In the Original Universe, beyond the Human Territory, in the uninhabited starry sky.
Elder Lei Wen of the Sora Race teleported to this cosmic starry sky, crushed the Divine Power token left by her friend, and quietly waited for her friend to arrive.
Buzz!
A moment later, a brilliant green light shone, followed by space fluctuations appearing within the brilliant light.
"Long time no see."
When the light faded, a King Immortal Dragon man in dark red armor smiled at Lei Wen.
"Long time no see, Gu Ming."
Lei Wen looked at the Dragon man, a smile also appearing on her face.
They had once ventured together on the Extraterritorial Battlefield for a long time and were true friends who had faced life and death together.
However, with Lei Wen returning to her remote hometown, she only contacted King Gu Ming once in a long while, and each time they met in this starry sky.
"Hmm… you've Broken Through to become a Universe Venerable?"
King Gu Ming felt Lei Wen's aura and pressure, which was exactly like the Universe Venerables he had seen, and immediately revealed a look of surprise.
If he remembered correctly, his friend should have been born in a Secret Realm, and when they last met, she was still a King Immortal. How did she become a Universe Venerable this time?
He was born in the Human Universe Country territory, and in terms of potential, he should have surpassed his friend Lei Wen, but she had Broken Through to become a Universe Venerable, while he was still at the Limit stage King.
"I got lucky. I thought I would never be able to Break Through to become a Universe Venerable."
Lei Wen sighed emotionally, "I never expected that a dangerous adventure would unexpectedly allow me to Break Through the shackles."
The Original Universe is very mysterious, possessing many unimaginable Opportunities and treasures, some of which can help Powerhouses Break Through their shackles.
It can also allow a King Immortal born in a Universe Secret Realm to Break Through to become a Universe Venerable one step ahead of a King Immortal born in a Universe Territory.
"It's good that you've Broken Through. Your becoming a Universe Venerable will greatly benefit your Race."
Although King Gu Ming felt a little envious, he was genuinely happy for his friend's Breakthrough.
It is very difficult to comprehend a superior Law and Break Through to become a Universe Venerable. Some spend endless years accumulating before successfully Breaking Through to become a Universe Venerable.
Others, however, are like a bamboo shoot breaking through the ground, taking less than a thousand Mixed units from becoming Immortal to Breaking Through to become a Universe Venerable.
King Gu Ming had accumulated for a long time, and had long comprehended the three great profound mysteries of the Space Law, but he had been unable to integrate them and take the final step.
Perhaps he needed to spend a long time accumulating until the accumulation was sufficient for a natural Breakthrough.
Of course, if he was lucky, he could experience an Epiphany while adventuring in the Universe or receiving guidance, and directly Break Through to become a Universe Venerable without needing to accumulate.
All in all, King Gu Ming also didn't know when he would be able to Break Through.
...
"Race, alas..."
Lei Wen couldn't help but sigh softly when she heard this, "Even if I become a Universe Venerable, it will be very difficult to change the predicament my Race faces."
"What happened to your Race?"
King Gu Ming understood that the Sora Race's situation was not good, so he asked, "With a Universe Overlord overseeing it, there shouldn't be any problems, right?"
As a three-star member of the Hong Alliance, he naturally knew the strength and status of a Universe Overlord. That was a Seven Star Overlord comparable to a newly promoted Universe Master!
A Race with a Universe Overlord overseeing it versus one without a Universe Overlord overseeing it are completely different concepts!
Lei Wen's eyes dimmed, and she whispered, "Elder Tula, the pillar of my Race... has fallen!"
"Fallen? How did he fall!"
King Gu Ming was shocked. Universe Overlords are powerful, and logically, they shouldn't fall so easily.
At the same time, he couldn't help but worry for Lei Wen.
The fall of a pillar was an almost devastating blow to the Sora Race. If they couldn't cope with the targeting from other Races, the Sora Race might be annihilated as a result.
"It was on Original Star, falling in the clash between the North Prison Master and the Jade Pendant Master."
