"So the Qianwu Country Master really is still alive. He must be in the middle of a long stretch of debt repayment by now."
Lu Qingshan stood atop Wind Thunder Mountain, watching the Star Level geniuses who had been teleported away, muttering to himself.
Lu Qingshan certainly hoped the Qianwu Country Master was still alive. Joining the Qianwu Dojo—finding geniuses was one reason, of course, but he also hoped to gain the protection of the Qianwu Country Master, a high-ranking Universe Venerable.
After all, in this universe... having no backing was a truly terrifying thing.
"Lei Ming, Paris..."
Lu Qingshan looked at his two returning disciples.
"The universe's Peak Genius Battle—do the two of you feel confident about it?"
Lei Ming stepped forward first to answer. "Teacher, I have some confidence, but not much. Just within the Qianwu Secret Realm alone, there are several hundred people stronger than me—not to mention the whole universe has 1,008 Cosmic Nations. I reckon that if I'm lucky, I might make the Qianwu Universe Kingdom's thousand-person roster. As for anything beyond that, I have no confidence at all."
That fellow Lei Ming was an honest sort; he could see the gap between ideals and reality clearly.
Though he and Paris had both reached the Ninth-Level Peak in their domains, neither had crossed the threshold into origin law, so they could hardly be a match for those geniuses who had comprehended law.
Lu Qingshan nodded, then looked toward Paris.
"Teacher! I'm confident... I will definitely pass the preliminaries, and then there are three more years of arena matches. In these three years, I'll definitely work hard to gain entry into the Lightning Origin Law! I'll fight my way into the top thousand of the entire universe!"
Paris's voice rang out, firm as iron.
Unlike Lei Ming, he was full of confidence in himself. Even if he was no match for those geniuses now, he believed he could definitely catch up.
"Good," Lu Qingshan said with a nod. "Both of your ideas are sound. My requirements for you aren't high—just try to make the Qianwu Universe Kingdom's top-thousand roster. Even if you don't place in the end, going to that grand event to broaden your horizons will do."
"Teacher, I'll definitely work hard to make the Qianwu Universe's top thousand!"
The two answered in unison.
Lu Qingshan nodded. "Comprehending law is a very personal matter. Just as with domains, there's only so much I can do to help. I can only bestow a treasure on each of you. Study it carefully—perhaps you'll gain some insight from it. If over these three years you can sense even a trace of the Lightning Origin Law's existence, that will already make you outstanding."
Lu Qingshan raised his hand and placed two long prismatic pillars radiating purple light into their hands, one for each.
"These are Purple Jade Mystic Thunder Crystals, a rare heaven-and-earth wonder born within a secret realm. They bear some shallow secret patterns of the Lightning Origin Law, which can serve as a reference when you comprehend the law... This stuff isn't cheap. I only bought two, and each records different secret patterns, so you can swap and study them together, raising your chances just a little..."
"Thank you, Teacher..."
Lei Ming and Paris did not refuse. Each took a Purple Jade Mystic Thunder Crystal. Having followed their teacher for so many years, they knew his temperament—once he brought out something to bestow, he wouldn't take it back, and hesitating coyly would only annoy him.
Besides, this was a treasure they badly needed. If they could find even a spark of inspiration from the Purple Jade Mystic Thunder Crystal, it would be an immense benefit to them.
"All right, you two can go now. Remember to register at the Virtual Universe Company. And before the preliminaries begin, tell me your world zone—I'll be watching how you perform in the competition."
Lu Qingshan waved his hand, and the two left the villa.
Next, Lu Qingshan made his way to Ling Yu's manor.
"Greetings, Silver Moon Marquis..."
The moment he stepped into the manor, Lu Qingshan saw that Silver Moon Marquis was already there.
"Mm, Instructor Lu Qingshan... is there something you wish to say to Ling Yu?" Silver Moon Marquis gave a slight nod, her voice melodious like wind chimes.
