The Virtual Universe

"Sett, get ready to leave," King Zhenlian said as she found Sett.

Soon, Sett had finished packing. King Zhenlian waved her hand, and a sleek-looking spacecraft, 300 meters long, appeared in the air.

"Let's go."

Whoosh! Whoosh!

With a flash, the two appeared inside the spacecraft.

"My spacecraft may not look very big, but it has a Flame Disc integrated into it. It can reach sixty times the speed of light," King Zhenlian said with a faint smile, introducing her ship.

She clearly loved this spacecraft. After all, any ship that could reach sixty times the speed of light was incredibly impressive.

"It's beautiful," Sett praised.

"We'll reach our destination in a month. Here's an intelligent assistant for you. It'll let you enter the Virtual Universe." King Zhenlian tossed Sett a bracer.

Faint patterns shimmered across it.

"The Virtual Universe?" Only then did Sett remember that despite having been in the universe for so long, he had never entered the Virtual Universe.

He had spent two years focused on training and had completely forgotten about it.

"The Virtual Universe is a technology developed by the Virtual Universe Company. No matter where you are in the universe, you can connect to it anytime, anywhere, except in a very small number of secret realms.

"It lets members of the Human Race communicate instantly, face-to-face, with no delay.

"It can also make everything feel real, from sight and hearing to touch. Anything you can do in the universe, you can do in the Virtual Universe," King Zhenlian explained with a smile.

"That's incredible!" Sett couldn't help exclaiming.

"Of course. The Virtual Universe Company is one of the five great powers of the Human Race."

"We generally divide Universe Countries into low-level, intermediate, and high-level ones."

"Low-level Universe Countries usually control anywhere from a few to dozens of star systems. Their strongest figures are generally Universe Level, or Domain Lords of average strength."

"Intermediate Universe Countries rule over a region of space containing anywhere from several thousand to tens of thousands of star systems. Their strongest figures are usually Ordinary Immortals."

"As for High-level Universe Countries, each controls more than ten thousand star regions and over a hundred million star systems."

"Their rulers are Venerable Level experts. For example, Zhenyuan Venerable could establish a Universe Country with ease."

"Our Human Race has a total of 1,008 High-level Universe Countries. Each one is incredibly powerful, but the truly powerful forces in the universe aren't the Universe Countries."

"They're seemingly scattered organizations with immense power."

"For example, the Universe First Bank and the Universe Galaxy Bank. Both banks cater to the wealthy. Many powerful experts at my level, myself included, keep their treasures and wealth in them."

"Wouldn't that mean the two banks have a monopoly on the economy?" Sett asked.

"Certainly. There's also the Universe Mercenary Alliance. It's a loose organization, but the vast majority of Martial Artists and Controllers join it," King Zhenlian replied.

"Does Your Majesty King Rank belong to it too?" Sett asked.

"Not just me. Zhenyuan Venerable belongs to the Universe Mercenary Alliance as well. But it's a very loose organization. It won't assign you missions unless you become one of its core members."

"Then there's the Virtual Universe Company. The Virtual Universe is known as humanity's second world, and the company holds it firmly in its grasp."

"Last is the Giant Axe Arena, the fairest, bloodiest, most thrilling, and largest arena of all."

"The five great powers rule over humanity through overwhelming strength, reaching every aspect of the Universe Countries."

"It's unbelievable. The Universe Countries are already so powerful, yet there are even stronger forces above them," Sett marveled.

Sett was only Planetary Level, but he couldn't help feeling astonished as he thought about the five great powers.

"Now you understand how powerful the Virtual Universe is. Zhenyuan Venerable and I are both Core Members of the Virtual Universe Company. The benefits its core members enjoy—and those of the other great powers—far surpass anything a Universe Country can offer."

"Work hard, young man. Try to join the Virtual Universe Company or the Giant Axe Arena as soon as you can. Those two are much stronger than the other three."

"Understood!" Sett replied at once.

The Giant Axe Arena was founded by the strongest being in the Human Race, so it was naturally terrifying. The Virtual Universe Company controlled the Initial Universe and had several powerful Universe Masters, making it every bit as formidable as the Giant Axe Arena.

Sett knew just how powerful these two forces were from the story he remembered.

But it was far too early to think about joining them. After all, he was only a Planetary Level Martial Artist.

Generally speaking, Planetary Level Martial Artists could barely make ends meet in the universe. Only after reaching Star Level would they have a chance.

I have two Innate Secret Techniques. As long as I work hard and show my talent, I'll have a good chance—whether King Zhenlian or Zhenyuan Venerable recommends me, I do well in the upcoming genius competition, or I make a strong showing at the Giant Axe Arena, Sett thought to himself.

After putting on the intelligent assistant, Zhenyuan Venerable said, "Come enter the Virtual Universe with me."

"Okay." Sett nodded, then said to the assistant, "Enter the Virtual Universe."

"Connecting to the Virtual Universe." A deep voice echoed in Sett's mind.

Sett's consciousness sank into darkness.

Sett suddenly appeared in an ancient city. The streets were paved with large, neatly cut stone blocks. The passersby looked strange, varied in height, and belonged to different species. Most wore simple gray clothes, and each had a little sprite on their shoulder.

"So this is the Virtual Universe?" Sett looked at the crowds around him. It felt exactly like the real world. Without the memory of entering the Virtual Universe, he might have mistaken it for a living world.

"We're on Dark Star Island in Ganwu Continent. Since this is your first time entering the Virtual Universe, you've appeared at the location linked to the real world," King Zhenlian said as she walked over.

"Dark Star Island?" Sett asked. He had never heard of the place.

"Dark Star Island is the island where the Dark Star Universe Kingdom is located. Our Zhenyun Planet is in the territory of the Dark Star Intermediate Universe Kingdom, so naturally we've appeared on Dark Star Island," King Zhenlian explained.

"Come with me." King Zhenlian led Sett down the street.

"In the Virtual Universe, you can chat with friends remotely, transfer money, and even handle financial transactions.

"You can study martial arts, trade, and take part in auctions.

"You can also play virtual games—games that are one hundred percent virtual and exactly like reality. Many ordinary people get hooked on them and enjoy a second life.

"You can eat delicacies you can't afford in real life and drink fine wines you can't afford, too. Of course, you still have to pay, but it costs much less than in reality.

"All the Human Race's elite gather here. Anything you can't do in real life can be done here. But virtual things are still virtual. No matter how long you stay, your body can't train. For experts like me, the Virtual Universe is just a tool.

"It gives us convenient ways to meet and talk with like-minded friends," King Zhenlian explained as they walked.

"The Virtual Universe really is amazing," Sett praised.

Only after experiencing it himself could he understand how incredible a perfect simulation was.

More importantly, the universe was vast, yet the Virtual Universe made it possible to communicate in real time from anywhere. Otherwise, even messages traveling at the speed of light would take a hundred thousand years to cross the Milky Way.

"Since we have another month, I'll take you to the Virtual Universe for a match against someone of your level," King Zhenlian said.

Sett had a pretty good idea where King Zhenlian was taking him.

The Killing Field let people fight other experts. For Martial Artists, battle was the best way to improve their strength—and the best kind was a fight where they could feel the threat of death.

The potential people unleashed between life and death was immeasurable, so life-or-death battles were an excellent way to grow stronger.

"I'll take you to the Killing Field," King Zhenlian said.

"Just as I thought. After getting beaten up by that monster, King Zhenlian, for two years, I wonder how I'll do against others at my level now," Sett thought to himself.

I should be able to beat them up, right?