After arriving on Cui'en Planet, Han Han wasted no time. He immediately went to the Empire Building, the Virtual Universe Company branch, and the Universe Galaxy Bank branch to take care of business.
It took about a day to get everything done.
During that time, he entered the Virtual Universe to try to pin down the timeline, but he had no leads at all. After all, many things were only vague, so he eventually gave up.
"Now I can officially say I've joined the wider universe."
Han Han opened his Auxiliary Optical Computer and checked the location of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion. "Sixty-nine kilometers. Not too far."
He now had tens of billions of Cuilang Coins at his disposal, so naturally he wanted to turn them into strength as soon as possible. Besides, the choices he made now were completely different from the ones he had made in the simulations.
Secret techniques, for example!
In the simulations, he had been too inexperienced to realize how important secret techniques were. He had waited until he reached Universe Rank Nine before thinking about buying one.
"Planetary Level Nine?"
A shop attendant spotted Han Han as he entered the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion and hurried over to welcome him. "Welcome! What would you like to buy?"
"I'd like to buy a martial artist secret technique." Han Han considered it, then added, "I need one that can let me exert about forty times my strength, and that'll be enough to use until I reach Universe Rank."
"P-please wait a moment." The attendant was startled.
Forty times his strength?
Anyone who could exert thirty-two times their strength was already considered a genius among those at Universe Rank. Forty times was a level that plenty of Domain Lords couldn't even reach.
"Sir, please come inside so we can discuss this."
The attendant spoke respectfully, then led Han Han to an elegant reception room.
Inside, a Green Scale Elder stood up with a smile and bowed slightly to Han Han. "Sir, I hear you're looking to buy a martial artist secret technique that allows you to exert forty times your strength?"
"That's right." Han Han nodded.
"What kind of technique are you looking for? I mean, a blade technique, a sword technique, or something else? That'll help me narrow down the options for you," the elder continued.
Han Han fell silent for a moment, then said, "A blade technique."
There was no special reason.
Blade techniques were the simplest, and even someone who had never trained with a weapon could pick one up quickly.
"Of course, sir."
The elder quickly worked on his Smart Optical Computer. A holographic screen appeared over the table between them, displaying a wide range of secret techniques in detail.
"'Tremor Blade.' It has seven levels. Each level mastered lets the user exert six times their strength. It's suitable for users of heavy blades..."
"'Circle Dance.' It has five levels. Each level mastered lets the user exert eight times their strength. It's suitable for users of circular blades..."
After looking through the options, Han Han turned to the elder. "Do you have any blade techniques suitable for a martial artist with an 'Azure Wood Body'? As for the War Blade, something like this will do."
He raised a hand, and a standard long blade appeared in it.
On Cui'en Planet, he could reveal that he had spatial equipment, as long as its capacity didn't exceed one hundred cubic meters.
The elder was slightly startled to see Han Han produce spatial equipment. He quickly worked on the holographic screen, eventually leaving only two secret techniques on display.
"'Rotten Wood Blade.' It has nine levels. Each level mastered lets the user exert six times their strength, and it works with all types of blades. Those with 'Azure Wood Body' Origin Energy will find it slightly easier to cultivate, while those with Origin Energy tied to other laws will find it slightly harder."
"Price: 9.9 billion Cuilang Coins."
"I'll take it."
Han Han had immediately taken a liking to this secret technique. His Origin Energy was aligned with the "Azure Wood Body," and the technique could let him exert up to fifty-four times his strength, enough to use until he reached Domain Lord.
"I'm sure you won't regret it."
The elder beamed. "'Rotten Wood Blade' would normally cost around fifteen billion Cuilang Coins, but we priced it at 9.9 billion due to its cultivation requirements."
"Mm."
Han Han nodded.
Unlike weapons, secret techniques could be copied in large quantities, so their prices weren't too high. Still, a technique that let him exert fifty-four times his strength wasn't exactly common.
"How much of a discount can you give me?" Han Han asked.
"Five percent!" the elder replied at once. "That's absolutely the biggest discount I can get you. And rest assured, you'll always be able to get that discount at any Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion in the empire."
"Fine." Han Han nodded slightly.
"'Rotten Wood Blade' is all I need for now. There's no need to rush into buying a spaceship; it'd be better to choose one through a simulation," Han Han thought. "Oh, right. An offensive Plant Lifeform!"
He looked at the elder, who was drawing up the contract, and asked, "Do you have any Spirit Silk Grass seeds?"
"Spirit Silk Grass seeds?" The elder paused.
Spirit Silk Grass was a relatively high-end Plant Lifeform. After registering for a Virtual Universe account, Han Han had specifically looked it up. It was no less valuable than the Cloud-Touching Vine.
"I'm sorry, sir," the elder replied. "As you know, no one on Cui'en Planet can afford to keep a Plant Lifeform like Spirit Silk Grass, so we'd have to order it in."
"Then order them."
Han Han had thought they might not have any, since even in the simulations, he had never ordered them in. But on second thought, it made sense. Even the seeds of Spirit Silk Grass were extremely expensive.
"They cost twenty million each, right?" Han Han asked.
That was the going price he'd found in the Virtual Universe. The price of a seedling was more than ten times higher.
"No need," the elder said, shaking his head. "I have some authority, so I can get them for you at seventeen million each. If you want them, we can have one delivered within ten days at the latest."
He thought, This young master probably just wants to play around with them.
"I need ten."
Han Han sounded completely casual. "If even one of them sprouts, I'll have made a profit. What's one seed? Make sure you include a full set of cultivation equipment."
The elder's eyes lit up.
"Don't worry, sir. The cultivation equipment will be free of charge, and we'll also give you a set of basic maintenance robots."
"Very good." Han Han nodded.
The elder finished drawing up the contract. With the Virtual Universe Company's approval, the transaction was completed, with a guarantee that Han Han could only pass the technique on to three blood relatives.
"The secret technique is in here."
The elder took out a Smart Optical Computer, transferred the cultivation method for "Rotten Wood Blade" along with some basic videos into it, then handed it to Han Han.
"Mm."
Han Han stood up. "Have it delivered to this address. What a pain. They're making me wait several years before I can buy property."
The elder smiled and saw Han Han out of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion.
By then, he was sure Han Han was a young master from some powerful family, sent out to gain experience. Han Han hadn't even brought any slaves, but slaves were only the simplest form of protection.
"He spent tens of billions of Cuilang Coins without batting an eye... If I stay on good terms with him, this year's performance will definitely be excellent. Maybe I'll even be transferred to Imperial Capital Planet."
Although Han Han couldn't afford to buy a property, he had spent tens of millions of Cuilang Coins to secure the use of a manor for a hundred years. Cui'en Planet was, after all, an administrative planet of the empire, and it was protected by law.
Ten days later.
Tana came to visit. He was the elder from the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, and he had brought along the workers responsible for installing the cultivation equipment.
"Just put it over there."
Han Han pointed to an open space nearby.
"Yes, sir." The workers got started. The cultivation equipment wasn't exactly small, and it would take some time to finish installing it.
Inside the living room.
"Where are the seeds?" Han Han asked.
"Hahahaha, don't worry."
Tana placed the metal case in front of them and opened it. Inside were ten metal tubes, each holding a black seed the size of a fist, immersed in nutrient fluid.
"These ten are all top-quality. They have a much higher chance of sprouting than the ones sold on the market." Tana closed the metal case and handed it to Han Han.
"Excellent." Han Han took it.
After chatting for a while, they waited until the cultivation equipment had been set up. Then the manor was left with Han Han alone.
"At last, I can get started."
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