Domain Lord

Qin Ming's breakthrough to Domain Lord Level was quickly detected 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 person." Three Black-robed Stewards appeared before Qin Ming and spoke respectfully.

Qin Ming nodded. Most devices used to connect to the Virtual Universe came with basic life-level detection functions, but their accuracy was limited. An official confirmation still required an in-person check.

"I understand."

After a thorough examination, the result was confirmed: Qin Ming, first level of Domain Lord.

"Your Highness, the test results have been synchronized with the Virtual Universe Network. Congratulations on entering Domain Lord Level!" The lead Black-robed Steward smiled and offered his congratulations.

"Now, according to the rules, Your Highness is entitled to one free body enhancement." He gestured behind him, and a finely crafted Silver Nutrient Pod was brought out.

"The pod has been stocked with enough Nutrient Solution to support Your Highness's enhancement all the way to the peak of the ninth level of Domain Lord."

"Additionally, there's a second matter we need to inform Your Highness about." The lead steward's expression turned solemn.

"According to the rules for the company's Core Layer, once a member breaks through to Domain Lord Level, they must be sent out to gain experience and serve as a regional governor.

"The usual arrangement is to send members to the Universe Country of their home. Your Highness, your home is the Ganwu Universe Kingdom.

"Would you be willing to return to the Ganwu Universe Kingdom and take up an important position at the Virtual Universe Company's Ganwu Branch?

"If not, Your Highness may choose any other Universe Country."

"I'm willing to go to the Ganwu Universe Kingdom." Qin Ming agreed without hesitation.

Returning home would let him look after his family, and things would be more convenient for him there.

"Very well." The lead steward nodded.

"Since Your Highness is a Primal Secret Region Member, the position arranged for you at the Ganwu Branch will be very high, with extensive authority and far-reaching implications.

"Therefore, the company's senior leadership must review it in a meeting before an official appointment can be issued. The process takes time—at least a month, and at most half a year."

"I understand." Qin Ming accepted this.

"Now that everything has been taken care of, we won't disturb Your Highness any longer." The three Black-robed Stewards bowed respectfully, then took their leave.

Qin Ming looked at the Silver Nutrient Pod.

Reaching the ninth level of Domain Lord was only a matter of time for him.

He stepped into the pod, and its door slowly closed. Chilled Nutrient Solution surged around him as pure energy began seeping into every cell in his body.

The news of Qin Ming becoming a Domain Lord quickly spread across Rain Phase Mountain.

Rain Phase Mountain was where the Virtual Universe Company's most elite geniuses gathered. Every member coveted a place in the "Primal Secret Realm."

Qin Ming had just secured a place in the Primal Secret Realm in the Qualification Battle. Everyone knew about it, and they'd all considered it well deserved.

But no one had expected him to break through to Domain Lord Level and choose to be sent out immediately after the Qualification Battle ended!

The news sparked heated discussion and confusion among the many geniuses.

"Is Qin Ming... out of his mind?" someone muttered in private.

"Among the geniuses in the Four Great Secret Realms of Rain Phase Mountain, ninety percent could break through to Domain Lord whenever they wanted. But look—how many of them are as 'impatient' as he is?"

"Exactly! A Universe Level genius and a Domain Lord genius don't compete on anything like the same level.

"I heard that the weakest Domain Lord member of the 'Primordial Secret Realm' has still made it through the eighth level of the Heavenly Bridge!

"And of the ten Domain Lord Your Highnesses in the 'Primal Secret Realm,' even the weakest has made it through the tenth level!"

"Qin Ming hasn't attempted the Heavenly Bridge once in all these years. His last recorded result was the ninth level. Now, he can manage the ninth level at best, or maybe just barely the tenth, right?

"Every three levels of the Heavenly Bridge mark a major hurdle. Levels seven to nine and levels ten to twelve are worlds apart!"

"Maybe he knows he's hit a bottleneck. He could reign supreme in the Universe Level Primal Secret Realm, but once he reached Domain Lord Level, he wouldn't be able to remain a Primal Secret Realm Member.

"So he rushed to break through, taking advantage of his recent win in the Qualification Battle to leave in a blaze of glory and become a regional governor? Maybe it looks better that way?"

"Tsk, I don't get what he's thinking. If he'd stayed at Universe Level, with his talent and a few hundred more years of training, he might have reached the tenth level.

"Then, after breaking through to Domain Lord, he could have become a Domain Lord member of the Primal Secret Realm right away. He'd have started from a much higher position!

"Now... he's in too much of a hurry. What a waste of talent."

"Maybe... he has another plan? Or perhaps he thinks gaining experience in the outside world matters more than arduous training in a secret realm?"

"Who knows? Geniuses always have such strange ideas."

Similar discussions could be heard all over Rain Phase Mountain.

Most people thought Qin Ming had made an unwise choice, giving up a bright future in his haste to succeed. A few were puzzled, but didn't say much.

Meanwhile, Ruoxi, who was in the End-of-the-World Secret Realm, also received news that Qin Ming had broken through to Domain Lord Level and would soon be sent out.

She sat in the quiet room of her manor, gazing at the familiar yet unfamiliar name and avatar on her virtual screen. Her fingertip hovered over the button to request a call for a long time.

Memories flashed through her mind: his calm demeanor when they first met during the Genius Tournament, how he'd ignored her awkwardness outside the Trial Tower, and the distance between them in Chaos City, where they'd lived next door to each other yet felt worlds apart.

After hesitating again and again, the inexplicable emotions in her heart finally drove her to press the call request.

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

Qin Ming was reviewing information about the Ganwu Universe when Xiaoye suddenly alerted him, "Master, Ruoxi is requesting a call!"

At the sound of that name, Qin Ming froze for a moment, his expression turning distant.

Images long buried in his mind surfaced beyond his control: in the Illusion Sea, the gentle and capable wife, "Ruoxi"; the daughter, "Qin Xue," who had called him "Daddy" in a childish voice; that ordinary yet warm home...

Qin Ming shook his head sharply, his eyes clearing as he forcibly banished the illusions.

That had been an illusion, a test, not reality.

After taking a deep breath, Qin Ming chose to answer the call.

"Hello?"

The familiar voice came from the other end, calm and composed.

Ruoxi's hand tightened slightly.

The moment she actually heard Qin Ming's voice, she suddenly found that every word she'd prepared—congratulations, questions, even a lighthearted tease—was stuck in her throat. She couldn't get a single one out.

A brief silence fell between them.

In the end, Ruoxi was the first to break the suffocating silence.

She tried to make her voice sound natural, but it still carried a faint, barely perceptible dryness. "I heard... you broke through to Domain Lord Level."

"Mm." Qin Ming's reply was as brief as ever. There was little emotion in it; he sounded so calm it was as if he were stating a fact that had nothing to do with him.

His flat response quietly extinguished some of Ruoxi's faint hopes.

Her fingers curled unconsciously as she continued, "Then... have you decided which Universe Country you're going to?"

"The Ganwu Universe Kingdom." Qin Ming answered without a moment's hesitation.