Chapter 1 Virtual World Net

In the virtual world network, inside a personal space training arena.

Xu Jingming practiced his evolutionary methods, spear techniques, and shield techniques to his heart's content. Since evolving to the 'middle stage of Starry Sky life', Xu Jingming's body had become even more terrifying, practically a walking nuclear weapon.

His casual swings of the spear now carried a weight exceeding a thousand tons.

Of course, Earth's safety defense system could easily kill even eighth-order experts! So even if Earth's evolutionaries were ambitious, they couldn't stir up much trouble.

"Life evolution is truly incredible. I've heard that high-stage Starry Sky life forms can stroll on white dwarf stars. Eighth-order Starry Sky life forms at the peak can even cultivate their physical bodies on neutron stars. It's a pity that many elementary cosmic civilizations can't even produce a single eighth-order Starry Sky life form in their entire history," Xu Jingming sighed.

The eighth-order level was too difficult.

"Hoo."

After finishing his practice, Xu Jingming put away his weapons, sat on a blue stone, and opened his personal combat power panel to check his accurately assessed strength.

Personal Combat Power Panel—

Gene Evolution Method: *Tian Mang* Evolution Method (Middle Stage of Starry Sky Life 62%)

Body: 1.8 million

Skills: *Hua Hong* Spear Technique (Sixth Order 72%), Starry Sky Spear Technique (Sixth Order 62%), Footwork (Sixth Order 55%), Shield Technique (Sixth Order 60%)

Base Combat Power: 900 million

Energy: 180 million

Combat Bonus: 1530%

Combat Power: 17.6 billion

"In the virtual world, my evolution method is at 62% in the middle stage of Starry Sky life, but in reality, it's only at 29%," Xu Jingming frowned slightly. "It's clearly lagging behind a lot in reality, the cultivation is slower."

Xu Jingming opened the detailed introduction about the evolution method.

"For the middle stage of Starry Sky life, if you want to improve your physical body quickly, it's best to equip yourself with a 'gravity chamber' and an 'artificial star'. The gravity chamber can greatly improve the efficiency of the body's evolutionary cultivation, and the artificial star can provide the body with sufficient energy replenishment." Xu Jingming shook his head. "But these are all astronomically expensive, I can't afford them at all."

An artificial star, even the most basic version, costs a billion cosmic credits.

Gravity chambers allow you to set the gravity! The higher the gravity limit, the more expensive they are!

Therefore, many Starry Sky life forms, after becoming strong, would rather look for 'white dwarf stars' to cultivate, and even look for 'neutron stars' to cultivate in the later stages, all to save money.

"As I evolve, my physical body will become stronger and stronger, but the resources I need will also increase. Relying solely on sunlight is far from enough." Xu Jingming temporarily suppressed his thoughts, after all, he hadn't even reached the seventh order yet.

"My spear techniques have improved somewhat, but there's still some distance to the seventh order."

"The combat bonus is 1530%."

Xu Jingming nodded slightly.

This data was within expectations.

"It's really embarrassing, my combat bonus is already fifteen times, and I'm still stuck at the sixth order! It can only prove that my mental aspect is still very weak." Xu Jingming realized this.

The later you go in cultivation, the more important the mind becomes.

For sixth-order Starry Sky life forms, the combat bonus is generally from five times upwards! Some have ten times, and some even have twenty times.

For seventh-order Starry Sky life forms, the combat bonus starts at ten times!

Yes, some seventh-order Starry Sky life forms have a combat bonus that's even lower than Xu Jingming's, only ten times. But they've already crossed into the seventh order, and that's because... in terms of the mind, they far surpass Xu Jingming.

"If the combat bonus is high enough, but you can't break through, it means the mental aspect is weak." Xu Jingming understood this point.

The "weakness" here referred to being weak compared to seventh-order Starry Sky life forms!

There wasn't a single 'seventh-order Starry Sky life form' on Earth right now.

Looking at Earth, Xu Jingming's mind was definitely at a very top-notch level, but compared to the average mental level of 'seventh-order Starry Sky life forms', Xu Jingming still had a relatively large gap.

