Ming Wan Zao Xun Ding Pei Lao Lei

Samao looked coldly at the fat man before him. "Bastian, are you provoking me?"

"I wouldn't dare, Lord Samao." Bastian truly hadn't expected Samao to value Bai Muye so much. But what was done was done, and there was no taking it back.

He stubbornly stuck out his neck and said, "Lord Samao, just a few hours ago, he was my slave. I had every right to do this..."

Even with a Domain Lord's composure, Samao couldn't stop his anger from rising. He wanted to slap the damn fat man to death right there on the dais.

But with so many people watching, it would neither look nor sound good for a supervisor of the Giant Axe Arena to kill a Universe Rank warrior.

Bastian said cautiously, "My lord, I could have chosen not to tell you about this. But when I heard you wanted to recommend him for the training camp, I was afraid his becoming a deserter might implicate you. That's why I decided to speak up..."

"So I should thank you, then?" Samao sneered. "Even if he reports past the deadline, it won't affect me. You're only afraid I'll come after you later, aren't you?"

With his true intentions exposed, Bastian's face turned pale, though the antennae on his forehead grew so red they seemed ready to drip blood.

Samao had extensive connections and knew that Bastian was backed by a Domain Lord who served under another Domain Lord of the Giant Axe Arena.

Though he was angry, he still had to consider the man behind Bastian. What Bastian had done was dishonorable, but it wasn't a direct offense against him, so he couldn't do much to him.

"Get lost!" Samao waved a hand as if shooing away a fly.

Bastian scrambled away, not even daring to fly.

Samao looked at Bai Muye, who hadn't said a word, and a trace of pity crossed his eyes. He had never been to the Outer Battlefield, but many people he'd known had gone there for various reasons.

Not one had ever come back.

"You..." Samao began, then stopped himself and sighed. "Fate has made this arrangement. There's nothing to be done. Once you've signed up for the Outer Battlefield, you have to go. The consequences of not going are severe—far beyond anything you can bear..."

"I understand." Bai Muye finally spoke. "Thank you for thinking so highly of me, my lord. It's a shame I can't serve under you..."

Samao shook his head slightly. "This might be my loss, too..."

"My lord, if Bastian hadn't told you, would I have missed the reporting deadline and..."

"That wouldn't have happened," Samao said, shaking his head. "Once you register as a Universe Citizen, you'll be notified. The only exception is if you don't register within three days... Or, as soon as you enter the Virtual Universe, you'll be notified as well."

Bai Muye nodded silently.

"You probably don't have a penny to your name, and you don't even have a decent weapon..." Samao reached out and beckoned. The Trident that had fallen on the arena floor, the battle suit lying nearby, and a Space Ring all flew toward him with three swift whooshes. He caught them in one hand.

"These two Tier 3 Force Weapons and the battle suit are decent enough. According to the rules, they should be confiscated, but I'll give them to you. I'll cover the loss myself..." Samao handed him the Trident and the battle suit.

"Thank you, my lord." Bai Muye accepted them gratefully.

Samao inspected the Space Ring Ye Yunqing had left behind. It was a small storage ring, and there was nothing valuable inside. Seeing Bai Muye alone and unable even to stow his weapon, he tossed the ring to him.

"Take this, too. You can't keep carrying your weapon in your hand..."

"You're completely broke. You probably can't even afford to register as a Universe Citizen." Samao turned and beckoned to the side. The host hurried over.

"Do me a favor." Samao pointed at Bai Muye. "Take him to register as a Universe Citizen and open an account at the Cosmic Galaxy Bank. There's a minimum deposit to open an account. Tell me his account number when you have it, and I'll transfer the money..."

After a moment's thought, he added, "Also, register him for a Virtual Universe account and pay for a thousand years. I'll cover all the expenses. Understand?"

"Understood." The host nodded repeatedly, then flattered him. "You're truly benevolent, my lord!"

