Swallowing the Stars, Hu Yanbo's Pre-Godhood

"Huiguanghou", whose real name is "Guanghui", is one of the few people who can be called "confidantes" during Huyanbo's long years of cultivation.

Over the long years, Hu Yanbo had comrades-in-arms and fleeting romances, but most of them eventually parted ways and disappeared into the sea of ​​people due to different paths or the changing years.

Only a handful of people have maintained a connection with him despite the passage of time.

Take, for example, this "Glorious Marquis".

It was Hu Yanbo who saved him in the battlefield outside the realm during the time of the Realm Lord, and then they shared life and death, supporting each other in desperate situations and fighting their way out back to back.

They are inseparable comrades-in-arms, and also 'inseparable' comrades-in-arms.

"Master! What to do! What to do!" Babata's voice shrieked in Huyanbo's mind.

"It's Marquis Huiguang! She...she must be in grave trouble! Her life is in danger!"

Babata is an intelligent life form that has fought alongside Huyanbo since the early days of the world.

He knew all too well how much Hu Yanbo valued the very few true friends who had entered his heart beneath his seemingly cold and hard exterior.

Over the long years, there are very few people who can be called "old friends" and with whom we still keep in touch.

And this Radiant Marquis, who had fought alongside his master in the battlefields beyond the realms and shared a deep bond with him, was undoubtedly one of the most important among them!

"She has no idea of ​​your current strength, Master!"

Babata was so anxious that he became incoherent.

"I thought you were still barely at the level of barely being granted a noble title!"

"I thought telling you would be useless, and would only be a burden to you!"

"So she didn't even say where she encountered danger! What are we going to do! We don't even know where to look for her!"

Huyanbo listened quietly to Babata's anxious shouts, his face showing no emotion whatsoever.

But in his eyes, it seemed as if ten thousand years of ice were solidifying, and the originally peaceful aura around him became as sharp as a drawn sword.

"Babata, calm down."

"She doesn't know my current strength, but don't you?"

Babata's voice trailed off, as if jolted awake by those words, tinged with shame and realization: "I...I..."

"Panic won't solve anything," Hu Yanbo interrupted, his mind racing.

"Since the email was sent through a virtual universe network, it must have left traces of the sending coordinates."

His eyes flickered slightly, and he made a decision in an instant.

"Contact King Xuzhen immediately!" he ordered in a deep voice.

"The True King?" Babata was taken aback, then understood.

As a veteran king of the Cosmic Mercenary Alliance, King Xuzhen has extensive connections and high authority within the alliance. He has also had dealings with his master, making him the most suitable and likely candidate to help at the moment.

As for the master's teacher, Yuan Huang... Babata shuddered. To disturb a cosmic overlord in order to investigate the private affairs of an immortal?

"Yes, Master!"

The virtual communication was quickly established, and the gentle phantom of the True King appeared before Hu Yanbo.

"Huyanbo?" King Xuzhen seemed somewhat surprised by his sudden contact, especially sensing the sharp aura that Huyanbo had not yet fully concealed.

"What's the matter that's so urgent?"

Hu Yanbo bowed slightly and said succinctly, "Senior King Xuzhen, I apologize for disturbing you. An old friend of mine, Marquis Huiguang, may be in danger. I just received her farewell email, but there is no further information."

"I wonder if you have any methods to help me find the email's origin? I would be extremely grateful!"

Upon hearing this, King Xuzhen frowned slightly.

"Unauthorized access to members' communication coordinates is no small matter even in Virtual Universe Company, let alone the Cosmic Mercenary Alliance, which does not control the Virtual Universe Network."

"Illusory True King said slowly, his tone full of helplessness."

As soon as Hu Yanbo finished listening, his heart sank, and an indescribable anxiety welled up inside him.

Concern clouded his judgment, and he momentarily forgot that only the core intelligence department of Virtual Universe Company had the authority to directly track the coordinates of emails sent within its network.

This is similar to how, in the Earth era, the core departments of a telecommunications operator could naturally trace the base station and general area where a text message was sent, but it would be extremely difficult for other departments or organizations to do so, as it involved strict procedures and regulations.

In terms of cyber intelligence, the Cosmic Mercenary Alliance is indeed far inferior to Virtual Universe Company.

Feeling powerless at this sudden obstacle, he prepared to bow and take his leave to find another way.

"Wait a moment." King Xuzhen raised his hand in a gesture of restraint, indicating that he should calm down, and then changed the subject, "However..."

He pondered for a moment, as if recalling something, and suddenly asked, "The Radiant Marquis you mentioned, is he the one from the Ancient Wheel Universe Kingdom, famous for his 'Aurora Illusion Body' secret technique?"

Hu Yanbo's eyes lit up, and he immediately nodded: "That's right! Senior, do you know her?"

"It really is her." The illusory figure of the True King nodded slightly. "Then you've come at a good time. My true self is stationed in the Cosmic Mercenary Alliance of the Ancient Wheel Universe Kingdom."

"I happened to see a piece of information in a routine report not long ago."

His tone became slightly serious: "The Radiant Marquis you mentioned, together with the 'Rock Marquis,' one of the three hundred marquises in the Qianwu Universe, joined forces a few months ago to accept a five-star mercenary mission issued by the Ancient Wheel Universe Kingdom. The reward was extremely high, but it was also marked with an extremely high risk level."

"Their mission objective is to travel to an ancient, secret realm called 'Ghost God' to find and bring back a special item."

Upon hearing this, Hu Yanbo was suddenly jolted!

Marquis of Panshi!

"Oh right! How could I forget that!" he thought to himself, annoyed.

"Radiance and Rock...the two are also close friends who have known each other for millions of years, sharing a deep bond and perfect understanding!"

"A mysterious realm?" Countless thoughts surged through Hu Yanbo's mind in an instant.

The farewell email from the Radiant Marquis must be related to the dramatic changes that occurred during this mercenary mission!

"Thank you for informing me, senior!" Hu Yanbo bowed solemnly. "This information is of paramount importance to me!"

King Xuzhen nodded slightly: "This is all I can do to help you."

"However, I must remind you—that 'mysterious realm' is not a secret realm controlled by our human race, but a public secret realm located at the border of our territory."

"These kinds of secret realms are characterized by chaotic rules and treacherous environments. What's even more deadly is that... they are not only frequented by powerful members of our human race, but also by a large number of kings, marquises, and immortals from other races and even alien races!"

"The battles for resources and opportunities within the secret realm are far more direct and brutal than those on the outer battlefields!"

"Although you have been crowned king, remember not to become arrogant because of your sudden increase in strength, underestimate the heroes of the world, and never underestimate the dangers of the public secret realm."

The True King gazed at Hu Yanbo, his words carrying a hint of genuine concern: "I don't want to see a rising star of my Cosmic Mercenary Alliance, a future peak King-level expert, perish in such a chaotic place due to a moment of carelessness."