Piaoxue

Inside Chaos City, energy currents swirled.

Luo Feng, clad in combat armor formed by Moyun Teng, stood on the rooftop of a cultivation residence, gazing at the distant cultivation residences around him. For the past eight days, he had been conducting a thorough search. Chaos City had numerous empty cultivation residences, and many of their rooftops bore countless engravings left by cultivators during their moments of insight.

Not only Luo Feng, but also Prince Wuka of Manka Star, Longyun who entered the Primal Secret Realm, and Qianshui, Rongjun, and others from Taichu District, were all searching for these engravings.

This group of young geniuses understood that their 30 years in Chaos City were crucial for laying their foundation. The fastest way to improve wasn't through arduous, head-down cultivation. As the saying goes, 'sharpening the axe doesn't delay the chopping of wood,' choosing the right approach was vital. There was no need to immediately observe the operation of cosmic laws.

Therefore, each of them was searching for the insight engravings left by past cultivators.

“Among them, 112 rooftop insight engravings resonate strongly with me,” Luo Feng frowned. “Which one should I choose?”

The nine images of the Jiuyu Chaos Stele were profound and unfathomable.

And the insight engravings of other cultivators were like 'detailed interpretations,' allowing latecomers like Luo Feng to comprehend them more easily and effectively!

“Luo Feng.” A clear voice rang out.

Luo Feng turned his head.

A delicate woman with slightly curly, flowing green hair and mysterious green secret patterns on her face, as if made of water, gracefully landed on the rooftop. She smiled softly and said, “Luo Feng, have you found an insight engraving suitable for you?”

“Not yet. I've found 112 types of insight engravings that are all quite good, but I don't know which one to choose.” Luo Feng shook his head. “Qianshui, how's your search going?”

Qianshui, one of the genius siblings from Planet Augustus, was also a member of Taichu District.

“I'm also hesitating. With my teacher's recommendation, I now have three choices,” Qianshui smiled. “Well, I won't talk much more with you. My teacher watched your Sky-Reaching Bridge video and said that among our batch, your comprehension of origin laws is second only to Bolan's, and even stronger than Rongjun's in terms of law comprehension.”

“Oh?” Luo Feng raised an eyebrow.

“Keep up the good work! Just because you're ahead now doesn't mean you'll stay ahead. These 30 years will be the most transformative 30 years.” Qianshui then flew up. “I'm leaving.” An ethereal green silhouette flew into the distance, disappearing into the chaotic airflow.

Luo Feng's brows furrowed slightly.

“Among your batch of 1000 geniuses, many have significant backgrounds, with powerful individuals guiding them from behind the scenes,” Babata said. “Unfortunately... I can't help you with that.”

“It's fine,” Luo Feng said with an indifferent smile.

Suddenly, Babata exclaimed, “Luo Feng, you've received an email! It was sent through the Virtual Universe Company's internal network.”

“Oh?” Luo Feng was startled, and immediately split a wisp of his consciousness to enter the Virtual Universe Network.

...

In the Virtual Universe Network, Taichu District, inside Luo Feng's manor.

In the study, Luo Feng sat at his desk, looking at the email open on his laptop.

“Luo Feng:

I watched your Sky-Reaching Bridge video. It was very good, but your use of the Yan Shen Weapon is too rigid.

Weapons are dead, but people are alive. How to use the Yan Shen Weapon... naturally, it's about maximizing its power. You've just begun studying the Jiuyu Chaos Stele. I suggest you purchase a combat secret technique called 'Piaoxue,' which only costs 800 points. After acquiring this 'Piaoxue' secret technique, go check out the rooftop of cultivation residence number 0290028981. There, you'll find engravings left by the creator of 'Piaoxue.' This should be the most suitable for you among my Jiuyu lineage's methods for learning the first three images of the Jiuyu Chaos Stele. Work hard, I have high hopes for you!

Zhenyan”

A simple email, yet sent from within the Virtual Universe Company's internal network, made it extraordinary.

Because he was a core member of the company, ordinary people wouldn't know his network ID. To find his network ID and send an email through the company's internal network, this person was clearly a high-ranking individual within the Virtual Universe Company.

“Zhenyan?” Luo Feng sat at his desk, puzzled. “Who is he?”

“Zhenyan, I don't know either,” Babata said, also looking puzzled.

“Babata, search for information on 'Piaoxue' and 'Zhenyan',” Luo Feng commanded. Different identities had different permissions. Ordinary people could only see filtered, common information in the Virtual Universe Network, while classified information, such as that concerning the Bug Clan or Machine Clan, was completely inaccessible.

Luo Feng's current status was high, and his permissions were much greater.

“Understood!” Babata said excitedly.

The laptop screen immediately changed rapidly, displaying a large amount of information.

“This is all about 'Zhenyan'!” Babata exclaimed.

“Oh?”

Luo Feng stared at the screen, startled by the sheer volume of information. “'Zhenyan Secret Technique' was created by Zhenyan King, and its internal price within the Virtual Universe Company is an astonishing 800,000 points! My goodness, Babata, you estimated my teacher's 'Soul Imprint' to be only around 10,000 points, right? How can this 'Zhenyan Secret Technique' be so expensive?”

“Zhenyan King?” Babata was shocked. “This Zhenyan, he actually became a King-tier?”

“What's wrong?” Luo Feng asked, puzzled.

