Swallowed Star: The Sacred Eye of Duplication

Ye Yun chuckled to himself as he assessed his situation. Over the past month, he had faced nearly a thousand opponents. Despite their superior combat skills, they all fell within three moves once he activated his Water Domain. But this woman in white finally made him feel a bit of real threat.

He immediately increased the strength of the water field, which countered the woman's wind field. His soft water spear swept through, blocking her spear. The water field further enhanced his spearplay, compensating for his lack of experience with the weapon, allowing him to press on in the battle.

Ye Yun knew his spearmanship was still underdeveloped. He had practiced for too little time, and his skills were no match for the star-level geniuses who had been training for decades or even centuries. Hong and Lei Shen, for instance, had spent decades honing their spear and sword techniques to reach their current levels.

Therefore, Ye Yun didn't rely on mental power but focused on utilizing his Water Domain and improving his spearplay. The amplification and suppression provided by the domain helped mask the flaws in his technique.

However, encountering someone like the woman in white, who had also mastered a field, meant that his weaknesses were highlighted, and it wasn't easy to overcome them.

The two clashed for several more rounds. The woman stepped lightly to the side, ceasing her attacks, and finally spoke, her voice cold and emotionless:

"It's not just the second level of the Water Realm. It's the third level. To reach this point, his talent and understanding must be extraordinary. But how can his spearplay be so weak?"

Ye Yun didn't feel offended by her words. Instead, he smiled and replied softly, "Do you think you're on the verge of victory?"

As soon as he spoke, the power of the Water Domain surrounding him surged, and he struck at the woman with all the force of the domain. She attempted to use the wind field to escape, but this time, she couldn't break free. The soft water spear in Ye Yun's hand grew larger in her sight as it slowly pierced toward her head.

"I'll challenge you again," she muttered before her consciousness faded away, her final words lingering in the air.

After exiting the decisive battle space, Ye Yun reflected on the fight.

"This woman in white must be at least a level 3 elite of the Virtual Universe Company, likely a level 2 elite. If I unleash the seventh level of the Water Realm, I wonder if I could reach the standards of their super elites?"

Over the past month, Ye Yun had spent every day in the decisive battle space, not only improving his combat experience but also hoping to draw the attention of powerful forces. His main targets were the Virtual Universe Company and the Qianwu Universe Kingdom.

He wanted to connect with more high-level figures quickly. His recent travels had made him realize that he was far from reaching the level where such powerful beings would take notice, so he needed to find other ways to attract them.

As Ye Yun pondered this, in a room on the second floor of the killing field, the woman in white who had just challenged him stood beside an imposing man, answering his questions.

"Interesting... You're telling me he unleashed a much stronger water domain at the last moment, and that's how he defeated you?"

The woman nodded, feeling a bit defeated. "My lord, his marksmanship is pitiful. If not for his domain surpassing mine, I would never have lost to him. Please, give me another chance. I can defeat him!"

The burly man shook his head and waved his hand. "If you don't improve your field, you'll never defeat him. In fact, if he attacks with all his strength, you'll be instantly killed. Your perseverance is admirable, but you must face reality. Focus on improving your strength. The points for this mission will be awarded to you. You may leave now."

The woman, unable to argue any further, silently bowed and exited the room.

"I thought he was only a second-level elite before, but I didn't expect him to surprise me. I wonder what level his field has reached. I'm becoming more and more intrigued by him."

After leaving the decisive battle space, Ye Yun returned to the killing ground. As soon as he entered the hall, he was escorted to the second floor, where he met the burly man.

"Yun Zhongxian, right? I've been observing you for a month. How did you feel about the battle just now?"

The burly man's voice was firm but carried no pressure. Ye Yun quickly realized the man's identity. When he mentioned the earlier fight, Ye Yun feigned confusion.

"Sir, you've been observing me for a month? And that battle... was it arranged by you?"

The burly man nodded. "Indeed. Let me introduce myself. I'm Mingyu, an external steward of the Virtual Universe Company at the Black Dragon Mountain Branch. The person you fought was arranged by me. You passed my assessment and have reached the standard of a first-level elite of our branch."

"I only have one question for you: Are you willing to join the Virtual Universe Company and become a member of the Black Dragon Mountain Branch?"

Ye Yun wasn't surprised by Mingyu's offer. The Virtual Universe Company had branches scattered across the human universe, each recruiting and nurturing elite talents. Mingyu, though only one of many deacons, was a Domain Lord, which demonstrated the company's immense power.

After Mingyu's brief introduction, Ye Yun agreed without hesitation to join the Black Dragon Mountain Branch and become Mingyu's nominal subordinate.

The Virtual Universe Company's military structure was divided into internal and external branches. The internal branch was the true core, offering more benefits and rights, but with stricter restrictions on training, experience, and actions. The external branch, while offering fewer benefits, provided greater freedom, including the option to join other organizations. Many individuals, including Mingyu, chose this path.

For now, Ye Yun was a figurehead in the Black Dragon Mountain Branch, gaining access to some resources like bloodline evolution agents and internal company information—advantages not available to outsiders.

Once Ye Yun agreed to join, Mingyu clapped him on the shoulder, offering some advice:

"This killing ground is a useful place for honing your combat skills and gaining experience. But if you stay here too long, you won't improve much. True strength comes from training in life-and-death situations, something the killing ground cannot provide. You've got potential, but don't waste it!"

Ye Yun nodded, understanding the point Mingyu was making. Life-and-death battles pushed one's body and soul to their limits, promoting faster evolution.

"Thank you for your guidance, Master Mingyu. I understand."

After meeting Mingyu, Ye Yun stayed in the decisive battle space for a few more days. However, he was disappointed to find no other forces approaching him, nor any sign of the Qianwu Universe Kingdom.

"I've gained some reputation here on Black Dragon Mountain Island, but the Black Dragon Mountain Empire isn't widely known in the Qianwu Universe. To truly get noticed, I'll need to go to Qianwu Continent in the virtual universe."

In the virtual universe, one could teleport to different locations for a fee, making it easier to meet others regardless of distance. Ye Yun realized that by heading to Qianwu Continent, he could better catch the attention of the Qianwu Universe Kingdom.

Once he figured this out, Ye Yun stopped worrying and withdrew from the virtual universe.

As Mingyu had said, the past month's battles had improved his combat experience, but they hadn't contributed significantly to other aspects of his growth. Too much focus on these "easy" battles would hinder his progress.

Ye Yun knew his current strength was far from the top in the Qianwu Universe. He wasn't even in the top 1,000, possibly not even in the top 10,000. So, he wasn't in a rush to go to Qianwu Continent.

Instead, he continued to travel through the major galaxies, honing his skills through real combat and refining his understanding of the Law of Water. If he could break through to the next level, Ye Yun believed he would catch the eye of the Qianwu Universe Kingdom, and entering the Qianwu Secret Realm would become a real possibility.

...

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