The True Apex Clash

As this white light suddenly shot forth, Luo Feng remained exceptionally calm, instantly executing the optimal response: 1) maximum evasion using the Dark Cloud Shuttle, 2) deploying the 'Sword Matrix' with the Duntiansuo for defense, and 3) firing four streams of golden light from the dark-golden staff on his back, automatically forming four golden illusory swords to block the white light. Four golden sword-rainbows shot out from behind Luo Feng, intercepting the white light like an inescapable net. “Clang!” A crisp clang! The lean youth in the distance instantly blanched. “It blocked it!” This was his ultimate technique, one he had painstakingly researched for a long time, comprehending the fundamental laws of wind to create this move imbued with his understanding of those laws. This move, 'Off-Hand Sword,' possessed the characteristics of wind—extremely fast, with an ethereal trajectory, and immense power. It was one of his greatest trump cards! When he was challenging the 'Trial Space,' hidden weapons were useless, and later, in the three rounds of elimination battles, his opponents weren't worth using them on. So, this trump card had been saved until now, and he had intended to use it to deal with an unsuspecting opponent. A trump card is most potent when its existence is unknown. Without preparation, one is easily struck! Once known, the opponent would naturally be wary, diminishing the trump card's power. Yet, Luo Feng was too calm; though the move was sudden, Luo Feng's composure was terrifying. He executed a series of countermeasures without hesitation, and merely four golden illusory swords were enough to block it. The 'Sword Matrix' and evasion techniques he had prepared were ultimately unnecessary. “Die!” Luo Feng stared coldly at his opponent. The other five golden illusory swords enveloped the lean youth. His speed was clearly no match for the golden illusory swords, and he was instantly pierced through! Uteweisike, defeated! Luo Feng, victorious! ... Luo Feng descended from mid-air, looking at the intercepted 'white light,' which was a small, silver-white sword. “Those who qualify for the top 100 truly cannot be underestimated.” In the cosmos, mental-force masters can control mental-force weapons from a distance, while warriors can also use throwing weapons like javelins, short axes, short swords, and so on... In Earth's terms, these are called hidden weapons! For a hidden weapon to be this powerful is indeed rare. ... With his first victory, Luo Feng entered the top 100, his prize money increasing to 100 mixed yuan units, and he gained access to the Virtual Universe Company's 'Tiandi Secret Realm'. ... “Congratulations, young ones standing on the arena,” the purple-scaled man in the cyan battle robe said from mid-air, looking down at the 100 young men and women on the platforms. “First, congratulations on making it into the top 100, which grants you entry into my Virtual Universe Company's 'Tiandi Secret Realm'. Now, we must select the top 20 among you.” “According to the Virtual Universe system's selection, I will now announce the list of 20 individuals.” Immediately, most of the 100 victorious young geniuses standing on the platforms grew tense. Although they had won, only 20 among them would qualify for the next battle, which would determine the top 10! Luo Feng stood on the platform where he had just fought, watching the purple-scaled man in the cyan battle robe in mid-air, his brow slightly furrowed. “I didn't use my strongest trump card, so my evaluation in the Virtual Universe system might be a bit lower. However, based on the judgment of the scaled-armor giants, I should be ranked in the top ten, so I should be selected!” “Bolan!” The purple-scaled man in the cyan battle robe began to announce the list of 20. “Gusiluo!” “Aichen!” “Wuka!” “Yifeng!” “Jialaixi!” “Rongjun!” ... As names were called out one by one, those whose names weren't announced couldn't hide their anxiety. Each of them was a victor, yet only 20 could participate in the next battle! “Qianshui!” “Luo Feng!” ... “Tao!” “The 20 individuals selected by the Virtual Universe system are the 20 names I just announced,” the purple-scaled man in the cyan battle robe said with a smile. “Please, these 20, rest and recover from your previous battles. The next round will begin shortly. As for who your opponents will be... you will find out when the battle begins!” ... A group of young men and women sat casually in the Central Plaza. “Kandita, congratulations on making it into the top 100.” “Don't even mention it. Even though I made it into the top 100, I'm not on that final list of 20,” the burly Kandita said, his face filled with frustration and unwillingness. “While everyone on that list of 20 is a master, and I'm not confident I could beat them, it's still hard to accept without a real fight!” “Kandita, if you're unwilling, I'm even more so. I didn't even get a chance to fight for the top 100.” The young men and women who no longer needed to fight chatted casually, getting to know each other. From this day forward, many of them would be in long-term contact and become companions. Meanwhile, 20 individuals quietly gathered in a corner, resting and adjusting their states. Because soon... a more crucial battle was about to begin. The next battle would determine the top ten, and among those on the list of 20, perhaps only 'Death God' Bolan was 100% confident of victory against anyone else. “Who will my opponent be?” Luo Feng's gaze swept around. Among the other nineteen individuals, two