The Marquis Yuankun

"Destination, Red Flame Planet, will be reached soon. Returning to the Original Universe..."

The spacecraft gradually slowed to a stop, exited the Dark Universe, and appeared near Red Flame Planet.

"Activating 100% exterior simulation."

Saiwen gave the order.

"Yes, Master."

The spacecraft's interior furnishings disappeared. Lin Yuan looked ahead and saw a dazzling, fiery red life planet: Red Flame Planet, home of the Nine Flame Sacred Land.

Despite its name, Red Flame Planet was not actually covered in flames. It merely looked red from a distance.

"This is Red Flame Planet. It's over 800,000 kilometers in diameter and is the main planet where the Nine Flames Universe Kingdom cultivates young geniuses."

"Of course, Red Flame Planet is vast, and apart from the Nine Flame Sacred Land, it's also highly developed politically and economically. Several Immortal Gods serve as mentors here."

"Marquises also take turns guarding it, changing shifts every thousand years. The one stationed here now is my teacher, Marquis Yuankun."

Saiwen introduced the planet to Lin Yuan.

"Let's enter Red Flame Planet."

"Yes, Master."

Saiwen's spacecraft didn't need to wait for a guidance signal and went straight into the docking port.

"Come on. First, we'll go meet my teacher. We'll take care of everything else afterward."

Flying was forbidden in Red Flame Planet's main city. Even Saiwen, a Peak World Lord, couldn't break the rules.

The two of them arrived in front of a massive palace.

"This is my teacher's residence on Red Flame Planet. I'll take you inside."

The palace was majestic and vast, nearly as large as a city Lin Yuan had seen in his previous life.

In front of the main hall,

Saiwen bowed respectfully.

"Teacher, I've brought Lin Yuan."

A towering figure appeared before the hall. An invisible pressure radiated from him, making Lin Yuan tremble involuntarily.

The figure stood over five meters tall and wore a dark yellow battle robe. A sharp horn rose from his head, and a tiny, faintly flickering star rested on his forehead. His gaze was sharp as he watched Lin Yuan.

Lin Yuan immediately bowed.

"Greetings, Lord Marquis Yuankun."

"Lin Yuan, Saiwen should have explained everything to you. I don't like beating around the bush. Are you willing to become my personal disciple?"

The towering figure asked.

"I'm willing. Your disciple, Lin Yuan, pays his respects to his teacher."

Lin Yuan immediately knelt, pressing his forehead to the ground.

"Good. From today onward, you're my eleventh disciple. Rise."

Lin Yuan slowly stood, still bowing.

"There's no need for more formalities. Come, follow me inside."

The three entered the main hall.

Inside, Marquis Yuankun spoke slowly:

"You have ten senior brothers and sisters. Two have fallen. Of the remaining eight, one is a Marquis, three are Military Lords, and the other four are all Peak World Lords. I was busy cultivating before, and only began taking on disciples again nearly a million years ago."

"When choosing disciples, I value will and character most; talent comes second. An acceptable level of talent is enough."

"When I was a Domain Lord, I earned the title of 'Giant Axe Warrior.' That experience helped me a great deal. Now and then, I watch Giant Axe Life-Death Battles at various levels. As it happened, I saw your match the other day."

"Lin Yuan, your will is excellent, and you're steady and calm. You remind me of myself in my younger days. You have a real talent for the Law of Earth Origin, and I achieved immortality through the Law of Earth."

Lin Yuan was surprised. His teacher had also been a Giant Axe Warrior—and at the Domain Lord Level, no less.

"Lin Yuan, have you also grasped a trace of the Law of Gold Origin?"

"Yes. I grasped it by chance."

"Excellent, hahaha. I only know a little about the Law of Gold, but your seventh senior brother has earned the recognition of the Law of Gold Origin."

"Hmm... I'll be staying here on Red Flame Planet for about a thousand years. If you have any questions about cultivation, come straight to me. For questions about the Law of Gold, you can consult your seventh senior brother through the Virtual Universe."

"Don't be afraid of bothering me. A thousand years is the blink of an eye to me. Even if I guided you continuously for a thousand years, it would be nothing."

A thousand years straight... Lin Yuan was speechless. Did his teacher devote this much attention to every disciple?

Marquis Yuankun continued:

"I said I could guide you continuously for a thousand years, but I'm afraid that won't be possible this time. I want you to take part in the Cosmic Humans Peak Warrior Tournament two hundred years from now."

"The Warrior Tournament, two hundred years from now?"

"That's right. I've already received word in advance. The Great Axe Arena will be hosting the Peak Warrior Tournament in two hundred years."

"My requirement is that you make it into the top thousand in the entire universe and enter the Core Layer of the Great Axe Arena."

Lin Yuan was stunned.

"You'll need to devote yourself fully to cultivation. Even if you fail this time, don't lose heart. You can take part again in the future. Succeeding after two or three attempts would be quite good. You only need to meet your teacher's expectations."

"Yes, I'll work hard at cultivation."

Marquis Yuankun raised a hand. A battle suit and a battle axe appeared before Lin Yuan.

"You were born a slave and have just left the Great Axe Arena, so I assume you own nothing. This battle suit is an E8 Grade Battle Suit from the Machine Race. I acquired it long ago, and ordinary World Lords can't break through it with their attacks. This battle axe is a Tier 5 Force Axe, the 'Thousand Mountain Axe.' It's well suited to cultivators who study the Law of Earth Origin."

"As for Secret Techniques, I don't use battle axes. There are mentors skilled in axe techniques at the Nine Flame Sacred Land. Once you join the Sacred Land as a student, you can ask them for advice on axe techniques. When you find one that suits you, I can help you buy it. After that, you'll have to rely on your own means to afford anything else."

Lin Yuan thought those gifts were already exceedingly valuable. Then Marquis Yuankun raised his hand again, and a dark yellow stone floated before him.

The dark yellow stone was irregularly shaped, like a fragment chipped from a larger rock. Ripples of the Law of Earth Origin emanated from it.

"This is a strange stone your grandteacher gave me long ago. He brought it back from a Cosmic Secret Realm, and it'll be a great help as you comprehend the Law of Earth Origin. I used it until I became immortal, but I have no use for it now, so I'll give it to you."

Lin Yuan reached out, and the dark yellow stone settled into his palm. It felt smooth and warm, yet weighed more than an equal volume of E-grade metal.

"Thank you for the treasure, Teacher!"

Lin Yuan bowed deeply to Marquis Yuankun.

Beside him, Saiwen's eyes widened. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

"All right, I've given you everything you need for now. There are a few geniuses in the Nine Flame Sacred Land who are more talented than you, so you'll have to keep working hard after you join. As for your cultivation, the only thing I can help you with at this stage is the Law of Earth Origin."

"Do you have any questions about your cultivation? I can demonstrate for you right now."

Lin Yuan considered the matter. He glanced at the faintly glowing star on his teacher's forehead, then looked away and addressed him respectfully:

"Teacher, you must have made considerable progress with the Law of Space Origin. Could you demonstrate a little of its mysteries for your disciple?"

"Oh?"

A flicker of surprise passed through Marquis Yuankun's eyes.