They entered the UNI-Bank, and the sheer scale of the interior immediately became apparent. The ceiling stretched so far overhead that it vanished into soft luminescence.
The space was vast beyond reason, clearly designed to handle millions of beings at every moment without congestion. Despite the crowd, there was no sense of pressure or disorder. At this level of civilization, such scale was not excess, but necessity. Millions of beings, roaming in the same place, was something they had experienced even back home, but all the beings they could sense were stellars, that was something they were still getting used to.
The interior was divided cleanly into two massive sections, each serving a different purpose. One was dedicated to general banking services, while the other handled customer care and special requests. Between them ran a wide avenue lined with softly glowing pillars.
Adrian led the group toward the general banking service section. This was where cultivators converted their low-tier mana crystals into high-tier equivalents and deposited the resulting value directly into their UNI-OS accounts.
Inside, nearly everything was automated. Thousands upon thousands of banking machines filled the space, each one capable of independent operation through a linked UNI-OS account. Beings of countless races moved in steady flows, activating machines, completing transactions, and leaving without delay.
Aerin pressed closer to Aurelia, eyes wide as she watched a towering six-armed being withdraw a glowing crystal from one of the machines. "Why does he need so many arms?"
"Probably born that way," Aurelia said gently. "Remember, we have seen similar beings back home?"
"But why six?"
Sentinel crouched beside her, "Maybe his people needed to hold more things."
Aerin considered this seriously, then nodded.
After navigating through the crowd, the group secured access to one of the machines. It stood waist-high, its surface smooth and featureless until activated. A faint hum emanated from within.
Normally, when a cultivator first bound a UNI-OS device using their unique mana signature, an account would automatically be created for them. Each being could possess only a single UNI-OS account for their entire lifetime. Adrian already had an active account, so he simply injected a thread of pure mana into the machine.
The surface rippled, and a holographic display materialized above it.
› Welcome To UNI-Bank
› UNI-Authority: Basic
› Current Balance: 0 UNI-Coins
The holographic display recognized him instantly and presented multiple options, including deposit, withdrawal, and UNI-Authority upgrades.
Adrian selected the deposit option and placed a spatial ring onto the small recessed platform that expanded outward as soon as the command was confirmed.
This particular ring contained the combined reserves of the rulers and the Origin Empire itself. Due to the scarcity of spatial rings and concerns over security, they had consolidated everything into a single ring, which Adrian personally carried.
The total amount stored inside amounted to 3.5 billion low-tier mana crystals. Within the Milky Way Galaxy, this was an enormous sum. They had deliberately brought such a quantity because they were traveling beyond their home galaxy, effectively carrying nearly half of their stored reserves with them.
Even so, this withdrawal caused no disruption to the Milky Way's operation. These were long-term reserve crystals, not the active mana crystals required for maintaining planetary formations, transportation networks, or essential infrastructure.
As soon as the ring was placed inside the compartment, the slot retracted into the machine, and the display updated.
› Conversion in Process...
› Analyzing Contents...
Selena leaned forward slightly, "How long does this take?"
"No idea," Adrian said.
The conversion itself was a complex process. The mana crystals they possessed were all low-tier, aged anywhere from a few years to under ten thousand years. Each crystal varied in mana density and total content.
Like Adrian's group, countless travelers arrived with different types of mana crystals. Some carried crystals aged fifty thousand years, while others brought crystals that were millions or even billions of years old, each valued far higher.
To handle this diversity, the UNI-Bank used a precise conversion process. Instead of evaluating crystals by age alone, the system scanned each one individually, measuring its mana content and calculating its value using a standardized unit known as the Mana Unit.
As the machine worked, Adrian and the others waited quietly. From forum discussions, they had learned that comprehending a single arcane concept to advanced galactic level granted roughly fifty Mana Units of capacity to a cultivator's mana reserves. This gave them a vague frame of reference, but not enough to accurately predict how their billions of low-tier crystals would convert.
Back home, there had been no exact measurement system. Mana crystals were shaped into standardized sizes and used as currency, even though the mana content inside each one varied. In the universe, such imprecision clearly did not exist.
The display finally updated.
› Conversion Complete.
› 3.5 Million Mana Units Detected
› 3.5 Million UNI-Coins Added to User Account
For a brief moment, the group was stunned.
Lysandra's expression tightened, "Three and a half million, from billions."
"At least it's something," Alice murmured.
Billions turning into millions was a jarring shift in scale, but once the initial shock passed, relief followed. This amount did not make them wealthy, but it certainly did not leave them poor either.
"Better than I expected, honestly," Kael said, "Universe runs on a different scale, we knew that."
Adrian withdrew the spatial ring from the machine and slipped it back onto his finger, "We're not beggars, this is enough for now."
From the forums, they already learned some basic ideas of economic value within the universe. For instance, a new UNI-OS device costs around ten thousand UNI-Coins, while high-end formations, pills, and advanced services could easily reach into the millions. They could not afford reckless spending, but they also did not need to immediately turn their excursion into a desperate search for income.
Selena exhaled slowly, her tension easing, "So we can afford UNI-OS devices for everyone!"
"And food," Aerin added brightly.
Aurelia ruffled her daughter's hair, "Food is not a priority when you don't need to eat."
