Ten Years of Cultivation

The spacecraft entered the atmosphere, descending toward Rock City, where the Lord's Mansion was located.

The Lord's Mansion was a rocky-style building covering thousands of acres, gray and dusty, exuding a rustic air.

When Qian Yu's B9-class spacecraft landed in the plaza before the mansion, the entire Lord's Mansion erupted into chaos.

Lord Luo Kan was enjoying his lunch.

This middle-aged man, a third-order Star-level being, had ruled this planet for over nine hundred years—until today.

"My lord! My lord!"

The steward stumbled into the dining hall, his face pale.

"There's, there's a Universe-level powerhouse arriving! The spacecraft has already landed in the front plaza!"

The dining knife in Luo Kan's hand clattered onto the plate.

"What?!"

He shot to his feet. Was this a joke? A Universe-level powerhouse—a being he could only look up to in his entire lifetime—why would one suddenly descend on his planet?

He rushed out of the Lord's Mansion in three quick strides and indeed saw a sleek, black-silver spacecraft sitting silently ahead.

A young man with black hair stepped out from the cabin door, his expression calm, his gaze sweeping over lightly.

Luo Kan felt an invisible pressure bearing down on him. It wasn't an intentionally released aura, just the natural suppression of life level, yet it made his heart tremble.

"Universe-level... truly Universe-level..."

Horrified, Luo Kan quickly bowed in salute.

"Luo Kan, Lord of Rock Star, pays respects to the senior! I had no knowledge of your arrival and failed to welcome you properly. I beg your forgiveness!"

Qian Yu glanced at him and gave a slight nod. "No need for formalities."

Luo Kan straightened up nervously, his mind racing. What was a Universe-level powerhouse doing in this backwater?

Was he planning to requisition the planet?

Or had someone from this planet offended this powerhouse, and he'd come to settle the score?

Just as he was speculating, Qian Yu spoke: "I intend to reside on this star for a few years and need to acquire a property."

Luo Kan froze for a second, then burst into ecstasy.

Settle down?! A Universe-level powerhouse wanted to settle on his planet?!

This was a blessing from heaven!

Not to mention anything else, having a Universe-level powerhouse living on the planet he governed—even if the man did nothing—was an immense deterrent.

From now on, which interstellar pirates or drifters in the surrounding star regions would dare to cause trouble?

And if he had the chance to receive even a hint of guidance from this senior, his own strength could improve significantly.

"For a senior to be willing to settle here is the greatest honor for Rock Star!"

Luo Kan's voice trembled with excitement.

"Leave the property to me! Whatever requirements you have, just say the word—the entire planet is yours to choose from! If you don't mind, I could even vacate the Lord's Mansion..."

Qian Yu raised a hand to stop him. "No need. Just a quiet residence will do."

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Luo Kan nodded repeatedly, his mind spinning, then his eyes lit up.

"I've got it! There's a manor on the eastern outskirts of Rock City. It was originally my own cultivation retreat, nestled against the mountains and beside a lake, covering three hundred acres—quiet enough. But... but the manor isn't fully built yet, and the interior facilities are rather crude. It might not befit a senior's status..."

"Lead the way."

"Yes, sir!"

Half an hour later, Qian Yu stood on the main building's rooftop terrace.

It was indeed as Luo Kan had described—nestled against the mountains and beside a lake, with rolling green hills behind and a shimmering blue lake before it. Within a radius of dozens of kilometers, there were no other structures.

"If the senior needs anything added, just give the order," Luo Kan said respectfully by his side.

"Rock Star may be small, but it has craftsmen and materials to spare."

Qian Yu glanced at him and gave a slight nod. "This place. The price?"

Luo Kan was startled and waved his hands frantically. "Senior, you flatter me! For you to be willing to live here is already Rock Star's immense fortune—how could I dare to charge you! Consider this manor a small token of my respect."

Qian Yu cut him off calmly. "I don't take advantage of others. The price."

That placid gaze sent a chill down Luo Kan's back, and the refusal on his lips died in his throat.

