Chapter 113

Chapter 113: The Return Journey

At the spaceport, inside a spacecraft belonging to the slave guild, over ten thousand slaves had completed their ownership transfer. Among them, Hong and Lei Shen each selected a star-level nine and a star-level eight warrior. Qin Mu chose the remaining two star-level nine warriors and one from each of the other star levels.

Although these two star-level nine warriors nominally belonged to Qin Mu, he had them assimilated by the Swarm to extract their genetic information. One was stationed at the headquarters of Earth's trade company, while the other would accompany the company's transport fleet in the future.

Unlike the Black Meng race star-level slaves, the ten thousand planetary-level nine spirit masters skilled in various fields came from over a hundred different races, all at the planetary-level nine. From these races, Qin Mu selected two individuals from each as research samples. The remaining slaves were handed over to Jia Yi for unified management.

For Qin Mu, the slaves' combat strength wasn't particularly useful. Their primary value lay in their genetic information, especially those from seventh and eighth-tier bloodlines, with a few from sixth-tier bloodlines. These samples were invaluable for Qin Mu's current research on bloodline evolution agents.

Qin Mu also instructed Li Xingtao to continue collecting slaves from different races in the universe.

After the slave transfer was completed, the group returned to the Black Dragon spacecraft. Jia Yi led most of the slaves to Zone B of the spaceport, where they boarded a massive armed cargo ship. The rest followed Li Xingtao to Earth's trade company on Qiu Long Star.

Li Xingtao and a portion of the team stayed behind on Qiu Long Star to continue securing orders, generating income, and gathering intelligence. The trade company on Qiu Long Star would serve as Earth's primary interface with the universe.

Once everything was settled, the Black Dragon spacecraft applied for departure and, under the spaceport's guidance, took off.

In the vastness of space, the Black Dragon spacecraft was followed by three armed cargo ships, each over ten kilometers long, and two smaller warships.

"This journey to the universe feels like a dream," Lei Shen remarked in the spacecraft's control room, his expression complex.

"When we came, there were only about fifty of us. Now, we're returning with over ten thousand people and several massive spacecraft."

Lei Shen felt somewhat useless during this trip, as if he had just been along for the ride. In contrast, the seemingly weaker Earth elites had played a significant role.

"Haha, this trip was mainly about experiencing the universe," Qin Mu said with a smile.

Initially, Qin Mu hadn't planned to accomplish much. The goal was simply to make contact with the universe and broaden their horizons. However, the Earth elites had exceeded expectations by securing orders worth trillions!

With money to spend, they went on a shopping spree. While Qin Mu's group focused on personal purchases, Li Xingtao and his team bought spacecraft, industrial machinery, and other equipment, much of it financed through loans.

For example, the cargo ships and warships following them were all purchased on credit under the company's name. In terms of spending, Li Xingtao's team wasn't far behind Qin Mu's group.

This shopping frenzy had significantly boosted Earth's overall strength.

"Let's head to Cold Moon Star to collect the supplies, and then we'll return to Earth," Qin Mu said, feeling pleased with the mission's success.

Cold Moon Star was a transit planet Qin Mu had selected on the Virtual Universe network. Located in the Milky Way, 12,800 light-years from Earth, Cold Moon Star was perpetually frozen, with temperatures dropping to around -150 degrees Celsius in some areas. Due to the extreme cold, the planet was uninhabited, featuring only a few massive warehouse bases, each spanning over a hundred kilometers. It was a dedicated storage planet.

In the universe, such uninhabited planets were common. Apart from the warehouses, Cold Moon Star had little else of value. Qin Mu decided to purchase the entire planet for 100 million Blue Silver coins.

Yes, Blue Silver coins.

In the Milky Way, Blue Silver coins were the primary currency. One hundred million Blue Silver coins equated to only 100,000 Black Dragon coins—a negligible amount for Qin Mu.

After Li Xingtao's team negotiated with Cold Moon Star's previous administrators and signed the contract, the planet officially belonged to Earth's trade company. All subsequent management would be handled by the company's personnel.

In the original timeline, Luo Feng had purchased a warehouse on Bailan Star. However, a single warehouse was insufficient for Earth's trade needs. Compared to Bailan Star, Cold Moon Star was slightly farther from Earth and had a harsher environment, but owning a transit planet made many tasks more convenient.

As the group chatted, the spacecraft began to accelerate.

Moments later, the spacecraft's AI announced, "The spacecraft will reach light speed in ten seconds."

"9… 8... 7... 6... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1!"

The spacecraft shuddered slightly.

"Transition successful. We have entered the dark universe."

The five large spacecraft following the Black Dragon spacecraft also entered the dark universe. Compared to the C-grade Black Dragon spacecraft, these five ships were B-grade, with the three cargo ships accelerating much slower.

