The air in the hall seemed to freeze in that moment.
The faint laughter and whispers around him now grated on Nuo Lanshan's ears more sharply than the keenest blades.
He was the Progenitor of the mighty Nolan Mountain Family, a Universe Level powerhouse whose name commanded respect wherever he went. Wasn't he always surrounded by admirers, treated like a star among the stars?
He had extended an olive branch, expecting the kid to fall to his knees in gratitude. And what happened?
He'd been rejected in front of everyone!
And from the way the kid had spoken, it was obvious he looked down on him!
"Universe Level... Is that really so impressive?"
The words rang in Nuo Lanshan's mind like a curse. He was a Universe Level powerhouse! The kid might as well have insulted him to his face!
Anger churned in Nuo Lanshan's chest like a volcano about to erupt.
A terrifying wave of Consciousness Pressure, the mark of a Universe Level powerhouse, radiated from him. Though its physical power was restricted in the Virtual Universe, the suffocating pulse of killing intent still spread as if it were tangible.
At that moment, he desperately wanted to teach this arrogant, clueless brat a lesson!
Lin Yuan sensed the undisguised pressure at once.
But so what?
Lin Yuan folded his arms across his chest, a faint, knowing smile still playing at the corner of his mouth.
Even if Nuo Lanshan dared to attack him today and Lin Yuan took a bit of a beating, that wouldn't matter. But whether the Nolan Mountain Family would be wiped out by an undying machine lifeform later on—that was another question.
So Lin Yuan had nothing to fear.
Want to save face? Who did you think you were? Who was supposed to give you any?
Just as the two sides were on the brink of a fight...
Nuo Lanshan's expression had darkened to its limit. At the critical moment, with sparks of danger about to fly—
"Tap, tap, tap."
A steady, unhurried set of footsteps suddenly broke into the tense atmosphere.
A lean man with a sharp nose, dressed in the Killing Field's official uniform, approached without a sound and naturally stepped between Lin Yuan and Nuo Lanshan.
He completely ignored Nuo Lanshan's icy glare, enough to make an ordinary person quake in terror. He didn't even spare the Universe Level powerhouse a glance, instead bowing respectfully to Lin Yuan.
"Mr. Star, an esteemed guest is waiting for you in a Meditation Room on the second floor."
At those words, Nuo Lanshan's rage abruptly subsided. His pupils contracted, and the muscles at the corners of his mouth twitched uncontrollably.
A Meditation Room?!
As a seasoned regular at the Killing Field, he knew exactly how much those three words meant.
The rooms cost a fortune. Anyone who could afford to rent one—and wanted to—was at least Universe Level!
And Lin Yuan, who had displayed monstrous talent in the Killing Space, was now being summoned there. That meant...
The person who had taken an interest in the kid was very likely an exalted Domain Lord!
At the thought, Nuo Lanshan's anger was doused in an instant. A Domain Lord was someone he could only look up to, someone he couldn't afford to offend.
If he let a moment of anger make him offend a peerless genius favored by a Domain Lord, the Nolan Mountain Family would be in grave danger.
"Hmph!"
After weighing his options, Nuo Lanshan's expression shifted several times before he finally swallowed his anger.
He gave a cold snort, flung his sleeve, and turned away, slinking off with a bellyful of frustration and a trace of lingering fear.
Watching Nuo Lanshan's somewhat disheveled retreat, Lin Yuan smiled to himself. Then he nodded to the lean man. "Please show me the way."
The second floor of the Killing Field was completely different from the noisy, crowded hall below.
It was a vast, luxurious maze with soft lighting and rows of tightly shut Meditation Rooms lining the corridors.
The soundproofing was impeccable. Walking through the maze felt like being cut off from the world; even the sound of one's breathing was clear.
Before long, Lin Yuan was led to a Meditation Room deep inside the maze.
"Sir, I've brought him." The lean man addressed the closed door respectfully, then withdrew from the area like a ghost and vanished around a corner.
"Psshh—"
The sleek, metallic door slid silently open to either side.
Lin Yuan stepped inside and looked up. At the center of the spacious, lavish room sat a burly man over two meters tall, built like a small mountain.
The burly man's eyes shone as he stared at Lin Yuan. His gaze was so heated, it was as if a space pirate had just stumbled upon a legendary treasure. He looked ready to swallow Lin Yuan whole.
