A year passed in the blink of an eye.
After a year of arduous cultivation, Bai Yuan had finally reached the peak of the ninth Apprentice rank, just one step away from the Planet Realm.
Bai Yuan had already studied the secret technique Immortal Diamond Body, but he discovered that he had to break through to the Planet Realm before he could officially practice it, so he had no choice but to set it aside for the time being.
His greatest improvement had been comprehending two more concepts: "Hurricane Gold" and "Gilded Gold."
Although part of the reason was that his "Sharp Metal Concept" had reached its limit, giving him an excellent foundation, the fact that he had managed this much was proof enough that his comprehension was in no way inferior to that of an ordinary First Grade Elite.
"Well, it's about time I broke through."
When Bai Tianning learned that Bai Yuan was about to break through, he immediately came in person to protect him.
Bai Yuan slowly closed his eyes, then struck one seemingly strange pose after another.
This was a Guidance Technique created personally for the Blade Clan by an Immortal God of the clan. It could stimulate the body's potential to the greatest extent, making the process of breaking through to the Planet Realm go more smoothly.
As he moved through the poses, his whole body gradually grew warm. Every cell seemed to awaken from slumber, and the Genetic Origin Energy still hidden within them began to gather like a trickling stream.
Waves of heat surged from every part of his body, churning and swirling before finally collapsing inward and condensing at the dantian in his abdomen.
The Origin Energy contracted and expanded in his dantian, growing more condensed with each cycle.
After an unknown length of time, a brilliant golden Miniature Planet slowly appeared deep within the vast sea of energy.
It was a whole formed from countless tightly packed golden hexagonal crystals. It rotated slowly, radiating strange fluctuations.
The next moment, surging Genetic Origin Energy flooded through his entire body like a tide, and his body began a complete transformation in its level of life.
"Hm? What a thorough transformation. Could it be the Diamond Body?"
Bai Tianning's eyes lit up.
Once a Martial Artist entered the Planet Realm, the differences in their physiques and souls caused them to absorb and transform Genetic Origin Energy with a range of different attributes.
This was both a leap in life and the true starting point for a Martial Artist.
And among the many kinds of metal-attributed Genetic Origin Energy, the "Diamond Body" was undoubtedly one of the top-tier abilities!
Once activated, Genetic Origin Energy would completely merge with the tendons, bones, and flesh, making the user's bones denser and muscles stronger than those of Martial Artists at the same level.
The stronger the bones, the greater the strength, the faster the speed, and the tougher the defense. Naturally, one's strength would rise to an entirely new level.
After Bai Yuan successfully broke through and learned that he had awakened the Diamond Body, he was delighted as well.
It wasn't this special ability that surprised him.
After all, no matter how powerful a special ability was, it could only be used up to the Star Realm at most—and might not even be useful at the Star Realm.
What truly caught his attention was the requirement for practicing the secret technique Immortal Diamond Body.
Having the Diamond Body wasn't necessary to practice it, but possessing this special ability would make his early cultivation twice as effective.
That was because the creator of Immortal Diamond Body had based the secret technique on the special ability known as the Diamond Body.
"All right, now that you've reached the Planet Realm, when are you planning to leave? Do you want to stay with your second uncle for a while first?"
"I think I'll pass. There are too many rules in the military. I couldn't stand it. I want to go out and make my own way."
Hearing this, Bai Tianning didn't press him. He simply nodded, then took out a storage ring.
"Take it. I've prepared some things for you inside."
This time, Bai Yuan didn't refuse.
Without resources, it would be difficult to get anywhere in the universe.
The storage ring held quite a lot.
Energy Crystals and Wood Bud Crystals were, of course, basic supplies. There were enough to keep him from having to worry about spaceship fuel or cultivation resources until he reached the Universe Realm.
There was also an account certificate from the Cosmic Galaxy Bank, with one hundred million Ganwu Coins deposited in it!
Converted into the common currency of a medium-level universe civilization, that would amount to one trillion—and usually even more.
Next came three weapons and a suit of battle armor.
A middle-grade tier-three Force Blade, a middle-grade tier-three Force Shield, and a top-grade tier-three Force Armor.
The first two were worth tens of millions of Ganwu Coins combined.
As for the top-grade tier-three Force Armor, it was worth at least five hundred million!
On top of that, there was a C9-class spaceship, which was also worth a fortune.
Of course, to Bai Tianning, who owned more than a thousand life-bearing planets, these things were no more than a drop in the ocean.
The spaceship continued on its journey. Only after it entered the territory of the Black Dragon Mountain Empire did Bai Tianning drop Bai Yuan off at an interstellar port.
"That's as far as I'll take you. Be careful from here on out."
"Don't worry, second uncle. I'll take care of myself."
At the port, quite a few people stared, dumbfounded, in the direction Bai Yuan had left.
Anyone with eyes could tell that the young man's background was no ordinary one.
"What class was that spaceship just now? Why did it seem even more impressive than our boss's C-class one?"
"Of course it did. The boss's spaceship is only C2-class. His was at least D-class! Do you know how many zeroes that difference is worth?"
"Wait, he's from the Blade Clan! A bona fide member of an Immortal power!"
The words "Immortal power" made everyone nearby draw in a sharp breath.
After all, the strongest person in the entire Black Dragon Mountain Empire was only an Immortal.
Bai Yuan paid no attention to the shocked stares around him and simply headed toward the crowded area.
He already had a plan. First, he'd cultivate in the Black Dragon Mountain Empire until he reached the Star Realm, then head to the Universe Mercenary Alliance and take the trainee mercenary exam.
Trying to make his way through the universe with no more than Planet Realm strength would be tantamount to courting death.
The planet Bai Yuan was currently on belonged to the Black Dragon Mountain Empire. Its lord was a seventh-tier Universe Realm powerhouse.
Though it was nowhere near as prosperous as Qiu Long Planet, it was still considered a fine planet within the empire.
Before him stood a magnificent building. A sculpture of a black dragon coiled around a mountain marked the Black Dragon Mountain Empire's official administrative building on this planet.
"I need to get citizenship in the empire first. Otherwise, everything will be restricted from now on."
Having citizenship meant being protected by the empire's laws. Even a Universe Realm powerhouse wouldn't dare attack him openly within the Black Dragon Mountain Empire's territory.
Without that status, the empire wouldn't intervene even if he were killed.
As soon as he entered the building, a staff member stepped forward before he could say a word.
"Sir, you're here to apply for citizenship in the empire, right? This way, please."
Bai Yuan shrugged. Anyone could tell from his appearance that he was from the Blade Clan.
The Blade Clan's "adventure" was no secret. Anyone with even slightly reliable sources had heard of it, so it wasn't unusual for staff to assist young members of the Blade Clan.
For these Blade Clan members who had just entered the universe, applying for citizenship in an empire was often the first thing they did.
As soon as the staff member saw that Bai Yuan was from the Blade Clan, a warm smile appeared on their face.
Everyone knew that an Immortal God stood behind the Blade Clan. Even the Black Dragon Mountain Empire didn't want to offend such a power lightly.
The entire application process went exceptionally smoothly.
Bai Yuan spent only fifty Black Dragon Coins to obtain a brand-new citizenship certificate.
It could only be said that in this vast universe, strength and background often mattered more than money.
If he hadn't had the Blade Clan's name behind him, obtaining such identification would probably not have been so easy.
As for those fifty Black Dragon Coins, they were just some spare change he'd gotten along the way by selling a few odds and ends he didn't need.
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