Whoosh!
The hurricane howled, and in an instant, 3,000 hideous black insects surged out.
They were mantis-like creatures, their bodies covered in streamlined black scales patterned with complex green markings. Their hind legs were thick and powerful, while their two pairs of forelimbs resembled sharp, curved scimitars.
Compared to the Green Mantises in the Fourth Trial Tower and the Blood Mantises in the Fifth Trial Tower, these Black Mantises were the kings of the hunting mantis-type Bug Race—the Tuoluo Race!
Every Tuoluo Mantis warrior had the strength to rank among the top thousand in the Universe Genius Tournament. Their coordination was also exceptionally seamless, greatly boosting their combat power.
"Buzz..."
The Black Mantises beat their wings and split into thirty squads, spreading in every direction and leaving behind streaks of afterimages.
A dark-golden domain spread out from each Black Mantis, and the power of the Origin of Gold gathered in their scimitar-like forelimbs.
Rumble!
The black-and-white greatsword swung, sending out a series of thunderous booms. In an instant, the sky changed color, flickering between light and shadow.
The third level of the Light and Time Sword could easily kill any Black Mantis, but this wasn't a one-on-one fight.
Buzz—
In the distance, more than a thousand Black Mantises gathered power, condensing terrifying golden spheres of light in their hideous mouths.
In an instant, streaks of golden breath cut across the sky, empowered by the sharp force of the Law of Gold. Yu Duan could only dodge.
As Yu Duan evaded, Black Mantis warriors specialized in close combat closed in from all sides.
Attacking, supporting, serving as cannon fodder, suppressing from a distance... The thirty squads of a hundred insects each had different combat roles, giving Yu Duan one headache after another.
"Army tactics really are a pain..."
The black-and-white greatsword instantly cut down several Black Mantis warriors blocking Yu Duan's path.
The next moment, Yu Duan's speed abruptly surged. The endless Darkness Domain spread in every direction, swallowing all light and shadow.
Yu Duan wasn't trying to make the Darkness Domain affect the Black Mantises much. He only needed it to keep himself from being constantly locked onto by ranged attacks.
Outside the Trial Tower, the many geniuses watching the battle could no longer make out what was happening inside the dark domain.
They could only vaguely see faint flashes of light within it. Wherever Yu Duan passed, the profound Domain of No Light engulfed one Black Mantis warrior after another.
"Ahhhhhh—!"
Screech after piercing screech rang out from the Bug Race Mother Emperor within the dark-golden nest.
The illusion attack that was most deadly to the vast majority of people was completely ignored by Yu Duan. He was entirely immune to it, and it had no effect on him whatsoever.
"Why do I feel like Yu Duan's soul defense is more than a whole level above Yalunsi's?"
"Of course. As a Spirit Reader, Yalunsi has an awareness amplitude of over forty times and must have mastered a Soul Defense Secret Technique. Even he couldn't simply ignore it."
"..."
On the Central Square, more than a million geniuses discussed the battle animatedly.
Only the Immortals knew how powerful the Bug Race Mother Emperor in the Sixth Trial Tower truly was.
There were differences between Mother Emperors, just as there were between ordinary people and geniuses.
The sonic illusion cast by the Bug Race Mother Emperor in the Sixth Trial Tower was considered the peak among Mother Emperors of the same level.
An ordinary peak Universe Level Spirit Reader's soul defense wouldn't be much stronger than a Star Level prodigy like Yalunsi's. It was impossible to simply ignore an illusion attack.
"Yu Duan's potential is absolutely no lower than Kedi's!"
"If he's resisting through sheer willpower, then his will must be at least Domain Lord Level, or even higher, for him to ignore the illusion!"
"That's not very likely. King Qinghuan must have taught him some powerful Soul Defense Secret Technique."
The Immortal Gods communicated with one another telepathically. They all believed that King Qinghuan, a master of the soul, had taught Yu Duan some extraordinary secret technique.
After all, a Star Level willpower on par with a Domain Lord's or even a World Master's was equivalent to crossing three major levels. That was exceedingly rare.
While Yu Duan was fully focused on breaking through the tower, Kedi, who had started a few minutes after him, finally reached the last level of the Sixth Trial Tower.
"Ah—!"
Kedi was greeted by the same sudden sonic illusion.
Unlike Yu Duan, who had completely ignored it, Kedi was unprepared and fell straight into the illusion. The Fire-Space Domain surrounding him dispersed at once.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Three thousand Black Mantises surged out of the Mother Nest. This time, they didn't charge at him. Instead, they immediately unleashed their breath attacks.
They didn't need to gather power. They fired instantly. A combined attack from 3,000 peak Star Level Black Mantises was enough to annihilate Kedi, protected by nothing but a second-tier battle suit.
Rumble!
A violent explosion swept outward. Kedi's figure seemed to be swallowed by the terrifying energy storm and completely annihilated.
"This Seventh Level got so much harder. I nearly got caught out."
A voice, still shaken, suddenly came from another direction.
A young man with red horns growing from his forehead—truly a striking sight—hovered in midair. For the first time, a serious expression appeared in his eyes.
The next instant, three entirely different Source Laws—Time, Space, and Fire—surged forth. They spread out like a Ninefold Domain, transforming into a true, blazing space-time death trap that erupted in an instant!
Kedi's speed surged several times over, and more than a thousand Spatial Phantoms filled the air.
"Then, let the slaughter begin..."
The somewhat melodramatic voice came through the big screen and reached the ears of more than a million geniuses.
