and spend some proper time with my family." Shen Mu nodded.

"Then Hong and I will head back to Earth now. The four of us brothers can have a good reunion." Thunder God said.

After chatting for over ten minutes, the call ended.

"Come on, pack up. We're heading home too." Shen Mu patted Luo Feng on the shoulder.

Over half an hour later, the Jiuzhou took off from Light Source Star and flew toward the Milky Way Galaxy.

On November 4, 2060, the Jiuzhou spacecraft slowly landed in Kyoto Base City.

Inside the spaceship's hall, Luo Feng said, "We're finally home. We crossed half the territory of a medium universe country, and it still took more than two months. I wonder what level the Qianwu Secret Realm's spacecraft is—how can it reach the Milky Way Galaxy in just half a year?"

The Black Dragon Mountain Starfield was neither particularly remote nor a core region within the Qianwu Universe Country. Between it and the Qianwu Universe Country's directly governed starfields lay more than a hundred medium universe countries.

"They simply don't value us enough. I've heard that legendary divine kingdom teleportation can even cross the entire territory of humanity's universe in an instant."

Babata's figure popped out. "Shen Mu, you really dare to dream. You're only Star-Level; no matter how talented you are, you could never receive the treatment of divine kingdom teleportation. Do you know that every single divine kingdom teleportation consumes resources worth an astronomical price?"

"What is divine kingdom teleportation?" Luo Feng looked blankly at Shen Mu and Babata as they traded veiled riddles.

Shen Mu laughed. "I'm heading home first. Let Babata explain it to you."

About half an hour later, at Shen Mu's home.

After learning that Shen Mu had returned, his parents and Tang Yongqing had all taken leave and come home.

When they learned that Shen Mu would be heading deep into the universe next February, and might be unable to return home for hundreds of years afterward, each of them found it hard to part with him.

"Dad, Mom, it's not as if we'll never see each other again. You all have unregistered Virtual Universe network accounts. We can still meet anytime when the time comes."

Chen Wen huffed and complained, "How could that be the same? Your father and I are one thing, but you and Yongqing have only been married for a year."

Tang Yongqing, who had remained silent all along, smiled gently and said softly, "It's all right."

That was simply Tang Yongqing's nature. She never asked anything of Shen Mu.

Yet that night, Shen Mu still felt the emotions and willfulness Tang Yongqing had hidden beneath her intellectual grace.

As for the details, they were not fit to be spoken of to outsiders.

The next morning, Shen Mu had just gotten up when he received an email from Zhen Li, asking him to meet in the Virtual Universe.

Virtual Universe, Black Dragon Mountain Island, Qianwu Dojo.

By the time Shen Mu's figure appeared, Zhen Li had apparently been waiting there for quite some time.

"Senior Brother Zhen Li," Shen Mu said.

The demonically handsome Zhen Li nodded slightly and smiled. "Your identity information has been updated. You can now enter the exclusive space of our Qianwu Secret Realm."

"Come. I'll first introduce you to the teachers of the Qianwu Secret Realm."

"Thank you, Senior Brother."