The Newcomer Luo Feng

At the end of the eighth level of the Sky-Reaching Bridge.

Luo Feng gazed at the suspended meteorite before him. "Although the Sky-Reaching Bridge progresses in three-level increments, it gets progressively harder in the later stages. For instance, levels 19, 20, and 21—clearing level 21 means becoming a Venerable or a great, eternal existence on the level of a Universe Nation Master. The jump from level 20 to 21 is incredibly difficult."

The difficulty from level 7 to level 8 might not be as great as from level 6 to level 7!

But it's definitely much harder than going from level 5 to level 6!

...

"To attempt the eighth level as a Universe-level Ninth-tier is truly excellent. Currently, among all Universe-level members of the Virtual Universe Company, only one has successfully cleared the eighth level." The blue-clad figure, standing on a dark cloud shuttle, a hint of a smile in his masked eyes, said, "Prepare yourself."

Boom!

The dark golden staff behind the blue-clad figure instantly unleashed thousands of golden rays. At the same time, Luo Feng activated his Yan Shen Weapon, countless small golden swords shooting out in all directions, instantly stirring the fundamental laws of space and gold. The heavens and earth changed color, and in mere moments, a vast space of sword energy formed around both combatants.

It was still the sixth stage—'World of One's Own'!

"Rumble!" The blue-clad figure controlled his 'Sword World', pressing down with immense force. Instantly, the heavens and earth seemed to crack, and Luo Feng's 'Sword World' began to collapse directly, while the blue-clad figure's 'Sword World' rapidly expanded.

"Not good," Luo Feng's expression changed.

Whoosh!

He transformed into a streak of light, holding his Blood Shadow Battle Blade, intending to charge at the blue-clad figure.

"Hiss!" Just before Luo Feng's eyes, a faint golden sword energy materialized out of thin air, piercing directly through Luo Feng's head.

Luo Feng died, and the eighth level was a failure!

...

"I actually lost just like that." Luo Feng sat at his desk, still somewhat shocked. "According to the information I've reviewed, this should be the 'ubiquitous' realm of the 'Sword World'."

The sixth stage of the Yan Shen Weapon, 'Sword World', was truly terrifying.

It was similar to the first stage, 'Illusory Sword Style', which could manifest one, two, up to nine illusory swords.

The 'Sword World' also had varying levels of mastery.

Luo Feng currently only had preliminary control, able to condense a wisp of sword energy, and that had to be done at close range in front of him! The further the distance, the weaker his control, so Luo Feng couldn't condense sword energy at will. Yet, his opponent on the eighth level could do it with ease.

The opponent instantly condensed a wisp of sword energy right before Luo Feng's eyes, killing him instantly!

To make sword energy ubiquitous, one had to achieve 'at-will' control over the 'Sword World'!

"I lost fair and square. With sword energy everywhere, I couldn't even defend myself." Although he had successfully cleared the seventh level, Luo Feng felt no pride, instead dedicating himself to further study and cultivation.

...

In the Sky-Reaching Bridge plane of the Virtual Universe.

The supervisor, Bafen, stared with wide, round eyes, muttering, "Among the billions of races in the universe, I've seen enough geniuses. But this Luo Feng... he actually surpassed Bolan! Bolan's talent once shocked countless people. Interesting, this is truly interesting now."

Immediately, Bafen sent the news of Luo Feng clearing the seventh level of the Sky-Reaching Bridge to everyone he had some connection with, and also to all Universe-level members in the Taichu District and Original District.

...

Inside Longyun's training ground in the Original District of Yuxiang Mountain.

The training ground was vast and boundless.

Longyun knelt on the ground, his fists repeatedly slamming against the alloy floor.

Boom! Boom! Boom! The ground trembled, but Longyun, his face grim, continued to pound the alloy floor, creating indentations with each strike.

"I said I would return proudly to the Lanting Universe Nation."

"I said I would become a super powerhouse in the universe."

"I said I would always progress and remain in the Primal Secret Realm." Longyun gritted his teeth, his eyes bloodshot. "Why? Why was Luo Feng not much different from me back then? Yet now, I've only cleared the fifth level, while he's cleared the seventh?"

"I'm not reconciled!"

"Unreconciled!" Longyun gritted his teeth.

"Calm down, I must calm down." Longyun closed his eyes, muttering softly, "Yes, one step at a time. I can't let Luo Feng affect my mindset. A chaotic mind is destined for failure. I must be calm, calm."

Longyun was a very low-key person; no one ever dared to truly look down on him.

He was silent.

He was a lone wolf. His talent, perhaps only at the 20th or 30th percentile among the geniuses of Luo Feng's generation, yet his rate of progress was no less than Wuka's.

...

In the same Original District, within Bolan's manor.

Bolan was thoughtfully swinging a blood-red sword, but suddenly his brow furrowed. He lightly tapped the air, and a screen appeared, displaying an opened email.

"Luo Feng, successfully cleared the seventh level of the Sky-Reaching Bridge." Bolan softly read aloud, then froze completely.

Clang!

The blood-red sword in his hand actually clattered to the ground, the sound of impact jolting Bolan awake.

"He passed? He surpassed me?" Bolan didn't even bother with the blood-red sword on the ground, instead silently walking towards his residence. After entering his meditation room, he sat cross-legged alone, his eyes fixed on a framed photograph within the room—a picture of an old man teaching a young boy how to practice swordsmanship.

