"Mm?"
Jiang Li's eyes narrowed, and he immediately entered the Virtual Universe Network.
The Killing Field's main hall.
In a corner sat an extremely old green-skinned elder, holding a cup of clear tea. His muddy gaze swept across the hall from time to time, silently evaluating the universe elites coming and going.
He was the chief administrator of Black Dragon Mountain Island's Killing Field—Manluo.
At that moment, a purple-haired Zijun walked up to him and bowed slightly. "My lord."
"How is it?"
The green-skinned elder looked toward him, a faint expectation flickering in his cloudy eyes.
Zijun bowed his head respectfully. "Reporting to my lord… this Jiang Li is from Earth, a life planet within the Black Dragon Mountain Empire's domain, located in a system called the Milky Way. Originally it should have been just an ordinary life planet."
"Oh?"
Manluo's eyes lit up.
"But, my lord, based on the related video footage…"Zijun drew in a deep breath. "There should be an Immortal-level powerhouse guarding him!"
"What?"
The green-skinned elder's expression changed. His once-bright eyes grew cloudy again as he shook his head helplessly. "So someone else got ahead of us."
If one could make an Immortal accompany as a protector, Manluo could easily guess the force behind Jiang Li to be at least a Feng Wang Immortal, possibly even a Universe Venerable.
"It's only natural. A genius capable of defeating a 'Special-grade Elite' wouldn't come without a powerful backing."
Manluo gave a self-mocking laugh and instructed, "Go make contact with that Luo Feng…"
"Yes!"
Zijun replied respectfully.
Virtual Universe Network—Black Dragon Mountain Island.
Within a refined courtyard in Blue Silver City.
Jiang Li's figure appeared, and he saw that Hong and Lei Shen were already waiting quietly.
"Senior Brother!"
Hong and Lei Shen shouted in unison the moment they saw him—addressing him as "Senior Brother" for the first time ever.
Even someone as strong as Jiang Li felt his heart skip. Clearly something big had happened!
"What's going on?"
He raised his eyebrows and asked.
"Haha, Hong-ge, watch this…"The ever-unreliable Lei Shen threw his head back and laughed. "I told you, as soon as this kid hears us call him Senior Brother, he'll definitely be startled!"
Jiang Li: "…"
This old rascal…
Is he playing the 'wolf is coming' trick now?
"Hall Master, you're always calm. Why are you playing along with him?"
Jiang Li looked helplessly at Hong.
"Lei Shen isn't just fooling around. There really is something urgent."
Hong smiled. "Jiang Li, Lei Shen and I have been exploring the Thunder World of Canglan Star… guess what we found!"
"Universe Crystals!"
Before Jiang Li could speak, Lei Shen shouted excitedly, "I heard one fang of Universe Crystal equals a thousand Universe Coins—around thirty million Qianwu Coins!"
"Hong-ge and I explored for just one day and already found 3,000 fang worth! That's nearly a hundred billion Qianwu Coins!"
When Jiang Li had first arrived in the universe, even sixty-plus billion Qianwu Coins had stunned him.
So how could Hong and Lei Shen not be ecstatic at such a fortune?
With this wealth, whether for their cultivation or strengthening Earth, their growth would soar to the heavens in a single leap.
"Jiang Li, the Thunder World isn't just me and Lei Shen. There are many mercenary teams as well. I fear stronger experts will arrive soon."
Hong naturally understood the meaning of "wealth moves the heart."
They had discovered a massive amount of Universe Crystals—but whether they could take it out was another issue entirely. So they immediately contacted Jiang Li through the Virtual Universe Network.
After all… he had an honest-to-goodness Immortal by his side!
"Alright. I'll head over immediately."
Jiang Li didn't hesitate.
"Brother Jiang! Hall Master! Hall Master Lei Shen!"
At that moment, Luo Feng arrived in a hurry, clearly having been notified by Hong and Lei Shen.
"We'll talk on the way."
—
At Jiangnan Courtyard, Jiang Li told Ling Ling the details.
"Don't worry."
He gently brushed her long green-silk hair. "I'll be back when the Jiangnan Courtyard is finished."
"Mm."
Ling Ling kissed his cheek softly. "I understand. Just make sure you stay safe out there."
"Relax."
Jiang Li looked up at the distant sky—Luo Feng was arriving rapidly atop his Duntian Shuttle. "Planet-level ninth rank? This kid's cultivation speed is impressive."
After bidding farewell to Ling Ling, Jiang Li and Luo Feng entered Abusika's God Kingdom. Through God Kingdom teleportation, they arrived at Lvhan Star, near Canglan Star.
Lvhan Star was also one of the Universe Mercenary Alliance's trial planets, and it was under the jurisdiction of Jiang Li's teacher, Venerable Wanshan. So naturally Abusika had a God Kingdom pathway connected there.
Canglan Star.
At the entrance of the Thunder World, inside a massive villa garden, a silver-haired short-haired woman was sitting in meditation.
The next instant—
She suddenly stiffened. Space trembled lightly, and a man dressed in deep crimson battle armor appeared out of thin air.
"Qiniya greets Lord Abusika!"
The silver-haired woman, Qiniya, immediately bowed.
Among the core members of the Universe Mercenary Alliance, very few failed to recognize Abusika.
As a Special Envoy of the Qianwu Universe Division, Qiniya naturally recognized someone even more terrifying than her teacher—the commander of the Third Legion.
For Abusika was one of the personal Immortal attendants of the high-level figure Venerable Wanshan.
And someone nearly at the Feng Hou level!
"Mm."
Abusika nodded slightly, then released Jiang Li and Luo Feng from his God Kingdom. "Your Highness, this is the Thunder World's entrance."
"Your… Highness?!"
Qiniya was stunned. She stared wide-eyed at Jiang Li and Luo Feng.
One was star-level, one was planet-level?
"Knowing too much won't do you any good."
Abusika glanced at her, and she immediately lowered her head in silence.
"Your Highness, according to Alliance regulations—trial worlds only allow adventurers at Star-level or below to enter. No one else may go in."
Abusika explained, "Unless the Alliance removes the world's 'trial' status."
Though he was an Immortal, he still could not violate the regulations of one of the universe's major powers.
"Alright."
Jiang Li nodded. "Luo Feng, let's go."
He understood—rules were rules. One of the five giant powers of the universe wouldn't compromise lightly.
"Mm."
Luo Feng followed him and entered the Thunder World.
—
Thunder World.
Following the route Lei Shen provided, Jiang Li and Luo Feng flew swiftly, streaking in a straight line until they reached the outskirts of the Wind-Thunder Gorge.
"Luo Feng, once we enter the gorge, beware of the lightning from above."
Jiang Li warned him.
The most terrifying thing in the Thunder World was the lightning that descended from the heavens. If struck, even a weaker Domain Lord could be killed instantly—their path snuffed out.
Let alone Universe-level or Star-level.
Even with Jiang Li's Three-Turn Golden Dragon Body, he wouldn't arrogantly tank lightning head-on.
"Got it!"
Luo Feng rode the Duntian Shuttle, barely able to keep up with Jiang Li's speed.
On the southern side of the Wind-Thunder Gorge, the enormous black hole still hovered mid-air.
This black hole was the realm-within-a-realm that Hong and Lei Shen had entered. At this moment, countless adventurers were already gathered outside.
----------------------
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