The Great Wind Rises

In the Virtual Universe, Black Dragon Mountain Island, Nine Star Bay Community.

Luo Feng and Hong appeared on the lawn outside their home, just as Lei Shen called out, "Sanzi, Elder Brother, you're finally here! Look up quickly!"

"What's all the fuss about?" Hong chuckled, glancing at him, then looked up. Luo Feng also looked up, puzzled.

In the sky... an incredibly massive announcement, like a celestial curtain, covered the heavens above.

"The Peak Genius Battle?" Hong's pupils contracted, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.

"A battle of billions of geniuses from all Cosmic Nations across the entire universe?" Luo Feng couldn't help but gasp at the content of the announcement. "Insane, truly insane! How vast is the universe?"

Forget the entire universe; just the Ganwu Universe Nation alone has hundreds of millions of star systems. If you took the top genius from every single star system, the entire Cosmic Nation could gather hundreds of millions of geniuses!

"Interesting," Luo Feng's eyes narrowed, a strong desire stirring within him.

"Elder Brother, Sanzi." Lei Shen walked over, pointing to his side. Instantly, a screen materialized out of thin air, displaying the 'Virtual Universe Company Official Website.' On the homepage, a highly prominent special feature titled 'Cosmic Humans - Peak Genius Battle' was displayed.

"Click on it and let's see," Hong said.

"Mm." Lei Shen lightly tapped, opening the special feature.

Once opened, it provided a detailed introduction to the 'Cosmic Humans - Peak Genius Battle'.

The Peak Genius Battle was open to all Star-level humans. As long as you were a Star-level human, you could register to participate!

To be precise, the 'Peak Genius Battle' was held once every five thousand years, or twice within ten thousand years. These two events were hosted by the 'Virtual Universe Company' and the 'Giant Axe Martial Arena' respectively. Therefore, for the Virtual Universe Company... this Peak Genius Battle was naturally their own company's once-in-ten-millennia grand event.

"Hm?" Luo Feng's eyes lit up.

The Peak Genius Battle was divided into the Cosmic Nation Selection Battle and the Peak Grand Finals. Each major Cosmic Nation would conduct internal selections, choosing elites to participate in the Peak Genius Grand Finals for the entire human race of the universe.

The Grand Finals would determine the final rankings.

"The top 1000 in the universe-wide rankings would receive three major rewards: First, a bonus ranging from 10 to 10,000 mixed-element units, depending on their rank. Second, a spot to enter the Initial Universe for comprehension. Third, the opportunity to become a 'core member' within the Virtual Universe Company."

Luo Feng was astonished.

Just by ranking in the top thousand, one could receive a minimum of 10 mixed-element units, comparable to all his gains from the World of Worlds. The highest reward was 10,000 mixed-element units, likely for the top-ranked participant in the entire Cosmic Genius Battle. 10,000 mixed-element units were already equivalent to the entire fortune of an Immortal.

The Virtual Universe Company truly had deep pockets.

"A thousand people can all enter the Initial Universe?" Luo Feng remembered the fierce bidding for a 'spot to enter the Initial Universe for comprehension' at the Ganwu Auction. Even his own teacher had never entered the Initial Universe.

"The conditions offered are quite good. Bonuses, entry to the Initial Universe, core membership... Mm-hmm. These conditions are certainly worthy of the super geniuses in the top 1000," Babata said. "Luo Feng, this is a great opportunity; you should give it a try."

"What do you mean, 'give it a try'?" Luo Feng retorted. "From your tone, it sounds like you think it'll be very difficult for me to break into the top 1000?"

"What do you mean 'very difficult'?"

"Luo Feng, you truly underestimate the billions of geniuses in the universe! Forget about the top 1000 in the entire universe; that's far too difficult for you, almost impossible. Even just breaking into the top 1000 within the Ganwu Universe Nation would be quite impressive," Babata stated.

"Uh—" Luo Feng was stunned.

"While Immortal experts are rare in the universe, when you combine all the Cosmic Nations, the Star-level cultivators who have apprenticed under Immortal experts number in the billions! In terms of talent... there are countless individuals with powerful bloodlines and extraordinary innate abilities! In terms of comprehension, the universe's population is immeasurable, so how could there not be those with exceptional understanding? As for strong-willed and diligent individuals, there are even more."

"Your biggest trump card is your Golden Horn Behemoth body; it grants you an incredibly strong will and lowers the threshold for comprehending laws."

"But even with all that, to break into the top 1000 of billions of geniuses in the universe-wide rankings, you're still far, far off."

Babata's tone shifted, and he continued, "Of course, you've already been incredibly diligent. While the Golden Horn Behemoth grants you sufficient talent, there's a vast difference between one Golden Horn Behemoth and another. Your Golden Horn Behemoth cultivates with desperate effort. To reach the fifth level of domain in just under three years, your hard work is the primary factor."

"Take your Elder Brother, for example; he's older than your grandfather! And many Star-level geniuses in the universe are already hundreds of years old."

"As for Star-level cultivators who have lived for thousands of years, they pose no threat. If they haven't broken through to Universe-level after thousands of years, they can't even be called 'geniuses'; their comprehension and other aspects must be very poor."

"Your biggest weakness is—your cultivation time is too short. You've been cultivating for less than 30 years to reach your current stage."

Luo Feng fell silent.

"Of course, with your willpower, domain, and law comprehension combined, you are indeed very strong. At the very least, sweeping through the geniuses of the Black Dragon Mountain Starfield is no problem."

"The top 1000 in the entire universe is too distant. For now, just strive to make it into the top 1000 of the Ganwu Universe Nation; that would be a success," Babata said.

...

While the news of the Peak Genius Battle stirred the hearts of Luo Feng and his two brothers, at this very moment, across countless star systems in the vast universe, billions of Star-level humans yearned intensely for the 'Peak Genius Battle'.

