Qualification Battle

Deep within the core of the majestic Demonic Mountain, suspended in the Taichu District, lay the Demonic Sound Inheritance Hall. Layers of steps extended endlessly through the void, 3,333 steps stretching for over a thousand kilometers.

On the 1916th stone step, Luo Feng stood like a statue in his silver combat armor, eyes closed and motionless. His soul was undergoing subtle transformations, countless secret patterns integrating into it. Suddenly, Luo Feng, who had been standing like a sculpture, opened his eyes, a sharp glint within them. “Today is the day the Qualification Battle begins!”

“The progress on the Demonic Sound God General inheritance will have to slow down,” he murmured.

Luo Feng looked down at his feet, where the ancient and peculiar long, strip-shaped stone disk, the Luofu Pan, rested. “Integrate!” With a thought, the Luofu Pan rapidly shrunk and merged into his feet. After nearly two years of continuous refining, he had finally successfully imprinted his spiritual mark on the Luofu Pan. The Luofu Pan could expand or contract, change into various shapes, and integrate into Luo Feng’s skin, muscles, or bones.

Luo Feng split off ninety percent of his consciousness, quickly connecting to the Virtual Universe. He left only ten percent of his consciousness to continue receiving the inheritance. The speed of cultivating the Demonic Sound God General inheritance technique immediately plummeted. Previously, he could advance one step per day on average; now, it would likely take ten days to advance a single step.

***

“Your Highness!”

“Your Highness!”

In the Taichu District of the Virtual Universe, the Universe-level, Domain Lord, and Sector Lord guards, along with a group of servants, respectfully saluted.

“Mm.” Luo Feng nodded, then immediately soared into the sky, flying towards Wuka’s manor.

***

Wuka’s manor had become the gathering point for Luo Feng, Jiangmo, Qianshui, Rongjun, Lansiluo, Aopatela, Aichen, and Wuka—the eight of them.

“Huh?” Flying high above and looking down, Luo Feng immediately saw the other seven already gathered in the manor below.

“Luo Feng!”

“Hurry up and get over here!”

The others at the outdoor dining table in the manor looked up and called out, having clearly spotted Luo Feng.

“Coming!” Luo Feng smiled.

Whoosh!

He dove rapidly, covering dozens of kilometers in an instant, landing directly on the lawn. He walked towards the outdoor dining table and took the only empty seat among the eight.

“Luo Feng, today is the day of the Qualification Battle. I expect they’ll summon everyone soon, yet you’ve been so slow to appear. Look, everyone else is already here at my place. You’re… the slowest! Are you saying my place isn’t good enough?” Wuka, holding a piece of roasted meat over a meter long, took several large bites, speaking as he ate. He didn’t even know what kind of roasted meat it was.

“Finish eating first,” Luo Feng said, sitting down. He casually picked up a bottle of fruit wine in front of him, pulled out the cork, and took a sip, immediately feeling a refreshing coolness.

Beside the table, Aichen, the beautiful Dream Shell Winged Race woman, also held a wine glass and said with a smile, “Among the eight of us, Luo Feng is probably the least stressed. The rest of us might be eliminated to the Tiandi District. But Luo Feng, there’s absolutely no way he’ll be eliminated to the Tiandi District.”

“That’s right.”

“Those old-timers have all passed the sixth level of the Sky-Reaching Bridge; we don’t have much hope.”

The geniuses from various races across the universe at the dining table all chimed in.

“You guys—” Luo Feng put down his wine bottle, a wry smile on his face.

“So, a certain someone arrived the latest because he’s relaxed,” Rongjun teased.

“You’re making fun of me too.”

Luo Feng shook his head. He was 100% confident he wouldn’t be eliminated from the Taichu District’s competition. However, different strengths led to different goals. Wuka, Jiangmo, Qianshui, and the others were distressed about potentially being eliminated to the Tiandi District, but Luo Feng’s goal was to find a way to push into the Original District. And getting into the Original District…

…was extremely difficult! Even with his current strength, he wasn’t entirely confident.

“Luo Feng!” Wuka looked at Luo Feng.

“Luo Feng!” Jiangmo also looked over.

“Luo Feng!”

“Luo Feng!”

Rongjun, Lansiluo… one by one, they put down their food and drinks and looked over. All seven stared at Luo Feng!

Luo Feng was startled.

“Crazy,” Wuka said solemnly, “You should also know the predicament of us new recruits. Because we just joined the Virtual Universe Company, there’s a huge gap in strength between us and those old-timers. Even compared to the peak experts among the 300 old-timers in the Tiandi District, there’s a significant disparity.”

“Among our eight, Rongjun might be able to fight to stay in the Taichu District, but no matter how hard he fights… he’d still be at the bottom of the Taichu District. The rest of us have absolutely no hope!”

The group fell silent.

Indeed.

They had no hope at all!

Among the old-timers in the Taichu District and Tiandi District, dozens had passed the seventh level of the Sky-Reaching Bridge! In terms of comprehension of laws and combat experience, they were all inferior to that group of veterans. They were destined to be eliminated. There was no hope. This feeling of powerlessness was, of course, difficult for them to bear. But the frustration and suppression in their hearts could only be placed on Luo Feng, who was also a newcomer!

