"It’s just a branch."

"The headquarters of our Skyvault Consortium is located one hundred thousand years in the future."

"It is also one of the strongest top-tier forces."

The gray-robed elder spoke with unmistakable pride.

He smiled and added, "Its foundation is leagues beyond that so-called Demon King Council."

As he spoke, he pointed toward the vast expanse of the universe ahead.

"This Divine-Demon Universe is hundreds of millions of times larger than your Universe of Myriad Races."

"It contains numerous Free Realms."

"You should already know that Free Realms allow experts above the High God realm to enter and leave without restriction."

John nodded.

During the journey, the elder had already explained these basic concepts to him.

Realms were classified by scale into Small, Medium, Large, Giant, and Super. The classification depended on the highest level of power the realm could sustain.

A Small Realm could support only up to the Demigod level—just like the former Human Realm.

The human race had developed for countless years yet had never produced anyone beyond the Demigod realm precisely because the realm itself was too small and its Laws were incomplete.

Even John had only gained the opportunity to advance after leaving the Human Realm.

A Medium Realm had an upper limit of High God.

John guessed that the Abyss Plane probably belonged to this category.

A Large Realm could also accommodate High Gods and referred to vast worlds such as the Demon Realm and the Netherworld, both occupied by the races of the Universe of Myriad Races.

If the experts of those races wished to break through the High God realm and ascend to God King, they had no choice but to leave their native realms and venture into the Cosmic Expanse in search of greater opportunities.

That was also why the peak God King of the Universe of Myriad Races had refused to sacrifice the future of the entire universe simply to eliminate John.

As for Giant Realms and Super Realms, John had yet to encounter one.

Besides size, realms were also divided into two categories: Living Realms and Free Realms.

Living Realms were governed by strict Laws.

Take the Human Realm, for example—High Gods could not forcibly descend into it.

When John swept through the Demon Realm and the Netherworld, the High Gods from the other races had likewise been unable to intervene because they were not natives of those realms. The realm itself simply did not recognize them.

Free Realms, on the other hand, imposed no such restrictions.

High Gods could travel freely.

God Kings, Sovereigns, and even Peak Sovereigns could enter and leave at will.

"No wonder the Skyvault Consortium established its branch in the Divine-Demon Universe."

John finally understood.

Not every universe possessed a Free Realm.

The Universe of Myriad Races certainly didn’t, which was why no great power had ever arisen there.

"The strongest force within the Divine-Demon Universe is naturally our Skyvault Consortium," the elder continued.

"But there are also various second-rate and smaller organizations."

"Most are formed by local natives banding together, while others are puppet organizations secretly supported by different top-tier forces."

"For example, the Tower of Myriad Treasures has cultivated a medium-sized faction here, one with a God King overseeing it."

"That certainly sounds lively."

John chuckled.

Naturally, no great power would remain content with peaceful coexistence.

If you planted a proxy organization in my territory, I’d do exactly the same in yours.

After all, the amount of resources in the universe was limited, while every expert required enormous quantities of precious resources to advance.

Competition was inevitable.

The flying vessel continued onward.

Before long, John spotted an enormous artificial realm suspended beyond the heavens.

Its sheer size was staggering—hundreds of billions of times larger than the Large Realms of the Universe of Myriad Races.

Countless colossal structures stretched endlessly across it.

Towering buildings millions of zhang high, ancient pagodas, elegant pavilions, and palace complexes intertwined into one magnificent whole, forming what looked like a gigantic city floating within the void.

Even from an incredible distance away, John could sense the astonishing concentration of energy there.

The various elemental energies had become so dense that they almost condensed into mist, intertwining into harmonious Law resonances that refreshed both body and soul.

Innumerable experts flew between those towering structures without end.

The place bustled with activity.

Flying vessels of every size, along with countless other aerial vehicles, streamed in from every direction.

Their brilliant lights crisscrossed through space like a magnificent, orderly meteor shower.

Looking at the scene before him, John suddenly felt like a country bumpkin visiting a great city for the very first time, completely overwhelmed by everything he saw.

The three members of Valhalla behind him reacted much the same way, their exclamations coming one after another.

"Wow! It’s so prosperous! So lively!"

Holly’s eyes sparkled.

"So... this is... a true metropolis?"

Odelle casually glanced around and immediately spotted several High Gods chatting leisurely together, while a group of God Kings walked side by side as though taking an ordinary stroll.

"I’ve certainly broadened my horizons."

Silt laughed at herself.

"Heh."

The gray-robed elder smiled.

"This is the branch headquarters of our Skyvault Consortium in the current era."

"We have over tens of billions of officially registered members."

"Most come from different overlapping universes."

"Every single registered member has passed strict screening and met our qualification standards before being accepted."

After a brief pause, he pointed toward the immense artificial realm.

"What you’re looking at isn’t actually a true realm."

"It was created from a Sovereign-rank treasure."

"Its area is several hundred times larger than even a Super Realm."

John’s eyes immediately lit up.

So this entire artificial realm...

...was actually nothing more than a single treasure.

A Sovereign-rank treasure.

The flying vessel gradually slowed before coming to a smooth stop at one of the docks.

The gray-robed elder put the vessel away and led John to a vast plaza.

The plaza was already packed with people.

It was bustling beyond belief.

Numerous High Gods arrived one after another, each leading groups of Demigod newcomers.

The entire place resembled a crowded marketplace.

"John, wait here for the time being," the elder said.

"I’ll go complete the handover procedures."

"Soon, a God King will personally come to receive you."

"Simply follow him."

John nodded as he watched the elder depart.

"So many people..."

Holly instinctively shrank her shoulders.

The plaza was filled with a sea of people.

Most of them were Demigods.

Their expressions were almost identical to John’s moments ago—wide-eyed with curiosity and amazement, like villagers entering a grand city for the first time.

Presumably, these Demigods were all candidates preparing to join the Skyvault Consortium as well.

John’s group was likewise composed of Demigods.

Holly possessed youthful innocence and lively charm.

Odelle radiated cold elegance and refined intelligence.

Silt exuded seductive, enchanting beauty.

Compared to the rough, imposing female warriors surrounding them, the three women stood out like graceful cranes among a flock of chickens.

They attracted attention wherever they stood.

Countless gazes drifted toward them from every direction.

Some openly ogled the three women with undisguised desire.

Many more looked at John with naked envy.

The guy was handsome enough already...

...yet he was accompanied by three breathtaking beauties.

Then they looked at the companions beside themselves.

Either burly men picking their feet...

...or women so fierce they looked even tougher than most men.

The comparison was simply unbearable.

"You..."

"Where are you from?"

Just as John and the others were about to continue exploring, an alien expert nearby cautiously leaned over and asked.