The Steady Approach

"What? You've already broken through to the peak of the Star Rank? Your domain has reached the ninth level, and you... you can even vaguely perceive a trace of the laws? And now you're running to me for money, saying you want to push for the Universe Level?!"

Babata, who was always arrogant and held her nose in the air, finally changed her expression, her voice trembling slightly.

She flapped her little purple wings, her tiny body suddenly darting in front of Tang Ping, flying circles around him, her youthful face filled with disbelief.

Peak Star Rank, max-level domain... in the Virtual Universe, this really isn't anything earth-shattering. Here, there are plenty of people at the Star Rank who have mastered higher-order laws comparable to those of World Lord level powerhouses, such as the Law of Space.

But what kind of place is this? This is the Virtual Universe Company! One of the six peak races of the universe, one of the five most mysterious and powerful forces among humanity! This is where the top geniuses of the entire human race gather, peerless talents selected layer by layer from 1,008 high-level universe kingdoms, each comparable to the Ganwu Universe Kingdom!

But those geniuses... at this age, do they have your level of comprehension?

Her heart was in turmoil. This young man, barely over thirty, was a registered disciple she had picked up on Earth on a whim back in the day.

"Thirty years old... only thirty! If Master hadn't had those heaven-defying encounters back then, I'm afraid he wouldn't even be able to see this kid's back..."

Babata was silent for a moment, then suddenly gritted her teeth: "Wait! I'll arrange a few real-combat tests in the Killing Field for you. Let me see for myself if you're actually bragging!"

Tang Ping looked troubled: "I... I've only challenged the strongest Planetary Rank bosses in the virtual games before; I haven't had any real combat against the Star Rank... Going straight to the Killing Field, wouldn't that be... too soon?"

"Don't worry!" Babata patted her small chest, "As long as you can show the strength you claim, I don't care about winning or losing! Besides..." she lowered her voice, carrying a hint of temptation, "The entrance fee for the Killing Field is millions of Black Dragon Coins; you definitely couldn't afford to enter before, right? As long as you pass the test, you can come every day! I'll reimburse you! Everything!"

She paused, a hint of smugness flashing in her eyes: "Don't underestimate this Killing Field; it is the most heaven-defying cultivation secret realm in the Virtual Universe. It can generate any opponent according to your needs. It can even set them to be slightly better than you in the laws or domains you haven't mastered yet, allowing you to accelerate your enlightenment during life-and-death struggles!"

Tang Ping's eyes lit up, and he finally nodded heavily: "Alright! I'll try!"

One day later.

Ten battles concluded.

Record: Nine wins, one loss, a win rate as high as 90%!

In the final battle, the opponent was Luo Feng during the peak of the "Genius Tournament" a hundred years ago, that peerless prodigy who had once achieved third place in the universe's peak human genius tournament while at the Star Rank, shaking the entire universe.

Tang Ping finally fell, but he held on for dozens of rounds, forcing "Luo Feng" to use the Law of Space to suppress him.

However, Babata's expression was extremely complex.

She sat in mid-air, her little face scrunched up as if she had eaten ten pounds of spoiled star-beast meat, or as if she had been constipated for three days, her eyes scanning Tang Ping back and forth, her mouth opening, but not a single word coming out.

It wasn't because Tang Ping was too weak.

In every battle, Tang Ping's fighting style could be described as "extremely bizarre."

As soon as the battle started, he would spread his wings, retreat instantly, leave the main combat zone, and then begin a "kite-flying" guerrilla tactic.

Not only was his speed ridiculously fast, but his trajectory was erratic, like a ghost; even when his opponents unleashed secret techniques to increase their speed, they couldn't even touch a corner of his clothes.

What was even more ridiculous was his iron will; ordinary illusions and mental interference were almost ineffective against him. Coupled with the long-range suppression of his Telekinetic Weapon, his output was as stable as a precision machine.

Ordinary opponents couldn't even get close before being bombarded from afar.

It wasn't until he faced Luo Feng's Law of Space, where the opponent used the power of the law to forcibly compress space and teleport close, that his rhythm was finally broken. But even then, Tang Ping relied on exquisite force-deflection techniques and defensive footwork to endure over a dozen moves before finally losing.

"This... is this even fighting?" Babata finally couldn't help but mutter, "This is simply... disgusting!"

She was almost nauseated watching it. A Star Rank opponent was dragged into such a long, drawn-out, and tedious rhythm by Tang Ping—regardless of strength, he would refuse to engage head-on and just rely on kiting them to death.

But somehow... he won.

After a long silence, only the faint whispering of the star-wind remained in the virtual hall. Finally, Babata spoke, her voice uncharacteristically hesitant: "Little Ping... why do you always like to fight like that? Hiding here and there, never fighting head-on."

