Blade Technique Breakthrough, Return to Lei Bao Star

Seeing the Slaughter Arena's outrageous daily fees, Qi Yuan could not help but shrink back.

It was not just the Slaughter Arena. In the Virtual Universe, any function related to cultivation came with an astronomical cost.

An introductory domain course recorded by a Domain Lord level expert cost one billion Eternal Coins per viewing.

At the treasure pavilion, a secret technique that could only slightly enhance the power of the Thunder Domain easily cost tens of billions of Lan Ting Coins!

As for joining a cultivation dojo and receiving dedicated instruction from a teacher, the expense was even more unimaginable!

The five million Eternal Coins in annual spending authority Hugo had given Qi Yuan would probably only cover internet fees and a few low-level services.

He basically could not afford a single function truly related to cultivation.

"What a pity Cang Fan isn't by my side. Otherwise, I could casually flip something through him and make at least eight times the profit."

Qi Yuan sighed helplessly.

Of course, it was only a passing thought.

Giving Cang Fan resources like Earth Soul Liquid was one thing. After all, he could explain that he had saved them from his own "rations."

But if he directly gave him money, even an idiot would see that something was wrong.

Not to mention, Cang Fan did not even have a bank account capable of receiving transfers.

"I can't stay on Lei Bao Star for too long. I have to find a chance to get away as soon as possible!"

At that moment, Qi Yuan's desire to escape grew even stronger.

On one hand, during this trip to Lanka Star, he had been forced into that conflict at the Arena.

If he had not luckily obtained a domain earlier with the System's help, there was a high chance he would have met a grim end this time.

As long as he remained under Hugo's "control," who knew how many more times something like this would happen.

On the other hand, if he continued staying on Lei Bao Star—

Under the surveillance of Hugo, his "master," whether he wanted to gather different "Gifts" or deal with the System Return "rewards," everything would become extremely difficult.

That would make it impossible to maximize the System's usefulness, severely slowing his growth in the end!

Moreover, Cang Fan, the only disciple he had currently bound, was still at too low a realm, and his base return multiplier was also too low.

To fully unleash the System's potential, he had to keep seeking disciples with higher return multipliers.

"Luo Feng has already started undergoing the Star Tower trials. His progress will only grow faster from here, and the original story's pace will speed up dramatically."

"If I can't rise quickly with the System's help, I'm afraid I'll miss many wonderful moments!"

Days passed one after another.

Amid the day-and-night anticipation of countless people—

The Realm Lord Feast, which the Ortega Family had spent nearly a year preparing, finally officially began in an enormous Cloud Palace above Jialong City—

Countless distinguished guests from powerful factions throughout the Eternal Starfield, along with a great number of direct descendants and core members of the Ortega Family, left their residences and gathered within that magnificent Cloud Palace.

As a direct member of the Ortega Family, Hugo naturally qualified to enter the heavenly palace.

"You all stay in the manor. Do not go out without permission!"

Dressed in splendid formal attire, Hugo gave Qi Yuan and the others a brief instruction before flying directly toward the Cloud Palace above.

Only after his figure vanished through the main entrance of the heavenly palace did Qi Yuan, Old Wu, and the other guards withdraw their gazes and return to their respective posts.

"For this Realm Lord gathering, I reckon more than half of the Eternal Empire's top factions sent representatives. It is said that other World Lord level experts may even attend in person!" Old Wu, walking beside Qi Yuan, wore a regretful expression. "What a shame. Such a grand event is right before us, yet we have no chance to witness it. What a pity."

Seeing him rare wear such a mournful expression, Qi Yuan could not help teasing him.

"What's so regrettable about it? Cultivate diligently too. When you break through to Realm Lord, hold an event even grander than this. Just don't keep me outside and refuse to let me in when the time comes!"

"Break through my ass!"

Old Wu, whose temperament had always been extremely mild, unexpectedly cursed.

"With my comprehension, it's still uncertain whether I can even break through to Universe Level, let alone Realm Lord!"

"And..."

As he spoke, his gaze suddenly dimmed.

"And slaves like us, controlled by Biological Chips—even if we really reach Realm Lord one day, we'll probably have long since been controlled by some special method."

"Sigh, it's all fate."

Besides the usual feasting, the Lord of Domain Banquet also included discussions of the Dao, exchanges, lectures, and the passing down of techniques. It would last nearly a month in total.

Qi Yuan naturally did not waste this time. He returned to his Training Room and took the opportunity to continue studying the force techniques of the Nine Radiance Sky Blade.

However, his focus was no longer solely on improving his force amplitude. He was also figuring out how to apply it more flexibly in actual combat.

His previous battle against Meng Shan of the Tie Gao Clan in the Arena had completely exposed his shortcomings.

He had practiced the Nine Radiance Sky Blade for too short a time, and his practical combat experience was nearly nonexistent.

Although he had comprehended the force techniques of the Nine Radiance Sky Blade to the Seventh Layer, barely reaching the Star Traveller "passing line"—

His reactions in battle and practical application were still extremely crude.

If not for the support of his domain last time, he would most likely have lost to Meng Shan.

And who was Meng Shan?

An utterly ordinary Fourth Stage Star Traveller slave, the kind one could find in droves on any moderately prosperous planet!

Whenever he thought that he was a transmigrator—and one with cheats, at that—yet could not even defeat such an ordinary slave warrior, he felt deeply frustrated.

And once he felt frustrated, he naturally trained himself even harder.

Above Jialong City, the Lord of Domain Banquet in the Cloud Palace was proceeding in full swing.

Meanwhile, inside a cultivation chamber at the manor below, Qi Yuan seized every available moment to improve himself.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Inside the cultivation chamber, Qi Yuan gripped a Force Battle Blade and continuously slashed with nothing but the strength of his body.

With every slash, streams of hidden force gathered and erupted through his arms, allowing the strike to unleash even greater power!

Moreover, during this process, Qi Yuan consciously began incorporating his Movement Technique and defensive methods, doing his best to make them more suited for real combat.

Swinging his blade with such intensity while also practicing his Movement Technique and defensive methods rapidly drained his stamina, and he soon entered a state of exhaustion.

Whenever that happened, he would take the chance to enter the Virtual Universe and browse around.

Although he could not afford those expensive cultivation functions right now, the Virtual Universe also had sections similar to Earth's online forums.

Many Cultivators with a strong desire to share would often post accounts of their adventures and cultivation insights across various forums.

There were even enthusiastic netizens who would occasionally answer other people's cultivation questions for free.

Qi Yuan often frequented the major forums and had picked up quite a bit of useful knowledge for free.

Like this, Qi Yuan practiced his blade while cramming the foundational knowledge he lacked in the Virtual Universe, and his progress was astonishingly rapid.

In just over half a month, he successfully comprehended the force technique of the Eighth Layer of the Nine Radiance Sky Blade, raising his force amplitude to twenty-four times!

And he had accomplished all of this without the System's help!

Encouraged by this experience, Qi Yuan began immersing himself in even more frenzied training.

However, peaceful days were always short-lived.

Just as Qi Yuan was completely absorbed in practicing the Nine Radiance Sky Blade, Hugo, who had been attending the Lord of Domain Banquet, suddenly returned to the manor.

Hugo's expression was somewhat grim, as though he had just gone through an argument.

He did not waste words. As soon as he returned, he immediately had Old Wu gather all the Guards.

"Set off. We're returning to Lei Bao Star!"