An idea

Hu Yanbo's consciousness returned to reality, and he slowly opened his eyes.

With a thought, the long-dormant interface of the Prepayment System appeared in his mind once more:

[Repayment condition: 1. Become the disciple of a Universe Venerable. (Completed!)]

[Advances currently available: One]

Looking at the word "One," which had lit up again, Hu Yanbo smiled.

He had just told his teacher, Yuan Huang, that he was on the verge of a new insight, and that had been no lie!

After all, with just one more advance, he would become a High King.

Of course, the thought only flashed through his mind before he swiftly suppressed it.

No, Hu Yanbo cautioned himself.

In a mere thousand years in Chaos City, I've soared from Early Marquis all the way to King Rank. That's already shocking enough to make me the most conspicuous person around.

I've probably attracted countless scrutinizing eyes already.

Even being a late bloomer or reaping the rewards of years of accumulation has its limits. If I suddenly jumped from a newly attained King Rank to High King...

He thought of those legendary peerless geniuses who appeared only once in "ten million eras."

They could defeat Marquis Immortals while still World Lords, their talent nothing short of heaven-defying.

Yet even their progress slowed abruptly once they began comprehending the higher laws of space and time.

In particular, advancing in law comprehension from the Eighteenth Layer of the Heavenly Bridge, corresponding to Initial King, to the twentieth layer, corresponding to Peak King, was incredibly difficult at every step. Taking ten thousand years, tens of thousands of years, or even longer was the norm!

What I've achieved over these thousand years can just barely be explained as the fruits of long accumulation and perfect compatibility with the Chaos Stele. But if I break through again in an instant...

Hu Yanbo shook his head slightly, his gaze clear.

Then "the fruits of long accumulation" won't be enough to explain it.

His thoughts raced as he weighed the pros and cons in an instant.

Chaos City may be a sacred land for cultivation, but it also gathers far too many of the Human Race's greatest experts. The Chaos City Lord presides here, and while he is fair and impartial, with his eyes on the interests of the race as a whole, he may not probe too deeply into a mere King Rank like me.

But the other Universe Venerables in the city, and even stronger beings, may not be so accommodating.

The potential I've already displayed is enough.

I'll save this opportunity for an advance for now.

There's no hurry. I can use it after leaving Chaos City and finding a suitable opportunity in the Primal Universe.

Out there, the world will be wide open, with opportunities and dangers alike. A sudden increase in strength will have a more plausible explanation-I could attribute it to a breakthrough in a desperate situation, or some astonishing encounter.

Several days later.

The Nine Universes Heavenly Bridge!

[Heavenly Bridge, Eighteenth Layer: Passed!]

The Virtual Universe System's notification sounded, informing Hu Yanbo that he could apply for permanent residency in Chaos City.

Once his consciousness returned to reality, Hu Yanbo immediately set off for Chaos City's towering City Lord's Mansion.

The process of upgrading his privileges went smoothly, with a Black-Robed Envoy respectfully guiding him.

However, when it came time to confirm his privileges, the person receiving him was instead a bald man with a gentle aura, dressed in plain gray robes.

The man merely sat there calmly, yet the space around him flowed naturally, as though he were the center of all space in the universe, inspiring involuntary awe.

"Greetings, Venerable." Hu Yanbo recognized him and bowed slightly.

This was the Chaos City Lord's direct disciple, Venerable Guiyi-a figure of genuine power and standing.

According to his memories of the original story, the Chaos City Lord kept every newly arrived Immortal under prolonged observation to guard against spies planted by alien races.

The Chaos City Lord had probably been watching his performance throughout these thousand years.

Had he truly chosen to break through again a few days earlier, the Chaos City Lord would likely have fixed his gaze firmly on him.

Venerable Guiyi wore a faint smile as his gaze settled on Hu Yanbo. It was not piercing, yet it seemed capable of seeing beneath his outward appearance.

Fortunately, every breakthrough in my cultivation has a traceable path, all built on hard work and sweat. Hu Yanbo felt at ease and responded naturally.

"Hu Yanbo?" Venerable Guiyi's voice was gentle.

"You've broken through two realms within a thousand years, reaching King Rank and even passing the Eighteenth Layer of the Heavenly Bridge. Your rate of progress would rank among the very best even among all the geniuses in our Virtual Universe Company's history."

As he spoke, he seemed to be verifying something in the Virtual Universe System.

"Based on your Heavenly Bridge record and the depth of your comprehension of the Nine Universes Chaos Stele, the City Lord's Mansion grants you the qualifications to found a school based on this Chaos Stele. In the future, you may choose to give public lectures and guide younger cultivators."

Venerable Guiyi spoke in an ordinary tone, but this distinction represented recognition from the Nine Universes Chaos Stele lineage.

"For each public lecture, the Virtual Universe System will automatically calculate and award the corresponding contribution points based on the number of attendees, their strength, and their feedback."

Venerable Guiyi added one more remark.

"This is also one way we encourage powerful cultivators to share their insights and benefit the younger generations of our race."

Hu Yanbo nodded, a thought stirring in his mind.

Contribution points!

The term flashed through his mind like lightning, instantly resolving a small question he had been pondering.

No wonder he had often seen certain King Rank Sect Masters holding lectures nonstop-every single day!

This was indeed a safe, steady way to accumulate resources.

"I will not disappoint our race's expectations." Hu Yanbo bowed again, then calmly withdrew from the City Lord's Mansion.

Only after leaving the City Lord's Mansion did he slowly breathe out in relief.

Facing a powerful Universe Venerable, especially one who represented the Chaos City Lord's will, brought considerable intangible pressure.

Venerable Guiyi... the Chaos City Lord... he repeated inwardly, a faint chill slipping through his heart.

It looks like I'll have to leave Chaos City once I've finished the matters at hand.

Being watched constantly by a supreme being who controls space-time-even with nothing to hide, it's still... a little unnerving.

So Hu Yanbo thought to himself.