Hu Yanbo

The banquet hall blazed with light, yet the atmosphere held a subtle solemnity.

When Qin Ming entered the hall accompanied by the three department heads, the conversations, already somewhat noisy, fell quiet in an instant. Countless gazes—some direct, others discreet—turned toward him, focusing on him like spotlights.

Qin Ming wore a well-tailored black suit. Its style was simple, yet it made his figure look straight and steadfast as a pine.

Facing a hall full of Immortal Gods and towering powers, he remained as calm as still water. His gaze swept over the crowd with quiet composure; he showed neither the unease of a newcomer nor the arrogance of a young man basking in success.

His composure and restraint, far beyond what his apparent age would suggest, earned the silent approval of many seasoned powerhouses who had weathered countless storms. At the same time, it made them more wary.

This young Inspector Envoy was probably not as simple as he appeared.

"Everyone." Purple Lightning Marquis, who oversaw the Martial Department, stepped forward. His voice rang out like thunder, instantly drowning out all other sounds.

"Let us raise our glasses together and welcome His Highness Qin Ming as he officially takes up the post of Inspector Envoy at our Virtual Universe Company's Ganwu Branch!"

"Welcome, His Highness Qin Ming!"

Everyone in the hall echoed the greeting and raised their glasses. Their voices nearly lifted the roof.

Whatever they might have thought in their hearts, none dared neglect appearances.

Qin Ming raised the glass a server had promptly brought him and gave the crowd a slight nod, but only took a small sip.

He neither immediately tried to ingratiate himself with the various factions and cultivate relationships, nor put on the imposing airs of a newly appointed Inspector Envoy.

His inscrutable manner, which revealed nothing of his depth, only unsettled those with guilty consciences or those trying to figure out what kind of person he was.

After the brief welcome ceremony, the banquet moved into a more informal stage of conversation.

The three department heads naturally stayed by Qin Ming's side throughout, introducing him to the most prominent figures in the Ganwu Universe Kingdom, as well as those with especially noteworthy status.

"Your Highness, this is King Qianlong, the senior elder of the Ganwu royal family."

Golden Feather Marquis introduced an old man in a dark gold robe. His aura was as deep and vast as the sea, and his expression was kind.

"His Highness Qin Ming. I've long admired you. His Majesty the Kingdom Lord has also taken a keen interest in you and specifically asked me to convey his greetings."

King Qianlong smiled warmly, his keen eyes concealing their light. His words left no room for offense.

"Please thank His Majesty for his concern," Qin Ming replied politely, neither obsequious nor overbearing.

Qin Ming and the Ganwu Kingdom Lord had always treated each other like brothers. At a time like this, it wouldn't have been out of place for him to call the man his elder brother.

However, the Ganwu Kingdom Lord was a Venerable Level being. The two could address each other that way in private, but in public, especially at a formal occasion like this, Qin Ming still had to show him proper respect.

What Qin Ming didn't know was that Ganwu had long since publicized their relationship.

Ordinary Immortals and even common King Rank beings might not have known, but those at the Venerable level—and King Rank beings with connections to Venerables—all knew about it.

"This is Extinction Blade King Moro, one of the pillars of the Ganwu Universe Kingdom's Military, and commander of the Third Star Sector Army."

Black Annihilation Marquis pointed to a middle-aged man standing straight as a spear, with a face cold as iron and an unsheathed, dark red saber on his back.

An aura of violence clung to him without dispersing, and his gaze was as sharp as a blade. He was clearly a battle-hardened powerhouse who had fought his way through mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

Moro merely nodded to Qin Ming without saying a word.

After that, they introduced several more renowned Marquis Immortals, either wielding great authority or possessing formidable strength.

Qin Ming remained neither obsequious nor overbearing, responding with impeccable courtesy. He kept his words brief, yet left nothing to criticize. No one could get a clear read on his depth, temperament, or how he might act in the future.

Many who tried to approach him to make an impression or subtly probe him were skillfully kept at a distance by the experienced department heads. They couldn't get close to Qin Ming.

When the three department heads gestured toward someone, Qin Ming followed their gaze and saw a person who was both familiar and unfamiliar to him.

The man stood about three meters tall. Two supple antennae rose from his forehead, and his face bore a striking resemblance to that of an Earthling.

He stood alone in a corner, slightly removed from the crowd, making no effort to join any group. An aura of solitude and strength surrounded him.

Marquis Yunmo, Hu Yanbo.

Luo Feng's future teacher—and a legendary figure who could be called a "winner in life" in the original story.

Though his way of "winning" was rather unusual.

Qin Ming's thoughts stirred, but his expression remained calm.

This man was a "key figure."

He wondered exactly when Hu Yanbo would die... According to the original story, Luo Feng wouldn't be born on Earth until about fifty thousand years after Hu Yanbo's death.

At that moment, Hu Yanbo had no idea that the young and illustrious Inspector Envoy before him was silently "hoping" to know when he would "die."

He was communicating secretly with his intelligent assistant, Babata, through a soul connection.

"Master, I never expected this! That unremarkable young man from a minor family in the Windfall Empire has actually risen to become such an important figure!

"An Inspector Envoy, with all those Marquis Immortals fawning over him... Tsk, tsk." Babata's tone held its usual mix of teasing and surprise.

"Given the talent he's shown, it's no surprise he's reached this point." Hu Yanbo wasn't surprised by that.

"But I do find one thing a little strange... He seems to have advanced to the Domain Lord level far too quickly.

"And if my perception is correct, his aura is already at the Domain Lord Ninth Stage."

"Domain Lord Ninth Stage?" Babata was taken aback.

"How long has it been? Only about two hundred years since the Genius Tournament ended, right? Does the Virtual Universe Company have some other way of rapidly raising someone's level?"

"Perhaps."

Hu Yanbo looked at Qin Ming from afar through the crowd.

"Or perhaps he's had some other fortuitous encounter. There's a lot about this young man that remains shrouded in mystery."

"Who cares? It has nothing to do with us anyway," Babata said dismissively.

"But, Master, he's an Inspector Envoy now, with a high position and great authority. We could find a chance to... well, get a little closer to him? Maybe we could get his help with something in the future."

Hu Yanbo fell silent for a moment and didn't answer Babata's suggestion. He was solitary by nature and disliked socializing with the powerful, let alone currying favor with them.

Still, as he watched the young man who had once competed in the Genius Tournament now stand at the pinnacle of power in the Ganwu Universe Kingdom, he couldn't help feeling that the world was full of unexpected changes.

Qin Ming seemed to notice Hu Yanbo's gaze. He raised his glass from a distance in greeting, his manner calm—neither warm nor dismissive—as if he were simply acknowledging an Immortal whose strength he respected.

Hu Yanbo paused, then raised his own glass in reply. He soon looked away and withdrew once more into his own world.

To be honest, when Qin Ming had read the original story, he had also thought Hu Yanbo was a rather tragic figure.