Qing Yu sent solemn thank-you emails to Venerable Nine Swords and Lord Jin Lan respectively.
Ten days later, in the outer space of Qinglin Main Star, a streamlined spaceship, resembling a drawn sword, quietly descended.
The spaceship was about six hundred meters long, its surface gleaming with a cold, dark silver metallic luster. The emblem of the Virtual Universe Corporation was inscribed on its hull, radiating an aura of efficiency and undeniable power.
The hatch slid open, and a team of figures in standard battle armor filed out. Leading them was an old man with a refined face and meticulously combed hair.
"immortal!" Qing Yu instantly sensed the vast, ocean-like, yet deeply hidden life aura emanating from him.
"Your Highness Qing Yu, greetings," the old man said, his voice calm yet clearly penetrating, neither overly warm nor arrogant.
"I am Lou Jing. By order of the Corporation, I am your temporary escort for this journey, responsible for accompanying you to the Virtual Universe Corporation headquarters."
As an Immortal, he did not need to grovel before an Stellar Level genius, but he naturally showed the appropriate respect and courtesy to a promising member of the Primal Secret Realm.
"Mr. Lou Jing, I will be troubling you this time," Qing Yu said, not daring to be negligent, bowing slightly with a respectful yet composed demeanor.
"It is my duty," Lou Jing nodded slightly, a faint smile flashing across his face, clearly pleased with Qing Yu's address and attitude.
"Your Highness, please board. The journey to headquarters is long, we shall depart immediately."
"Thank you, sir," Qing Yu saluted again, then, at immortal Lou Jing's signal, boarded the sword-shaped spaceship.
"Your Highness, it will still take some time to reach headquarters. Let me take this opportunity to guide you through the Virtual Headquarters of the Virtual Universe Corporation," Lou Jing said, entering the Virtual Universe Network first.
"Please log in as well, Your Highness."
Qing Yu's figure first appeared on Aurora Island, but with his increased authority, he could now teleport to a special plane.
"Teleport." With a thought, the scenery changed dramatically.
Qing Yu appeared on a wide, white jade road, with clouds and mist swirling on both sides. In the distance, an unimaginably vast floating mountain stood majestically, its scale far exceeding any planet!
"Welcome to Rain-Phase Mountain, Your Highness," immortal Lou Jing's figure appeared beside him, pointing to the giant peak as he introduced it:
"Rain-Phase Mountain has a diameter of approximately 89,000 kilometers. The entire mountain is divided into five major regions."
He pointed to the different regions vaguely visible in the clouds:
"The center is the public area, accessible to all core members. The four regions surrounding the public area correspond to the four Mystical Regions: Apocalypse Region, Heaven-Earth Region, Primordial Region, and — Original Zone!"
"The four Mystical Regions are similar in size, but the number of members varies greatly. And the Original Zone…" Lou Jing's tone carried a hint of solemnity, "The entire Virtual Universe Corporation, including Your Highness, has no more than 120 permanent members!"
"The treatment for members of the Original Mystical Region far exceeds that of other Mystical Regions," he continued.
"Just speaking of this Virtual Headquarters, every member of the Original Mystical Region possesses an exclusive manor! Its diameter… exceeds a thousand kilometers!"
"Not only that," Lou Jing added.
"The Corporation will also assign Immortals as long-term mentors to you, who will reside in your manor and answer your questions at any time! Let's go, Your Highness Qing Yu, I'll take you to the Original Zone first."
The two walked along the white jade road and soon arrived at the outskirts of the Original Zone. An invisible barrier separated it from the other regions.
"Your Highness, I can only accompany you this far," Lou Jing stopped.
"I am merely a temporary escort for this journey and have no authority to enter the Original Zone."
Qing Yu nodded understandingly: "Thank you, Mr. Lou Jing, for escorting me all the way."
"It is my duty. Please enter, Your Highness, there will be someone to receive you," Lou Jing nodded slightly.
Stepping into the Original Zone, not far from the entrance, a woman in a silver robe with a serene demeanor had been waiting for a long time. Upon seeing Qing Yu, she immediately approached:
"Your Highness Qing Yu, welcome to the Original Mystical Region! I am the administrator of the Original Zone, Your Highness may call me Adeline."
"Mhm, hello Adeline, please lead the way to the manor first," Qing Yu nodded slightly.
"Please follow me, Your Highness."
Soon, amidst the clouds, the outline of a manor so vast it was breathtaking appeared, its diameter indeed exceeding a thousand kilometers!
"Your Highness, this is your Original Zone manor," Adeline introduced.
"The manor is fully equipped with facilities, and the guard team has already moved in."
Outside the main gate, tens of thousands of people stood in neat formations! At the very front was a tall, stern-faced man in dark gold battle armor, his aura as deep as a prison.
"Your Highness Qing Yu, this is Marquis Tianyi! He is the teacher assigned to you by the Corporation, and he is also responsible for your safety," Adeline quickly introduced.
"Qing Yu greets Teacher Tian Yi!" Qing Yu's heart tightened, and he quickly bowed respectfully. The pressure of a Marquis-level immortal, even if only a virtual projection, made him feel as heavy as a mountain.
"Your Highness Qing Yu, I shall take my leave now. Further matters will be informed to Your Highness by Marquis Tianyi," Adeline tactfully withdrew.
"Follow me," Marquis Tianyi looked at Qing Yu, his voice flat, betraying no emotion, and his steps were exceptionally swift, leading Qing Yu directly into the manor.
The manor covered an extremely vast area, but the core residence was merely an elegant small villa. The remaining expansive areas were either training grounds or used for secret technique practice.
Inside the villa, Marquis Tianyi stopped, his gaze, like a tangible entity, fell upon Qing Yu, his voice low and steady, as constant as the movement of stars:
"Qing Yu. I have thoroughly reviewed your genius battle records." As the mentor assigned by the Corporation, he had already meticulously analyzed every one of Qing Yu's battles.
"You have initially grasped both the Law of Space and the Law of Time, and your application is acceptable," his tone was without any ripple, as if stating an established fact.
"But do you know that cultivating both space and time laws simultaneously is a 'dead end'! Without talent that appears once every ten thousand epochs, forcibly treading this path often leads to nothing in the end!" Marquis Tianyi's words were clear and cold, devoid of any emotional embellishment.
"Countless individuals more astonishingly talented than you have fallen on this path!" His gaze seemed to penetrate Qing Yu's soul.
"If you give up now and specialize in one path. With your talent, coupled with the Corporation's resources and my guidance, becoming a Marquis-level immortal in the future is not difficult. This is the wisest, and indeed, the only stable choice."
"Qing Yu is grateful for Teacher's painstaking efforts, but this disciple's mind is made up, and he is determined to try this path!" Qing Yu could not explain his talent amplification, so he could only respond with the firmest stance.
Marquis Tianyi silently watched the young man with the determined eyes before him, a few moments of silence passing.
"The Virtual Universe Corporation respects every core member's choice of their own path," his voice returned to a calm tone, yet carried a heavy weight.
"Since you are so insistent…" He paused slightly, his gaze profound.
"Then, as the mentor assigned to you by the Corporation, I, Marquis Tianyi, will fulfill my duty and wholeheartedly guide you. As for whether the end of this path is reaching the peak or falling into the abyss, it all depends on you!"