Chapter 89: Lord Yinming, Mopo Sang!
Jiang Zhe and Aitor landed at the main gate of the estate.
Neatly lined up before them were formations of soldiers — a quick glance revealed tens of thousands of them.
Jiang Zhe was slightly surprised as his eyes fell on the man standing at the forefront.
His muscular build, proportions, and overall presence were reminiscent of the statues of Greek gods from Earth. He was bald, with bronzed skin, and intricate dark purple markings stretched from the left side of his face down to his neck, glowing faintly with a mysterious aura.
This was the first time Jiang Zhe had seen a cosmic human who shared even half his own heroic air.
Bald?
Wait a minute — weren't many powerhouses in the Swallowed Star universe bald?
Jiang Zhe resisted the urge to touch his own head. That would be far too rude.
"Your Highness!" The bald man gave a slight bow.
"Greetings, Your Highness!"
Behind him, over a thousand formidable warriors dropped to one knee in unison, their aura almost merging into one.
"Greetings, Your Highness!"
Then tens of thousands of servants also knelt respectfully.
Introduced by Aitor, Jiang Zhe soon met this immortal being:
Bermington Lake Kakaste, the highest-ranked among the Immortal Generals, skilled in illusions and mental control.
Jiang Zhe was momentarily stunned. This man was nearly at the Marquis level of immortality!
Luo Feng had the protection of the True Yan King, and his guard captain was the king's disciple. How did Jiang Zhe, by comparison, earn the privilege of having a guard captain of the same caliber?
"Your Highness may simply call me Bermington," the bald man said with a warm smile.
"Mr. Bermington, I'll be counting on you," Jiang Zhe replied politely.
"It is my duty!" Bermington smiled back and bowed slightly, his eyes filled with goodwill.
Jiang Zhe couldn't help thinking: I haven't even reached Chaos City yet, and it seems I've already been recruited into someone's faction.
A suitable teacher, a powerful guard captain… These were benefits, but surely there would be strings attached.
I hope they won't even dictate which Chaos Monument I'm allowed to study… Jiang Zhe thought with a slight headache.
After escorting him to the estate gates, Aitor took his leave, leaving Bermington to handle things.
Bermington enthusiastically gave Jiang Zhe a tour of the estate's many facilities, finally pointing to a grand castle in the distance.
"Your Highness, that will be your residence. The interior can be redecorated by intelligent life forms to suit your preferences."
When Jiang Zhe entered, it had already been refitted by Oriana, with all the décor and ornaments tailored to Earth aesthetics.
In the study, Jiang Zhe settled into a rosewood executive chair and turned on a desktop computer, opening the "Treasury" folder on a 50-inch screen.
"Anna, pick some E-grade treasures. Evolve quickly to the World Lord level. With your abilities combined with my insights into the laws, you'll become quite formidable and can assist me even more."
Of course, he couldn't purchase extremely rare E-grade items yet. He'd only add them to the cart for now and decide after his teacher arrived.
The remaining points after buying cultivation classics would be used for Oriana.
"Oh right, Anna — how many points do I have now?"
"Master, you've got mail."
Just then, the email icon flashed twice.
Jiang Zhe opened it.
Jiang Zhe:
Congratulations on joining the Primal Secret Realm! The Virtual Universe Company has numerous training programs for the younger generation, starting from the Universe level...
You've been granted 20,000 free points. You can use these to purchase any item from the treasury, as long as your points suffice.
Recommended for you...
— Virtual Universe Company
The email was brief. Jiang Zhe quickly scrolled to the end. Most of it was information he already knew. The most important part was the 20,000 points.
"Less than I expected… Only twice the amount given to members of the Initial Region, not ten times more like the cash rewards."
"But for star-level geniuses, this was already a fortune."
"Even passing the fourth floor of the Sky Bridge wouldn't earn this many points."
Jiang Zhe thought about what cultivation manuals he still needed. After a long moment, he realized there wasn't much left to fill in.
For fundamental techniques to aid his comprehension of laws:
For the space branch, he had the complete Earth's Origin and the first two volumes of Concepts of Space.
For the time branch, he had the thunder/time law plates, the silver metal plate, Shadow Monarch Spear Manual, and even a top-tier Beast God slab.
These are more than enough for my three years of cultivation. I'll save the points to buy ultimate secret texts to help comprehend the Chaos Monument, something like the Essays on Time and Space…
Just then, Bermington's voice called from outside.
"Your Highness!"
"What is it?" Jiang Zhe leaned out the window.
"Lord Berran is here to visit you."
"Huh?" Jiang Zhe was taken aback. Aside from their fight, he didn't think he and Berran had ever spoken. "I'll be right out."
About half a day later, Jiang Zhe finally saw Berran off.
Their conversation started awkward, but they gradually warmed up and even discussed their insights into cultivation.
Berran shared his views on space laws and cautiously probed Jiang Zhe about his dual cultivation of time and space, hoping for some tips.
Jiang Zhe told him everything he could, not sure if it would be helpful.