He carefully studied Qian Yu's expression and ventured, "Then... ten thousand Qinglan Coins?"

He'd just thrown out a random number to give Qian Yu an easy way out.

Qian Yu glanced at him and immediately transferred the funds.

"Ding—"

Luo Kan's communication bracelet chimed. He looked down, and his pupils contracted: a transfer had arrived—one million Ganwu Coins.

"Senior, this... this is too much!"

Qian Yu had already turned and was walking toward the main building, his voice drifting back faintly: "The excess is for repairs."

Luo Kan stood frozen in place, watching that figure disappear through the door. For a long time, he was speechless.

Only after a long while did he bow deeply, then retreat quietly, issuing orders that the surrounding hundred miles be designated a restricted zone—no one was to approach without special permission from the Lord's Mansion.

Inside the estate.

Qian Yu stood in the empty main hall, his gaze sweeping the surroundings.

The architectural style was simple and rugged, but the materials were solid, and the space was spacious enough.

For him, this was sufficient.

In the days to come, he would spend several years here, until the Primordial Dao Tree's first innate secret technique was fully condensed.

He raised a hand and tapped the air. Dozens of instruments flew out of his spatial ring—all cultivation assistance devices purchased from Vientiane Trading City.

They were all the most ordinary equipment. For him now, they were better than nothing. Still, having something was better than having nothing. After all, he was too poor right now to afford anything better.

After arranging the cultivation chamber, Qian Yu sat cross-legged and sank his consciousness into his inner space.

The Primordial Dao Tree still stood silently—a three-thousand-meter giant with a canopy spreading over ten thousand meters. Every leaf faintly shimmered with mysterious patterns.

At the top of the canopy, the mysterious flower bud had grown slightly larger than it had been a few months ago, light faintly flowing within it.

"Ten years... at most ten years, and the first innate secret technique will be born."

Qian Yu opened his eyes, his gaze calm.

Ten years—for a cosmic-level powerhouse with a lifespan of ten epochs—was nothing more than a snap of the fingers.

He raised his hand to open the Cosmic Star River Bank account interface and began browsing the cultivation resources available for purchase.

He bought a batch of resources suitable for cosmic-level cultivation. They were all basic resources, nothing top-tier, but barely usable.

Qian Yu looked at the prices and frowned slightly.

A standard unit of Cosmic Energy Crystal cost three million Ganwu Coins and could sustain a cosmic-level first-stage cultivator for one month.

A piece of Star Core Essence cost five million Ganwu Coins and could strengthen the body for three months.

His account held over 1.2 billion Ganwu Coins. It looked like a lot, but if he went all-in on top-tier resources, it would only last eight or nine years.

"No wonder they say cultivation gets more expensive the further you go."

Qian Yu understood in his heart.

"Those geniuses who join the Virtual Universe Company have nutrient pods and resource quotas. Their cultivation speed is more than ten times faster than a solo cultivator like me."

But there was no rushing this. He had no background, no backing. The only thing he could rely on was the Primordial Dao Tree.

And what the newly born Primordial Dao Tree gave him right now was the most core thing of all—comprehension.

"Since that's the case, I'll focus resources on Fire Source Crystals."

Qian Yu made his decision.

"It doesn't matter if energy accumulation is a little slow. Cosmic-level cultivators have long lifespans. But law comprehension—I need to break through as soon as possible."

He placed the order immediately: ten Cosmic Energy Crystals, five portions of Star Core Essence...

Total: 215 million Ganwu Coins.

His account balance instantly shrank to just over one billion.

A month later, a small cargo spacecraft landed at the Lord's Mansion on Rock Star. Luo Kan personally delivered the goods to the estate.

After taking delivery, Qian Yu completely cut off external communications.

Inside the cultivation chamber.

Qian Yu began to cultivate. In one month, he broke through to the sixth level of the Flame Domain; in three months, the seventh level; in half a year, the eighth level. By the time a full year had passed, the Flame Domain had finally reached the complete ninth level.

At the same time, he successfully comprehended the Fire Origin Law and stepped across the threshold of the Fire Law.