Chapter 125: Departure — The Armed Three Sons Break Through

After thanking the Horned Gold Clan's Elder Climance, Lu Qingshan saw that there was still plenty of time before he was to leave the Horned Gold Clan's territory, so he simply accepted King Tawen's invitation and went to the Tawen tribe as a guest.

Although the Tawen tribe currently has only one Hei Fengwang-level Undying, it still ranks as a top-tier tribe within the Horned Gold Clan, and so it occupies an entire star domain-sized territory.

This star domain is roughly the same size as the Lei Guang Hai star domain where the Lu family resides, but in terms of prosperity it falls short by more than a hundredfold!

Even the planet where an Undying like King Tawen resides is not as prosperous as the Thunder Star was back when Lu Qingshan was still at the World Master level.

In human territory, a single star system alone contains hundreds of thousands of life-bearing planets, and a star domain contains thousands of star systems!

Yet within the Tawen star domain ruled by the Tawen tribe, the total number of life-bearing planets discovered so far is less than a hundred million — pitifully few.

In human territory, a mere Planetary-level warrior is already qualified to leave home and roam the universe, and even a Stellar-level warrior has the chance to become the master of a life-bearing planet.

But within the Tawen star domain, only after breaking through to the Cosmic level does one have the chance to leave home and travel to other life-bearing planets.

Moreover, the way of life of the Horned Gold natives on most life-bearing planets resembles that of the extremely ancient primitive planets in human territory, and their understanding of all kinds of technology is utterly negligible.

Only after witnessing these conditions within the Horned Gold Clan's territory did Qingshan finally understand How significant the Virtual Universe is to the human race — its importance is absolutely no less than that of a single strongest warrior of the universe!

It is precisely because of the existence of the Virtual Universe that Lu Qingshan, even while in the distant Horned Gold Clan territory, can contact friends and family in human territory at any time.

Apart from the human race, which can rely on the Virtual Universe to achieve this, even the Machine race cannot accomplish it through their powerful technology — they can only rely on precious communication treasures they refine, which naturally makes the cost far higher, and the messages that can be transmitted are also quite limited!

And so, as time continued to pass, the day finally arrived for Jin Ge Wang and Lu Qingshan's group to rendezvous as agreed.

On that day, Lu Qingshan, with the help of the Undying deities of the Tawen tribe, quickly used a divine kingdom transmission to rush back to the Lasau Continent, and then arrived at the rendezvous point ahead of time.

By then, several Marquess-rank Undying who had come together with Lu Qingshan were already waiting there; every one of them wore a smile on his face, clearly having obtained some benefits from the Horned Gold Clan.

Upon seeing Lu Qingshan appear, many people began to greet him.

After all, Lu Qingshan had broken through from a mere ordinary Undying Military Lord to a Marquess-rank Undying in less than two million years — such an astonishing cultivation speed had naturally earned him quite a reputation among the many Marquess-rank Undying of the Virtual Universe Company faction.

As time passed, Qingcang Hou and Xianyue Hou also quickly appeared.

"Qingshan!"

Upon seeing Lu Qingshan, who had long been waiting at the rendezvous point, Qingcang Hou quickly said: "I didn't expect you to arrive so soon! How about it, I didn't deceive you, did I? Your harvest in this Horned Gold Clan territory wasn't bad, was it?"

"Qingcang!"

Lu Qingshan, also smiling, transmitted: "What you said before was right — after coming to this Horned Gold Clan, I indeed gained a great harvest!"

"Who says it isn't!"

The smile on Qingcang Hou's face never stopped, and he continued to transmit: "After the banquet ended, the Hei Fengwang-rank Undying who had been specially receiving me led me straight to the Horned Gold Clan's Scripture Tower, and let me choose five secret manuals suited to myself!"

"By my estimate, these five sets of manuals should all have been created by Hei Fengwang-rank Undying, and each set is worth at least two or three hundred thousand points — this time I've truly made a killing!"

"It's just a pity these secret techniques can't be passed on to others, I can only slowly comprehend and use them myself! Still, these five sets of secret techniques suit me very well — perhaps in the future I can use them to create a set of top-tier secret techniques suited to myself!"

Hearing these words, Lu Qingshan couldn't help but feel a bit of emotion in his heart.

"Qingcang Hou is a high-tier Marquess, and the secret techniques he received are only worth a little over a million points!"

Lu Qingshan secretly thought: "But I only broke through to high-tier Marquess after arriving at the Horned Gold Clan, yet the Horned Gold Clan gifted me secret techniques worth a hundred million points — it seems the Horned Gold Clan thinks very highly of me!"