"It's also normal, I'm only thirty years old after all. Many of those seventh-order Starry Sky life forms have lived for hundreds or even thousands of years. The longer they live, the more they experience, so it's naturally not easy for me to catch up with them in terms of the mind," Xu Jingming understood the gap.

He was so far from the average mental level of the seventh order.

Then how far was he from the eighth order?

What about the ninth order?

"Take it one step at a time." Having just comprehended the Starfire Dao and improved his strength, Xu Jingming felt even more that the path of evolution was still very long.

With a gentle tap, Xu Jingming's consciousness entered the Blood Rain World.

******

Life in the Blood Rain World was uneventful. Xu Jingming continued his leisurely life as the captain of the Blood Rain Guard. In reality, life was most often calm and uneventful. Stormy seas were rare.

Many people simply lived out their lives in a plain and ordinary way.

For the same plain life, some found it boring and tedious, some found it vexing and crushing, and some found it delightful… it all depended on one's own mind! Whatever realm the mind was in, that was the realm to which life could be lived.

"The people of all walks of life in the Blood Rain World all have their own lives." Xu Jingming walked on the streets, observing the countless people around him.

Observing thousands of kinds of lives naturally led to a more thorough understanding of life.

This was also tempering the mind.

"Brother Jingming." A warm voice came from the side.

Xu Jingming turned his head and saw Luo Baichuan.

"Brother Luo, you've taken office?" Xu Jingming asked.

"I rested my body almost enough, so I hurried to take office. I just took office yesterday as a Blood Rain Guard deputy captain at the Nan Jia Thousand Household Office," Luo Baichuan said with a smile. "By the way, let's hurry over. This is Miss Fei's first banquet for us since we came to the capital."

Xu Jingming nodded.

Since Fei Xinlan had invited them to dinner, they would naturally go.

…

In a quiet private residence, there were only four guests: Fei Xinlan, Xu Jingming, Luo Baichuan, and Qiu Tong.

"My brother brought me here. The dishes they make here are considered top-notch in the capital," Fei Xinlan warmly introduced. Beautiful maids carried plates as they served the food. These maids were dressed gorgeously and had extraordinary bearing, each like a daughter of a noble family.

The music that echoed within the private residence, played by obviously extraordinary musicians, was pleasant to the ears and made people feel happy.

"The reason I've invited everyone this time is because I'm going to become a disciple tomorrow," Fei Xinlan said with a smile. "Senior Sister, Big Brother Luo, Big Brother Jing, I don't have many friends in the capital! You are my only friends. You must come to the apprenticeship ceremony tomorrow."

"Apprenticeship, who are you apprenticing to?" Qiu Tong asked curiously.

"Dean Yu Ming of the Martial Arts Academy," Fei Xinlan said, with anticipation in her eyes.

"Dean Yu Ming?" Xu Jingming, Luo Baichuan, and Qiu Tong were all shocked.

Dean Yu Ming of the Martial Arts Academy!

The number one expert in the capital!

Even Xu Jingming, a cosmic citizen player, understood Dean Yu Ming's extraordinariness. Because he knew very well that Dean Yu Ming, who had held a high position for a long time, was probably not a player but a cosmic citizen who had his memory obscured to play the role.

After obscuring his memory, his strength would naturally decline!

But this 'Dean Yu Ming' had displayed strength that was at a rare level even among eighth-order Starry Sky life forms. This was still after his memory had been 'obscured'! What realm would his true strength in reality be?

"Dean Yu Ming might be a ninth-order Source Life in reality," Xu Jingming had even made such a guess.

"Are you going or not?" Fei Xinlan asked.

"Yes, of course we're going!" Xu Jingming and the others said in unison. Even if it was just to see the legendary Dean Yu Ming, they had to go.

******

The next day, Xu Jingming and the other two arrived at the Fei residence early, and were able to enter the Martial Arts Academy only by following the Fei family's group.

Inside a hall in the Martial Arts Academy.

There were many guests, and Dean Yu Ming sat in the main seat.

"That's Dean Yu Ming?"

