Taichu

In the Yuxiang Mountain Public Area, on the ninth floor of Wan Yu Tower.

Sitting by the railing, one could gaze upon the distant mountains, rocks, and springs.

“Then the Virtual Universe Company, seeing that my Pinghai Company had good assets, rapid appreciation, and was large enough, decided to acquire it. At the time, they were prepared to offer six times the price, thinking they could just…” Xu Xin sat across the table, recounting to Luo Feng how she, Xu Xin, had become a core member of the Virtual Universe Company.

“Our company’s assets increased tenfold overnight…”

“That time was extremely dangerous. Fortunately, my younger brother Luo Hua used his connections to help with the turnover.”

“…Finally, before you left Chaos City, the net asset scale reached…”

Luo Feng sat there, watching his wife speak, his emotions complex. Deep down, he was touched. He truly hadn’t realized that his bustling, ambitious wife had worked so hard, all to stand beside him, to be closer to him.

“Geniuses put pressure on others,” Babata’s voice echoed in Luo Feng’s mind. “When they are with a genius, they only see themselves growing further and further apart, no matter how hard they try, the gap only widens. Therefore… most friends of geniuses are also geniuses!”

Luo Feng was startled.

Yes!

How many of his middle and high school friends from his youth were still in contact? Even Wei Wen, who grew up with him like a brother, he only saw occasionally in the Virtual Universe after many years. He even saw his own family rarely. Instead, he had more opportunities to meet with Rongjun, Wuka, and others.

“Watching her husband venture through the cosmos, his status growing higher and higher. Your wife is naturally happy and proud, but you’re also growing further and further apart from her, even only seeing her once every ten years! What kind of stimulus is that for a wife?”

“Therefore!”

“Your wife wants to get closer to you, to be able to stand by your side, not to be left behind!” Babata sighed.

…

Babata’s voice echoed in Luo Feng’s mind as he looked at his wife. Xu Xin was still speaking: “And just like that, I became a core member of the Virtual Universe Company. Pretty impressive, right?” Xu Xin wrinkled her nose, proudly tilting her head slightly, then looked at Luo Feng somewhat awkwardly. “The company agreed to the acquisition and everything, and I didn’t even ask for your opinion. You’re not mad, are you? You gave me full authority to handle the company back then, and you said you’d be meditating in Chaos City and wouldn’t have any time—”

Silence.

Luo Feng reached out and held Xu Xin’s hand.

“Xu Xin,” Luo Feng said, looking at his wife.

“Hm?” Xu Xin was startled.

“I’m sorry,” Luo Feng whispered softly, his voice filled with remorse.

Xu Xin’s eyes immediately welled up.

…

At the Virtual Universe Company’s universal headquarters, an incredibly vast continent floated in the starry sky. Compared to it, even stars seemed as tiny as sesame seeds.

“Bolan and Longyun of the Yuanshi District, you are heading to the Yuanshi Secret Realm. You will depart with the Venerable, so please remain here and await the Venerable.”

“Members of the Taichu District, please head that way and board the rock-gray spaceship that resembles a meteorite.”

“Members of the Tiandi District, please board the second ship next to it, the purplish-red one.”

“Members of the Moshi District, please board the largest of the three ships, the ink-black one.” The silver-robed woman standing at the reception desk of the conference hall spoke loudly, pointing at the three spaceships that had already landed outside the transparent glass. “Now, you may depart.”

Rumble~~~

All 816 young people stood up with a rustle.

“The Four Great Secret Realms aren’t even in the same place. From now on, we brothers will only be able to meet in the Virtual Universe.”

“We’re leaving first.”

“Goodbye.”

Friends bid each other farewell. Bolan and Longyun remained in the conference hall, while the large group of others walked out through the exit. Once outside, they naturally split into three teams, heading towards their respective spaceships.

“His Highness Rongjun, His Highness Luo Feng, His Highness Qianshui…” At the hatch of the spaceship resembling a meteorite, a handsome and courteous man with blood-red hair smiled as he welcomed the eight members of the Taichu District. As he boarded the hatch, Luo Feng looked back towards the conference hall.

Unfortunately, one could see outside from the conference hall, but one couldn’t see inside from the outside. Yet, Luo Feng could feel… someone in the conference hall was watching him.

“Bolan, you are merely my opponent for now,” Luo Feng thought to himself, then directly entered the cabin.

…

A moment later.

With a rumbling sound, the three F-class spaceships successively took off.

Bolan and Longyun, waiting in the conference hall to depart with Venerable Jiujian, also watched through the glass as the three spaceships took off outside.

“Luo Feng! Rongjun!” Longyun watched silently, his desire for victory burning intensely. “I will surpass you, I definitely will!”

…

The three spaceships quickly accelerated to light speed, performing cosmic travel. Because the locations of the Taichu Secret Realm, Tiandi Secret Realm, and Moshi Secret Realm were different, the three spaceships had long since parted ways, heading towards their respective destinations.

Dark Universe.

A ‘meteorite’ flew rapidly, constantly accelerating: 20 times the speed of light… 21 times the speed of light…

Inside this meteorite, in the banquet hall.

“Welcome to the Taichu Secret Realm.” At the long banquet table sat 9 Immortals and 8 Universe-level young people. The one speaking, seated at the head of the table, was a burly giant covered in scales with eighteen sharp horns on his head. His entire being subtly exuded a fierce, savage aura. “I, Meteorite King, will be escorting you to the Taichu Secret Realm this time.”

“Thank you, Meteorite King!”

