Young Master Hugo's Bestowal

Lei Bao Star. The silver-gray spacecraft, having traveled through the universe for over half a month, finally pierced through the endless shroud of thunderclouds and slowly descended onto the planet's surface.

Not long after, in the grand hall of an extravagantly decorated Castle, Qi Yuan finally met for the first time the "master" who had bought him.

He was a somewhat chubby-faced youth dressed in splendid robes. Aside from the dark red horn, about half a foot long, protruding from his forehead, his build and features were quite similar to those of a human from Earth.

However, this "master" was not particularly strong, only around the Eighth Stage of the Planetary Level.

The four Black Armor guards standing behind him, on the other hand, each possessed a deep and unfathomable aura that placed immense pressure on Qi Yuan.

Qi Yuan did not dare stare at the youth for long. After a brief glance, he immediately lowered his head and bowed.

"Your subordinate, Qi Yuan, pays respects to Master."

"Oh? Your name is Qi Yuan?"

The youth seated upon the throne above froze for a moment, then muttered strangely, "Damn, why does that name sound so much like that old bastard's?"

Seeing the youth's expression change in an instant, Qi Yuan thought he had somehow exposed himself and could not help feeling anxious.

Fortunately, the youth's expression returned to normal the next second.

He sized Qi Yuan up, then nodded with a deliberately mature smile.

"Haha, I heard you were born among the natives of a planet? With no guidance and no resources, you cultivated to the Star Traveller level solely through some incomplete technique pieced together from scraps. It seems your talent is quite good."

On the way here, a piece of Auxiliary Brain equipment resembling an arm guard had already been fitted onto Qi Yuan's arm. With its translation function, he could now easily understand the language of these "people from beyond the stars."

Hearing the youth's words, he immediately replied respectfully, "Thank you for your praise, Master."

"Mm."

The youth gave a faint nasal grunt, then pointed at a gaunt middle-aged man in black robes with fine scales covering his cheeks. "From now on, you'll be assigned to my Guard Team. Follow Old Wu later. He'll issue you the Guard Team's exclusive Battle Armor and cultivation technique."

"Battle Armor? A cultivation technique? There's actually something this good?"

Qi Yuan could not help feeling delighted.

He had just been worrying about not having a complete cultivation technique. Who would have thought that just as he got sleepy, someone would hand him a pillow?

This youthful-looking "master" was rather considerate. Right from the start, he had solved Qi Yuan's greatest problem!

"Thank you for your reward, Master!" Qi Yuan immediately put on an expression of gratitude.

"Haha, don't worry. As long as you follow me, you won't lack secret techniques or resources!"

The youth smiled proudly. "I like subordinates with potential. Even if they're slaves, as long as they have talent, I'll never be stingy with resources when nurturing them!"

"Of course, besides serving as my Guard, you have another very important task."

The young master's tone shifted. "Outside of cultivation, you must manage your clansmen well and have them work hard to mine Thunder Crystal Ore for me. As long as the output satisfies me, rewards for all of you will certainly not be lacking."

"If any of your clansmen break through to the Star Traveller level, they can also join the Guard Team and enjoy the same treatment as the other Guards."

"Rest assured, Master. We will swear our lives to serving you faithfully!"

Qi Yuan offered up a thoroughly insincere declaration of loyalty.

"Mm." The horned youth nodded in satisfaction. "Go. Just listen to Old Wu's arrangements from here on."

"Oh, right. Remember my name. I am Hugo Ortega!"

After leaving the main hall, Qi Yuan followed the Guard captain known as Old Wu and boarded a small disc-shaped spacecraft.

Old Wu was gaunt, with bluish-gray skin, resembling one of those green-faced, fanged evil ghosts from novels.

Perhaps because they were both slave Guards, his attitude toward Qi Yuan was fairly good.

"Your clansmen have all been assigned to Mine No. 5. I'll take you there first so you can see the situation and make arrangements for them."

As Old Wu spoke, he activated the spacecraft. "Normally, my master's Guard Team doesn't have many tasks. In the future, you may stay at Mine No. 5 or return to the Castle to cultivate. Just make sure you arrive in time whenever Master summons you."

"Understood."

Qi Yuan nodded, secretly delighted.

As long as he did not have to remain under the Castle master's watchful eye, many things would become much more convenient for him.

On the journey to Lei Bao Star, he had been anxious about where he would be taken and whether he would be tossed directly onto some dangerous battlefield as cannon fodder in a conflict between factions.