Lei Wen's voice was low, "Even the flying palace-type Heavy Treasure was shattered, and there was no chance to escape!"
"The clash between the North Prison Master and the Jade Pendant Master..."
King Gu Ming seemed to understand but not fully. Although he didn't know the identity of the North Prison Master, he knew that the Jade Pendant Master was most likely a Universe Master.
Two Universe Master-level Powerhouses clashing, and a Universe Overlord getting caught in it and falling, was normal.
What King Gu Ming didn't know was that in the clash between the North Prison Master and the Jade Pendant Master, the fallen Universe Overlords were not just Elder Tula of the Sora Race!
On that Original Star where the battle took place, all Universe Venerables who didn't immediately flee indirectly or directly fell at the hands of the North Prison Master.
After informing him of the crisis facing her Race, Lei Wen solemnly requested, "Gu Ming, I need your help."
"How can I help you?"
King Gu Ming was a little confused. At such a critical juncture, why was Lei Wen looking for him?
This was a crisis of annihilation faced by an ordinary Race, something that he, a King Immortal, could not participate in at all!
"You are a member of the Human Race, so you must know Powerhouses from the Universe Artifact & Potion Refining Company."
Lei Wen requested, "I want to ask you to be an intermediary and introduce me to the high-level officials of the Universe Artifact & Potion Refining Company."
"You mean?"
King Gu Ming heard this and immediately understood the Sora Race's intentions.
At such a life-and-death moment for the Sora Race, asking him to help contact Powerhouses from the Universe Artifact & Potion Refining Company clearly meant they wanted to pledge allegiance to the Universe Artifact & Potion Refining Company to resolve their Race's crisis.
"This is the only way, so... please, you must help my Sora Race,"
Lei Wen's eyes held deep helplessness, "Regardless of success or failure, my Sora Race is willing to give you treasures worth 100 billion Mixed units."
"I'll help with this."
This matter was beneficial to the Race, so King Gu Ming nodded and agreed, "I know King Blood Sword from the Universe Artifact & Potion Refining Company. He is a Disciple of Venerable Radiance."
"Venerable Radiance?"
Lei Wen's eyes lit up. She naturally knew about the famous Venerable Radiance.
She also knew that behind Venerable Radiance was the founder of the Universe Artifact & Potion Refining Company, Void River Master, whose strength could rival True Gods!
So, she quickly thanked him, "Gu Ming, thank you."
"It's nothing."
King Gu Ming said softly, "Please wait a moment, I will contact King Blood Sword through the Virtual Universe."
"Okay."
Lei Wen nodded repeatedly, quietly waiting for King Gu Ming's good news.
...
Virtual Universe, Myriad Creations Island.
At the halfway point of the Arcana Treasure Mountain Range, inside the Main Hall of a majestic palace complex.
King Blood Sword Locke had met King Gu Ming and learned of the Sora Race's intentions, so he immediately went to his teacher Venerable Radiance's palace.
"Locke."
Nineteen, clad in silver armor, sat on the throne, looking down at his most outstanding Disciple, "You're saying that a Universe Venerable named Sora Race, through King Gu Ming, found you."
"Yes, Teacher."
Locke respectfully replied, "According to King Gu Ming, the Sora Race probably wants to pledge allegiance to the Universe Artifact & Potion Refining Company and become a vassal of the Universe Artifact & Potion Refining Company."
"Sora Race."
Nineteen's mind stirred slightly, and a light screen appeared before the throne, displaying detailed information about the Sora Race.
"Hundreds of King Immortal, four Universe Venerables, one of whom is a Universe Overlord." Looking at the data, Nineteen's eyes showed a thoughtful expression, "The Sora Race coming to the Universe Artifact & Potion Refining Company suggests they've encountered a Race annihilation crisis, most likely because the Universe Overlord, who was the pillar of their Race... has fallen."
"In that case, the Sora Race still has three Universe Venerables and hundreds of King Immortal."
A hint of satisfaction appeared on Nineteen's face, "Such strength is indeed qualified to become a vassal of the Universe Artifact & Potion Refining Company."
