The spaceship entered the atmosphere and descended toward Rock City, where the Lord's Mansion was located.
The Lord's Mansion was a stone-style building covering several thousand mu, gray and drab, with a distinctly rustic air.
When Qian Yu's B9-class Spaceship landed on the plaza before the mansion, the entire Lord's Mansion instantly erupted into chaos.
Lord Luo Kan was having lunch.
This middle-aged man at Stellar Level Third Stage had ruled this planet for over nine hundred years, and today...
"My lord! My lord!"
The butler stumbled into the dining hall, his face deathly pale.
"A-A Cosmic Level expert has arrived! Their spaceship has already landed on the plaza outside!"
The dining knife in Luo Kan's hand clattered onto his plate.
"What?!"
He shot to his feet. Was this some kind of joke? A Cosmic Level expert was an existence he could only ever look up to in his lifetime. Why would one suddenly descend upon his planet?
He rushed out of the Lord's Mansion in a few strides and indeed saw a sleek black-and-silver spaceship quietly parked ahead.
A young black-haired man stepped out before the hatch, his expression calm as his gaze swept lightly over him.
Luo Kan felt an invisible pressure bearing down on him. It was not deliberate intimidation; the natural suppression of their life levels alone made his mind tremble.
"Cosmic Level... He really is Cosmic Level..."
Luo Kan was horrified and hurriedly bowed.
"Luo Kan, lord of Rock Star, greets you, Senior! I did not know you were coming and failed to welcome you properly. I beg your forgiveness!"
Qian Yu glanced at him and gave a slight nod. "No need for such formality."
Luo Kan straightened up trembling, his mind racing. What was this Cosmic Level expert doing in such a remote backwater?
Could he be planning to requisition the planet?
Or had someone from his planet gone out and offended this expert, who had come here to settle the score?
While he was still guessing, Qian Yu spoke. "I wish to reside on this planet temporarily for several years and need to acquire a property."
Luo Kan froze for a second, then was overwhelmed with joy.
Settle down?! A Cosmic Level expert wanted to settle on his planet?!
This was practically an auspicious blessing from heaven!
Not to mention anything else, with a Cosmic Level expert living on a planet under his jurisdiction, even if he did nothing, it would be an immense deterrent.
From now on, what interstellar pirates or drifters in the surrounding star systems would dare cause trouble here?
And if he had a chance to receive even a little guidance from this Senior, his own strength could improve greatly.
"It is Rock Star's greatest honor that you are willing to settle here, Senior!"
Luo Kan was so excited that his voice cracked.
"Leave the property to me! Please tell me whatever you require, Senior. You may choose anywhere on the entire planet! If you do not mind, even the Lord's Mansion can be vacated..."
Qian Yu raised a hand to interrupt him. "No need. A quiet residence will suffice."
"Yes, yes, yes!"
Luo Kan nodded repeatedly, his mind spinning rapidly. Then his eyes suddenly lit up.
"I have it! There is an estate in the eastern outskirts of Rock City. It was originally my own cultivation grounds. It is nestled against the mountains and beside the water, covers three hundred mu, and is certainly quiet enough. It is just... just that the estate has not been fully completed, and the interior facilities are rather simple. I fear it may not suit your status, Senior..."
"Lead the way."
"Yes!"
Half an hour later, Qian Yu stood on the terrace atop the estate's main building.
It was indeed as Luo Kan had described: backed by rolling green mountains, with a rippling blue lake before it, and no other buildings within dozens of kilometers.
"If there is anything you need added, please feel free to instruct me, Senior."
Luo Kan stood respectfully at the side.
"Though Rock Star is small, it has a decent supply of craftsmen and materials."
Qian Yu glanced at him and nodded slightly. "This place will do. The price?"
Luo Kan was startled and waved his hands repeatedly. "Senior, you overestimate me! Your willingness to live here is already Rock Star's greatest fortune. How could I dare charge you? Consider this estate a small token of respect from this junior."
Qian Yu interrupted him calmly. "I do not take advantage of others. The price."
That calm gaze sent a chill down Luo Kan's back, and he forcibly swallowed the refusal that had reached his lips.
