DipNovel Chapter 148 Imperial Reaction
Chapter 148 Imperial Reaction
On the day the preliminary rounds of the Qianwu Universe Kingdom's Peak Genius Battle ended, the entire Black Dragon Mountain Empire was in an uproar.
Of the more than 13,000 star systems and nearly one trillion participants, only 100,100 could pass the preliminary selection. Among these 100,100, only a few hundred were from the Black Dragon Mountain Empire. This was already a respectable result—after all, the Black Dragon Mountain Empire ranked only in the middle to lower tiers among the more than 13,000 star systems of the Qianwu Universe Kingdom.
But when the final ranking data was sent back to the Black Dragon Mountain Empire, everyone was shocked.
First World Zone, 28th place - Luo Feng.
Third World Zone, No. 1 – Lin Yun.
72nd World Zone, 623rd place - Hong.
The 88th World Zone, Rank 740 – Thor.
Four young people from Earth in the Milky Way galaxy all made it into the top 1,000 in their respective world regions. Among them, Lin Yun even took first place in the world region, directly advancing into the top 1,000 of the Qianwu Universe Kingdom.
This news swept through the entire Black Dragon Mountain Empire like a hurricane.
It's worth noting that in the previous Peak Genius Battle, the entire Black Dragon Mountain Empire didn't even have a single contestant ranked in the top 10,000 of the Qianwu Universe Kingdom. This time, not only did they have one, but four at once. Lin Yun, as the world's number one, directly secured a spot in the top 1,000 of the Qianwu Universe Kingdom.
Upon learning this news, the emperor of the Black Dragon Mountain Empire remained silent for a full quarter of an hour.
"The Milky Way... Earth..." the Emperor murmured, "A tiny planet teeming with life, yet it produced four such geniuses?"
"Your Majesty, according to intelligence, these four are all from Earth," the minister beside him respectfully reported. "Lin Yun and Luo Feng are Earth lords. Hong and Lei Shen are the masters of the Extreme Martial Arts Academy and the Thunder Martial Arts Academy on Earth. The four of them have an extremely good relationship, like brothers."
"Earth Lord..." The Emperor's fingers tapped lightly on the table. "I remember, the life level on that planet was very low; the human bloodline was only at the ninth rank. How could a race with a ninth-rank bloodline produce such a genius?"
"Your Majesty, this is precisely what is astonishing," the minister said. "These four individuals did not become disciples of any immortal powerhouses; they cultivated entirely on their own. Their understanding of the laws was all self-taught."
The emperor was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Send out the order that I will personally receive them."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The Imperial Palace of the Black Dragon Mountain Empire.
This is a magnificent architectural complex, covering a vast area, with towering palaces and resplendent gold. The outer walls of the palace are made of a deep blue alloy, reflecting a cold light under the sun. Countless luminous crystals are inlaid on the palace dome, illuminating the entire hall as if it were daytime. In the center of the hall is a long red carpet, flanked by two rows of guards clad in golden armor, each a cosmic-level powerhouse.
Lin Yun, Luo Feng, Hong, and Lei Shen stood at the end of the red carpet, awaiting the emperor's summons.
"Third brother, what do you think the emperor wants with us?" Thor asked in a low voice.
"To win us over," Lin Yun said calmly. "Our performance in the Genius Battle has already attracted the attention of the entire Black Dragon Mountain Empire. It's normal for the Emperor to want to win us over."
"So what conditions should we propose?" Thor grinned.
"No need to mention it," Lin Yun said. "The emperor will naturally give us what we deserve."
"His Majesty has arrived!" A loud voice echoed in the hall.
A middle-aged man dressed in a golden imperial robe emerged from the depths of the hall. He was tall and imposing, with a majestic face and an aura of power befitting a realm lord. He walked to the throne in the center of the hall and sat down, his gaze sweeping over the four people.
"Lin Yun, Luo Feng, Hong, and Lei Shen," the emperor's voice was deep and powerful, "I am aware of your performance in the Genius Battle. I am very pleased that the Black Dragon Mountain Empire has produced geniuses like you."
"Your Majesty flatters me." The four bowed in unison.
"I am not a stingy person," the Emperor said. "You have won honor for the Black Dragon Mountain Empire, and I will naturally reward you. Lin Yun, you are number one in the world region, directly advancing to the top 1,000 in the Qianwu Universe Kingdom. I have decided to bestow the entire Milky Way galaxy upon you as your private territory."
The hall fell silent for a moment.
Lin Yun was slightly taken aback, then bowed and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Luo Feng, Hong, and Lei Shen," the Emperor continued, "the three of you have also performed exceptionally well. As a reward, I bestow upon each of you a star system. You may choose which star systems you wish to receive."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," the three said in unison.
"Furthermore," the Emperor continued, "the Empire will publicize your achievements in the Genius Battle. Lin Yun, you are number one in the world region, and the Empire will host a celebration banquet for you."
