Preparation

"Luo Feng?" Manluo saw Luo Feng looking his way. As an Immortal, his memory was naturally excellent, and he smiled in a friendly gesture. Luo Feng also smiled and nodded slightly. The prominent figure, 'Manluo,' who once leisurely strolled through the Slaughterhouse, had now become his subordinate. Luo Feng found the turn of events quite profound. "Black Annihilation Marquis," Luo Feng whispered, looking at the three titans beside him, "There's no need for everyone to keep kneeling. You can dismiss them." "Luo Feng, you truly are kind-hearted and benevolent," Golden Feather Marquis Ever smiled faintly. Luo Feng's heart skipped a beat. His actions were considered kind-hearted and benevolent? The enthusiasm of 'Golden Feather Marquis' Ever, the head of the Martial Department... Luo Feng found it a bit overwhelming. The black-veiled maiden gave the order, "You may all disperse!" Her gentle voice, however, echoed continuously throughout Amethyst Island. "Yes!" The 820 million leaders, responsible for numerous starfields and hundreds of millions of galaxies, bowed respectfully, then orderly transformed into streaks of light, flying towards various directions of Amethyst Island. "All Immortals, follow the three of us and accompany Inspector Special Envoy Mr. Luo Feng to properly observe Amethyst Island and the operations of our Ganwu Branch," the black-veiled maiden commanded. "Yes!" The 322 Immortals, including Manluo, bowed slightly. ... Manluo and the other 322 Immortals followed behind the four titans: Luo Feng, Golden Feather Marquis, Black Annihilation Marquis, and Purple Lightning Marquis. Whenever matters concerning subordinate departments arose, these Immortals would immediately step forward to explain. "That young fellow who participated in the Genius Battle, how naive he was when he first appeared in the Slaughterhouse with his elder brothers! Even during the Genius Battle... his edge wasn't particularly sharp. Who would have thought that in just two hundred years, he would become the fourth titan of the Ganwu Branch?" Manluo gazed at Luo Feng, sighing inwardly. "Purple Lightning Marquis and the other two are undoubtedly showering him with enthusiasm, coaxing Luo Feng into a good mood. Otherwise, if Luo Feng were to turn hostile... they wouldn't have an easy time!" "Manluo!" The ape-man Purple Lightning Marquis let out a low shout. "Minister!" Manluo quickly stepped forward and bowed slightly. "The Commerce Department of the Heilong Mountain Starfield is under your jurisdiction," Purple Lightning Marquis Zhenqian glanced at Manluo. "Luo Feng's home is from the Heilong Mountain Starfield, and he wishes to learn more about its situation. You may provide the answers." "Yes!" Manluo bowed slightly. "Mr. Manluo, long time no see," Luo Feng turned and smiled at Manluo. "Indeed, it has been a long time. Upon meeting, Your Highness has greatly surprised Manluo," Manluo smiled faintly. "Mm, let's talk as we walk," Luo Feng nodded. Inside the main palace of Amethyst Island, Luo Feng was accompanied by the three titans—Purple Lightning Marquis, Golden Feather Marquis, and Black Annihilation Marquis—with over three hundred Immortals following. They toured the various important departments of the Ganwu Branch. Luo Feng also asked simple questions along the way to gain a basic understanding of the Ganwu Branch's operations. ... Inside a resting lounge in the palace. Purple Lightning Marquis, Golden Feather Marquis, Black Annihilation Marquis, and Luo Feng were gathered together, while the other Immortals had already withdrawn. "You don't realize it until you see it... the Virtual Universe Company's pervasive influence is truly astonishing," Luo Feng said, picking up a precious fruit placed before him and taking a bite. "The entire Ganwu Universe Nation's livelihood, economy, and so on, are almost completely controlled by the Virtual Universe Company." "That's natural!" The ape-man Purple Lightning Marquis said with a smile, "Among the five great human powers in the universe, the Cosmic Mercenary Alliance values experts, the Universe First Bank and Cosmic River Bank primarily handle banking and some investment services. The Giant Axe Martial Arena also values experts. Only our Virtual Universe Company controls the entire economic lifeline of humanity. The economies of all 1008 Cosmic Nations are completely controlled by our Virtual Universe Company." Luo Feng sighed with emotion. The Virtual Universe Company was indeed formidable! It seemed there were many large enterprises and commercial powers in the universe, but all their 'sources' were controlled by the Virtual Universe Company. For example, those gaming companies that create virtual games—all virtual games require occupying a virtual plane space, which must be leased from the Virtual Universe Company! The Slaughterhouse, for instance, was a complete monopoly. Even the Giant Axe Martial Arena's live broadcasts within the Virtual Universe Network had to share revenue with the Virtual Universe Company. ... In short, humanity could not detach itself from the Virtual Universe Network! Therefore, the Virtual Universe Company controlled the entire economic lifeline of humanity, and even the cosmic armies were split with the Giant Axe Martial Arena, each controlling the armies of 504 Cosmic Nations! "Any nation, any family, any organization, as long as they wish to develop, must cooperate with our Virtual Universe Company," the ape-man Purple Lightning Marquis said with confidence in his eyes. "Even the other four great powers cooperate with us, let alone those nations and families. In terms of commercial economy... our Virtual Universe Company holds an absolute monopoly!" "With economic control, countless treasures, and experts aplenty, our Virtual Universe Company also attracts the most talented warriors among the five great powers each year," Golden Feather Marquis also said confidently. "In the Ganwu Universe Nation, our Ganwu Branch holds half of the control! The other half of the control belongs to the Ganwu Nation Lord!" the black-veiled maiden also said softly. The three titans spoke with absolute confidence. Luo