Tongtian Bridge, Illusion Sea

"Hoo!"

"After nearly twenty thousand years on the outer battlefield, I've finally mastered the 'Flesh and Blood Chapter'!" Lian Luo stood up, a smile in his eyes. "It's also thanks to the boost to my cultivation from the 'Pure Heart' state of mind after my soul's transformation, and the guidance and help from Master Dry Witch Universe Master!"

Master Dry Witch Universe Master's guidance, in particular, saved him a lot of time.

This was the benefit of having a powerful teacher. When encountering problems, one could seek their teacher for solutions. They wouldn't be stuck for billions of years due to some bottleneck!

"Having mastered the second level of the 'Star Prison Demonic Codex,' I'm capable of passing the eighteenth level of the Tongtian Bridge and the Illusion Sea!" Lian Luo nodded slightly. "I'll go challenge it now! Once I pass the eighteenth level of the Tongtian Bridge, I'll be qualified to become a King-level and can stay in Chaos City to cultivate for a long time!"

Virtual Universe, Tongtian Bridge Plane Space.

In the center of the beautiful island, the guardian Bafen, dressed in a black star robe, looked at Lian Luo, who had appeared out of nowhere, with surprise and a sigh. "Blood-Robed Marquis, it's been a long, long time since you last challenged the Tongtian Bridge after passing the sixteenth level! It's truly been ages since I've seen you."

"Yes, it has been a long time!" Lian Luo said with a touch of emotion. That was because he had died, and naturally couldn't come to challenge the Tongtian Bridge.

"Challenging the seventeenth level?" Bafen smiled.

"Mm." Lian Luo also nodded with a smile. He was going to challenge the seventeenth level, but he wouldn't stop there.

"Then I wish you, Blood-Robed Marquis, success in passing the seventeenth level of the Tongtian Bridge!" Bafen said with a smile. "The Nine Universe Tongtian Bridge is empty right now, so you can challenge it to your heart's content, Blood-Robed Marquis!"

Lian Luo nodded. "Alright, I'll be going then!"

Immediately, he transformed into a streak of light and flew towards the Nine Universe Tongtian Bridge.

Lian Luo stood before the Nine Universe Tongtian Bridge, gazing at the bridge's surface that stretched endlessly into the distance. Memories of his past life surfaced, bringing a sigh. "It's been hundreds of billions of years since I was last here! Fame awaits me today!"

Whoosh!

He instantly turned into a white streak of light, skimming the bridge's surface, and disappeared into the distance, beginning his challenge of the Tongtian Bridge.

At the end of the seventeenth level of the Tongtian Bridge was an endless Star River. The Star River trembled slightly, and a rumbling sound instantly echoed throughout the heavens and earth. "Please choose your opponent. Warrior, Controller, or Illusionist Mental Master. Choose any one opponent, and defeating them means passing the seventeenth level of the Tongtian Bridge."

Lian Luo nodded slightly. "I choose Warrior!"

Swish!

As Lian Luo made his choice, the endless Star River at the end of the Tongtian Bridge began to flow rapidly. Following that, a figure clad in light-golden armor flew out of the Star River. This figure looked at Lian Luo and said, "Let the battle begin!"

In the Tongtian Bridge plane in the outside world, the guardian Bafen watched Lian Luo's retreating figure with a hint of emotion. "The Blood-Robed Marquis became Marquis-level in less than a hundred thousand years. I never expected him to be stuck at the King-level stage for such an endless amount of time. I wonder if he can pass the seventeenth level this time!"

The guardian Bafen, like the defenders on the Tongtian Bridge, were actually intelligent life forms created by the Virtual Universe. He had no idea that Lian Luo had died during those endless years!

A moment later, he suddenly froze, his eyes widening. "He defeated the opponent on the seventeenth level so quickly!"

"He's still challenging? Could it be that the Blood-Robed Marquis is confident he can pass the eighteenth level of the Tongtian Bridge? The eighteenth level is much, much harder than the seventeenth!" the guardian Bafen thought to himself.

The Tongtian Bridge had a threshold every three levels. Levels 15-17 were Law Comprehension at the Marquis-level, but level 18 was King-level!

It seemed like just one level, but the status difference between these two was worlds apart. Marquis-level only meant having a high status within a Universe Nation. But once one became King-level, they became a key target for cultivation by the Human race, enjoying numerous privileges.

For example, they would be invited to join the Hong Alliance, obtain permanent residency in the Initial Universe, and even be resurrected through time reversal if they were to perish...

In short, the benefits were numerous!

But correspondingly, the difficulty of passing was also exponentially higher!

The guardian Bafen rarely saw someone pass the eighteenth level and achieve King-level status in billions of years!

He also harbored a faint sense of anticipation. "Can the Blood-Robed Marquis pass it?"

In the center of the endless Star River on the eighteenth level of the Tongtian Bridge, two figures were battling in the starry sky above the bridge.

On one side was a white-robed figure completely enveloped in the phantom of the Fire Beast God. On the other was a stern figure clad in golden armor and wearing a golden mask.

Suddenly, the two figures separated. Lian Luo smiled. "Let the battle end here!"

"What do you mean?" the golden-masked warrior frowned.

Boom!

But in the next second, a line of fire directly severed his throat!

Secret Technique: 'Starfire Piercing Heaven'!

The eighteenth level of the Tongtian Bridge, passed!

"Let's continue and see what the opponent on the nineteenth level has to offer!" Lian Luo looked up at the Tongtian Bridge stretching upwards and soared directly into the sky, flying towards the end of the nineteenth level of the Tongtian Bridge! At the end of the nineteenth level of the Tongtian Bridge was utter darkness, with a giant black hole celestial body ahead!

Lian Luo didn't hesitate. "I choose... Warrior!"

Whoosh!

Numerous black dots suddenly floated above the black hole, then condensed into a figure. This was a human clad in black armor and wearing a black mask. He carried a battle sword on his back and hovered above the black hole celestial body. "You passed the eighteenth level, which is very good. But I must say, you should stop here!"

Lian Luo nodded. His hope of passing the nineteenth level was indeed slim. He said calmly, "Let me witness the strength of the nineteenth level!"

"The eighteenth level, he really passed it!" the guardian Bafen exclaimed. "The Human race has gained another King-level!"

Next, he began writing emails and sending them to numerous beings, including Lian Luo's teacher, Dry Witch Universe Master, the Virtual Universe Company's administrator Venerable Guiyi, and other Venerables from the Virtual Universe Company!

King-level Immortals, while not yet able to dominate the universe, could be considered the backbone of the Human race.

As reserve Venerables, their names were qualified to be known by other Venerables.

Inside the temple on Thunder Island, Dry Witch Universe Master smiled as he looked at the email: "Broke through the eighteenth level? Not bad, you haven't disappointed me."

In the palace within the Lord of Chaos City's mansion, Venerable Guiyi nodded slightly: "He broke through the eighteenth level of the Tongtian Bridge in less than twenty thousand years after being resurrected. Lian Luo's potential is far from being fully tapped!" "Having broken through the eighteenth level of the Tongtian Bridge, he is qualified for the company to grant him King-level status!"

As the second disciple of the Lord of Chaos City, the actual person in charge of the Virtual Universe Company, he was responsible for managing all matters below the Venerable level within the company.

Granting King-level status to qualified powerhouses within the company naturally fell under his purview.

"I wonder what title he will choose. Blood-robed King? Or something else..." Venerable Guiyi mused when another email arrived in his inbox. As he read, his expression turned to one of immense surprise: "He actually broke through the twentieth island of the Illusion Sea. His will has reached the limit of an Immortal God!"