Neither Lu Qingshan nor even Jimi dared defy Marquis Silvermoon's orders in the slightest.
He would certainly have to go to the mystic region.
But he could not appear too eager, either.
"Lord Jimi, if I go to the Ganwu Mystic Region, what about the dojo's students? The Secret Realm Qualification Battle is about to begin, and I was planning to give them some extra lessons."
"Marquis Silvermoon's business takes priority." Jimi looked solemn. "As for the students, you can find time to teach them a few lessons in the Virtual Universe, but you must not let that interfere with Marquis Silvermoon's important business."
"Very well. I'll send the students an email right away to let them know." Lu Qingshan sighed softly.
Seeing this, Jimi could not help saying, "Instructor Lu, being noticed by Marquis Silvermoon is a tremendous blessing. You mustn't let your feelings get in the way. Although you're entering the Ganwu Mystic Region on secondment, your compensation won't fall short in the slightest. It will be on the same level as a special-class instructor in the Ganwu Mystic Region-the treatment given to elite World Lords... Your basic compensation alone will be a hundred times what you receive now, never mind the other benefits..."
"Rest assured, Lord Jimi. I'll make sure to do my job well!"
"Good. Her Highness hasn't returned to the Ganwu Mystic Region yet. I'll contact you once she arrives. If you have any questions in the future, you can come directly to me!"
"Thank you, Lord Jimi!"
Lu Qingshan bowed before taking his leave of Jimi.
Then he sent a group message to all his students and gave them one final open lecture.
After the lesson ended, Lu Qingshan told them that he would be going to the Ganwu Secret Realm for some time and might no longer be their teacher in the future.
Many students felt dejected at the news. After spending several years together, they held their responsible instructor, Lu Qingshan, in great respect. Now that he was suddenly leaving, they felt an emptiness in their hearts.
The most dejected of all was Harley. Not long ago, he had gained Instructor Lu's favor, been appointed his assistant, and received many benefits. But now that Instructor Lu was going to the Ganwu Secret Realm, his work as an assistant was about to end.
"Don't be sad, Harley..." Adams patted his shoulder. Seeing that his brother was in low spirits, he consoled him. "Our teacher is moving up. We should be happy, shouldn't we?"
"Yes, that's right. We should be happy..." Harley put away his disappointment. After Lu Qingshan left, he entered the Virtual Universe and sent a brief farewell message with his well-wishes to Lu Qingshan's inbox.
Before long, Harley received an email. He opened it, and his eyes immediately lit up.
The email actually contained the best advancement plan for the Lightning Domain he cultivated, along with video demonstrations...
"This..."
Harley took a deep breath, his entire body trembling with excitement. With this precious material, he would no longer go astray in his future cultivation. There was even a strong chance that he would soon advance beyond a sixth-level domain. This was a key to the Ganwu Mystic Region.
So my instructor had always kept me in mind...
Deeply moved, Harley closed the email, then bowed down and kowtowed in the direction of Lu Qingshan's manor.
After giving the students at Ganwu Dojo headquarters their final lesson, Lu Qingshan threw himself into the Killing Field. He spent over a month fully adapting to his own strength.
He was now a genuine Domain Lord Ninth Stage expert, and his strength far surpassed others at the same level.
Once I enter the Ganwu Mystic Region, I'll probably have to wait many years before I can leave again...
Lu Qingshan pondered his future.
He now had only a paltry few hundred billion Universe Coins on him, which, to him as he was now, was no different from a cup of water thrown onto a burning cartload of firewood.
He would spend at least several decades in the Ganwu Mystic Region. If he did not get some more money, never mind buying resources for his own cultivation-he would probably have to make do with low-grade items even for his annual gifts to his two disciples.
How could he get money?
Heavenly Thunder Analysis was incomplete, and cultivation methods returned by the system were extraordinary. Rashly bringing it out might lead to unpredictable consequences. Unless it was his last resort, he certainly could not sell it.
That left only the Locke Divine Water...
This carried considerable risk as well, but it was somewhat more suitable than a secret technique.
