In the starry void, Dong Liansha was swept by complex emotions that were difficult to put into words.
Ever since he discovered that Huang Tian possessed talent rarely seen across eternity, he had known that he would be surpassed sooner or later.
He just had not expected this day to arrive so swiftly.
Less than a year had passed since he took up the post of guard commander, yet Huang Tian had skyrocketed from the Stellar rank all the way to the World Lord rank, and had even managed to defeat him across a major realm while still a World Lord!
Letting out a soft sigh, he stowed his spear, flew up to Huang Tian, and confessed candidly, "Having received acknowledgment from all ten Laws, combined with your peerless saber technique, Your Highness is already capable of reigning supreme among the ranks of Eternal Gods."
Hearing this, Huang Tian smiled faintly. He now had a clear grasp of his strength: without employing his great divine ability, he could cross a major realm to defeat an Eternal powerhouse; if he unleashed the Five-Colored Divine Light, he could clash even with a Supreme. Previously, due to the differing laws between the two realms, the power of the Five-Colored Divine Light had inevitably been impaired. But now that he had gained acknowledgment from this realm's Five Elements Laws, he could naturally unleash more than half its true might. Once he completely comprehended the Five Elements Laws, he would be able to display its full perfection!
"According to the regulations of the Supreme Virtual Corporation, geniuses of the three great secret realms must venture to the frontier battlefields or special secret realm worlds for tempering once they achieve the World Lord rank. What does Your Highness plan to do?" Dong Liansha suppressed his melancholy and inquired.
The Virtual Corporation valued geniuses immensely. It satisfied their cultivation resources to the fullest, offered sermons by Supremes and teachings by Eternals, and held grand secret realm competitions every century or millennium, awarding winners additional treasures. In short, all four essentials of cultivation—methods, companions, wealth, and sanctuaries—were abundantly available, leaving nothing lacking.
However, the Virtual Corporation had not invested so many resources just to foster "bloated" geniuses who possessed empty realms.
True powerhouses had to be forged through countless trials!
Therefore, the Virtual Corporation mandatorily required secret realm geniuses to leave the Zhouguang Domain and undergo tempering on other planets, in special secret realms, on frontier battlefields, and in other perilous environments.
As for what would happen if a genius carelessly perished?
Death was simply death.
How could the path of cultivation ever be smooth and completely safe? Leaving aside mere Star Vortex, Domain Master, or World Lord geniuses, even aloof and exalted Supremes could fall. Should one refuse to temper oneself out of fear of death? That would be giving up food for fear of choking.
Descending toward the floating island below, Huang Tian answered, "I'll postpone it. There is no rush."
Although tempering was mandatory, that did not mean one had to depart the Zhouguang Domain the very instant of a breakthrough. Within three to five years, there was no urgency; only if one lingered too long would the Virtual Corporation urge them.
Hearing this, Dong Liansha grew thoughtful. He mused inwardly: His Highness did not seem like someone who feared hardship or death. Since he said there was no rush, he was likely truly determined to completely comprehend the Laws of Time and Space in one fell swoop, become a Supreme, and only then venture out for tempering.
Previously, he had never believed anyone in the world could completely comprehend the spacetime Laws at the World Lord rank to skip the Eternal rank and directly become a Supreme. Now, however, he had no choice but to believe it, for Huang Tian's performance over this period had simply been too absurd...
"Then again, if he truly becomes a Supreme, would there even be any need to undergo a so-called genius trial?" Dong Liansha found the thought both absurd and amusing.
No matter the race, Supremes were indisputably the backbone and pinnacle forces, counting as formidable overlords across the vast universe. Whenever they mobilized, it was generally to oversee a territorial expanse or to explore and seize treasures in the universe's most apex secret realms.
In that case, genius trials would naturally become utterly pointless, as the difficulty wouldn't match at all.
Whoosh!
Under the excited, fervent gazes of the guards and servants, Huang Tian flew straight into the manor and returned to his chamber. Then, following routine, he tapped open the light screen to verify his realm.
"Beep. World Lord rank verified. Identity profile update and upload complete!"
Once the verification was complete, he opened the Free Resource Zone and purchased ten units of sixth-rank Evolution Source Liquid.
"Order placed. Ten units of sixth-rank Source Liquid will be delivered within two hours."
With everything settled, he immersed himself once more in comprehending the Laws. He had a premonition that despite the bonus to Law perception provided by the World Lord rank, completely comprehending all ten Laws in one go would still take considerable effort. Moreover, he had to manage his pace carefully and avoid completely mastering any single lower Law too early, or he might involuntarily break through directly to the Eternal rank...
Meanwhile, after Huang Tian updated and verified his realm, the geniuses of the three great secret realms and the Eternal and Supreme powerhouses throughout Zhouguang City received the notification, and all were astounded.
"Less than a year has passed since he broke through to Domain Master, yet he chose to break through again. I doubt he's even spent any time learning combat secret arts, nor has he gone out for tempering. Does he truly not fear being demoted from the Yuanchu Secret Realm during the next grand competition?"
