Chapter 318: Liu Shen: 'You are the ones who want to invade Earth?'
The Genius Battle concluded. The virtual arena, still bearing the scars of their apocalyptic battles, fell silent.
Those Immortal powerhouses from the various universe nations, who had been spectating, retreated one after another. Their expressions were complex, filled with shock, awe, and a hint of apprehension.
Only the higher-ups of the Virtual Universe Company remained, their gazes fixed on the group from Earth.
"Everyone, the prize money for the top 1,000 in the Genius Battle is currently being distributed," a gentle voice announced to the remaining geniuses. "You can check your accounts once you return. You are now dismissed."
"Later, our Virtual Universe Company will send a universe spacecraft to your registered address to pick you up to comprehend the Primal Universe!"
The Virtual Universe Company higher-up explained a few administrative details. As he finished, the figures of the other geniuses—like Bolan and Rong Jun—dissipated from the conference room one by one as they logged out.
However, Shi Jian, Luo Feng, and the rest of the group were deliberately kept behind.
The man in the green battle robe, the same high-ranking Immortal who had officiated the finals, appeared before them.
He addressed them with a gentle, almost warm, attitude. "The Universe Genius Battle has come to an end. Next, you will all join the Virtual Universe Company as core members. The main reason for keeping you here is to discuss... another matter."
He paused, his eyes meeting Luo Feng's. "Regarding Earth."
"Your performance was... too outstanding. In the vast Milky Way, it's not surprising for one or two geniuses to emerge from some remote corner. However, it is absolutely impossible for an entire group of geniuses of your caliber to appear from one undeveloped planet."
"The talent and aptitude you few possess are the strongest I have ever seen in my long life," the man stated frankly. "The Earth, which could cultivate a group of people like you, is clearly not an ordinary place."
"Therefore, after you became famous, many people investigated Earth. And they discovered some clues about its secret."
"This is a very special place. Living beings nurtured here will be invisibly influenced by Earth, causing their souls to evolve and possess a state of mind difficult for ordinary beings to achieve."
"Besides you all, we also analyzed two others from your planet, named Hong and Thor. Their talents are also exceptional, having comprehended a Domain at the mere Planetary Rank."
As he spoke, he looked directly at Luo Feng.
"Luo Feng, you are currently the registered Lord of Earth. Hearing me say this, you should know that Earth is of great value. Incalculable value."
"Currently, many factions are eyeing Earth. Now that you have joined our Virtual Universe Company, our VUC can, naturally, protect Earth for you."
"However," the man continued, his tone becoming professional, "a company is ultimately a place that focuses on profit. For the company to protect Earth, Earth should also pay some price."
"These are the two transaction plans formulated by the company regarding Earth. You can take a look."
As he spoke, he handed over the virtual documents.
These two plans were very simple.
The first plan was for Luo Feng to sell Earth—the entire planet, its land, oceans, and sovereignty—to the Virtual Universe Company. From then on, how Earth was handled would be entirely the responsibility of the VUC.
Correspondingly, Luo Feng would receive a huge amount of wealth: 200 billion mixed units.
[Inorin's Note: A 'mixed unit' (Hunyuan unit) is a high-end intergalactic currency. 200 billion is an astronomical sum, enough to buy entire galaxies, and a fortune even many Universe Venerables would covet.]
The second method was that Earthlings could still reside on Earth's land, retaining ownership of the continents. However, the oceans, which held many of the planet's secrets, would belong to the Virtual Universe Company.
Correspondingly, the price would also be much lower, at 50 billion mixed units.
After Luo Feng flipped through it, his expression remained unreadable. He handed the contract to the others to read.
Shi Jian, Xiao Yan, and Lin Dong casually flipped through a few pages, their lips curling into faint smirks. They then tossed the contract aside.
"Both contracts are good," Shi Jian said, "but not good enough."
After exchanging glances, the group gave their silent consensus to Luo Feng.
Luo Feng looked at the VUC representative. "Earth can only belong to Earthlings. You want to permanently buy the oceans on Earth for 50 billion mixed units? This amount of money... I'm afraid it's barely enough to rent a small island in our hometown."
