That was ridiculous! Chen Beixun stared at the projection screen. The organizations directly taking part in the treasure hunt this time included:
Win Pavilion
Black Soul Tower
Axe Battle Star (representative: Giant Axe.)
Cosmic Bone Alliance (representative: Universe Mercenary Alliance.)
Lu Peak Society.
"Win Pavilion is participating too?" Qishan didn't seem surprised at all, as if he'd expected it. He turned to Chen Beixun and said gravely, "Win Pavilion is a major force in the Xuyu Universe Kingdom. It has close ties with the kingdom's Commerce Department and Martial Department!"
"Win Pavilion has at least a dozen undying beings! Probably more!"
"Don't make enemies with them!"
Chen Beixun nodded. Though three of the Five Giants weren't directly involved, they were backing and covertly supporting organizations that had joined the treasure hunt. In the end, it was just a contest between undying beings.
"Heh! They've certainly picked a fine banner to rally under!"
"When I first heard about it, I thought the Five Giants were actually getting involved!"
"Right. Why would the Five Giants care about something like this?"
"It's just the undying beings under them waving their banners. And they're supposed to be maintaining order?"
"They're just coveting the secret techniques!"
Chen Beixun thought to himself.
A single secret technique was enough to bring the Tianchen Empire to ruin. Everyone was fighting and scrambling for it. The whole world clamored for profit!
"You have to be strong enough to stand on your own!" Chen Beixun's gaze turned cold.
Smack!
Qishan slapped Chen Beixun on the back and said, "What are you daydreaming about? The escort will be here soon. Get ready!"
Chen Beixun couldn't help sighing. "What's coming is coming!"
He got up and began preparing.
Twenty-five days remained until the World Lord World opened.
The various forces were quietly making their moves.
The Lotte Family's home planet.
Luote Tejie'er stood on a high platform, looking down at the five thousand five hundred Universe Level powerhouses below.
"You've come from different organizations and empires. Some of you don't know one another, while others have old grievances."
"But I hope you'll make an effort and fight for the goals we share."
Luote Tejie'er delivered his speech with fervor, secretly using an illusion to beguile the crowd below. No matter what he said, they heard his voice as a bewitching melody from heaven.
When Luote Tejie'er finished speaking, the crowd's cheers rang out like thunder. They waved their arms frantically, paying him the highest tribute.
As Luote Tejie'er watched the crowd growing more and more frenzied, he recalled the several messages he'd sent Chen Beixun. He'd made his intentions clear: yes or no. But Chen Beixun had chosen "or."
There would certainly be at least hundreds of thousands of people taking part in the treasure hunt. The organizations Luote Tejie'er had recruited and chosen were all powerful.
"Your Highness Luote Tejie'er!" An old voice rang in his ears. Luote Tejie'er looked over to see a World Lord smiling at him.
"Mr. Gu Tong?" Luote Tejie'er asked calmly.
Normally, he wouldn't have given an ordinary World Lord like this a second glance. Gu Tong had obviously come to flatter him and join his side.
Gu Tong flew up to him, his posture deferential. "Your Highness Luote Tejie'er, I've come with sincere intentions."
"Five thousand Universe Level 9 fighters from Qi Tower are at your disposal!"
Luote Tejie'er smiled. He knew Qi Tower dealt in the slave trade. Gu Tong was only hoping to capitalize on his influence.
Reputation or treasure?
Luote Tejie'er thought for a few seconds, then said, "Mr. Gu Tong."
"I have a plan. When the World Lord World opens, send your people inside first."
"Then we can form an alliance later and catch everyone off guard."
Gu Tong raised an eyebrow and smiled. "All right, Your Highness Luote Tejie'er. I'll take my leave." Then he turned into a streak of light and flew away.
Inside the rest cabin of an E2-class spaceship in the starry sky.
"Damn it!" Gu Tong cursed inwardly.
"He won't form an alliance, but he still wants to drag me into this!" Gu Tong's expression darkened.
Seven days remained until the World Lord World opened.
Inside a D9-class spaceship in the Dark Universe.
Chen Beixun sat quietly on the sofa, gulping down one glass of wine after another, hoping it would calm his nerves.
"All right, stop drinking." Qishan snatched the glass away, flung the emerald-green wine over his shoulder, then turned the glass upside down on the table.
Chen Beixun lowered his head and covered it with his hands, muttering in frustration, "This is driving me crazy. My mind just won't stop thinking!"
"The more I think, the worse I feel!"
"Calm down," Qishan said solemnly. He understood Chen Beixun's current state.
Chen Beixun raised his head, pressed five fingers to his forehead, and looked down at the Alloy Combat Boots on his feet.
"I'll take my chances," Chen Beixun said softly.
The Ghostly World Lord Realm was on a moon orbiting a gas giant. Chen Beixun had entered the World Lord World because he'd wanted to get a closer look at the gas giant's planetary rings. Instead, an unknown force had sucked him into the World Lord World.
The gas giant was called "JIWNF." According to regulations, no organization was allowed within 350,000 kilometers of "JIWNF."
So Chen Beixun's spaceship was docked at a base called "Base 25."
Base 25 was mostly occupied by unaffiliated Universe Level powerhouses. To avoid attracting attention, Chen Beixun ordered his escort team to stay aboard the spaceship. He also took care to change into a set of alloy battle armor.
He and his escort stayed aboard the spaceship instead of renting a place at "Base 25."
The Demon Island Vine was inside the World Ring.
Inside the rest cabin of a D-class spaceship...
Beep.
Chen Beixun looked at his Auxiliary Optical Computer, puzzled. He frowned and thought, Li Di? What does he want with me at a time like this?
Then he sent a strand of consciousness into the Virtual Universe.
The Virtual Universe, Tianchen Island.
They were once again beneath the white jade pavilion.
"Is there a problem?" Chen Beixun asked first.
Li Di waved a hand. "I pulled a few strings. Anyway, you can bring your Demon Island Vine in with you."
Chen Beixun was startled. He stood up in disbelief, then sat down and rubbed his head before standing again. His voice trembled as he said, "Th-thank you, sir!"
Li Di smiled at him. "It's nothing. But make sure you don't let anyone see the Demon Island Vine. Be as cautious as you can!"
"Consider it repayment for a favor I owed your teacher."
Chen Beixun smiled shyly, overjoyed inside. With the Demon Island Vine, I'll have even more confidence!
"Go to Base 21 later and meet up with the Lotte Family. You're on the same side, after all."
"And we're already trying to win over Win Pavilion. Whatever you do, don't make enemies with them inside the World Lord World," Li Di reminded him.
"Understood." Chen Beixun nodded, then left the Virtual Universe.
He was in a great mood now. He took a bottle of wine and sat down on the sofa to drink.
He thought, There were plenty of treasures in the World Lord World last time. Even if I sell some of them, I should still have at least 30 Hunyuan Units on hand.
He then asked Qishan to take stock.
"You've got quite a stash hidden away, kid." Qishan chuckled a few times, then said, "40.6 Hunyuan Units."
Chen Beixun's eyes shifted, and he exclaimed in astonishment, "How could that World Lord be so rich?!"
He couldn't help thinking of a World Lord Luo Feng had killed in the original story. That World Lord had possessed a whole lake of Locke Divine Water, worth a total of 6.337 billion Hunyuan Units!
An opportunity?
Or would he meet his end here?
Chen Beixun took a deep breath and said, "First, I need to survive."