Seeing Bai Yue's wry smile, Thirteen's expression darkened.
As the personal guard of the Gan Wu Country Lord, Thirteen had followed his master for countless years. He had seen geniuses, monsters, and peerless talents rise and fall like waves on the cosmic sea. But never—never—had he seen someone hesitate after being personally acknowledged by the Country Lord.
That breath of suppressed anger in his chest was already on the verge of erupting.
If Bai Yue continued to act evasive, Thirteen was prepared to "wake him up" the hard way.
Fortunately, Bai Yue spoke first.
"Lord Thirteen, please give me a few minutes," Bai Yue said solemnly. "Once that's done… you'll understand everything."
Those words stopped Thirteen in his tracks.
They weren't the words of fear, nor of arrogance—but of resolve.
Bai Yue had made his decision.
Some truths could no longer remain hidden.
Inside the Virtual Universe, Ji Ning's clone—still aboard the F-class spaceship traveling toward the Initial Universe—opened his eyes.
In the next instant, his consciousness descended into the Virtual Universe and appeared before Gan Wu Country Lord.
This time, Bai Yue did not hide anything.
From the beginning—
The Dao Fruit.
The multiple clones.
The Earth body, the Golden-Horned Beast, Ji Ning…
The overlapping identities.
The reason he entered the Gan Wu Tower.
Why he needed shelter, time, and backing.
Everything.
He laid it bare.
When he finished speaking, the hall fell silent.
Then—
"Haha!"
Gan Wu Country Lord laughed.
Not in anger.
Not in disbelief.
But in genuine amusement.
"You little rascal," the Country Lord said, pointing at him, half-teasing, half-exasperated. "So even I was kept in the dark."
Bai Yue immediately put on a flattering expression. "Teacher, how could that be? I simply never had the right opportunity to explain—"
"Hmph." Gan Wu Country Lord waved his hand, cutting him off. "Enough."
Then, unexpectedly, his expression softened.
"Being able to hide this much, plan this far, and still survive intact… that is also a kind of capability."
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"And if you can extract resources from the Virtual Universe Corporation while walking two paths at once—then that, too, is your ability."
Bai Yue's heart eased.
"Teacher… is this truly acceptable?" he asked cautiously.
Gan Wu Country Lord snorted.
"Relax. Unless a Universe Lord personally controls Space-Time and examines you, no one below that level can see through this. And tell me—would a Universe Lord truly care about the little wool you're shearing?"
He laughed again.
"I'll notify Thirteen. From today onward, you are my direct disciple. That should silence most trouble."
"As for other rewards—" he paused, eyes flicking sideways, "—you don't seem short on wealth. I heard you made quite a fortune trading with Gan Yang."
"Thank you, Teacher," Bai Yue said quickly. "I don't need additional rewards."
Extremely stingy, Bai Yue muttered inwardly.
Gan Wu Country Lord's brow twitched. "Is it easy maintaining an entire Universe Country? Get lost."
"Yes, Teacher!" Bai Yue replied immediately, retreating with exemplary obedience.
Back in the Nine Star Bay villa.
The atmosphere was… tense.
Thirteen sat stiffly, his gaze sharp, while Luo Feng and the others looked between Bai Yue and the envoy team with confusion written all over their faces.
Then—
A communication request arrived.
Gan Wu Country Lord's projection descended into the hall, vast and imposing, yet wearing an unmistakable smile.
"Enough, Thirteen," he said calmly. "This child has already explained everything to me. I will take him as my direct disciple."
Shock rippled through the room.
Before anyone could react, the Country Lord turned to Bai Yue.
"Kneel. Pay homage."
He even winked.
What choice did Bai Yue have?
Under everyone's gaze, he knelt and kowtowed nine times, solemn and complete.
Gan Wu Country Lord laughed heartily.
Thus, the matter was settled.
Yet all present understood—
This was not an ending, but the beginning of something far greater.
"Congratulations," Luo Feng said afterward, unable to hide his envy. "From now on, you can practically walk sideways in Ganwu Universe Country. Earth is safer too."
Bai Yue shook his head.
"In the end, it still comes down to our own strength. Teacher cannot watch over me forever. Earth's secrets must remain hidden—at all costs."
Everyone nodded gravely.
They all knew:
What lay hidden on Earth was something even a Universe Exalt could not afford to misjudge.
A few days later, the news exploded across the Virtual Universe.
"Heavenly Emperor" Bai Yue—accepted as a direct disciple by Gan Wu Country Lord.
The shock was unprecedented.
Across countless epochs of the Peak Genius Battle, even those who won first place rarely received such treatment. To be taken as a direct disciple by a Universe Exalt at the Astral Rank stage?
Unheard of.
The comment sections erupted.
The "Heavenly Emperor" faction completely crushed the "Death God" faction.
Any argument ended the same way:
"Bai Yue is a direct disciple of Gan Wu Country Lord."
No rebuttal possible.
Even other Universe Exalts were baffled. Many privately contacted Gan Wu Country Lord, questioning his decision.
He brushed them off.
Time passed.
As the arena battles began, the heat gradually cooled—but the name Heavenly Emperor was carved deep into memory.
Everyone was waiting.
Would he live up to it?
One and a half years later.
After three years of navigation—
Ji Ning's clone finally arrived at the headquarters of the Virtual Universe Corporation.
A continent over ten light-years in diameter.
Even knowing the numbers, the sight was overwhelming.
This was not nature.
This was the result of supreme power.
After waiting several days, he boarded a bizarre spaceship and headed toward the Universe Passage.
"Requesting to open the Universe passage."
"Verification passed."
"Opening Universe passage."
Boom.
As the ship entered, a strange distortion seized his senses.
"The Initial Universe has a different Time flow," a voice explained. "You may feel discomfort."
He did.
Dizziness.
Dislocation.
A sense of Time twisting around his consciousness.
And then—
He crossed over.
_____________________
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