“Don’t worry!” Luo Feng nodded softly.

***

About half an hour later, a rumbling sound echoed through the Taichu District.

“The Taichu District Universe-level Qualification Battle is about to begin! All members, assemble!”

The 30 old-timers and 8 newcomers all looked up. The voice came from above the Taichu District, and through their naked eyes, they could clearly see the purple-clad figure in the sky. Immediately, all 38 Universe-level members of the Taichu District soared into the sky, one after another, flying up to face the purple-clad figure.

“Look, that’s Ke Luofu! The strongest among the 30 old-timers.”

“Yu Feng, the Alchemist!”

In mid-air, the group of geniuses observed their opponents, for they would soon truly clash!

Luo Feng was also observing five individuals…

The five strongest experts among the Taichu District old-timers: the slightly weaker Sajin Huolong, Ge, and Ni Nan, and the stronger Alchemist Yu Feng and Werewolf Ke Luofu.

Sajin Huolong’s dragon tail was sweeping, and his eyes, as if filled with fire, stared at Luo Feng, brimming with fighting spirit. He transmitted, “Luo Feng, I lost last time, but this time I will definitely win!” Last time, he mainly lost due to willpower; he couldn’t resist Luo Feng’s mental pressure. If his willpower could resist, then his ‘Black Hole Evolution’ secret technique, once fully unleashed, would have been something the Luo Feng of that time might not have been able to withstand, especially since Sajin Huolong had passed the seventh level of the Sky-Reaching Bridge a very long time ago.

“I beat you last time, and I’ll beat you again this time!” Luo Feng glanced at Sajin Huolong and transmitted back.

“Ge!” Luo Feng looked at another person.

Ge was a battle maniac. Although he was the last of the five strongest to pass the seventh level of the Sky-Reaching Bridge, he was similar to Rongjun, possessing extremely high combat talent… with the same comprehension of laws, but an exceptionally powerful combat output.

He stood in mid-air with messy yellow hair and half-closed eyes, with a pair of very small ears hidden behind his main ones. He seemed decadent, yet subtly exuded an aura like a fierce beast. The other geniuses in the Taichu District kept their distance from him, clearly not wanting to get close.

Ge swept a glance at Luo Feng, and a sharp glint flashed in his eyes beneath his drooping eyelids, before he returned to his languid state.

“Ni Nan.” Luo Feng looked at the youth in silver-gray combat robes.

The youth wore a smile and seemed to be the most approachable of the five strongest. When Luo Feng looked over, the silver-gray robed youth, Ni Nan, also offered Luo Feng a smile.

“Yu Feng!”

The Alchemist Yu Feng!

He was the most mysterious and eerie of the five strongest, completely shrouded in a black robe, with only a pair of cold, dim eyes faintly visible.

“Ke Luofu!” Luo Feng looked at the strongest of the five.

Ke Luofu!

He wore gray combat armor, with a yellow mane on his face, and a pair of brown eyes that glowed faintly green. Occasionally, fangs would show at the corners of his mouth. The entire person gave Luo Feng the feeling of a wolf! Werewolf Ke Luofu seemed to notice Luo Feng looking at him, and immediately turned his head, suddenly grinning.

Boom!

It felt as if he was being stared at by a giant beast, making Luo Feng’s hair stand on end.

“Haha…” Ke Luofu chuckled softly, “An interesting little fellow.”

When Werewolf Ke Luofu spoke, it immediately drew the attention of all the old-timers. Everyone, including the Alchemist Yu Feng, couldn’t help but show a hint of tension in their eyes when looking at Werewolf Ke Luofu! Luo Feng also stared at this Werewolf Ke Luofu. Although he had previously met Mo Luo from the Original District, he subconsciously felt that…

…Ke Luofu, the strongest in the Taichu District, was even more terrifying than Mo Luo from the Original District!

***

This group of peerless geniuses, from different human races across the universe, 38 individuals representing 38 human races, each with different attire and habits. Some were close to natural green, some to fire, some gave a feeling of ice… These geniuses were all incredibly arrogant, but six among them were the strongest!

The five strongest old-timers, and the strongest newcomer, Luo Feng!

Six individuals!

All had passed the seventh level of the Sky-Reaching Bridge!

“The Qualification Battle is simple!”

“All 38 of you will engage in combat with the other 37. Winners get 1 point! Losers and draws get 0 points! Finally, based on the points ranking… the top three will qualify to contend for an Original District slot.” The gaunt man in the purple uniform, with purple lips, said hoarsely, “The Original District has a total of five members, and they will also undergo qualification battles. The bottom three from the Original District… will compete with the top three from our Taichu District. A total of six individuals will contend for the *sole* remaining Original District slot.”

Silence.

Luo Feng, Werewolf Ke Luofu, Sajin Huolong, Alchemist Yu Feng, Ni Nan, and Ge’s eyes all lit up.

“Our three from the Taichu District will battle the three lowest-ranked from the Original District, and there will only be one victor!” Luo Feng’s gaze swept over the other five. “Those five, plus the three from the Original District, I must defeat them all! Only then can I become a member of the Original District!”