He carefully watched Qian Yu's expression and tested the waters. "Then... then ten thousand Qinglan Coin?"
He had merely named a random price to give Qian Yu an out.
Qian Yu glanced at him, then transferred the money.
"Ding—"
Luo Kan's communication wristband chimed. He looked down, and his pupils abruptly contracted: transfer received, one million Ganwu Coin.
"Senior, this... this is far too much!"
Qian Yu had already turned toward the main building, his calm voice carrying back. "The excess is for repairs."
Luo Kan stood there in a daze, watching that figure disappear through the doors, speechless for a long time.
Only after a long while did he bow deeply. Then he quietly withdrew and issued an order: the area within a hundred li was to be designated a restricted zone. Without special permission from the Lord's Mansion, no one was allowed to approach!
Inside the estate.
Qian Yu stood in the spacious main hall, his gaze sweeping over the surroundings.
The architectural style was simple and rugged, but the materials were solid and the space sufficiently open.
For him, this was enough.
He would spend the next several years here, until the Primordial Dao Tree's first Talent Secret Art finished forming.
With a flick of his hand, dozens of devices flew out from his spatial ring. They were cultivation support devices purchased from Myriad Things Trading City.
They were all the most ordinary devices, barely better than nothing to him now. Still, having them was better than not having them. He was simply too poor at present to afford anything better.
After arranging the cultivation room, Qian Yu sat cross-legged, his consciousness sinking into the space within his body.
The Primordial Dao Tree still stood quietly. The colossal tree was three thousand meters tall, its canopy spreading over ten thousand meters, every leaf faintly flowing with mysterious patterns.
At the top of the canopy, that mysterious flower bud had grown somewhat larger than it had been months ago, with faint light circulating within it.
"Ten years... At most ten years, and the first Talent Secret Art will be born."
Qian Yu opened his eyes, his gaze calm.
Ten years, compared to the ten-epoch lifespan of a Cosmic Level expert, was no more than the flick of a finger.
He raised his hand and opened his Cosmic Star River Bank account interface, beginning to browse the cultivation resources available for purchase.
He bought a batch of resources for Cosmic Level experts. Though they were only basic resources and could not be considered top-tier, they were barely sufficient.
Qian Yu looked at the prices and frowned slightly.
One standard unit of Cosmic Energy Crystal cost three million Ganwu Coin and could support a Cosmic Level First Stage cultivator for one month.
One piece of Star Core Essence cost five million Ganwu Coin and could strengthen the body for three months.
He had over 1.2 billion Ganwu Coin in his account. It seemed like a lot, but if he went all out buying top-tier resources, it would only sustain him for eight or nine years.
"No wonder they say cultivation becomes more and more expensive in the later stages."
Qian Yu understood.
"Those geniuses who join the Virtual Universe Company have Nutrient Tanks and resource quotas. Their cultivation speed is more than ten times faster than independent cultivators like me."
But there was no rushing this. He had no background, no support. The only thing he could rely on was the Primordial Dao Tree.
And at this stage, what the newly born Primordial Dao Tree gave him was precisely the most essential thing: comprehension.
"In that case, I will focus my resources on Fire Source Crystals."
Qian Yu made his decision.
"It does not matter if energy accumulation is a little slower. A Cosmic Level lifespan is long, after all. But my comprehension of laws must break through as soon as possible."
He immediately placed an order for ten Cosmic Energy Crystals, five portions of Star Core Essence, and...
Total: 215 million Ganwu Coin.
His account balance instantly shrank to just over one billion.
A month later, a small cargo spaceship landed at the Lord's Mansion on Rock Star, and Luo Kan personally delivered the goods to the estate.
After Qian Yu received the goods, he completely shut off external communications.
Inside the cultivation room.
Qian Yu began cultivating. He broke through to the sixth level of the Flame Domain in one month, the seventh level in three months, the eighth level in half a year, and after one year, the Flame Domain finally reached the complete ninth level.
At the same time, he successfully comprehended the Fire Origin Law and stepped across the threshold of the Law of Fire.
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