The Virtual Universe, a large palace somewhere on Tianchen Island.
Dozens of Immortals had gathered in the palace. Men and women of various appearances—some looking like ordinary humans, others like members of the Snakefolk—stood around a giant sand table. The scene it simulated was the World Lord World.
"Why does Yan Ju's daughter seem so dim-witted?" an Immortal with wild boar tusks said with a grin.
"You think so too?" the gloomy Immortal laughed.
Li Di stood to the gloomy Immortal's right, watching the images on a floating projection panel. He said with exasperation, "This... The opportunity's practically been handed to him on a plate. Has An Changyan's mouth been sealed shut?"
"They're just seventeen Metal Guards. What's so hard about that?"
Li Di rubbed his forehead, clearly troubled.
The Machine Race Spaceship was one of the opportunities the Immortals had specially prepared for An Changyan.
Inside the Machine Race Spaceship.
"There's nothing special about this ship," Chen Beixun mused after investigating it. "The strange thing is that its power system is completely intact."
"Hmm... This should be one of the opportunities those Immortals prepared for An Changyan." After thinking for a few seconds, Chen Beixun settled on that conclusion.
"Have you made up your mind?" An Changyan appeared behind Chen Beixun, smiling at him.
"Uh..." Chen Beixun had already tried countless excuses. With no other choice, he decided to answer at random. "Your Highness comprehends the Gold Origin Law, right?"
"Yeah. Why?" An Changyan stared straight at Chen Beixun, her eyes seeming to shine with a captivating light. Would it kill you to give me a straight answer?
The two of them looked at each other, and the atmosphere turned unbearably awkward.
"Either answer is fine," Qishan said, unable to sit by any longer. "I also found some basic information about her family."
"I was going to give it to you once we returned to the Lotte Family's base."
"This guy's so annoying."
"Like a fly buzzing around."
Chen Beixun raised his eyebrows at that and sent a strand of his consciousness into the Virtual Universe.
Fengwu Family: Family location: Ding Star Sector, Xuyu Universe Kingdom. Etc...
Based on the information, Chen Beixun reached a conclusion: joining was fine, but being dragged around and losing his freedom meant they'd have to pay extra!
"Your Highness, I've made up my mind," Chen Beixun said gravely.
"Hmm?" An Changyan furrowed her brows. Her lips parted as if she wanted to speak, but she swallowed her words and silently looked at Chen Beixun with hopeful eyes.
Damn it, if you agree, you'll be in for it! An Changyan thought.
"Could you raise the price a little...?" Chen Beixun said with a smile, looking utterly shameless.
Qishan watched from the side and couldn't help saying, "He's beyond teaching."
"You... Ah!" An Changyan had barely gotten out the word "you" when she tripped over something that had appeared from nowhere.
"Huh?!" Chen Beixun's eyes went wide as he caught An Changyan. "Where did that stone come from?!"
A black, square object shaped like a stele lay there quietly.
"How did I not notice this thing?" Chen Beixun was astonished. He'd kept his telekinetic power spread out the whole time.
"What is it?" An Changyan bent down and stood the stele upright.
"Why doesn't it weigh anything?!" An Changyan exclaimed. She sent her telekinetic power into it and frowned. She found that her power could pass completely through the object, meeting no resistance at all, as if it didn't exist.
"Qishan, what is this material?" Chen Beixun narrowed his eyes and crouched down to inspect it closely.
After examining it and comparing it with the database, Qishan shook his head and said in surprise, "Unknown!"
It's a shame the Flame Star Behemoth isn't here. With its inherited memories, which are like a vast storehouse of knowledge, maybe it would know!
His eyes burned with excitement, like a wolf that hadn't eaten for days.
"What are these?" Chen Beixun froze. He looked like Fan Jin after passing the imperial examination—so overjoyed he'd gone blank. Images arranged in a nine-square grid had appeared on the stele, manifesting on their own as if they had sensed something.
"The Water Origin Law!"
"I was wrong. I was completely wrong!"
"So that's how it works!"
Chen Beixun immediately entered a state of utter absorption, carefully comprehending the mysteries within.
If Chen Beixun's Law Comprehension had been "0.5" before, then studying it against the Mysterious Stele could raise it to "10"!
"Hey!" An Changyan tilted her head and called to Chen Beixun, who sat motionless on the ground. "What's wrong with you?!"
"This stone is so strange!" An Changyan looked at the stele in confusion. "Where did these nine squares come from?"
