Floating Island - Triple S Talent

However, if you are willing to wait, I can complete this transaction once we return to the Dominion. All my personal wealth is stored in the Collapsing Sky Trade Chamber."

His expression remained relaxed, without the slightest hint of hesitation or deceit. Aleron and Tauriel, standing behind him, could not hide their surprise. Lein had never been to the Dominion before, let alone known about the Collapsing Sky Trade Chamber. However, neither of them dared to voice their shock. They understood that Lein must have his own plans.

Veyron looked at him with interest, slightly surprised by the response. After a few seconds of thought, he nodded slowly. "Very well. In that case, how about we head straight to the Dominion of the Nova Consortium? It's the closest Dominion from here, and coincidentally, we're from there as well."

There was an implicit message in his tone. Veyron clearly did not want Lein to simply disappear after the deal was made. Considering the value of a Cosmic Core, it was not strange for him to want to ensure the transaction proceeded smoothly. For him, a five-star spirit artifact powered by one million God Essences was a huge gain. As a Tier 4 King, a single Cosmic Core would not be enough to significantly advance his power. He needed more than one to break through to the next stage.

Lein gave a slight smile, his eyes locking onto Veyron with a thoughtful expression. "Sure, I agree," he said casually. However, his expression suddenly changed. His brows furrowed slightly as he gazed deeper at the man.

Veyron noticed the shift and felt slightly uneasy. "What's wrong, Lord Lein? Don't tell me you're thinking of backing out?" he asked mockingly, trying to gauge Lein's intentions.

Lein responded without hesitation. "No." He paused for a moment before continuing in a light tone, "I'm just afraid that you'll be the one backing out."

For a moment, silence filled the air.

Aleron and Tauriel's eyes widened, while Veyron's two subordinates standing behind him looked so shocked they could barely breathe. A Tier 1 King daring to speak like that to a Tier 4 King? That wasn't just bravery—it was borderline madness. Perhaps only Lein and the Sons of Heaven would dare to do something like this.

Veyron stared at him for several seconds before suddenly bursting into laughter. His laughter echoed around them, filled with satisfaction and amusement. "Hahaha… this is how it should be!" he exclaimed, still chuckling. There was genuine enjoyment in his voice, as if he truly relished the challenge.

"I would've been suspicious if you had agreed too easily, but you're quite sharp, kid," Veyron said in a relaxed tone, though his eyes remained sharp as he assessed Lein. Then, he reached out and retrieved something from his spatial ring.@@novelbin@@

Read new adventures at My Virtual Library Empire

The object was round, with small holes scattered across its surface in no discernible pattern. It emitted no light, nor did it possess any striking colors—just a pitch-black hue with a rough texture, like an ancient stone worn by time. It was about the size of a tennis ball, appearing simple yet exuding an air of mystery.

"Go ahead and examine it. I'm not lying to you," Veyron said, making the object hover in front of Lein, giving him a chance to assess its authenticity.

Lein sharpened his gaze. His pupils slightly dilated as he raised his hand, slowly reaching out to touch the object before him.

[Cosmic Core]

The remnants of a cosmic vortex that has lost its power, leaving behind traces of an existence that once bridged order and infinity. A core that has dimmed, yet still holds echoes of the immense energy that once flowed within it.

"A remnant of a cosmic vortex?" Lein murmured, unable to hide his intrigue. This seemingly simple object was the key for many cultivators to take their next step forward.

Wasting no time, he activated his ability.

"Duplicate," he thought to himself. There was no point in spending time merely inspecting its outward appearance.

[Duplicating (Cosmic Core), for 1.5 million? Y/N]

"Yes," he answered in his mind.

In an instant, before anyone could notice, an exact copy of the Cosmic Core appeared within his spatial ring.

Veyron narrowed his eyes, as if sensing something unusual. However, there were no visible changes in his surroundings, and Lein remained perfectly composed. He dismissed the feeling and retrieved the Cosmic Core from in front of Lein.

"Well, Lord Lein? Are you convinced now?" he asked.

Lein nodded, his voice steady and sincere, devoid of any doubt. "Yes, I am convinced now, Lord Veyron."

Veyron grinned in satisfaction. "Then let's continue this hunt. Once we're done, we'll return to the Dominion," he said quickly, as if he still had other matters to attend to.

His gaze then shifted to one of his subordinates—a man clad in a black robe with purple patterns running along the fabric. "Hagar, fill up the energy reserves, then attack that monster with full power," he ordered, tossing a pouch filled with energy stones toward the man.

"Yes," Hagar responded briefly. In an instant, his figure vanished, moving swiftly toward the spaceship and beginning the process of replenishing its energy reserves.

Meanwhile, Aleron and Tauriel remained silent throughout the transaction. They knew better than to interfere in such matters. A single misstep could ruin the deal, and that was the last thing they wanted.

Not long after Hagar left, the spaceship began to vibrate subtly. The tremor was almost imperceptible, but Lein and the others could feel a slight disturbance beneath their feet. Instantly, their attention turned to the top of the spaceship.

Up above, a long-barreled object slowly began to move, its tip aligning directly with the floating mercury in the distance. A silver-blue light crept along its surface, casting a faint glow over its sleek metallic structure. From its streamlined yet intricate design, Lein could immediately tell that this weapon was not of this world—it was the creation of the players, those who brought technology from beyond the boundaries of this universe.