Chapter 25: Thoughts and Gifts

“Brother Qingshan!”

Lei Guang, the Ancestor, raised his cup in salute, then smiled and asked: “Your cultivation breakthrough in the Prime Universe—have you fully joined the Virtual Universe Corporation?”

Although joining any one of the Five Great Powers of the Human Race suffices in the Prime Universe, Lu Qingshan had already been an external member of the Virtual Universe Corporation, so naturally he could only join it.

“That’s right!”

Lu Qingshan raised his cup and drained it in one gulp: “I have indeed fully joined the Virtual Universe Corporation!”

After receiving Lu Qingshan’s definitive answer, Lei Guang quickly continued: “Then, what task has the Virtual Universe Corporation assigned you after your breakthrough?”

“It’s not exactly a good job.”

Lu Qingshan said calmly: “They’ve simply assigned me to the company’s Transportation Division—responsible for transporting important personnel and items under the company’s command.”

“Transportation Division?”

Lei Guang blinked in surprise, then congratulated: “Then congratulations, Brother Qingshan! The benefits of the Transportation Division among the Five Great Powers are exceptional. I heard that even an Immortal who joins can be assigned an F-class starship—do you know if that’s true?”

“It’s true.”

Lu Qingshan nodded: “But I only have usage rights to this starship, and I cannot take it beyond Human Territory—it’s nothing compared to your control over an entire empire, Brother Lei Guang.”

“Brother Qingshan, you overestimate me.”

Lei Guang raised his cup again: “To be honest, I’ve spent eons ruling the Lei Guang Sea Star Region, yet I still can’t afford even a single F-class starship, let alone one crafted by a Grandmaster of the Virtual Universe Corporation!”

Hearing this, Lu Qingshan silently shook his head.

This Lei Guang Ancestor is a master at feigning poverty!

In truth, ordinary Immortals rarely possess great wealth—but that applies only to those who recently broke through and hold no status or influence.

Every Immortal possesses near-eternal life; as long as they don’t perish by accident, their accumulated wealth grows steadily over time.

And Lei Guang Ancestor commands an entire star region—his rate of wealth accumulation far surpasses that of any ordinary Immortal!

Standing behind Lei Guang Ancestor, Qing Lan felt boundless emotion as she watched Lu Qingshan now speak with equal standing to her own Ancestor.

Four million years ago, she had just broken through to the Boundary Lord realm, radiant and youthful, while Lu Qingshan had already gained the recognition of the Lightning Primordial Law and enjoyed immense fame across the Lei Guang Sea Star Region.

At the time, when Lu Qingshan courted her, she thought him quite admirable—but he already had several wives and many children, so she ultimately refused him.

Yet now, a faint sense of regret stirred within her.

As the most favored Boundary Lord under Lei Guang Ancestor in this generation, Qing Lan’s greatest desire was to emulate two elder ancestors of her clan: gain the Ancestor’s favor, secure a chance to enter the Prime Universe for cultivation, and thereby break through to Immortality.

“If only I had accepted Lu Qingshan back then, perhaps the Ancestor would now value me more,” Qing Lan thought silently.

At that moment, Lei Guang Ancestor raised his cup again: “Brother Qingshan, now that you’ve joined the Virtual Universe Corporation’s Transportation Division, you’ll likely spend little time in your family’s domain. How do you plan to arrange your family’s affairs?”

In truth, inquiring about Lu Qingshan’s family arrangements was the sole purpose of Lei Guang Ancestor’s visit.

For the past several million years, Lu Qingshan’s family has expanded rapidly—its number of Boundary Lords now rivals that of the imperial clan.

But previously, Lu Qingshan was merely a Boundary Lord, unworthy of Lei Guang Ancestor’s attention.

The so-called “Third Strongest in the Lei Guang Sea Star Region” was nothing but a joke in Lei Guang Ancestor’s eyes—he might sleep one night and wake to find Lu Qingshan already dead.

But now, things are different.

Lu Qingshan has broken through to Immortality. Though still inferior to veteran Immortals like him, they now stand on the same level.

Under Lu Qingshan’s leadership, the entire Lu Clan now possesses sufficient power to threaten the Lei Guang Sea Imperial Clan.

Though the laws of Yanfeng Universe Nation prevent Lu Qingshan from seizing control of the entire Lei Guang Sea Star Region, as his family’s status rises within it, the imperial clan’s influence will inevitably wane—directly impacting Lei Guang Ancestor’s future wealth. He could no longer sit idle.

“Brother Lei Guang, rest assured.”

Lu Qingshan clearly understood the implication, but his recruitment of disciples and expansion of influence had always been solely to accumulate wealth for entering the Prime Universe.

Had he not joined the Chat Group, and remained a mere ordinary Immortal, he might have continued slowly growing his family’s power—but now, having joined the Multiverse Chat Group and gaining ever-increasing strength, he had no need to vie for these petty gains of the Lei Guang Sea Star Region.

After all, in the eyes of true masters, a mere star region like Lei Guang Sea is utterly insignificant!

Moreover, the Human Race currently has only 1,003 Universe Nations—even the Qianwu Universe Nation where Luo Feng resides in the original novel has yet to appear!

If he wishes to expand his family’s domain, he need only lead them to the Qianwu Universe Nation when it is established—and claim vast territories then.

So Lu Qingshan replied firmly: “I have no intention of challenging the Lei Guang Sea Imperial Clan. You may rest easy, Brother Lei Guang.”

“Hahaha…”

Hearing this, Lei Guang Ancestor laughed: “Brother Qingshan, that’s not what I meant!”

“By the way, Brother Qingshan, I came to congratulate you on your breakthrough—and I’ve prepared a gift for you.”

As he spoke, he waved his hand, and a triangular crystal emitting strange purple light appeared in his palm.

Lei Guang Ancestor used his Immortal power to gently present the crystal to Lu Qingshan, smiling: “This ‘Lei Source Purple Crystal’ was found by chance during my travels. It can be used to forge Lightning-element divine weapons. Today, I bestow it upon you, Brother Qingshan.”

In Lei Guang Ancestor’s view, to make Lu Qingshan relinquish his claims on the Lei Guang Sea Star Region, he must offer something of value.

Granting vast lands was out of the question—he couldn’t afford to lose them. So he settled on giving a precious gift.

This showed sincerity without risking the Lu Clan’s expansion within the Lei Guang Sea Star Region.

“This…”

Lu Qingshan stared at the Lei Source Purple Crystal, slightly surprised.

Such a crystal would cost 3,000 credits to exchange in the Virtual Universe Corporation’s treasury—and on the auction market, it could fetch over 3,000 Huan Yuan.

For Lei Guang Ancestor, who ruled an entire star region, this was still a valuable resource.

Realizing this, Lu Qingshan waved his hand in refusal: “Brother Lei Guang, this is too precious. I appreciate your gesture, but I cannot accept this gift.”

“Brother Qingshan, we’ve become close at first sight—what’s a mere gift?”

Lei Guang Ancestor feigned offense: “Do you think my gift is too insignificant?”

After much refusal and insistence, Lu Qingshan finally accepted the Lei Source Purple Crystal. The two chatted briefly before Lei Guang Ancestor rose to take his leave.

After Lei Guang Ancestor departed, Lu Qingshan immediately ordered Lu Hongwen to instruct family members to avoid conflict with the Lei Guang Sea Imperial Clan, then resumed his cultivation.

Thank you to the reader “Dark Sword Ji Hun” for the 100 coins. Today is busy—next chapter will be later.

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(End of Chapter)