A Universe Venerable's "Request"

Unable to enter the Xu Yuan Space within the Virtual Universe, Jiang Yao naturally couldn't fight against Bizhang's will. The building also didn't offer Killing Space service, so with nothing to do, he could only go to the restaurant in the Central Plaza to enjoy some free food and drinks.

As soon as Jiang Yao entered the restaurant, he felt a moment of silence.

"Jiang Yao..."

"Is that the one who possesses two divine weapons?"

"The Sui Divine Weapon, the Xing Divine Weapon, wow, so cool! When I was a kid, I dreamed of one day wielding the Nine Great Divine Weapons of the Controller and dominating the world. But later I realized that I'm completely incompatible with the Controller Divine Weapons."

"I've heard he has some incredible secrets, and many Immortal Expert within the Virtual Universe Company are vying to take him as their disciple."

Jiang Yao was already used to the gossip and sat down at a table by the window, unconcerned, wanting to see what the most expensive food and drinks the restaurant could offer were.

"You can order Yunyan Wine. It's the best and most precious wine in this restaurant, produced in the Yunyan Secret Realm of my Jiuyan Universe Country. One liter costs over a thousand Hunyuan Unit, and even in the Virtual Universe, it normally sells for no less than one Hunyuan Unit. Moreover, it also has the effect of replenishing the soul, although it's very weak."

A young man dressed in a gray battle robe, with what appeared to be a silver gem embedded in his forehead, noticed Jiang Yao's hesitation and wondered what kind of wine or beverage he had ordered. He then spoke up to offer a suggestion.

"My name is Ninan, and I come from the Jiuyan Universe Country."

Jiang Yao nodded. "I know you, I've seen your combat videos."

The Genius Tournament in each Universe Country, those with the potential to join the Virtual Universe Company, are widely circulated in the Virtual Universe. Even without deliberately seeking information, he can see them simply by connecting to the Virtual Universe.

In particular, the Genius Tournament are qualified to compete for the top ten have become the most popular videos in recent years, and Ninan is one of them.

"Haha, you're Jiang Yao?" A powerful voice came from upstairs, and then a man with dark red skin, dragging a thick dragon tail, and eyes that seemed to burn with flames, came down to the first floor, his arrogant aura as if he wanted to fight.

"I've seen you unleash the second move of the Sui Divine Weapon, the Poyuan Blade. Your understanding of the Origin Law of Space is quite profound."

"Sajin Fire Dragon".

The man with the dragon tail sat down at Jiang Yao and Ninan's table, grinning, "You comprehend the Law of Fire I. Add to that Sima Yan, hehe, the three of us strongest geniuses in this year's Peak Battle all cultivate the Law of Fire. One is the strongest Illusionist, one the strongest martial artist, and one the strongest Controller. Quite a coincidence."

Jiang Yao chuckled inwardly, thinking, "Sorry, I am the strongest Controller and the strongest martial artist."

"The strongest Controller?" A voice suddenly broke in, and a bald young man with ruddy skin walked into the restaurant, his gaze as fiery as the sun, landing on Jiang Yao: "That'll have to ask my Lie Divine Weapon if it agrees!"

"Daiqin!"

Daiqin and Jiang Yao are the only two participants in this year's Genius Tournament from the 1008 Universe Country Nine Great Divine Weapons of the Controller. Their battle videos are also the most widely circulated and frequently viewed.

After all, battle scenes like Sima Yan's, where he remained motionless while all the surrounding enemies died, were hardly entertaining.

Jiang Yao didn't seem to have any fighting spirit. If he were just Mental Master Controller, he might be interested in the clash between the Sui Divine Weapon and the Lie Divine Weapon. The problem was that he was more than just Controller.

"Have a seat, how about Yunyan Wine? It's a specialty from Ninan's hometown, a cup costs hundreds of billions of Universe Coin, it would be a shame not to take advantage of it for free."

Jiang Yao's complete disregard for Sajin Fire Dragon and Daiqin's fighting spirit surprised the two of them.

