"Not bad. Your potential is even greater than I imagined."
Ruofeng looked at Chu Yuan with a beaming smile, making no effort to hide his appreciation.
Chu Yuan shrugged, utterly nonchalant. "So-so. Barely passable."
"You've gained an advantage, yet you're still playing coy."
Ruofeng smiled. "With your talent and systematic training, you'll be able to break through to Domain Ninth Level and clear the ninth layer within a hundred years. You'll have a very good chance of entering the core layer in the future."
"Perhaps."
Chu Yuan did not say how long he would need to enter the core layer.
He only knew that a hundred years was too long. He had to seize every moment.
Ding.
Chu Yuan received an email from the Virtual Universe Company's branch.
[External member Chu Yuan, congratulations on clearing the first, second, and third layers of the Star Level Trial Tower. Your reward is 700 million Universe Coins. Please confirm receipt.]
Seeing the email, Ruofeng explained, "There are cash rewards for challenging the Trial Tower. The more layers you clear, the higher the reward."
"Seven hundred million Universe Coins. As expected of the Virtual Universe Company!"
Chu Yuan was not surprised. He had long since grown accustomed to the Virtual Universe Company's extravagant wealth.
"This is only small change. Even clearing the ninth layer only earns you 25.6 billion Universe Coins, hardly a huge sum. The reward only becomes substantial once you clear the tenth layer."
Chu Yuan pressed, "How much is the reward for the tenth layer?"
Ruofeng looked at Chu Yuan and enunciated every word. "Ten trillion Universe Coins!"
Chu Yuan's expression did not change. "Ten Hunyuan Units. Not bad, I suppose."
"What do you mean, 'not bad'?"
Ruofeng glared. "That's ten Hunyuan Units! Plenty of World Lords only have a total fortune of ten Hunyuan Units. You think that's small change?"
Ruofeng was very displeased by Chu Yuan's composure. Why is a mere Star Level brat like you putting on such a worldly air?
Have you ever seen ten Hunyuan Units?
Do you know that ten trillion Universe Coins could be piled into a mountain?
You don't know anything, yet you dare put on that worldly air here. You're really asking for a beating, you know?
Chu Yuan very much wanted to say that he really could produce ten Hunyuan Units.
The Star-Eating Grass and the Fire Origin Divine Fruit together were worth over a million Hunyuan Units.
Were a mere ten Hunyuan Units a lot?
Making a fuss over so little.
"Mr. Ruofeng, although you're a Domain Lord, your horizons are still too narrow. You still need more practice."
Chu Yuan gave Ruofeng a meaningful look, then turned and left.
"What was that look from the little fellow?"
Ruofeng was utterly baffled. He kept getting the feeling that he had been looked down on.
He had no idea that the little fellow before him was a rich tycoon with a fortune in the millions, who earned money even faster than an Immortal Army Lord.
Ruofeng and Chu Yuan left, but the sensation Chu Yuan had caused was only just beginning.
As Jiabase, Telian, and the others spread information about Chu Yuan, all the Star Level geniuses across Stardust Island were stirred.
In the training room of Villa No. 1 in the Star Level villa district.
A slender young man with green hair and a vertical eye between his brows was practicing with a sword. His swordsmanship was exquisite, every move carrying a unique artistic conception.
Lightning swirled around him, sometimes roaring, sometimes drawing inward, sometimes erupting.
The young man was named Kangas, the strongest among Stardust Island's tens of thousands of Star Level geniuses.
His Lightning Domain had already broken through to the ninth level, and he had even crossed the threshold of the Lightning Origin Law.
After finishing a set of sword moves, Kangas stopped. The Intelligent Optical Computer on his wrist received two emails.
"Oh? Telian cleared the ninth layer of the Trial Tower? Not bad."
Kangas chuckled, but when he saw the information in the second email, his expression instantly turned serious.
"Chu Yuan Leinuo, thirty-two years old, cleared the third layer of the Trial Tower."
Kangas unconsciously tightened his right hand around his sword.
"It's been years since a monstrous newcomer like this appeared. Interesting."
The corners of Kangas's lips rose, his interest piqued at the sight of worthy prey.
"The stronger my competition, the greater my motivation. Chu Yuan Leinuo, I hope you can put more pressure on me. Otherwise, facing a bunch of trash all day is really far too boring."
Closing the emails, Kangas continued practicing his secret technique.
As the foremost Star Level genius on Stardust Island, Kangas had his pride.
The potential Chu Yuan Leinuo had displayed was indeed good, but not enough to make him wary.
At the same time, in Villa No. 2, Jiulufen, the second-ranked Star Level genius, also learned the news.
"Clearing the third layer of the Trial Tower at thirty-two? So-so. Even if he had a hundred years, he'd barely be able to glimpse my heels."
"What's worth making such a fuss over a newcomer like this? Boring."
Jiulufen glanced at the email and casually deleted it.
Holding a giant axe, he hacked back and forth. Fierce winds howled around him, wind blades sweeping through the air. What he unleashed was none other than a ninth-level Wind Domain.
A trace of special power was also fused into his domain. It was the Wind Origin Law.
"I only have one opponent. Kangas, just wait. Before long, I'll trample you underfoot. I'll definitely be the first to break into the Apocalypse Secret Region!"
In a hall on Stardust Island, many geniuses had gathered, all discussing Chu Yuan.
"Chu Yuan Leinuo cleared the third layer of the Trial Tower at just thirty-two. He's no ordinary talent. Stardust Island will have another lively show to watch in the future."
One genius spoke with feeling.
"His talent is better than ninety-nine percent of the people on Stardust Island. Only Kangas and Jiulufen can stand above him."
Another genius picked up the conversation.
"Give him a hundred years, and perhaps he'll catch up to Kangas and Jiulufen."
"Impossible. You're all giving him far too much credit."
An extremely handsome, fair-skinned young man held a glass of fine wine and sneered disdainfully. "Kangas and Jiulufen are both geniuses who have crossed the threshold of a law. How could a newcomer possibly compare to them?"
"Even after a hundred years, Chu Yuan might not comprehend a ninth-level domain, let alone an Origin Law."
A female genius beside him nodded. "Give Chu Yuan three hundred or five hundred years, and he might catch up to Kangas and Jiulufen's current level. Both of them are preparing to challenge the tenth layer right now. In three to five hundred years, they'll have long since entered the Apocalypse Secret Region."
"For the past eight hundred thousand years, no one on Stardust Island has managed to clear the tenth layer of the Trial Tower. But in our generation, both Kangas and Jiulufen have a chance. They're both straining to win, both wanting to become the first person in eight hundred thousand years to join the Apocalypse Secret Region. The rewards are very generous."
"Chu Yuan is far too far behind. If he'd been born three hundred years earlier, he might have had a chance."
"What a pity..."
Chu Yuan did not know that he had become the center of discussion among so many geniuses. After familiarizing himself with Stardust Island, he logged out of the Virtual Universe and returned to reality.
The Dragon Abyss spaceship flew at tremendous speed, returning to Water Dragon Planet.
Lying on the sofa, Chu Yuan's body was utterly relaxed.
On this trip, he had earned enough to fill every pot and bowl, greatly increased his strength, and joined the Virtual Universe Company. His initial goals had essentially been achieved.
With a broad sweep of his hand, over two thousand storage rings and storage bracelets appeared out of thin air, densely packed with treasures.
These were all spoils that the three hundred fleets under his command had brought back for Chu Yuan from across the universe over the past year.