Kedi

That night, just after Yu Duan's consciousness left the Virtual Universe Network, he received an email from the Chilian Divine Empire's official administration.

"Greetings, Mr. Yu Duan. According to the latest changes to your account, you now own territories spanning 14 star systems. If you establish a low-level universe civilization, you may apply to become a vassal state of the Chilian Divine Empire and receive the protection of its armies."

"Attachments: proof of ownership for the relevant star systems, their coordinates, detailed information on their inhabited planets..."

The 14 star systems under the Crimson Empire's control had all been carefully developed for countless years. Each one contained more than 300,000 inhabited planets.

In the time it took to eat a meal, Yu Duan had gained nearly five million inhabited planets under his control.

"Establish a nation... No, I'll pass. I'll earn more managing them myself."

Low-level civilizations like these had usually been founded by the descendants of World Lord Level powerhouses.

While a World Lord Level powerhouse was alive, they could own territory, enact their own laws, and collect their own taxes. The returns were greater, and they had more freedom.

But once a World Lord Level powerhouse died, if their descendants failed to produce another, they would be unable to protect a multi-system territory worth several Hunyuan Units.

Their only option was to establish a nation and turn over most of the territory's revenue to a mid-level universe country. By following that country's laws, they could ensure their territory endured.

Yu Duan had no need to establish a nation. Given his standing in the Beiming Universe Country, no World Master or Immortal would dare seize his territory.

"I'll leave the business of managing the territory to Master Zhen Li and the others."

Yu Duan contacted Master Zhen Li and the other two through the Virtual Universe.

A short while later, inside the Civilization Temple on Light Source Planet...

"Yu Duan... Are you saying the entire Crimson Empire is now your territory?"

Master Zhen Li's voice caught in his throat. The sheer impact of this sudden wealth had clearly made him realize just how high Yu Duan's standing was now.

"Yes. The founder of the Chilian Divine Empire, a powerful Immortal God, personally decided to transfer the entire Crimson Empire's territory into my name."

Yu Duan smiled as he spoke, then explained the details. This helped Master Zhen Li and the other two calm down a little.

"Although these 14 star systems are now my property, I don't have time to manage them. I'll leave that to Light Source Company. You don't need to give me any of the revenue. Just use it to fund the development of our people."

Shen Jian hurriedly shook his head. "No, Yu Duan. This is your territory..."

Yu Duan cut him off. "Who knows how many years it'll take for the revenue from these 14 star systems to reach even one Hunyuan Unit?"

"By then, this wealth won't help me at all. Let our people keep it. That way, I can focus on cultivation without being distracted by the needs of our people."

Kun Zhu hesitated for a moment, then said, "The few of us are only ordinary Planetary Level people. Managing wealth on this scale... I'm afraid it'll be hard to convince everyone we're up to the task."

"You don't need to worry about that. I'll ask my teacher to send a World Lord Level powerhouse to oversee things. If anything comes up that only a powerhouse can handle, you can have that World Lord Level expert take care of it."

When Yu Duan finished speaking, Kun Zhu and Shen Jian exchanged a glance. He could see the excitement in the other man's eyes.

Even Master Zhen Li wasn't much calmer than the two of them.

Master Zhen Li took a deep breath. His eyes reddened, and he spoke in a trembling voice. "Yu Duan, having a genius like you emerge from our people is a blessing for all of us. On behalf of everyone... thank you!"

At that moment, Master Zhen Li wasn't sure what standing he should take when facing Yu Duan.

Noticing Master Zhen Li's emotions, Yu Duan simply smiled. "Then it's settled. I'll leave my territory in your hands, sir, along with my two senior brothers."

They talked a little longer. Once the three had fully calmed down, Yu Duan left the Civilization Temple and returned to the spaceship.

Deep in space, the pale gold spaceship emerged from stealth and hovered quietly.

Inside the control room, Yu Duan looked at King Qiongtao. "Senior King Qiongtao, let's return to the sacred land."

King Qiongtao looked surprised. "Wasn't Your Highness planning to stay in your home world for the entire Genius Tournament, then head straight to the Virtual Universe Company's Core Secret Realm?"

"There's no need for me to worry about my home world anymore."

Yu Duan shook his head. "My top priority now is to prepare wholeheartedly for the upcoming Universe Genius Tournament finals."

"Hahaha, good! Then we'll set off today."

Dew gave way to frost, and time flew by.

Two months passed in the blink of an eye, and Yu Duan returned to the Beiming Sacred Land.

Before, to enter the Beiming Sacred Land, he'd needed a World Lord to take him inside their body. Only then could he reach it.

This time, Yu Duan knew the Beiming Sacred Land's actual coordinates in the starry universe.

Countless islands of all sizes dotted a vast, icy-blue ocean.

On one secluded private island stood a sprawling complex of majestic palaces and buildings. Its scale was second only to the Central Divine Palace. This was King Qinghuan's residence.

"You're back?"

King Qinghuan, dressed in white, watched his youngest disciple with a warm smile. A look of satisfaction appeared on his handsome, gentle face.

Seeing his youngest disciple in the real world made the changes in his temperament all the more apparent.

He was composed, clear, lively, and poised. Every gesture seemed perfectly in harmony with nature. It felt as though every word used to describe a fine temperament suited the young man before him.

"Yes. I missed you the whole time I was back home, teacher. I feel more at ease staying by your side." Yu Duan shamelessly sidled up to King Qinghuan.

King Qinghuan laughed helplessly. "Are you trying to sweet-talk this lonely old man?"