The man in the green battle robe was stunned when he heard this. His gentle smile faded. "Luo Feng, do you know what you're saying?"
"The Ganwu Universe Country is under the control of my Virtual Universe Company. The entire Universe Country belongs to the VUC. Logically speaking, as long as the company issues an order, it can strip you of your ownership of Earth!"
"The company hasn't done that, and proceeding through these formal channels, is a testament to your talent. These two transaction plans are already very benevolent."
"The first plan offers 200 billion mixed units. That is a fortune that even a Universe Venerable cannot produce."
"Although the second plan is only 50 billion, it gives Earthlings the chance to continue living in their hometown and the company will also invest massive resources to cultivate Earthlings!"
"The price offered by the company is indeed less than Earth's true value," the man admitted, "but the company has already been very benevolent. After all, your ownership of Earth, Luo Feng, is worthless to the Virtual Universe Company; a single document can strip it away."
The man in the green battle robe specifically explained this, fearing Luo Feng and his friends might not understand the political situation they were in.
Luo Feng nodded. Both plans seemed exploitative, but he understood the man's point. The Virtual Universe Company was, indeed, being benevolent.
Like in the original work, where he had no backing, he still received generous terms. This point was undeniable.
They could have just taken it by force, but they still offered money. Compared to other forces, the Virtual Universe Company was indeed decent.
"I understand what you're saying," Luo Feng said slowly, his voice firm. "But... Earth can only belong to Earthlings. If any force wants to rent some land, that's negotiable."
"But if you want to directly invade, or engage in forced buying and selling—believe me, even the Virtual Universe Company cannot bear the consequences."
Luo Feng's words were heavy. He had a good impression of the VUC, so he decided to be frank.
"If you have investigated Hong and Thor, you should know how vast the gap in strength is between them and us."
"Since we are all Earthlings, why are we so strong? I don't believe your Virtual Universe Company hasn't suspected anything..."
The man in the green battle robe fell silent upon hearing this.
Indeed. Hong and Thor also originated from Earth. Their talents were also quite good.
However, they could only compare to normal top geniuses within a Universe Country. That was all.
But compared to Luo Feng and the others... they were not on the same level.
They investigated Earth because of the strength of Luo Feng and the others, and then they discovered Earth's secret.
However, Earth's secret... seemed insufficient to account for the monstrous power of Luo Feng and his group.
Luo Feng continued, "If Earth were solely under my control, I might choose the second transaction plan, as the Virtual Universe Company's terms are indeed very sincere."
"However, such a transaction plan is only sincere to me, a Star-level Lord of Earth."
"If it were offered to a... Universe Supreme Being... I'm afraid the sincerity wouldn't be enough."
Luo Feng gently pushed the two plans back.
Upon hearing this, the man in the green battle robe's pupils sharply contracted.
Universe Supreme Being!
[Inorin's Note: A 'Universe Supreme Being' (Yu Zhou Zui Gao Zhe) or 'True God' (Zhen Shen) is the highest known level of power in the universe, far above Immortals or Universe Venerables. The Giant Axe Creator is one.]
Even he, a Feudal King Immortal, could not remain calm upon hearing such words.
His voice was strained: "Is what you say true? Does Earth truly have such an existence guarding it?"
Luo Feng nodded.
"Is it... that foreign Great Power who modified Earth back then?" the man pressed.
Luo Feng did not answer his question.
The man in the green battle robe's eyes flickered, his mind racing. After a long while, he finally took a deep breath. "Thank you for the information you've revealed. This matter is... quite significant. I need to report it to the highest levels of the Virtual Universe Company."
"If such a strong being truly exists, then we indeed have no right to covet Earth. However, as far as I know, people from the Giant Axe Martial Arts Arena and some other forces are already on their way to Earth..."
Luo Feng stood up, his gaze calm. "Earthlings often say this: if friends come, we have fine wine to greet them. If enemies come, we also have hunting rifles."
...
The few of them exited the virtual universe world and returned to the real world, to Earth.
They gathered at Luo Feng's villa. The atmosphere was tense, expectant.