Shouldn't these chosen ones either admire each other or be fiercely competitive and antagonistic towards one another?

Jiang Yao doesn't seem to be here for the final battle; he seems more like he's on vacation.

However, their table still attracted the attention of everyone in the restaurant, both upstairs and downstairs.

Sima Yan, Jiang Yao, Sajin Fire Dragon, and Daiqin are generally recognized as the four strongest in this year's Genius Tournament, with Sima Yan being slightly superior to the other three.

At this moment, three of the four Vajras had gathered together, so how could they not attract attention? Ninan was also qualified to compete for the top ten, had been selectively forgotten by everyone.

"The one leaning against the wall, that werewolf who was watching us just now, is called Keluofu. He has a rather fierce look in his eyes, but he's definitely no match for me," Sargin Fire Dragon transmitted his voice to Jiang Yao and the others using his Origin Force.

Although Sajin Fire Dragon appears rough and domineering, befitting a true prodigy nurtured by a super-powerful force, he was surprisingly gossipy at this moment.

Of course, this also depends on the person. He only treats geniuses like Jiang Yao and Daiqin, whom he considers to be on the same level, as equals, which reminds Jiang Yao of Kuman.

Jiang Yao shifted his curious gaze from the werewolf with yellow mane on its face and eerie green eyes.

Keluofu looked back at him defiantly, a smile spreading across his face, though it appeared ferocious and bloodthirsty against the backdrop of his fangs.

"Where's that blond youth sitting on the second floor?" Jiang Yao continued to ask using his telekinesis.

"You mean Fito from the Biqiong Universe Country?" Sargin Fire Dragon frowned. "His strength is even weaker Ash's; he poses no threat to us."

Ash is a man with a black horn who has mastered the <Ten Thousand Line Flow> technique to the second level—the Nine Flow. He has a deep understanding of the Origin Law of Space, but his strength is still a notch below that of Jiang Yao and the other four Vajras. He can only be said to have a chance to enter the Primordial Secret Realm, but he can forget about competing for first place.

Judging from the combat video, this Fito is a Mental Master Controller uses Fifth-Order Psionic Weapon, placing him in a tier where he has virtually no chance of competing for a top-ten spot.

Jiang Yao gently shook his head. "That's not necessarily true."

"You mean he was hiding his strength? How did you figure that out?" Both Sajin Fire Dragon and Daiqin frowned.

"When it comes to hiding one's strength, who doesn't have a few trump cards up their sleeve?" Sarkin Fire Dragon was skeptical. "But if he can hold his own against several of us, then his hidden strength must be immense."

Jiang Yao did not answer how he figured it out, or rather, he did not figure it out at all, but rather guessed it.

From the moment Jiang Yao heard the list of potential top ten contenders in this year's Genius Tournament, the name sounded familiar.

This also basically confirmed the era in which he lived—the eve of Luo Feng's rise.

Therefore, he had some doubts about the strength of the werewolf-like Keluofu and the blond youth Fito. If he remembered correctly, Fito was going to be the strongest cosmic-level being in the Primal Secret Realm future, which is why he suspected that the two were hiding their strength.

Of course, it's not necessarily true that they're hiding their strength. The Genius Tournament is just the beginning. After entering the Virtual Universe Company, some people rise rapidly, some fade away, and some fall along the way. This is all normal.

Among those considered qualified to compete for the top ten, there were many he had never heard of, such as Daiqin, who regarded him as an opponent and used the Lie Divine Weapon. With his strength, entering the Primordial Secret Realm would definitely not be a problem, so it was possible that he would perish later or fall behind.

Suddenly, a voice invaded Jiang Yao's consciousness. "All participants from the 1008 Universe Country, assemble at the Central Plaza."

All the geniuses in the restaurant stood up unconsciously.

The brilliant minds quickly assembled in a square formation in the Central Plaza.