"No, no. Don't get the wrong idea, teacher." Yu Duan gave an embarrassed smile.

King Qinghuan snorted, then said, "Now that you're back, focus on comprehending the laws and analyzing their mysteries. As you requested, before the Genius Tournament finals, you must truly set foot on the path of analyzing their essence."

"Yes, teacher!"

From that day onward, Yu Duan immersed himself in comprehending the mysteries of time and analyzing the essence of the laws.

During the day, he listened to King Qinghuan's guidance. At night, he studied the complex, profound Law Secret Patterns on the Silver Pupil, comparing them with his own understanding of the laws. The two reinforced each other, and he made progress every day.

The sun and moon raced past, and time flew by...

As Yu Duan cultivated in seclusion day after day, time seemed to hit fast-forward. He even began to feel as if each day passed faster than the last.

While Yu Duan devoted himself wholeheartedly to cultivation, comprehending the laws and analyzing their essence, An Yao and the others were enduring tens of thousands of grueling Reincarnation Battles.

Fighting ten matches a day wasn't unusual for the Star Level students of the Beiming Sacred Land.

But fighting ten matches every day for more than a thousand consecutive days was another matter.

They had to give their all in every match, with no chance to let up. After each fight, they still had to review and train. They were tense all day long, with almost no time to rest.

However, An Yao, Chi Li, and the others were all geniuses who had crossed the threshold of the Source Laws. Over the three years of Reincarnation Battles, they won far more often than they lost, achieving impressive results.

An Yao, in particular, had hardly lost a single match in more than ten thousand battles.

Under this intense regimen of Reincarnation Battles, in just three years, seven domain-level geniuses in the Beiming Universe Country successfully crossed the threshold of the laws.

The geniuses who had already crossed that threshold also made impressive progress.

In the blink of an eye, more than three years passed.

After the selection within the Beiming Universe Country ended, another three months went by.

Only one day remained before the Universe Genius Tournament finals!

"Child, tomorrow's the day you'll gather with the others for the finals. How are you feeling? Nervous?"

King Qinghuan, dressed in white, sat cross-legged beside a small table.

On the other side sat a figure a little smaller than King Qinghuan, also dressed in white. It was Yu Duan.

"I'm all right. I'll take things as they come and do my best."

Yu Duan wore a natural smile. He wasn't nervous, but he wasn't slacking off either. He was simply calm and composed.

King Qinghuan shook his head helplessly. "Over the past three years, I've also been collecting information on geniuses from other universe countries. I came across one astonishing young man, but I didn't tell you because I was afraid it might hurt your confidence."

Afraid it might hurt my confidence?

In other words, the young man had greater talent than him.

"Teacher, could you stop keeping me in suspense and just get to the point?" Yu Duan couldn't help complaining about his teacher.

King Qinghuan laughed heartily, then waved his right hand. A virtual screen appeared.

On the screen was a scene of an unremarkable-looking young man taking part in the preliminary round.

"Hmm? He only has a single layer of domain..."

Yu Duan had just started to sound surprised when the red spear in the young man's hand suddenly blazed with light. Crimson radiance erupted in an instant, like a volcano erupting!

"One layer of domain, crossed the threshold of the laws, peak bloodline... No, only someone at the Universe Level can have a peak bloodline!"

Starlight shimmered in Yu Duan's eyes. His Third Pupil opened slightly as he watched the scene on the screen.

"Teacher... Who is he?" Yu Duan looked at his teacher, King Qinghuan.

King Qinghuan smiled. "Keep watching. This is footage from the first day of the preliminary round. Next is the final day."

As King Qinghuan finished speaking, the scene on the screen changed again. It showed the young man on the thirtieth and final day of the preliminary round, facing another genius who had crossed the threshold of the laws.

On the first day of the preliminary round, the young man had only barely crossed the threshold of the Source Laws.

By the last day, the power of the Source Laws contained in his spear techniques was already close to An Yao's level.

Even Yu Duan was astonished by how quickly he'd improved.

The footage on the screen began changing rapidly. It showed the young man's Reincarnation Battles over the past three years.

In the upper-right corner of the screen, the number of the battle he was currently fighting was displayed.

On the fourteenth day of the first year of the Reincarnation Battles, the young man used a Spatial Phantom Body and crossed the threshold of the Space Origin Law.

On the 193rd day of the second year, the young man used nine Phantom Bodies, reaching the threshold of the Nine Illusion Bodies. His mastery of the laws was equivalent to an entry-level understanding of the second level of the Light and Time Sword.

On the final day of the Reincarnation Battles, the young man still used the Nine Illusion Bodies technique, but he was clearly at ease. He no longer fought with all his strength.

King Qinghuan waved his hand, dismissing the screen. Then he looked at Yu Duan and spoke slowly. "His current mastery of the laws is already close to where you were three years ago."

"In three years, he's caught up with the results of your twenty years of hard cultivation."

"Such rapid progress must be due to some special opportunity."

"How does that make you feel? Pressured?"

When King Qinghuan finished speaking, Yu Duan did indeed feel the pressure.

But this kind of pressure would only spur him to improve even faster!

"Teacher, what's his name?"

"Kedi. The number one genius of the Yuanchen Universe Kingdom, and your greatest rival for countless years to come. There's no one else who even comes close."

"Kedi... Good, good. Kedi it is!"

Yu Duan suddenly laughed. King Qinghuan noticed that Yu Duan seemed to be feeling complicated emotions—and yet, he also seemed very happy?