"Next, I'm afraid we'll have to trouble Liu Shen to act again," Luo Feng said, respectfully bowing to the simple willow tree planted in his yard, its branches glowing with a faint, tender green.
At this moment, Liu Shen, who served as the main support and ultimate utility person for all members in the group, was already in position.
"No matter," Liu Shen's ethereal, genderless voice resonated. "It is just a small matter."
Hearing her words, Luo Feng's heart immediately settled. With Liu Shen present, there would be no surprises.
...
Ever since Luo Feng had dominated the Universe Genius Battle, the messages he received daily were countless.
All these messages were requests, and then demands, to buy Earth from him. Luo Feng ignored them all.
Some forces didn't even know what was special about Earth; they just felt that a place capable of cultivating so many geniuses must have something peculiar about it.
Hence, they wanted to get involved.
However, most forces only sent messages to make contact. Only a small, arrogant portion truly took action.
Finally, on this day, someone descended upon Earth.
A terrifying, "Immortal" divine power, vast and arrogant, swept across the entire Earth.
[Inorin's Note: 'Immortal' or 'Undying' (Bu Xiu) is the rank above Sector Lord. They are true gods in the eyes of mortals.]
Above Earth's atmosphere, a group of figures appeared, exuding terrifying Divine Might.
These people were all Undying Gods.
Eighteen Immortal Gods. Six were Feudal King rank, and twelve were Feudal Lord rank. This was a force that could sweep a galaxy.
[Inorin's Note: 'Feudal Lord' (Feng Hou) and 'Feudal King' (Feng Wang) are the two highest echelons of the Immortal rank.]
This was clearly a force from the Giant Axe Martial Arts Arena.
After Luo Feng and the others sensed their presence, they all smiled grimly.
Having waited so long, someone finally... fell for it.
Luo Feng took a step forward, his body flying into the sky, followed by the rest of the group. He looked at the Immortal Gods emanating powerful Divine Vight in the distant sky.
"Who are you, and why do you invade my Earth?"
"You are Luo Feng?" The leading Immortal God, a being wreathed in energy as dazzling as the sun, laughed.
"We happened to come to the Milky Way and are very fond of this galaxy, so we want to buy this Milky Way from you!"
"A galaxy normally costs less than one mixed unit. I'll be generous. I'll offer 100 mixed units to buy the Milky Way. Are you satisfied?"
Luo Feng's expression turned strange after hearing this.
Honestly speaking, the Virtual Universe Company was truly a conscientious enterprise. They were willing to negotiate for 200 billion for the planet alone.
Look at this person in front of him. Without guessing, Luo Feng knew. These must be people from the Giant Axe Martial Arts Arena.
...They actually offered a "sky-high price" of 100... for the entire galaxy.
"Go to hell!"
Before Luo Feng could even speak, Lin Dong couldn't help but curse, stepping forward.
"The Virtual Universe Company offered 200 billion and still wasn't qualified to buy Earth. You want to buy the whole galaxy for 100? You can't even buy your mom's pussy for 100!"
"Rough words, but true," Shi Jian nodded in agreement from the side, a cold smile on his face.
The few of them looked at the Immortal Gods with eyes that saw them as clowns.
The expressions of the several Immortal Gods changed. The leader's face grew even more grim. "Good, good, good! You ungrateful little fellows! Do you really think joining the Virtual Universe Company makes you invincible?"
"Hmph! If I kill you, Luo Feng, the ownership of the Milky Way will be inherited by your son. I have plenty of ways to make your son transfer the ownership to me!"
"A few Star-level geniuses who just passed the Genius Selection... the Virtual Universe Company won't tear face with our Giant Axe Martial Arts Arena because of you!"
After the person finished speaking, his oppressive, Immortal aura swept out like a tidal wave.
A terrifying force permeated in all directions, encompassing the entire Earth in an instant, intending to crush the inhabitants with fear.
Just as this Immortal powerhouse was about to make a move...
The expressions of the few people in the group were strange.
You made a move, right? The Giant Axe Martial Arts Arena made a move on Earth?
