A Fateful Choice

Inside a luxurious palace on Black Dragon Mountain Island.

“Boundless potential,” the silver-haired elder sighed with emotion. “Luo Feng’s future… it’s impossible to predict.”

“Indeed,” the Imperial Uncle nodded.

“Can he not be recruited into our Holy Land?” the Emperor, seated centrally, asked in a low voice. The two Realm Lords beside him subtly shook their heads. The silver-haired elder, Bute'ashika, explained, “Your Majesty, a Star-level cultivator who has already stepped into the threshold of Origin Laws—such an unparalleled genius is beyond the reach of our Black Dragon Mountain Holy Land.”

“Oh?” The Emperor was taken aback.

Unlike the Ganwu Universe Nation’s ruler, who had remained the same since the nation’s founding billions of years ago, the Emperor of the Black Dragon Mountain Empire would change after a certain period. Thus, this Emperor was truly unaware of many secrets.

“Has Your Majesty not noticed that within the entire Universe Nation, there is only one Ganwu Dojo, and all other forces are prohibited from establishing Martial Arts Halls or similar organizations?” the silver-haired elder countered.

“The Ganwu Universe Nation does indeed place great importance on recruiting grassroots talent,” the Emperor acknowledged.

“Precisely. For a genius like Luo Feng, even if we were to discover him… he would ultimately fall into the hands of the Ganwu Universe Nation,” the silver-haired elder shook his head. “And we wouldn’t dare voice any complaints. Of course, no matter what, Luo Feng hails from our Black Dragon Mountain Starfield. Should he achieve greatness in the future, it will also benefit our Black Dragon Mountain Starfield.”

“Such a genius, it’s best to foster good relations. In tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of years, no one knows what Luo Feng’s achievements will be,” the silver-haired elder stated solemnly.

“I understand,” the Emperor nodded.

With such talent, as long as he didn’t perish prematurely, becoming a Realm Lord was a certainty. Moreover, a Star-level cultivator who comprehended the Origin Laws would become an exceptionally powerful existence among Realm Lords.

Once he broke through to become an Undying being, that would truly be defying the heavens.

Undying beings…

Currently, the entire Black Dragon Mountain Empire had two: one was the Divine Lord of the Black Dragon Mountain Holy Land, and the other was the Divine Lord of the Ice Sea Divine Kingdom. Therefore, the Black Dragon Mountain Empire dared not easily offend an Undying being.

…

In a vast Divine Kingdom.

Rolling mountain ranges undulated, with volcanoes scattered across the continent. Occasionally, volcanoes erupted, painting the entire Divine Kingdom in a dark red hue, and the scent of sulfur permeated the air. On a towering, cloud-piercing peak, an ancient palace stood, its surface adorned with intricate carvings.

Inside the main hall of the palace.

On the throne sat a red-eyed man in a dark red robe. Black flames faintly burned around his body, and his eyes seemed to gaze from another dimension, sending shivers down one’s spine.

Below, on either side, were four thrones. Currently, three figures were seated, each subtly radiating fluctuations that made the heavens and earth tremble, as if they could tear apart the sky and shatter the earth with a mere gesture.

“Divine Lord, this young fellow Luo Feng, at only Star-level, has already comprehended a trace of Origin Laws. He is most suitable to be my disciple,” said a powerful figure enveloped in golden combat armor, his entire body faintly emitting heart-stopping fluctuations, representing the Origin Laws of Metal.

Compared to Luo Feng, he was billions of times more powerful.

“Watt, my brother!” The red-eyed man’s deep, hoarse voice resonated. “I know you are in urgent need of a disciple. However, we cannot contend with the Ganwu Universe Nation!”

“Watt.”

The other two also looked at the golden-armored man.

“My lifespan is nearing its end,” the golden-armored man said calmly. “While my current disciples are talented, it’s extremely difficult for them to inherit my secret techniques. My demise is inevitable; I only wish to find a successor. Before I die, if I can see my secret techniques, which I created over hundreds of millions of years, displayed once more, I can close my eyes in peace. This is my greatest hope now.”

The others fell silent.

Undying beings were indeed eternal existences. But that didn’t mean they were immortal. Many great Undying beings, like the Yunmo Star Master and countless others throughout history, still perished! Undying beings possessed immense vitality; even if their bodies and souls were shattered into dust, they could still re-coalesce. However, some injuries were irreversible, just as the Yunmo Star Master watched himself die.

“Watt, my brother, I will do my utmost to help you find an excellent disciple,” the red-eyed man said solemnly. “As for that young fellow Luo Feng… if he’s not foolish, he will certainly choose the Ganwu Universe Nation, or even the more powerful Virtual Universe Company.”

“It has always been this way for so many years.”

“Even top-tier geniuses require the best external conditions and the best guidance to achieve the most brilliant accomplishments. In terms of strength and environment, we truly cannot compare with the Ganwu Universe Nation.”

The golden-armored man remained silent.

The greatest pride of his hundreds of millions of years of life was the secret technique he created. While alive, he treated it as a treasure, never passing it on. Even his disciples were only taught a little. However, when he knew death was inevitable, his thoughts completely changed. He desperately wanted to see a disciple master it before he died!

If it truly wasn’t possible… he could only leave the secret technique to his friends and brothers, letting them teach a disciple on his behalf. Just like the Yunmo Star Master entrusted Babata to teach.

