The Initial Universe, Chaos Ruins!
A faint smile appeared at the corner of Chaos City Lord's mouth.
It was worth adding the Space-Time Nightmare Beast!
That was right. Chaos City Lord had specifically made the Space-Time Nightmare Beast available to Qin Ming. No one else could even see information about the Space-Time Nightmare Beast.
Otherwise, how could a mere ten million points possibly buy the life tissue of a Space-Time Nightmare Beast?
Several days later.
An encrypted notice from the Virtual Universe System was sent directly to Qin Ming's communicator.
"Your Highness Qin Ming, your request to exchange points for a portion of the Space-Time Nightmare Beast's life tissue has passed the highest-level review and been approved.
Ten million points have been deducted from your account. (Paid on your behalf by Chaos City Lord.)
The exchange item is ready and will be escorted to Manor 114 in the Primal Secret Realm by dedicated transport personnel within three days. Please ensure that you are available to receive it."
The message was brief and clear. The request had been approved, but Qin Ming had expected as much.
If even Chaos City Lord couldn't get it approved himself, then...
On the afternoon of the third day.
The manor's intelligent system issued a notice: "Your Highness, a spacecraft from the Virtual Universe Company Headquarters has requested permission to land."
"Allow it to land. Have them come to the Quiet Reflection Hall in the manor's central area," Qin Ming instructed.
Soon, a small, entirely black spacecraft bearing the Virtual Universe Company's insignia landed silently on the designated platform inside the manor.
The hatch opened, and a towering, burly man strode out. A savage aura radiated faintly from him. His face was covered in scales, and eighteen sharp horns jutted from his head.
Two Immortal Level assistants in uniform armor followed behind him, carrying a silver metal case about a meter across between them.
"Your Highness Qin Ming!" King Tieyun, the leader of the group, gave a slight nod in greeting. His manner was neither servile nor arrogant.
"By order of the company, we've escorted the materials here. Please inspect and accept them, Your Highness."
King Tieyun had heard plenty about Qin Ming, the legendary personal disciple of Chaos City Lord. He had even seen footage of him competing in the Genius Tournament. This was simply their first meeting in person.
"Thank you for your trouble, King Tieyun." Qin Ming returned the greeting, his eyes settling on the silver metal case.
He entered a complex series of dynamic passcodes and then verified his soul signature.
"Hum!"
A low hum sounded from the silver metal case, and the secret patterns covering its surface slowly faded.
Inside, a strange substance about the size of a fist, resembling a liquid star, floated motionlessly.
It gave off a hazy glow, its shape changing slowly and irregularly, stretching and contracting by turns. Just looking at it gave the impression that one's soul was being drawn into a space-time vortex.
It was a portion of the Space-Time Nightmare Beast's life tissue!
"Your Highness, please confirm receipt," King Tieyun prompted.
Qin Ming nodded and completed the final confirmation through the Virtual Universe System.
King Tieyun sent an encrypted handover file to Qin Ming's intelligent assistant, Xiaoye, then said nothing more. He led his men back to their spacecraft without delay and quickly departed.
The entire process was efficient and confidential, with no unnecessary conversation.
Only Qin Ming and the fantastical substance floating inside the silver metal case remained in the Quiet Reflection Hall.
Qin Ming waved his hand, closing the hall's doors, then activated the highest level of shielding and security.
As he stared at the Space-Time Nightmare Beast tissue sample, Qin Ming's eyes shone brightly.
It's time to take over the Star Crystal Beast!
Qin Ming took out the orb bestowed upon him by Chaos City Lord, the one containing the sleeping Star Crystal Beast.
With a thought, he shattered the orb.
The beautiful life-form curled up inside, as though made of starlight and crystal, drifted out. It remained in a deep slumber.
Without the slightest hesitation, Qin Ming's soul origin turned into a dazzling streak of light and entered the Star Crystal Beast's brow without resistance.
A moment later, the "Star Crystal Beast" slowly opened its eyes.
Qin Ming's will had completely taken control of this new body.
Information about the Star Crystal Beast's innate ability to nurture clones surged into Qin Ming's consciousness like a tide. In an instant, he understood how to cultivate one.
Qin Ming then controlled the Star Crystal Beast's body and reached out with a forelimb that seemed to be made of condensed starlight, gently touching the Space-Time Nightmare Beast tissue sample.
Hum!
A strange resonance arose between the Star Crystal Beast and the Space-Time Nightmare Beast sample.
Within the Star Crystal Beast, the innate ability to nurture clones, derived from its life origin, was fully awakened.
Vast life energy and soul origin began pouring into the Space-Time Nightmare Beast sample according to a certain set of rules, frantically analyzing its life structure, copying its genetic blueprint, and constructing a new life core...
The fist-sized sample of the Space-Time Nightmare Beast seemed to come alive. It began greedily absorbing the energy and information transmitted by the Star Crystal Beast. Its size rapidly increased before their eyes, shifting and changing as it gradually took shape as a more complete, more fantastical life-form.
The gestation had begun.
According to the information from the Star Crystal Beast, the Space-Time Nightmare Beast had a Gene Level of 180 times the standard. As a result, the process of nurturing it would take far longer than for an ordinary clone, possibly anywhere from several years to more than a decade.
Since the clone would take time to develop, Qin Ming naturally wasn't going to sit around waiting. He logged into the Virtual Universe.
In the Virtual Universe, Qin Ming appeared at Manor 114 in the Primal Secret Realm.
In the eyes of the Virtual Universe Company, Universe Level members were still youngsters who needed protection.
So, relatively speaking, they had it easy and safe. All they needed to do was focus on cultivating!
The interfaces for geniuses in the Four Great Secret Realms all had three options.
"Living," "Learning," and "Cultivation"!
As the name suggested, "Living" covered food, lodging, and daily necessities.
To keep geniuses in the Four Great Secret Realms from wasting time, every genius could select a Nutrient Pod under the "Living" tab to raise their cultivation to the highest level of their current rank.
If Qin Ming hadn't taken over the Star Crystal Beast and his original body were still at Universe Level 1, he could have applied for Nutrient Solution for free.
After soaking in it for a few months, he would naturally advance to Universe Level 9.
Of course, if Qin Ming wanted to, he could advance all the way to World Lord Level 9.
But there was no need!
The Virtual Universe Company protected its Universe Level members, but once they reached Domain Lord Level, they would be sent out.
Qin Ming wasn't going to advance that quickly. Or rather, he wouldn't choose to break through before his clone had finished developing.
The "Learning" tab was divided into "Theory" and "Practice"!
"Theory" consisted mainly of open classes for the entire Primal Secret Realm. They were usually taught by Immortals, and occasionally even by someone at Universe Venerable level.
These classes covered the eight Origin Laws of "metal, wood, water, fire, earth, wind, lightning, and light," or the two Origin Laws of "space and time."
For the other geniuses, this was a rare opportunity.
But for Qin Ming, it was still useless.
In Jin World, he could easily find a whole host of Universe Masters to teach him.
He could even have True Gods teach him from time to time.
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