Joining the Virtual Universe Company

"Lord Ming Yu!" The several people all bowed again.

"Your racial bloodlines are relatively low, which makes your breakthrough and evolution extremely difficult—far harder than for those with high-grade bloodlines! However, if you use an 'evolution agent' to improve your bloodline, the effects will be much better, and it will also allow you to potentially go further on your future path..."

"Evolution agent?" Hong pressed.

Babata began spreading knowledge about evolution agents in Luo Feng's mind, while Ming Yu also introduced the effects and origins of the agents to the group.

"This evolution agent is manufactured by our Virtual Universe Company." Ming Yu smiled at them. "But evolution agents are restricted items, with very little circulation outside. Even if you could buy them externally, the price would be astronomical—even for me. However, if you join our Virtual Universe Company, for internal members—especially absolute elites—the evolution agent can even be provided for free."

"Free?" Luo Feng and the others were stunned.

"Yes, free." Ming Yu looked at them. "Our Virtual Universe Company scours countless cosmic nations for genius elites, and all of you qualify as geniuses."

"You!" He pointed at Luo Feng. "Your mental strength is very strong."

Then he turned to Thunder God. "You're not bad either—a Planetary Level Nine with a domain."

He then looked at Hong. "You're even stronger than them. Planetary Level Eight, yet you already possess a triple-layered domain. Your comprehension is very high!"

Finally, he looked at Yin Congyang. "And of course, the most impressive is you. Planetary Level Two, yet able to comprehend domains of two different laws—truly astonishing."

"You two," he said, looking at Luo Feng and Thunder God, "in the evaluation system, you both count as third-tier elites."

"And you," he looked at Hong, "can be classified as a first-tier elite."

Finally, he gazed at Yin Congyang, a faint, hard-to-detect heat in his eyes. "You can be classified as a special-tier elite—a special-tier elite that's rarely produced even in a high-level cosmic nation..."

Luo Feng and Thunder God were a bit speechless.

"Earlier, I arranged for two people to spar with you," Ming Yu said, pointing at the screen, which displayed their previous sparring videos. "Our Virtual Universe Company trains genius elites, divided into four tiers: special, first, second, and third. But this is just the classification of our Black Dragon Mountain Branch. At the headquarters, the standards are even stricter. By the way, I still don't know your names."

"Hong."

"Thunder God."

"Luo Feng."

"Yin Congyang."

The four gave their names in turn.

"Luo Feng and Thunder God—once you join, you can each receive a free 'Bloodline Evolution Agent.' Hong can receive an 'S-Type Bloodline Evolution Agent'... Yin Congyang can receive an 'SS-Type Bloodline Evolution Agent.'" Ming Yu looked at them. "Are you willing to join our Virtual Universe Company?"

The four exchanged glances. Hong asked Ming Yu, "Lord Ming Yu, I'd like to ask—if we join the Virtual Universe Company, what do we need to do? What obligations are there?"

"In the early stages, your strength is weak, and the company is nurturing you, so management will be strict. You must obey the company's orders, undergo training, face life-and-death trials, and so on. However, as your strength increases, your authority will continuously rise. The stronger you are, the more freedom you'll have—you'll only need to handle certain tasks at critical times!"

Hong, Thunder God, and Luo Feng all hesitated. As the top experts on Earth, with Hong and Thunder God having founded their own martial arts schools, they found it hard to accept strict management. Moreover, from what Ming Yu said, they would likely have to leave Earth for many years—perhaps unable to return even throughout the entire Star Level. They still had family and too many attachments on Earth.

Ming Yu watched their hesitant expressions, sighing inwardly, and was about to speak when—

Yin Congyang cupped his hands toward Ming Yu and said, "Lord Ming Yu, could you allow us brothers a moment to discuss?"

"Oh!" Ming Yu's eyes lit up. "Of course, you can talk right here. I'll just head downstairs..."

With that, he cast a faint, expectant glance at Yin Congyang, turned, and left the room, closing the door behind him.

Yin Congyang looked at Luo Feng and the others, pondered for a moment, then said, "Brother Hong, Brother Thunder, Luo Feng—I suspect it'll be hard for you to accept the Virtual Universe Company's strict management, and this period is likely measured in centuries. You have family and too many ties on Earth; you probably can't leave for that long.

Besides, we can't all leave Earth at once. Earth is our home planet—someone always needs to guard it. But as the old saying goes, you don't put all your eggs in one basket. We need to take a diversified path: some stay on Earth, some venture into the cosmos for life-and-death adventures, some join major cosmic powers. This multi-directional development is the most suitable approach.

I have no attachments left on Earth. Though I don't like strict management either, I believe that as my strength grows, this will change.

Also, the bloodline evolution agent Lord Ming Yu mentioned is crucial to us, but if we don't become internal members, we can't get it for free—that opportunity would be lost. And bloodline evolution agents are definitely most effective when used at lower levels. Using them later, after our strength has improved, probably won't yield the same results. Plus, using them now will let us boost our strength faster.

