A gentle breeze swept across the Mountain Peak Battle Stage, gradually dissipating the lingering dust to reveal the scene within. In the mid-air, a faint, weary figure slowly materialized.
A deep, ragged breath.
Ye Chen hovered high above, looking down. He was drenched in sweat, and a profound sleepiness attacked his mind. That final blow had nearly exhausted his peak combat strength when not utilizing his Superman Mode!
In the virtual world, accessing Superman Mode was impossible. Furthermore, the Genius Hall was designed to hone combat techniques—it was fundamentally a contest of skills!
As the smoke cleared, the ground beneath was empty. All that remained was a profound, deep chasm, as if cleaved by a colossal blade or sword. It slashed across the wide stage, glaringly conspicuous, extending into the distance and having utterly split the entire thousand-zhang Mountain Peak Battle Stage in two!
Within that deep crater, Tian Long’s massive form had vanished, as if evaporated into thin air—completely gone.
“Challenge: Victorious!”
The mechanical voice of the intelligent system echoed beside Ye Chen’s ear.
A wave of relief washed over Ye Chen’s heart. His consciousness relaxed, and his body was instantly teleported out of the battle stage, returning directly to his residence.
The system notification reverberated across the silent, empty battle stage, and through the screens, echoed throughout the entire leisure sector.
Everyone fell utterly silent.
“Lost? Lost?”
“Tian Long, whose amplitude reached 4 million, actually lost?”
“How is that possible!”
People exchanged bewildered glances, unable to fully process the outcome. Based on the virtual system’s readings, Ye Chen’s explosive amplitude power had only registered at 3 million!
Both were peak Demigods!
How could Tian Long ultimately lose?
Simultaneously, in a bar within another leisure sector, a flash of light erupted, and a massive figure appeared from nowhere—it was unmistakably Tian Long. His face was blank, his mind still reeling from the system prompt.
He had failed the challenge!
And upon defeat, 9 God Points were immediately deducted from his account!
He felt utterly stunned.
How could this be?
How could this be?
His 4 million amplitude, only to be defeated by someone who only wielded a 3 million amplitude?
When that blood-red blade light flared in the final moment, he had felt a surging, monstrous killing intent that locked him down completely, rendering him unable to struggle before being defeated!
Everything happened with lightning speed; he hadn't even clearly seen what combat secret technique Ye Chen had unleashed.
The entire Second-Rank Genius Hall combat zone began to buzz with activity.
“Tian Long, who is on the Heaven Ranking, was defeated by a newcomer.”
“What was that newcomer’s name again? Ye something, from the Neural Civilization?”
“Tsk tsk, looks like this newcomer isn't a rookie. Good thing I didn't go provoke him, or I would have lost a lot of God Points too.”
“Tian Long took a massive hit, losing 9 points in one go.”
“Hahaha…”
Everyone in the bars and entertainment venues discussed the event, expressing their astonishment alongside a touch of schadenfreude.
In his dwelling, Ye Chen leaned back on his sofa, nursing a bottle of fine wine worth 1000 Pseudo-Divine Stones. This was complimentary stock provided by the virtual world's Genius Hall sector for its geniuses. Although drinking it offered no physical benefit to his real body, the exquisite taste was something few could afford.
At the very least, many peak Pseudo-God experts would hesitate to consume such expensive liquor.
“Tsk tsk… *…” Ye Chen connected his consciousness to the virtual system and immediately noticed 9 God Points added to his account, bringing his total to 10 points!
“I made a killing in one go!”
“If it weren't for caution, I would have wagered the full 10 points and won even more! Tian Long’s strength is indeed impressive; his secret technique amplitude actually reached 4 million. Despite all my leaps forward and numerous fortuitous encounters, I have only reached 3 million amplitude power so far!”
“This Ancient Continent truly lives up to its name as a place where dragons and tigers are hidden—countless geniuses reside here! And this is merely the Second-Rank Genius Hall sector!”
Ye Chen felt a surge of emotion. Taking a sip of the fine wine, his pores seemed to expand, granting him an almost transcendental feeling.
Everyone in the Genius Hall possessed strength within the Demigod Realm, almost all being peak Demigods!
Those who surpassed the Demigod Realm would naturally advance from the Genius Hall sector, moving to the Empire’s military training corps to undertake various missions. If they passed all subsequent evaluations, they would receive significant authority and rewards!
Therefore, within the Genius Hall sector, the competition centered entirely on the amplitude achievable through combat secret techniques!
“In just the Second-Rank Genius Hall alone, there are 2,802 geniuses, and the experts on the Heaven Ranking are especially mysterious and powerful!” Ye Chen felt exhilarated.
The Second-Rank Genius Hall maintained a Heaven Ranking, which cataloged only the top 100 strongest experts in the entire hall!
To be listed on the Heaven Ranking meant one was an exceptionally transcendent existence, not just an ordinary genius. Those on the Heaven Ranking were all prime targets for recruitment by various factions.
“If I hadn't used the Meteorite Profundity in the final moments, which doubled my entire power—boosting my amplitude from 3 million to 6 million—I might have lost this fight. Fortunately, my opponent did not know any Profundity-class secret manuals!”
Ye Chen felt a sense of relief.
Profundity-class manuals were the most subtle and profound; usually, only true Divine Realm powerhouses had a slight chance of comprehending them. Ye Chen had only managed to grasp the Meteorite Profundity through a chance encounter during a state of divine wandering.
