Time continued to flow.
After obtaining The True Teachings of Water and Fire, Jiang Li once again entered seclusion within the Third-Level Pavilion.
Over the past two years, the broadcasts of the Reincarnation Battles had become the most watched event throughout the Qianwu Universe Country.
More than nine thousand participants had treated the people of the Qianwu Universe Country to one breathtaking battle after another between the greatest Stellar-level geniuses.
People were quick to forget.
The once wildly popular "Great Demon King" Jiang Li, the "Madman" Luo Feng, the "Aurora" Hong, and the other qualifiers gradually faded from public discussion.
Instead, one name shone brighter than all the others.
The Savage—Rong Jun.
Across more than nine thousand Reincarnation Battles...
He had never suffered a single defeat.
He was universally acknowledged as the undisputed number one Stellar-level genius of the Qianwu Universe Country.
On a desolate planet within the Kuifeng Starfield of the Qianwu Universe Country...
"So... the Reincarnation Battles are finally ending?"
A young man clad in gray battle armor stood quietly, a dark golden staff strapped across his back.
He glanced at the three corpses of second-level Universe-grade beasts lying before him, and a blazing fighting spirit erupted from his eyes.
He was none other than the "Madman," Luo Feng, who had disappeared for nearly two years.
One life-and-death battle after another...
One desperate breakthrough after another...
Luo Feng had now reached the ninth level of the Stellar Rank, and his combat strength had increased dramatically.
"Rong Jun!"
"This time... I'll defeat you with my own hands!"
Within the Henglan Star System...
Atop the Myriad Divine Mountains.
Jiang Li sat cross-legged inside the Third-Level Pavilion.
Around him, the Laws of Water and Fire intertwined like rippling waves of light. Every time his eyes opened and closed, wind and lightning resonated in perfect harmony.
Boom!
His soul sea expanded once again.
Of the original ten Law Stars, only the Law of Metal and the Law of Light still remained dim and untouched.
"Twenty-five soul fusions..."
He slowly opened his eyes.
"Even so, I still couldn't truly merge the mutually opposing Laws of Water and Fire."
Over the past two years, Jiang Li had completed five deployments.
During the final one, his clone had defied fate with a single slash, severing karma itself and living a second life.
Counting everything together...
He had experienced nearly thirty thousand years of cultivation.
His comprehension of the Law of Time had also reached the brink of perfection.
"Hm?"
"After two years... the Ultimate Finals are finally about to begin?"
Without hesitation, Jiang Li entered the Virtual Universe.
As the lengthy Reincarnation Battles concluded in the Qianwu Universe Country...
The competitions across the other Universe Countries were also coming to an end.
Barbarian Universe Country
On Planet Manka.
As the race possessing one of humanity's most powerful bloodlines, Universe-grade experts were everywhere on Manka.
"Congratulations, Your Highness, on securing your qualification."
Inside a magnificent palace, two World Masters smiled as they congratulated a handsome black-haired youth dressed in black battle armor.
Unlike the Black Dragon Mountain Empire...
Every Genius Battle held within the Manka Empire produced experts capable of reaching the top one thousand of the entire Universe Country.
"It's just a qualification."
The handsome prince shook his head without the slightest trace of excitement.
"For us Manka people..."
"Isn't that practically guaranteed?"
"Your Highness."
One of the World Masters smiled.
"The Reincarnation Battles in the Qianwu Universe Country have also ended."
"Qianwu Universe Country?"
The prince frowned slightly.
"I've heard Father mention it."
"The Qianwu Country Lord is incredibly powerful—even among Universe Venerables, he's considered one of the strongest."
"Still..."
"For nearly a hundred Genius Battles, Qianwu hasn't produced anyone particularly remarkable."
"That's true."
The World Master nodded respectfully.
"But this generation..."
"Is different."
"Oh?"
The prince's eyes sharpened with interest.
"Explain."
With a wave of his hand, a projection appeared before the prince.
"This man is Rong Jun, known as 'The Savage.'"
"He's an unprecedented genius with astonishing mastery over both the Laws of Earth and Space."
"He's already reached an extraordinary level of comprehension."
"One becomes two?"
The prince's expression changed.
"Arc Light Phantom..."
"That's a Space Law afterimage!"
His gaze shifted to Rong Jun's opponent.
"Hm?"
"The second form of the Yan Shen Armament—Heaven Piercing Style."
"This person's comprehension of the Law of Metal is equally profound."
"Correct."
The handsome World Master nodded.
"His name is Luo Feng."
"According to our intelligence, Luo Feng possesses strength easily worthy of Qianwu's top thousand."
