Chapter 1 Swordsman World

The virtual world network, Swordsman World.

This is a top-rated virtual world. Countless cosmic citizens flood in, because in this world, there is only one way to practice weapons—the sword! Countless players pursue the ultimate mastery of swordsmanship.

Atop a mountain within the Qingye Sword Sect, which covers an area of over three hundred *li*.

Xu Lixing, with a sword at her waist, moved like an afterimage on the mountaintop, finally spotting the carefree youth leaning against a large rock in a remote corner, an empty wine jug beside him.

"Junior Brother," Xu Lixing said, watching the scene with some helplessness.

"Ah."

The carefree youth groggily opened his eyes, glanced at Xu Lixing, and smiled. "Oh, it's Senior Sister. The sun is just right; let me sleep a little longer." With that, he closed his eyes and went back to sleep.

"Get up!" Xu Lixing grabbed the carefree youth's ear, pulling and twisting it.

"Ouch, ouch, ouch."

The carefree youth was completely awake, looking at Xu Lixing ingratiatingly. "Senior Sister, I'm awake, fully awake! Please let go, let go!"

"Honestly, you're one of the 'Ten Swordsmen' of the younger generation of our Qingye Sword Sect, yet you spend half your time drinking or sleeping," Xu Lixing said, shaking her head. "It's no use talking to you."

"Life is so long; constant striving is exhausting. One needs to enjoy life too," the carefree youth said, lying back down and crossing his legs. But noticing Xu Lixing's gaze, he quickly changed his tone. "I do work hard at swordsmanship, or I wouldn't be one of the Ten Swordsmen of the Qingye Sword Sect. I think putting in 50% effort is pretty good."

"If you don't truly love swordsmanship, how can you reach the pinnacle?" Xu Lixing asked.

The carefree youth glanced at Xu Lixing with a smile, not arguing further. He looked at the sky and said leisurely, "There are countless experts in the universe; reaching the limit is too difficult. I think enjoying life, practicing swordsmanship on the side, and making some money is pretty good."

"Most of the elders I know are focused on the path of evolution. You're so lazy; I don't know if my elders will be satisfied with you," Xu Lixing said helplessly.

Her father, Xu Jingming, barely had a moment of free time, and her grandmaster, Liu Hai, was equally passionate about martial arts, now reaching the seventh-order limit.

Then there was her little junior brother...

Too lazy!

"Senior Sister, your elders?" The carefree youth sat up abruptly, staring at Xu Lixing. "Senior Sister, what do you mean?"

"It's been so many years; I should learn about your real-life situation," Xu Lixing said. "If it's not suitable, we can end things here. Continuing to drag it on... isn't good for either of us. If it's suitable, I wouldn't mind taking things further."

The carefree youth became somewhat nervous.

He lived freely and unrestrainedly in Swordsman World and had gained a relationship he cherished.

"My real-life situation," the carefree youth said hesitantly.

Xu Lixing listened beside him. "If you don't want to say, that's fine. But there's no need for us to drag this on."

"Senior Sister..."

The carefree youth thought for a moment and said, "My real name is Meng Tian·Qingyuan."

"Meng Tian·Qingyuan; in the game, you're 'Meng Tianyou'; your real name is quite normal," Xu Lixing said with a smile. "Tell your *jiejie*, how old are you?"

"Thirty-five this year," the carefree youth said.

"Indeed, a little brother," Xu Lixing laughed. "Which Star Alliance, Star System, and Planet are you from?"

The carefree youth looked at Xu Lixing hesitantly. "Senior Sister, my situation is a bit complicated. Can I prepare myself in real life before telling you the details, Senior Sister?"

"Need to ask your parents?" Xu Lixing joked. "Alright."

"Mm."

The carefree youth nodded slightly, his expression complex, and then disappeared into thin air, logging off directly.

"Logged off so quickly?" Xu Lixing was taken aback.

...

Wugou Star Alliance, Yunxia Star System, Yanquan Star.

Yanquan Star is a beautiful life-sustaining planet inhabited by countless humans.

"Whoosh."

Meng Tian·Qingyuan emerged from the virtual chamber and quickly walked to the top floor of the villa, gazing at the world. The sky was gloomy, and the wind was howling, causing the distant trees to sway.

"Yanquan Star," Meng Tian whispered softly.

"Senior Sister wants to take things further with me, asking about my real-life situation. What should I say? Can I tell her?" Pain filled Meng Tian's eyes. "Can I tell her that my father relies on biological wombs to mass-produce children, creating over a billion offspring like an assembly line? And I'm just one of them?"

