Chapter 140: Completing the Game

Seven days later.

“Everyone, come out!…”

A sudden, aged voice echoed through Luo Yuan’s mind, causing him to smirk slightly. His time studying the Chaos Stele had come to an end. Reluctantly, he sheathed his blade and flew out of the secret chamber.

When Luo Yuan arrived at the grand hall outside, he found several hundred prodigies already standing there, many with looks of dissatisfaction and furrowed brows.

In front of the cultivation chambers, numerous powerful individuals patiently queued, waiting their turn to comprehend the Chaos Stele.

At the entrance of each chamber stood an elderly man with identical features—an upright eye marking his forehead. With a kindly expression, he addressed the newcomers, smiling gently: “Greetings, everyone. Allow me to formally introduce myself. I am Kandri, the guardian of the fifty-two Chaos Steles. Of course, we are all avatars of a certain great master.

“This is your first time studying the Chaos Stele, and perhaps you have only grasped the surface. But that is fine. You may now venture onto the Sky Bridge. For every level you conquer, you will gain an additional seven days to study the Stele. The more levels you pass, the more attention you attract from the higher-ups, and the greater benefits you will receive. Little ones, go forth and unleash your talents and potential!”

“What is this Sky Bridge?” many prodigies asked, puzzled.

“It is much like the Killing Grounds, except your opponents inside are pre-set by the system. You will understand once you enter the virtual universe,” Kandri replied with a gentle smile. “Alright, you may leave now.”

With a wave of his hand, the thousand prodigies were instantly teleported out to the City Lord’s Mansion.

…

After leaving the City Lord’s Mansion, Luo Yuan and the other thousand prodigies went their separate ways, each seeking a place to cultivate.

The Chaos City was vast, seemingly boundless. Except for a few special structures, most cultivation lodgings resembled one another, with their doors a faint pale color, indicating they were currently unoccupied.

Luo Yuan spread his spiritual senses and scanned the empty lodgings. He approached one with a comparatively strong aura.

As he opened the door, a drip, drip, drip sound rang out, and the door’s color gradually deepened—from pale white to dark gray—signaling it had been bound to its owner.

“Welcome, my master,” a crisp young girl’s voice sounded.

“Hmm,” Luo Yuan responded, stepping inside.

The room was immaculate. Every essential living item was present and fully automated. The clear, youthful voice continued, “I am the service AI, Little Ai. During your residence, I will attend to your every need.”

“Good,” Luo Yuan nodded approvingly and casually inspected the lodging, finding nothing unusual. Satisfied, he made his way to the rooftop.

Breathing in the fresh air atop the rooftop, he noticed some casual recordings of insights left by previous cultivators. Having witnessed the Chaos Stele, Luo Yuan found little interest in these records, yet he still struck them with a palm. Occasionally, some attribute bubbles would drop, though their levels were low.

Standing on the rooftop, Luo Yuan gazed at the rooftops of the surrounding lodgings. There, powerful figures sat like immovable rocks, meditating on the fundamental laws of origin. Their dedication stirred something within him. Seeing their relentless cultivation, he felt he should not waste time either.

“Time to enter the advanced virtual universe network and take on the Sky Bridge,” he resolved.

…

Virtual Universe, Rainphase Mountain Primitive Zone, No. 112 Ancient-Style Manor.

Luo Yuan appeared inside the manor.

“Your Highness!” a group of servants and guards saluted simultaneously.

“Hmm.” Luo Yuan nodded and added, “Requesting entry to the Sky Bridge.”

“As you command.”

The virtual assistant ‘Xiao Ba’ immediately contacted the virtual universe’s central system to submit the application. Soon, a voice echoed in Luo Yuan’s mind: “Identity confirmed, Luo Yuan. You have permanently obtained the qualification to enter the Sky Bridge. We hope you strive to reach its end. Transmitting now!”

Whoosh!

Luo Yuan vanished from the manor.

…

Virtual Universe, a special dimensional space.

This dimension was an endless ocean, its waters surging ceaselessly.

Upon this ocean rested a single beautiful island. Along its edge were fifty-two harbors, each extending into an endless long bridge, stretching toward the horizon as if to connect with some distant sky. These fifty-two bridges enveloped the entire expanse above the sea.

A mist drifted above the ocean waves, obscuring what lay beneath. The fog wreathed the bridges, casting a dreamlike aura.

Luo Yuan suddenly appeared in the central plaza of the island.

“Luo Yuan.”

“Luo Yuan, you’ve come too.”

Luo Feng, Rong Jun, Uka, Berlan, and others were gathered in the square. They greeted Luo Yuan warmly, and he nodded in return.

“You all came to challenge the Sky Bridge? This will be lively!” Luo Yuan said with a smile.

“Indeed! Brothers, let’s go!” Uka waved his hand, and the group laughed as they walked toward the plaza’s center.

At the plaza’s heart stood a man clad in a black starry robe. He had four ears but no nose, and a smiling face. He approached and said, “Greetings. I am Bafen, the overseer of the Sky Bridge dimension. But I prefer to be called simply the Overseer.”

“Greetings, Overseer,” the group respectfully bowed.

“Hmm, since you are newcomers, let me explain the rules. As you’ve seen, this plaza connects to fifty-two long bridges, each leading to one of the fifty-two Chaos Steles. You must choose the bridge corresponding to the Stele you initially selected to study. Inside, you will choose your opponents and strive to advance along the Sky Bridge. The farther you go, the stronger you are regarded.

“Each bridge has twenty-seven layers, one above another. For every layer you pass, you gain an additional seven days to study the Chaos Stele,” Overseer Bafen smiled, looking at them.

The group nodded upon hearing this. Luo Yuan smiled quietly, feeling that challenging the Sky Bridge was much like playing a game: twenty-seven levels, each with a boss guarding the gate; defeat the boss to proceed and earn rewards.

Seeing the eager young talents before him, Overseer Bafen warned, “The Sky Bridge is difficult to conquer. Little ones like you usually cannot even pass the first level at the start.”

The prodigies were startled by this, though many proud ones kept silent, their eyes betraying skepticism.

“Immortals generally reach the tenth level,” Overseer Bafen sighed. “Those who reach the eighteenth level become near-invincible among immortals. Passing the twenty-first level grants the title of ‘Sovereign of the Cosmic Nation.’”

“What? Immortals only reach level ten, and Sovereigns only reach level twenty-one?” The prodigies’ expressions darkened, realizing the challenge’s gravity.

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