“Divine Lord,” the golden-armored man stood up.

“Watt,” the red-eyed man also stood, and the other two followed suit.

“I’m tired. I want to go home,” the golden-armored man sighed. “Before death comes, I want to see my homeland properly.” With that, he turned and flew out of the grand hall. As an Undying being, his closest relatives had long vanished into the river of time, as even Realm Lords could only live for a maximum of tens of millions of years.

The other three fell into a moment of silence.

“Watt, your disciple, I will help you find him,” the red-eyed man’s voice echoed in the golden-armored man’s mind, who was already a million miles away.

Inside the hall, the three looked at each other.

“It’s a lie! We were deceived! That scoundrel Kunshaluo, I will definitely settle the score with him! Watt’s death is because of him! How dare he sell me a fake secret realm map!!!” The red-eyed man roared in furious whispers, and the surrounding space trembled.

“Kunshaluo is a subordinate of the Ganwu Nation Lord; it will be difficult for us to find an opportunity!”

“Wait!”

“Even if it means waiting for a hundred million, a billion, ten billion years. As long as there’s a chance! I… Meng Huo, will personally kill him!!! To dare use a fake secret realm map, take my treasures and money, and take the life of my brother. Die, I must make him die! Let’s see if he can hide under the Ganwu Nation Lord’s protection his entire life!!!” The red-eyed man let out an enraged roar, and black flames surged skyward, instantly incinerating the entire palace into nothingness.

His roar echoed throughout the vast Divine Kingdom, spanning billions of miles.

…

Black Dragon Mountain Island.

Rising to fame in one battle, Luo Feng truly rose to fame in one battle!

This battle not only shocked the entire Black Dragon Mountain Empire but even the entire Ganwu Universe Nation!

“Dad, your face is known all over Black Dragon Mountain Island now. The moment you step out, you’ll be recognized immediately,” Xiaohai clapped his hands and bounced around, looking very proud.

“I’ll have to go out in disguise from now on,” Luo Feng patted his son’s head.

“It’s quite strange, actually,” Xu Xin said from beside him, standing up to pour Luo Feng some tea with a smile. “Last time, after the preliminary selection, many organizations sent people. This time, after the arena group battle, your performance, Luo Feng, was so eye-catching. I thought even more super organizations and powers would come to us. But so far, not a single one has arrived!”

“It is rather strange,” Luo Feng nodded.

Suddenly—

“Haha, Luo Feng!” A hearty voice rang out.

“Oh, we just said no one was visiting, and now someone’s here,” Xu Xin looked over, lowering her voice. “It’s someone from the Three Axe Mountain organization.”

Luo Feng looked, and indeed it was.

Three figures approached from a distance. In the center walked a kind, silver-haired elder with a gentle smile. To his left was a man in deep red combat robes, and to his right was the burly Mingyu. Judging by the discerning eye he had developed at the Ganwu Auction… the man in deep red combat robes was definitely a Realm Lord.

Moreover, that man had a lightning mark on his forehead. He was clearly a powerful Realm Lord acknowledged by the Origin Laws of Lightning, definitely among the peak of Realm Lords. As for the kind elder… Luo Feng couldn’t discern his strength, but since the elder walked in the center, he was likely the highest-ranking among them.

“Lord Mingyu,” Luo Feng quickly stood up.

“Haha, I can hardly be called a lord, Luo Feng. Let me introduce you,” Mingyu said with a smile, pointing to the man in deep red combat robes. “This is General Jiang Tianchen of our Three Axe Mountain. Among the many Realm Lords in our Black Dragon Mountain Starfield, he is absolutely top-tier.”

“Greetings, General,” Luo Feng said respectfully.

Jiang Tianchen nodded slightly.

“And this,” Mingyu then introduced the silver-haired elder, his voice subtly changing, “is Lord Commander, one of the three founders of our Three Axe Mountain.”

“Greetings, Lord Commander,” Luo Feng immediately bowed, his heart churning with immense shock. Lord Commander? Of Three Axe Mountain’s three founders, two were Undying, and one had long since disappeared. Which one was this before him?

“Hmm,” the elder nodded slightly.

“Where’s Hong?” Mingyu asked. “The Lord Commander wishes to see him.”

“Oh? Alright, I’ll find him,” Luo Feng nodded.

…

Luo Feng, Lei Shen, Mingyu, and Jiang Tianchen all stood outside, while only the ‘Lord Commander’ and Hong were inside the room.

“Sanzi, what does that Lord Commander want with Big Brother?” Lei Shen asked.

“I don’t know,” Luo Feng shook his head.

“It’s a good thing,” Mingyu said with a smile.

“I hope he doesn’t disappoint the Lord Commander,” Jiang Tianchen, the Realm Lord, said coldly from the side.

…

Inside the room, only Hong and Lord Commander ‘Luo’ remained.

“What?!” Hong looked at the silver-haired elder before him in astonishment. “Lord Commander, you, you…”

This legendary figure, after only a few words of conversation, had already startled Hong.

“Your talent is excellent, and your personality is quite similar to mine in my youth. As for teaching you, although I haven’t become Undying, my comprehension of the Origin Laws of Light is sufficient to be your teacher.” The elder shook his head. “But there’s one thing I must tell you beforehand: my lifespan is not long. I only have about 20,000 years left!”