"Your Majesty, there's no need for a victory banquet," Lin Yun said. "The final battle in the arena is about to begin, and we need time to prepare."
The emperor glanced at him, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes.
"Very well, I will not force you," the emperor said. "Go back and prepare well to bring glory to the Black Dragon Mountain Empire."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The four people left the main hall.
After leaving the palace, Thor let out a long sigh of relief.
"Third brother, you're amazing!" Thor exclaimed excitedly. "The entire galaxy, tens of thousands of inhabited planets, just like that, we got them?"
"It's a gift from His Majesty," Lin Yun said. "However, although the Milky Way is vast, most of its planets are undeveloped. To truly develop them, we need a lot of funds and manpower."
"What should we do then?" Luo Feng asked.
"Take your time," Lin Yun said. "We'll have plenty of time after the Genius Battle is over."
Virtual universe, Jiuxing Bay, Heilongshan Island.
As soon as Lin Yun and his companions returned to Nine Star Bay, their communication watches began ringing incessantly. Invitations, letters of courtship, and letters of intent for cooperation from various forces poured in like a tidal wave. The major families and powerful forces of the Qianwu Universe Kingdom all recognized the potential of Lin Yun and his group and wanted to invest in them.
"Lin Yun, the Xu family from the Qianwu Universe Kingdom has sent people." Luo Feng looked at the communicator in his hand, "They said they want to invite us to their banquet."
"I'm not going," Lin Yun refused outright.
"What about this? The Cosmic Galaxy Bank said they're willing to provide us with interest-free loans, with no limit on the amount."
"Not needed for now."
"It came from the Ganwu branch of Virtual Universe Company, saying they hope to establish a long-term cooperative relationship with us."
Lin Yun thought for a moment and said, "This is negotiable. Virtual Universe Company is one of the five giants, and there's no harm in maintaining good relations with them."
"it is good."
Just as the four were busy processing messages from various parties, an unfamiliar communication request came in.
"Mr. Lin Yun, I am an elder of the Xu family of the Qianwu Universe Kingdom." An aged voice came from the other end of the communicator. "Our Xu family is willing to offer 100 Hunyuan units to hire you as a guest elder of our family."
Lin Yun was slightly taken aback. 100 Chaos Units—that was no small sum, equivalent to the wealth of an average Realm Lord. The Xu family was one of the top ten powerful families in the Qianwu Universe Kingdom, with a profound foundation and an Immortal expert at their disposal. Their offer of such terms showed how much they valued Lin Yun. However, for Lin Yun, who had inherited the wealth of the Guanglan Realm Lord, this amount of money held no appeal.
"Elder Xu, thank you for your kindness," Lin Yun said. "However, my main focus right now is on the Genius Battle, and I'm not considering anything else for the time being."
"It's alright," Elder Xu said with a smile. "You'll be welcome anytime after the Genius Battle."
Lin Yun received dozens of similar invitations. Some families offered higher prices, some promised to provide cultivation resources, and some even offered to marry their eldest daughters to him. Lin Yun politely declined them all; these were the last things he needed right now.
In comparison, Luo Feng, Hong, and Lei Shen received as many invitations as Lin Yun, but there were still enough for them to be overwhelmed with choices.
"Third brother, the Zhao family of the Qianwu Universe Kingdom invited me to be a guest advisor, with an annual salary of 10 Hunyuan units," Thor said excitedly. "10 Hunyuan units! I never even dared to dream of that before!"
"Don't rush," Lin Yun said. "After the final battle in the arena, your rankings will rise. At that time, the prices offered by these families will only be higher."
"That makes sense." Thor nodded.
"Lin Yun, Babata said that the head of the Qianwu branch of Virtual Universe Company wants to see us." Luo Feng walked over, his expression somewhat solemn.
"Virtual Universe Company?" Lin Yun raised an eyebrow slightly. "When?"
"tomorrow."
"Okay, let's go."
The next day, in the virtual universe, on the continent of Qianwu.
The headquarters of the Virtual Universe Company's Qianwu branch is a colossal building suspended above the clouds. The building is entirely silver-white, shaped like a phoenix spreading its wings, and gleams in the sunlight. Countless tiny points of light surround the building; these are particles of an energy shield, enveloping the entire structure.
Lin Yun and his companions entered the building and were led by staff to a luxurious reception room. The reception room was vast, spanning several hundred square meters, with soft carpets on the floor and priceless cosmic paintings hanging on the walls. Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the magnificent scenery of the Qianwu Continent unfolded, with a breathtaking sea of clouds.
A moment later, a middle-aged man in a black uniform walked in. He was burly, with a resolute face, and exuded a powerful aura of a domain lord. The emblem of the Virtual Universe Company was pinned to his chest, the golden emblem gleaming under the lights.
