Virtual Universe Network

The Molian Star trading market is filled with shops of all sizes. Yu Duan eventually selected a store belonging to the royal family of the Chilian Divine Empire—the Chibao Store.

Within the territory of the Chilian Divine Empire, any business with the characters "Chilian" or "Lotus" in its sign is nine times out of ten related to the royal family.

As an "interstellar hypermarket," this Chibao Store occupies a vast area, comparable to a large plaza on Earth. On the space-starved Molian Star, this is considered a luxury.

The store is packed with a dazzling array of goods, organized into detailed sections: Equipment, Cultivation Resources, Technology, Spaceships, and so on. The target of Yu Duan's trip—the energy shield—is located in the northeast corner of the first floor.

In the energy shield section, holographic projections of various shield models float in the air, accompanied by detailed specifications.

As the three of them stepped into this area, a female Dream Fish Race sales clerk swam over elegantly. She had a slender figure, a fish tail covered in milky-white crystal scales, and skin that was translucent and glowing with a faint fluorescence. Her face was human-like, exquisite and beautiful.

"Respected sirs, is there anything I can do for you?" The Dream Fish woman bowed slightly, her voice ethereal.

Yu Duan pointed to one of the projections and said concisely, "One A1 Type Unified Force Field Large Energy Shield."

"Sir, this is a flagship product from the 'Chixing' series developed by the Imperial Academy of Sciences. Its performance..." The woman immediately began an enthusiastic introduction.

"I know this series, no need to introduce it. Let's just trade," Yu Duan interrupted her directly.

"...Very well, sir." The woman reacted quickly, her smile unchanging. "The A1 Grade Chixing Unified Field Shield costs 12,000 Chilian Coins. If you are a member of our store, you can enjoy a 20% discount."

To become a member of the Chibao Store, even at the lowest level, one must have accumulated at least 100 million Chilian Coins in spending. Therefore, members of the Chibao Store are generally Universe Level powerhouses.

Fortunately, the purchasing process did not hit any snags just because Yu Duan was not a member.

By the time Yu Duan and his companions walked out of the Chibao Store, Kun Zhu was holding a dark blue crystal ball the size of a soccer ball.

It was crystalline throughout, like the purest sapphire, emitting a dreamlike shimmer. This was the unactivated form of the A1 Grade Celestial Shield, capable of protecting an entire planet.

"Just this little thing... can withstand the carpet bombing of a Planetary Level?"

Kun Zhu's voice echoed in the trio's encrypted virtual network channel, filled with disbelief and shock. "The methods of cosmic civilization... are simply unfathomable!"

Yu Duan responded in the channel with a hint of ease: "Once we are on the spaceship, Brother Kun Zhu can study it at your leisure."

With all the goals of this trip achieved, the three of them did not delay, heading straight to the planetary spaceport to set off back to Light Source Planet that very day.

In the Dark Universe, the Chilian Star spaceship sped along at a constant speed of light.

At this speed, according to the scientific theories of Light Source Planet, all forms of communication should theoretically be severed, as signal transmission speed is at most the speed of light.

However, the Virtual Universe Network is not affected by speed.

Compared to other communication networks, the Virtual Universe Network is an entirely "unreasonable" existence.

In the main control room of the spaceship, Kun Zhu lay on the sofa, studying the Virtual Universe Network through his optical arm guard, unable to stop himself from sighing the more he researched.

"The Virtual Universe Network can actually be accessed from anywhere, and it allows for absolute real-time communication. This is just too exaggerated."

Although Kun Zhu was not born in the new era of Light Source Planet and had not received a formal scientific education, that did not mean he was ignorant.

Shen Jian, dressed in white robes, also nodded, though his expression was somewhat helpless. "The Virtual Universe Network is great in every way, but everything costs money."

Within the Virtual Universe Network, you basically have to pay for everything, and the consumption is extremely high.

Yu Duan had just glanced at the prices for the "Killing Field" and was immediately deterred.

In the original story, the daily routine for Luo Feng and his friends in the virtual universe was to immerse themselves in the Killing Field to train, simulating various levels of powerhouses for special drills, and dueling with geniuses from across the universe.

As long as you have money, anything is possible.

Taking Yu Duan, a Planetary Level 1, as an example, training in the Killing Field for one day costs 200,000 Chilian Coins.

For Kun Zhu, a Planetary Level 4, training for one day requires 500,000 Chilian Coins.

As a Spirit Reader, even though Shen Jian is only a Planetary Level 3, the cost for one day of training is 2 million Chilian Coins—five times that of a Fighter.

Kun Zhu waved his large hand, an optimistic smile appearing on his face: "Money can be earned slowly. At least the trip to the universe went smoothly. The crisis of the 'Death Omen Star' has been resolved, so we have enough time for cultivation. Once we get stronger, there will always be ways to make money!"

Shen Jian pursed his lips, feeling a bit emotional: "I wonder how many years it will take for us to become true powerhouses."

Earlier, while handling various procedures on Molian Star, the three of them had passed by a massive slave plaza.

All sorts of slave traders stood in neat rows with their "goods," waiting for buyers to pick them out like livestock.

Shen Jian had curiously scanned the auras of those slaves with his smart optical computer at the time... the strongest among them had an energy intensity that reached the peak of Star Level 9!

Star Level 9... Shen Jian didn't even know if he could reach that realm in this lifetime.

In the current Light Source Planet, only Yu Duan had the confidence to become a Star Level expert.

Yet, in the vast universe, even a peak Star Level 9 could inevitably end up as a slave.

At this moment, Yu Duan was also feeling troubled.

"Money..."

Yu Duan leaned back in his seat, his fingers tapping the armrest unconsciously, his brows furrowed.

Even if he were to harden his heart and sell the Chilian Star spaceship, the proceeds would only be around 1.6 million Chilian Coins—enough for him to squander for only 8 days in the Killing Field!

Except for places like the Killing Field, everyone in the virtual universe has their physical fitness standardized to the peak of Apprentice Level, and they cannot use abilities like domains or laws.

He couldn't just hold up a sign in the virtual universe that said, "I am a Planetary Level genius with a domain, seeking a master's guidance," could he?

"Let's first look into ways to join a major power."

Yu Duan used his smart assistant, Number One, to search for intelligence on various major factions.

Half an hour later, the information was compiled.

The five peak factions did not have open registration channels; one had to demonstrate talent and wait to be passively recruited.

Excluding these five giants, the largest genius-cultivating organization within the Chilian Divine Empire that had the lowest barrier to entry and the least amount of restrictive binding was the Beiming Divine Realm!

The Beiming Divine Realm was the only "higher academy" within the vast territory belonging to the Beiming Universe Kingdom that could recruit students across different regions.

Apart from the five peak factions, the many powerhouses under the jurisdiction of the Beiming Universe Kingdom could only recruit geniuses from their own territories as disciples. Only the Beiming Divine Realm could ignore these restrictions and recruit students on a large scale.

Although the Beiming Divine Realm's foundation and resources were far inferior to the five peak factions, its advantage lay in the fact that its barrier to entry was essentially non-existent.

As long as one possessed a legal cosmic citizenship and paid the 1,000 Chilian Coin registration fee along with the 10 Chilian Coin annual tuition, one could become a student at the Chilian Divine Empire branch of the Beiming Divine Realm.