Otherwise, should he tell Berran he had the insight speed of a World Lord, or that he and another body split up to comprehend separately before merging insights?
As they grew familiar, Jiang Zhe found Berran rather decent — in the original work, Luo Feng also respected him.
Berran was introverted, possibly socially anxious, but very competitive.
In fact, Jiang Zhe thought if Berran had a clone with innate time talent, he'd probably leave everyone else in the dust on the Chaos Monuments.
With nine layers of space insight and three layers of time insight, able to reach the sixth floor of the Sky Bridge, Berran was hard to judge.
Pity he was destined to be a foil for the protagonist.
After seeing Berran off, Oriana informed Jiang Zhe that Luo Feng was waiting for him in the public area.
Cappu-Bapu Restaurant, Room 301
According to Oriana, this was a trendy restaurant usually requiring membership in the Initial Region to book.
The dishes were already laid out, along with a bottle of fine wine worth 5 points, which felt extravagant.
Honestly, there's no need for this… Such a waste. Could've just asked me to log off and talk.
Still, Jiang Zhe didn't show it. Luo Feng meant well, so he accepted it gracefully.
After a few glasses, Luo Feng handed over a list — the planned point expenditures he and Babata had discussed.
A little blood-red demon appeared beside the table, looking smugly at Jiang Zhe, its eyes seeming to say: "See? Aren't I amazing?"
Jiang Zhe glanced at it and coolly said, "Idiot."
Babata was furious, and if Oriana weren't watching, it would've pounced on Jiang Zhe's face to scratch wildly.
Luo Feng took a sip to hide his embarrassment.
"Force weapons, life fruits, Lanka fruits… That's all fine. The initial universe isn't absolutely safe; you need to ensure your combat power. But the danger's not high — you'll understand once inside."
Seeing Jiang Zhe didn't want to elaborate, Luo Feng didn't press.
"But spending almost 10,000 points on the Mosha body, buying combat-focused manuals that don't help with law comprehension… too immature."
"For lone wanderers in the universe nations, those are treasures. But for a Virtual Universe Company heir, they're practically junk!"
"Anna, send Luo Feng the introductions of the manuals I use."
Just three: Concepts of Space, Earth's Origin, and Shadow Monarch Spear Manual.
Luo Feng quickly realized what was truly valuable. He shivered, thinking, Good thing I asked, or I'd have been completely ripped off.
"It's not quite a rip-off," Jiang Zhe said, swirling his glass. "The Mosha body lacks inherited memory. Combat manuals for it are needed. The ones Babata chose are great — you just don't need them now.
For these three years, you need to improve your understanding of laws, not hone combat techniques. Those divine soldier moves of yours are enough to play with for centuries."
Luo Feng made up his mind. "Senior brother, can I also get your Concepts of Space?"
The first two volumes covered 36 types of mysteries, cost 10,000 points, but were discounted to 8,000 for Initial Region members.
Luo Feng's eyes lit up the first moment he saw it.
"Just get the first volume," Jiang Zhe said after a thought. "It covers 9 mysteries, only 800 points. If you can grasp them within three years, you'll be almost at my level. You'll shine once you enter the initial universe."
Luo Feng nodded, suppressing his urge to buy both volumes at once.
He didn't yet understand how difficult it was to comprehend law mysteries, thinking 9 doesn't sound like much — should be easy enough.
Jiang Zhe secretly chuckled at that.
He didn't recommend the Blood Drifting Manual either — that was a fundamental manual of the Nine Universe lineage, designed to aid the Nine Universe Chaos Monument. Luo Feng hadn't even chosen a monument yet.
After parting with Luo Feng, Jiang Zhe returned to his estate in the Primal Region, continuing to study the Shadow Monarch Spear Manual and silver metal plate.
His Candlelight clone researched the law plates inside the wristworld.
Once at the Virtual Universe Company headquarters, he'd have to hide it — what if the Chaos City Lord noticed?
A 90,000-kilometer clone? What kind of monster are you?
Luckily, the clone technique from the Little Three Corpses Dao Manual was unique, allowing the Candlelight clone to hide within the Chaotic Umbrella.
So he'd only have to conceal a luxurious umbrella a meter long.
More than half a month later, Jiang Zhe finally received an email. Together with Bermington, he went to the estate gate to welcome his immortal teacher.
"My lord, my teacher has arrived," Bermington whispered.
Jiang Zhe: ??
Am I supposed to call you senior brother now?
A senior brother acting as a guard captain for his junior? Isn't that humiliating for you? Now I feel uneasy, like I'm about to be stabbed in the back.
These thoughts raced through his mind, but his face betrayed nothing.
He looked toward the distant streak of purple light slicing through the sky, landing before the estate to reveal a figure.
A two-meter-tall bald man, wearing a flowing purple robe over silver armor, with skin as white as jade. Intricate purple markings spread from his right cheek down his neck in a sinister pattern.
His eyes were as cold as a serpent's. A single glance sent chills down the spine.
Lord Yinming, Mopo Sang!
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