"Mr. Lin Yun, Mr. Luo Feng, Mr. Hong, Mr. Thor." The middle-aged man's voice was deep and powerful. "Welcome to the Qianwu branch of Virtual Universe Company. I am the person in charge here, my surname is Chen."
"Hello, Mr. Chen." The four men bowed slightly.
"Please sit down." Mr. Chen sat down on the sofa and gestured for the four of them to make themselves at home.
The four of them sat down opposite him.
"The company has taken note of your performance in the Genius Battle," Mr. Chen said bluntly. "Especially Mr. Lin Yun, who ranked first in the world region and directly advanced to the top 1,000 in the Qianwu Universe Kingdom. Such an achievement is unprecedented in the history of the Black Dragon Mountain Empire."
"Mr. Chen, you flatter me," Lin Yun said.
"I'm not praising you, I'm stating a fact." Mr. Chen's expression turned serious. "Virtual Universe Company has been keeping an eye on promising geniuses. All four of you are on our watchlist."
"So?" Lin Yun asked.
"Therefore, the company hopes you will achieve good results in the Genius Battle," Mr. Chen said. "If you can enter the top 1,000 in the finals, the company will directly recruit you as core members. At that time, you will receive the company's best cultivation resources, including a spot to enter the initial universe for enlightenment."
The four of them exchanged glances, and each saw excitement in the other's eyes.
"Mr. Chen, we will do our best," Lin Yun said.
"I believe in you." Mr. Chen stood up. "Alright, I won't disturb you any longer. I wish you the best of luck in the final battle."
"Thank you, Mr. Chen."
The four left the Qianwu branch of the Virtual Universe Company.
The Black Dragon Mountain Empire's reaction was just the beginning.
As the results of the preliminary rounds spread, the entire Qianwu Universe Kingdom focused its attention on these four young people from the Milky Way.
Major media outlets across the Qianwu Universe Kingdom reported that an obscure little planet had produced four geniuses ranked among the top 1,000 in the world, one of whom was even ranked number one in the world. This was an extremely rare occurrence in the history of the Qianwu Universe Kingdom.
"Milky Way, Earth." An elderly man with white hair sat in a tea room in the virtual universe, looking at the information about Lin Yun and the other three in his hand. A complex light flashed in his eyes. "A race with the ninth-grade bloodline can actually produce such a genius... Interesting."
He was an immortal powerhouse from the Qianwu Universe Kingdom, who had lived for millions of years and seen countless geniuses. But he had never seen a race with a ninth-grade bloodline produce four geniuses with such profound understanding of the laws at the same time.
"Teacher, how far do you think they can go?" a young man next to him asked.
"Lin Yun should be able to make it into the top ten, or even the top three, in the finals," the old man said. "As for the other three... if they can make it into the top one thousand, that would be quite good."
"Such high praise?"
"It's not that their evaluation is high, but rather that their talent is truly exceptional," the old man said. "Especially Lin Yun, whose Law of Lightning has reached an extremely profound level, and he has even created his own secret technique. Such geniuses are extremely rare in the entire universe."
The young man was silent for a moment, then said, "Teacher, are you planning to recruit them?"
"No rush." The old man shook his head. "Let's wait until after the Genius Battle. If they really make it into the top 1,000 of the finals, there will naturally be even stronger forces vying for them. If I make a move now, I might not be able to win."
"Yes, teacher."
Similar scenes are playing out repeatedly in every corner of the Qianwu Universe Kingdom.
Ancient families, vast organizations, and powerful, immortal beings are all watching these four young people from Earth. Some want to recruit them, some want to invest in them, and some want to take them as disciples. But everyone knows that the real competition will have to wait until after the battle of geniuses ends.
Because only at that time can their true potential be seen.
The day of the final battle in the ring is drawing ever closer.
Lin Yun and the other three were making the most of their time cultivating in the training room. Luo Feng was continuing to familiarize himself with the first level of the Divine Weapon, while Hong and Lei Shen were consolidating their understanding of the laws. Lin Yun, on the other hand, was continuing to refine his Purple Thunder Shocking Mystic Technique, while also comprehending other laws.
"Xiao Lan, do you think Luo Feng can make it into the top 1,000 in the finals?" Lin Yun asked in his mind.
"Master, with Luo Feng's current strength, it will be quite difficult for him to enter the top 1,000, but it's not hopeless," Xiao Lan said. "If he can master the first level of his Divine Weapon more proficiently, coupled with his mental power, he should be able to put up a fight. As for Hong and Lei Shen, their strength is slightly weaker than Luo Feng's, so it will be a bit difficult for them to enter the top 1,000."
"Just do your best," Lin Yun said. "No matter the outcome, they are all my brothers."
"Master, you are so good to them," Xiao Lan exclaimed.
Lin Yun smiled but didn't reply.