Luo Feng, Rongjun, and the other eight all bowed slightly.

“Haha…” Meteorite King laughed heartily, the small scales on his face forming wrinkles that sent a shiver down one’s spine. “Let me tell you first, the Four Great Secret Realms are located in different places, not even in the same Universe Nation.”

“Oh?” Luo Feng, Rongjun, and the other eight were somewhat surprised.

The territory of a Universe Nation is incredibly vast.

“The Yuanshi Secret Realm is closest to headquarters, located in the same Universe Nation! Next is the Taichu Secret Realm, then the Tiandi Secret Realm. And the Moshi Secret Realm is the furthest from headquarters.” Meteorite King’s voice sounded like metal clashing. “The Taichu Secret Realm you are heading to is approximately 120 million light-years away from headquarters.”

“120 million light-years?”

Luo Feng, Rongjun, Qianshui, and the others showed expressions of shock. What an astonishing distance! Light itself would take 120 million years to travel it!

“The spaceship has now accelerated to 50 times the speed of light. It will take approximately three months of travel in the Dark Universe to reach the Taichu Secret Realm,” Meteorite King said with a smile. “Let me first introduce you to this Taichu Secret Realm, so you have some understanding!”

The eight, including Luo Feng, listened carefully.

“The Taichu Secret Realm is actually a type of Universe Secret Realm, simply named ‘Taichu’,” Meteorite King mused. “Our Original Universe is the oldest, largest, and most incredible universe, nurturing life in countless forms, billions of races, and innumerable powerhouses.”

“During the evolution of the Original Universe, most areas evolved into stars, planets, and so on… galaxies are the most common in the cosmos.”

“However, due to certain special, unknown reasons, during its evolution, the Original Universe also gave rise to some ‘special regions’ that defy convention,” Meteorite King sighed. “These special regions completely challenge your imagination. The life forms, various strange creatures, and treasures within these special regions will similarly challenge your imagination.”

Luo Feng and the other eight’s eyes lit up.

“These special regions are called ‘Universe Secret Realms’.”

“Every Universe Secret Realm is different,” Meteorite King remarked. “Different Universe Secret Realms also give birth to many incomprehensible treasures, and even some terrifying disasters.”

“The danger level of Universe Secret Realms varies.”

“In the safest ones, even Realm Lords rarely die, but many perish from infighting while vying for treasures.”

“In the most dangerous Universe Secret Realms, it’s said that even Universe Country Lords have little hope of survival if they enter.” Meteorite King looked at the eight, including Luo Feng, who wore expressions of shock, and chuckled, “What, are you very surprised?”

Luo Feng and the other eight were completely stunned.

Heavens.

A Universe Country Lord, a formidable existence who establishes a Universe Nation and presides over it for billions of years, yet their chances of survival are extremely slim when entering the most dangerous Universe Secret Realms.

“No one can imagine what a newly discovered Universe Secret Realm truly holds,” Meteorite King mused. “Perhaps entering it is a disaster, or perhaps it’s an unprecedented grand opportunity!”

“Universe Secret Realms come in all sizes.”

“Large Universe Secret Realms can rival an entire Universe Nation!” Meteorite King stated solemnly. “Smaller ones can still rival the scope of a galaxy.”

Silence.

Luo Feng and the others held their breath completely. A Universe Secret Realm that large? Comparable to the scope of a Universe Nation?

“And the ‘Yuanshi Secret Realm,’ ‘Taichu Secret Realm,’ ‘Tiandi Secret Realm,’ and ‘Moshi Secret Realm’ controlled by our Virtual Universe Company are all realms that have been developed, modified, and are no longer dangerous,” Meteorite King chuckled. “Because Universe Secret Realms contain incredibly rich Universe Origin Energy, they are very suitable for cultivation.”

“Universe Origin Energy?” Luo Feng’s heart stirred.

When Universe Origin Energy condenses into crystals, it becomes Universe Crystals!

Realm Lords can create their own worlds precisely because they can condense vast amounts of cosmic energy.

“The Taichu Secret Realm you are going to has a scope comparable to a star sector,” Meteorite King said. “Living and cultivating in the Taichu Secret Realm, the most useful thing is points! Within the company, points are more effective than money.”

…

Meteorite King’s words indeed filled Luo Feng and the other eight young people with longing for the legendary ‘Universe Secret Realms.’ However, it was clear that only Realm Lords could safely enter the undeveloped Universe Secret Realms. Unless it was a ‘Taichu Secret Realm’ type, which had already been developed, excavated, and modified.

Time flowed on.

Days passed, and in the blink of an eye, 26 days had gone by.

“We’re almost at the Taichu Secret Realm. I spent 30 years in Chaos City, clearing five levels of the Sky-Reaching Bridge consecutively. The points were awarded tenfold, so my total points reached 30,360.” Luo Feng calculated in his lounge. “Fortunately, I earned more points in Chaos City, otherwise, it would be difficult to earn points later.”

If not for the tenfold reward, clearing the first five levels would have originally only granted 3,100 points; it was only because of the tenfold bonus that it reached 31,000 points.

Now, he had left Chaos City.

If he were to challenge the Sky-Reaching Bridge again, there would be no tenfold reward.

“Everyone, come out,” Meteorite King’s voice echoed throughout the spaceship. “We’ve arrived at the Taichu Secret Realm. We’re about to perform cosmic travel!”

Swish! Luo Feng stood up, a hint of excitement in his eyes.

They had arrived, the Taichu Secret Realm had arrived!