Yes.

The ten billion-plus population of Yanquan Star are all the children of one person.

Although current technology can achieve this, cosmic citizens who like 'extreme reproduction' are still a very small minority.

"Children produced on an assembly line, and signed countless contracts." Meng Tian looked around. "I can't even leave Yanquan Star."

His father, Hai Yong·Qingyuan, restricted him in every way, signing countless compliant and legal contracts under the guise of cultivation and work, binding Meng Tian tightly. Among the countless children on Yanquan Star, Meng Tian was considered to have good treatment.

The vast majority are still just planetary lifeforms, living even more humbly.

Yanquan Star is his father's private planet, where he holds absolute power. Everything here is determined by his father. Disobeying his father's will here would result in an incredibly miserable life. It's impossible to evolve from a planetary lifeform to a cosmic lifeform.

"In order to become a cosmic lifeform, I signed many contracts. I have no personal freedom for a thousand years. It can even be predicted that in the future, my father will force me to renew the contracts in various ways. My life will be controlled," Meng Tian said, feeling very suppressed.

"Senior Sister always thinks I'm too lazy, but the virtual world network is the only time I'm not under my father's surveillance, the only time I can be lazy."

Meng Tian's heart was in turmoil.

"What do I do? How do I tell Senior Sister about my real-life situation?"

No personal freedom and such a terrible father?

As for a mother? He had no mother; he was mass-produced from a biological womb.

...

An hour later.

Meng Tian was in the study, gently tapping the light screen to contact his father.

"Buzz." A fat figure appeared, sitting in a chair, looking at Meng Tian with a smile. "My most outstanding son, Meng Tian, why would you suddenly contact me? Let me check... Your income in the virtual world network hasn't increased much since you became a seventh-order cosmic lifeform! After becoming a seventh-order, did the improved welfare benefits make you slack off? If you were more outstanding, your welfare benefits would be ten or a hundred times better than now."

"Father," Meng Tian said.

"If there's anything, just say it," the fat figure said with a smile.

He had cultivated countless children, but only the 'outstanding' children could directly contact him.

"I'm in love in the virtual world network," Meng Tian said seriously. "I want to take things further and meet my Senior Sister in real life."

The fat figure's expression changed slightly, and he frowned. "I don't care if you're in love in the virtual world network, but in reality... Have you forgotten the contract you signed?"

"I know," Meng Tian nodded. "So I'm discussing it with Father, hoping Father can give me a little freedom to date. I want to meet in real life..."

"It seems I've spoiled you too much, making you so foolish," the fat figure said coldly. "Listen carefully, forget about your so-called Senior Sister! Otherwise, forget about being in love! You'll only harm your Senior Sister!"

Meng Tian's face turned pale.

"I forgive your foolishness this time, but I remind you, you must follow every clause of the contract," Hai Yong·Qingyuan looked at his son coldly.

"Father!" Meng Tian said urgently. "I've been on Yanquan Star since birth. I've worked very hard these years, and I will continue to follow the contract to make money in the future. But I hope Father can give me the freedom to love. It won't delay my work. I might even earn more in the future. I'm even willing to serve you longer, two thousand or even three thousand years; I only hope Father will give me emotional freedom."

"You have no freedom to love."

Hai Yong·Qingyuan's voice became increasingly cold. "As my son, you have no freedom to love. You must contribute to the entire family. I can tell you clearly, I've already decided on your marriage."

Meng Tian was stunned.

"The Qingyuan family is becoming increasingly decadent and needs the efforts of every family member. And you... are to marry the First Executive Officer of the Dongyu Group and become her ninth husband," Hai Yong·Qingyuan said.

"Ninth husband?" Meng Tian was a little bewildered.

"The Executive Officer currently has eight husbands. You have cultivated the Evolution Method since you were a child, and you became a seventh-order cosmic lifeform at the age of 30. Your talent has been appreciated by the Executive Officer, and your appearance and knowledge are all considered satisfactory by the Executive Officer, who has already agreed to this marriage," Hai Yong·Qingyuan said. "This is the most suitable path for you."

"You have no choice."

Hai Yong·Qingyuan looked at his son coldly. "You know very well the consequences of rejecting me."

With that, the light screen closed.

Meng Tian stood in the study, standing blankly for a long time.

He had mustered the courage to make a request to his father, and this was the result?

"No freedom to love?" Meng Tian murmured. "The ninth husband of the First Executive Officer of Dongyu Group?"

Meng Tian looked at the gloomy sky.