Judging by the current situation, he did not need to worry about his safety for the time being.

As they spoke, the spacecraft they were riding shot into the sky.

The instant it left the Castle's perimeter, purple lightning exploded wildly across the heavens outside the window. Violent winds far beyond Force 12 swept up vast amounts of shattered stone and sand, continuously battering the spacecraft's hull.

"This is just the environment on Lei Bao Star. You'll get used to it eventually."

The Green-faced Ghost, Old Wu, smiled and handed Qi Yuan a silver ring.

"This is a small Space Ring. You can open it by imprinting it with your spiritual power. By regulation, Master's Guards receive one C2 Alloy Battle Suit, one Tier 2 Force Weapon, and some cultivation resources. They're all inside. As for the Guard Team's exclusive cultivation technique, I've already sent it to your Auxiliary Brain. Go back and look through it yourself."

"A Space Ring? Thank you, Master. Thank you, Lord Wu!"

Qi Yuan accepted the Space Ring with great delight.

He had not expected the Lord of Lei Bao Star to be so generous to his subordinates. Not only had he provided a cultivation technique, he had even prepared a Battle Suit, weapon, and cultivation resources.

Suddenly, as if recalling something, Qi Yuan asked Old Wu expectantly, "Lord Wu, is the cultivation technique bestowed by Master only for my own use? Can I teach it to my clansmen?"

"No."

Old Wu rejected him bluntly. "The cultivation technique Master bestows upon his Guards was exchanged for with vast resources. It can be cultivated all the way to the peak of the Universe Level, and it even comes with matching Combat Secret Techniques. It absolutely must not be passed on casually."

"All right. I understand."

Qi Yuan replied somewhat dejectedly.

He had been thinking he could use the System's function to obtain an even higher-level cultivation technique through System Return. It seemed that would not work.

As for teaching it in secret, that was out of the question.

His clansmen were all controlled by Biological Chips. In their minds, they were absolutely loyal to their master.

Even he, the Lei Yuan Star Ancestor, would be exposed and abandoned without hesitation should he infringe upon his master's interests.

It seems staying here forever is not a long-term solution. Otherwise, my development will be restricted at every turn.

Qi Yuan grew somewhat restless. No. Once I'm settled in, I must use the System Return function to rapidly increase my strength, then find a chance to escape as soon as possible.

"You don't need to be disappointed."

Seeing him remain silent, Old Wu assumed he was worried about his clansmen's fate and smiled in consolation.

"Don't worry. The Guards' exclusive cultivation technique cannot be passed on, but I have plenty of Planetary Level cultivation techniques. I'll send you a few sets later."

"Huh?"

Qi Yuan hurriedly gathered his thoughts and pretended to look grateful.

"Then thank you, Lord Wu."

Their spacecraft was extremely fast, crossing several thousand kilometers in the blink of an eye.

Soon, it landed at the bottom of a deep gorge dozens of kilometers deep yet only a little over a hundred meters wide.

Protected by the natural terrain, the place was almost completely free from the harassment of lightning and violent winds.

On the stone walls along both sides of the gorge, black caves of varying sizes could be seen leading deep into the rock.

"Mine No. 5 is a newly opened Thunder Crystal Ore mine. For now, only your clansmen have been assigned here."

"Master's requirement is that this place must produce at least three million tons of Thunder Crystal Ore every year."

"You should note that Thunder Crystal Ore veins contain extremely intense lightning energy. Even ordinary Planetary Level cultivators cannot endure prolonged exposure. Though your clansmen have somewhat greater endurance, they must still know their limits."

"It would be best to have them enter in batches, coming out to rest at intervals. That will prevent physical injuries from ultimately delaying Master's task."

"I've sent all the other matters requiring attention to your Auxiliary Brain. You can contact me at any time if anything comes up."

Old Wu took Qi Yuan on a quick inspection through several of the main mine shafts. After giving a few more instructions, he boarded his spacecraft and departed directly.

Only then did the tension Qi Yuan had been holding in his heart finally ease somewhat.

"Phew... I've finally cleared the first hurdle. Luckily, I wasn't thrown into some deadly place right from the start!"

As he watched Old Wu's spacecraft completely vanish above the gorge, an indescribable gleam gradually spread through his eyes.

"Now that I'm temporarily out of danger, I can find a chance to test the System Return function!"

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