The New Governor

Endless Star Sea. A Class C spacecraft suddenly appeared in the starry sky, then flew toward the blue-green Kuka Planet at sublight speed.

Kuka Planet's spacecraft port was not large. At most, it could accommodate a dozen or so spacecraft hundreds of meters long at once. At present, only three spacecraft several dozen meters long were docked there.

After the spacecraft passed verification and docked at the port, several Stellar-level powerhouses immediately waited outside it.

Inside the Class C spacecraft, a middle-aged man with fuzz on his face, a rather long nose, and regular features sat in a chair, looking at the holographic projection of the starry sky before him.

Looking at the enormous blue-green planet ahead, the middle-aged man softly remarked, "So this is Kuka Planet, where I'll be staying for decades, perhaps even a century. It's quite ordinary."

The middle-aged man rose to his feet and said, "Mm, let's go see my disciple first."

Half an hour later, a small spacecraft departing from Kuka Planet's spacecraft port arrived at Zhaoguang City on the planet's surface.

By the time the spacecraft landed, more than twenty Stellar-level powerhouses were already waiting there.

Aside from one relatively unknown individual, all the others were prominent figures in Zhaoguang City.

At the front stood the middle-aged-looking dean of Zhaoguang Academy. However, standing beside him was not the Zhaoguang City Lord, but a mentor from Zhaoguang Academy—Ian!

Sizzle—!

The spacecraft hatch opened, and the long-nosed middle-aged man stepped out, followed by two Stellar-level powerhouses.

Seeing the middle-aged man emerge, the dean of Zhaoguang Academy hurried forward to greet him. "Welcome to Zhaoguang City, Governor Lorenzo."

"You are the dean of Zhaoguang Academy?" Lorenzo asked.

"Yes, Governor. I am the dean of Zhaoguang Academy," the Zhaoguang City Lord answered respectfully.

"Mm." Lorenzo nodded slightly and said nothing more. Instead, he turned to Ian beside him. "Ian, come with me."

"Yes, Teacher." Ian obediently stepped behind Lorenzo.

As they walked toward the convoy of hovercars not far from the spacecraft, Lorenzo asked, "Have you gotten used to life on Kuka Planet?"

"It's all right. Kuka Planet is just too peaceful. It doesn't feel like the real universe."

Ian had traveled the universe with his teacher for over a century, so they spoke quite naturally with one another.

"The Molten Empire is a mid-level universe country. Compared to other planets, the cultivation planets under its jurisdiction are safer and more closed-off, separated from the true universe." Lorenzo nodded in agreement.

Ian walked to the hovercar, opened the door, and invited his teacher to enter first before getting in himself.

Though the hovercar was extremely spacious, only master and disciple sat inside.

After Ian took the seat opposite him, Lorenzo said, "You have lived on Kuka Planet for nearly two years. What do you think is the greatest problem here?"

Hearing this, Ian did not think much before answering directly, "It's too peaceful. The lack of external pressure has led to internal struggles for power and profit."

"Struggles for power and profit?" Lorenzo asked curiously. "Tell me about it."

Ian recounted what had happened a few days ago when he served as the chief examiner.

Finally, he added, "If that little fellow named Li Qi hadn't been outstanding in every respect, he probably wouldn't have been able to enter Zhaoguang Academy."

"Is that so? Then it seems purging those corrupt mentors was the right decision."

Lorenzo nodded, then asked again, "When did you break through to the Stellar level?"

"Four months ago," Ian replied.

Lorenzo said, "Since you have already broken through to the Stellar level, go to the Stellar Training Camp.

"Before coming here, I discussed it with Sector Lord Bettekos. You will enter the Stellar Training Camp under his command. Sector Lord Bettekos specializes in the Water Laws. I hope that cultivating under him will allow your strength to advance even further."

"Thank you, Teacher."

Upon hearing that the chief instructor of the Stellar Training Camp he was about to enter was a Sector Lord proficient in the Water Laws, Ian was overjoyed and hurriedly thanked him.