Since birth, he had been subjected to countless restrictions. Although his welfare benefits had continuously improved as he became more and more outstanding, even the most outstanding genius on Yanquan Star still had no freedom to love.

...

Hai Yong·Qingyuan was still a little annoyed after closing the communication. "Freedom? Talking about freedom in front of me?"

He immediately contacted the First Executive Officer of Dongyu Group.

Personal space in the virtual world.

Madam Dongyu sat in her seat, observing Hai Yong·Qingyuan with interest.

Hai Yong·Qingyuan bowed his fat body, appearing very humble. He smiled flatteringly. "Madam Dongyu, I wanted to ask, is Madam still interested in my son, 'Meng Tian'?"

"Of course, I'm interested, but I still need to consider it," Madam Dongyu, with her silver curly hair, glanced at Hai Yong·Qingyuan. She didn't particularly like him, but in terms of some cooperation, Hai Yong·Qingyuan was still very well-behaved and a very qualified partner.

"He became a seventh-order in 25 years of cultivation; my son is very outstanding," the fat figure said. "He's only 35 this year. As long as Madam agrees, all of his contracts will be transferred to Madam. Everything about him will be controlled by Madam in the future."

"I'm very satisfied with him, but you're asking for too much," Madam Dongyu looked at him.

"Our Qingyuan family and Dongyu Group have been cooperating for so long; it's just a renewal," Hai Yong·Qingyuan said flatteringly. "It only needs to be renewed for another thousand years."

"I'll think about it. You also send me Meng Tian's latest information," Madam Dongyu said. "I'll take another look at this cute little fellow."

"Okay, Meng Tian is becoming increasingly outstanding and will likely become an eighth-order cosmic lifeform in the future. He's worth the price," Hai Yong·Qingyuan said. Although he was anxious in his heart, he didn't dare to rush her.

The family was on the decline, and many of his cosmic trades had begun to be hampered. Even the renewal with Dongyu Group was becoming so difficult.

******

Tianmang Cosmic Domain.

The day after Chi Tong's wedding, Xu Jingming received three Space-Time Star Sand sent by Chi Tong through the Primal Research Institute.

"Lord Wu Ming, this is your mail; please sign for it," a gray-robed man came to Xu Jingming's residence.

Xu Jingming took the mail.

Upon contact, the completely sealed metal box naturally opened, revealing the glass bottle inside, with three Space-Time Star Sand floating inside. Each Space-Time Star Sand was like a dream and also brought Xu Jingming a strong sense of oppression.

It was as if three worlds had appeared before his eyes.

"Space-Time Star Sand," Xu Jingming said with joy.

"Thank you for your trouble," Xu Jingming nodded slightly.

The gray-robed man nodded and then disappeared into thin air, leaving the life-sustaining planet.

Xu Jingming returned to his study.

"Buzz."

He gently tapped the light screen.

A figure appeared on the light screen, none other than Mang Yu, a scholar with a degree of 132, a member of the Human Alliance Council of the universe.

"Wu Ming," Mang Yu said, looking at Xu Jingming with a smile. "Why did you suddenly contact me?"

"I have some things to do in the next few days, so our classes will be suspended for now," Xu Jingming said. "I'm sorry, Teacher Mang Yu."

"Okay," Mang Yu nodded. "Notify me one day in advance to continue the course."

"Okay," Xu Jingming nodded.

The two ended their call.

Xu Jingming sat at his desk, looking at the three Space-Time Star Sand in the glass bottle in front of him.

"Once I start using Space-Time Star Sand, the disintegration of Space-Time Star Sand is irreversible," Xu Jingming thought. "According to intelligence, the disintegration time of a Space-Time Star Sand is about 3 to 5 days."

"Even if I encounter a prison clan raid during the process and need to provide support, the time spent fighting the prison clan is short and won't have much impact."

"Moreover, I only encounter one or two such missions a year."

Although Xu Jingming guarded a wide area, as long as he went somewhere, the frequency of prison clan raids in that guarding area would greatly decrease. In recent years, the large number of dead prison clan origin lifeforms had forged Xu Jingming's reputation.

As long as he was responsible for intercepting, the hope of prison clan ninth-order origin lifeforms escaping was almost zero.

"Gurgle, gurgle."

Xu Jingming drank a glass of his favorite fruit wine, adjusting his mindset to the most perfect state. Only then did he sit at his desk and take out one of the Space-Time Star Sand from the glass bottle.

"Let's begin."

Xu Jingming's mental power penetrated the Space-Time Star Sand floating in front of him and also entered the 'section of the broken world' inside the Space-Time Star Sand.