When Jiang Yao awoke with a start, before he could even marvel at what was happening, he saw 1,008 Immortal Expert, including Lingcang Marquis, standing before the formation.

A man of indeterminate age, dressed in a dark battle robe whose skin was covered in fiery red, crystalline scales and who had six black and red wings on his back, appeared from the void without causing a ripple.

It seems so close, yet it feels like it's in another distant world, causing a sense of disorientation and discomfort.

All 1008 Immortal Expert bowed and said, "Venerable!"

The man nodded to the 1008 immortal beings, then looked at the formation of millions of geniuses, his expression cold and stern. "I am Venerable Tianhe, the host of this year's final battle of the Universe Peak Genius Battle, organized by the Virtual Universe Company."

"There are a total of [number] of you. Our Virtual Universe Company will select the one thousand strongest individuals from among you to be recruited into the Four Great Secret Realms... The rules are as follows..."

The millions of geniuses temporarily put aside their shock and listened attentively as the Venerable Tianhe, with his three pairs of long, black and red wings hanging down to the ground, concisely explained the rules of the Trial Space.

However, as Jiang Yao was listening attentively to the explanation of the rules, a gentle voice entered his consciousness, just like the order that had previously commanded the participants to assemble in the square, but he couldn't pinpoint its source.

"You must be Jiang Yao. Would you be willing to become my disciple?"

Venerable Tianhe?!

Jiang Yao was startled. Good heavens, this Venerable Tianhe was explaining the rules while also communicating with him telepathically.

Venerable Tianhe thought Jiang Yao was frightened, so he continued gently, "All the geniuses who enter the Core Layer of the Virtual Universe Company will try to become disciples of Immortal Expert. Only with the guidance of a powerhouse can they avoid detours and go further."

"However, those who can establish their own sects in Chaos City are basically all King-level experts. They don't easily accept disciples. For example, none of the core disciples from the previous Genius Tournament have yet become disciples of King-level expert."

"As for us Universe Venerable have surpassed Immortal God, we will not easily accept disciples. I have not accepted a disciple for tens of millions of epochs."

"According to the rules of Virtual Universe Company, as the host of this year's Genius Tournament, all the geniuses who enter the Core Layer of Virtual Universe Company, including you, will be placed under my command if they achieve immortality in the future, and will obey my orders. However, none of them are my disciples."

"If you are willing to become my disciple, I can accept you as a nominal disciple. After you become an immortal, you can become my personal disciple. Are you willing?"

Jiang Yao frowned and truly felt the invisible pressure. The words of a Universe Venerable were indeed different from those of Immortal Expert.

It's obvious that Venerable Tianhe came for Yedier's Inheritance Token. Otherwise, how could someone like him, who wasn't even considered a contender for a spot in the Primal Secret Realm and wasn't even a genius of an era, possibly become a disciple of a Universe Venerable?

Although Venerable Tianhe spoke in a gentle tone, far more polite than Zhenxuan King, there was essentially no difference between them.

To say that all the geniuses of Jiang Yao's generation will eventually serve under Venerable Tianhe and obey his commands is, if viewed negatively, no different from a threat.

It's still a candy and a stick. Of course, the candy of becoming a disciple of the Universe Venerable is indeed a big one. From the perspective of Venerable Tianhe, it's not like he's shortchanging Jiang Yao. He's not even in the same league as a worthless immortal like Zhenxuan King who's unwilling to shed any blood.

But to say no to a Universe Venerable is far too much of a test of willpower for a mere stellar being like him.

The Universe Venerable could crush him more easily than crushing an ant, no, not even a speck of dust.

Jiang Yao respectfully said in his mind, "Venerable One, I want to focus all my efforts on the final battle first. I'll discuss the matter of becoming your disciple after I enter the Virtual Universe Company."

Venerable Tianhe paused slightly, even his explanation of the rules of the Trial Space was interrupted, which surprised the million participants and the 1,008 Immortal Expert.

Jiang Yao's words were tactful, but they were essentially a rejection.