Hearing this, Tang Ping's mouth curled up, revealing a calm smile, and he said confidently: "It's safe. You only have one life, so of course, safety comes first."

"Safety first?" Babata was stunned, her small face filled with astonishment, then she repeated it, as if the words had struck a long-buried memory.

Damn... it actually makes some sense.

Her heart trembled. If the old master had been this cautious back then, how could he have fallen?

And as for the current master, Luo Feng, while his talent is stunning, his sweat poured out, and his luck heaven-defying, can luck really last forever?

In the end, one cannot live on luck alone.

A moment later, she said slowly: "You came to find me... are you preparing to break through to the Universe Level?"

"Hehe." Tang Ping scratched his head, his smile shy, yet he added without reservation, "The more the better. Money is something that, when you have more of it, gives you more certainty when breaking through, and the safety factor naturally goes up."

Babata almost choked, her little face turning bright red: "You... you are breaking through, not buying groceries! 'The more the better'?"

She muttered to herself: If those genius disciples of Falling Ink Star had your foundation, they would have probably gone into seclusion for a few days and broken through easily. Another silence followed.

Babata finally said seriously: "I have a suggestion: don't break through for now."

"Recently, my master has been performing too brilliantly in the Virtual Universe, attracting the attention of many alien forces. If you show your face now with such stunning talent and then break through to the Universe Level, I'm afraid you'll be targeted immediately."

"Aliens?" Tang Ping's pupils shrank.

"That's right." Babata nodded, her purple wings folding slightly, "Their methods are treacherous—soul control, mental parasitism, memory theft... they use every dirty trick in the book.

If they control you and use you to get close to my master to attempt an assassination... even if the Virtual Universe conducts a full scan and purification before the master returns, who can be sure about alien secret techniques? They might even be able to bypass the checks."

She paused, her tone deepening: "Even if they can't kill my master, it's not impossible that they would just kill you to vent their anger."

"Therefore," Babata continued, "I suggest you lay low for a while.

My master made several close friends in the Ganwu Universe Kingdom back then, and they have all grown up in the 'Ganwu Secret Realm.' I can recommend you go there. Not only are there top-tier mentors, but the resources are far superior to here, which will be of great benefit to your future growth."

She changed the subject: "But there is a prerequisite: once you enter, you only get basic treatment. Everything else, you have to fight and scramble for yourself. Some secret realm trials are even life-or-death. My master had to struggle on the edge of life and death back then to achieve what he has today."

"However..." she added, "this matter will have to wait a few months; I need to pull some strings first. If you aren't in a rush, just hold off for now and don't be in such a hurry to break through."

Tang Ping's eyes suddenly lit up.

Ganwu Secret Realm? Top-tier mentors? A safe environment?

Isn't this the cultivation sanctuary he has been dreaming of?

He possesses the Proficiency Talent; as long as he is given time, no matter how low his starting point is, he will eventually wear down the stone and reach the peak. If he could grow steadily in a relatively safe place with abundant resources, it would be a godsend!

As for those "life-and-death trials" or "nine-out-of-ten-die" scenarios?

He simply won't go!

He has always believed in one principle: if you can get stronger while lying down, never stand up to risk your life.

"Thank you, Demon Babata!" Tang Ping bowed deeply, his tone sincere.

He knows that while her actions are meant to lay the groundwork for the future of Falling Ink Star and to honor her old master, for him, this is a tangible stroke of fortune.

Loyalty!

"However..." Tang Ping suddenly rubbed his hands together, a fawning smile spreading across his face, "Demon Babata, my wife has also reached the peak of Star Rank, and her Water Domain is almost at the second level. Do you think... could you... conveniently take her in as well?"

"What?!" Babata's eyes widened abruptly, her small purple wings flapping with a "snap" as if she were a star-cat whose tail had been stepped on. "You! Your wife?!"

She pointed at Tang Ping, her voice rising by an octave: "I, the dignified Demon Babata, who once dared to curse even Immortal Gods, now have to look after not only you, this picked-up registered disciple, but also your wife?!"

She was so angry she spun in circles in the air, her wings flapping like a broken umbrella in a typhoon.

But despite the scolding, after flying a few laps, she slowly came to a halt. Staring at Tang Ping's thick-skinned expression that clearly said "I'm just going to latch onto you," she finally let out a long sigh:

"...Fine."

"I'll ask for you."

"But I'll say this upfront: if she doesn't have real talent, it will be dangerous for her inside. The secret realm doesn't raise useless people."

Tang Ping's joy immediately overflowed: "Thank you, Demon Babata!"

Greatness needs no further words!

Babata rolled her eyes.