The Meteorite Profundity could instantly double the amplitude of one’s power!
This manual could be stacked on top of any other classified secret manual being executed. In terms of value, even Divine Realm experts coveted it, finding it extremely difficult to acquire.
“With my current power, I should rank among the top 10 in this Second-Rank Genius Hall!” Ye Chen mused internally. “However, others might have hidden strengths. Once someone’s secret technique amplitude exceeds 6 million, they can be promoted to the First-Rank Genius Hall! In there, the lowest-ranked geniuses already possess a 6 million amplitude!”
Ye Chen shook his head slightly, letting the thought pass. Looking at the newly acquired God Points, a sudden idea struck him. “For 10 God Points, I can observe the Heavenly Dao Stele once. I wonder just how mysterious that stele truly is. Among the entire Arena Zone—the War God Tower, the Feudal Lords’ Platform, the Emperor’s Peak—the Heavenly Dao Stele is considered the most valuable asset.”
With that thought, Ye Chen immediately headed toward the Heavenly Dao Stele in the genius sector.
The entire virtual world contained two major regions. Although Ye Chen’s current access level didn't allow him to know the scope of this vast virtual world covering the entire Ancient Continent or who its founder was, he knew the person who created this virtual space had to be an unimaginably terrifying powerhouse!
The Heavenly Dao Stele was profoundly arcane.
There were nine Heavenly Dao Steles in the Arena Zone of the virtual world, and there was also one within the Genius Zone!
Using his omnipotence within the virtual world, Ye Chen was instantly teleported by the intelligent system directly before the Heavenly Dao Stele.
He looked up…
The stele was ancient and imposing, soaring up ten thousand zhang high, its summit hidden from view, seemingly touching the heavens. Its entire surface was covered in archaic scriptures and etched with the marks of wind and frost. Some edges and corners showed slight damage, but the inscriptions themselves remained unharmed.
“This is the Heavenly Dao Stele!” Ye Chen was profoundly shaken. This ancient stone tablet seemed to pierce through eons; it would not crumble when heaven and earth collapsed, nor would it decay when the world rotted, carrying with it the profound sense of age left by passing time.
The intelligent system prompted: “Confirm expenditure of 10 God Points to enter the vicinity of the cosmic script displayed on the Heavenly Dao Stele.”
Ye Chen nodded: “Confirm.”
Swish!
His entire body vanished, reappearing in a mysterious, seven-colored realm. About a thousand zhang ahead, the Heavenly Dao Stele seemed to reside. This realm felt like an entirely separate universe, filled with wondrous forces everywhere.
Ye Chen’s gaze locked onto the Heavenly Dao Stele, and he could not tear it away.
In his vision, the scriptures carved on the stele appeared to take flight. Though he could not comprehend a single word, they emanated a profound, mysterious artistic conception that enveloped him, causing his entire consciousness to drift out of his body, as if being pulled into a vast, unseen expanse…
A divine wandering of the void.
Overlooking the cosmos.
Ye Chen’s mind was utterly lost in that marvelous insight. It felt as though the supreme principles governing the operation of countless universes were pouring into his mind. He tried desperately to memorize them, yet found nothing concrete to hold onto—only a hazy, half-understood feeling of revelation…”
While Ye Chen was absorbing the Heavenly Dao Stele’s wisdom, elsewhere, across the entire Blazing God Empire—spanning 1,008 feudal states and countless interwoven factions—the personnel departments of several peak powers were deeply stirred.
“That newly recruited genius, Ye Chen, whom the Empire just brought in, actually defeated Tian Long, who ranked high on the Heaven Ranking?”
“This youth’s amplitude power can actually exceed 4 million times?”
“Regardless, we must recruit this child. If we cultivate him vigorously, he will certainly become a powerhouse of the Divine Realm!”
“If this child becomes a Divine Realm expert, perhaps he can reach the pinnacle of power, or… surpass the Divine Realm entirely!”
“Send an invitation! We must invite him!”
All factions began to stir restlessly.
Although Ye Chen was currently just a minor figure in the Demigod Realm, these far-sighted powers viewed him as a high-potential stock, akin to terrestrial investors buying shares.
If one encounters a potential stock, one must invest heavily!
Every individual recruited into the Genius Hall by the Blazing God Empire was already an unparalleled prodigy.
Ordinary people might have a small chance of breaking through to the Divine Realm; however, these individuals, given sufficient tempering and resources, had a far higher probability of achieving divinity than ordinary people… Historically, there were many documented cases where cultivation prodigies recruited by other powers eventually broke through to the Divine Realm, or even transcended it.
What did transcending the Divine Realm imply?
It was equivalent to possessing the ultimate martial power of an entire feudal state!
To ignore such a genius would be the act of a complete fool.
“This child’s strength is promising. If he joins our Heavenly Cripple Divine Hall, he could be ranked among the talents in the Black Iron Camp, and if he develops well, perhaps he can be promoted to the Silver Camp.”
“Send the invitation.”
These major powers kept close tabs on their younger generation. Whenever a genius emerged, they were immediately courted by the great factions.
As various forces made their moves, before the Heavenly Dao Stele, Ye Chen, who had been standing a thousand zhang away, observed for a long time. His eyes were glazed over, and faint starlight seemed to swirl within his dark pupils, flickering with intelligence. His previously stationary body slowly, deliberately, took one step forward!