The First Clone

Initial Universe, Chaos Ruins!

A faint smile tugged at the corner of Chaos City Lord's mouth.

"It wasn't for nothing that I added the Space-Time Nightmare Beast!"

That's right—the Space-Time Nightmare Beast was something Chaos City Lord had deliberately unlocked for Qin Ming alone; no one else could even see its information.

Otherwise, how could a mere ten million points possibly exchange for the life tissue of a Space-Time Nightmare Beast?

A few days later.

An encrypted notification from the Virtual Universe System was sent directly to Qin Ming's communicator.

"Respected Lord Qin Ming, your application to exchange for a portion of the Space-Time Nightmare Beast's life tissue has been approved by the highest authority.

Ten million points have been deducted from your account. (Paid on behalf by Chaos City Lord)

The exchanged item is ready and will be escorted by dedicated personnel to Manor 114 in the Primal Secret Realm within three days. Please ensure you are present to receive it."

The message was concise and clear—the review had passed, though this was within Qin Ming's expectations.

If even Chaos City Lord's personal intervention couldn't get it through, then...

On the afternoon of the third day.

The manor's intelligent system sent a prompt: "My Lord, a ship from Virtual Universe Company headquarters has requested permission to land."

"Grant landing clearance. Direct them to the Quiet Reflection Hall in the manor's core area," Qin Ming instructed.

Soon, a small, pitch-black ship bearing the Virtual Universe Company emblem descended silently onto the designated platform within the manor.

The hatch opened, and a towering, burly man stepped out, exuding a fierce, brutal aura. His face was covered in scales, and eighteen sharp horns jutted from his head.

Behind him followed two immortal-level deputies in standard battle armor, carrying a silver metal box about a meter in size between them.

"Lord Qin Ming!" King Tieyun, the leader, gave a slight nod as a form of greeting, his demeanor neither servile nor arrogant.

"By the Company's orders, I have escorted the supplies here. Please inspect and confirm receipt."

King Tieyun had long heard of Qin Ming, the legendary personal disciple of Chaos City Lord, and had even seen footage of his matches in the Genius Tournament. This was merely their first meeting in person.

"I appreciate your trouble, King Tieyun," Qin Ming returned the greeting, his gaze falling on the silver metal box.

He then entered a complex sequence of dynamic passwords and verified his soul imprint.

"Hum!"

With a resonant hum from the silver metal box, the intricate patterns across its surface slowly dimmed.

Inside the box, a fist-sized mass of strange matter, like liquid starlight, floated silently in place.

It emitted a hazy luster, its form shifting slowly and erratically—stretching, then contracting. Just looking at it gave one the illusion of their soul being drawn into a vortex of time and space.

This was a portion of the Space-Time Nightmare Beast's life tissue!

"My Lord, please confirm receipt," King Tieyun indicated.

Qin Ming nodded and completed the final confirmation through the Virtual Universe System.

King Tieyun transferred an encrypted handover document to Qin Ming's intelligent assistant, Xiaoye, then said no more. He turned and led his people back to the ship without delay, departing swiftly.

The entire process was efficient, confidential, and devoid of any unnecessary exchange.

Inside the Quiet Reflection Hall, only Qin Ming and the dreamlike substance floating within the silver metal box remained.

Qin Ming waved his hand, sealing the hall doors and activating the highest level of shielding and protection.

Gazing at the tissue sample of the Space-Time Nightmare Beast, a blazing light shone in Qin Ming's eyes.

"Time to take over the Star Crystal Beast!"

Qin Ming retrieved the light sphere gifted by Chaos City Lord, which contained the slumbering Star Crystal Beast.

With a thought, the sphere shattered.

The curled-up, beautiful life form—composed of starlight and crystal—floated out, still in a state of deep slumber.

Without a moment's hesitation, Qin Ming's soul origin transformed into a brilliant streak of light and plunged unimpeded into the Star Crystal Beast's brow.

Moments later, the "Star Crystal Beast" slowly opened its eyes.

Qin Ming's will had fully taken control of this new body.

And the Star Crystal Beast's innate talent—the information regarding avatar incubation—flooded into Qin Ming's consciousness like a tidal wave, instantly making clear how to operate the process of nurturing a clone.

Then, Qin Ming, controlling the Star Crystal Beast's body, extended a forelimb that seemed forged from condensed starlight and gently touched the Space-Time Nightmare Beast's 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 avatar-incubation talent, rooted in its very life origin, was fully awakened.

Vast quantities of life energy and soul origin began, according to some rule, to furiously pour into the sample of the Space-Time Nightmare Beast, analyzing its life structure, replicating its genetic blueprint, and constructing a brand-new life core...

That fist-sized sample of the Space-Time Nightmare Beast, as if coming alive, began greedily absorbing the energy and information transmitted by the Star Crystal Beast, its volume visibly swelling and shifting, gradually outlining a more complete, more dreamlike life form.

Gestation had begun.

According to the information from the Star Crystal Beast, because the Space-Time Nightmare Beast had a gene level as high as 180 times the norm, the gestation process would be far longer than that of an ordinary clone, estimated to take anywhere from several years to over a decade.

Since the clone's incubation would take time, Qin Ming naturally wouldn't just wait idly. He logged into the Virtual Universe.

In the Virtual Universe, Qin Ming's figure appeared at Manor 114 in the Primal Secret Realm.

In the eyes of the Virtual Universe Company, a Universe-level was still a little one in need of protection.

Thus, relatively speaking, it was relaxed and safe; all they needed to do was train hard!

The backstage for geniuses of the Four Secret Realms would always have three options.

"Life," "Study," "Training"!

Life, as the name implied, covered daily living and eating.

To prevent geniuses of the Four Secret Realms from wasting time, each secret realm genius could select a nutrient pod in the Life section to directly raise their level to the highest of their current rank.

If Qin Ming hadn't taken over the Star Crystal Beast, his original body would only be Universe-level First Order, and he could have applied for nutrient fluid for free.

After soaking for a few months, he could naturally rise to Universe-level Ninth Order.

Of course, if Qin Ming wished, he could go straight up to Domain Lord-level Ninth Order.

But, there was no need!

The Virtual Universe Company offered protection at the Universe-level, but once one reached Domain Lord-level, they would be sent out.

Qin Ming wouldn't advance so quickly—or rather, he wouldn't choose to break through until his clone was hatched.

The Study section was divided into "Theory" and "Practice"!

Theory mainly consisted of public courses for the entire Primal Secret Realm, usually taught by Immortals, and occasionally even by Universe Venerables.

These courses either covered the eight fundamental laws of "Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, Wind, Lightning, Light," or the two fundamental laws of "Space, Time."

This was a rare opportunity for other geniuses.

But for Qin Ming, it was still useless.

In the Jin World, he could casually summon a bunch of Universe Masters to teach him.

Even True Gods could occasionally give him lessons.