Domain Lord

The news that Qin Ming had broken through to Domain Lord level was quickly captured by the Virtual Universe Company's monitoring system.

"Your Highness Qin Ming, the Virtual Universe Network has detected through your connection device that your life level has reached Domain Lord level. According to company regulations, we need to conduct a final confirmation in reality." Three black-robed stewards appeared before Qin Ming, speaking respectfully.

Qin Ming nodded. Most devices connected to the Virtual Universe came with basic life detection functions, but their accuracy was limited; formal confirmation still required on-site verification. "I understand."

After a thorough inspection, the result was confirmed: Qin Ming, Domain Lord Level, First Stage.

"Your Highness, the detection information has been synchronized to the Virtual Universe Network. Congratulations, Your Highness, on stepping into the Domain Lord level!" The lead black-robed steward smiled in congratulations. "Then, according to the rules, Your Highness is first entitled to one free body enhancement opportunity." He gestured behind him, and a delicate Silver Nutrient Pod was brought out. "The pod is already stocked with sufficient nutrient fluid to support Your Highness's enhancement up to the peak of Domain Lord Level, Ninth Stage."

"Additionally, there is a second matter we need to inform Your Highness of." The lead steward's expression turned serious. "According to the core layer rules of the company, once a member breaks through to Domain Lord level, they must be sent out for practical training, serving as a regional governor. The standard arrangement is to send the member to their home universe kingdom. Your Highness's home universe kingdom is the Ganwu Universe Kingdom. May I ask if Your Highness is willing to return to the Ganwu Universe Kingdom to take up a key post in the Virtual Universe Company's Ganwu branch? If not, Your Highness may freely choose any other universe kingdom."

"I am willing to go to the Ganwu Universe Kingdom." Qin Ming agreed without hesitation. Returning home would allow him to look after his family and make things more convenient.

"Very well." The lead steward nodded. "Because Your Highness is a member of the Primal Secret Realm, the position assigned to the Ganwu branch will be very high, with great authority and wide-ranging implications. Therefore, the formal appointment must be deliberated at a high-level company meeting before it can be issued. This process takes time, typically at least a month, at most half a year."

"I understand." Qin Ming indicated his comprehension.

"With matters settled, we shall not disturb Your Highness further." The three black-robed stewards bowed respectfully and then withdrew.

Qin Ming looked at the Silver Nutrient Pod. Domain Lord Level, Ninth Stage... for him, it was merely a matter of course. He stepped into the nutrient pod, and the hatch slowly closed. Cool nutrient fluid surged in, and pure energy began to automatically permeate every cell of his body.

The news that Qin Ming had become a Domain Lord quickly spread across Rain Phase Mountain.

Rain Phase Mountain was the gathering place for the Virtual Universe Company's most top-tier geniuses, and every member coveted the 'Primal Secret Realm' slots fiercely. Everyone knew that Qin Ming had just secured his Primal Secret Realm seat in the qualification battle and thought it was well-deserved. But no one expected that right after the qualification battle ended, Qin Ming would directly break through to Domain Lord level and choose to be sent out!

As the news spread, it immediately sparked discussion and confusion among many geniuses.

"Is this Qin Ming... out of his mind?" someone muttered privately. "Ninety percent of us geniuses in the four secret realms of Rain Phase Mountain can break through to Domain Lord at any time. But look, how many are as 'eager' as him?"

"Exactly! The competition between Universe Level geniuses and Domain Lord level geniuses is on a completely different level. I heard that the weakest member of the Domain Lord level 'Primordial Secret Realm' has to have cleared at least the eighth floor of the Heavenly Bridge! And among those ten Domain Lord level 'Primal Secret Realm' princes, the weakest has cleared the tenth floor!"

"Qin Ming hasn't challenged the Heavenly Bridge once in all these years; his last record was still the ninth floor. At most, he's probably at the ninth floor now, or barely the tenth, right? The Heavenly Bridge has a hurdle every three floors; floors 7-9 and floors 10-12 are worlds apart!"

"He probably realized he hit a bottleneck. He could still dominate in the Universe Level Primal Secret Realm, but at Domain Lord level, he wouldn't qualify as a Primal Secret Realm member anymore. So he rushed to break through, right after winning the qualification battle, to go out in style as a regional governor? For the face?"

"Tsk, I can't figure out what he's thinking. If he stayed at Universe Level, with his talent, he could accumulate for a few more centuries and maybe break through to the tenth floor. Then he could break through to Domain Lord and directly become a Domain Lord level Primal Secret Realm member, with a much higher starting point! Now... he's too hasty, too wasteful of his talent."

"Maybe... he has other plans? Or thinks practical training outside is more important than bitter cultivation in the secret realm?"

"Who knows. Geniuses always have strange ideas."

Similar discussions echoed everywhere on Rain Phase Mountain. Most believed Qin Ming's move was unwise, abandoning a bright future for quick success. A few were puzzled but didn't say much.

Meanwhile, Ruoxi, who was in the End-of-the-World Secret Realm, also received the news that Qin Ming had broken through to Domain Lord and was about to be sent out. She sat in the quiet room of her estate, staring at the familiar yet unfamiliar name and avatar on the virtual screen, her fingertip hovering over the communication request button for a long time. Scenes flashed through her mind: his indifference when they first met during the Genius Tournament, the awkwardness of him ignoring her outside the Trial Tower, the distance of living next door in Chaos City yet feeling like a lifetime apart. After much hesitation, the indescribable emotion deep in her heart ultimately drove her to press the communication request.

Virtual Universe, Primal Secret Realm, Estate No. 111. (Qin Ming was still there, only the estate number had changed.)

Qin Ming, who was browsing through the materials of the Ganwu Universe Kingdom, suddenly heard Xiaoye's reminder: "Master, Ruoxi is requesting to contact you!"

Hearing that name, Qin Ming was slightly startled, his expression turning dazed.

Some long-buried images uncontrollably surfaced: in the Illusion Sea, that gentle and capable wife "Ruoxi," that daughter "Qin Xue" who called him "Daddy" in a milky voice, that ordinary yet warm home...

He shook his head abruptly, his gaze regaining clarity as he forcibly dispelled those illusions.

That was an illusion, a trial, not reality.

Taking a deep breath, Qin Ming still chose to accept the communication.

"Hello?"

A familiar voice came from the other end, calm and indifferent.

Ruoxi's hand tightened slightly.

At this moment, when she truly heard Qin Ming's voice, she suddenly found that all the words she had prepared—congratulations, inquiries, or feigned lighthearted teasing—were all stuck in her throat, unable to utter a single one.

A brief silence fell between both ends of the communication.

In the end, it was Ruoxi who broke the suffocating silence first.

She tried to make her voice sound as natural as possible, yet it still carried a faint, barely noticeable dryness: "I heard... you've broken through to Domain Lord."

"Mm." Qin Ming's reply remained succinct, revealing little emotion, as calm as if he were stating a fact unrelated to himself.

This flat reaction quietly dimmed the faint glimmer of hope in Ruoxi's heart.

Her fingers unconsciously curled inward as she continued to ask: "Then... have you chosen which universe kingdom to go to?"

"Ganwu Universe Kingdom." Qin Ming answered without any hesitation.