He sat in silence...

Without a word.

...

In the Taichu District, there was a very lively place—the Combat Arena!

The Combat Arena was an open arena within the Taichu District where geniuses often battled each other, even placing bets on the fights. Of course, most of the time, the bets were placed between the two combatants themselves... After all, death in the Virtual Universe was not real, so others wouldn't casually place bets.

"Your Highness, I think you should give up."

"Your Highness Wuka, you've already lost eight matches today."

"If you keep fighting, you'll still lose."

A group of Universe-level Taichu District members watching from the edge of the arena chuckled and teased.

On the arena.

Wuka lay sprawled in a corner of the arena, his head covered in blood, panting heavily.

"All of you, shut up!!!" With a sudden roar, Wuka, who had been sprawled there, abruptly stood up, his face stained with blood. He glared fiercely at the crowd watching below the arena. "I'm not dead yet!"

He then stared at the young man with silver-white scales on his face who stood in the distance. The scaled youth sneered, "Your Highness, you've already lost eight matches in a row. I think you should just get off the arena."

"You're full of crap!"

Wuka roared.

Boom!

With a push of his foot, he instantly teleported dozens of meters in front of the silver-scaled youth. Two short axes materialized in his hands, and he swung one of them directly at the youth.

"Hmph!" The silver-scaled youth instantly flickered, leaving behind hundreds of afterimages. With a loud thud, the silver-scaled youth grabbed one of Wuka's arms, swung him around, and slammed him violently towards the ground.

"Get lost!"

Wuka's other short axe instantly whacked and severed his own captured arm. Then, he swung the axe horizontally at the silver-scaled youth, causing the youth's expression to change drastically as he rapidly leaped back to dodge. Still, an axe wound was left on his chest, blood gushing out.

"Hahaha, hahaha..." Wuka stood there, his left hand gripping an axe, his right arm severed and bleeding profusely. Yet, he burst into laughter, raising his left hand and pointing the axe at the silver-scaled youth in the distance. "Mo Yilin, didn't you, you idiot, arrogantly claim I couldn't even scratch you? Haha..."

The silver-scaled youth gritted his teeth, staring at Wuka. "You lunatic."

"Haha, lunatic? Luo Feng, one of our Taichu Three Heroes, *he's* the lunatic. I don't even count." Wuka laughed, then turned to look at the crowd below the arena, pointing down. "Listen up, all of you! We eight are newcomers. So what if you've cultivated for a few thousand years longer than us? What's there to be proud of? You're all so smug, saying I, Wuka, can't even hurt any of you? I've only cleared the fifth level, and you've all cleared the sixth, but don't you dare look down on us newcomers!"

As Wuka spoke, he jumped directly off the arena.

Among the group standing at the edge of the arena, eight people gathered together. The leader, a man in a silver-gray robe, said in a cold voice, "Wuka, truly a Manka Star native, fierce enough. But you must know, newcomers are just newcomers. For this qualification battle, all eight of you will have to go to the Tiandi Secret Realm! There are dozens of people who have reached the sixth level in the Tiandi Secret Realm!"

"Beep!"

"Beep!"

"Beep!"

This group of Universe-level geniuses simultaneously received emails.

"Everyone got an email?"

"Who sent it?"

"Let's see?"

Each of these more experienced Universe-level geniuses in the Taichu District opened their emails to view the content.

"What, the seventh level?"

"Luo Feng?"

"Is it Luo Feng, one of the eight newcomers?" Some of the geniuses couldn't help but exclaim in surprise. The jump from the sixth to the seventh level was incredibly difficult; even among them, many of whom had cultivated for thousands of years, only five had reached the seventh level of the Sky-Reaching Bridge. The rest were still on the sixth.

"Luo Feng?"

Wuka, who was about to leave, heard this and immediately opened his email. Upon seeing the content, his eyes widened in delighted surprise. He then pointed at the group of older members, laughing heartily, "You idiots, see that? What's a genius, what's a *true* genius? So what if we're newcomers? So what if we've only cultivated for a hundred-odd years? We can still clear the seventh level of the Sky-Reaching Bridge, so what?!"

"Haha, remember the name Luo Feng! It's Luo Feng, one of the Taichu Three Heroes!" Wuka grinned broadly, laughing.

The group of older members fell silent.

"Luo Feng, huh?" The silver-gray robed man narrowed his eyes, glancing at Wuka, who was swaying away with his blood-stained axe. "To pass the seventh level, he needs to be thoroughly investigated. This time, as I aim for the Primal Secret Realm... this Luo Feng is already a bit of a threat."

...

The Glory Secret Realm, controlled by the Cosmic Mercenary Alliance, was a cosmic secret realm that had been discovered and modified, similar to the Virtual Universe Company's 'Primal Secret Realm' and 'Taichu Secret Realm'.

Within the Glory Secret Realm, there was a desolate, colossal planet.

It was called the Prison Battlefield!

A lean figure with dense yellow fur on his face, his eyes glinting with a sinister green light, lay like a wild wolf among the barren rocks, gazing into the distance. Suddenly, his brow furrowed, and a flash of eerie green light appeared in his brown eyes. "Luo Feng? This batch of newcomers is quite impressive, but this time, the spot in the Primal Secret Realm is mine!"