Lorenzo raised a hand. "Don't celebrate just yet.

"Entering the Stellar Training Camp is certainly good, but I hope you can go further still—enter the Molten Secret Realm of the Molten Empire and receive personal guidance from Sector Lords such as the Molten Emperor."

"Yes! I will not disappoint you, Teacher." Ian's expression was resolute.

"Do you resent me?" Lorenzo suddenly asked.

"Why would you ask that, Teacher?" Ian asked in confusion.

"If I hadn't made you remain at the ninth rank of the Planetary level for over a century, with your talent, you would already be at the ninth rank of the Stellar level," Lorenzo said.

"I have never thought that way." Ian shook his head. "If you hadn't taken me away from my hometown, Teacher, I probably would only have reached the ninth rank of the Planetary level in this life."

"Heh." Lorenzo chuckled and shook his head. "It still comes down to me. I was too confident!"

A century ago, Lorenzo had obtained the title of "Giant Axe Warrior" at the Cosmic-level Giant Axe Battle Arena, and his number of victories had surpassed ten thousand.

He had thought he could become a core member of the Qian Wu Universe Country branch of the Giant Axe Battle Arena and, while he was at it, secure an internal membership slot in the branch for his disciple.

But the Giant Axe Battle Arena acted domineeringly. Without any explanation, it threw him an internal membership slot for the branch, with an attitude of take it or leave it.

Thus, ten years ago, in a fit of anger, he accepted Sector Lord Bettekos's invitation to join the Molten Empire. The condition was that after serving the empire for a period of time, he would receive guidance from the Molten Sector Lord.

To receive the Molten Sector Lord's guidance, then enter the Qian Wu Secret Realm through the Universe Peak Powerhouse Battle—this was Lorenzo's goal!

Yet no matter what, he had still delayed his disciple's time. Now, there were only a little over eighty years until the Universe Peak Genius Battle.

If he had not wasted those hundred years, Ian might have advanced further in his domain and reached the ninth level of domain mastery.

At that thought, Lorenzo shook his head again. It has been nearly five thousand years since my last setback caused by overconfidence.

The last time his confidence had swelled had been during the world preliminary selection for the Universe Peak Genius Battle.

At the time, he had reached the ninth level of domain mastery and possessed formidable combat techniques. He had been invincible within one region, and his world ranking had once risen above three hundred.

But his invincibility within one region made him lose his sense of caution. He kept challenging powerhouses from other regions, only to be brutally beaten by a genius who had comprehended Laws.

In the end, he ranked 1,004th in the world, just short of the top 1,001 and qualification for the next-stage preliminaries.

"This is not your fault, Teacher. In the end, my talent and strength were insufficient. If my talent and strength had been great enough, then with your help, Teacher, I would have long since become an internal member of the Giant Axe Battle Arena branch."

Ian believed that his inability to become an internal member of the Giant Axe Battle Arena branch was ultimately because he was not strong enough.

"Forget it. Let's not talk about this."

Seeing Ian begin to blame himself, Lorenzo changed the subject. "Do you think there is still a need for the United Training Camp to exist?"

"Mm." Ian thought for a moment before saying, "Because of the punishment from the empire's higher-ups, aside from a few mentors who survived by fighting desperately, all the rest were sent to mine on other planets.

"The students also suffered heavy losses. At present, the United Training Camp exists in name only. But if the Molten Empire is to cultivate geniuses, the United Training Camp must remain. It is the transitional stage before entering the Stellar Training Camp."

Lorenzo nodded. "Indeed, as an important stage, the United Training Camp needs to exist.

"So I am considering rebuilding the United Training Camp. Before that, however, I plan to select some people and establish a temporary training camp."

"Teacher, are you planning to...?" Ian asked curiously.

Lorenzo smiled. "Heh, a new official taking office always has to do something."

Three days after the entrance examination ended, Li Qi's communicator received an admission notice from Zhaoguang City.