others were also looking around: the Manka Star youth, Wuka, and the obese giant 'Tao' who carried a blood-red axe. The Manka Star youth grinned at Luo Feng and even threw a punch. The obese giant, however, merely glanced at Luo Feng and scratched his ear. “The arrangements for this battle haven't been revealed; we'll only know when it starts. This is probably also a test of mental fortitude.” Luo Feng stopped overthinking, closed his eyes, and following the method taught by his elder brothers, gradually entered a state of serene emptiness, quietly awaiting the battle. ... About half an hour later. “Rumble~~~” The entire Central Plaza vibrated. Ten gigantic arenas gradually rose in the center of the plaza, each covered with numerous black energy strands. At the same time, Luo Feng and the other twenty individuals who had been resting were instantly teleported into these ten colossal arenas. Inside the arena. “Damn it!” “What a tragedy! That 'Blood Axe' Tao actually ran into 'Death God' Bolan?” “Everyone was guessing who would be unlucky enough to face Bolan, and it turned out to be Tao, the poor guy.” The other 980 geniuses watching from afar laughed. On the platform, the unrestrained obese giant 'Tao,' gripping his terrifying great axe, stared at the white-robed youth before him like a fierce beast, but everyone could guess the outcome. ‘Death God’ Bolan—how many generations would pass before such an unparalleled genius appeared? Even the Virtual Universe Company had specifically increased the recruitment slots for the 'Primal Secret Realm' in this genius battle to two, just for him. The probability of 'Blood Axe' Tao pulling off an upset victory against 'Death God' Bolan was simply too low, unless he was the most terrifying genius among cosmic humans, appearing only once every billion years. “Gusiluo versus Rongjun?” “Gusiluo was ranked second overall in the Trial Space, a truly perfect, flawless anomaly. Among these 20, he's probably the only one qualified to fight Bolan. Rongjun, encountering Gusiluo, is essentially finished.” ... Many on the entire plaza were fixated on the arena where Bolan fought Tao, but many others were watching another battle—'Illusory Demon' Jialaixi versus 'Madman' Luo Feng! “That Illusory Demon ran into the Madman.” “These two anomalies are clashing.” “The Illusory Demon hasn't even made a move in any of his battles from start to finish; he defeats opponents just by staring at them. I wonder if this Madman can withstand him.” “Hard to say! The Illusory Demon is the most terrifying mental-force master Illusionist in this genius battle. No one has been able to resist his mental illusions so far... and while casting illusions, he can also use mental-force weapons for simple long-range attacks. Opponents caught in his illusions probably wouldn't even know to defend before they're defeated. Up until now, he hasn't even used a mental-force weapon! He's only used illusions, so one can imagine how terrifying his illusions are!” “Don't underestimate the Madman either. I've watched his battle videos, and among so many, I've never seen him panic. His eyes... they're always so cold, as if nothing can disturb his state of mind.” “Indeed, the Illusory Demon is considered to have top-ten strength, and the Madman is also believed to have top-ten strength. These two clashing will be interesting!” ... Ten arenas, ten battles. Each match was a clash of titans, a head-to-head confrontation. Compared to the battles for the top 100, these current duels... truly represented the apex clashes of this genius battle! ... On the arena. On one side stood a lean, black-haired youth, clad in a dark gray battle robe, with a dark-golden staff on his back, standing atop a Dark Cloud Shuttle. On the other side was a tall, slender figure shrouded in a black robe, standing on a black light wheel. Both were mental-force masters, but they followed the two main paths: one was a 'Controller,' and the other an 'Illusionist.' Controllers leaned more towards using weapons for physical destruction, while Illusionists preferred to directly destroy an opponent's soul. Achieving great success as an Illusionist is extremely difficult, but once successful, they are terrifyingly powerful. Controllers are easier to start with, but achieving great success is equally challenging. “Madman Luo Feng,” the Illusory Demon Jialaixi said in a hoarse, low voice. “You have top-ten strength, but encountering me... you can only be cast out of the top ten.” “Very confident?” Luo Feng grinned, his eyes shining even brighter. Both awaited the announcement. On all ten arenas, everyone was waiting... “The victors will enter the top ten. Young ones, don't be careless; your opponents are all very strong. Let the battles... begin!” The purple-scaled man in the cyan battle robe called out from afar, his voice echoing in everyone's ears. Almost simultaneously, battles erupted on all ten arenas! ... The Illusory Demon Jialaixi, standing on his black light wheel, his eyes cold and dark, his lips moved slightly. Buzz~~~ An invisible, ethereal mental-force wave instantly reached Luo Feng, invading his mind. The speed of the mental force was simply too fast. While unleashing his mental illusion, the Illusory Demon Jialaixi waved a hand, and the black light wheel beneath his feet instantly transformed into a black streak of light, directly slashing towards Luo Feng's head in the distance. For the first time! In an arena battle, the Illusory Demon Jialaixi attacked with both 'mental illusion' and a 'mental-force weapon' simultaneously!