The Bet

Standing atop the Original Sky-Reaching Mountain, the mountain winds howled as Luo Feng stood there for a long time. “I’ve finally reached the highest peak,” Luo Feng murmured, gazing down at the boundless lands of the Sky-Reaching Mountain Plane. “The Sector Lord-level Original Sky-Reaching Mountain is a benchmark for countless geniuses in human history. Only by conquering it can one be considered among the strongest geniuses in history. Now, I stand at the pinnacle of these strongest geniuses… but a genius is merely a genius, not yet a true powerhouse.” “One day… I will also stand at the pinnacle of the universe’s powerhouses!” With soaring ambition, Luo Feng silently swore an oath in his heart. He had embarked on the path of a warrior back on Earth when he was still young, certainly for his family, but also driven by a dream! This path of power… he too possessed endless dreams and passion. On any path, without dreams and passion, achieving great success is almost impossible. Swoosh! Luo Feng vanished from the peak of the Original Sky-Reaching Mountain. In the Sky-Reaching Bridge Plane, at the center of that beautiful island, the Guardian Bafen had stood guard silently for eons, as if time itself held no sway. Swoosh. Luo Feng appeared on the island, and the Guardian Bafen, seeing him from afar, immediately smiled. “Your Highness Luo Feng, it’s been a very long time since I last saw you.” “Haha, it certainly has been a while. I missed seeing you, Bafen, so I came,” Luo Feng joked with a laugh. The Guardian Bafen said with interest, “Your Highness Luo Feng seems very confident. Which level do you intend to challenge this time?” “Whichever level I can reach. Ideally, I’d like to fight the guardian of the 21st level,” Luo Feng replied. “Fight the 21st level?” The Guardian Bafen was startled. “You’d at least need to clear the 20th level to qualify for that. Could it be…” Luo Feng grinned. “Is anyone on the Jiuyu Sky-Reaching Bridge?” “No,” the Guardian Bafen said. “Excellent.” Luo Feng smiled faintly. Whoosh! He flew directly towards the Jiuyu Sky-Reaching Bridge. The Guardian Bafen watched Luo Feng depart, muttering to himself, “He’s far too confident. How many years has he been cultivating? He seems confident he can clear the 20th level of the Sky-Reaching Bridge. Hmm? A message? Oh, more than one message.” The Guardian Bafen quickly checked his messages, and his eyes widened in shock! “What?! He cleared the Sector Lord-level Original Sky-Reaching Mountain!” The Guardian Bafen’s eyes bulged. He turned back to look in the direction of the Jiuyu Sky-Reaching Bridge. “It seems he truly can fight the guardian of the 21st level.” This news was always first known by the highest echelons of the Virtual Universe Company. In Chaos City of the Primal Universe, within the Chaos Ruins, the Chaos City Lord, seated cross-legged, sighed with emotion. “Luo Feng’s progress is indeed remarkable; he actually managed to clear the Sector Lord-level Original Sky-Reaching Mountain.” It was no wonder the Chaos City Lord sighed, even though Luo Feng had previously stated his comprehension of laws was at the 20th level of the Sky-Reaching Bridge. However, the 20th level of the Sky-Reaching Bridge was merely one prerequisite for clearing the ‘Sector Lord-level Original Sky-Reaching Mountain,’ not a guarantee of success! During combat, one also needed to consider the combination of combat secret techniques, body amplification secret techniques, mental force amplification secret techniques, will, and consciousness, among many other factors! “With him clearing it, those few will likely have no more arguments. They all claimed Rongjun had boundless prospects and believed my personal disciple might not be as good as Rongjun. This time, I doubt they’ll have anything to say,” the Chaos City Lord said, nodding with a smile. Outside Xueluo Continent, at the highest level of the Sky Eclipse Palace, which had suppressed and overseen Xueluo Continent for eons. Standing there, a figure whose presence seemed to cast myriad illusions, the Sky Eclipse Palace Master, a being of extremely high status even within the Virtual Universe Company, revered by countless powerhouses, now burst into hearty laughter. His laughter echoed throughout the entire Sky Eclipse Palace, astonishing some Sector Lords and Immortals on the first and second levels, who couldn’t understand why the Sky Eclipse Palace Master was so happy. “He cleared it well!” The Sky Eclipse Palace Master gazed into the infinite void, smiling. “Those fellows from the Giant Axe Martial Arena and Universe First Bank mostly favored Rongjun! I said back then that I favored Luo Feng! Even when Luo Feng was taken as a personal disciple by the Chaos City Lord, they wouldn’t admit defeat! They even said… becoming a disciple was merely a change in status, not an indication of strength. When Luo Feng cleared the Domain Lord-level Original Sky-Reaching Mountain, they still didn’t care… thinking the Domain Lord-level Original Sky-Reaching Mountain was nothing.” “Now they’ve finally conceded.” “The Sector Lord-level Original Sky-Reaching Mountain represents the strongest genius! It represents comprehension of laws, just one step away from becoming a Universe Venerable. Although Rongjun is now making rapid progress, compared to Luo Feng’s speed, it’s much slower.” The Sky Eclipse Palace Master was utterly delighted. Back then, the highest echelons of humanity—the Virtual Universe Company, Giant Axe Martial Arena, Universe First Bank, and other… peak existences—had debated Luo Feng and Rongjun. What discerning eyes they possessed? Although Bolan’s talent, at first glance, surpassed Luo Feng’s and Rongjun’s, his character flaws destined his achievements to be limited, unless those flaws were remedied. But Rongjun and Luo Feng were different. Luo Feng’s terrifying will, capable of seeing and steadfastly adhering to his true self—such a genius… even if his progress wasn’t rapid, he would always advance and eventually become a supreme powerhouse. As for Rongjun, he was even more unique! The peak existences of humanity had argued over this, even placing bets! Those participating in this