The Virtual Universe

Mo Jin was just as stirred. If she could truly become a Universe Realm powerhouse, she might have a chance to reclaim the homeland that had once been seized from them!

Who would want to spend eternity in exile, abandoning the home where they had been born and raised?

Bai Yuan saw the longing in their eyes and continued, "Want to grow stronger? This isn't child's play. You'll have to shed blood and risk your lives."

"I'm not afraid! As long as I can get stronger, I'm willing to do anything!" Mo Jin said stubbornly. Beside her, Mo Gu nodded firmly.

They had never longed for power alone. More than that, they longed for the chance to take control of their own fates.

Bai Yuan smiled faintly. This was exactly the resolve he wanted to see.

"Have you thought it through? I have some connections. I can get you into the army for training."

"Good! We're willing to join the army! Thank you, Brother Yuan!" they replied in unison, bowing respectfully to Bai Yuan.

Bai Yuan waved a hand, then connected to Bai Tianning's communication number.

Soon, Bai Tianning's voice came through. "What is it? Are you in trouble?"

"No. I just met two people and want to send them into the army for some training."

"Oh? My army isn't easy to get into. What Star Rank are they?"

"They're not in the Star Realm. They're at the first rank of the Planet Realm."

"Hm? Planet Realm? And only the first rank? What, have they comprehended a domain?"

"No."

"Phew... I get it now. You little rascal, you're messing with me on purpose, aren't you?"

It was no wonder Bai Tianning had said that.

His army wasn't very large, numbering just over ten thousand, but every soldier was an elite selected through countless years of rigorous trials. Each one had reached at least the ninth rank of the Star Realm.

Now Bai Yuan wanted to suddenly add two new recruits at the first rank of the Planet Realm. It was bound to seem odd. What would the other soldiers think?

Bai Yuan quickly explained, then told Bai Tianning the whole story.

When he heard about her second-tier bloodline, Bai Tianning was visibly taken aback.

Under normal circumstances, a second-tier bloodline was equivalent to a Universe Realm powerhouse. She was certainly a genius worth cultivating.

He already had ten Universe Realm subordinates, but who ever complained about having too many Universe Realm subordinates?

What was more, with a second-tier bloodline, as long as her talent was decent, she would have a good chance of reaching the Domain Lord Realm in the future.

"Fine. I'll head back now. You'd better look after them for me."

Just half a day later, Bai Tianning had arrived at Bai Yuan's castle.

The moment he saw Mo Jin, his eyes lit up. He immediately spoke.

"Poro Bloodline! Would you be willing to take me as your master?"

The Poro Bloodline was a second-tier bloodline among the Human Race of the universe. Those born with it could reach the Universe Realm upon adulthood.

At first, he had been somewhat skeptical.

After all, Bai Yuan was only in the Planet Realm and had never seen even a sixth-tier bloodline in person. It was inevitable that his judgment might be off.

But now that he had seen her with his own eyes, there was no doubt she had the Poro Bloodline!

To his surprise, Mo Jin hesitated. Her hands unconsciously tightened around her older brother Mo Gu's arm, and she didn't answer right away.

"Little sister, accept! Don't worry about me!" Mo Gu urged in a low voice.

With a thud, Mo Jin knelt on the ground.

"Your disciple is willing to take you as her teacher. But I have one request: could my older brother come with me?"

Only then did Bai Tianning turn his attention to Mo Gu.

He studied him for a moment, then slowly shook his head.

"Your talent is mediocre. However, I can give you a chance. I'll send you to a warrior training base under my command. Whether you can distinguish yourself there will depend entirely on your own ability."

He ruled over more than a thousand life-bearing planets. Dozens of them had long since been transformed into training grounds for warriors and trials for selecting talented individuals.

"Thank you, senior!" Mo Gu's eyes shone with delight. He immediately knelt and bowed as well.

After settling things for the siblings, Bai Tianning turned to Bai Yuan with a smile.

"Not bad! You've only been gone for half a day, and you've already found a genius with a second-tier bloodline. Didn't you consider keeping her for yourself? She could be a powerful ally in the Universe Realm someday."

Bai Yuan only smiled faintly.

"There's no need. My goal is to become an Immortal God. But for you, Second Uncle, she should be a great help."

Bai Tianning didn't deny it.

While others were still wondering whether Bai Yuan could break through to the World Lord Realm, he had already set his sights on immortality. Such ambition was truly lofty.

"Hahaha, good! Then I'll be waiting for your good news."

After seeing his second uncle off again, Bai Yuan cultivated for several days, then set out for the Virtual Universe Company, intending to buy a Smart Optical Computer.

To connect one's consciousness to the Virtual Universe, one had to use one of three things:

A Smart Optical Computer, an Auxiliary Optical Computer, or a Consciousness Induction Helmet.

The Smart Optical Computer used the most advanced technology and had the most comprehensive features.

The Auxiliary Optical Computer was somewhat less advanced, but it was more than adequate for everyday use and basic access.

People with even a little status and money usually chose one of the first two.

The Consciousness Induction Helmet, on the other hand, was mostly used by ordinary beings with humble origins, average abilities, and no powerful connections.

All kinds of Alien Races came and went along the streets.

There were members of the Three-Eyed Clan, the Blue Crow Clan, brown Stone Giants three or four meters tall...

Yet whenever they spotted Bai Yuan in the distance, they would instinctively move a few steps out of his way.

It was all thanks to the fearsome reputation the Blade Clan had carved out over countless years of killing.

The Blade Clan was warlike and martial, and countless powerful beings had fallen beneath their blades.

Over time, in many star regions, the Blade Clan had come to be synonymous with "bloodthirsty" and "savage."

Of course, every clan member had a different personality and way of doing things.

At least as far as Bai Yuan was concerned, he had no taste for pointless killing.

Thanks to his status as a citizen of the Black Dragon Mountain Empire, Bai Yuan bought a Smart Optical Computer and opened an account without a hitch.

Back at the castle, he immediately activated the device and connected his consciousness to the Virtual Universe.

"Connecting to the Virtual Universe..."

After a brief moment of darkness, the scene before him suddenly came into focus.

He was in an ancient-looking city.

The streets were paved with large, neatly cut stone slabs, and imposing buildings lined both sides.

The passersby all looked different. Some stood over five meters tall, while others were less than a meter. Some had wings, while others had an extra eye on their foreheads.

The races varied enormously, but most people wore plain gray clothes of the same style.

What drew even more attention was that each person had a tiny sprite, no bigger than a palm, sitting on their shoulder.

They had different skin tones and thin wings on their backs. Some resembled angels, while others looked like the little demons of legend. All of them wore identical little green outfits.

Whoosh!

A figure suddenly appeared amid the flow of pedestrians. It was Bai Yuan.

He, too, wore gray cloth clothes, and a small white-skinned sprite with slightly spread wings sat on his shoulder.

The little thing blinked its bright eyes and looked around curiously. It wore the same uniform green outfit.

"Please wait a moment, Master. I'm organizing your data."

Bai Yuan nodded. Everyone entering the Virtual Universe for the first time was assigned a dedicated "Virtual Assistant."

The assistant's intelligence depended on the device used to connect.

Virtual Assistants generated by the most basic induction helmets could barely think at all and could only give simple answers.

That was one reason Bai Yuan had been willing to spend more to buy a Smart Optical Computer.