"King Verdant End."
A King-level Immortal, shaped like an ant, clad in light red armor, with multiple segmented limbs around his waist and abdomen, called out to Ender as he approached.
"You are?"
Ender recognized at a glance that he was a King-level Immortal of the common Jieyi race.
That King-level Immortal introduced himself, "Jieyi race, King Crystal Pearl."
Ender glanced at the three star marks on the other party's arm guard and asked, "King Crystal Pearl, do you need something from me?"
"King Verdant End, I heard that you have a good relationship with King Raging Waves. Are you willing to join our Raging Sea Mutual Aid Society?"
King Crystal Pearl stated his purpose, "Among the founders of our Raging Sea Mutual Aid Society, King Raging Waves is included."
"How could he think that? I've only met King Raging Waves twice, how did we become 'good friends'?" Ender was slightly stunned. "Could it be that King Raging Waves told others that I have a good relationship with him?"
"If King Raging Waves really said it, what benefit would that have for him?"
Ender was puzzled internally and replied, "I've only met King Raging Waves twice. We are just fellow humans."
"Fellow humans?" King Crystal Pearl was a bit surprised and pressed, "That's all?"
"If you really want to say there's anything in common, it's that we are both members of the Virtual Universe Company," Ender replied.
"Oh… so that's how it is."
Hearing this, King Crystal Pearl suddenly recalled the situation when they questioned King Raging Waves, and only now did he notice the unnaturalness in his demeanor.
"I thought you had a close relationship with King Raging Waves. I didn't expect you to just be ordinary fellow clansmen. I misunderstood."
Understanding the reason, King Crystal Pearl solemnly invited, "King Verdant End, the Raging Sea Mutual Aid Society officially extends an invitation to you. Are you willing to join us?"
"Sorry." Ender shook his head slightly. "I don't plan to join any force in the district."
King Crystal Pearl's heart sank slightly when he saw Ender refuse, but upon hearing the latter part of his words, his mood immediately reversed. "It's good for our Raging Sea Mutual Aid Society that King Verdant End doesn't join any force. At least the current pattern won't be broken."
Although King Verdant End had just entered the Hong Alliance and their district, his influence on their district was significant.
While only the 108 Universe Venerables of the Hong Alliance management knew King Verdant End's true identity, others only speculated. However, through internal instructions from their race, they naturally understood that King Verdant End's identity was extraordinary, likely a Disciple or favored descendant of a Human Hall Master.
And with such a background, King Verdant End held a very high status in their district. Any force he joined could attract many lone Cultivators, and even powerful individuals from other forces.
King Crystal Pearl smiled apologetically and said, "Since King Verdant End you have no intention of joining any force, then I was presumptuous this time. I will inform the other forces in the district to prevent them from disturbing you."
Ender nodded, "Then I thank King Crystal Pearl."
Although he didn't know why King Crystal Pearl, a 'Three-Star' member of the Hong Alliance, was so respectful to him, he didn't think it was a bad thing. At least it could reduce some unnecessary trouble.
Ender didn't care about the so-called forces in the district at all. He didn't believe he would always reside in the outer city of Hong Alliance Virtual City.
With his opportunities and strength, once he became an Immortal in the future, he would at least be an Invincible stage King-Level comparable to a primary Universe Venerable, qualified to reside in the inner city of Hong Alliance Virtual City!
…
Soon after.
Inside the living room of a residence in the same district.
Several foreign race King-level Immortal were seated in the living room. The star marks on their arm guards were all 'Three-Star,' meaning they were all Limit stage King-Level immortals.
"King Verdant End refused our invitation."
"Huh? Didn't they say King Raging Waves and King Verdant End had a good relationship? How could he not be invited to join?"
"Hmph! King Raging Waves lied to us. He has no friendship with King Verdant End; they are just ordinary clansmen."
"That King Raging Waves, he takes a substantial dividend from us every epoch and causes us a lot of trouble."
"Say less. Who told him he has a 'Six-Star' existence as a teacher, and a Human Hall Master was born in his race."
"He can only bully King-level Immortals with weak strength and background. Those King-level Immortals who don't give him Face, did you see him dare to go up and bully them?"
"The situation isn't too bad. Since King Verdant End won't join any force, then our Raging Sea Mutual Aid Society won't fall so easily."
"Yes, even if several major forces unite, so what?"
Several foreign race Immortal conversed. They were all leaders of the Raging Sea Mutual Aid Society, receiving substantial dividends from the mutual aid society every epoch, preventing them from passively watching the Raging Sea Mutual Aid Society collapse.
As the saying goes, a camp is solid, but soldiers flow.