"Mm. The Genius Battle is about to begin, and I meant to give Ling Yu a few more reminders about what to watch out for in the competition. But since you're here, my lady Silver Moon Marquis, I imagine there's little need for me to say much," Lu Qingshan said with a smile.
Silver Moon Marquis nodded. "I've basically already told Ling Yu all that needs saying. But since you're her instructor, you should of course have a few words of encouragement for her too. I'll take my leave first, so as not to intrude on the two of you."
With that, Silver Moon Marquis drifted away and vanished from the manor.
"Ling Yu, being first in the whole universe—does it feel like a lot of pressure?" Only after Silver Moon Marquis had gone did Lu Qingshan walk over to Ling Yu's side and speak with a smile.
"Teacher, Ling Yu has made every preparation. By Instructor Silver Moon Marquis's estimate, this first place—barring any surprises—will surely be mine to claim!"
Ling Yu did not feel nervous at all; instead she felt an unprecedented thrill. She knew that in this Genius Battle, her fate was about to be rewritten.
"Mm," Lu Qingshan said with a nod. "Silver Moon Marquis oversees the cultivation of geniuses in the Qianwu Secret Realm and has lived for countless ages; she has witnessed countless Genius Battles. There can be no doubt her words are sound."
As he spoke, he turned over his hand, and an incomplete piece of Dragon Soul Jade appeared in his palm.
"This is the Dragon Soul Jade I once used when I broke through to World Master. It still retains more than half of its dragon-soul power. Carry it with you for these three years—with the Dragon Soul Jade's nurturing, your soul will surely grow far stronger after three years. Combined with the Eye of the Void's soul protection, nothing can possibly go wrong!"
Whether in movement technique or attack methods, Ling Yu was unquestionably TOP1 level. Her only slight weakness lay in her will and soul, though of course that was only relative to her movement technique and attack methods.
In the final rounds, if she ran into one of those truly heaven-defying illusionists, there was still a very slim chance of things going wrong. But with this Dragon Soul Jade, none of that would be a problem anymore.
"Thank you, Teacher."
Ling Yu had meant to decline, but hearing the rest of it, she swallowed the words at her lips and carefully put the Dragon Soul Jade away for safekeeping.
"You can rest easy knowing Ling Xi is by my side... Her cultivation may slacken a little, but her life will certainly be happy... You needn't worry. Go forward bravely. The Virtual Universe Company's Primal Secret Realm—that is your true stage."
"Thank you, Teacher."
Ling Yu turned and bowed deeply toward Lu Qingshan.
When she straightened up again, Teacher Lu before her had already vanished.
Ling Yu's gaze was firm as she looked toward Wind Thunder Mountain. "Teacher, first in the whole universe—I will surely claim it. And that Kunshaluo—he bullied you. I will definitely avenge you!"
...
Lu Qingshan, who had already returned to the Wind Thunder Mountain villa, did not know Ling Yu's parting words.
Had he known, he surely would have been deeply moved—that his disciple had all along remembered how he was bullied and still thought to avenge him.
But Ling Yu did not know.
Even in that one meeting in the Virtual Universe, Kunshaluo hadn't gained any advantage; afterward, Lu Qingshan had gone straight on to bankrupt Kunshaluo's Treasure Pavilion!
The one who was bullied and suffered heavy losses was actually Kunshaluo...
Lu Qingshan was checking his gains.
This time, he had given out the bestowals for all three disciples at once. Each was a treasure he had carefully chosen to meet the conditions—for instance, the Purple Jade Mystic Thunder Crystal happened to be exactly what Lei Ming and Paris needed, which is why it qualified; otherwise it would have counted as over the limit.
And the Dragon Soul Jade—an intact one probably wouldn't do; this flawed piece that he himself had used, by contrast, did qualify.
Of these three items, the Dragon Soul Jade and the Purple Jade Mystic Thunder Crystal were both fairly precious treasures, so the System's cashback surely wouldn't disappoint him.
Chapter 83