The Universe Artifact & Potion Refining Company had been established for so long, and logically, it should have had vassal Races long ago, but there was a reason why it still didn't have any.
Nothing else, the Races that had come to pledge allegiance to the Universe Artifact & Potion Refining Company before were all weak Races without even a Universe Venerable, making it difficult to even consider letting the Universe Artifact & Potion Refining Company accept them.
At that time, the Universe Artifact & Potion Refining Company had no territory, and even its core four Secret Realms were given by other Leviathan of Humanitys, so how could it waste Secret Realm continents on those weak Races.
To put it bluntly, the Universe Artifact & Potion Refining Company would only take in dogs that could bite, not dogs that didn't even dare to bark!
The Sora Race had three Venerables and hundreds of King Immortal, which met the Universe Artifact & Potion Refining Company's conditions for accepting vassal Races.
"Wait a moment, I'll immediately contact the company's highest leaders."
Nineteen instructed, then separated a wisp of consciousness.
...
Above Myriad Creations Island, inside a side hall of the majestic palace.
Ender and Nineteen sat at a stone table, on which sat a pot of fine wine worth over a trillion Mixed units.
After Nineteen recounted what he knew, he picked up the wine pot and poured wine for Ender.
"Sora Race."
Ender raised his wine cup and said softly, "Since it's a Race that still has Universe Venerables, there's no harm in taking them as vassals. It just so happens that our newly developed Human Territory, belonging to the Universe Artifact & Potion Refining Company, has 300 High-level Universe Countries.
"In the future, in these 300 Universe Countries, we can find a Secret Realm for the Sora Race to build a new continent."
"Brother Eleven, the Sora Race once produced a Universe Overlord. They should want to accumulate wealth and contributions to ask Huge Axe Creator to revive that Universe Overlord."
Nineteen put down the wine pot and continued, "According to the Human Race's past practice, as long as a Race produces a Universe Overlord, they will be given the Opportunity to become independent."
"Reviving a Universe Overlord, for those alien Races, how easy is it..."
Ender drank the wine in his cup in one gulp, then put down the cup and said, "Do you know what price the Twelve Top-tier forces have to pay to ask True Gods to revive a Universe Overlord?"
"8 Arcana Treasure Points?" Nineteen probed.
Ender smiled and replied, "A regular Universe Overlord starts at 10 regular Heavy Treasures, and a Top-tier Universe Overlord starts at 3 High-level ArcanaTreasure armors."
"The cost is that high?" Nineteen was a little surprised.
The 10 regular Arcana Treasures for reviving a regular Universe Overlord, calculated at the Human Race's Treasure Vault's cheapest weapon-type Arcana Treasure, would be approximately 12 Arcana Treasure Points or more.
The cost of reviving a Top-tier Universe Overlord, which is 3 High-level Arcana Treasure armors, would be approximately 40 Arcana Treasure Points or more.
This was still calculated according to the cheapest Arcana Treasures in the Human Treasure Vault; the actual price to pay would be even higher!
1 Arcana Treasure Point could make High-level Venerables and Universe Overlords covet it. Many Universe Overlords' entire fortunes are only around 4 Arcana Treasure Points, so how could they afford such an exorbitant revival cost?
Nineteen asked, "The Twelve Top-tier forces asking True Gods to revive a Universe Overlord, I'm afraid those Top-tier forces bear the revival cost first, right?"
"If the Twelve Top-tier forces don't bear the cost, besides powerful Races being able to pay the revival cost, how can those ordinary Races afford the revival cost?"
Ender smiled, "Those ordinary Races, their entire Race's wealth is concentrated on the Universe Overlord. Once the Universe Overlord falls, the Race's wealth immediately loses eighty to ninety percent."
Nineteen suddenly realized, "With the Sora Race's strength, after becoming a vassal of the Universe Artifact & Potion Refining Company, it will be countless Years later before they can ask Huge Axe Creator to revive a Universe Overlord."
