Yu Xiang Mountain was the gathering place for core members below the Immortal level.
Thunder Island, on the other hand, was where the Immortals of the Virtual Universe Company gathered. It was the center of the company's highest authority.
Standing atop a steep rock, the ape-like elder pointed toward a vast island in the distance, shrouded in clouds and encircled by lightning. "Look, that's Thunder Island, also known as 'Immortal Island.' It's a hundred, even a thousand times larger than Yu Xiang Mountain. All the Immortals of the Virtual Universe Company generally live there. If Yu Xiang Mountain is the gathering place and training ground for the company's core members below the Immortal level, then Thunder Island is the true gathering place of the strong—the Immortals."
"Mm." Lu Yan'an looked at Thunder Island in the clouds and nodded.
It could be called a sacred place for all Cosmic Humans.
"Your Highness, I'll take you to the Original District, though I can only escort you to its outskirts," Lei Xiao said with a smile. "As for the benefits of the Original District, you'll understand once you've been assigned a residence."
Although Lu Yan'an already knew what to expect from the original story, he was still filled with anticipation. After all, this was the legendary Original Secret Realm!
Following a beautiful, quiet path paved with bluestone, Lu Yan'an soon came upon a magnificent stone gate, carved from ancient-looking gray rock. It was breathtaking.
"Your Highness Lu Yan'an." The white-haired, white-bearded elder wore a white robe. His presence seemed to brighten and warm the surrounding space, like a sun. "I'm Aitor, administrator of the Original District. Welcome. You are now a member of the Original Secret Realm."
"Hello!" Lu Yan'an greeted him with a smile.
"Please follow me, Your Highness!" Aitor's snowy hair and beard fluttered in the breeze, giving him the air of an immortal sage.
Lu Yan'an followed Aitor through the air. Along the way, he occasionally felt powerful fluctuations of law coming from somewhere below.
"This is your personal Guard Army," Aitor said with a smile. "Every Highness in the Original Secret Realm is assigned one."
"An Immortal Army Lord will lead the Guard Army, and every Highness in the Original Secret Realm may choose an Immortal God to live in their manor as a long-term teacher."
"So you'll often sense the fluctuations of law from Immortal Gods in the Original District. There's no need to be surprised."
Lu Yan'an listened quietly and nodded.
The two flew through the air.
"Your manor is number eight, Your Highness Lu Yan'an." Aitor pointed toward a sprawling estate.
The two landed at the manor's main gate. In front of the imposing, secluded estate, thousands of people stood assembled in rows. At their head stood an Immortal God clad in azure battle armor. He was tall and slender, with a gentle air; unlike other Immortal Experts, he exuded no chilling sense of distance.
"Your Highness!" The Immortal God in azure battle armor bowed slightly.
"Greetings, Your Highness!" The Guard Army soldiers behind him dropped to one knee in salute, while all the servants behind them prostrated themselves on the ground.
"Your Highness, this is the leader of your Guard Army. You may address him as Mr. Hisoka," Aitor said, introducing him to Lu Yan'an with a smile.
"Your Highness, please just call me Hisoka," the Immortal God replied, his tone modest.
"Mr. Hisoka, I'll be counting on you from now on," Lu Yan'an said with a smile. He didn't presume upon his position. His thousand years of trials in the illusion had taught him a profound lesson: before you had the strength to back it up, keeping a low profile was every genius's duty.
"That is my duty." Hisoka showed no reaction to Lu Yan'an's form of address. He simply bowed again.
"Your Highness, Mr. Hisoka is the leader of your Guard Army and the steward of this manor. If you need anything, just ask him. I'll take my leave now," Aitor said.
Without waiting for Lu Yan'an to reply, he smiled and transformed into a beam of light, disappearing in an instant.
Meanwhile, Hisoka began showing Lu Yan'an around his private manor...
After familiarizing himself with his new living quarters, Lu Yan'an headed into the villa in his manor to rest.
