"Dad!"
"Father."
Han Huan and Han Xi's voices rang out in perfect harmony, their affection palpable even through the virtual connection.
Virtual Universe. An island in the Ganwu Continent, purchased by Han Jue as a private sanctuary for his children, a place where they could gather without the formality and crowds that filled Earth's official Virtual Universe territory. Though the Virtual Universe Company had helped establish Earth's presence within the virtual network with space comparable to the massive Ganwu Continent, those areas felt too business-like, too impersonal. This small island offered something different: intimacy, privacy, family.
Two young adults rushed toward Han Jue the moment he materialized, their faces bright with genuine joy. Despite their age, nearly forty years old now, they moved with the unrestrained enthusiasm of children greeting their father after a long absence. They wrapped their arms around him, cuddling close with an affection that made Han Jue's heart swell with warmth.
"You're both almost forty, and you still act like children," Han Jue said with a helpless smile, though he embraced them tightly, cherishing these moments. Time moved strangely when measured against the lifespans of those with exceptional bloodlines. His children, born from the Reincarnation Star Stone decades ago, had grown into formidable warriors in their own right.
Han Huan and Han Xi. His son and daughter. Both had reached the ninth level of the Universe Rank, yet they remained on Earth, content to train under Venerable Lianyi's guidance rather than venturing into the wider cosmos. Their potential was extraordinary, each possessed sufficient talent to join the Virtual Universe Company through conventional recruitment channels. While they hadn't entered through the prestigious Genius Battle route, their abilities rivaled those of the Primal Secret Realm's finest prodigies. Both had already begun comprehending the Origin Laws of Space, and their innate secret technique of Analysis accelerated their progress at a staggering pace.
"But Dad, we're still just children by our species' standards," Han Xi countered with a playful grin, her pale blue eyes sparkling with mischief. "We're of a pinnacle bloodline. Only World Masters are considered adults among us. Even you're technically not an adult yet."
Han Jue found himself momentarily speechless. She wasn't wrong. At just over a hundred years old, he was practically an infant compared to most geniuses who'd participated in the Genius Battle. Several generations younger than his peers, yet already standing among humanity's elite.
"You're being disrespectful," Han Jue said with mock severity, reaching out to pat Han Xi's head gently.
Han Xi had grown into a striking young woman. Her waist-length snow-white hair flowed like silk, catching the virtual sunlight with an ethereal glow. Large, pale blue eyes, the Six Eyes bloodline she'd inherited from Han Jue, shone with cool, mysterious depths. Her features, inherited from both Han Jue and bearing an uncanny resemblance to Venerable Lianyi's ethereal beauty, gave her an otherworldly appearance. She wore a simple flowing dress that outlined her graceful figure, and true to form, perhaps picking up habits from Venerable Lianyi, she preferred going barefoot, her delicate feet barely touching the virtual ground.
Despite her aloof, almost ethereal appearance, Han Xi possessed a lively, playful personality that constantly surprised people who didn't know her well.
Han Huan remained characteristically silent, his hands tucked casually in his pockets. He looked nearly identical to Han Jue, the same sharp features, the same perfectly styled white hair, the same penetrating pale blue eyes. His slim-fitting black suit gave him a sophisticated air, while his reserved demeanor projected the aura of someone who observed more than they spoke. Where his sister was openly expressive, Han Huan kept his thoughts close, revealing them only when necessary.
Despite their vastly different personalities, both siblings shared one fundamental trait: absolute confidence in themselves. It was, Han Jue reflected with some amusement, definitely a Han family characteristic.
"Dad, when are you coming back to see us?" Han Xi asked, her voice taking on a pleading tone that she knew worked far too well on her father.
"I can't return yet," Han Jue said gently, genuinely regretful. "Wait until I reach Domain Lord level. It won't be much longer now. Once I break through to Domain Lord, I'll return immediately."
"By the way, how is your training progressing?" Han Jue changed the subject smoothly, curious about their development.
"Teacher has been guiding us personally," Han Xi said, unable to suppress a smug smile. "She said my understanding of the Origin Laws already matches some World Masters."
Han Huan, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. "Father, Teacher said she'll help us apply for admission to Primal Chaos City."
"Good. Please thank Senior Sister on my behalf," Han Jue nodded with satisfaction.
Their teacher was naturally Venerable Lianyi, Han Jue's own martial sister and one of humanity's Universe Overlords. Han Huan's talent had proven even more exceptional than Han Xi's, earning him acceptance as Venerable Lianyi's direct personal disciple, while Han Xi remained a nominal disciple. However, the distinction mattered little in practice, both received Venerable Lianyi's personal instruction.
If they gained admission to Primal Chaos City for training, their talents would flourish beyond measure. Han Jue felt confident they would surpass most of the geniuses from his own Genius Battle cohort.
"Dad, we'll catch up to you soon," Han Xi declared confidently, her competitive spirit showing through.
"Then I'll be waiting for you both to catch up," Han Jue replied with a warm smile, genuinely looking forward to that day.
"Alright, I need to leave for my next training mission now. You two be careful in Primal Chaos City. The Chaos Beasts are extremely dangerous. If you encounter serious trouble, seek out the Silver Moon King. He'll help you."
"Yes, Father," Han Huan nodded with his characteristic quiet intensity.
Han Jue raised his hand in farewell and departed, watching his children's figures fade as he disconnected from the virtual space.
"Ding!"
