Slaves

"Compared to the City Wall outside, the people in the city are obviously far more interesting!"

Lu Yunhe walked through the city. There were buildings in all kinds of styles from across the universe, as well as countless humanoid but differently shaped aliens. Even the tallest among them was only close to ten meters tall.

Although that height still could not compare to the Ultraman Avatar, it made them little giants to ordinary people.

"First, register my nationality!"

Lu Yunhe took Liutie to the Black Dragon Mountain Empire's Administrative Hall here and registered as a citizen of the Black Dragon Mountain Empire. The fee was not high, only 50 Black Dragon Coins.

Lu Yunhe did not really care about joining a nationality. After all, only his Ultraman Avatar was here; his human body was still on Earth.

"Now comes the most dangerous moment!"

Somewhat nervous, Lu Yunhe went to the real-world Virtual Universe Company to open an account for the Virtual Universe Network.

"Esteemed guest, how many years of Virtual Universe Network service would you like to pay for at once? There are three options: one hundred years, one thousand years, and ten thousand years. The annual network fee is 10 Black Dragon Coins or 0.008 Qianwu Coins," the receptionist said mechanically.

"One thousand years!"

Lu Yunhe had Liutie pay directly. As for the Consciousness Sensing Helmet, with the Intelligent Light Brain Dracion, he could enter the Virtual Universe at any time anyway.

After settling the Virtual Universe Network account, Lu Yunhe casually found a place to stay and officially entered the Virtual Universe.

"Connecting to the Virtual Universe..."

A deep, majestic voice echoed through Lu Yunhe's consciousness. Then his vision went dark, and he appeared in an ancient city.

Lu Yunhe glanced at the incomparably adorable Little Elf on his shoulder as Dracion's voice rang out, introducing their current location and the functions of the Virtual Universe.

Then Lu Yunhe looked at his appearance in the Virtual Universe. He was still in human form rather than the form of the Ultraman Avatar, and he let out a breath of relief.

"Looks like I'm still human in the Virtual Universe!"

Having noticed this, Lu Yunhe felt greatly relieved and exited the Virtual Universe again. There would be plenty of time later; he still had other things to do now.

Afterward, Lu Yunhe went to the Universe Galaxy Bank's branch and opened a bank account for himself. At the same time, he transferred all the remaining funds from the Black Dragon Ship's former owner's bank account.

"Twenty million Qianwu Coins!"

Looking at the funds in his bank account, Lu Yunhe could not help revealing a delighted expression. It was not much, but at least he would not need to sell his equipment.

"Virtual Universe Company, Universe Galaxy Bank—I've already visited two-fifths of the Five Major Human Powers."

Lu Yunhe thought it over. In Swallowed Star, besides those two, the Five Major Human Powers also included the Giant Axe Fighting Arena, the Universe Mercenary Alliance, and the Universe First Bank. The five major powers were the true rulers of humanity throughout the universe, followed by the various universe countries and some ordinary organizations.

However, there was no rush to visit the other powers. Because of the Divine Tree Avatar, Lu Yunhe had other ideas.

"To the Slave Market."

Back on Earth, Lu Yunhe had already tested it. Divine Tree Fruit was also useful to the Ultraman Avatar, so purchasing cultivation resources could be put off for now.

Slave Market!

Qiu Long Star's Slave Market was one of the largest among the surrounding hundred or so star systems. It covered more than 300 kilometers and gathered countless different forms of life within.

In the Slave Market, slaves below the Planetary Level could basically not sell for even 10 Black Dragon Coins unless they were beautiful women. Planetary Level slaves only cost several thousand or tens of thousands of Black Dragon Coins, pitifully cheap. Only at the Stellar level did prices become expensive.

However, looking at the rows of slaves around him, Lu Yunhe could not help sighing. The ancient saying, "A gentleman stays away from the kitchen," suddenly felt all too real.

But when he thought of why he had come here, Lu Yunhe could not help mocking himself.

Just as Lu Yunhe was ridiculing himself, a person in charge from the Slave Market hurried over. He had clearly noticed Lu Yunhe's desire to buy slaves.

"Sir, are you interested in purchasing some Stellar level slaves?"

Although the Slave Market was enormous, Stellar level slaves sold the best. After all, in the universe, those in the apprentice stage were not even considered people. Only at the Planetary Level could one apply for citizenship, while Stellar level beings held a modest status. They were very suitable for guarding homes, protecting estates, or serving as bodyguards.

"That's right. I intend to buy some Stellar level slaves."

Hearing the manager's words, Lu Yunhe nodded expressionlessly, signaling for him to explain.

"Please follow me, sir!" With a beaming smile, the manager led Lu Yunhe into a luxurious shop, introducing the prices as they walked.

"Sir, a Stellar Rank 1 warrior is worth one million Black Dragon Coins. A Stellar Rank 4 warrior is worth twenty million Black Dragon Coins, a Stellar Rank 7 warrior five hundred million, and a Stellar Ninth Stage warrior five billion. Under normal circumstances, Psychic Masters cost three times as much as warriors."

After learning the prices of Stellar level slaves, Lu Yunhe immediately calculated, "The cheapest Stellar Rank 1 warriors cost one million Black Dragon Coins, which is 0.1 ten thousand Qianwu Coins. I currently have twenty million Qianwu Coins in my bank account, so I can only buy twenty thousand Stellar Rank 1 warriors."

Naturally, Lu Yunhe was not buying these Stellar level slaves to guard his home or serve as bodyguards. He intended to turn them into White Zetsu for the Divine Tree Avatar, using them to produce Divine Tree Fruit.

Since they were to be made into White Zetsu, cost-effectiveness was extremely important.

A Stellar Ninth Stage warrior was worth five billion, equivalent to five thousand Stellar Rank 1 warriors. Yet a Stellar Ninth Stage warrior obviously could not absorb cosmic energy five thousand times faster than a Stellar Rank 1 warrior.

While Lu Yunhe was thinking, the manager had already led him to the merchant association's reception room. "Sir, we have virtual projections of a large number of slaves here. You may choose to your heart's content. The prices are certainly fair..."

"No need to continue!"

Lu Yunhe directly cut off the manager's sales pitch and asked, "How many Stellar Rank 1 warriors do you have?"

"How many?"

Caught off guard by Lu Yunhe's question after his sales pitch was interrupted, the manager froze for a moment before hesitantly asking, "How many are you planning to buy, sir?"

"About ten or twenty thousand." Lu Yunhe estimated his total assets. Aside from the Tier 3 Force Weapon Arc Blade Disc, he still had some things scavenged from Earth's ruins. If he sold them, they should still be worth something. Together with the assets taken from the bandits on the road, he should barely be able to buy some cultivation resources.

"Ten or twenty thousand?"

Hearing that number, the manager looked bewildered. What kind of person bought tens of thousands of slaves at once, especially the lowest-grade Stellar warriors?

If they were for bodyguards, higher-stage warriors would be better. Even for running a gladiatorial arena, Planet Ninth Stage slaves offered excellent value.

"Could they be from another company trying to suppress our merchant association?"

The manager hesitated. "Sir, the quantity you need is rather large. I'll need to report it to my superiors."