"A support plant lifeform comparable to a Pinnacle King-Level... Thunderlight Vine..."
It hissed in a low voice, its words tinged with reluctance and wariness.
It was a High King-level Immortal itself. With its special talents and powerful divine body, it was considered strong even among High Kings.
But facing a Pinnacle King-Level plant lifeform, one exceptionally skilled at binding and Annihilation, it knew its chances of winning were slim! One careless move, and it might follow in its younger brother's footsteps!
"Hmph!"
After a long while, Tear-Chaser King let out a cold snort, his anger suppressed to the utmost. His killing intent was almost tangible.
"No matter what, Burning Space World Lord... you're dead!"
"I may not be able to kill you, but someone else can! No matter the cost, I'll make you pay for my brother's death!"
Without further hesitation, he quickly connected to the Monster Race's virtual world.
The next moment, his consciousness appeared in a majestic hall steeped in a wild, ancient atmosphere. It was one of the Monster Race's gathering places for the powerful.
Tear-Chaser King immediately opened a contact list marked with a special symbol: "Three Eyes." There were only a few names on the list, but every one of them radiated a power that made the heart tremble.
His gaze settled on a name in dark gold. It belonged to a terrifying being to whom he had once done a favor over the course of his long life—a being who owed him a promise.
He gathered his thoughts and sent a message infused with overwhelming killing intent and an obsession with revenge, along with a list of the astonishing price he was willing to pay.
"Shadow-Kill King..."
Tear-Chaser King silently repeated that name to himself, a cold glint in his blood-red vertical pupils.
"As long as you act, that human genius is as good as dead! The wealth he carries and that Thunderlight Vine will more than make up for your trouble!"
After sending the message, Tear-Chaser King's consciousness stood motionless in the virtual hall, waiting for a reply.
He knew that, against a target protected by a Pinnacle King-Level plant lifeform, only someone at that level or stronger could give him a chance of success.
And "Shadow-Kill King" was precisely such a figure—a name that struck fear into countless powerful beings.
Meanwhile, in the human territories, at Barracks Base 073 in the Ninth Outer-Domain Battlefield.
Lu Ming's Meteor Shuttle passed inspection without a sound and entered the vast base. Without drawing anyone's attention, he went straight back to his private Cultivation Residence.
"Phew—"
In the meditation room, Lu Ming let out a long breath. Only after returning to safety did the baleful aura and exhaustion built up over hundreds of years of fighting slowly dissipate.
But his eyes shone with excitement. He had gained so much from this trip.
"First, I'll take stock of everything I've got. Then... it'll be time to give Little Thunder an upgrade."
He first inspected the spoils from the two Marquis-Level Immortals and the many others he had killed before, sorting out the treasures and materials he had no use for.
"Connect to the Virtual Universe."
His consciousness instantly entered the vast Virtual Universe Network.
Lu Ming appeared directly in the manor he had purchased in the Virtual Universe.
"Open the treasury."
A huge virtual screen appeared before him, listing the vast array of treasures in the Human Race Treasury and the Virtual Universe Company's internal treasury.
Lu Ming searched and filtered through the listings with practiced ease.
"Thunderlight Vine, King-Level cultivation resources..."
Looking at the precious resources that appeared on the screen, even Lu Ming, with his current fortune, couldn't help but click his tongue.
"Tsk, Little Thunder's a real glutton for resources."
Lu Ming shook his head with a laugh, but his eyes brimmed with fond anticipation.
He truly envied special lifeforms like plant lifeforms.
Unlike humans, they didn't need to struggle to comprehend laws or create secret techniques. As long as they had enough resources, their life levels could keep advancing, and their strength would naturally skyrocket!
Of course, the cost of those resources was enough to bankrupt most King-level Immortals and even ordinary Venerables.
"Fortunately, I'm not short on money."
Lu Ming's lips curled up.
After earning money for so long, he was still very wealthy.
"The perfect cultivation plan I prepared for Little Thunder was only the starting point. Now it's time to take it a step further."
His fingers flew across the screen.
"Two hundred sets of the standard cultivation plan for going from Initial King to Pinnacle King-Level!"
An astronomical price in points appeared on the screen. Lu Ming didn't even blink before confirming the payment.
"After I offer these resources up later, their effects should undergo a qualitative transformation."
Lu Ming considered the possibilities.
"Little Thunder's Gene Level has already been raised through previous cultivation to a hundred times—something no Thunderlight Vine in the universe has ever achieved! After cultivating it with these enhanced resources, just how far will it advance...?"
Even Lu Ming couldn't be sure.
In the history of the universe, no Thunderlight Vine had ever reached a Gene Level of one hundred times, let alone been cultivated with top-tier resources enhanced through an "offering."
This was entirely uncharted territory.
"Maybe... it can reach the threshold of that level?"
A bold thought flashed through Lu Ming's mind, making his heart skip a beat.
If Little Thunder could break through to the Venerable level, he would be able to do almost anything he wanted on the Outer-Domain Battlefield!
But this was only speculation. There was no doubt about Little Thunder's potential: it was an unprecedented Hundredfold Gene Thunderlight Vine.
It certainly had the potential to reach the Venerable level, though breaking through would surely be far harder than becoming an Immortal.
"Forget it. I'll cultivate it first!"
The payment went through. The Virtual Universe Company was extremely efficient, and soon sent confirmation that all the resources would be delivered to Barracks Base 073 through special channels as soon as possible, for Lu Ming to receive in person.
After leaving the Virtual Universe, Lu Ming opened his eyes, a trace of anticipation on his face.
"Little Thunder, get ready. This time... we're going big!"
Deep within his Internal World, the enormous Thunderlight Vine, wrapped in purple-gold lightning, seemed to sense its master's intentions. Countless tendrils danced happily, emitting faint, delighted peals of thunder.
With Little Thunder's affairs taken care of, it was time to deal with Lu Ming's own needs.
He was already well equipped with weapons, armor, and War Blades. For now, he was strong enough, and he couldn't bring out the full power of anything better.
Still, to stay alive, he needed to make some more preparations.
Three kilograms of Femo Venom, to start.
He knew how effective the stuff was. In the original story, it had played a major part in the rise of the Blade River King's name.
Even a King-Level Limit would die if the venom touched their divine body. Even an Invincible King would be doomed if the amount was large enough!
Its only downside was that it was a little expensive.
Fortunately, he wasn't short on money. He'd buy it, offer it up, and see what came back. Femo Venom was already absurdly potent as it was.
After it was enhanced by the offering... tsk, it was hard to imagine. Even a Venerable's divine body might not withstand it!
Of course, venom was still just venom. Any venom had to pierce the target's defenses and reach their divine body to take effect.
If an ordinary powerful fighter couldn't even break through their opponent's defenses, there was no chance of the venom touching their divine body.
Lu Ming dared to buy it because he was confident that his current strength was enough.
Unfortunately, Lu Ming had no clone, and for now, he couldn't think of a way to get one.
He couldn't exactly possess a Golden Horned Beast.
He was also a little worried that the system might disappear after he possessed one.
He would certainly make plans to get a clone, but for now, he had no opportunity.