bet were either ‘Cosmic Overlord’ existences like the Sky Eclipse Palace Master, or even higher-tier Universe Masters. The stakes were naturally terrifying. Back when Luo Feng returned from the Xueluo World and passed through the Sky Eclipse Palace, the Sky Eclipse Palace Master couldn’t help but offer Luo Feng some guidance. While the Chaos City Lord, Sky Eclipse Palace Master, and others were pleased, some other super existences among humanity sighed with regret. “To think we lost the bet. Rongjun actually couldn’t surpass this emerging genius.” “Rongjun has truly disappointed me.” “It’s not Rongjun’s fault; it’s just that Luo Feng’s progress is too rapid. We knew his future achievements would be great, but we never expected his speed of advancement to be this fast! If he were to endure for hundreds of thousands or millions of years more, Rongjun would undoubtedly become a peak King. There’s even a certain possibility of him becoming a Universe Venerable.” Many existences lamented. The news of Luo Feng clearing the Sector Lord-level Original Sky-Reaching Mountain also spread rapidly, astonishing countless powerhouses and completely convincing those who had secretly harbored resentment! How could they not be convinced? He had conquered the benchmark for humanity’s strongest geniuses—the Sector Lord-level Original Sky-Reaching Mountain! Every genius of this caliber… after stepping into Immortality, would reach the peak of King-level, or even become an invincible King. The possibility of them becoming a Universe Venerable in the future was also extremely high. In a private room of a restaurant on Yuxiang Mountain in the Virtual Universe. Bolan, clad in a snow-white battle robe, and the burly, towering Rongjun walked side-by-side into the private room. Inside, besides a waiter, there was only one other person—Uka! “Haha, you’re here, sit, sit,” Uka said with a laugh. Rongjun and Bolan both sat down. “You may withdraw,” Uka instructed the waiter. “Yes,” the waiter respectfully replied, then exited and closed the private room door. Only Uka, Rongjun, and Bolan remained inside. “You all know, right?” Uka said, helping to pour wine. “Mm,” Bolan nodded slightly. “I thought the gap would close, but unexpectedly, it’s widened even further,” Rongjun said, his voice deep. Nearly ten thousand years had refined Rongjun’s inherent temperament; that domineering aura now emanated entirely from his bones. This so-called domineering nature… was an air of supreme self-regard, yet it wasn’t off-putting. Uka sighed with emotion. “Back then, we were the three brothers of Taichu: you, me, and Luo Feng. Luo Feng was the first to enter the Primal Secret Region, and you, Rongjun, also saw your progress accelerate. Among the Domain Lord-level Primal Secret Region members back then, you actually ranked first, ascending to Sector Lord status as the top contender, and becoming a member of the Primal Secret Region’s Sector Lords.” Bolan and Rongjun were both Primal Secret Region Sector Lords! After deep introspection, Bolan gradually changed, beginning to truly display the abilities of a genius who appeared once every ten thousand eras, making rapid, explosive progress! Now, he had already become a Sector Lord! As for Rongjun, his progress wasn’t fast or conspicuous at first, but the further he went, the faster he advanced. Later, he even surpassed Bolan’s speed! And this progress was still skyrocketing… so fast it was simply jaw-dropping. At that time, Luo Feng had already become the Chaos City Lord’s personal disciple, but had yet to show any significant achievements. At the time, some even said—the most outstanding talent from Luo Feng’s generation in the Genius Battle should have been Rongjun! Although both of them were Primal Secret Region Sector Lords, if the Sector Lords were to undergo a qualification battle, Bolan, as a newly promoted Primal Sector Lord, would likely be eliminated to the ‘Taichu Secret Region.’ However, even if Rongjun were to undergo a Sector Lord qualification battle now, he would absolutely qualify to remain in the Primal Secret Region! “It’s too fast, his progress is too fast,” Rongjun said, shaking his head with a sigh. “For the past eight thousand years, I thought that the further one went in comprehending laws, the harder it would become, and that Luo Feng, with his high starting point, would surely make less progress. But I never expected…” “To surpass him, there’s only one path,” Bolan’s cold voice rang out. Uka and Rongjun immediately looked at Bolan. Bolan said indifferently, “Become a Universe Venerable! Otherwise, we’ll always be suppressed by Luo Feng!” “Without becoming a Universe Venerable, it’s simply impossible to surpass Luo Feng,” Rongjun nodded. “Let’s strive together,” Uka said, smiling as he raised his cup. “My goal is to become a King-level Immortal, and your goals are to become Universe Venerables. Let’s work hard together.” “To effort.” “To effort.” Rongjun and Bolan both raised their cups. The three clinked their cups. Just as the three were discussing, another message suddenly arrived. “Hmm?” All three checked their messages. “He cleared the 20th level of the Sky-Reaching Bridge?” Uka, Bolan, and Rongjun exchanged glances, then sighed with emotion. Indeed, Luo Feng clearing the Original Sky-Reaching Mountain indicated he had the ability to clear the 20th level of the Sky-Reaching Bridge, but upon truly receiving the news, it still made them sigh, because— The 20th level was just one step away from the 21st. Taking that step meant becoming a Universe Venerable! In the Sky-Reaching Bridge Plane, amidst endless darkness, only a winding bridge surface continuously extended into the depths of the dark. Luo Feng was flying just above the bridge surface; he had just cleared the 20th level and was now heading towards the end of the 21st level of the Sky-Reaching Bridge. “The guardian of the 21st level represents the law comprehension of a Universe Venerable.” “I want to see what kind of combat power the world force of a Sector Lord, combined with the law comprehension of a Universe Venerable, can achieve.” Luo Feng’s eyes were filled with fighting spirit and battle intent.