"And Elder Climance's guidance that time is even more precious to me than a hundred million points!"

And just as various thoughts flashed through Lu Qingshan's mind, Qingcang Hou beside him continued to transmit and ask: "By the way, Brother Qingshan, how was your harvest?"

"About the same as yours!" Lu Qingshan quickly transmitted back.

He was on good terms with Qingcang Hou, so naturally there was no need to tell the truth and discourage the other.

"About the same as mine?"

Qingcang Hou was slightly taken aback, then continued to transmit: "That's right too — with your talent, Brother Qingshan, breaking through to high-tier Marquess in the future is only a matter of time! In my view, it would be entirely fitting for the Horned Gold Clan to raise your benefits to the peak Marquess level, after all Brother Qingshan, you've only been cultivating for ten million years — you're still very young!"

Just as Lu Qingshan and Qingcang Hou were transmitting and chatting with each other, a smiling Jin Ge Wang arrived at the rendezvous point together with the Horned Gold Clan's King Wuxing.

"Very good!"

Looking at Lu Qingshan and the others who had already gathered, Jin Ge Wang quickly said with a smile: "It seems everyone is quite punctual, so I won't need to say much more!"

"Now, everyone follow me to bid farewell to Elder Climance, and then we'll return to our human territory!"

"Yes!" Lu Qingshan and the others quickly nodded in response.

Afterwards, Jin Ge Wang led Lu Qingshan and the others, under King Wuxing's guidance, once again to the temple of the Horned Gold Clan's Elder Climance.

After expressing thanks once more for the Horned Gold Clan's warm hospitality, Jin Ge Wang then led Lu Qingshan and the others through the temporary divine kingdom transmission channel opened by the Horned Gold Clan's Undying, and returned to the Horned Gold Clan's outpost within human territory.

There, Jin Ge Wang and Lu Qingshan's group were once again warmly received by the Horned Gold Clan's Hei Fengwang-rank Undying, King Mengdu, before finally returning to the Virtual Universe Company's universe-wide headquarters.

At this point, the special mission of transporting resources to the Horned Gold Clan came to a successful conclusion, and everyone dispersed with their respective gains.

After Lu Qingshan returned to his own residence, the many treasures he had previously ordered had all been delivered.

After briefly organizing the gains from this trip, Lu Qingshan quickly sent all the equipment he had ordered — detectors, armor, weapons, potions, and so on — into his divine kingdom.

……

Inside Lu Qingshan's divine kingdom.

Lu Qingshan sat on the Wang Zuo within his temple, looking expectantly at the four black metal boxes before him.

Click! Click!

With a thought from Lu Qingshan, the black metal boxes opened one after another.

The first box contained two high-grade detectors — one large and one small — that Lu Qingshan had purchased, costing him a total of ten million points; even peak Marquess-rank Undying rarely splurge this much on detectors!

The second box contained the 'Shenxiao Lei Jia' that Lu Qingshan had purchased — for a peak Marquess-rank Undying, this is already an extremely effective suit of armor!

It is worth mentioning that, given sufficient wealth, many Undying deities will purchase two defensive treasures — one suit of armor similar to this 'Shenxiao Lei Jia', and one battle garment similar to a Force battle garment or an auxiliary life-form battle garment.

Armor and battle garments can be used simultaneously in combat; however, only one of the same type can be used at a time.

For example, the Flame God Clan soldier armor and general armor used by Luo Feng in the original work, as well as the Demon Sound Venerable Huoshen Bell of Lord Zizhong, all belong to the armor category;

while the Moyun battle garment formed by Luo Feng's auxiliary plant life Moyun Vine, as well as Lord Zizhong's silver battle garment worth fifty billion Hunyuan units that can reduce physical attacks by half, all belong to the battle garment category!

The difference between the two is akin to the Force battle garments and alloy armor used at the Cosmic and Domain Master levels!

It's just that at the Undying deity level, both types of equipment can merge with the body itself!

And under normal circumstances, a battle garment of the same tier is far more expensive than armor, and its effects are also considerably inferior to armor, so when funds are tight, many warriors will prioritize purchasing armor.

Putting on the Divine Sky Thunder Armor, Lu Qingshan quickly looked toward the third black metal case.

Inside were two identical purple-gold longswords, each less than a meter long — precisely the Thunder-Shattering Void Swords he had purchased for ten million points!

Of course, divine weapons like these could freely change size according to their master's will.