Just as he was preparing to see for himself the dazzling treasure trove of the Virtual Universe Company, famous throughout the universe, he received a notification email from the company.
Lu Yan'an: Congratulations on becoming an official member of the Original Secret Realm. You will now receive 100,000 free points, along with an additional 100,000 points as a special reward from Venerable Zhouguang. You may use these 200,000 points to buy anything on the treasure trove list, as long as you have enough points. I recommend buying the secret manuals you need for cultivation. You have three years during your journey, and that time is best spent practicing them. Also! Remember, there's no need to waste time cultivating Origin Energy or Spiritual Force. From Stellar Level One to Nine, it's all a matter of accumulating quantity. The transition from Stellar Level Nine to Universe Level One, however, is a leap in life genes. From Universe Level One to Nine, Domain Lord One to Nine, and First Stage Realm Lord One to Nine, it's all a matter of accumulating quantity! The company can use incredibly precious resources to improve and strengthen the bodies of all core members for free, boosting their Origin Energy and Spiritual Force. In a short time, they can be raised from Level One to Level Nine, bringing their bodies to saturation. As for the qualitative breakthrough—the leap in life genes—each core member must work hard to achieve that on their own. The company won't let its core members waste time accumulating energy. All core members should devote their time to improving their combat strength, comprehending the Origin Law, and learning secret manuals! ... Virtual Universe Company
"So this is the Virtual Universe Company? They really are loaded!" Lu Yan'an exclaimed. Back when he'd read the original story, he hadn't thought much of it. Only now did he truly understand just how extravagant the Virtual Universe Company was. Accumulating energy wasn't easy for any life-form in the universe. For example:
The Azure Fruit Lu Yan'an had used to break through to the Stellar level was worth more than a dozen unclaimed life-bearing planets, just for the energy accumulated between the Planetary and Stellar levels!
And that was only the accumulation between the Planetary and Stellar levels. At higher realms, the resources he consumed would increase exponentially! Now the Virtual Universe Company would help him accumulate energy, saving him an astronomical amount of resources.
Lu Yan'an also hadn't expected a Venerable Zhouguang to award him an extra 100,000 points! It was a welcome surprise. Just how important points were early on could be seen from how City Lord Luo had gotten into a bind after Babata tricked him into spending them all. Points gave you a lot of room for error.
"I wonder who this Venerable Zhouguang is?" Lu Yan'an thought, puzzled. But the face of Venerable Plain Robe gradually came to mind. "The only Venerable I've crossed paths with so far is the one who presided over the Genius Tournament, isn't it?" he guessed.
"Never mind. We'll probably cross paths again in the future!" Lu Yan'an shook his head and opened the Virtual Universe Company's treasure trove.
The treasure trove opened, and eight categories appeared on the screen: "Secret Manuals," "Weapons," "Rare Treasures," "Technological Weapons," "Materials," "Tools," "Biological Lifeforms," and "Other Special Items."
Each category contained many subcategories. Under Biological Lifeforms, for instance, were "Plant Lifeforms," "Metal Lifeforms," "Tamed Beasts," and more.
It contained everything imaginable.
Lu Yan'an was dazzled by the sheer variety and had to ask Lord Shen for help. "Lord Shen, do you have any recommendations for secret manuals to help me cultivate laws from here on?"
Lord Shen wasn't a hack like Babata. Having roamed the universe for many years, he had a wealth of experience and could offer Lu Yan'an sound advice.
Back in the day, with Babata's enthusiastic help, City Lord Luo had used all the 10,000 free points gifted to new members of the Primordial Secret Realm to buy a complete set of the Shadow Secret Manual.
That's right, the Shadow Secret Manual—a basic cultivation manual for martial artists! Then he'd spent the remaining 180 points on Origin Force weapons, a Life Fruit, and a Lanke Fruit.
That little detail alone showed how badly an unreliable AI assistant could affect its master!
Compared to Babata, Lord Shen really was a little angel!
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