The journey would take about nine days, but the group wasn't as bored as they had been on the way out.

"Let's go explore the Virtual Universe," Qin Mu suggested.

***

In the Virtual Universe, on Black Dragon Mountain Island.

Inside a spacious courtyard with a distinct Earth-style design, Qin Mu's figure suddenly appeared in a room. After acquiring a trade company on Qiu Long Star, Li Xingtao's team had also taken over its Virtual Universe assets. As a trade company, having a stable base in the Virtual Universe was essential for conducting business.

In other rooms, the figures of Lei Shen, Hong, and Jia Yi also appeared.

"The Virtual Universe Company is truly impressive. Even in the dark universe, we can access the Virtual Universe," Hong marveled, looking around.

On Earth, he had created the Virtual Palace of Wargods. But comparing the Warrior Palace to the Virtual Universe was like comparing a candle to the sun—there was no comparison.

"Where are you all going? I'm heading to the Killing Field to try out what Qin Mu mentioned—setting an opponent based on myself. I haven't tried that yet!" Lei Shen said eagerly.

His earlier gloom from the slave market had completely dissipated. With their mental fortitude, they had quickly adjusted, as if the experience had never happened.

"Let's go together. The Killing Field is indeed a great place, especially for newcomers like us. As long as we don't get addicted, it's fine," Qin Mu said, his eyes glinting with a strange light.

The Virtual Universe's Killing Field was monitored by the Virtual Universe Company. Any exceptional talents would quickly be noticed and recruited.

In the original timeline, Hong, Lei Shen, and Luo Feng had spent over a month in the Killing Field, catching the Virtual Universe Company's attention. Although they declined to become core members, they agreed to join as external members, which still came with many privileges.

For example, the three of them had each purchased a bloodline evolution agent from the Virtual Universe Company for 100 million Ganwu coins.

This was why Qin Mu hadn't given Hong and Lei Shen the bloodline evolution agents he had developed. The Virtual Universe Company's agents were far more advanced and effective.

Qin Mu had tasked Li Xingtao with investigating the Virtual Universe Company's bloodline agent production, but so far, there had been no progress. Perhaps this was another avenue Qin Mu could explore.

Confident in his talent, Qin Mu believed it wouldn't be long before he attracted the Virtual Universe Company's attention. That would be his opportunity.

After making his decision, the group headed to the Killing Field to train.

***

In the Killing Field's blood-red hall, the atmosphere was bustling, with roughly ten thousand people present. After linking their bank accounts, the group prepared to enter the Killing Field.

Thanks to Earth's financial support, each of them had opened an account with the Universe Star River Bank, with at least a few billion Black Dragon coins in their accounts. Otherwise, the daily expenses of millions would have been unsustainable.

"The Killing Field is expensive, but its effects are undeniable," Lei Shen said, his excitement palpable.

"With so many strong individuals drawn here, how could it not be effective?" Hong replied with a smile.

In the hall, besides Qin Mu's group, there were many others, all of them powerful. During their conversation, Qin Mu even spotted a two-star mercenary—a domain lord-level expert. For Qin Mu, a domain lord was an absolute powerhouse, yet such individuals were common in the Killing Field, showcasing just how many experts gathered here.

"Let's go see how amazing this Killing Field really is," Jia Yi urged, the only one in the group who hadn't experienced it yet.

At the end of the hall were several corridors. Walking down these corridors led to private Killing Field spaces for customers.

As they walked, each chose a corridor and ventured deeper.

Qin Mu's surroundings suddenly transformed. He stood in a starry expanse and promptly made a request to the Killing Field.

"Set the environment to urban ruins. Opponent: Golden Horned Beast, star-level four, with mastery of the second level of the Gold Domain and an understanding of the Gold Law. Weapons: third-tier spirit weapon Crescent Moon Disk. Defense: Cloud-Vine armor."

The Killing Field shifted, the starry sky replaced by the ruins of a city. Qin Mu stood on the Crescent Moon Disk, facing a 420-meter-long Golden Horned Beast covered in black scales.

"Begin the battle!"

A bloodthirsty grin spread across Qin Mu's face as the Crescent Moon Disk's blades flew out.

***

Nine days later.

Qin Mu logged out of the Virtual Universe as the spacecraft's AI announced, "Approaching the coordinates of Cold Moon Star."

The spacecraft began to decelerate, exiting the dark universe.

Space rippled near Cold Moon Star as the Black Dragon spacecraft suddenly appeared. Shortly after, the five massive spacecraft following it also emerged from the dark universe.

"Is this Cold Moon Star?" Qin Mu asked, gazing at the silver-white planet, roughly twice the size of Earth, in the control room.

The planet was almost entirely frozen, with no human structures apart from a few massive warehouses.

"Let's go complete the handover. From now on, this planet belongs to us!"

*****

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