"Nasus, can you contact the Universe Galaxy Bank? I'm a two-star customer of theirs. Can I sell them some treasures?"
"Master, the universe's two major banks offer buyback services, but the minimum requirement is three-star customer status. You don't qualify yet... However, the local banks of the various intermediate Universe Countries have lower requirements!"
"The two major banks sit high above everyone else. They really don't care for small transactions. In their eyes, anyone below three-star status is a customer with no value."
Lu Qingshan shook his head.
It was hardly surprising.
The two major banks were safe and reliable. If they did not set a threshold, even increasing their staff a hundredfold probably would not be enough. If most people went to the banks to trade, the universe's commercial system would likely suffer a tremendous blow.
After all, the banks' main businesses were deposits, investment, and credit... Trading and buybacks were only sidelines. They even had requirements for opening accounts, so it was hardly strange that their buyback requirements were higher.
In any case, I'll be going to the Ganwu Secret Realm for at least several decades. And I won't leave Ganwu City in the future until I have Immortal-level strength. If I have to take a little risk, so be it!
Having made his decision, Lu Qingshan found Ruyan, the Treasure Pavilion's supervisor in Ganwu City, in the Virtual Universe.
"Congratulations on your increase in strength, my lord."
Upon seeing Lu Qingshan again, Ruyan was all smiles as she raised her hands in congratulations...
Lu Qingshan had bought ten Dragon Blood Fruits from them. Nearly a year had passed since then, so his strength must have increased.
"I've come to you for another transaction."
Lu Qingshan went straight to the point.
"How may I be of service, my lord?" Ruyan's smile bloomed like a flower. The two previous transactions had earned her substantial commissions. At this moment, even if Lu Qingshan made some excessive demands, she would not refuse.
Transactions worth several Hunyuan Units-for someone like her, merely at the Universe Level, even a tiny commission amounted to several times his net worth.
"Two thousand cubic meters of Locke Divine Water. I need the money as soon as possible!"
Lu Qingshan stated the terms of the transaction directly.
"What! Locke Divine Water!" Ruyan's smile faded, and her expression turned solemn. "My lord, Locke Divine Water is extremely precious. Our Treasure Pavilion's purchase price for two thousand cubic meters is seventeen Hunyuan Units. However, the sum involved is too large, so I'll need to consult my superiors first..."
"If you can give me an answer within a day, I'll sell it to you... Otherwise, I'll sell it to someone else!"
Every additional place he visited meant more risk. Since he had already exposed a little to the Treasure Pavilion, Lu Qingshan decided he might as well let them know a little more.
He hoped the Treasure Pavilion had some integrity and would not try anything. Otherwise, after lying low in Ganwu City for countless years, he would certainly exact ruthless revenge!
Lu Qingshan urgently needed this money.
He also needed a three-star account with the Universe Galaxy Bank.
Once he became a three-star customer, he could attend the Ganwu Auction, and he could conduct future transactions directly through the Universe Galaxy Bank...
That would allow him to avoid unpredictable risks. This transaction was one example: rashly trading Locke Divine Water certainly carried risks, but if he sold it to the Universe Galaxy Bank, there would be no problem whatsoever even if he sold all the remaining 9,900 cubic meters.
A few thousand or tens of thousands of Hunyuan Units amounted to no more than a small- or medium-sized transaction to the Universe Galaxy Bank. They would pay it little mind... Moreover, the bank's strict rules and regulations ensured especially strict confidentiality regarding the identities of those conducting transactions.
Of course, everything had its limits. If he produced a supreme treasure out of nowhere... without the strength to match it, the consequences would be just as difficult to assess.
The bank's rules and regulations were still enforced by people... and people were greedy... So-called integrity and loyalty merely meant that the price offered for betrayal was too low.
Lu Qingshan thought of Panxi again.
He was at World Lord Third Stage and the mastermind behind a faction, so he was certainly at least a three-star customer. Yet he did not dare exchange his Locke Divine Water for other resources. Otherwise, by pouring in resources comparable to the entire fortune of a King Rank expert, he could easily have broken through to World Lord Ninth Stage...
(End of chapter)