The Lecture

Qi Tian and Chi Xin chatted for quite a while. They agreed that once Chi Xin reached Beihua Planet in a few days, they would go on a mercenary mission together.

They would try to earn as many mercenary points as possible during the month they had to wait before setting out. That way, they could go straight to a promotion mission afterward.

After all, the Beihua Planet training site had a Universe Mercenary Alliance outpost, along with several permanent World Master mission worlds. That would save them the time it would take to travel elsewhere.

After Chi Xin left, Qi Tian returned to the study in his villa. Sitting at his desk, he asked Futu to open the Virtual Universe's Point Treasury.

The treasury opened, and eight major categories appeared on the screen.

They were "Secret Techniques," "Weapons," "Rare Treasures," "Technological Weapons," "Materials," "Tools," "Living Creatures," and "Other Special Items."

Each of the eight categories contained many smaller subcategories.

Qi Tian went straight to the category he needed most, "Secret Techniques." Another set of finer categories appeared.

He glanced through them. Prestigious treasures like Space-Time Essays from the original story clearly weren't listed here.

The best items available in a branch's Point Treasury were probably secret techniques created by King Level Immortals, worth hundreds of thousands of points.

Anything more expensive was beyond the reach not only of branch members, but even of students at headquarters. There were hardly any in the Doomsday Secret Realm who could afford them, either.

Qi Tian spotted the creators' names listed beside some of the secret techniques. A thought occurred to him, and he searched for "Demon Lotus King."

He used lotus-type telekinetic weapons, and when Demon Lotus King created weapons of that type, all of them—from third to fifth tier—had been of the gold element.

Qi Tian was curious. This Immortal Expert was most likely an Immortal who had mastered the Law of Gold, and she was also accustomed to using lotus-type telekinetic weapons.

As soon as Qi Tian pressed the search button, just as he had expected, several secret techniques created by Demon Lotus King appeared in the treasury.

"Secret technique for the soul, Lotus Heart Secret Technique; secret technique for the soul, Lotus Mark; combat secret technique, Golden Flowers Falling..."

After looking at only the first few entries, Qi Tian realized that "Demon Lotus King" wasn't a title self-bestowed by some Universe Country. She was a genuine King-level Immortal.

The most expensive one, Lotus Heart Secret Technique, cost 600,000 points. It was one of the most valuable secret techniques he could currently access.

"Good grief, these are all secret techniques I need right now, but they're way too expensive. I can't afford them."

Qi Tian stared longingly at the techniques listed on the screen, but the points prices doused his enthusiasm.

He could only reluctantly close the interface and open the secret realm mission list.

There weren't many secret realms to choose from—just fourteen.

They were all within the territory of the Noah Universe Kingdom, but each was controlled by a different force.

The Virtual Universe Company and the Giant Axe Dojo controlled three each, while the Universe Mercenary Alliance controlled two.

The Universe Galaxy Bank, the Universe First Bank, and the Noah Universe Kingdom's royal family each controlled one.

The remaining three secret realms had unusual names. Instead of being named "X Secret Realm," they were named "X Race Secret Realm."

They were the Fire Feather Race Secret Realm, the Star Eye Race Secret Realm, and the Whetstone Race Secret Realm.

Qi Tian looked up information on the three races in the Virtual Universe. Even as an internal member of the Virtual Universe Company, he could only access basic information.

The search results indicated that they were subordinate races that had joined the Human Race's Hong Alliance. He couldn't find anything else about them.

Qi Tian knew about the Hong Alliance. It was a powerful force led by the Human Race, with countless Alien Races under its banner, some powerful and some ordinary.

Judging by the mission list, these three secret realms seemed to have been assigned to the three subordinate races as places to live.

It was much like the secret realm where the Golden Horn Race lived on the outskirts of the Ganwu Universe Kingdom.

After familiarizing himself with his access permissions and the training site at the Noah Universe Kingdom branch where he would be going, Qi Tian left his villa and headed for the teaching district.

In the central area of East Island, there was a place specifically set aside for lessons taught by powerful World Masters and even Immortals.

Qi Tian checked the day's schedule. There was a class on the Origin Law of Gold, starting in two hours.

The instructor was a World Master who specialized in the Law of Gold. He had already earned the Origin Law's recognition and was just one step away from becoming an Immortal.

After the class on the Law of Gold, there would also be a monthly lesson on the Origin Law of Space.

Qi Tian had arrived at just the right time. He'd made it in time for the monthly class, too.

This wasn't one of the Four Great Secret Realms. Most of the students had only crossed the threshold of a single Origin Law. The more talented ones had gained some insights beyond that.

Geniuses who had mastered a lower law and also stepped into one of the two higher laws, space or time, were exceedingly rare.

A few had failed to win a place in the Doomsday Secret Realm in the previous Centennial Grand Competition, but almost all the rest had only grasped their laws within the past few decades.

Qi Tian was startled to see several Universe Level students here who had gained insights into a higher law.

He hadn't seen any of them fight, but he'd already prepared himself for the possibility of failing in this Centennial Grand Competition and trying again next time.

That was only because he didn't understand his own abilities. In Tegages's view, both he and Chi Xin had already gained a solid understanding of a single law.

It wasn't necessarily true that a genius who understood two Origin Laws could defeat one who had mastered only a single law.

Some people truly did have exceptional talent for a particular attribute. Qi Tian and Chi Xin were two such people.

That was why Tegages valued them and was confident they could enter the Doomsday Secret Realm.

In East Island's teaching district, crowds surged outside the teaching residence as class time approached.

Qi Tian followed the flow of people into the enormous residence before him.

The residence covered a vast area and was divided into several sections. Following the directions for the day's classes, Qi Tian made his way to the classroom for the lesson on the Origin Law of Gold.

After walking for a few minutes, there were fewer and fewer people around him, until only a few dozen remained.

"Hey, you look unfamiliar. Are you a new student?"

As Qi Tian followed the map toward the classroom, an unfamiliar voice came from behind him and to the side. He turned to see who was speaking: a young Fox-kin man at the Universe Level.

The young man was exceptionally handsome. Though his face was covered in fur, it was sparse, leaving his features clearly visible. A pair of ears stood atop his head.

"That's right. I'm Qi Tian. I just joined the Virtual Universe Company's internal division, and I'm with the Beihua Branch."

Qi Tian smiled as he answered, giving the young man his name.

"Hello, I'm Bai Yuefeng, from the Yunhai Branch." The Fox-kin youth grinned and continued, "I know the Beihua Empire. It's a famous technology hub."

"Choosing Teacher Baron for your first class as a newcomer—you've got a good eye."

Qi Tian didn't understand what Bai Yuefeng meant.

"What do you mean?"