Outside the World Lord World, the major powers watched the scene unfold.
The Virtual Universe, Tianchen Island.
"This young fellow comprehends the Water Origin Law."
"He could be considered a top talent in a large star sector!"
"He'd just about qualify as a star-zone-level talent."
"From the second image onward, he'll need to combine water and space!"
The Immortals discussed the matter among themselves, until one of them raised a question.
"Old Feng, where did this young fellow come from? Who's his master, a World Lord or an Immortal?"
"Old Feng" was He Feng, the God Lord of the Tianchen Empire. He Feng was stronger than some Ordinary Immortals, ranking at the high-level Military Lord stage, close to the peak.
"Uh... Well, I'm not sure," He Feng replied with an awkward smile.
The Immortal waved a hand. "He probably lives in another star sector and just happened to come back."
Chen Beixun's background had already been thoroughly investigated. The Immortal had said that merely to give He Feng a way out. It was laughable for a God Lord to know so little about the talents in his own star sector.
"He Feng's always left his star sector to fend for itself," Li Di said with a shake of his head. He didn't take He Feng seriously at all, and his blunt words made He Feng's expression darken.
"Isn't that the truth? He didn't even bother with the task he was given. He just kept playing both sides," the gloomy Immortal laughed.
He Feng's expression grew even darker. The Giant Axe Martial Arena had once sent him to deal with the slave trade in the lower star sector under his jurisdiction. He Feng had always brushed it off with one excuse or another. After all, slave trading was enormously profitable! Though he hadn't taken part directly, he hadn't stopped his subordinates from joining in either.
I hope he understands what he's hearing, Li Di thought. He'd also heard rumors that the Virtual Universe Company was preparing to conduct a covert inspection of the Tianchen Empire.
If I can, I'll give him a hand, the gloomy Immortal thought.
Then he put it out of his mind and turned his gaze to the projection before him.
On the screen, Chen Beixun was comprehending the Mysterious Stele.
"How exquisite!" Chen Beixun sat cross-legged on the ground, thinking, The Water Origin Law combined with the Space Origin Law! Water and space!
Most people used lower Origin Laws such as water, fire, and wood as stepping stones to comprehend higher Origin Laws. There were also a very few exceptionally gifted individuals who, after comprehending the Space or Time Origin Law, used its lower laws as a stepping stone to comprehend the other—reaching the combination of space and time.
He spent dozens of days comprehending it.
Chen Beixun opened his eyes and looked around. "How long was I comprehending it?"
He stood up and casually put away the stele in front of him.
"You're awake, young friend." A deep, powerful voice reached Chen Beixun's ears.
"Pavadode?" Chen Beixun turned to look.
Pavadode stood in front of him, wearing a simple, honest smile.
"Zzz..."
The wall to Pavadode's rear right opened, and An Changyan walked out. Her cheeks were flushed pink, and she looked to be in good spirits.
"Third level of the Universe rank." Chen Beixun sensed the change in An Changyan and couldn't help marveling, Her cultivation speed is incredible!
"I never expected your Law Comprehension to be so advanced," An Changyan said with a smile. "And what do you think of a hiring price of 1.5 chaos units?"
Chen Beixun nodded slightly, thinking, It's been more than ten days, right?
"Is the ship underway?" Chen Beixun asked, sensing as much.
"Yes. Young friend, while you were comprehending that stele..." Pavadode walked over, put a hand on Chen Beixun's shoulder, and guided him forward as he explained the situation in the World Lord World.
Inside the spaceship's rest cabin.
"The Black Soul Tower has withdrawn from the treasure hunt?!" Chen Beixun asked in surprise.
"That's right," Pavadode said. "The Lotte Family blew up a valley, driving the Six-Ling Beast and the Magic Axe Beast toward the Black Soul Tower."
"The Black Soul Tower suffered heavy losses and had no choice but to withdraw."
Chen Beixun thought it over, then asked, "Has the World Castle opened yet?"
Pavadode shook his head.
Chen Beixun furrowed his brow, recalling what had happened earlier. That's not right! He was puzzled.
"That's not right!" Chen Beixun said, still puzzled. Then he asked, "Do you have any plans to enter the World Castle and hunt for treasure?"
Pavadode nodded and replied firmly, "Your Highness has a plan for this!"
Chen Beixun's eyes darkened. "Good, good, good."
"By the way, where are we going?"
Pavadode replied, "The Upper World."