As for the last metal case, it held the hundred grams of 'Nine Nether Soul-Eroding Water' that Lu Qingshan had purchased for ten million points.

Just fifty grams alone was enough to utterly annihilate a peak Marquis-rank undying divine being whose height did not exceed ten meters!

Next, Lu Qingshan quickly picked up one of the Thunder-Shattering Void Swords, then carefully smeared fifty grams of Nine Nether Soul-Eroding Water onto it.

Although wearing the Divine Sky Thunder Armor meant he didn't have to worry about being corroded by the Nine Nether Soul-Eroding Water, losing even a single gram would still pain his heart!

A moment later…

Looking at the Thunder-Shattering Void Sword in his hand, which gleamed with an eerie light, Lu Qingshan couldn't help but show a faint smile.

"With this weapon, when I run into tough enemies in the future, I won't have to rack my brains trying to run away!"

Lu Qingshan thought to himself: "Besides, I've now broken through to high-tier Marquis. With my amplification secret art, top-tier swordsmanship, and movement techniques, I can hold my own even against a peak Marquis. Add the Nine Nether Soul-Eroding Water and soul attacks, and it's not impossible for me to slay a peak Marquis!"

"Of course, when I go to the extraterritorial battlefield this time, I can't go on a killing spree like before — otherwise I might attract peak King-rank undyings who can teleport to hunt me down. I must be careful, at the very least I need to break even first!"

"And this time I can't go back to the Flame Sacrifice Continent either — it's best not to even go to the Seventh Extraterritorial Battlefield! That way, no one will recognize my identity!"

Thinking this, Lu Qingshan quickly began selecting the extraterritorial battlefield best suited to himself.

A moment later, he soon settled on the 'Snowfield Star River' within the dispersal range of Base Camp 056 on the Third Extraterritorial Battlefield!

The Snowfield Star River's danger level was slightly higher than the Flame Sacrifice Continent's, but far below the highest-tier combat zones like the Star Tower and Twin Vortex Domain on the Seventh Battlefield — making it very suitable for the current Lu Qingshan to venture into.

After choosing the location, Lu Qingshan was about to depart when he suddenly received a message from his third son, Lu Hongwen.

"Third?"

With a thought, Lu Qingshan quickly connected to the Virtual Universe, and immediately teleported himself back to the palace on Lei Guang Hai island.

By then, Lu Hongwen had long been waiting in the palace's guest hall.

"Father!"

Seeing Lu Qingshan appear, Lu Hongwen quickly offered a respectful greeting.

"Mm!"

Seeing the excitement written all over Lu Hongwen's face, Lu Qingshan couldn't help but ask with a smile: "Have you broken through to undying?"

"Yes!"

Lu Hongwen said excitedly: "It's all thanks to the Tianxuan Fruit you bestowed upon me, Father — your child has not let down your expectations!"

"This time, with your help I entered the Primal Universe to comprehend, but because it was my second entry, I didn't get the chance to comprehend the Chaos Monument again — I could only comprehend the externally manifested laws of the universe's operation within the Primal Universe!"

"But as you know, Father, my talent was never that great to begin with, so I comprehended for nearly a thousand years without achieving anything!"

"It wasn't until three years ago, when I received the notice that I was about to leave the Primal Universe, that I consumed the Tianxuan Fruit you bestowed upon me!"

"The effects of that Tianxuan Fruit were simply too incredible. The moment I swallowed it, a flood of insights about the Law of the Origin of Metal instantly appeared in my mind. It lasted for over half a day, and I smoothly mastered the Law of the Origin of Metal!"

"However, after I mastered the Law of the Origin of Metal, the universe's Origin Law didn't descend immediately!"

"I originally thought it was because of the Tianxuan Fruit, but just now, after I boarded the interdimensional ship and left the Primal Universe, the universe's Origin Law instantly descended, and so I smoothly broke through my shackles and became a true undying divine being!"

Hearing this, Lu Qingshan nodded slightly.

The Primal Universe was the Ancestral Master's small universe — without his permission, how could anyone break through their shackles and become undying within it?

At this moment, Lu Hongwen spoke again: "Father, people from the Virtual Universe Company have already approached me. They hope I'll join the Virtual Universe Company, so I can enjoy many benefits in the future!"

"Joining the Virtual Universe Company does come with many benefits, but it also comes with corresponding obligations!"

Lu Qingshan explained briefly, then continued asking: "Third, what do you think yourself?"

"I'll follow your lead, Father, but if possible, I'd still like to come home and help you look after the family!"