“Luo Feng!” Babata was incredibly excited. “You don't know. Even among Immortals, there's a huge difference in strength and status. An ordinary Immortal can become a military commander, leading an army composed of numerous cosmic warriors! But some super-strong Immortals might be conferred the title of 'Marquis' by the Virtual Universe Company or the Giant Axe Martial Arena!”

“An Immortal conferred 'Marquis' is considered a super-strong Immortal. Your teacher, for example, barely qualified for the Marquis title.”

“And the peak of Immortals, as well as slightly higher, invincible Immortal existences, are generally conferred the title of 'King'! That's terrifying! And to see that a secret technique of this Zhenyan King, the 'Zhenyan Secret Technique,' can sell for 800,000 points... My goodness, he absolutely belongs to that top-tier existence in the entire universe, among countless Immortals, the kind closest to a 'Cosmic Nation Lord.' Such an existence is incredibly, incredibly powerful!” Babata exclaimed excitedly.

“Oh?” Luo Feng understood in his heart.

Military Commander... Marquis... King...

These three titles, to a certain extent, reflected one's strength.

“Babata, how strong was the enemy who killed my teacher back then?” Luo Feng quickly asked. The previously excited Babata paused, his blood-red eyes dimming slightly, then he slowly replied, “The enemy who killed your teacher back then was very strong. Your teacher barely had the strength to be a Marquis, but that enemy was likely at the 'peak of Marquis-tier,' or even barely qualified to be a King-tier.”

Luo Feng was startled.

A figure like his teacher barely qualified as a Marquis. Yet, his opponent barely qualified as a King.

No wonder his teacher lost so terribly back then.

“Such a powerhouse could rank among the top three in your Ganwu Universe Nation,” Babata said in a low voice.

“Hmm?” Luo Feng was surprised. “The Ganwu Universe Nation has tens of thousands of Immortals.”

“Among the 1008 Universe Nations, Immortals who can be conferred 'King' are extremely rare. They are all super powerful beings, and they generally disdain staying in a particular Universe Nation. Most of these King-tier Immortals are either under the five great magnates or are independent entities,” Babata said in a low voice. “Each of them is incredibly powerful, the closest existences to a 'Cosmic Nation Lord'!”

“A secret technique selling for 800,000 points means 'Zhenyan King' is considered top-tier even among King-tier Immortals,” Babata continued. “I once saw a secret technique created by a Cosmic Nation Lord in the treasure vault, and it only sold for 1,000,000 points.”

A secret technique created by a Cosmic Nation Lord sold for 1,000,000 points.

A secret technique created by Zhenyan King sold for 800,000 points.

It showed how formidable Zhenyan King was.

“Haha...” Luo Feng laughed. “Babata, you were just saying how so-and-so has powerful figures and backgrounds behind them, and that I, Luo Feng, don't have any major background or powerful figures. Yet, I can still attract someone to guide me. Haha...” In his heart, Luo Feng was also very grateful to the mysterious super-powerhouse, 'Zhenyan King.'

For Zhenyan King, this email was merely a casual pointer.

But for Luo Feng, it was a tremendous help in laying his foundation.

“Have you found 'Piaoxue'?” Luo Feng asked.

“Found it.”

A lot of information about 'Piaoxue' appeared on the screen.

Compared to the vague information about 'Zhenyan King,' the description of 'Piaoxue' was clearly much more detailed. Evidently, Zhenyan King's information was highly classified, and Luo Feng's permissions only allowed him to access the most basic details.

“'Piaoxue,' created by 'Lianluo,' is a basic secret technique of the Jiuyu lineage, primarily explaining the first three images of the Jiuyu Chaos Stele, requiring 800 points to exchange.”

“Lianluo, who ranked first overall in the Genius Battle, was selected into the Primal Secret Realm and chose the Jiuyu Chaos Stele. After tens of thousands of years of arduous cultivation, he created 'Piaoxue,' considered the top basic secret technique of the Jiuyu Chaos Stele lineage. Upon becoming an Immortal, he was directly conferred the title 'Blood-Clad Marquis,' but later perished during an adventure in a cosmic secret realm.”

Luo Feng read carefully.

The information also contained many deeds of Lianluo. This 'Lianluo' was originally ranked first in the Genius Battle, a super genius. Upon becoming an Immortal, he was directly conferred the title of Marquis! Unfortunately, he perished after living less than a hundred thousand years, dying too soon.

“What a pity,” Luo Feng shook his head.

“If he hadn't died so early, his future would have been limitless,” Babata also sighed, shaking his head.

'Piaoxue' was a basic secret technique, meant for those 'below Immortal-tier' to learn, so its price wouldn't be high.

But a low price didn't mean it was inferior.

What Luo Feng needed was a basic secret technique, and since 'Piaoxue' was highly recommended by Zhenyan King, it was clearly not bad.

“800 points, I'm just short of 800 points,” Luo Feng said, laughing wryly. “I regret it now. I spent those 10,000 points too freely before, and now they're all gone.”

“Who told you to spend them so quickly?” Babata grumbled.

“Weren't you the one egging me on?” Luo Feng glanced at Babata on his shoulder. “Never mind. I'll go check out the rooftop of cultivation residence number 0290028981 first, and see the engravings left by that genius 'Lianluo' from billions of years ago.” After reading Lianluo's story, Luo Feng couldn't help but sigh with emotion for this genius who existed billions of years ago.

Perished too early.

Living less than a hundred thousand years was definitely considered extremely short-lived among Immortals.

...

Chaos City.

Luo Feng immediately transformed into a phantom, swiftly flying up, searching for the cultivation residence where Lianluo once lived in Chaos City.