Xu Jingming and the other two stood in the corner, carefully watching the old man sitting in the main seat.

Dean Yu Ming was an elderly man with white hair, kind and amiable.

But—

An incomparably vast mental force, like water, spread out, enveloping the entire Martial Arts Academy! The Martial Arts Academy had a range of twenty *li*, like a small town. Yet it was completely enveloped by Dean Yu Ming's mental force.

"Pure mental consciousness, yet it's so powerful?" Xu Jingming clicked his tongue in wonder.

He had seen eighth-order Starry Sky life forms in the virtual world network, but none had reached such a level of mind.

There was no sense of oppression.

Yet it was as boundless as the ocean, completely encompassing him.

"As long as he's willing, under the pressure of his mind, my consciousness will be blank," Xu Jingming thought to himself. "No combat skills will be of use, I'll just stand there dumbly, allowing myself to be slaughtered."

"No wonder he's recognized as the number one in the capital! For decades, no one has dared to challenge him."

Xu Jingming had thought about it before.

Even an eighth-order limit expert, under the same physical conditions, could be exhausted to death by sending hundreds of first-rate experts to besiege him! But after feeling Dean Yu Ming's mental power... Xu Jingming immediately understood that hundreds of first-rate experts were just wooden stakes in front of Dean Yu Ming!

"The mind."

"The key to life evolution!" Xu Jingming said silently, "Eighth-order life forms in the universe have a lifespan of ten thousand years, but the vast majority of them cannot break through to the ninth order in their entire lives... it's because of the realm of the mind! When... can my mind be so powerful?"

"Xinlan." Dean Yu Ming sat there, smiling as he watched Fei Xinlan kneel down to become his disciple, "From now on, you are my, Yu Ming's, disciple."

"Congratulations, Master."

"Congratulations, Dean Yu Ming, on gaining such a good disciple."

Many guests around offered their congratulations. These guests were all important figures in the capital. A Blood Rain Guard captain like Xu Jingming wouldn't have been qualified to enter if he hadn't followed the Fei family's group.

At this moment, he was standing in the corner.

"Mm."

Dean Yu Ming nodded, then stood up and glanced at the guests, "Jiu Yan, come with me."

"Yes." Wang Jiuyan, who had come to observe the ceremony, immediately walked over.

Dean Yu Ming led Wang Jiuyan and left the hall. With Dean Yu Ming's status… it was already good enough that he spent time specifically accepting a disciple. As for accompanying the guests? The guests present didn't dare to hope for that.

Even if the Emperor came, Dean Yu Ming wouldn't pay much attention.

"Dean Yu Ming really values Wang Jiuyan."

"The time Dean Yu Ming spends teaching Wang Jiuyan is more than the time he spends teaching his other disciples." The important figures in the hall watched this scene and felt somewhat envious and jealous.

Because of Dean Yu Ming's importance, Wang Jiuyan's career was also smooth! He rose all the way to the Southern Prefecture's Town Guardian. Although there were various factions and forces in the capital, they were all very wary of this Wang Jiuyan.

Many people had speculated whether Wang Jiuyan was Dean Yu Ming's illegitimate son?

Otherwise, why would he be so biased?

"Cheng Yanran greets Miss Xinlan." A graceful man walked up to Fei Xinlan.

Fei Xinlan looked up and was also stunned.

Cheng Yanran was very handsome! His eyes also carried a hint of melancholy, and his invisible mental consciousness affected those around him, naturally making people feel favorably disposed toward him.

"You are His Highness Yanran?" Fei Xinlan asked with great curiosity.

In the corner of the crowd, Xu Jingming, Luo Baichuan, and Qiu Tong also saw this scene.

"That His Highness Yanran has taken a liking to Junior Sister Xinlan?" Qiu Tong said with some worry.

"Cheng Yanran?" Xu Jingming was surprised. He had also heard of this person's reputation in the capital. "I heard that many women in the capital are infatuated with this His Highness Yanran."

"Yes, he's a playboy." Qiu Tong was a little worried. "He has harmed the purity of many women, but many women, knowing that he's fickle, are still infatuated with him. He's very skilled with women, Junior Sister Xinlan has to be careful."