However, in Hong Alliance Virtual City, it was the opposite. Forces in the district were established and destroyed one after another, but the King-level Immortal powerhouses within them rarely truly perished.
This was because all King-level Immortal who could join the Hong Alliance were qualified to be resurrected. Even if their race did not have a Universe Master to resurrect them, they could ask the Hong Alliance to help with resurrection through a Universe Master. King-level Immortal who truly perished and could not be resurrected were a minority within the Hong Alliance.
…
In the same district, in a red, flame-like residence.
"King Verdant End!"
"King Verdant End!"
King Raging Waves's eyes widened, filled with resentment. "You really are something, not giving me any Face at all!"
The news of King Verdant End refusing the Raging Sea Mutual Aid Society's invitation had already reached his ears, and it ruthlessly pointed out that he had no friendship with King Verdant End.
Originally, according to his expectation, King Verdant End would at least say there was some friendship, at least give him some Face, but the result was unexpected.
And this result made him lose a lot of Face!
"King Verdant End! Don't let me get a chance, otherwise I'll make sure you regret it!"
King Raging Waves's eyes seemed to be spewing flames. "The King Armor assessment is about to begin. I must obtain the qualification to use the King Armor!"
…
Hong Alliance Virtual City, district residence.
Inside a living room less than a thousand square meters.
Ender was currently receiving two foreign race King-level Immortal, and he directly refused their request, "I'm afraid I have no intention of creating a force."
King Terminus, a member of a weaker race, asked in confusion, "King Verdant End, you said you don't plan to join any force, isn't that just wanting to create a force?"
"Not joining a force doesn't necessarily mean creating one. Moreover, district forces are meaningless to me."
Ender shook his head slightly and stated solemnly, "Don't forget, I am human!"
I am human!
The brief words, however, silenced the two King-level Immortal powerhouses, for they both understood the weight of those words.
Humans are a Pinnacle race, the dominant force of the Hong Alliance!
In terms of resources and treasures, which race in the Hong Alliance could compare to humans? Even the weakest of the five Leviathans of Humanity of humanity likely possessed more resources and treasures than most powerful races.
After a period of silence, the two King-level Immortal powerhouses exchanged glances, and finally, King Relentless Pursuer, who was leading, spoke, "King Verdant End, perhaps you don't know that establishing a force is not only for resources and connections, but more importantly, it can accumulate wealth."
"In Hong Alliance Virtual City, besides the various shops where transactions can be made, many King-level Immortal powerhouses conduct private transactions. Generally, private transactions carry risks, but with the Virtual Universe System's supervision, the risk can be reduced to a negligible level."
"The major forces in our district target each other precisely to compete for resources from private transactions, because whenever a force member conducts a private transaction, they often pay a fee based on the transaction amount."
"This fee is generally very low, fluctuating between one ten-thousandth and one thousandth."
King Relentless Pursuer continued, "But even so, that is an incredibly vast fortune, because the transaction amounts of us powerhouses in Hong Alliance Virtual City are often measured in 'billions' of Mixed units."
Ender was slightly moved upon hearing this.
A transaction price of 100 billion Mixed units, even if only one ten-thousandth is extracted, that's 10 million Mixed units, comparable to the wealth of an ordinary Marquis-level Immortal.
If the extracted fee is higher, the amount obtained will also increase. One thousandth would be 100 million Mixed units.
King Relentless Pursuer added, "For scattered individuals like us who haven't joined any force, once we conduct a private transaction with a member of a certain force, we often pay a very high fee."
"Are the acquisition prices offered by the Hong Alliance Virtual City shops very low?" Ender asked.
"That's right, the acquisition prices offered by the shops are very low. If we want to earn more, we can only conduct private transactions." That King-level Immortal nodded.
Hearing this answer, Ender understood.
The shops within Hong Alliance Virtual City had to pay various taxes, so they had to buy low and sell high to maintain profitability. High-priced acquisition of Materials and treasures would only result in losses.
"I imagine you've also tried to create a force, but were forced to stop due to subsequent suppression?" Ender asked.
"We tried, but we failed…" King Relentless Pursuer nodded helplessly.
"You failed, so why do you so confidently believe I can succeed?" Ender asked in confusion.
"Because you are human, and your identity and background are not ordinary," King Relentless Pursuer said in a deep voice. "I have never seen anyone who, upon attending a gathering for the first time, had everyone rise to greet them."
"Being human, I can understand, but what's with my extraordinary identity and background?"
Ender was puzzled. "This identity of mine was fabricated by my teacher, and the Hong Alliance keeps members' specific information confidential. How do they know my identity and background are extraordinary?"