"As for everything else, you'll have to rely on yourself..." Samao paused, then gave him his Virtual Universe ID. "If you need anything, email me or contact me directly..."

Bai Muye was deeply moved. He hadn't expected Samao to be so considerate after their first meeting. In Luoluobai Muye's memories, no one had ever given so selflessly to him. And in his previous life, bedridden by illness, he had seen more than enough of how fickle people could be.

He bowed to Samao. When he straightened, he looked at the Domain Lord before him and said earnestly, "I won't forget your kindness, my lord. If I ever make it out of the Outer Battlefield alive and retire, I'll repay you!"

A Tier 3 Force Weapon and a battle suit, a small storage space, the cost of registering as a Universe Citizen, a thousand years of Virtual Universe access, and the minimum deposit for a Cosmic Galaxy Bank account.

To Samao, all of it might not have amounted to even a drop in the ocean. But to Bai Muye, who had nothing, it was like finding a boat while stranded at sea—a lifeline in his time of need.

"No need for that." Samao shook his head with a wry smile. "Being able to award you the Giant Axe Warrior medal today is fate bringing us together... I didn't do this for you to repay me!"

His smile faded. He patted Bai Muye on the shoulder again and said solemnly, "No matter what, I hope you make it out of the Outer Battlefield alive and retire!"

Before Bai Muye could answer, Samao flashed out of sight.

"Come on. I'll take you to register as a Universe Citizen first," the host said.

"Sure, thank you." Bai Muye looked at him. "I still don't know what to call you."

"Just call me Yu Yang." Samao had given him instructions, so Yu Yang didn't dare show Bai Muye a cold shoulder, but he wasn't exactly warm, either. After all, he knew Bai Muye would be heading to the Outer Battlefield in three days.

Someone going to the Outer Battlefield was probably someone he'd only ever see this once.

Yu Yang led the way out. Bai Muye could tell he was just going through the motions, but he didn't care. Compared with the shock of regaining his freedom and the prospect of going to the Outer Battlefield, this was nothing.

He silently hummed a song he'd loved in his previous life: Ming Wan Zao Xun Ding Pei Lao Lei...

They walked the whole way in silence. Yu Yang took him to the Administrative Building on Purple Crown Planet, where he completed the paperwork to join the Wild Peak Universe Kingdom. From that moment on, Bai Muye was an official citizen of the Wild Peak Universe Kingdom.

Sure enough, once his registration was complete, an official immediately received a message and solemnly relayed it to Bai Muye.

Before noon on the third day, he had to report to No. 3 Spaceport on Purple Crown Planet. He would travel by spaceship to the Outer Battlefield alongside a large number of other Universe Rank warriors.

Anyone who failed to report by the deadline would be treated as a deserter and hunted across the entire universe. If caught, they would be killed!

After leaving the Administrative Building, they went to the Purple Crown Planet branch of the Cosmic Galaxy Bank and opened an account for him. Once he gave the account number to Samao, Samao quickly transferred 100 Cosmic Coins into it.

One Cosmic Coin was worth 3,300 Wild Peak Coins, and the Cosmic Galaxy Bank required 100,000 Wild Peak Coins to open an account. Those 100 Cosmic Coins were worth 330,000 Wild Peak Coins, more than enough to activate the account.

Finally, Yu Yang took him to the Virtual Universe Company branch, where he opened a Virtual Universe account and paid for a thousand years of access.

All of this took only half a day. Once Yu Yang had finished his task, he exchanged a few polite words with Bai Muye and left.

Standing outside the Virtual Universe Company branch, Bai Muye looked at the sky, then at the ground, then at himself. At last, he burst out laughing—

The feeling of freedom was wonderful!

But the thought of leaving for the Outer Battlefield in three days took the shine off his mood.

"Damn fate..."

He strolled along the bustling street, about to enter the Virtual Universe, when Xiao Si suddenly spoke. "Old Bai, you'd better find somewhere first and look through Ye Yunqing's memories..."