"Please confirm acceptance of the Demon Mountain training mission."
"Accepted successfully."
"Please enter your departure time. The Virtual Universe Company will arrange transportation to Demon Mountain."
Demon Mountain. An ancient and profoundly mysterious location within the Absolute Beginning Secret Realm, one of the Virtual Universe Company's four great secret realms. The mountain hung suspended impossibly in the void, defying conventional physics with its mere existence.
Surrounding Demon Mountain orbited nine ancient planets, each home to countless indigenous civilizations. These native warriors lived their entire lives with one singular dream: to survive Demon Mountain's trials and earn recruitment into the Virtual Universe Company. For them, becoming even a peripheral member of the company represented the ultimate achievement, the pinnacle of existence.
Generation after generation of indigenous warriors left their home planets and ventured into Demon Mountain's depths, seeking glory, fortune, and membership in humanity's greatest organization. Most never returned.
Demon Mountain Mission:
Survive Demon Mountain for three months: Reward of 100,000 points Survive Demon Mountain for three years: Reward of 300,000 points
The missions appeared deceptively simple on their surface, mere survival tasks with generous point rewards. But Han Jue, who had extensively researched Demon Mountain through the Virtual Universe Company's databases, understood the horrifying reality behind those innocent words.
The indigenous warriors posed a serious threat, certainly. But they were far from the only danger lurking within Demon Mountain's depths.
Before heading to Demon Mountain, Han Jue quickly completed two additional dangerous training missions to accumulate more points. Unfortunately, suitable opportunities proved rare. Even when missions appeared that matched his skill set, they often conflicted with his schedule or location. He managed to earn only 40,000 points from these preliminary missions.
Having exhausted the immediately available dangerous-level missions, Han Jue decided to proceed directly to Demon Mountain. The impossible-level mission represented a significant risk, but also his best opportunity for rapid point accumulation.
A few days later, a sleek Virtual Universe Company spaceship arrived at Han Jue's territory within the Primal Secret Realm. The vessel would transport him to Demon Mountain, located in the distant Absolute Beginning Secret Realm.
The journey would take considerable time, over three months of continuous travel, even using the spaceship's advanced dark universe capabilities. Such was the vast scale of the universe that even traveling between secret realms controlled by the same organization required months of transit.
During this extended journey, Han Jue dedicated himself to intensive training. He practiced various secret techniques, refined his combat forms, and devoted significant attention to comprehending the Water-Sky Holy Flame he'd obtained from the Seven Flames Palace.
The Water-Sky Holy Flame proved invaluable for his development. It significantly accelerated his ability to comprehend Fusion Laws, allowing him to make rapid advances in this notoriously difficult area. The flame's insights into how Water and Sky principles could merge into something greater than their parts resonated deeply with Han Jue's own understanding.
Besides studying Fusion Laws through the Water-Sky Holy Flame, Han Jue also practiced his "Mirage Sea" secret technique with renewed focus. After weeks of dedicated effort during the journey, he successfully broke through to the sixth level, a significant milestone that expanded the technique's power and versatility considerably.
"Your Highness, look ahead!"
"Demon Mountain is just before us." The man in the black uniform gestured forward from the control room, his voice carrying a note of reverence appropriate to the legendary location.
Han Jue approached the observation port, his Six Eyes analyzing the distant spectacle with enhanced clarity.
In the void ahead loomed a massive black mountain, its surface shrouded in wisps of pale green and ghostly white mist that drifted across its surface like living things. Against the absolute darkness of space, the mountain's majestic scale became truly apparent, impossibly huge, dwarfing even the largest celestial bodies Han Jue had encountered.
In the distance surrounding this towering peak, he could make out several ancient planets hanging in the void. From his current angle, only five were visible, but he knew there were nine in total, each orbiting Demon Mountain at different distances and angles.
"Demon Mountain stands 180 million kilometers tall," the black-uniformed escort explained, pointing toward the mountain with obvious pride in his knowledge. "The widest part at its base spans approximately 320 million kilometers in diameter."
Han Jue felt a moment of vertigo trying to conceptualize those dimensions. 180 million kilometers tall. To put that in perspective, Earth's sun had a diameter of only 1.4 million kilometers. Demon Mountain stood over a hundred times larger than humanity's home star. The sheer impossibility of such a structure existing, much less maintaining its form without collapsing under its own mass, spoke to forces and laws far beyond conventional understanding.
"What we in the Virtual Universe Company call 'Demon Mountain' is known by different names among the native populations," the escort continued his briefing. "The aboriginals from the nine surrounding planets call it the 'Holy Land,' the 'Forbidden Territory,' the 'Inheritance Grounds,' and various other titles depending on their cultural traditions. There are often massive numbers of powerful natives pouring into Demon Mountain at any given time."
The escort's expression grew more serious as he continued. "In terms of pure numbers, those from our Virtual Universe Company who enter Demon Mountain represent less than one ten-thousandth of the total number of indigenous warriors attempting the trials. The natives far, far outnumber us."
Han Jue nodded slowly, absorbing this information. One ten-thousandth. That meant for every Virtual Universe Company member attempting Demon Mountain's trials, there were at least ten thousand indigenous warriors doing the same. The sheer scale of competition and danger suddenly became far more real.
The spaceship continued its approach, and Demon Mountain grew larger in the viewport with each passing moment. Soon, Han Jue would step foot into one of the universe's most legendary and dangerous locations.
His journey to Demon Mountain had only just begun.