Banquet

"Oh... Ganwu." Ruoxi's voice faltered, as if she were quickly searching for the right words.

"Then... that's good. Going... going home."

"Mm." Another simple syllable.

The conversation fell into an awkward silence again.

Ruoxi could feel her heartbeat slowly quickening. A mix of disappointment, unwillingness to accept it, and a faint sense of grievance churned in her chest.

She wanted to ask, "Why are you in such a hurry to break through?" but she couldn't bring herself to say anything.

Qin Ming's calm, emotionless attitude was like a bucket of cold water, dousing every tentative question she had worked up the courage to ask.

On the other end of the call, Qin Ming heard the stiffness and distance in Ruoxi's voice, and a faint, complicated look flickered in his eyes.

"If there's nothing else..." Qin Ming prepared to end the awkward conversation.

"N-no, that's all." Ruoxi spoke first, her voice hurried.

"Then... I wish you all the best."

"Thank you. Take care, too." Qin Ming finished speaking and ended the call.

The virtual connection was severed.

Ruoxi stared at the screen as it went dark again, motionless for a long while. In the end, she simply sighed softly and pushed the turbulent emotions in her heart back down.

Half a year passed in the blink of an eye.

Virtual Universe, Rain Phase Mountain, Primal District, inside Manor No. 111.

Qin Ming sat at his desk, looking at the official appointment email from the Virtual Universe Company Headquarters.

"Esteemed Your Highness Qin Ming, as of today, you have officially assumed the post of Inspector Envoy at the Ganwu Branch of the Virtual Universe Company!"

"This position grants you the independent authority to investigate, monitor, and inspect the three systems under the branch: the Martial Department, Commerce Department, and Military Department..."

The appointment was simple. After fulfilling the basic duties of an Inspector Envoy, Qin Ming would receive a one-time reward of 100,000 points when he was promoted to World Lord and left the post.

In addition, the Virtual Universe Company would occasionally issue special missions, each of which carried a corresponding point reward upon completion.

"Inspector Envoy... That should be convenient enough." Qin Ming closed the email.

The real universe.

The Ganwu Universe Kingdom spanned a vast territory and lay extremely far from the Virtual Universe Company Headquarters.

Even traveling aboard a Virtual Universe Company spacecraft, escorted by a guard force led by the King Rank Immortal Aisi, and making the entire journey through the Dark Universe, it still took Qin Ming three full years to reach the core starfield of the Ganwu Universe Kingdom from the Primal Secret Realm.

The spacecraft had yet to officially enter the core planet where the Ganwu Branch was located, but news that an "Inspector Envoy was about to take office" had already swept through the highest echelons of the Ganwu Universe Kingdom like a storm.

The Ganwu Branch of the Virtual Universe Company nominally belonged to the Ganwu Universe Kingdom. In reality, it represented the Virtual Universe Company, overseeing and managing the many areas of the kingdom that concerned the company's interests.

Its status was exceptional. Even the Ganwu Kingdom Lord had to cooperate with it in certain matters.

This newly appointed Inspector Envoy wielded the power to make life and death decisions, and could investigate and monitor the Martial Department, Commerce Department, and Military Department!

How many people among the upper ranks of the Ganwu Branch and the Ganwu Universe Kingdom could claim their hands were entirely clean?

If the Inspector Envoy decided to investigate thoroughly, who knew how many people would be in serious trouble!

For a time, undercurrents surged through the upper echelons of the Ganwu Universe Kingdom, and everyone was on edge.

Before long, one formal invitation after another from the Ganwu Branch of the Virtual Universe Company was sent to the heads of the kingdom's major factions, families, and important departments.

The invitation was simple: to welcome the newly appointed Inspector Envoy, "His Highness Qin Ming," a reception banquet would be held, and the recipient was cordially invited to attend.

The invitation was signed by the Ganwu Branch of the Virtual Universe Company.

Everyone who received one, no matter how noble their status, how formidable their strength, or how ancient their family, felt a jolt and treated it with the utmost seriousness.

An invitation from the Ganwu Branch of the Virtual Universe Company?

Who would dare not go?

A grand reception on an unprecedented scale, bringing together nearly every powerful figure in the Ganwu Universe Kingdom, was hurriedly prepared for the day Qin Ming arrived at the main planet of the Ganwu Branch, Qiongyu Planet.

Qin Ming had already received the arrangements for the reception banquet. As soon as the spacecraft landed on Qiongyu Planet, he headed straight for the venue, surrounded by the leader of the Guard Army, Aisi, and the entire guard force.

A short while later.

In the western district of Xiangshui City lay a central tract of land nearly a thousand kilometers in diameter.

It had originally been a gathering place for members of the Virtual Universe Company, but a month ago, its residents had been swiftly relocated elsewhere.

Then, in just three days, a magnificent and luxurious super manor spanning nearly a thousand kilometers had risen from the ground. It was named the Qin Family Manor!

This was standard practice for the Virtual Universe Company. Whenever an Inspector Envoy took office, the company would build a residence befitting their status at their place of appointment.

As one of the four great powers of the Ganwu Branch, Qin Ming deserved a manor of this scale in Qiongyu Planet—a prosperous place where land was worth its weight in gold and a somewhat larger manor could rival the value of an entire star system. It was worthy of his status as a Primal Secret Realm Highness.

At that moment, more than a million carefully selected, well-trained servants stood in neat rows inside and outside the Qin Family Manor, awaiting the arrival of their new master.

Three World Lords of imposing presence stood respectfully before the manor's main gate. When they saw Qin Ming arrive, they immediately stepped forward and bowed.

"Your Highness, I am here at Purple Lightning Marquis's command to await you."

"Your Highness, I am here at Golden Feather Marquis's order..."

"Your Highness, Black Annihilation Marquis sent me to welcome you..."

The moment the three had finished speaking—

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Three streaks of light instantly landed before the main gate, revealing their figures.

On the left was a young woman shrouded in black gauze, her bearing mysterious and cold. She was none other than Black Annihilation Marquis, one of the three department heads of the Ganwu Branch.

She spoke first. Her voice was cool, but deliberately softened with a hint of warmth. "His Highness Qin Ming, you've finally arrived."

In theory, all three department heads were Marquis Immortals of exalted status. They had no need to be so courteous to a Domain Lord Level Inspector Envoy.

But Qin Ming was different. Not only was he a member of the Primal Secret Realm, he was also a personal disciple of the Chaos City Lord!

That background was enough to make any Marquis Immortal, King Rank expert, or Universe Country Lord treat him with caution.

In the middle stood a burly man, faint purple lightning flickering around him: Purple Lightning Marquis.

On the right was a man in an ornate golden robe, wearing a warm smile: Golden Feather Marquis.

Both men smiled and nodded to Qin Ming as well.

Personally welcomed by the three Marquis Immortals, Qin Ming entered the brand-new, sprawling manor named after his family.

That evening, the reception banquet was held in the manor's grandest main hall.

Every guest invited to attend was a true power broker of the Ganwu Universe Kingdom.

The minimum requirement was to be a Marquis Immortal, possess Marquis-level strength, or be an exceptional figure such as a patriarch of an ancient family or a representative of a super faction.

As for ordinary Immortals?

They didn't even qualify to set foot in the banquet hall.