In an instant, the entire Central Square erupted. Every one of the million geniuses wore an expression of disbelief.
"Time and Space! He's entered both Higher Origin Laws!"
"More than a thousand phantoms! Didn't Kedi only cross the threshold of the Law of Space in the second year of the Genius Tournament?"
"Is he even human?"
Kedi's mastery of the Law of Time was impossible to judge directly, but when he instantly unleashed hundreds of phantoms, everyone understood just how high his mastery of the Law of Space was!
Not only the young Star Level geniuses, but even the Immortal Gods all showed astonishment and shock.
Meanwhile, Yucheng Venerable and King Qinghuan, watching the battle from another vantage point, had an even closer view of the new movement technique Kedi had displayed.
It was a powerful movement technique from the Universe School. The boost in combat strength from cultivating both the Laws of Time and Space was far more than one plus one equaling two.
"Teacher King Qinghuan, it seems this time there's no suspense over who will take first place in the Genius Tournament."
Yucheng Venerable sounded rather moved. Kedi's talent was far more astonishing than his own had been.
Yucheng Venerable knew exactly what kind of fortuitous encounter he'd had back then to be hailed as a once-in-a-million-eras super-genius and win over his teacher, the great Tian Shi Palace Master.
Kedi's fortuitous encounters, then... were probably even more extraordinary.
King Qinghuan merely sighed and said quietly, "He was born in the wrong era. In any other age, you would have been the most outstanding."
Before long, on the Seventh Level of the Sixth Trial Tower.
Yu Duan stood atop the ruined dark-golden Mother Nest, his left arm gone and his right foot planted on the Bug Race Mother Emperor's soft, delicate body.
The clear, pristine Light and Time Sword had pierced straight through the Mother Emperor's forehead, pinning it to the ground.
"Seventh Trial Tower, show me what you've got!" The Third Pupil between Yu Duan's brows shone brilliantly. Countless dazzling hues were faintly reflected in the black iris.
Whoosh!
After a brief recovery and rest, a beam of white light enveloped Yu Duan and sent him straight to the Seventh Trial Tower.
Almost at the same time, Kedi, who had been just a step behind Yu Duan throughout the earlier stages, was also transported to the Seventh Trial Tower.
The Seventh Trial Tower, First Level!
It was the same familiar, vast and desolate rocky wasteland. Yet, for some reason—or perhaps it was only their imagination—it gave everyone an indescribable sense of oppression!
Rumble!
Countless black beasts charged out as if from an abyss, each rushing forward with an aura that could destroy the world.
With a Ninefold Domain and mastery of two Laws... every beast was terrifyingly powerful. They came crashing down like a black tidal wave, as though they could overturn Heaven and Earth!
At that moment, more than a million of humanity's greatest geniuses and over a thousand Immortal leaders were watching the battle.
Even the super Immortals of the various pinnacle factions were watching the live broadcast. They had permission to do so. (This setting comes from Chapter 64 of Part 7 of the original work.)
"Kedi is so strong! His movement technique is incredibly fast!"
"Unbelievable! His opponents are as strong as the top hundred in the overall Genius Tournament, and he's slaughtering them outright!"
"Look at Yu Duan! Yu Duan can't hold on!"
"He's surrounded. There's nowhere left to hide. Yu Duan's going to lose!"
Inside the Seventh Trial Tower, Yu Duan seemed to be in desperate straits!
Countless black beasts roared as they charged at him from every direction. Killing a few dozen of them had no effect on their total number, which exceeded ten thousand.
"I made it this far through my own hard work and sweat..."
Yu Duan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. The Third Pupil between his brows opened, and his figure blurred, as if dissolving, as if ascending. Countless motes of light scattered outward.
Whoosh!
In an instant, Yu Duan vanished from the middle of the beasts' encirclement, as if he had appeared outside it out of thin air.
His speed reached its limit, his agility likewise. Under the astonished gazes of more than a million geniuses, Yu Duan seemed to teleport, flashing straight out through the layers of more than ten thousand beasts.
"What kind of movement technique is that? How did he suddenly break through the encirclement?"
"Impossible! How can he be that fast?"
Yu Duan's explosive burst of speed was incomprehensible not only to the million geniuses, but also to the many Immortal leaders.
Yucheng Venerable and King Qinghuan, who had been following the battle closely, reacted more calmly.
Yucheng Venerable smiled. "He has some decent insight into the first fundamental aspect of the Law of Time, but he hasn't truly mastered it. Still, clearing the first level shouldn't be a problem."
King Qinghuan nodded without saying anything. He had a fairly clear understanding of his disciple's strength.
The first level of the Seventh Trial Tower was harder than the first level of the Heavenly Bridge, but easier than the second. It shouldn't be a problem for Yu Duan.
If he fully mastered the first fundamental aspect of the Law of Time, he could clear the third level of the Heavenly Bridge. Yu Duan still had a long way to go.
Clang!
A clear sword chime rang out. Yu Duan's figure seemed to become a dreamlike arc of white light, darting among the countless black beasts as he slaughtered them with ease.
Normally, the third level of the Light and Time Sword manifested as a massive black-and-white greatsword, more than ten meters long.
But in Yu Duan's hands, all its power was concentrated within the blade. It didn't form a black-and-white greatsword; only a dense halo of black and white appeared along the sword.
Its apparent size and power had shrunk many times over, but each strike was razor-sharp to the extreme, and one black beast after another fell into pools of blood.
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