After Lorenzo left, Domain Lord Bettekos remained in the room.
After taking a sip of wine, he murmured, "Lorenzo has no idea what a Planetary Level domain genius truly means.
"He and his disciple failed to enter the Giant Axe Battle Arena, so he thinks Planetary Level domain geniuses are nothing special?"
The Molten Empire had existed for more than three million years, yet even now, a Planetary Level domain genius joined only once every few hundred or thousand years. Every one of them sparked competition among the three Stellar Training Camps.
And that was after the Molten Empire had created a siphon effect, continuously drawing geniuses from several, or even more than ten, surrounding medium-sized universe countries!
In an ordinary medium-sized universe country, Planetary Level domain geniuses would be even rarer!
Bettekos set down his wineglass. "The Giant Axe Battle Arena is qualified to host the Universe Peak Genius Battle and the Powerhouse Battle. Planetary Level domain geniuses are not that important to them.
"And they have always acted tyrannically. Most of their branches have become private territory for various families. Why would they allow an outsider with no background to touch the slots for core members?"
He poured himself another glass and drained it in one gulp.
"If Lorenzo had sought to join not the Giant Axe Battle Arena, which could host the Universe Peak Genius Battle and Powerhouse Battle, but one of the three great giants—the Universe Mercenary Alliance, Universe Galaxy Bank, or Universe First Bank—
"Then, with his suspected status as a Planetary Level domain genius and his disciple's status as a Planetary Level domain genius, he could have become an internal member of the Qian Wu Branch. He might even have gone further and become a core member of the branch."
At this point, he lightly shook his head. "In the end, his horizons were the problem. But for a native to reach this point through a bit of luck, arduous cultivation and dangerous battles must have been unavoidable.
"The more time one spends cultivating, the less one naturally sees of the world. Otherwise, I would not have been able to pick up this bargain."
Bettekos was immensely proud of having picked up such a bargain. If he had not noticed that the branches of the other three great giants intended to recruit Lorenzo and acted first, Lorenzo would likely have already been taken in by one of them.
"Mm."
After pondering for a moment, Bettekos muttered, "Perhaps I should let him understand how the Stellar Training Camp operates. Otherwise, how will he take over for me?
"If he knew that among the first three trials of the Stellar Training Camp, the last trial had the highest death rate, he would not have suggested that I spread the Blood Blade Cone rewards across several more trials."
The World Lord skilled in the Water Law within the Molten Secret Realm was about to see his contract with the empire expire, and Bettekos would break through to World Lord and take over that position.
As for the position of head of the Stellar Training Camp, he intended for Lorenzo to succeed him.
He also knew that Lorenzo wanted to participate in the Universe Peak Powerhouse Battle and use it to join the sixth great power of the Qian Wu Universe Country—the Qian Wu Dojo!
But he believed that, given Lorenzo's strength, it would be difficult for him to achieve that!
The Universe Peak Powerhouse Battle was filled with powerful experts!
Breaking through the encirclement of so many powerhouses would be difficult! Very difficult!
"Hmm, there are still more than ten thousand years left. There is no need to rush."
With that, Bettekos finished his last glass of wine and left the Virtual Universe.
In the valley where the Royce Family lived, two children were playing in the woods.
Suddenly, they heard a sound from the sky. Curiosity appeared on their young faces as they looked toward the sky concealed by the treetops.
Crack!
A spacecraft hovered in the air, and its hatch opened.
Li Qi flew out of the spacecraft with a bundle slung over his back.
After watching the spacecraft depart, he looked down at the familiar valley below and murmured, "I'm back."
After being away from home for nearly a year, he had finally returned.
He had returned to this familiar home!
At that moment, his heart was free of distracting thoughts. There was only peace, as if his soul had been cleansed.
Whoosh!
A figure streaking with blue light flew over from the direction of the family settlement.
The figure flew closer, and upon seeing Li Qi's face, cried out in surprise, "Eleven?"
"Ninth Dad."
Li Qi hovered in the air and replied with a smile.
"Huh, why are you back? Didn't you say you passed the ranking battle?"
"Mm, I did."
"Then why did you come back this time?"
"I passed the governor's assessment and obtained the qualification to enter the Stellar Training Camp. Since the spacecraft coming to pick me up has not arrived yet, I came back to have a look."
"What! You obtained the qualification to enter the Stellar Training Camp?"
"Yes."
Seeing Li Qi nod, Ninth Dad was first stunned, then overjoyed. "Hahahaha! Another genius from our family has entered the Stellar Training Camp! The family ranch is secure now!"
Compared with Ninth Dad's joy and excitement, Li Qi remained calm and indifferent, merely smiling as he watched him.
"Come! Go with me to see your Eldest Dad! We need to tell Father and Third Brother this good news!"
Ninth Dad pulled Li Qi toward the family settlement.
"Big Brother! Look who I brought back!"
Upon returning to the family settlement, Ninth Dad's voice had already reached Eldest Dad's tent before they entered.
"Ninth, stop making such a fuss."
An annoyed rebuke came from inside. Li Qi recognized the voice as that of Sixth Dad, Garibuel.
"Sixth Brother is here too? Perfect!"
Ninth Dad lifted the animal-hide curtain covering the tent entrance and pulled Li Qi inside.
"Eleven!"
When the two men in the tent saw that the person Ninth Dad had brought in was Little Eleven, who had been away from the family for more than a year, they both rose to their feet with slightly surprised expressions.
They found Li Qi's return strange. Not long ago, he had contacted the family and said that he had passed the ranking battle and could remain in the Special Training Camp. Why had he suddenly returned?
"Eleven."
Sixth Dad Garibuel asked, "Why are you back?"
"Haha! You don't know this, but Eleven has already obtained the qualification to enter the Stellar Training Camp!"
"What!"
The two were both shaken, their faces filled with disbelief.
Eleven had been away from home for less than a year, yet he had already entered the Stellar Training Camp. It was simply too shocking for them!
Eldest Dad was afraid he had misheard. "Really?"
Li Qi nodded. "Ninth Dad was telling the truth."
Upon hearing this, Eldest Dad's face flushed with excitement. As expected of a genius on the same level as Second Brother!
He walked up to Li Qi, vigorously patted his shoulder, and laughed loudly. "Good! Good! As expected of a genius of my Royce Family!"
"Eleven, how did you obtain the qualification to enter the Stellar Training Camp?" Sixth Dad Garibuel asked.
"I..."
To avoid making Eldest Dad and the others worry, Li Qi left out the part about his agreement with the governor and described how he had comprehended the domain.
After hearing Li Qi's account, the three men finally understood. "So he comprehended a domain. No wonder he directly obtained the qualification to enter the Stellar Training Camp."
If they were ordinary Stellar Level or Planetary Level cultivators, they would most likely not even know what a domain was.
But the Royce Family was different. Their family had produced a genius—a genius whom even His Majesty the Molten Emperor had praised!
However, they did not understand the true worth of a Planetary Level domain genius.
"I'll immediately tell Third Brother and Father the news."
Now that he knew it was not a misunderstanding, Sixth Dad Garibuel took out his communicator and sent a message...
Ahem, let me pad out one more chapter. The second volume will end tomorrow.
I have been feeling a little unwell these past few days. The medicine makes me sleepy, and I have barely written the detailed outline for the third volume.
Before you continue