"He's taken a liking to Miss Fei?" Luo Baichuan immediately said, "We can't just stand by and watch."

"Xinlan's older brother is even more anxious than us." Xu Jingming watched, "He's already walking over."

The three saw Fei Qing walking toward Cheng Yanran and Fei Xinlan, who were talking.

"Brother." Fei Xinlan also noticed her older brother walking over.

Fei Qing nodded and looked at Cheng Yanran with a calm gaze.

This scene also attracted the attention of many people in the hall.

Fei Qing… the Imperial East Territory's Blood Rain Guard Chief Commander, held a high position and great power, and had rendered meritorious service in supporting the dragon! His gaze naturally had an extremely strong oppressive force.

"Lord Fei." Cheng Yanran cupped his hands and greeted him with a smiling face.

Fei Qing looked at him and said calmly, "Cheng Yanran, stay away from my younger sister, did you hear me?"

Cheng Yanran smiled, smiling easily, "I'm just chatting, I think Miss Xinlan is quite cute. Alright, Miss Xinlan, your brother is angry, afraid that I'll run away with you."

After saying that, regardless of Fei Qing's expression, Cheng Yanran turned and left.

"Brother." Fei Xinlan tugged at her brother's hand and said in a low voice, "Don't worry, I know his reputation."

"What do you understand." Fei Qing glanced at Cheng Yanran's departing figure, frowning slightly.

He and Prince Yan...

Had a deep feud! In the past, blood rained and the wind howled, and so many people died before his side succeeded in helping His Majesty ascend the throne.

"Cheng Yanran." Fei Qing's eyes turned cold.

…

After leaving the hall, Cheng Yanran was immediately followed by a group of guards.

Qiu Tong watched from afar and said in a low voice, "He is the only son of Prince Yan. The twelve guards around him are all first-rate experts. Prince Yan is also one of the most powerful princes in the world. This Heir Apparent... has harmed the purity of many women from prominent families in the capital, yet he can still live freely because Prince Yan's power is too great."

Xu Jingming and Luo Baichuan's expressions also turned serious.

They were all concerned about Fei Xinlan, and it was not a good thing for Fei Xinlan to be targeted by this Heir Apparent Yanran.

******

The capital, Prince Yan's mansion.

The current master of Prince Yan's mansion was the Heir Apparent 'Cheng Yanran'.

Because Prince Yan himself resided in his fiefdom, the 'Yan Kingdom'. According to Imperial law, a prince's fiefdom could not exceed ten thousand *li*! And generation after generation, the fiefdom had to be reduced in size.

"Your Highness, this is all the intelligence on Fei Xinlan." A woman handed a scroll to Cheng Yanran.

Cheng Yanran opened it and silently looked at it.

"Chief Commander Fei is His Majesty's right-hand man." Cheng Yanran said softly, "If his younger sister and I get along? Even if I marry his younger sister, do you think His Majesty will still trust Fei Qing?"

"His Majesty may still trust him." The woman said, "And Fei Qing will definitely prevent Your Highness from marrying Fei Xinlan."

"Prevent? If it's a matter of mutual affection, why would he prevent it?" Cheng Yanran smiled slightly.

The woman was silent.

She knew very well the charm of her own master. His mental power had an invisible influence, and even though his reputation as a playboy was well-known, many daughters of prominent families were still infatuated with him.

"Even if I fail, and Fei Qing is annoyed, angry, and unable to sleep well, I'll still feel happy." Cheng Yanran's eyes turned cold as he continued to read the scroll, "This scroll says that this Fei Xinlan has three friends who came with her from her hometown, two of whom are men, one named Luo Baichuan and one named Jingming?"

"Yes." The woman nodded.

"Give them a warning." Cheng Yanran said, "Tell them to stay away from Fei Xinlan from now on."

"Understood." The woman immediately understood.

"Don't cause any deaths." Cheng Yanran said indifferently, "Breaking an arm or losing a leg is enough! If they're crippled, they'll become inferior, and they'll obediently leave Fei Xinlan."