After a brief moment of gratification, Yuan Huang quickly composed himself and returned his gaze to the image of the dark silver Inheritance Crystal.
"Over the long ages, the Hongmeng Alliance has collected and recorded more than eight thousand known Divine Envoy Inheritance Crystals. The number of crystals of each type varies. The most numerous type, the 'flameheart divine envoy' Inheritance Crystal, has a full 101."
He looked at Hu Yanbo. "But the Sky-Splitting Divine Envoy Inheritance Crystal you obtained has only two recorded examples within the Hongmeng Alliance. Rarity increases value, so naturally, it is worth more by comparison."
Yuan Huang paused briefly, then laid out his choices clearly.
"Therefore, I will give you two options for this item."
"First, sell it to the Universe Mercenary Alliance. Given its rarity and the fact that its cooldown is nearly over, the company can offer thirty billion points for it."
"Second..." Yuan Huang's voice grew slightly more emphatic.
"You can exchange it for an opportunity to receive a Divine General Inheritance. I have just checked the internal information. There are several upcoming Divine General Inheritances suited to your paths of space and soul."
"The best of those slots will open in two thousand years. I am confident I can secure it for you."
Yuan Huang appeared to have offered two choices, but the preference in his words was already unmistakable.
In truth, Hu Yanbo had only one optimal choice.
"I choose the second!" Hu Yanbo answered without hesitation.
Points were certainly useful, but the Divine General Inheritance would open in just two thousand years!
There was no comparison!
At his answer, a faint smile of expectation fulfilled appeared on Yuan Huang's face. "Good!"
At that moment, Hu Yanbo did not know that Yuan Huang's seemingly effortless assurance-"I am confident I can secure it for you"-actually involved considerable costs and favors behind the scenes.
How precious was an opportunity to receive a Divine General Inheritance?
Every opening was enough to stir undercurrents within the Hongmeng Alliance's inner circles, driving countless King-level Immortals with powerful backers into a frenzy of competition!
Not only did it require a vast fortune of tens of billions of points, but their Universe Venerable teachers also had to pull strings and incur numerous favors that would be difficult to repay, all to secure a slot for their most valued disciples.
Yuan Huang could be so certain because he happened to know that, among the slots for the Divine General Inheritance opening in two thousand years-the one best suited to Hu Yanbo-one belonged to someone whose teacher had owed Yuan Huang a substantial favor since long ago.
Yuan Huang intended to call in that favor and have the other party's disciple postpone this inheritance opportunity.
Presumably, the other party would agree.
After all, Yuan Huang would find that King Rank Immortal a slot opening in a hundred-odd thousand years in exchange.
For someone who had waited more than ten thousand eras, or even longer, delaying the inheritance by a hundred-odd thousand years to help their teacher was not unacceptable.
And for Yuan Huang, spending a precious favor to obtain a perfectly timed Divine General Inheritance opportunity for his own disciple was worth it!
This exchange was worthwhile for him as well!
Behind that judgment lay a deeper reason: Yuan Huang's earlier reassessment of Hu Yanbo's potential and his firmer resolve to invest in him!
As a Universe Overlord who had lived for endless ages, Yuan Huang had taken countless disciples and nominal disciples.
Had another disciple come to him with a Divine Envoy Inheritance Crystal,
Yuan Huang would, at most, have helped them find the right channels to exchange the crystal for a Divine General Inheritance opportunity.
That alone would have been a generous act from a teacher.
But he would never have personally intervened as he did for Hu Yanbo now, calling in a precious favor owed to him to compete for the best slot, one that would open in just two thousand years!
Why did he treat Hu Yanbo alone so differently?
It was precisely because the terrifying speed of Hu Yanbo's progress in the short time since leaving Chaos City, along with his plainly evident immense potential, had thoroughly moved Yuan Huang!
He had many disciples, including quite a few at King Rank, but over the long ages, only a handful had truly possessed the hope and potential to take that crucial step and become Universe Venerables!
Every one of them was a core disciple he had carefully nurtured.
Yet Hu Yanbo, this newly accepted disciple, had demonstrated potential far beyond Yuan Huang's initial expectations in an extremely short time-potential even more astonishing than that of those core disciples!
Potential needed time to be realized.
And the timing of investment in resources was crucial!
Yuan Huang saw it very clearly. What Hu Yanbo lacked now was neither talent nor willpower, but time and the very best resources!
He was in a golden period of explosive growth in strength. Any assistance or opportunity could be put to its fullest use and converted into tangible combat power!
Securing the best and soonest Divine General Inheritance for him now would be far more effective than doing so hundreds of thousands of years later!
It could greatly shorten the time he needed to grow, reduce his risk of dying while adventuring, and propel him more quickly to greater heights, all the way to... Universe Venerable!
Nurturing a Universe Venerable disciple was worth far, far more than a favor owed by a Universe Venerable.
That was the fundamental reason Yuan Huang was willing to spare no expense and spend a precious favor to pave the way for Hu Yanbo!
Of course, Yuan Huang would not spell out these deeper considerations to Hu Yanbo.
He merely instructed him calmly, "In that case, focus on training in the secret realm and consolidating your cultivation. When the time approaches, I will notify you."
"Yes! Thank you, Teacher!" Hu Yanbo bowed respectfully, his heart filled with gratitude and anticipation.
His consciousness left the Virtual Universe and returned to his true body in the Nether God Secret Realm.
Hu Yanbo continued chatting and laughing with Marquis Glorious Light and the other member of their group.
Deep down, however, his thoughts were far from calm.
A Divine General Inheritance in just two thousand years...
Hu Yanbo clearly remembered that Luo Feng had once obtained a similar opportunity in the original story, but the inheritance the Chaos City Lord had arranged for him would not open until a hundred and twenty thousand years later!
And this time, I... only have to wait two thousand years?
Hu Yanbo pondered inwardly, keenly sensing that something was unusual.
Is this just a coincidence? Does a Divine General Inheritance happen to be opening so soon, with a slot conveniently available? Or did Teacher put in a tremendous effort behind the scenes for me, perhaps even spending precious favors or resources to wrest this slot into his hands?
Although his teacher Yuan Huang had spoken of it casually, Hu Yanbo was no innocent.
He knew full well that at his teacher's level, debts of favor were often more precious and harder to repay than mere wealth.
His teacher was willing to go this far for a newly accepted disciple like him...
I truly owe him an immense debt of gratitude!
Warmth surged through Hu Yanbo's heart, and he silently resolved,
When I become strong enough, I will repay Teacher properly for the care he has shown me today!
Just as that thought arose, another, even bolder and somewhat absurd idea flashed through his mind like a spark.
Come to think of it, my Prepayment System is unfathomably mysterious. Since it can advance my own law comprehension and strength, could it advance someone else's as well?
For example, could I help Teacher break through that final barrier and enter the realm of Universe Masters?
The idea was immensely tempting, but Hu Yanbo immediately chuckled inwardly and shook his head.
Whether it is possible or not, I certainly don't have the ability to do it now. Hu Yanbo still had some self-awareness.
The system's repayment conditions are harsh. Even advancing my own abilities requires life-and-death battles. If I were to intervene in the advancement of a Universe Overlord... the cost would probably be beyond anything I could imagine, let alone bear.
For now, I should keep my feet on the ground and grow stronger, one step at a time.
He set that impractical idea aside for the moment, composed himself, and returned his attention to reality.
Before you continue