As Hu Yanbo watched the situation take a sudden turn, everything became clear to him.
So what was there left to hesitate over?
Was he supposed to refuse just because the supreme leader of the Universe Mercenary Alliance was Lord Huang Jian?
Among the Universe Masters of the Human Race's five great powers, aside from the Chaos City Lord, who presided over Chaos City and placed the greater good above all else...
Which of the others didn't have a distinct personality and a temper of his own?
Some were cold and aloof, some proud and unruly, and there were even those with kindly faces and ruthless hearts.
Besides, his hopes for his future went far beyond this!
If his future ended at King Rank, then it hardly mattered which power he joined. Any of them could provide sufficient support and respect.
But what if... what if he could go further and reach the supreme realm of a Universe Master?
By then, regardless of which power he belonged to, he would be a true pillar of the race, with unquestionable authority and standing!
If he chose the Virtual Universe Company, he might feel a little guilty about seeking greater power in the future, given the Chaos City Lord's generosity, benevolence, and concern for the greater good.
But with Lord Huang Jian... Hu Yanbo thought to himself.
That would depend on how this alliance leader treated him in the future.
If they could coexist peacefully, all the better. Otherwise... he might just take over the man's position himself.
In the space of those fleeting thoughts, Hu Yanbo made his decision.
He stepped forward, looked sincerely at Thousand Illusions King and Void True King, and bowed.
"I, Hu Yanbo, am willing to join the Universe Mercenary Alliance!"
Thousand Illusions King laughed heartily. "Good! A wise choice!"
"This is my Virtual Universe ID. Once I return and discuss the matter, I'll send you the detailed terms."
Void True King smiled and nodded as well, clearly very satisfied with the outcome.
Looking at Hu Yanbo beside him, he could not help finding it rather remarkable.
Only a few short years ago, this fellow had contacted him through the Virtual Universe Network, seeking guidance on the Void Tower.
Not only had his strength been changing rapidly, but now he had become a colleague in the alliance's Core Layer.
In the distant future, he could even become a fellow King Rank cultivator who stood shoulder to shoulder with him.
At that thought, Void True King's smile deepened.
Interesting. Truly interesting!
Seeing that Hu Yanbo had made his choice, the other King Rank experts offered a few words of congratulations and left.
They did feel a little regret-after all, they had missed out on a promising future King Rank expert, along with the merit recruiting him might have earned them-
But they soon put that regret behind them. To them, Hu Yanbo was a good prospect, but far from someone indispensable or worth securing at any cost.
Their offers had been based on their respective rules and evaluations. Even if they did it all over again, the outcome would have been the same.
The King Rank experts left as swiftly as they had arrived. In an instant, the suffocating pressure over the area abruptly eased.
Yet the Immortal Gods watching from afar with bated breath-especially the few Marquis Immortals who also belonged to the Core Layers of the five great powers-were overwhelmed by tumultuous emotions!
They had witnessed the entire process!
When they heard several powers offering "Superior King Rank Seed contracts," they already felt that Hu Yanbo had risen to the heavens in a single step, and their eyes burned with envy.
They did not even have a way to apply for one!
Yet in the end, the Universe Mercenary Alliance had actually offered a "special-class contract"!
That meant Hu Yanbo's future attainment of King Rank was practically guaranteed!
With vast resources invested in his development, he might even become far more than an ordinary King Rank expert!
"A special-class contract..." A High-level Marquis Immortal from the Virtual Universe Company unconsciously clenched his fists, his eyes filled with disbelief and a deeply concealed trace of jealousy.
Before becoming an Immortal, he had always been a Primal Secret Region Member carefully nurtured by the Virtual Universe Company!
His talent had been exceptional. The moment he broke through to become an Immortal, he had reached Marquis Level!
Just because he had spent a few thousand eras at the Marquis stage, he could no longer secure a place in the "King Rank prospect" training program.
What made Hu Yanbo so deserving?
Hadn't he also cultivated for thousands of eras before breaking through to High-level Marquis?
Why would the Universe Mercenary Alliance offer him its highest-tier "special-class contract" on the spot?
Why did his own thousands of eras of effort and waiting count for less than the favor the other man had earned through a single breakthrough?!
That immense disparity and sense of injustice gnawed at his heart like a venomous snake, leaving him barely able to maintain an outward appearance of calm.
Yet he had never considered that, as someone in the innermost Core Layer of the Virtual Universe Company, he had enjoyed the Primal Secret Region's finest resources, the guidance of the best instructors, and the most comprehensive secret technique inheritances ever since he was weak...
Despite all those enormous resources, he had remained stuck at a minor stage within the Marquis Immortal realm for thousands of eras before finally breaking through. The company's personnel department had long since assessed him as having "exhausted his potential," so naturally, he could hardly receive further priority investment.
And what about Hu Yanbo?
He was a lone cultivator with no backing whatsoever. Every resource he obtained had to be fought for, seized at the risk of his life!
The total resources available to him probably fell far short of even a fraction of what a Primal Secret Region genius received!
Yet under such harsh conditions, Hu Yanbo had not only cultivated his way to Marquis Level step by step, but his momentum had never diminished!
Now, merely by entering Chaos City and enjoying a basic benefit available to every Core Member-studying a Chaos Stele-he had immediately achieved another breakthrough!
Was that not a sign of even more terrifying, even more astonishing potential?
Did that not demonstrate even more clearly that his future held limitless possibilities?
What the man envied was precisely the fact that someone else had achieved more dazzling results with far fewer resources than he himself had enjoyed!
And that was exactly the advantage that, in the eyes of the various powers, qualified Hu Yanbo for at least a Superior King Rank Seed slot!
Hu Yanbo could naturally sense the complicated, burning, and even malicious gazes coming from every direction. Yet his heart remained utterly calm. He even felt that it was only to be expected.
Only the mediocre escaped envy. After living for sixty million years, how could he fail to understand that simple truth?
Just then, Thousand Illusions King's voice sounded in his mind again. "Hu Yanbo, your status as a Core Member has been provisionally entered into the alliance's system."
"From now on, you may enjoy all the basic privileges and benefits of the alliance's Core Layer. As for the specific details of the 'special-class contract,' wait for my message."
With that, his figure silently departed like a phantom. He had evidently left to handle the follow-up arrangements.
Void True King gave Hu Yanbo's shoulder a firm pat, his face openly displaying admiration and encouragement. "Kid! Make the most of this opportunity, and keep at it! You still have a long road ahead!"
Having said that, Void True King also transformed into a streak of illusory light and vanished, leaving Hu Yanbo standing alone on the rooftop.
The invisible pressure around him had completely dissipated, but the gazes filled with all manner of emotions had not diminished.
Hu Yanbo merely swept a calm glance around, then paid them no further heed. In a flash, he too left the area and flew toward his residence.
What did anyone else's envy or jealousy have to do with him?
Before you continue