Sifang Island

Qi Tian closed the mercenary system interface. Just then, his intelligent system notified him that he had an incoming video call.

"Lord Tegages?"

Seeing the name on the screen, Qi Tian quickly answered the call.

The screen flickered, and the silver-haired youth Tegages appeared before him. Judging by the blood-red background behind him, he was probably in the Slaughter Arena's main hall, too.

"Qi Tian pays his respects to Lord Tegages."

Tegages smiled and nodded. "Jianos told me you've already arrived on Beihua Planet?"

"Yes, I just got here today." Qi Tian nodded.

"Right. I'm contacting you today about something."

"When I recruited you into the Virtual Universe Company, the procedure should have been to grant you access to the Beihua Building dimension in the Virtual Universe."

"But you and Chi Xin are in a special situation. Your information was sent directly to the Noah Universe Kingdom Branch, bypassing Beihua. As a result, you two haven't been able to attend classes at the Beihua Building for the past two months."

"If the Noah Universe Kingdom Branch hadn't reminded me today that your strength assessment had been approved, I would've forgotten all about it."

After Tegages finished speaking, a trace of embarrassment showed on his face.

After submitting Qi Tian and Chi Xin's information, he had started calling in favors and making connections in every direction.

As an Immortal Expert who had lived for hundreds of thousands of years, he had many old friends he hadn't seen in ages. By the time he'd caught up with them all, more than two months had passed.

"I just got to the Beihua Branch myself, so I haven't lost any time."

Qi Tian didn't feel he'd missed out on anything. He'd only missed a little over two months of classes, and he'd spent that time training his movement speed and Indestructible Golden Body anyway. He wouldn't have had time to attend classes.

Besides, most of the trainees at the Beihua Empire branch were Planetary Level or Star Level. Most of the classes taught them how to use their domains.

There were Universe Level elite students as well, but not many, and their classes mostly covered secret techniques.

As for guidance on the Origin Law, it was usually taught one-on-one.

A branch in the Beihua Empire simply couldn't provide the cultivation resources needed by many Universe Level students.

And the elites who stayed here would be lucky to become ordinary World Lords. Producing a high-level Domain Lord was already considered a successful outcome.

"Your assessment at the Noah Universe Kingdom Branch has been approved. Your intelligence has been granted access to the independent dimension of the Noah Branch."

"Thank you, Lord Tegages."

After Qi Tian thanked him, Tegages ended the video call. Qi Tian then checked the new access rights he'd received.

"Teleport."

Virtual Universe Company, Noah Branch Dimension—Sifang Island.

In an endless sea, five islands were arranged in a neat, symmetrical pattern: one in the center, with one each to the east, south, west, and north.

A bridge stretching dozens of kilometers connected the central island to each of the other four, arranging the islands in the shape of a cross.

Each island had a massive city, corresponding to the four divisions: first-, second-, and third-level elites, and Special Grade Elites.

After teleporting to Sifang Island, Qi Tian appeared in the city on the central island.

He walked along a cement-paved street, with beautiful buildings lining both sides and every kind of entertainment venue available.

Quite a few people passed by. Most were Universe Level, and there were plenty of Domain Lords as well.

They all wore the same style of uniform, though the colors varied. Presumably, the four ranks were distinguished by color.

Qi Tian himself wore a black uniform. Having grown accustomed to white robes, he found it a little uncomfortable.

As he walked, he listened to Futu explain what it had learned about Sifang Island from the Virtual Network.

"Master, the bridge due east leads to the Special Grade Elite area."

Qi Tian stood on the eastern edge of the central island. The city ended around him, giving way to the island's grassy, tree-lined outskirts.

A metal bridge stretching dozens of kilometers lay before him. A few people walked across it now and then, all wearing black uniforms.

Qi Tian followed the bridge, moving quickly. In about ten minutes, he reached the eastern island.

This island was reserved for Special Grade Elites and had the simple name East Island. The other islands were named after their directions as well.

East Island was circular, with a diameter of about ten thousand kilometers. The city at its center served as the teaching district.

Large numbers of private villas were scattered around it. Each Special Grade Elite was assigned one, complete with a cultivation area.

Qi Tian hadn't yet arrived at the Noah Universe Kingdom Branch, so no one was there to show him around. But his information had already been submitted, and his residence had been arranged.

"Futu, where's my villa?" Qi Tian asked.

"Master, it's C-1203."

As it answered, Futu brought up a projection screen and opened a map of East Island, marking Qi Tian's location and Villa C-1203.

Following the map Futu had provided, Qi Tian made his way down the flower-lined streets to his destination.

A little over ten minutes later, Qi Tian arrived at a small courtyard as he wandered along.

Beyond the iron fence stood a luxurious, ivory-colored villa. White stone slabs paved the courtyard, and a small pavilion stood off to one side.

Greenery had been planted beside the wall, along with an artificial rockery with water flowing down it. A small fishpond lay beside the rockery.

As Qi Tian approached the short gate, a mechanical system prompt sounded.

"Welcome, Student Qi Tian. Please bind your personal intelligence."

"Futu, bind the house management program."

Futu was an intelligence attached to an ordinary Smart Optical Computer. It had only simple emotional responses and couldn't think for itself, so it still couldn't proactively help Qi Tian with minor tasks.

After Qi Tian gave the binding command, the villa's short gate opened automatically, and he stepped inside his new residence.

The villa was equipped with fairly intelligent facilities, but it lacked any homely warmth. It wasn't as thoughtfully arranged as a hotel suite, either.

Qi Tian didn't have high standards for a residence. He only needed a somewhat private space, so he didn't ask Futu to change anything after entering.

As Qi Tian toured his villa, Futu's voice sounded.

"Beep... Master, someone named Chi Xin is outside to see you."

Qi Tian was a little surprised. "Chi Xin got here so quickly. It looks like after Lord Tegages informed me that I'd been granted access to Sifang Island, he immediately notified Chi Xin as well."

In the villa courtyard.

Beneath the pavilion beside the rockery, several stone stools surrounded a stone table. Qi Tian and Chi Xin were sitting there.

"Have you seen the Point Treasury? It's seriously opened my eyes. Even the secret technique my master taught me is in there, along with plenty of even more advanced ones."

"And the treasures! There are so many I can't count them all. Take the Tri-color Red Flame Fruit, for example. My master went to a lot of trouble to get one for me, but here, you can exchange for one whenever you want—as long as you have enough points."

"And those special secret realms... Tsk, they've got me itching to go explore them. I can't wait to venture into one."

Not long after they sat down, Chi Xin launched into an endless stream of chatter.

Apart from the occasional time he spent with his master, Chi Xin was usually alone. Now that he had a new friend in Qi Tian, he'd turned into a real chatterbox.