Chapter 91: Heading to the Battlefield: Current Status in the Group

For the next period of time, Lu Qingshan spent all his efforts preparing his second avatar for the Outer War Zone.

Weapons, equipment, and intelligence gathering on various alien elites…

Although Lu Qingshan had once roamed the Outer War Zone when he was a Domain Lord, his knowledge back then paled in comparison to what he possessed now.

Thus, much of the information and experience he had acquired then were entirely obsolete for his current Cultivation Base as a Marquis, and he naturally needed to gather fresh intelligence.

A month later, Lu Qingshan finally completed all necessary preparations and sent everything into his Divine Realm at once.

His second avatar then used the Divine Realm’s teleportation to arrive at a remote region of the Thunderlight Sea Star Domain.

“Kashi!”

With a thought, Lu Qingshan’s auxiliary metallic lifeform Kashi instantly transformed into a metallic lake a thousand kilometers in diameter before him in the cosmic void.

Lu Qingshan gazed at the metallic lake ahead, his heart filled with deep emotion.

Kashi had been his battle companion since the moment he broke through to the Cosmic Level, and had since helped him survive countless life-or-death crises.

Now that Lu Qingshan had sufficient power, he would never stand idly by while Kashi perished due to inability to break through to Immortality.

Thinking of this, Lu Qingshan waved his hand, and all the precious resources he had purchased flew toward the metallic lake.

A vortex quickly formed at the lake’s center, sucking in all the valuable materials.

“Pain… painful…” Kashi’s consciousness echoed in Lu Qingshan’s mind.

“Endure it!”

Lu Qingshan quickly sent back a reassuring thought: “Whether you break through to Immortality depends entirely on you! Eighty percent chance—you will succeed!”

Soon, the entire metallic lake boiled violently.

Rebirth!

Transformation!

In mere moments, the metallic lake underwent a complete metamorphosis, changing from within to without in astonishing fashion.

Again and again, the lake churned like a sea turned upside down.

This state lasted over half an hour!

Hum!

The metallic lake’s transformation reached its peak and erupted violently.

In an instant, the entire liquid metallic lake solidified, the surging metal fluid frozen mid-air.

For a moment, the metallic lake fell utterly silent, save for a faint, barely perceptible energy fluctuation at its core—proof Kashi still lived.

“Final step!” Lu Qingshan watched the now-solid metallic lake with intense tension.

This final step was the most difficult and dangerous part of any auxiliary lifeform’s breakthrough to Immortality: either succeed and become Immortal, or perish.

In truth, whether Kashi broke through had zero impact on Lu Qingshan’s own power; his tension stemmed solely from Kashi being his battle companion for nearly ten million years.

After the metallic lake remained solid for over an hour, it finally liquefied again—endless metallic fluid surged skyward, spraying in all directions.

At the same moment…

“Boom!”

A soul-shaking ripple erupted from the metallic lake; an invisible pressure descended instantly.

“The pressure of the Cosmic Fundamental Laws.”

Feeling this immense pressure, Lu Qingshan’s face finally broke into a smile: “Success!”

The arrival of Fundamental Laws meant Kashi had shattered the life’s shackles and broken through to Immortality.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Infinite Metal Fundamental Law divine energy flowed from the Cosmic Source, continuously transforming Kashi’s divine body.

This was a rare benefit granted only upon breaking into Immortality: no matter how vast the lifeform’s body, it could freely absorb divine energy until fully saturated!

Unfortunately, after breaking through, Kashi’s power remained only equal to the most basic Immortal, so he did not gain immortality of the body—but it was enough to guard the family.

Moments later, all returned to calm.

Kashi, having fully transformed his divine body, took the form of a metallic figure and knelt before Lu Qingshan: “Thank you, Master, for helping me break through to Immortality!”

“Hahaha!”

Seeing this, Lu Qingshan laughed: “Kashi, I didn’t expect your wisdom to increase so much after your breakthrough!”

“All thanks to your grace, Master,” the metallic lifeform replied quickly.

“Enough. Now find a suitable place and build your own Divine Realm.”

Lu Qingshan smiled: “From now on, I’ll carry a trace of your divine energy—I’ll need your help to activate Divine Realm teleportation!”

“Yes, Master!” Kashi replied promptly and respectfully.

Soon after, Lu Qingshan helped the metallic lifeform Kashi construct his Divine Realm, then returned him to Thunderstar and instructed him to guard the family well.

Throughout this process, Lu Qingshan did not alert anyone in the family—his true body still resided at the Virtual Universe Corporation headquarters; only his second avatar had returned home.

Once all was done, Lu Qingshan departed aboard the newly purchased E-Class spaceship, carrying a trace of Kashi’s divine energy.

Although Lu Qingshan had once visited the Outer War Zone, he had been only a Domain Lord then and could not leave behind a divine energy coordinate.

