Statement

The qualification battle consisted of five rounds, with three matches per round, and the schedule was fixed. It was impossible for the battle to be continuously delayed just because someone hadn't entered the Virtual Universe Network. That was absolutely out of the question. For any publicly announced battle time, if one party failed to enter the Virtual Universe Network, they would be automatically disqualified, and the other party would automatically win that match. Thus, Luo Feng won this battle without fighting. Five consecutive victories! With 5 points, he was undoubtedly first in the qualification battle. “How could this happen?” Luo Feng’s expression was complex as he stood above the primeval forest. For this final battle, he had long prepared to fight with all his might. He wasn't without a chance of victory, and even if he lost, Luo Feng would have faced it openly and without regret. But who would have thought it would end like this? “Whoosh!” Luo Feng was directly teleported out of the battlefield! ... Inside the bar on Yuxiang Mountain, the screen had previously displayed—'Luo Feng vs. Kroft, battle has not yet begun, please wait!' But then it suddenly changed to another message—'Luo Feng vs. Kroft, due to Kroft failing to enter the Virtual Universe Network within the stipulated time, he is deemed to have automatically forfeited. Luo Feng wins this battle.' The bar was filled with noise. Everyone was discussing why the battle between Luo Feng and Kroft hadn't started yet, but the sudden change in the text on the screen instantly silenced the previous clamor. Silence! The geniuses from various Cosmic Nations gathered in the bar were completely stunned, dumbfounded, as if it were a past World Cup on Earth where everyone eagerly anticipated each match, only for the most anticipated 'World Cup Final' to suddenly have one of the competing teams suffer a car accident en route, with many players severely injured or crippled, forcing the team to forfeit. This was simply a cruel joke! “What the hell?” “Are you kidding me?” “Is this for real?” After the silence, the entire bar erupted into an uproar. “It was the final battle, the one that decided the Primitive Secret Realm slot! Why didn't Kroft enter the Virtual Universe?” No one would doubt the text prompts on the screen, because these prompts were operated by the Virtual Universe System, and the Virtual Universe System… In the eyes of the entire human race, it was never wrong! It was better to believe billions of people were wrong than to doubt the Virtual Universe Network. Even Xu Xin, who had been quietly watching in a corner of the bar, was somewhat astonished. She had considered Luo Feng losing or winning, but she never imagined he would win in such a way. ... The Primitive Secret Realm qualification battle (Cosmic-level) concluded, and all 15 matches were over. Luo Feng achieved 5 consecutive victories, securing first place and a spot in the Primitive Secret Realm! The others, Mo Luo, Kroft, Yu Feng, Long Yun, and Bolan, entered the Taichu Secret Realm. The results of the qualification battle naturally spread quickly. Luo Feng entering the Primitive Secret Realm was actually acceptable within the core genius circles of the Virtual Universe Company. Although the final battle felt like an undeserved victory, Luo Feng had, after all, won all four of his previous matches. Defeating Mo Luo and Yu Feng also proved that Luo Feng possessed the strength of a Primitive Secret Realm member. Furthermore, Luo Feng had joined the Virtual Universe Company for a very short time, yet in his first qualification battle, competing against many veterans who had cultivated for thousands of years, he performed astonishingly. His talent… in the eyes of the watching geniuses, was probably far more exaggerated and stronger than Kroft's. With just a few more qualification battles, Luo Feng's entry into the Primitive Secret Realm was a certainty. Therefore— Everyone could accept a peerless genius like Luo Feng entering the Primitive Secret Realm. But what everyone found most unacceptable and perplexing was… why Kroft didn't enter the Virtual Universe at such a crucial moment. Many geniuses who felt their strength was too weak would voluntarily forfeit qualification battles, but they usually did so before the battle. A situation like Kroft's was very rare. ... As the news of Luo Feng entering the Primitive Secret Realm spread, reactions varied. Some were overjoyed, like his teacher, Zhenyan King, who laughed heartily: “Haha, my good disciple managed to seize the opportunity to enter the Primitive Secret Realm in his very first qualification battle, excellent…” Some were gloomy and gnashed their teeth, like Mo Luo, a former Primitive Secret Realm member now relegated to the Taichu Secret Realm. Mo Luo gritted his teeth, seething with resentment: “This Luo Feng actually got such a stroke of luck, and that Kroft is an idiot too, not showing up at such a crucial moment. Could he really be dead?” Some were shocked, like Po Yu Marquis, one of the Immortal Gods stationed at Demonic Sound Mountain. Po Yu Marquis’s delicate brows furrowed slightly: “This little fellow isn’t dead? And he even entered the Primitive Secret Realm? Those idiots from Thousand Star Sect are utterly useless.” Some were filled with admiration, like some of the geniuses who entered at the same time as Luo Feng, now in the Doomsday Secret Realm and Heaven and Earth Secret Realm. They were excited: “Who says newcomers are weak? Luo Feng, who entered with me, didn’t he still make it into the Primitive Secret Realm? What’s that you say, it’s because Kroft forfeited? Nonsense! Even if Kroft could defeat Luo Feng