"Heh, the way I see it, he plans to charge straight ahead and break through to become an Eternal God in one breath."
"What would be the point? If he breaks through like that, he'll merely be a mediocre god—at best an intermediate god. By then, even tens of millions of years wouldn't let him advance another step. He would be far better off solidifying his foundation right now and deepening his reserves to become a high-level or even peak god in one go!"
"Perhaps he intends to cultivate deeply at the World Lord rank; he isn't necessarily rushing to ascend to Eternal."
"I think that's very likely. Otherwise, it's hard to explain why the great Sovereign would allow him to break through so rapidly."
"Speaking of which, to this day I haven't seen him once in reality—no, I haven't even seen him in the Virtual Universe! Last month, Supreme Kongchong held a lecture on the Metal Law. I thought he would show up to listen, but in the end, he never appeared."
"Working behind closed doors without looking outward will hardly lead to a bright future..."
Meanwhile, in the Yuanzhong Cosmic Nation.
"Hmm? Kongchong sent me an email?"
The Lord of Yuanzhong was rather surprised. He and Supreme Kongchong were close friends, but the latter possessed an antisocial disposition, spending year after year cultivating in Zhouguang City. The last time Supreme Kongchong contacted him had been to take Huang Tian as a disciple.
Later, however, Huang Tian was accepted as a personal disciple by Sovereign Chuheng, so the matter had been dropped.
Now, less than a year later, Supreme Kongchong had reached out to him once again.
Curious, the Lord of Yuanzhong opened the message. After reading it, he frowned slightly. "So that's how it is..."
In the email, Supreme Kongchong mentioned that Huang Tian had advanced from the Stellar rank to the World Lord rank in just over half a year, and that he had never ventured out for tempering, nor attended lectures by Supremes and Eternals, focusing entirely on secluded cultivation.
Still, Supreme Kongchong did not consider Huang Tian foolish; he knew Huang Tian must have had the Sovereign's permission to do so. Yet that was precisely why he was perplexed, wondering what Sovereign Chuheng was actually planning. Could he truly intend to let Huang Tian break through to Eternal in one breath? Wouldn't that squander his peerless talent?
The Lord of Yuanzhong pondered for a long time and was equally unable to fathom Sovereign Chuheng's intentions. In the end, he could only reply: "I know that when other Sovereigns nurture disciples, they demand that they undergo extensive tempering to solidify their foundation before advancing to Eternal. However, teaching must adapt to the pupil. Perhaps Huang Tian is simply so exceptional that Sovereign Chuheng allowed him to break through at breakneck speed...
"If you are truly puzzled, Kongchong, you could request an audience with Sovereign Chuheng and tactfully sound him out..."
After replying to the email, the Lord of Yuanzhong murmured to himself, "With Huang Tian's aptitude and comprehension, he stands a complete chance of becoming a Supreme. Sovereign Chuheng shouldn't just leave him unattended, right?
"Sigh. If Huang Tian were my disciple and I nurtured him well for several million years, he would have an eighty or ninety percent chance of attaining Supreme..."
Time flew swiftly like an arrow that never returned, and in the blink of an eye, thirty months drifted past.
During this period, Huang Tian never ventured out, dedicating himself whole-heartedly to secluded cultivation. His presence was so low that the powerhouses and geniuses of the Zhouguang Domain nearly forgot he even existed.
On the rare occasion someone brought him up during a gathering, others would at most remark, "Oh, that disciple of the Sovereign who went on a breakthrough spree? What a pity."
Beyond that, nothing more was said.
While the outside world remained calm, the floating island where Huang Tian resided was even more peaceful. Dong Liansha cultivated serenely within the palace; this was the quietest period he had experienced since becoming guard commander—Huang Tian no longer crossed the threshold of a Law or gained acknowledgment from one every ten days to a month as he had before.
However, Dong Liansha knew this did not mean His Highness had comprehended nothing. He even suspected that Huang Tian was already close to completely comprehending a lower Law, only deliberately holding back to avoid breaking through.
"A lower Law might not be all that difficult for His Highness, but the Laws of Time and Space are far too hard to fully comprehend. Even with His Highness's comprehension, it will take a very long—"
BOOM!
Suddenly, above the floating island, the vast origin of the Law of Fire descended!
And following the descent of the Law of Fire's origin came Water, Metal, Wood, Earth, Space, Wind...
In the blink of an eye, the origins of all ten Laws descended together!
In the sky, infinite Law powers intertwined as radiant divine light of every hue shone resplendently, illuminating the floating island in breathtaking splendor.
An overwhelming pressure enveloped all directions. The tens of thousands of guards and servants on the island could not help but prostrate themselves, trembling all over, though whether from excitement or terror, none could say.
Dong Liansha leaped out of the palace and gazed up at the origins of the ten Laws intertwining into a near-chaotic hue, utterly at a loss for words to express the shock in his heart.