"But I want to eat."
Sentinel chuckled quietly.
This conversion also clarified something important. Roughly one thousand low-tier mana crystals from their galaxy equated to a single Mana Unit, which in turn matched the value of a high-tier mana crystal.
With the conversion complete, they exited the UNI-Bank and headed toward a nearby UNI-OS distribution center. Every member of the group needed their own UNI-OS device. It was essential for any traveler in the universe, and it would also allow them to remain connected if they chose to split up later to explore.
The distribution center was sleek and efficient, its walls lined with display cases showcasing various designs.
Inside the center, soft white light illuminated each showcased design, and holographic labels floated beside them, listing specifications and prices. The violet token Adrian had received from the Guardian Spirit was only one option among many. UNI-OS devices came in different forms, including wristbands, necklaces, and familiar node-like spheres.
Thomas leaned toward one display, examining a sleek wristband model, "These look more practical than tokens."
"Depends on preference," Elara said, studying a necklace design. "Some of us don't want something on our wrist during combat."
All of these were purely cosmetic variations and offered no functional differences. Eventually, Adrian's parents, the rulers, the Celestials, Kaelith, Mira, and most of the others chose the node design, as it resembled the devices they were already accustomed to.
Aerin, however, immediately pointed to a wristband design. It was silver-white, compact, and glowed faintly, "That one."
Adrian glanced at the price displayed, fifteen thousand UNI-Coins.
Aurelia crouched beside her daughter, "Are you sure? The node works just fine."
"I want the wristband."
Sentinel met Adrian's gaze and gave a small, resigned shrug.
Adrian purchased it for her, which was slightly more expensive than the node version, which cost only ten thousand.
The attendant, a four-armed being with pale blue skin, handed the wristband to Aerin with a polite nod. Aerin immediately fastened it around her wrist, her eyes lighting up as the interface activated.
"It's working!" she said, swiping through menus with delight.
"Don't break it," Aurelia warned.
"I won't."
Afterward, they returned to the food stall Aerin had pointed out earlier. The vendor greeted them with a wide grin, clearly pleased to see customers.
Not only Aerin, but everyone sampled the white sponge-like spheres, which were soft, sweet, and carried subtle undertones of concentrated spatial essence.
Kael bit into one and blinked, "This is... actually good."
"Better than good," Mira said, already reaching for another.
Draven devoured three in rapid succession and asked the vendor, "How much for a barrel of these?"
The vendor laughed, a deep rumbling sound, "Not for sale in bulk, friend. This is a specialty item in our store."
Kaelith leaned against the stall, chewing thoughtfully, "If we had these back home, Aerin would've bankrupted the empire."
Aerin stuck her tongue out at her.
Even Lysandra, who rarely indulged in such things, took a second sphere, "Impressive…"
Adrian watched them, allowing himself a faint smile. The tension from earlier had dissolved. For now, they were simply travelers sampling unfamiliar food in an unfamiliar place.
After this, they did not visit the alchemy centers or formation centers yet, nor did they pursue anything particularly serious. For now, they simply enjoyed the moment.
The group wandered through the food district for some time, stopping occasionally to try out different foods. Aerin darted between stores, always within Aurelia's sight, her curiosity boundless.
Eventually, they made their way to the UNI-Residence Complex. Its entrance was wide and welcoming, flanked by automated drones.
The UNI-Hub provided standardized lodging through this complex, with accommodation tiers determined by a cultivator's UNI-Authority.
A holographic attendant materialized as they approached, its form vaguely humanoid but translucent, "Welcome to UNI-Residence. Please present the UNI-OS account for tier assignment."
Adrian stepped forward, projecting his UNi-OS account.
The attendant scanned them, "Basic Authority detected, standard tier lodging available. Rate: five hundred UNI-Coins per day, per unit. Maximum occupancy: ten individuals per unit."
"We'll need multiple units. Four should suffice," Adrian said.
The attendant processed the request, "Four units reserved. Please let me know the duration of your stay?"
"Indefinite, we'll extend as needed," Adrian said.
"Confirmed. Two thousand UNI-Coins per day, total."
It was expensive, but necessary. Cultivators at their level did not require sleep or extended rest. What they wanted was a place to stay, a shared space where they could gather and plan their next steps in the universe.
The attendant directed them toward a lift that ascended silently through the spire. When the doors opened, they stepped into a wide corridor lined with identical doors, each one marked with a glowing number.
Their units were clustered together: 4701, 4702, 4703, and 4704.
Adrian opened the first door, revealing a spacious interior. The walls were smooth and white, the floor a polished grey stone. Furniture materialized upon entry, low couches, tables, and storage compartments that emerged seamlessly from the walls.
"Not bad," Thomas said, stepping inside.
"Better than a starship cabin," Elara agreed.
Aerin ran to the wide viewport that dominated one wall, pressing her hands against the transparent surface. Beyond it, the UNI-Hub stretched endlessly, its lights glittering like stars.
"Can we stay here forever?" she asked.
Aurelia joined her at the viewport, "For now. We'll see what comes next."
Adrian stood near the center of the room, watching as the others settled in. They had crossed into the universe, converted their wealth, secured lodging, and tasted their first unfamiliar food.
The excursion had truly begun, and now it was time to focus on some of his other plans.