Guidance

The white light in K-77's eyes flickered faintly, as if retrieving data, but its words made Qin Zhao's heart sink instantly: "Querying records... Confirmed. 97 years ago, Star Level first-stage lifeform 'Liu Yuan', relying on the 'Light Domain', passed the elite induction and entered the base core. According to the Primary Civilization Contact Regulations, he was qualified to obtain all remaining resources of the base."

"He took the base's only intact C3-class spaceship, the 'Falcon', along with matching energy supplies, some basic cultivation resources, a star map, and initial funds from an anonymous account, and then departed for the Glacier Empire."

"Furthermore, according to the instructions he set before leaving, the base has entered a low-power operational state, no longer actively inducting or funding subsequent visitors, unless... they meet higher authority standards. Therefore, there is currently no method to reach the universe within the base!"

All the ships and resources had been packed up and taken by Liu Yuan!

In an instant, a wave of immense disappointment enveloped Qin Zhao. The only hope seemed to be cut off. Without a spaceship, no matter how great his talent, even if he comprehended a domain or even laws, he would be trapped and die on this planet!

Would he have to wait for some unknown year, month, or day for an alien spaceship to pass by by chance? That probability was despairingly slim. And an alien ship passing by wasn't necessarily a good thing—it usually came with colonization and slaughter! Even with Qin Zhao's current strength, which could be called invincible at the Planet Level, he couldn't possibly stop a fully armed Star Level exploration squad...

Seeing Qin Zhao's suddenly changed expression, K-77's tone abruptly shifted: "However..."

That single "however" made Qin Zhao's heart, which had nearly sunk to the bottom, leap violently. He immediately looked up, his gaze burning as he stared at the crystal-headed humanoid before him.

K-77's crystalline face showed no expression, but its voice remained steady: "That 'Liu Yuan' was able to take all the physical resources according to regulations, including the spaceship. However, he could not take me."

"You?" Qin Zhao was taken aback.

"I myself am one of the most precious 'resources' of this base," K-77 said slowly, carrying a unique pride belonging to an intelligent lifeform. "I am not a simple program, but a Strong AI Optical Computer whose logical thinking, learning ability, and emotional simulation modules all rival those of a true human."

"My core database stores technological tree branches far beyond the civilization level of your Flame Meteor Planet, the universal language library, some basic cultivation knowledge, and... most importantly—"

It paused, then spoke words that made Qin Zhao's breath nearly stop: "I possess the authority to access the 'Virtual Universe' network covering the entire human domain through a special anonymous account!"

"Virtual Universe?!" Qin Zhao's mood instantly soared from hell to heaven. Of course, he knew what that was! In the world of Swallowed Star, the Virtual Universe was the greatest treasure of the human race, the ultimate platform for communication, learning, trading, and combat!

As long as he could access the Virtual Universe, even if his physical body was trapped on a primitive planet, his spiritual consciousness could roam the vast human world, gaining endless knowledge and opportunities!

"Yes, the Virtual Universe," K-77 confirmed. "This anonymous account is a standard feature of the base. Liu Yuan took the one he personally activated."

"And as the base's intelligent system, I have an independent, higher-level backend maintenance account. Although its authority is mainly limited to information queries and limited communication—unable to conduct large transactions or transfer physical items—it is enough to allow your consciousness to enter the Virtual Universe, learn about the outside world, gain knowledge, and even... leave Flame Meteor Planet through my Glacier Empire's official channels."

A twist of fate!

In the midst of despair, the light of hope reignited, and it was even more brilliant than the hope of finding a spaceship before! A spaceship was just a means of transport, but the Virtual Universe was the gateway to the entire cosmic human civilization!

K-77 looked at Qin Zhao, whose eyes had rekindled with blazing light, and continued: "Although I cannot actively provide you with supplies to leave now, through the Glacier Empire's 'Genius Guidance Ordinance', you can join the Glacier Empire's official 'Glacier Sacred Land'. With your current talent, the Glacier Sacred Land will surely be willing to invest in you and dispatch a spaceship to induct a genius like you."

"Now, Planet Level lifeform Qin Zhao, do you need me to activate the Virtual Universe Access Device for you? I must remind you that, as the intelligent system of the Glacier Empire's survey base, your entry into the Virtual Universe will only be guided toward my Glacier Empire's 'Glacier Sacred Land'!"

As the intelligent optical computer of the survey base specially set up by the Glacier Empire, K-77 naturally had the task of screening geniuses from Flame Meteor Planet. It couldn't just give Qin Zhao the opportunity to enter the Virtual Universe and then let such a genius slip away. Even Liu Yuan back then had been directed to go to the Glacier Empire's administrative planet on his own to participate in the Glacier Sacred Land's screening assessment.

"Virtual Universe... Glacier Sacred Land..." Qin Zhao nodded. "That's within my expectations! There's no such thing as a free lunch in the world. Since this survey base was specially set up by the Glacier Empire, it naturally comes with a mission."

As for joining the Glacier Sacred Land? That wasn't a problem at all—it was actually the best choice for now. A cultivator from a native planet, with no background, being directly inducted and nurtured by the official forces of a primary civilization under a medium cosmic nation—that was practically a gift from heaven.

Liu Yuan had probably taken a similar path back then, except he chose to drive a spaceship there himself, while Qin Zhao could directly participate in the assessment through the Virtual Universe.

Without a moment's hesitation, Qin Zhao said in a deep voice: "I agree! K-77, please immediately connect me to the Virtual Universe and guide me to the Glacier Sacred Land for the assessment!"

Having known all the wonders of the Virtual Universe from his past life memories, Qin Zhao felt only anticipation, not a trace of unease.

"A wise choice, Planet Level lifeform Qin Zhao." K-77's transparent crystalline face seemed to glow a little brighter. "Please follow me. The access pod is in the base's core maintenance area."

It turned and walked with precise steps toward a metal wall behind the spherical light body. The wall parted like mercury, revealing a more compact room filled with various precision instruments and energy pipelines. In the center of the room lay a sleek silver pod with blue energy patterns flowing across its surface.

"This is the base's highest-spec Consciousness Access Pod, providing a stable and efficient Virtual Universe connection experience. Please enter it and relax your mind. I will guide and safeguard the entire access process to ensure safety," K-77 indicated.

Qin Zhao took a deep breath, stepped forward, and lay down in the access pod as instructed. The interior fit his body's curves perfectly, exceptionally comfortable. The moment he lay down, the pod's lid slid shut silently, and the blue energy patterns inside suddenly lit up, enveloping him in a soft glow.

"Virtual Universe network access initiated... Signal connecting... Temporary identity registration (derived from K-77 maintenance account)... Connection successful!"

A strange pulling force acted on Qin Zhao's consciousness. He didn't resist, and in the blink of an eye, the scene of the base's core area faded away like a receding tide.

The next moment, he found himself standing on an incredibly wide street that stretched endlessly into the distance. The street was paved with some kind of bluish-green stone, smooth as a mirror. The sky above wasn't a real sky but a canopy flowing with countless complex data streams and star charts, radiating a dreamlike glow.

Around him were rows of magnificent buildings of various styles. Countless humans in strange clothes and diverse forms walked the streets. The whole environment was quite noisy yet full of life.

"So this is the Virtual Universe..." Qin Zhao assessed his own state. His body felt incredibly real, and the sense of power in his movements remained, but with a slight focus, he could tell this body was purely a simulation of consciousness, uniformly set to the peak quality of an apprentice level.

His Planet Level origin force, Spiritual Force, and most importantly, his domain and law insights, could not be directly manifested here. He could only move and act through this "virtual body" driven by his consciousness.