Setting Out

Lin Yuan wore a Giant Axe Medal around his neck, and the bio-chip in his brain had been removed. He was following the Domain Lord supervisor to meet the World Lord, Bart.

After more than twenty thousand years, Lin Yuan had finally gained his freedom.

Lin Yuan was overwhelmed with emotion. The past twenty thousand years had been like living in hell, and he never wanted to experience that again.

Lin Yuan had made up his mind: he would never risk his life unless he was certain he could succeed. With his Golden Finger to help him, he had no shortage of resources. He could just take his time and grow stronger.

In the Swallowed Star World, as long as he could reach immortality and didn't go looking for trouble, he would have all the time he needed. Lin Yuan wasn't afraid to take it slow.

Lin Yuan was brought before the World Lord, Bart.

"Lord Bart."

Lin Yuan bowed.

"Mm. You have good talent, young man. Among the Universe Level Giant Axe Warriors, you're already quite strong."

"You flatter me, sir. I was just a little luckier than most."

"Anyone who becomes a Giant Axe Warrior receives an invitation from my Great Axe Arena to join as an Outer Member. The vast majority accept. Are you willing?"

"Lin Yuan is willing."

"Good. There's something else, besides your joining as an Outer Member."

Bart's eyes flashed with thunder as he studied Lin Yuan.

"I intend to take you under my wing. Once you become a Domain Lord, I can make you an internal member of the Great Axe Arena. You were born a slave, and you have no one to rely on now. What do you say?"

Lin Yuan didn't answer right away. He fell into thought.

The World Lord, Bart, raised an eyebrow.

"Lord Bart, I've been a slave ever since I reached Planet Level. Now that I've only just regained my freedom, I'd like to venture into the universe on my own first."

"Have you thought this through? This is your only chance."

"Sir, I've made up my mind."

Lightning crackled between the World Lord, Bart's brows.

"Hmph! You may go."

With that, the World Lord, Bart, turned and disappeared.

He moved so quickly that, to Lin Yuan, it looked like Teleportation.

Lin Yuan had already weighed his options.

If he wanted to enter the Core Layer of the Virtual Universe Company or the Great Axe Arena, Law Comprehension was the most important thing at this stage.

Deepening his comprehension of the lower laws would give him a chance to place among the top thousand in the all-universe Warrior Battle and enter the Core Layer.

If he could cross the threshold of space law, he might even have a shot at placing among the top hundred in the all-universe Warrior Battle.

And the best way to accelerate his Law Comprehension was to find a teacher who could guide him.

Having guidance from a Peak Marquis teacher would certainly benefit him more than becoming an internal member of the Great Axe Arena.

Once everything had been settled, Lin Yuan went aboard the spaceship of the World Lord Saiwen, who was about to become his senior fellow disciple.

"Haha, Lin Yuan, I bet you're completely broke right now."

Lin Yuan looked himself over. Saiwen was right.

The Great Axe Arena had taken back his Force Battle Axe and Battle Armor. All Lin Yuan had left was a set of ordinary clothes and a nearly useless Optical Computer, which the arena had probably been too lazy to take.

"Here. Take this."

Saiwen took out a Smart Optical Brain and handed it to Lin Yuan.

"How long has it been since you last entered the real Virtual Universe? Here, take it. There's an anonymous account on this optical brain with one million Universe Coins in it. Once we reach the Holy Land, you can't go around with empty pockets."

For a World Lord acknowledged by the laws, that sum was nothing.

"Thank you, Lord Saiwen!"

Lin Yuan was deeply grateful. He had spent so long as a slave, constantly hovering on the brink of death. Saiwen was the first person in this world to show him any concern.

"Hey, don't call me 'Lord.' I'm the teacher's seventh disciple, and he'll be officially taking you on as a disciple soon anyway. Just call me Seventh Senior Brother."

"Thank you, Seventh Senior Brother!"

World Lord Saiwen smiled and nodded.

"Master, the spaceship is ready! Destination: the Nine Flame Sacred Land. We can depart at any time!"

A cat-eared girl appeared on the screen at the spaceship's control console, grinning as she spoke.

"Depart," Saiwen ordered.

The spaceship gradually picked up speed, flew into the void, and entered the Dark Universe.

"My spaceship is an E-Class Spaceship, and one of the best of its class. It's quite a bit faster than the one you rode before."

Saiwen spoke proudly, chin held high.

This E-Class Spaceship had been a gift from Marquis Yuankun. Its top speed in the Dark Universe was close to seven times the speed of light.

"It'll take us a little over two months to reach Red Flame Planet, where the Nine Flame Sacred Land is located. My previous post was near the Flame Dragon Star Sector branch of the Great Axe Arena, so Master sent me to make the trip."

"Spend this time cultivating in your room aboard the ship. Come find me if you need anything."

Lin Yuan acknowledged him and entered his room.

Lin Yuan thought it over and decided not to take out the Purple Fire Ape Wine and drink it just yet.

The spaceship was cramped. If he took out the wine and drank it, the energy within might leak out and be sensed by Saiwen. That would be difficult to explain.

He could wait until they reached the Nine Flame Sacred Land and he had a place of his own. There was no rush.

There was something more important for Lin Yuan to do now: enter the Virtual Universe!

Ever since the first day he'd crossed over, Lin Yuan hadn't once entered the real Virtual Universe Network. He'd only ever used the "offline" training space.

He'd crossed over into the Swallowed Star World without ever entering the Virtual Universe? People would laugh him to death if they found out.

Lin Yuan was eagerly anticipating this great network that served the Human Race.

"Connecting to the Virtual Universe."

A voice rang in Lin Yuan's mind.

Light appeared before his eyes, and Lin Yuan found himself standing in a futuristic city. People of all heights, builds, and appearances walked along the streets, each with a little sprite perched on their shoulder.

Lin Yuan looked himself over. He wore a simple white robe, and a little sprite was perched on his shoulder, too. The sprite was actually his Smart Optical Brain.

"Open the function menu."

"Yes, Master."

Rows of functions appeared before Lin Yuan: shopping, food, trading, finance...

His eyes nearly crossed as he tried to take it all in.

"Open the mall first."

Lin Yuan didn't even have Battle Armor or a weapon, so he wanted to see if he could find something suitable in the mall.

There were all kinds of weapons, a dazzling array of them.

Lin Yuan spotted a Tier 5 Force Axe and felt a little tempted.

After thinking it over, he decided to wait. He could ask his teacher for advice when they met.

Lin Yuan opened the other categories in the mall and browsed through them at random.

As he scrolled, a short advertisement caught his eye.

"New Black Dragon Mountain X81 Spaceships Coming Soon."

"Black Dragon Mountain?"

Lin Yuan recognized the name. It was the star sector Luo Feng came from.

"Wait a minute. The Black Dragon Mountain X81? Wasn't that the model Luo Feng rode when he first left Earth and headed for Qiulong Planet?"

"I remember that even back then, it was already a spaceship model from over a million years ago."

"Looks like I'm currently a million years before Luo Feng's rise to prominence."

Lin Yuan considered this, then sighed.

It seemed he wouldn't be able to get close to City Lord Luo anytime soon.

If he died before becoming a King-level Immortal, he'd be truly dead. He wouldn't even qualify for resurrection.

But Lin Yuan was confident. With his Golden Finger to help him, a King-level Immortal probably wouldn't be his limit.

Fighting spirit blazed in Lin Yuan's eyes.