...

This was a vast Divine Kingdom, where mountains of flame floated in the air.

At this moment, a figure with fiery red hair, whose entire body was faintly bathed in flames, stood seven to eight meters tall in mid-air. Beside him stood several Realm Lords, and before him, over a thousand Star-level youths knelt.

"You are the most elite disciples of my 'Skyfire Divine Kingdom'," a majestic, thunderous voice echoed in the ears of the thousand young individuals.

"Any of you who can pass the initial preliminary selection and enter the arena battles will be taken as my personal disciple. If you can break into the top 1000 of our Cosmic Nation, I will bestow upon you an entire star system as your territory!" the fiery deity said indifferently. "Now, go and prepare. Do not disappoint me."

"Yes, Divine Master!" Over a thousand youths responded respectfully.

...

"Upon you rests the glory of my Black Dragon Mountain Empire," a deep, hoarse voice resonated.

In the sacred land of Black Dragon Mountain, a tall, burly giant, clad in black scale armor with a black dragon horn on his forehead, stood. The surrounding space seemed to congeal. A group of Realm Lords around him were exceedingly respectful; before this being, they dared not show the slightest disrespect. The sheer, faintly emanating majestic power made hearts tremble.

"Go forth, and fight for the glory of my Black Dragon Mountain!" the giant, god-like figure, who seemed capable of splitting heaven and earth, declared.

"Yes, Divine Master." Nearly a thousand Star-level youths knelt, utterly respectful and visibly excited. Almost all of them were seeing the legendary founding emperor of the Black Dragon Mountain Empire, a great Immortal being, for the very first time.

...

On a verdant planet, lush with vegetation and home to many indigenous inhabitants, there was almost no trace of technological civilization.

Yet, on this planet, the warriors were exceptionally powerful, with dozens of Universe-level cultivators having emerged, and Star-level cultivators numbering frighteningly high. A planet with such formidable martial might should typically have already entered cosmic civilization. Unless its geographical location was extremely remote, or it was the territory of a super-expert.

Some powerful individuals specifically cultivate certain planets, ensuring they remain untouched by technological intrusion.

"One hundred Star-level Ninth-tier warriors and spirit readers will collectively attack you shortly," a bald old man in white robes slowly stated.

Beside him stood a lean, muscular young man in white, carrying a blood-red longsword on his back.

"Yes," the white-clad youth nodded slightly.

Immediately, a group of Star-level Ninth-tier cultivators flew over from a distance. These warriors and spirit readers instantly began to heavily encircle the white-clad youth. Typically, when fighting against multiple opponents, one relies on movement techniques and other means to evade, ensuring they only face a few adversaries at a time. To be surrounded and attacked from the outset like this... was a suicidal act.

"Attack," the bald old man in white robes commanded indifferently.

"Boom!" The 100 Star-level Ninth-tier warriors and spirit readers surrounding the white-clad youth attacked simultaneously, some with psychic weapons, some with mental attacks, others with blades and swords.

"Whoosh!" A blood-red sword light flared! The white-clad youth's figure blurred, and faint illusions of him appeared all around.

Puff! Puff! Puff! Puff! Puff! Puff! Puff! Puff! Puff! Puff! Puff! Puff! Blood splattered as all 100 individuals simultaneously had their bodies severed or their heads sent flying... In an instant, all were killed!

"Very good," the bald old man in white robes' eyes lit up. "You've improved even further than before. You are the most remarkable genius I, your teacher, have ever seen in my travels across billions of star systems."

The white-clad youth's body trembled. His cold eyes turned to the bald old man, filled with astonishment. "Teacher, you... you just..." How long had it been? Since he began following this incredibly powerful expert, he had never heard such explicit praise. At most, it was 'not bad' or 'average'.

"There's nothing more I, your teacher, can teach you," the bald old man in white robes said.

"Teacher, I—" The white-clad youth wanted to say something, but being inarticulate, he didn't know what to say for a moment.

"Go and participate in the Cosmic Genius Battle. With your strength, entering the top 1000 in the universe-wide rankings will be effortless. Only in a place like the Virtual Universe Company, where experts gather like clouds, will you find a teacher suitable for a genius like you," the bald man in white robes said. "When you reach Immortal, then come find me again, your teacher."

Whoosh! The bald old man in white robes vanished into thin air.

"Teacher—" The white-clad youth wanted to say something, but stopped abruptly, then whispered, "Genius Battle?"

...

"Genius Battle? Spanning numerous Cosmic Nations across the entire universe?" A young, burly man, over three meters tall with messy hair, bare feet, and a short blade strapped to his back, strode across a desolate mountain range, letting out a hearty laugh. "Interesting. I, Tuman, haven't encountered a worthy opponent in a very long time." In the distance behind him lay the corpse of a Universe-level First-tier expert.

...

In the vast universe, across various Cosmic Nations, countless Divine Kingdoms, and among many super geniuses renowned in their regions, as well as numerous ascetic cultivators and wandering warriors, countless talents took notice of this super battle spanning all Cosmic Nations.

As the saying goes, in martial arts, there is no second best. The more talented and powerful an individual, the less willing they are to concede to others.

...

Virtual Universe, Black Dragon Mountain Island, Nine Star Bay Community. Luo Feng, Hong, and Lei Shen gazed at the screen.

"Second Brother, Third Brother, are you in?" Hong asked, looking at Luo Feng and Lei Shen.

Luo Feng and Lei Shen looked at Hong, a shared yearning for battle gleaming in all three of their eyes.

The three of them immediately smiled.

"Hahaha..."

"Let us three brothers go all out and fight fiercely!"

The three brothers from Earth were filled with confidence and heroic spirit.