A title?

"Hu Yanbo, what do you think? If you have a title in mind, you can suggest it now. With Qian Cang and me here, we can put in a word with the Alliance's higher-ups for you," Void True King continued.

King Qian Cang nodded in agreement, his gaze resting on Hu Yanbo as he waited for his response.

Hu Yanbo listened to the two King-level powerhouses, his expression calm.

He pondered briefly, countless thoughts flashing through his mind.

A title?

He had roamed the universe alone for thousands of eras, adventuring and fighting, yet he had never deliberately cultivated a resounding name for himself.

Most people who reached King Rank simply kept their Marquis titles, replacing "Marquis" with "King." It was a natural progression.

But what about me?

His circumstances were truly unusual. His advancement had been absurdly fast; before a proper Marquis title could even spread through the universe, he had soared straight to the ranks of King-level Immortals.

As a result, even now, everyone who knew him still called him "Hu Yanbo."

How did that sound like a King-level Immortal whose might shook the stars?

Anyone who did not know better might think he was merely an ordinary Immortal Army Lord.

Still, Hu Yanbo raised his head and swept his gaze over Void True King and King Qian Cang. A faint yet confident smile curved his lips as he said slowly, "Thank you both for your consideration. But there's no need to rush the matter of a title just yet."

"When it comes to titles, I've always felt that earning one through my own fists and feet... through real achievements, is better than having one bestowed on me. Don't you agree?"

The titles of the universe's powerhouses generally came from a few different sources.

Most commonly, the powerful organization they belonged to bestowed a title based on their traits or achievements, representing official recognition and endorsement.

Another kind emerged gradually through long years of combat and interaction, as a consensus formed around a powerhouse's exceptionally distinctive, memorable traits or abilities.

The final kind arose from earthshaking feats or astounding battle records. As those deeds spread, the title traveled far and wide, earning recognition from countless living beings.

To Hu Yanbo, the first two carried, to varying degrees, the sense of something "conferred" by others.

He clearly preferred the last-a title jointly "defined" by the awe of countless opponents and the shock of countless witnesses, one truly steeped in power and legend.

At his words, Void True King and King Qian Cang exchanged a glance. Rather than displeasure, a flicker of appreciation appeared in their eyes.

Xu Zhen King's title, "Xu Zhen," had been forged through countless battles, thanks to his consummate Soul Illusion techniques, which blurred falsehood and reality so seamlessly that even powerhouses of his own rank struggled to tell them apart!

Precisely because of that, even when he encountered alien King-level Immortals on the Outer Domain Battlefield, those who recognized him often grew wary or even retreated of their own accord. Such was the deterrent power of a title earned through strength.

King Qian Cang's title, meanwhile, had largely been bestowed by the Universe Mercenary Alliance based on his early performance and Law Path. Though it was renowned as well, it ultimately lacked something of the weight that Void True King's battle-forged title carried among their peers.

"Good! That's ambition!" Void True King laughed heartily, genuine approval in his voice. "In that case, we'll await the day your fame shakes the vast universe and the powerhouses of every race offer you an honored title of their own accord!"

Beside him, King Qian Cang smiled and shook his head before adding, his tone teasing but not without seriousness, "Ambition is a good thing. But you'd better hurry, lad. You can't have us and all the other powerhouses in this vast universe calling a King-level Immortal by his personal name for tens of millions of years, can you?"

"I've never heard of anything like that!"

His meaning was clear.

A temporary exception was acceptable, but if Hu Yanbo went too long without a title befitting his status, he would not be the only one who seemed out of place. The circles of powerhouses within the Universe Mercenary Alliance, and even the entire Human Race, would find it rather awkward and discourteous.

"I understand. Thank you both for the advice." Hu Yanbo inclined his head, taking note of the matter for the time being.

Finally, Void True King smiled and waved a hand. "Just address us by our titles. Among King-level powerhouses, at least on the surface, there is no distinction in standing."

"Of course, Void True King." Hu Yanbo nodded.

Once, he had needed to address the man respectfully as "Lord Void True King" through the Virtual Universe Network, cautiously seeking guidance on the secrets of cultivating the Void Tower.

Now, after a mere thousand years, he could address him directly by his title with complete composure, converse with him as an equal, and even be regarded as someone of boundless potential, worth investing in.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the three ended the call.

Almost the instant the screen of light vanished, Babata's voice burst into his mind, brimming with unmistakable urgency and bewilderment.

"Master! Why did you turn them down? Think how impressive a resounding title would be! With a title bestowed by the Universe Mercenary Alliance, people would look up to you wherever you went! It's a symbol of status!"

Hu Yanbo shook his head gently and answered through his consciousness, "Babata, it's merely an empty name. True respect comes from strength, not a title."

His gaze returned to the ever-shifting void beyond Chaos City, and his thirst for power, along with his plans for the future, grew clearer and firmer.

His immediate priority was to shore up his weaknesses in soul techniques as quickly as possible and fully integrate his dramatically increased power.

As for a title... once he crushed Demon Hand King with overwhelming strength, everything would fall into place.

No sooner had that thought passed than the Virtual Universe began notifying him of new communication requests, one after another. All came from well-known King-level Immortals within the Universe Mercenary Alliance, including several High Kings and even peak King-level Immortals.

A faint smile curved Hu Yanbo's lips.

It truly bore out the old saying: no one noticed a poor man in a bustling market, but a rich man deep in the mountains had relatives coming from afar.

Although King Qian Cang had recruited him and he enjoyed a top-tier contract, most of the Alliance's truly elite King-level Immortals had previously adopted a wait-and-see attitude. Some had even harbored doubts in private.

Now that he had displayed inconceivable potential, these powerhouses were taking the initiative to befriend him. Their words were warm and friendly, and they clearly already regarded him as an equal, praising him at every turn as "the second Mengsui King."

The second Mengsui King? Hu Yanbo chuckled inwardly, leaving the communication requests unanswered for the moment.

Mengsui King was certainly a legend in the Universe Mercenary Alliance's recent history, a model of a late bloomer.

But... that was all.

As far as he knew, Mengsui King had apparently still not reached the Invincible King level.

And why would my ambitions stop at being someone's "second"?

His ambitions were far greater than that.