"As for Rong Jun..."
"He is hailed as the only genius of this generation in Qianwu capable of rivaling the Great Demon King."
"What?"
The prince widened his eyes.
"There's another Great Demon King?"
"Don't tell me there's also a Great Demon God above him?"
The two World Masters exchanged amused smiles.
"No."
The slightly heavier World Master waved his hand again.
A projection of Jiang Li's battle within the World of Boundaries appeared.
"His name is Jiang Li."
"He ranked first in the World Zone competition."
"There are no additional combat recordings."
"Starfall?"
The prince's eyes widened in astonishment.
"My goodness..."
"That's the fusion of the Earth and Space Laws!"
For the first time...
Even the prince of the Manka Star, whose race possessed humanity's supreme bloodline, felt genuine pressure.
The human race spanned the endless universe.
A powerful bloodline was only one advantage.
One's will...
Comprehension...
Fortuitous encounters...
Luck...
All played equally crucial roles in determining how far a genius could go.
Within the Virtual Universe Network...
Black Dragon Mountain Island.
Galaxy City.
When Jiang Li appeared at the Jiangnan Courtyard, Lei Shen and Ling Ling were already sitting beneath a pavilion, quietly brewing tea.
"Husband."
Seeing Jiang Li, Ling Ling hurried over and threw herself into his embrace.
Jiang Li had remained in secluded cultivation inside the Third-Level Pavilion for half a year without entering the Virtual Universe.
As his wife...
She understood better than anyone that although her husband stood at the pinnacle of Earth...
The burden resting upon his shoulders was unimaginably heavy.
He couldn't afford even a moment of complacency.
"Wife..."
Holding her tightly, Jiang Li whispered apologetically,
"I'm sorry..."
"Ahem..."
Lei Shen coughed loudly.
"There are still people watching, you know."
"Ahem..."
"So are we."
Luo Feng and Hong appeared almost simultaneously.
Moments later, Ye Changge also materialized.
The instant she saw Hong, ripples stirred within her heart.
Soon afterward...
Luo Feng's family also arrived at the Jiangnan Courtyard to bid him farewell.
Two years.
It wasn't particularly long...
Yet it wasn't short either.
With departure imminent, there was no time for lengthy goodbyes.
"What a pity."
Lei Shen sighed.
"I got eliminated, so I can't accompany you to the Floating Island."
"You all have to give it everything you've got."
Out of more than nine thousand Reincarnation Battles...
He had won only a little over seven thousand.
He had fallen more than a thousand victories short of qualification.
A truly regrettable outcome.
"Don't worry."
Jiang Li's expression grew resolute.
Looking toward the many friends and family from Earth who had come to see them off, he nodded gently.
"We're leaving."
Luo Feng waved farewell to his loved ones before following Jiang Li and Hong onto the heavenly mount bound for the teleportation array.
At that very moment...
Over one million peerless geniuses from all 1,008 Universe Countries were passing through the teleportation arrays of the Virtual Universe Network, gathering in their respective Universe Countries for the Ultimate Finals of the Human Genius Competition.
Above the Qianwu Continent...
On the Floating Island.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Jiang Li, Luo Feng, and Hong emerged one after another from the teleportation point.
"Mr. Jiang Li, Mr. Luo Feng, Mr. Hong."
A Universe-grade staff member waiting nearby smiled respectfully and gestured toward a passage.
"Please, this way."
The three nodded calmly before walking through the corridor and arriving at an enormous plaza.
The square was already packed with people.
These were all the contemporary geniuses who had successfully advanced through the Qianwu Universe Country preliminaries.
Men and women of countless races filled the area.
Most shared similar appearances with Jiang Li and the others, though their physiques varied greatly.
"The three from Earth are here!"
"The Great Demon King—Jiang Li!"
"The Madman—Luo Feng!"
"Aurora—Hong!"
Numerous young geniuses looked toward them while whispering among themselves.
"That planet is unbelievable."
"Counting Mad Dog Lei Shen, they've produced genius after genius."
At that moment...
A towering figure strode directly toward Jiang Li.
It was the Savage—
Rong Jun.
"So..."
Rong Jun stopped less than three meters away.
"You're Jiang Li?"
Jiang Li lifted his gaze calmly.
"Do you need something?"
"Yes."
Rong Jun's fighting spirit surged skyward as he looked down at Jiang Li.
"I came to tell you one thing."
"I will defeat you."
"First..."
"I'll become number one in the Qianwu Universe Country."
"And then..."
"I'll become number one among all humanity in the universe."