If Bolan had chosen the same Nine Universe Chaos Stele as Luo Feng, he most likely could have passed the third level.
So, everyone was eager to see whether Luo Fan could surpass it.
By the time these geniuses arrived at the Sky-Piercing Bridge's realm, Luo Fan had already cleared the second level.
…
Luo Fan strolled leisurely, as if walking through a courtyard, until he reached the end of the third level of Ice Peak's Sky-Piercing Bridge.
"Choose your opponent. You may choose a warrior, a spiritual force controller, or a spiritual illusionist."
"Select any one opponent. Defeat them, and you may proceed to the fourth level."
A voice echoed from the thick mist ahead.
"Warrior," Luo Fan said calmly.
Once again, he chose the warrior type.
After all, he himself was a warrior.
In the Virtual Universe's Killing Fields, most of the opponents he fought were of the same kind.
Even his mechanical race avatar, when simulating battles with innate secret arts, mainly fought against warrior models.
As soon as Luo Fan finished speaking, the massive mist condensed again into a mass of black liquid.
The black liquid quickly formed into a mysterious figure.
The figure held a blade as well.
In truth, every opponent on each level looked nearly identical, after all, they were merely virtual constructs generated by the system.
The moment the figure formed, it didn't waste a single word and instantly charged toward Luo Fan.
The blade in its hand suddenly turned deep blue, faint streams of water flowing along its surface.
Luo Fan recognized this technique immediately.
It was the third form of the Tidal God Blade!
This technique was most powerful at close range.
It was an extremely restrained blade art, where all destructive power was hidden within what appeared to be gentle currents.
Luo Fan didn't hesitate. He raised his own Tidal God Blade.
The next moment, countless blades of light burst forth.
A sea of blades filled the sky, surging toward the mysterious figure.
Luo Fan knew that the guardian of the third level had completely mastered the first diagram of the Ice Peak Chaos Stele.
He himself hadn't yet fully grasped it, after all, he walked the path of studying the essence of the laws, and he had only comprehended the Ice Peak Chaos Stele once.
Therefore, he chose to crush the opponent with the fourth form of the Tidal God Blade.
This would prevent him from falling into the enemy's rhythm and also avoid injury.
Boom!
Crack!
Seeing the oncoming sea of blades, the mysterious figure slashed out.
The gentle-looking water currents instantly transformed into a massive blade of water attached to its weapon.
Some of Luo Fan's blade lights shattered upon contact with the water blade.
However, the water blade itself also visibly shrank.
Though it looked harmless, within the flowing water were countless ice spikes whirling at high speed.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Blade lights shattered one after another, and the water blade grew smaller and smaller.
Gradually, the guardian's weapon could no longer withstand the force.
The remaining half of the blade sea engulfed the mysterious figure entirely.
When the sea of blades finally faded, Luo Fan saw that the figure was covered in wounds, its body nearly destroyed, with only its head and part of its torso remaining.
Yet it was still alive.
After all, a universe-level being possessed astonishing vitality.
Without hesitation, Luo Fan delivered one final slash.
In that instant, the mist blocking his path dispersed.
…
"He passed!"
"What a terrifying strike!"
"The guardian of the third level was nearly killed in one blow!"
The geniuses watching Luo Fan's battle video in the Sky-Piercing Bridge space couldn't help but exclaim.
Most of them couldn't even clear the first level.
But Luo Fan had passed the third as if it were nothing.
The third-level guardian had almost been killed in a single strike.
They all knew, during this same round, the other two who entered the Original Secret Realm, Bolan and Luo Feng, had both fallen on the third level.
Bolan had lasted a bit longer; Luo Feng had been instantly defeated.
So when they saw Luo Fan nearly one-shot the third-level guardian, their shock was understandable.
Once again, Luo Fan shattered their understanding of what was possible.
…
In the distance, the King-level experts seemed perfectly calm on the surface.
The geniuses couldn't hear a sound from them.
But in truth, those Kings were in absolute uproar.
"Damn it! What kind of ridiculous luck does Tidal Blade have? How'd he pick up such a monster of a disciple?!"
"Looks like our Ice Peak lineage is about to produce another powerhouse!"
"Damn! If that guy hadn't taken him as a disciple so early, I might've had a shot!"
Many of them stared at King Tidal Blade with faces full of envy, jealousy, and frustration.
King Tidal Blade, however, maintained a look of calm composure on the outside.
But secretly, he was sending out telepathic messages filled with smug laughter.
"Hahaha! That's my disciple! Hahaha!"
"Well? Isn't my disciple a genius?"
"See that? Look how well I trained him!"
"You all thought I wasn't good at teaching disciples just because I hadn't taken many, huh?"
"King Vast Sea, what are you doing here anyway? You're a spiritual force user. Even if you beat me, so what? My disciple uses the Tidal God Blade, it's not your field!"
Listening to Tidal Blade's smug transmission, the others' tempers flared even more.
At that moment, Grando added quietly from the side, "He's also my disciple…"
Meanwhile, Tidal Blade kept bragging endlessly.
King Vast Sea, another member of the Ice Peak lineage and a true invincible King, far stronger than Tidal Blade and possessing a supreme treasure, stood beside him, glaring with growing irritation.
The more Tidal Blade talked, the more excited he became, practically bouncing like a husky.
Finally, King Vast Sea couldn't stand it anymore.
With a wave of his hand, he blocked the geniuses' view of the Kings behind them.
"Get him!"
With that single order, he unleashed his ultimate technique, Vast Sea Seals the Heavens.
Caught off guard, King Tidal Blade was instantly suppressed.
Then, in perfect unison, the surrounding Kings rushed forward and beat him down.
"Ah! Stop! I yield! I was wrong!"
Tidal Blade's wails echoed through the sealed space.
Of course, none of this sound escaped. The geniuses in front neither saw nor heard a thing.
The Kings were disciplined enough not to let Tidal Blade lose face before the juniors.
They didn't rough him up for long anyway, by now, Luo Fan had reached the depths of the fourth level and was about to face its guardian.
The Kings stopped, all understanding one another perfectly.
Grando calmly helped Tidal Blade to his feet as if nothing had happened.
"Tidal Blade, you alright?"
King Tidal Blade looked around gloomily.
"I'm fine. After all, with such an outstanding disciple, it's only natural that others get jealous."
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