Feng's heart couldn't help but tremble. He truly felt the deterrent power and control of the Virtual Universe Company. No wonder during the Genius Battle, the Ganwu Nation Lord eagerly wished to send all the geniuses of the entire Cosmic Nation. It now seemed that the Ganwu Nation Lord was very likely an internal member of the Virtual Universe Company! "Luo Feng, when will you arrive in the Ganwu Universe Nation?" the black-veiled maiden asked with a smile. "Yes, when will you arrive?" The golden-haired man and the ape-man also looked at Luo Feng expectantly. "I've already arrived at Qiongyu Star," Luo Feng said. "What!" The three titans were startled. The Primal Secret Region was very far from the Ganwu Universe Nation. Even with an extremely powerful spaceship, it would take one or two years to travel. "You've already reached Qiongyu Star and didn't tell us in advance," the ape-man Purple Lightning Marquis said, his face full of smiles. "This is where you're at fault. You are an Inspector Special Envoy sent by headquarters, representing headquarters! How can you arrive in the Ganwu Universe Nation so quietly? Golden Feather Marquis, Black Annihilation Marquis, we should, according to routine, prepare a welcome banquet for Luo Feng." "Indeed," the black-veiled maiden nodded. "Of course, a welcome banquet must be prepared, and it must be very grand! Through this banquet, we must announce to the upper echelons of the entire Ganwu Universe Nation... that Luo Feng, the Inspector Special Envoy of our Ganwu Branch, has arrived!" Golden Feather Marquis quickly added. "Mm! Leave this matter to me," the ape-man Purple Lightning Marquis said. "Your Commerce Department handling this will certainly be fine," Golden Feather Marquis quickly said. "But we must highlight Luo Feng's identity. He is a member of the Primal Secret Region, an Inspector Special Envoy sent by headquarters! The banquet's standard must also be high; we don't want any insignificant minor families coming to join the fun!" Luo Feng was dumbfounded. "Three of you, there's no need..." Luo Feng just began. "What 'no need'? It's very necessary!" the ape-man quickly retorted. "Luo Feng, this isn't just about your personal prestige; it's about the prestige of our Ganwu Branch, the prestige of the entire Virtual Universe Company headquarters! And also the prestige of your teacher, Zhenyan King." Luo Feng was utterly speechless. "Leave this matter to us," Golden Feather Marquis said confidently. "A smaller scale, I don't like too much commotion. Let's just hold it on Qiongyu Star," Luo Feng quickly suggested. "A smaller scale, don't like too much commotion? Alright, no problem," the ape-man Purple Lightning Marquis, as the Minister of the Commerce Department, immediately patted his chest in assurance. ... The Ganwu Branch of the Virtual Universe Company held an extremely transcendent status in the Ganwu Universe Nation. Because the Ganwu Branch represented the Virtual Universe Company in managing certain aspects of the entire Ganwu Universe Nation! Although the Ganwu Nation Lord was ostensibly in charge... even the Ganwu Nation Lord had to obey the Virtual Universe Company. This resulted in every branch in the 1008 Cosmic Nations attracting many Marquis-level Immortals eager to serve as ministers. The three ministers each held esteemed positions. They were even superior to the three hundred Marquises! "An invitation from the Ganwu Branch?" "Headquarters sent an Inspector Special Envoy to join the Ganwu Branch? No wonder the three titans are in such a hurry." "A banquet hosted by the three titans—one cannot afford to disrespect it." When the invitations were distributed, the entire upper echelon of the Ganwu Universe Nation was stirred! An invitation from the three titans of the Ganwu Branch? Who would dare not attend! ... Qiongyu Star, Tianzang City, Yin Xue Marquis's Estate. "Ancestor!" "Teacher!" Eight Immortals bowed respectfully, while hundreds of Sector Lords and nearly ten thousand individuals knelt densely before them. This was the true high-level power of the Yin Xue Marquis's Estate. Ji Landeng, due to his daughter's connection, barely made it into the nearly ten thousand individuals, thus he could kneel at the very back of the crowd. And those eight Immortals... were all disciples of Yin Xue Marquis 'Ji Tianzang' who had broken through to become Immortals over countless years. The Ji Clan, how many talents could one family produce? The Snow Territory Starfield had far more talents. Yin Xue Marquis had cultivated fifteen Immortals over countless years, with only eight currently at the estate's headquarters. "Rise!" A cold voice, as if freezing the surrounding space. The eight Immortals, hundreds of Sector Lords, and nearly ten thousand individuals respectfully stood up. Standing in front was a man in a silver-white robe, with black hair and silver-white hair at his temples. Even standing there, this silver-robed man made one feel as if facing an endless world of ice and snow. He was Yin Xue Marquis! Yin Xue Marquis Ji Tianzang, one of the three hundred Marquises of the Ganwu Universe Nation! "The three titans of the Ganwu Branch personally sent me an invitation," Yin Xue Marquis said with a cold voice. "This is a welcome banquet they are holding for the Inspector Special Envoy sent by the Virtual Universe Company headquarters. Invitations have been sent to all important families in the entire Cosmic Nation. Due to the limited scale, I will bring two people this time." Below, the eight Immortals, hundreds of Sector Lords, and nearly ten thousand high-ranking family elites all looked up, their hearts burning with anticipation. Such an absolutely high-level banquet could only be attended by the most top-tier figures in the Ganwu Universe Nation. Even Yin Xue Marquis could only bring two people... it was clear that many Immortal families who were slightly less prominent probably wouldn't even qualify to attend. "Yu Kan, Fengyan, you two will accompany me," Yin Xue Marquis said indifferently. "Yes!" One of the Immortals and a female Sector Lord among the hundreds of Sector Lords both showed delight, responding respectfully.