...I suspect there are both internal and external members. Even if we could choose to be external members, internal members get it free, while external members would have to pay—and the price is probably not low. The money we got from selling the Arc Blade Disc is almost gone, and even if it weren't, it definitely wouldn't be enough.

If I become an internal member, I want to try borrowing from Lord Ming Yu using my internal member status to buy the bloodline evolution agents you need first. Then, once I have money later, I'll repay Lord Ming Yu. That way, we can all use the bloodline evolution agents without everyone having to join the Virtual Universe Company internally. What do you think?"

After hearing Yin Congyang's words, the three fell silent.

Indeed, what Yin Congyang said made sense. The four of them couldn't be bound together forever. As their development and progress rates diverged, their strength would inevitably differ. At that point, going their separate ways would be the best choice.

They were just making that choice a little early.

Hong nodded. "Congyang is right. In the beginning, we can explore the cosmos together, but as each of us encounters different opportunities, we'll ultimately have to strive on our own. This is just our first fork in the road. Lord Ming Yu was right earlier—a strong person must walk the path of life-and-death adventure. So I've decided that after leaving the Virtual Universe, I'll venture out into the cosmos for adventure.

I don't want to accept strict management, nor do I want to leave Earth for long periods, so I won't choose to become an internal member. But I support Congyang's idea. We need multiple directions, multiple paths—or rather, multiple fallback options.

As for the bloodline evolution agent, it's best if we can get it the way Congyang suggested, but if not, we don't have to force it. We have to believe in ourselves—we can charge ahead fearlessly. Nothing can stop us!"

Thunder God and Luo Feng nodded silently. Just then, Babata jumped out, looking frustrated. "Do you have any idea what you're missing? That's the Virtual Universe Company—one of the five peak powers of the entire human race! And do you know how precious bloodline evolution agents are? Luo Feng doesn't want to join, and neither do you two. Sigh, you'll regret this... Yin Congyang, I support you. You're doing the right thing. I'm rooting for you!"

Yin Congyang smiled. "Babata, everyone has the right to choose their own future path. With Brother Hong, Brother Thunder, and Luo Feng's talent and potential, no one knows what the future holds. There's no need—and no reason—to jump to conclusions now."

The group fell silent. After a moment, footsteps sounded outside the door, and Ming Yu pushed it open.

"Thank you, Lord Ming Yu, for giving us brothers time to discuss," Yin Congyang said, expressing his gratitude.

Ming Yu smiled magnanimously, a hint of expectation in his eyes. "It's nothing. So, what have you brothers decided?"

Yin Congyang said solemnly, "Lord Ming Yu, may I ask—besides being an internal member, is there another way to join the Virtual Universe Company?"

"Of course there is," Ming Yu replied directly. "Our Virtual Universe Company is divided into internal and external members. Internal members enjoy many benefits but face stricter management. External members, on the other hand, have more freedom but far fewer benefits—nowhere near what internal members get."

"And do external members have the authority to purchase bloodline evolution agents?" Yin Congyang pressed further.

Ming Yu chuckled. "They do, but not for free. If you become external members, you can't get them for free, but you can buy them. The first purchase even comes at a discounted price. The first bloodline evolution agent costs one billion Ganwu coins."

Yin Congyang glanced at the other three, then smiled at Ming Yu. "Lord Ming Yu, if I choose to join the Virtual Universe Company as an internal member, you'll receive some benefits for discovering me, won't you?"

Ming Yu laughed heartily, casting an appreciative look at Yin Congyang. "Indeed, I won't hide it from you. Discovering and recruiting top-tier talent earns me points—quite a lot, in fact. And points are very important to me. So, what's your decision?"

"Lord Ming Yu, I choose to join the Virtual Universe Company as an internal member. These brothers of mine can join as external members." Yin Congyang looked a little embarrassed. "But we have no money and can't afford the Bloodline Evolution Agent. I have an impertinent request: I hope to borrow three hundred million Ganwu Coins from you, Lord Ming Yu, and repay you one billion within a hundred years. I wonder if you could grant this?"

"Oh, that? No problem, haha." Ming Yu seemed delighted. "As long as you join the Virtual Universe Company as an internal member, I can lend you three hundred million Ganwu Coins. Just repay it within a hundred years—no interest needed."

"And," he added after a moment's thought, "I think highly of you, Yin Congyang. I believe that with your talent and temperament, your future achievements won't be low. So, I'll give you a promise, or rather, a future deal. I can help you once before you advance to Universe Level. In return, when you become a Domain Lord, if I have need of you, you'll help me once. How about it?"

"Thank you, Lord Ming Yu, for your generosity!" Yin Congyang was overjoyed, then spoke solemnly. "Rest assured, Lord Ming Yu. If one day I advance to Domain Lord or beyond, should you ever have need, Congyang will go through fire and water without hesitation!"