Thus, this time he must use a fixed teleportation point within the Human Clan’s territory.

The fixed teleportation point he was heading for was “Origin Star,” the closest to the Thunderlight Sea Star Domain.

Origin Star was one of the eight major logistical supply bases within Human Clan territory and a fixed transit point for nearby Cosmic Nation armies heading to the Outer War Zone.

Cosmic Warrior armies and lone adventurers seeking to enter the Outer War Zone could all travel to Origin Star, receive their assignments, and then proceed to the Outer War Zone!

…

The journey to Origin Star was dull, so Lu Qingshan entered the chat group to pass the time.

At that moment, everyone in the chat group was berating Han Li.

【Pang Bo: Han Li, you little rascal, you’re being awfully dishonest!】

【Xiao Yan: Yeah, who knew Han Brother was this kind of person!】

【Yue Buqun: Actually, it’s perfectly normal for Han Daoist to do this—after all, Nan Gong Wan was supposed to be his wife anyway!】

【Ye Chen: I also think Han Daoist did nothing wrong. When I first met Murong Qingcheng, I felt the same deep familiarity!】

Watching the group tease Han Li, Lu Qingshan couldn’t help but smile.

He had always kept a thread of his consciousness active in the group, so he understood what they were discussing.

Earlier, Han Li had said he was going to seek pills suitable for Nascent Soul cultivation and left Huangfeng Valley.

During a casual chat, he mentioned he was about to fight a late-stage Golden Core cultivator; curious, the group asked him to go live.

Through this livestream, they learned Han Li had traveled to the territory of the Hidden Moon Sect, and the Golden Core cultivator’s purpose was to form a Dao Partner bond with Nan Gong Wan.

During Han Li’s punishment of the Golden Core cultivator, Pang Bo had teased him about his relationship with Nan Gong Wan and asked if he’d ever met her.

But Han Li always dodged the question, making the group even more curious.

Pressed further, Han Li finally revealed the truth.

It turned out that over a year ago, during the Blood Prohibition Trial held by several major sects of Yue Country, Han Li had used the group’s ability to suppress his power to Qi Refining Level Ten and enrolled in the trial.

Unlike others who joined the Blood Prohibition Trial to obtain Foundation Establishment Pills, Han Li’s motive was entirely “the wine was not the point!”

Naturally, everything unfolded as planned!

The First-Stage Ink Dragon, surrounded by Hidden Moon Sect disciples, broke through to Second Stage; the sect disciples died or fled; Nan Gong Wan was cornered—Han Li stepped forward…

But this time, Han Li did not let the Ink Dragon’s sac explode as in the original story; instead, he used his overwhelming power to leave a deep impression on Nan Gong Wan!

After all, he was no longer the Qi Refining cultivator from the original tale—he was a genuine late-stage Golden Core, and with the group’s Enlightenment Boost, he had refined countless techniques to an extremely profound level; leaving a deep impression on Nan Gong Wan was effortless!

【Han Li: If I said all this was coincidence, would you believe me?】

【Pang Bo: I believe it, I believe it, hahaha…】

【Xiao Yan: Han Brother, I do believe you—but you must believe me, my encounter with Yun Yun was also pure accident!】

【Pang Bo: Wait, Xiao Yan, you’re even worse than Han Li!】

【Ye Chen: Exactly! @Xiao Yan, if you don’t send out some red packets this time, we won’t let it go!】

【Xiao Yan: What’s going on?! Why are you all like this?! If you want to rob me, just say so—now you’re making up excuses?】

【System Notice: Xiao Yan sent a group red packet: 30 Body Strengthening Pills.】

【Xiao Yan: I used the Body Strengthening Elixir from the Group Master and combined it with rare herbs from my world to create this new pill—try it out and see how it works!】

This time Xiao Yan sent a luck-based red packet, which was quickly snatched up by everyone, even pulling out several lurkers.

【Pang Bo: Xiao Yan is generous! Hahaha, I grabbed eight out of thirty—I’m clearly the chosen one!】

【Cao Cao: Xiao Yan is generous! I only got three, but still thank you, Xiao Yan Brother!】

【Yue Buqun: Xiao Yan is generous! @Cao Cao, I’m worse—I only got two!】

【Ye Chen: Xiao Yan is generous! @Pang Bo, Brother Pang, my luck seems even better—I got nine!】

World of The Legend of the Condor Heroes.

Han Li stared at the two pills in his hand, lost in thought.

Every time the group sent a luck-based red packet, he always seemed to have the worst luck—was the chat group deliberately targeting him?

【Han Li: Tears streaming.JPG! I only got two too!】

【Pang Bo: That’s how it is for people with bad luck!】

【Xiao Yan: That’s how it is for people with bad luck!】

【Ye Chen: That’s how it is for people with bad luck!】

Inside the spaceship heading to Origin Star, Lu Qingshan stared at the black, dull pill in his hand, his face darkening.

