Summons

In the Virtual Universe, inside a Meditation Room at the Eternal Island Slaughter Arena.

Bu Chen, appearing as a young man in white robes, stood respectfully in the room.

"Lady Soya, General Jiu has personally gone over to investigate. The spatial storm inside has mostly subsided, and the exploration army is expected to begin entering in about five days."

"Mm, I understand."

The short-haired woman named Soya gave a slight wave of her hand.

Then, as though she had remembered something, she coldly instructed:

"That Special Elite we discovered last time—have that Little Fellow join the exploration team as well!"

"Ah, this..."

Bu Chen had wanted to say that Qi Yuan was merely an external member and could not be forced to participate.

But upon seeing the short-haired woman's icy expression, he immediately changed his words. "Yes, my lady. I'll contact him shortly."

"Mm. Tell him that no matter how talented he is, he cannot truly grow without fighting between life and death."

After pondering briefly, the short-haired woman added,

"If he is unwilling to participate and only wants to cultivate peacefully, then withdraw our attention from him in the future. Even a Special Elite need not be given too much attention if he has no desire to improve himself."

Not long afterward, in another Meditation Room.

Qi Yuan met Bu Chen, the external executive of the Virtual Universe Company's Eternal Empire branch, for the second time.

"Hmm? You... you broke through?"

The instant he saw Qi Yuan, Bu Chen was slightly startled.

Good heavens, hadn't this kid only been Star Traveller Tier 7 the last time they met?

In less than two years, he had broken through to the Universe Level. This rate of advancement was far faster than even those internal geniuses!

Judging by this kid's condition, it seems Lady Soya's worries were unnecessary after all.

"I only just broke through,"

Qi Yuan replied politely. "Lord Bu Chen, did you summon me this time because you had some instructions?"

"Oh, it's not really an instruction."

Bu Chen collected his thoughts and explained with a smile:

"A Secret Realm ruin recently appeared in the Cang Xuan Star System. Our Virtual Universe Company's Eternal Empire branch will be organizing a group to explore it, and I thought I'd invite you to participate."

"A Secret Realm ruin?" Qi Yuan was slightly puzzled.

"It is a small Secret Realm from who knows how many eras ago. Whether due to some external force or because it had reached the end of its own evolution, it collapsed and fell into a spatial interlayer. Not long ago, it happened to emerge near the Cang Xuan Star System."

As Bu Chen spoke, he looked at Qi Yuan. "I had been worried that entering it might be a little too much for you, but now that you have broken through to the Universe Level, it could not be better."

"This time, not only will our Virtual Universe Company branch be participating—the Eternal Empire's imperial family, other major organizations, Realm Lord families, and others will all send people as well. However, because the space within the Secret Realm ruins is still unstable, only Universe Level and Star Traveller members may enter for now."

Bu Chen smiled. "The upper echelons of the major organizations have already agreed that all gains discovered after entering will belong to the explorers themselves. Moreover, if you discover anything valuable, there will be special rewards."

"All gains belong to the individual?"

Qi Yuan's heart stirred at once.

Although he had consciously used the system's functions for targeted returns during this period, his assets could only be considered modest savings. He also lacked some truly valuable reserves.

After all, using the Return System to Accumulate Wealth came with quite a few restrictions.

For example, one of the rules was that the "gift" had to be something required by his disciple's current realm, or else the return multiplier would be affected.

Furthermore, the rewards obtained from each return had to be sold off at various shops and exchanged for other items before they could be used as gifts again.

Once or twice was fine, but if he frequently brought out excessively valuable treasures, it might attract the envy of those with ulterior motives.

But if he could obtain a batch of items suitable for use as "gifts" from these Secret Realm ruins, he could use them directly without worrying about drawing attention!

Besides, after breaking through to the Universe Level, he truly needed to undergo some real tempering.

Otherwise, no matter how powerful the system's "empowerment transmission" was, it could only turn him into a hollow, superficial product. That was not the outcome he wanted.

"Lord Bu Chen, when will entry into the Secret Realm ruins begin? Are there any special requirements?" Qi Yuan asked directly.

"Oh, you're willing to go?"

Bu Chen inwardly relaxed. It seemed he would not have to waste any effort persuading him.

"Hehe, there are no special requirements. The first exploration team will enter in five days. Anyone arriving later will have to enter on their own."

Bu Chen said, "After you get there, you can enter simply by reporting your identity as an external company member. Or, if you are willing, you can act together with the army under my Imperial Sea Pavilion."

"Imperial Sea Pavilion."

Qi Yuan nodded slightly.

After more than a year on Tai Yue Star, he had gained a basic understanding of the major forces within the Eternal Empire.

The structure of the Eternal Empire was similar to that of the Black Dragon Mountain Empire he had read about in the original work.

Naturally, the most powerful was the empire's imperial family and the official institutions under its command, which directly controlled nearly more than two-thirds of the Eternal Empire's star systems.

Next came the three major civilian organizations, such as the Imperial Sea Pavilion, along with more than a dozen Realm Lord family forces. They directly controlled the remaining territory of the Eternal Empire.

However, on the surface, the three major organizations and the various Realm Lord families still had to obey the Eternal Empire's imperial family.

As for the branches of colossal forces such as the Virtual Universe Company?

Their usual duties were mainly to discover and nurture geniuses, and they generally did not involve themselves in the power struggles within the various empires.

Even external executives of the Virtual Universe Company like Bu Chen could freely join ordinary organizations such as the Imperial Sea Pavilion.

However, Qi Yuan carried many secrets, so naturally, he could not possibly act together with their army.

He politely said to Bu Chen:

"Lord Bu Chen, it will take nearly a week to travel from where I live, so I'm afraid I will not make it in time to join the army. I can enter on my own."

"Mm, that works too."

Bu Chen had summoned Qi Yuan mainly to complete the task Lady Soya had assigned him, so he had not taken it too seriously.

"Then make your own arrangements. If you make any special discoveries, you can contact me. Once the company verifies them, there will be special rewards."

"Understood!"

Qi Yuan gave a slight bow, then directly withdrew from the Virtual Universe.

Tie Jun City, within a secluded courtyard.

Qi Yuan slowly opened his eyes.

"Secret Realm ruins... all the major forces of the Eternal Empire will send people to participate. I should be more careful."

After thinking briefly, he left the courtyard and headed directly to Ling Bao Pavilion, the place in Tie Jun City with the most comprehensive selection of goods.

After making his selection, he successfully purchased a technological treasure capable of slightly suppressing and concealing one's life aura—the Spirit Sealing Bracelet—for the steep price of 46 billion Eternal Coins.

"Ah, I had been planning to use this opportunity to upgrade my spaceship. Looks like I'll have to wait until next time."

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