this time, he would definitely be surpassed by Luo Feng very quickly later!” ... Obtaining a Primitive Secret Realm slot was truly a tremendous joyous occasion. Friends like Rongjun and Wuka, his brothers Hong and Lei Shen, and his family—parents, wife, children, and younger brother—all came to congratulate him. Even the Black Dragon Mountain Empire and the Ganwu Universe Nation sent gifts to the Luo Clan to express their congratulations. A joyous occasion? “It is a joyous occasion, but I can’t bring myself to be excited,” Luo Feng said, sitting in his study, his emotions complex. In the most crucial battle of the qualification, Kroft forfeited and didn't appear. This felt like a thorn, making Luo Feng feel that this slot wasn't obtained in a satisfying way. Of course, the opportunity of the Primitive Secret Realm was incredibly precious, and since he had obtained it, Luo Feng wouldn't actively abandon it. Luo Feng wasn't so rigid as to do that. “Luo Feng, don't trouble yourself. Others go to great lengths for various opportunities. They bribe, they kill, just like Mo Luo directly tried to harm you. They stop at nothing for victory. Kroft not appearing means he didn't seize his own opportunity, who can he blame?” Babata said. “Don't overthink it. Those lone cultivators with few resources and opportunities risk their lives for a small chance. Your teacher came through step by step like that back then. What are you still brooding about?” “I understand.” Luo Feng nodded. “I naturally won't give up an opportunity I've obtained. It's just that there's a thorn in my heart—why didn't Kroft appear?” “One, he died. Two, he was held back by something. Three, he forfeited due to a special reason. These are the only three possibilities, why are you thinking so much?” the fist-sized Babata on his shoulder said. Luo Feng nodded. But a doubt lingered in his heart… why didn't Kroft appear at the crucial moment? Was he really dead? ... The day after the qualification battle ended, Luo Feng had to move out of the 'Taichu District' and into the Primitive District of Yuxiang Mountain. Inside Luo Feng's manor in the Taichu District. Luo Feng gathered with a group of friends from his batch, such as Wuka, Rongjun, Aichen, and Qianshui, to celebrate and bid him farewell as he headed to the Primitive Secret Realm. After his many friends had left one by one, Luo Feng sat alone on the exquisitely carved sofa in the living room, looking around. He had lived here for a very long time. “It’s time to leave,” Luo Feng murmured. “Beep!” “Luo Feng, there’s an email from the Virtual Universe Company,” Babata on his shoulder called out. “Oh?” Luo Feng’s eyes lit up. He quickly tapped the empty space in front of him, and a screen materialized. He swiftly opened the mailbox on the screen and clicked on the latest email. The email unfolded. “Statement Regarding the Primitive Secret Realm qualification battle (Cosmic-level), the forfeiting party in the final match, ‘Kroft,’ had been undertaking an ‘Extremely Perilous Mission’ throughout the duration of the qualification battle. Extremely Perilous Missions have a death probability of 90%, making them extremely dangerous. Given that he hasn't entered the Virtual Universe for such a long time, Kroft has likely perished during the Extremely Perilous Mission. This serves as a solemn reminder. Cultivation missions are very important for every Cosmic-level member, but one must choose missions that can be endured. Exceeding one's limits can very likely lead to death. Historically, many peerless geniuses have fallen during Extremely Perilous Missions. Nearly half of all Cosmic-level Primitive Secret Realm members who perished did so during Extremely Perilous Missions. The same message is offered to everyone. The company provides abundant resources, but the path is for each individual to choose.” “What?!” Luo Feng was greatly astonished reading this email. “Kroft was actually undertaking an Extremely Perilous Mission while participating in the qualification battle?” Extremely Perilous! Extremely dangerous. Even he had only ever entered one, Demonic Sound Mountain within the ‘Demonic Mountain’. His ability to pass through safely was inextricably linked to his 'willpower,' which far surpassed other geniuses, and his Demon Killer Clan clone. If not for the Demon Killer Clan clone, Luo Feng himself would have perished. Moreover, it's usually very difficult to find a safe place while undertaking an Extremely Perilous Mission. Luo Feng, for instance, was lucky to reach the core inheritance hall with his Demon Killer Clan clone. Only then could he safely transfer most of his consciousness into the 'Virtual Universe Network'. “If not for some of my trump cards, which were very suitable for Demonic Sound Mountain, I probably would have had a near-death experience in an Extremely Perilous Mission,” Luo Feng mused. “Even if Kroft was participating in the qualification battle, a part of his consciousness would have had to remain extremely vigilant in reality. Just as the company's statement says, he likely perished.” Whether Kroft was alive or dead, even the Virtual Universe Company would find it difficult to confirm in a short time. Because the worlds where Extremely Perilous Missions take place are generally very dangerous, it's not something the Virtual Universe Company can do quickly to investigate and confirm Kroft's life or death. Just like when Luo Feng went missing for several years, the Virtual Universe Company didn't confirm his status either. ... Luo Feng was shocked to see this statement, and the core geniuses who had been displeased with the final battle of the qualification were also completely stunned by it.