Good.
In an instant, the space-time of the entire Milky Way seemed to be frozen.
The void flickered. A blurry, green shadow appeared.
A terrifying aura emerged between heaven and earth. This aura was too vast, too ancient, suppressing all eternity and making all living beings tremble.
"Are you the ones who want to make a move on Earth?"
Liu Shen's ethereal voice resounded throughout the entire Milky Way.
Within the Milky Way, hidden in pocket dimensions and on ships, the expressions of many powerful beings changed.
As her words fell, in an instant, countless figures hidden in the shadows were forcibly dragged out, instantly suffering severe injuries, their divine bodies cracking as their auras neared death.
"Father...!"
The leader among those 18 Immortal Gods looked in horror at a man who was forced out of the void, his aura on the verge of death. He was speaking in disbelief.
Venerable Corroding Fire! A high-ranking Universe Venerable from the Giant Axe Martial Arts Arena.
[Inorin's Note: A 'Universe Venerable' (Yu Zhou Zun-zhe) is a being far beyond an Immortal, capable of controlling vast territories.]
Besides Venerable Corroding Fire, there were several other Venerables, all of whom had designs on Earth.
Suddenly, all of them were exposed by Liu Shen.
However, Liu Shen didn't even glance at them. Her consciousness instead looked at a single spot in the deep void. "Do these people represent your intentions?"
After her voice fell, a person finally materialized, stepping out of the fabric of reality.
The strongest being among the human race—the Giant Axe Creator.
"I have no ill intentions towards Earth," he said, his voice like the grinding of tectonic plates. "These people were driven by greed and were not instigated by me. I merely came to observe after learning that Earth had an existence of a similar rank."
"But now... it seems I was too narrow-minded."
Giant Axe Creator's expression was very solemn. His eyes, as he looked at Liu Shen's blurry form, were filled with profound astonishment.
The special nature of Earth... he had personally come to investigate before.
That foreign Great Power who modified Earth, he also knew.
Given his status, although Earth had been modified, it didn't hold much value to him. He had come, more so, to appreciate the methods of someone of "the same realm."
A single Earth, even if it had been modified by someone of the same realm, wasn't worth him personally scheming for it.
After all, he was the strongest being standing at the peak of the human race.
It was just... he received news from the Virtual Universe Company. Earth had a Universe Supreme Being.
Upon hearing this news, he grew curious, which was why he descended upon Earth once again.
Regarding this news, he was half-believing, half-doubting. He had studied Earth once before and hadn't discovered any Universe Supreme Being.
Now, having truly felt Liu Shen's presence...
Giant Axe Creator finally understood that it wasn't that he hadn't discovered Liu Shen.
It was simply that Liu Shen didn't want him to discover her.
Such strength... clearly far surpassed his own.
Moreover, this unknown powerhouse was not the one who modified Earth.
Liu Shen listened to Giant Axe Creator's words, her tone without the slightest fluctuation, merely responding faintly:
"I do not wish to meddle in external affairs, but..."
"Those who offend Earth... die."
"Those who bully the weak and attack my legacy bearers... die."
As her words fell, the numerous Immortal Gods and the exposed Universe Venerables on the ground were instantly annihilated, their divine bodies and souls turning to dust, erased from existence.
Giant Axe Creator didn't even look at his fallen subordinates, only nodding. "This matter is our Giant Axe Martial Arts Arena's fault. I will have someone present an apology later."
Giant Axe Creator adopted a very humble stance, and he said in a deep voice:
"I have some questions... may I ask for your guidance?"
...
Earth was completely and utterly famous.
No one knew what exactly happened on Earth that day.
They only knew that, immediately afterward, the Virtual Universe Company, the Giant Axe Martial Arts Arena, the Universe Mercenary Alliance, and several other top forces jointly issued a series of laws and regulations related to Earth.
From Universe Venerables, down to Apprentices. All had to abide by them obediently.
There were too many rules to recount them all.
People from countless Universe Countries only gleaned one piece of information from these new, unbreakable rules.
That was... no one could speak loudly in front of Earth.
No one.
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