He had indeed guessed that Huang Tian might one day fully comprehend all ten Laws, but he had never imagined that day would arrive so quickly!
After all, between gaining acknowledgment from a Law and completely comprehending it, the latter was thousands, tens of thousands of times harder!
Some World Lords who obtained acknowledgment from a Law spent millions of years until their lifespans expired without ever fully comprehending it.
Yet Huang Tian had fully comprehended ten Laws in just thirty months!
That was an average of one Law fully comprehended every three months!
Was he even human?!
At the same time, in Zhouguang City, Sovereign Chuheng sensed the unusual fluctuations and his expression abruptly changed. His gaze pierced through layers of void to behold the scene above the floating island, filled with both shock and delight. "So fast?!"
Taking a single step, he traversed the boundless void in an instant and arrived above the floating island. Gazing at the Law origins blotting out heaven and earth, he pointed his wooden staff with his right hand. Instantly, radiant light burst forth, weaving into an unimaginably massive net that shrouded the surrounding spacetime. Outside the giant net, none could peer into what transpired within.
Having sealed off spacetime to prevent information from leaking, he pondered for a few breaths before sending an email through the Virtual Universe to Supreme Being Yuanqi of the Yuanqi True Martial Academy.
Supreme Being Yuanqi was the sole Supreme Being of the human race—the pillar that anchored their entire species!
Just seconds after the email was dispatched.
Buzz!
The void in the distance suddenly rippled, and a man clad in deep-purple armor stepped out of space. He possessed a burly frame and a resolute gaze, exuding an unyielding aura from head to toe.
It was none other than Supreme Being Yuanqi!
The moment he appeared, he cast his gaze toward the pocket of spacetime sealed off by Sovereign Chuheng, taking in the vast sea of Laws and Huang Tian in the midst of his breakthrough within the manor.
"He truly is at the World Lord rank!" Even though he fancied himself accustomed to seeing geniuses and miracles, his eyes widened involuntarily. "Inconceivable... absolutely inconceivable! How could someone with such supreme talent exist in this world?"
Hearing this, Sovereign Chuheng laughed heartily. "Were it not true, why would I have summoned you here?"
"In a little over half a year, he went from a mortal to a World Lord. In another two and a half years, he fully comprehended all ten Laws to ascend to Supreme... With such terrifying talent, achieving Sovereign will be effortless for him, and becoming a Supreme Being won't be difficult either. Our human race will soon gain another pillar!"
After his exclamation, Supreme Being Yuanqi felt immense relief and gratitude. "Fortunately, he is a member of our human race. And even more fortunately, he revealed his natural gifts early on, allowing you, Chuheng, to discover him and take him as your disciple. Chuheng, you have performed a monumental service!"
Sovereign Chuheng shook his head. "What service could I claim? Even if he were not my disciple, he would still have accomplished what he did today."
At this point, he paused, his expression turning extraordinarily solemn. "Across hundreds of millions of epochs, I have never seen anyone with greater talent than his. Even Ji Mang, the progenitor of the Void God Race, falls far short of him. Perhaps he will be able to accomplish what no one in the universe has ever done—fuse all ten Laws and step into that unknowable realm!"
Fusing the dual Laws of Time and Space made one a Sovereign; fusing five or more Laws made one a Supreme Being. Yet a Supreme Being had not truly opened an insurmountable gulf with Sovereigns, still remaining within the same major realm. But fusing all ten Laws might allow one to step into a higher realm, transcending the universe to enjoy eternal, unconstrained freedom!
Supreme Being Yuanqi's breathing quickened slightly as he looked down at Huang Tian below. "Transcendence... Yes, across endless years, he is the one with the greatest hope of achieving transcendence..."
Whoosh!
Within the manor on the floating island, the nearly endless Law origins surged violently into Huang Tian's body. He felt every part of his physical form undergoing a colossal transformation.
His flesh, blood, and marrow were cleansed and tempered. Every single cell acted like a sponge, madly absorbing the power of the Laws pouring down from the heavens, driving his body to evolve toward a higher level!
Buzz...
The origins of the ten Laws poured down for five full days before Huang Tian finally felt the transformation of his body draw to a close. Sitting cross-legged on his mat, his body radiated a shimmering luster from the inside out along with an inexplicable pure fragrance, accompanied by an endless, surging sensation of power.
At the same time, he felt as if he had become a fish, and the surrounding void was the vast ocean. He could effortlessly swim through this ocean; a single step forward would be enough to traverse over a hundred light-years!
Moreover, with a wave of his hand, he could seal off a pocket of space, leaving others with no escape.
Furthermore, he could accelerate or decelerate time within a region; as long as he had sufficient source energy within his body, accelerating time by ten thousand or even a hundred thousand times was child's play.
Taking a deep breath, he let out a clear, resounding roar. The cry resonated through the void, causing faint ripples to stir.
Spacetime Supreme—achieved!
Chapter 279