"Even if the cost for the Human Race to help vassal Races revive Universe Overlords is lower than what the Twelve Top-tier forces pay True Gods, it's still not something the Sora Race can bear."
Ender said softly, "So there's no need to worry about the Sora Race becoming independent. That will be countless Years from now."
Nineteen nodded and asked, "Brother Eleven, how should we respond to the Sora Race?"
"As the first vassal Race of the Universe Artifact & Potion Refining Company, the Universe Artifact & Potion Refining Company will naturally not treat them harshly."
Ender thought for a moment and replied, "Three hundred years from now, our Human Race will grant the Sora Race a Universe Secret Realm as a habitat, which will be reclaimed after the Sora Race becomes independent."
"Understood." Nineteen nodded upon hearing this.
In his opinion, granting a Universe Secret Realm for the Sora Race to inhabit was a generous treatment.
It should be noted that even the Golden Horned Beast, once a powerful Race, after pledging allegiance to the Virtual Universe Company and becoming a vassal, only resided in a Universe Secret Realm, creating a continent as their Race's habitat.
Among Ender's conditions, the more important one was the promise given: after the Sora Race becomes a vassal of the Universe Artifact & Potion Refining Company, they can become an independent Race again in the future.
"You should inform Venerable Bei Ming and Venerable Bloodwing about the Sora Race's matter and have them cooperate with you in handling this."
After instructing, Ender said softly, "Go."
"Okay." Nineteen's eyes moved slightly, and he stood up and left.
After Nineteen disappeared in a flash of white light, Ender shook his head slightly.
He knew about the factions within the Universe Artifact & Potion Refining Company, but he didn't care.
Whether it was the Human Race or the six major powerhouses, there were factions within them. Compared to the fierce competition of the former, the latter were just minor squabbles.
In fact, the existence of factions was a result tacitly approved by the highest levels of humanity, allowing internal competition to cultivate more Powerhouses.
...
Original Universe, uninhabited starry sky.
King Gu Ming and Lei Wen were waiting there, exchanging messages from time to time.
Not long ago, they both received a reply from the Universe Artifact & Potion Refining Company: a Powerhouse would arrive to discuss the matter.
Because of this, both of them were quite expectant, guessing which Powerhouse from the Universe Artifact & Potion Refining Company would arrive.
After waiting for a moment.
A brilliant light shone, and then, accompanied by spatial fluctuations, a figure descended, bringing immense pressure.
"This is?"
"It's a Domain-type Treasure!"
King Gu Ming and Lei Wen were enveloped by the successive brilliant lights, both feeling the oppressive restraint and the space being confined.
The brilliant light receded, and Nineteen's figure appeared in the starry sky, radiating a faint light that enveloped an area of tens of millions of kilometers around him.
"Greetings, Venerable Radiance."
After King Gu Ming clearly saw the newcomer's appearance, he immediately bowed respectfully.
"Venerable Radiance."
Lei Wen also bowed slightly in respect upon hearing this.
This Venerable Radiance before them was a renowned Powerhouse in the Universe, even more powerful than Elder Tula, the former pillar of her Sora Race.
"Your Sora Race, you wish to become a vassal of the Human Race?"
Nineteen's gaze swept past King Gu Ming and landed on Lei Wen, the Sora Race Venerable.
Lei Wen nodded respectfully, "Yes, my Sora Race is willing to become a vassal of the Human Race and obtain the Human Race's protection."
"Very good. From today onwards, the Sora Race will be a vassal of the Human Race, and the Human Race will provide protection for the Sora Race."
Nineteen nodded slightly and promised, "The Human Race promises to grant your Sora Race a Universe Secret Realm as a habitat. If your Sora Race produces a Universe Overlord and regains independence, this Universe Secret Realm will be reclaimed.
"The Human Race will give your Sora Race three hundred years to prepare. After three hundred years, your entire Race shall migrate to the designated Universe Secret Realm."
"Yes." Lei Wen nodded with a hint of sadness in her heart.
Because from today onwards, the Sora Race would no longer be independent, but would be a vassal of the Human Race!