Nine Universe King

"Father, do you know who came?"

Fang Yan asked in a lowered voice.

"The leader is Nine Universes King. The other two are Crimson Flame King and Ice Qiong King. They came on Origin's orders to invite our ancestor to join the Virtual Universe Company and the Hong Alliance."

Fang Yan clicked his tongue. It seemed Nine Universes King was the only important figure; the other two were probably just along for the ride.

Nine Universes Master was one of the Human Race's future Universe Lords, the creator of the Nine Universes Chaos Tablet, and a supreme being who would one day sweep through the Primordial Universe with his mastery of the Law of Space.

Although none of them would live to see Luo Feng's Genius Battle, that would not affect his dominance over the Primordial Universe in the coming years.

And now, this future Universe Lord was standing inside Flame Ruins Palace, speaking face-to-face with his own ancestor.

At that thought, Fang Yan's eyes lit up, and he suddenly shouted.

"Ancestor! Ancestor! It's me!"

Fang Yan was trying to attract the attention of those inside. It was not because he wanted to cling to Nine Universes King's coattails right now, but because he desperately needed rare treasures that could improve his comprehension of the Law of Wind.

And the Hong Alliance, led by the Human Race, was undoubtedly an ideal platform.

The moment Fang Yan shouted, everyone present froze.

Several Fang Family elders at the edge of the square went pale at once.

Fang Lie immediately covered Fang Yan's mouth with one hand and roared in a low voice.

"You little brat, are you insane?! The people sitting in there are all important figures from the Virtual Universe Company!"

Fang Yan shoved Fang Lie's hand aside and replied righteously.

"Father, this is a rare opportunity!"

Fang Lie's mouth twitched. Just as he was about to drag this reckless boy away, a clear laugh suddenly rang out from Flame Ruins Palace.

"Flame Ruins King, is that junior outside a descendant of your Fang Family?"

Nine Universes King's voice was neither loud nor soft, yet it clearly spread across a thousand zhang.

From deep within the hall came Flame Ruins King's aged voice, carrying a trace of indulgence.

"Brother Nine Universes, forgive the amusement. That boy is Old Seventh's only son. I spoiled him too much, so he knows no manners."

"No matter."

There was a hint of interest in Nine Universes King's voice. The dark spatial ripples at the entrance of the hall gently stirred, and a voice drifted out.

"Boy, come in and speak."

Fang Yan was overjoyed. He straightened his robes and strode into Flame Ruins Palace beneath the complicated gazes of the Fang Family elders.

Inside the great hall, four King-Level Immortals sat in four directions.

Flame Ruins King sat atop the skull of that immortal beast. Nine Universes King stood in the center of the hall with his hands behind his back. Crimson Flame King leaned against the wall with his arms folded, while Ice Qiong King sat alone on a stone chair in the corner, her expression cold.

The instant Fang Yan entered, four gazes fell upon him at the same time.

"This junior, Fang Yan, greets all seniors."

Nine Universes King waved his hand. His silver-glowing eyes examined Fang Yan from head to toe before he nodded slightly.

"Your comprehension of the Law of Wind is close to perfection, and the law mark between your brows is solid. Not bad. How old are you?"

"In reply to Senior, I have cultivated for a little over two hundred years."

Fang Yan gave the duration of his cultivation in this life, not counting the time before his transmigration.

The moment those words were spoken, even Ice Qiong King, who had remained expressionless, glanced at him.

Two hundred years, with comprehension of the Law of Wind close to perfection—among any peak race in the early Primordial Universe, that qualified as top-tier talent.

"Flame Ruins King, your Fang Family has produced quite a fine seedling."

Nine Universes King turned toward Flame Ruins King, his tone carrying a measure of praise.

A faint smile appeared on Flame Ruins King's wrinkled old face, though he said aloud.

"This boy merely had good luck and encountered a few opportunities."

Seeing that the atmosphere was favorable, Fang Yan immediately seized the chance to speak.

"Senior Nine Universes King, this junior has an unreasonable request."

Nine Universes King raised an eyebrow slightly. "Speak."

"This junior wishes to join the Virtual Universe Company, and also wishes to join the Hong Alliance."

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Nine Universes King did not answer immediately. Instead, he glanced at Flame Ruins King. Flame Ruins King remained expressionless, clearly having no intention of speaking for Fang Yan. He would let the boy make his own way.

"Joining the Virtual Universe Company is not difficult."

Nine Universes King spoke slowly.

"With your talent, I can directly grant you a place in the core tier. But joining the Hong Alliance..."

Nine Universes King shook his head.

"The Hong Alliance only invites King-Level Immortals and above. That is the rule. You are merely a World Lord Ninth Order. No matter how exceptional your talent, you are still far from meeting the standard for joining the alliance."

Fang Yan's heart sank, but his expression did not change. He merely stood there respectfully.

He had known this hurdle would come.

As an alliance formed by the Human Race together with experts from other races, the Hong Alliance had an outrageously high threshold. Only King-Level Immortals were qualified to receive invitations. A mere World Lord like him wanting to join was nothing more than wishful thinking.

But he had to join.

The Hong Alliance was not only the Human Race's highest combat-power alliance, but also an enormous platform for exchanging resources.

Its members came from every race and possessed all kinds of rare cosmic treasures.

Only within the Hong Alliance could he gain access to high-level resources related to wind laws, rather than having to carefully reuse even a single Wind Origin Crystal as he did now.

The hall remained silent for several breaths.

"How about this?"

Flame Ruins King, who had not spoken until now, suddenly opened his mouth, his voice unhurried.

"Brother Nine Universes, this boy from my Fang Family may lack cultivation, but when it comes to escaping, even ordinary King-Level Immortals truly cannot do much to him."

At those words, silver light flashed in Nine Universes King's eyes. "Oh?"

Flame Ruins King looked at Fang Yan, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.

"Boy, show Nine Universes King those wings of yours."

Fang Yan immediately understood. With a thought, six translucent azure wings abruptly unfurled behind his back.

Wind-Following Wings!

The aura of an ordinary treasure spread through the hall. The Wind Secret Patterns on the six wings flowed with faint azure light. As the wings trembled lightly, the air in the hall emitted waves of low humming.

Nine Universes King's eyes brightened.

"A flying treasure at the ordinary treasure level, and it perfectly matches your own Law of Wind."

Nine Universes King saw the extraordinary nature of the Wind-Following Wings at a glance.

"Flame Ruins, you old fellow are quite willing to spend."

He paused, gazing thoughtfully at Fang Yan before turning toward Ice Qiong King in the corner.

"Ice Qiong King, what do you think?"

Ice Qiong King lifted her eyelids. Her icy blue eyes swept coldly over Fang Yan, and her voice was as crisp and cold as an icy spring.

"What are you trying to say?"

"Since Flame Ruins King has spoken, why not give this boy a chance?"

Nine Universes King smiled. In this era, when the Hong Alliance had only recently been established, making an exception was far less difficult than it would be in Luo Feng's time.

"Let him exchange a few moves with you. If he cannot last even ten minutes, he will honestly return to cultivate and apply again once he becomes a King. Otherwise, I will make an exception and let him join the Hong Alliance."

Ice Qiong King looked expressionlessly at Fang Yan, as though appraising an item.

After several breaths, she rose to her feet.

"Fine."

Fang Yan's heart shook, and he quickly bowed.

"Thank you for your instruction, Senior Ice Qiong King!"