King Relentless Pursuer's eyes showed envy. "I once heard several King-level Immortal talk about it. They all believe you have a powerful teacher, at least a Seven Star Overlord!"
"My teacher is at least a Seven Star Overlord?"
Upon hearing this, Ender couldn't help but think, "Although I don't know why they made such a guess, they really did guess correctly."
"Unfortunately, I have no interest in establishing a force, not only because I don't have time to manage it, but also because I won't be staying in the outer city of Hong Alliance Virtual City for too long."
"Moreover, the King Verdant End identity is a fake identity…"
Combining these reasons, Ender opened his mouth to refuse, "I'm afraid I have no intention of creating a force."
The two King-level Immortal exchanged glances, and their eyes held unconcealed disappointment and frustration.
"Understood."
The two King-level Immortal stood up, preparing to leave.
"Wait."
Ender called out to the two who were about to leave, "Although I have no intention of establishing a force, we can still conduct private transactions. Coincidentally, I have quite a few Materials and treasures that need to be sold, including ninth-tier weapons and armor."
"Materials and treasures?"
"Ninth-tier weapons and armor?"
The two King-level Immortal looked delighted upon hearing this.
"King Verdant End, could you provide a list of the Materials and treasures you have?" King Terminus asked.
"Yes." With a thought, Ender sent the information to both of them.
After receiving the list and briefly checking the Materials and treasures on it, the two King-level Immortal were incredibly excited. "Tens of thousands of tons of Crimson Rainbow Fine Gold, Skyjade Gold…"
"Ninth-tier claw weapons, axe weapons…"
As members of weaker or common races, their desire for resources was deeply ingrained in their bones.
And the list of Materials and treasures now before them, no exaggeration, exceeded their transactions of nearly one epoch.
King Relentless Pursuer inquired, "King Verdant End, the Materials and treasures on this list, our cash alone cannot cover them. Could you give us some time?"
"No problem." Ender nodded slightly. "You can go back and discuss it, and contact me when you've decided."
"Thank you."
King Relentless Pursuer thanked him, then left with King Terminus.
After watching them leave, Ender secretly thought, "In the Hong Alliance, racial forces are the backing. Without powerful racial forces, it's too easy to be exploited."
He could assert that behind King Relentless Pursuer and the other person were not just those scattered individuals, but also many foreign race King-level Immortals who had joined other forces.
And these foreign race King-level Immortals likely shared a commonality: they all came from weaker races or relatively weak common races, all belonging to the Hong Alliance's Low-tier races.
…
Hongwu Secret Realm, Barracks Base No. 123.
When a portion of his consciousness returned from Hong Alliance Virtual City, Ender had already returned to the Barracks Base villa.
"The spoils of war list has been given to them. I hope they can buy all the spoils of war I have."
Just from the adventure in the Land of Sacrifice, Ender had obtained 730 billion Mixed units worth of Materials and treasures. Adding some Materials he obtained himself, he estimated he could ultimately gain 800 billion Mixed units of wealth.
Ender frowned slightly, "Still not enough…"
The Thousand Vine Immortal Star Eating Grass is very powerful. Once Cultivated successfully, it possesses Pinnacle Stage King-Level strength. Each main vine is millions of kilometers long, and its toughness and sharpness reach the Limit stage King of humans. Its vitality is much stronger than human King-level Immortals. Even the strongest Fire God Source Crystal cannot destroy it.
Such a powerful Thousand Vine Immortal Star Eating Grass, the difficulty of its Breakthrough is almost comparable to a Zerg Queen's Breakthrough to Immortal. The best plan only has a 30% chance of becoming an Immortal, requiring nearly 120 billion points!
"Just the points alone require 120 billion points."
Ender secretly thought, "So, Cultivating the Thousand Vine Immortal Star Eating Grass will require at least 1 trillion Mixed units. Even with treasures that increase the success rate, the success rate probably won't exceed 50%…"
Although he was thinking this, he looked at the Star Eating Grass details interface on the light screen in front of him and did not purchase it.
"To Cultivate the Thousand Vine Immortal Star Eating Grass, I probably need to finish exploring the preparation area within the inner region of the Land of Sacrifice and obtain more treasures."
Ender closed the light screen, and his consciousness entered the Virtual Universe Special Space to create secret techniques, while his physical body in reality continued to Cultivate "Yuan Heavy Ru Yi Body."
…
Two days later.
Ender's consciousness detached from the Virtual Universe. He didn't receive news from King Relentless Pursuer and the other person; instead, he received an email regarding a bounty…