Lin Yuan knew his manners. He lowered his head slightly and greeted the man in a calm, respectful tone. "Sir."
"Hahaha! Sit, sit!"
The burly man laughed, his voice booming like a bell, and warmly gestured toward the sofa opposite him.
Lin Yuan didn't stand on ceremony. He walked over and sat down without hesitation.
"Allow me to introduce myself."
The burly man stared intently at Lin Yuan. "I'm Ming Yu, a first-level executive at the Virtual Universe Company's branch in the Black Dragon Mountain Empire!"
"Actually, I've been watching you at the Killing Field for quite some time!"
Hearing the name and title, Lin Yuan thought to himself, Just as I expected.
Everything was going according to plan. He'd been prepared for this meeting and had even guessed most of what the man would say.
But to maintain the image of a young genius who had only just emerged, he had to widen his eyes just a touch and feign surprise, drawing in a sharp breath.
"So you're with the Virtual Universe Company?"
Ming Yu was very pleased with Lin Yuan's reaction. Leaning forward slightly, he asked with a hint of confusion and the concern of an elder.
"I've been watching you for a long time. With talent as outstanding as yours, why not seek out genuine life-and-death trials in the real universe?
"You have to understand, no matter how realistic the Killing Field's simulations are, they still lack the sheer terror of facing death itself.
"Why are you so determined to rack up victories in this virtual Killing Space, day after day?"
Faced with this question, which cut straight to the heart of the matter, Lin Yuan visibly froze.
Seeing Lin Yuan's "dazed" expression, Ming Yu smiled with satisfaction.
He thought his words had struck like a wake-up call, finally jolting this peerless genius out of his obsession with virtual accolades.
But the next moment, Lin Yuan suddenly smiled.
Relaxing into his seat, he replied in an utterly casual tone, "You misunderstand, sir. I already have detailed plans for life-and-death trials in the real world. I'd never just shut myself away and train."
"As for the Killing Field..." Lin Yuan shrugged and added offhandedly, "I just wanted to try for the milestone of a thousand consecutive victories."
"It's not that hard. I'll get there just by playing a few matches. What do you think, sir?"
"..."
The Meditation Room fell silent.
The satisfied smile on Ming Yu's face froze. Then the corners of his mouth started twitching uncontrollably, even more violently than Nuo Lanshan's had earlier.
It's not that hard?
He'd get there just by playing a few matches?!
Ming Yu almost swore aloud. Did Lin Yuan have any idea how many self-proclaimed geniuses across the Black Dragon Mountain Star Sector had been beaten into losing their nerve over a hundred consecutive victories? And he called it easy?!
Was this how top-tier geniuses showed off without meaning to?
Ming Yu felt as though he'd taken ten thousand points of damage to the heart. He coughed tactically, forcing down the urge to complain, then said stiffly, "Ahem... If you have a plan, then I'm relieved."
To cover his awkwardness, Ming Yu swiftly changed the subject.
"The white-clad swordsman you defeated in the hall with a single blow was a Special Grade Elite from our Virtual Universe Company branch. And you beat him effortlessly with your Domain..."
"Your Domain must be at least at the sixth level, right?"
A Star Level fighter with a Domain at the sixth level or higher—what an astonishing notion!
Lin Yuan didn't deny it. He simply nodded.
"Good! Excellent!"
At Lin Yuan's admission, Ming Yu slapped his thigh, his eyes blazing with unprecedented fervor. He stopped beating around the bush and laid his cards on the table.
"Lin Yuan, after a rigorous internal evaluation, the Virtual Universe Company has rated your potential as 'above Special Grade'!"
"I came here today on behalf of the Ganwu Universe Kingdom branch to formally invite you to join the Virtual Universe Company as an internal member!"
Ming Yu took a deep breath and offered a condition that would drive countless warriors wild.
"If you agree to join, the company can immediately provide you with an 'SSS-Rank' Bloodline Evolution Agent, based on your potential rating!"
"This agent can elevate your bloodline in ways you could scarcely imagine! You won't even need to undergo dangerous life-and-death trials. Once you reach adulthood naturally..."
"You're destined to become a Domain Lord who shakes the seas of stars!"
Before you continue