Lu Hongwen hurriedly said: "I know the family is what worries you most, Father. This time, with your help I've smoothly broken through to undying — from now on I can hold down the family for you for endless years!"

"Very well!"

Lu Qingshan nodded, then said: "Where are you now?"

Hearing this, Lu Hongwen quickly answered: "I just left the interdimensional ship and am in a fairly spacious waiting hall! Oh, and that undying divine being you're acquainted with, 'Kalista', is also beside me!"

"I understand. Just wait for me there — don't wander off!"

After giving the instruction, Lu Qingshan's true body, which happened to be staying at the headquarters continent residence, immediately rushed to that waiting hall!

He himself had gone through breaking through to undying after leaving Chaos City back in the day, so naturally he knew exactly where the hall Lu Hongwen mentioned was!

A moment later…

The Virtual Universe Company's universal headquarters, a vast hall.

At this moment, the hall held nearly ten thousand people, yet it didn't feel crowded in the slightest. Gathered around one table were several people — precisely Lu Hongwen, Kalista, and a few other Virtual Universe Company staff members.

As Lu Qingshan walked into the hall—

"Lord Qingshan!"

"Greetings, my lord Qingshan!"

Many powerful experts in the hall turned their heads and respectfully greeted Lu Qingshan.

Others around them who didn't know Lu Qingshan were slightly startled in their hearts upon seeing this scene.

"Lord Qingshan? Could this undying divine being already be a Marquis?"

"Heavens! Our entire universe country has fewer than three hundred Wang Hou in total — I never expected that the moment I arrived at the Virtual Universe Company headquarters, I'd get to meet a Marquis-rank undying!"

"Right! I've heard the experts of the five great powers are all somewhat stronger than those at the same level — this Lord Qingshan must be very powerful too!"

Listening to the surrounding chatter, Lu Qingshan paid it no heed at all.

After giving a slight nod to a few undyings he was acquainted with, he quickly arrived before Lu Hongwen and the others.

"Father!"

"Lu… Lord Qingshan!"

"Greetings, Marquis of Lu Qingshan!"

Lu Hongwen and the others spoke up one after another.

"Kalista!"

Lu Qingshan smiled as he looked at Kalista, then said with a grin, "It's been several thousand years — when did you get so polite?"

Hearing Lu Qingshan's words, Kalista also let out a quiet sigh of relief in her heart, then said with a smile, "It's all because your fame, Lu Qingshan, keeps growing! You're the only one among our batch who joined the Virtual Universe Company back then to become a Marquis-rank Immortal, and now plenty of military-commander Immortals in the Company look up to you as their goal for cultivation!"

"Hahaha! As long as you cultivate diligently, anyone has a chance to become a Marquis-rank Immortal!"

Lu Qingshan said with a smile, then quickly turned his gaze to the other Immortal deities from the various departments of the Virtual Universe Company around him: "Everyone, my third son has no intention of joining the Virtual Universe Company — you should all go back and report!"

Hearing Lu Qingshan's words, the surrounding Immortal deities quickly said, "Yes, my lord Marquis of Lu Qingshan!"

"I knew it!"

After the several Immortal deities had left, Kalista, who was standing to one side, said with a smile, "This Lu Hongwen is your son — even if he were to join the Virtual Universe Company, he'd have to join our Transport Department! This time the Ancestor sent me specifically to recruit him; if I succeeded I'd get a thousand merit points as a reward, but I could tell he had no such intention, so I didn't bring it up!"

Hearing this, Lu Qingshan felt quite emotional in his heart.

This was the astonishing gap in status between a World Master and an Immortal deity!

When Lu Hongwen had entered the Initial Universe this time, no one had paid him the slightest attention — he didn't even have the qualifications to join the core layer of the Five Great Powers!

But the moment he broke through, every major power came courting him — and anyone who succeeded in recruiting him could even earn merit-point rewards!

"Hongwen plans to go back and hold down the family!"

Lu Qingshan said with a smile, "In that case there's no need to join the Company — otherwise he'd have to complete all sorts of missions!"

"Not joining the Company is pretty good too — staying within a Universe Country and holding down a region is at least a bit freer!"

Kalista nodded, then exclaimed in wonder, "But I really didn't expect your son to successfully break through and become an Immortal deity! I remember when he first entered Chaos City, he hadn't even been acknowledged by the Origin Law, had he?"

"And it's been how long since then? He's already comprehended the complete Gold-Origin Law — that's simply too incredible! When did comprehending laws become this easy?"

"He just got lucky, that's all!" Lu Qingshan replied with a faint smile.

(End of chapter)