Although the pill had no effect on him, losing to others still left him deeply annoyed.

“No good. If I’m unhappy, no one else should be happy either!”

Thinking of this, Lu Qingshan casually tossed the pill into his mouth, then began teasing in the chat group.

【Lu Qingshan: Image.JPG, what if I only got one? @Pang Bo, @Xiao Yan, @Ye Chen!】

Seeing Lu Qingshan’s message, Pang Bo, Xiao Yan, and Ye Chen—all mentioned by him—froze in surprise.

【Pang Bo: @Group Owner, one is great! Isn’t that saying you’re the top of our group?】

【Xiao Yan: Pang Ge is absolutely right, Group Owner—unique perfectly fits your aura!】

【Ye Chen: Agreed! Group Owner, one pill proves your cultivation base leaves the rest of us far behind!】

【Lu Qingshan: Hahaha...】

【System Notice: Lu Qingshan uploaded a group red packet: 1,000 doses of Body Strengthening Elixir! (Note: Only Administrator Pang Bo, Member Ye Chen, and Member Xiao Yan may claim one each.)】

【Lu Qingshan: Since all three of you think one is best, I’ll save the best for you!】

Seeing Lu Qingshan’s message, Han Li, who was purchasing treasures in a marketplace under the Moon-Shadow Sect, burst into laughter.

Han Li’s laughter quickly made the shopkeeper across from him grow wary.

Seeing this, Han Li felt no annoyance; he simply pulled out spirit stones borrowed from several Golden Core juniors and bought the treasure.

【Han Li: Hahaha! Evil men always have... good men to deal with them!】

【Pang Bo: Group Owner, I report! I report that Han Li is trying to call you evil!】

【Xiao Yan: Right! I report Brother Han too!】

【Lu Qingshan: @Han Li, is that true?】

【Han Li: Group Owner, I’m innocent! I said ‘good man’—they’re all fabricating lies!】

【System Notice: Lu Qingshan uploaded a group red packet: 3,000 doses of Body Strengthening Elixir!】

【Lu Qingshan: Hahaha, just joking with you all!】

【Pang Bo: Group Owner is generous! Xiao Yan, learn from this!】

【Han Li: Group Owner is generous! Xiao Yan, learn from this!】

【Ye Chen: Group Owner is generous! Xiao Yan, learn from this!】

【Xiao Yan: You guys are so comfortable standing there talking! Do you think my resources compare to the Group Owner’s? Be glad you got thirty pills! If you don’t want them, give them back!】

【Pang Bo: No way! Gifts given can’t be taken back!】

【Ye Chen: Pang Ge is right!】

【Han Li: I already ate the pill!】

Amidst the banter, everyone in the group claimed Lu Qingshan’s red packets.

Even Pang Bo, the unluckiest this time, received over three hundred doses of Body Strengthening Elixir—more than enough to count as a great haul.

Next, everyone exchanged their accumulated points and resources with Lu Qingshan for various cultivation materials.

Once all this was settled, Ye Fan from the World of Supreme Sword Dao spoke of another matter.

【Ye Chen: Brothers, the Dragon Pool Rankings competition is about to begin—anyone interested in joining the spectacle?】

【Xiao Yan: Dragon Pool Rankings? I checked it out—it seems the top ranks earn Dragon Vein Qi?】

【Pang Bo: I recall Dragon Vein Qi helps with cultivation base advancement!】

【Han Li: But what’s the use? We can’t cultivate in Ye Chen’s world!】

【Yue Buqun: I wonder if we can bring Dragon Vein Qi back to our original worlds?】

【Cao Cao: I think we can—just spend more points crossing dimensions!】

【Meng Huan: I remember the Dragon Pool Rankings has an age limit—I’m already hundreds of years old, so I can’t enter!】

【Pang Bo: True, I’m probably over age too. But after arriving in the Northern Dipper Star Region, I ate a few Nine Marvelous Immortal Herb fruits—I aged back a few years. Maybe I can sneak in?】

【Yue Buqun: I’d love to compete, test myself against geniuses from other worlds. But first, my strength is weak; second, I’m over age!】

【Xiao Yan: My age isn’t over! @Ye Chen, I’ll join you for the competition!】

【Pang Bo: But your strength is way over the limit! I’ve seen the strength of geniuses in his world—even late Foundation Establishment veterans aren’t my match. Those geniuses might be stronger, but I doubt they can beat me—you’d just slaughter them all!】

On the True Spirit Continent, Ye Chen, en route to Dragon Pool Ancient City, paused in surprise, then quickly thought of a solution.

