Inside a mountain near the Gold Soul Clan Sacred Land, a section had been hollowed out to make room for a square, mobile residence packed with high-tech features.
Mikita sat inside, operating a screen as he compiled some basic information about the universe for Qi Tian, including the Universal Language.
Suddenly, a symbol lit up on the screen. The ship's AI, far out on the sea, sent a notification: it had detected powerful energy fluctuations in space outside the planet.
Mikita knew Qi Tian was practicing a Combat Secret Technique. He had just finished compiling the information, so he decided to deliver it and take the opportunity to check on Qi Tian's progress.
He walked out of the mobile residence and soared into the sky, heading toward Qi Tian.
In the vast, shadowy reaches of space, Qi Tian floated beside the blue Gold Soul Planet. He used his Innate Secret Technique to assume his Golden Buddha Form, cloaking himself in a golden domain as he released his Origin Force and repeatedly struck at the void with his fists and palms.
After several months, he had already mastered the forty units of force output attainable through the Combat Secret Technique. Now, he was trying to incorporate its correct method of exerting force into what he considered his own comfortable fighting style.
At first, it was difficult. He thought a certain way of exerting force suited him, but his technique was wrong, so his attacks fell short of their full potential.
But as he gradually adapted, the awkwardness faded. Once he had fully combined the two, his force output even exceeded forty units.
After mastering the force output, the next step was to combine it with his Origin Force, then control it with his consciousness, and finally guide it with his will.
When the different forces reached a state that was "just right," Qi Tian's domain advanced to the seventh level.
This time, even without deliberately trying to comprehend it, he sensed a strange fluctuation in the universe within his domain. Once again, he caught a faint glimpse of the Origin Law of Gold.
"Buzz."
He struck out with his palm. Bolstered by his domain, the released Origin Force condensed into a gigantic golden palm print, forty or fifty meters tall, and blasted into the deep darkness.
As he unleashed the strike, Mikita arrived outside Gold Soul Planet and happened to see Qi Tian attack with the enormous golden palm.
"So powerful. What is that terrifying force in Buddha Lord's domain? Could it be the Origin Law?"
Mikita stared in shock at Qi Tian, who was far away, continually refining his golden palm technique. He could hardly believe what he was seeing.
A native of a planet who had never entered the universe and had no inheritance was mastering a Combat Secret Technique that didn't even suit him.
To draw insights from it and even approach the threshold of the Origin Law in less than a year—Mikita had only ever heard of such talent when mercenaries boasted about it.
"No wonder I willingly submitted to him. My lord has the potential to become a supreme powerhouse."
At that moment, the seed of submission in Mikita's soul seemed to take root and sprout. Qi Tian's place in his heart became all the more unshakable.
"This won't do. Relying on my own insights makes my cultivation too slow. Mikita's too weak to serve as my opponent, either."
As he practiced, Qi Tian had gradually mastered the Combat Secret Technique, Wind-Riding Thirteen Blades.
Though the technique was complete, it didn't suit Qi Tian. Even when he used it, it was less powerful than his own incomplete golden palm technique.
To improve his overall strength, he would have to find a secret technique for cultivating the Origin Law of Gold. A secret-patterned weapon like the Yan Shen Armament would be even better.
Qi Tian enjoyed direct, forceful physical combat, but he was also a spirit mind master. Though he didn't know his exact level, he was better at manipulating objects with his mind than Qi Shangye.
Qi Tian stopped practicing and floated in space, steadying himself. Then he looked toward Mikita, who was watching him with reverent admiration.
"For nearly a year, I've kept using the Universal Sanskrit Sound on him. Mikita has already submitted to me, and just now, the degree of his enslavement suddenly surged."
"It looks like it's time to enter the universe and see the prosperity of the Human Race. Especially the Virtual Universe, which is practically the Human Race's 'cheat code.' I've been looking forward to it for a long time."
Seeing Qi Tian stop practicing and turn to look at him, Mikita hurriedly flew over to pay his respects.
"Mikita pays his respects to Buddha Lord."
"Mm." Qi Tian nodded and continued, "Have you prepared the basic information about the universe?"
Mikita nodded and replied respectfully, "I've compiled it, but I don't have any spare Consciousness Sensors. Buddha Lord can only view it through the Auxiliary Optical Computers on my crew members."
"Although Buddha Lord can't log in to the Virtual Universe for now, you can still bring up the screen and read the information. If you need to check more, you can have them look it up online for you."
"The easiest way, of course, is for Buddha Lord to come aboard the ship. I'll give you permission to use the ship's AI, and you can ask it to find anything you want."
Qi Tian nodded and chose the simplest option. He followed Mikita to his C-class spacecraft. With the AI Timas guiding him, he learned the Universal Language while familiarizing himself with the basics of the universe.
Mikita also arranged for his slaves to teach Qi Jingshi and the other two the same information. Qi Tian planned to take the three of them with him on this journey into the universe.
Once Qi Tian had established himself and laid a solid foundation, he would gradually bring the rest of the Gold Soul Clan into the universe as well.
As for the other humans on Gold Soul Planet, they would have to wait and see. By then, he could leave such minor matters to Qi Shixuan, the clan leader.
In less than three days, Qi Tian had learned the material. Qi Jingshi and the other two were a little slower, but they could keep studying during the flight, so they decided to set off at once.
At dawn on the fourth day, Qi Tian, Mikita, and the others arrived together over the sea, where they floated before the hundred-meter-wide, saucer-shaped spacecraft.
The ship's hull was glossy black and engraved with a special insignia. Mikita explained that it was the emblem of the Beihua Empire, and that the spacecraft had been developed by one of the empire's commercial divisions.
It was the first time Qi Jingshi and the other two had ridden in a spacecraft, and they couldn't help feeling excited.
"Beep!"
The outer hatch opened automatically. They flew into the laser passage, and the inner hatch rose.
After entering the captain's cabin, Qi Tian took the captain's seat first, while Mikita sat at the control panel and introduced the spacecraft to them.
"The North Star is a fourth-generation C1-class spacecraft developed by the Beihua Empire. It's 100 meters in diameter and can reach a top speed of 1.3 times the speed of light. Its hull is made primarily of an alloy containing Wuyu Metal. After my modifications, it's equipped with weapons capable of wiping out large numbers of Star Level seven- and eight-ranked enemies."
Qi Tian had spent the past three days aboard the spacecraft and had already explored the entire ship, so nothing about it surprised him anymore.
But it was the first time Qi Jingshi and the other two had entered a spacecraft. They were curious about everything inside and looked around at every turn.
Qi Tianshou was the boldest of the three. He wandered around the captain's cabin, sometimes touching the cool metal hull, sometimes pressing the soft seat at the control panel, made from a special material.
"Hey, this is quite a novelty."
Before you continue