【Ye Chen: This is a serious issue. Here’s an idea: Xiao Yan, if you want to compete, suppress your cultivation to the peak of Foundation Establishment—we can spar then!】

【Xiao Yan: Great idea! I want to see who’s stronger at the same level!】

Hearing this, Meng Huan, training in secret within the Jade Cauldron Sect, felt a surge of interest.

【Meng Huan: I’d really like to try too! @Lu Qingshan, Group Owner, can you solve the age limit for the Dragon Pool Rankings?】

【Yue Buqun: Group Owner, if you can solve this, I’d like to try too!】

In the World of Tunshixingkong , inside the control room of an E-Class starship.

Seeing all his group members eager for the Dragon Pool Rankings in the World of Supreme Sword Dao, Lu Qingshan felt a spark of interest.

After Ye Chen and Meng Huan joined, the group had never held a new gathering. Turning this competition into one would be perfect!

Thinking of this, Lu Qingshan spoke up in the group.

【Lu Qingshan: I can’t say for sure yet—it depends on whether my strength can suppress the Dragon Pool Ancient City’s operating rules.】

【Lu Qingshan: But when the competition begins, everyone can go take a look. I’ll first try to trick the system—if I succeed, you compete; if not, we’ll just treat it as an offline gathering. We haven’t held one since Ye Chen and Meng Huan joined!】

【Yue Buqun: Brilliant idea, Group Owner—I agree!】

【Pang Bo: I’m fine with it too!】

【Han Li: Since everyone’s going, I’ll join the spectacle too!】

【Meng Huan: I’ve been looking forward to meeting you all—I’ll definitely be there!】

【Xiao Yan: I’m definitely going. My age isn’t over, so I’ll compete—I’ll show you how I dominate!】

【Cao Cao: Even though I’m weak, I’ll come for the fun!】

【Tian Meng Bing Can: Since everyone’s going, I’ll join too—even though I hate fighting!】

【Ye Chen: You all coming here is wonderful—I’ll make sure you’re all taken care of!】

【Ye Chen: The Dragon Pool Rankings start in less than a month. I’m heading to Dragon Pool Ancient City now—I’ll invite you all once I arrive.】

【Lu Qingshan: Alright, it’s settled!】

After settling the Dragon Pool Rankings matter, the group chatted briefly before dispersing—only a few with spare time remained chatting.

…

True Spirit Continent, Nan Zhuo Region.

Ye Chen, en route to Dragon Pool Ancient City, glanced at the chat logs and felt a flicker of battle intent.

In the original story, he defeated Sikong Sheng of the Floating Mountain to claim first place in the Dragon Pool Rankings.

With the group’s help, his strength now far surpasses his original timeline’s—his performance in the upcoming competition will be even smoother.

But the arrival of others from the group will surely bring major changes.

Each member of the group is an elite from their own world, possessing immense strength—even if all suppress to peak Foundation Establishment, he couldn’t guarantee victory.

“But that’s what makes it interesting!”

Ye Chen thought inwardly: “Let me see what powerful techniques the others possess!”

Meanwhile, Xiao Yan from the Doupo World and Pang Bo from the Zhetian World also planned to win first place in the Dragon Pool Rankings.

Of course, this all assumed Group Owner Lu Qingshan wouldn’t compete.

Otherwise, with Lu Qingshan’s terrifying realm—even if he suppressed his cultivation to peak Foundation Establishment—he’d still be unbeatable.

…

On the other side, after chatting with the group, Lu Qingshan quickly returned to cultivation.

After over a month of cosmic travel, he finally reached his destination: Origin Star.

“Master, we have arrived at Origin Star!”

After the starship emerged from the dark universe back into the normal universe, the voice of the auxiliary AI, Deep Blue, echoed in Lu Qingshan’s mind.

Traveling the Outlands was perilous—Lu Qingshan wouldn’t bring the sentient AI Deep Blue along.

This auxiliary AI was a sub-entity created by Deep Blue, possessing all its functions, but lacking sentience.

“Deep Blue, activate exterior simulation!” Lu Qingshan ordered.

“Yes, Master!”

The moment the auxiliary AI spoke, a vast starry expanse appeared before Lu Qingshan.

In that starry expanse floated a colossal planet—Origin Star.

Origin Star was an artificial planet, 1,073,000 kilometers in diameter—a true stellar fortress.

Even a dozen Cosmic Sovereigns attacking together couldn’t breach it.

At this moment, Lu Qingshan rode a starship purchased from the Virtual Universe Corporation’s vault—worth two thousand points, suitable only for many Immortal Gods.

“Ding!”

“Master, I’ve received the guidance signal from within Origin Star.”

The auxiliary AI’s voice echoed in Lu Qingshan’s mind: “Signal connected. Proceed according to Origin Star’s guidance?”

“Yes.” Lu Qingshan nodded slightly.

Whoosh!

The silver-white saucer-shaped starship instantly became a streak of light, speeding toward the distant Origin Star.

(End of Chapter)