Nine Swords King?

The Cosmic Chaos Stele was the most varied and difficult of all the Chaos Steles, so it had the fewest people studying it.

Accordingly, the "Universe" school had the fewest people as well.

There weren't many masters who founded their own schools, either.

In Chaos City, the "Universe" school had only eleven masters, far fewer than the schools associated with the other Chaos Steles.

Inside the lounge of Feng Hui's Cultivation Residence.

He was looking down at the book the Black-robed Envoy had given him earlier. The book contained the following passage—

"Those who can break through the eighteenth level of the Heavenly Bridge are true elites of the Human Race, master-level figures among the Immortals. They can obtain permanent resident status in Chaos City and establish their own schools there, taking on disciples and teaching lectures. They are held in high regard!"

"Any cultivator who comes to Chaos City can attend lectures once they pass the third level of the Heavenly Bridge."

"You can attend the lectures of any master."

"But if you want to become a particular master's disciple, then the first time you attend a lecture... you must choose that master's lecture to show your respect. Afterward, you must ask to become his disciple! If the master agrees, then you have successfully become his disciple."

"Become a disciple?" Feng Hui's heart stirred.

That was how things worked in the universe. Becoming someone's disciple was commonplace.

When you were still weak, having a super expert teach you was tremendously beneficial.

Moreover, Feng Hui followed the path of the Space-Time Law's underlying principles. Having a master from the "Universe" school teach him would undoubtedly speed up his cultivation considerably.

"Who should I choose?"

Feng Hui looked over the information on the eleven masters of the "Universe" school in the book.

They were all masters, masters among the Immortals!

They were far stronger than Teacher Wala, the one who taught Feng Hui's Dongdi Clan clone. Teacher Wala was a Peak Marquis and could barely qualify as a King.

These masters, however... were all formidable even among the King-level Immortals. Some were even Invincible Kings.

Many of their disciples were Immortals!

"Who should I choose?"

Feng Hui read on, muttering to himself. "Hmm, there are eleven masters in the 'Universe' school in Chaos City. Three of them belong to the Virtual Universe Company: Thunder Blade King, Thousand Spirits King, and Nine Swords King."

"Hm? Nine Swords King?" Feng Hui jolted in surprise.

He carefully read the information about Nine Swords King.

Nine Swords King had won first place in the Virtual Universe Company's Peak Genius War more than a thousand eras ago... He was an Invincible King who had only just arrived in Chaos City to establish his own school...

This... wasn't he the same Nine Swords Venerable who had hosted the Genius War Luo Feng participated in?

From the discussions among the Immortals who led the contestants in the original story, it was clear that, tens of thousands of eras—billions of years—before Luo Feng's Genius War, Nine Swords Venerable had still been at the Stellar Level. He had taken part in the Genius War and won first place that year.

He hadn't expected that Nine Swords Venerable was still Nine Swords King at this point in time. It had been only a little over a thousand eras since the Genius War that launched his rise, and he still hadn't broken through to become a Venerable.

In other words, the current era was still billions of years before Luo Feng's time.

He'd transmigrated too early—and much too early.

Of course, on the vast timescale of the Prime Universe, a Reincarnation Era was measured in trillions of eras, or hundreds of quadrillions of years. Being billions of years early was only a little early.

Still, it looked like he'd have to forget about relying on Luo Feng for now.

In a few billion years, if he didn't die, he'd probably have accomplished something himself.

"Thunder Blade King, Thousand Spirits King, Nine Swords King."

Feng Hui studied the three men's profiles, mulling it over.

He didn't know much about Thunder Blade King or Thousand Spirits King, but Nine Swords King... would become Nine Swords Venerable in the future.

If he was going to become someone's disciple, he might as well choose the strongest.

Chaos City.

"This is the place!"

Feng Hui stopped in front of a manor. At that moment, cultivators in small groups were entering it.

"Nine Swords King is lecturing today. I hear he'll explain the first three diagrams of the Cosmic Chaos Stele."

"Yeah. Even though I'm studying the Fourth Diagram now, I still learn something every time I listen to the basic explanations."

"Same here."

"Nine Swords King may have only just arrived in Chaos City to start his school and give lectures, but a master is still a master."

World Lords and even Immortal cultivators streamed into the manor. Feng Hui entered with them. The signal detector at the entrance scanned him without stopping him, which meant he had permission to attend.

Inside the manor.

Hundreds of cultivators had already gathered in a plaza dozens of kilometers across.

"First time attending a lecture, young man?"

A burly, middle-aged man sitting not far from Feng Hui smiled at him. He could tell at a glance that the young man before him was only at the Cosmic Level.

"Yes." Feng Hui nodded.

"You're only at the Cosmic Level and you can attend lectures? You must've been selected from the Genius War—and been one of the very best, at that."

The middle-aged man smiled. By then, more than a thousand cultivators had gathered in the plaza.

Boom!

An invisible pressure instantly swept across the entire plaza. All thousand-plus cultivators fell silent, showing their respect for the master.

A handsome man in a green robe walked toward the plaza, purple scales covering his head. He was Nine Swords King.

"Nine Swords King hasn't taken any disciples yet. It'd be great if we could become his disciples."

"That depends on your ability. If you're not capable, why would Nine Swords King take you?"

Quiet murmurs rose from the crowd, but their voices were barely audible.

Feng Hui watched, holding his breath.

In the distance, Nine Swords King sat down cross-legged.

"Today, I'll be teaching the first three diagrams of the Cosmic Chaos Stele. These three diagrams form the foundation."

Nine Swords King extended a finger and pointed into the air. Complex secret runes appeared above them. "The first diagram depicts the operation of the fundamental laws. It should look like this..."

The intricate golden runes turned in midair like the gears of a machine, containing the unfathomable power of the laws.

"How miraculous." Feng Hui stared, dumbfounded.

Nine Swords King explained everything clearly, but the cultivators still found his lecture profoundly mysterious.

Each person's understanding and perception differed.

"That's all for today's lecture." Three days later, Nine Swords King spoke calmly.

"Thank you, teacher!"

The thousand-plus cultivators bowed respectfully.

Just then, a young man with short black hair stepped out of the crowd and walked straight toward the front.

The eyes of all thousand-plus cultivators turned to him, full of surprise. "Is that kid going to ask to become a disciple?"

"I humbly ask you to accept me as your disciple!" His voice echoed through the plaza.

All thousand-plus cultivators looked toward Nine Swords King.

Would he accept him?

Nine Swords King regarded Feng Hui calmly.

"Feng Hui, you're indeed exceptional, a rare talent in my 'Universe' school."

"But unfortunately, I have no plans to take on disciples right now."

"Still, during the rest of your time in Chaos City, you can come to my manor and ask me whenever you have questions."

It was true. Nine Swords King had no plans to take on disciples at present.

Feng Hui was indeed exceptional. As long as he didn't die, he had a good chance of becoming a Marquis or even a King in the future.

But so what?

Nine Swords King had fought his way to first place in the Peak Genius War, charging forward with unstoppable momentum. Now he was the youngest Invincible King in the current era of the Human Race.

On the Outer Domain Battlefield, he had killed countless Immortal experts from the Alien Race.

He was a renowned, peerless prodigy throughout the Human Race.

Many super experts believed he had a strong chance of becoming a Universe Venerable.

At present, Nine Swords King was focused on improving his own strength, not on anything else.

He had come to Chaos City to enter seclusion after countless years of ferocious fighting on the Outer Domain Battlefield. Establishing a school was merely incidental.

Other masters might have thought that taking on an exceptional disciple could one day give them an Immortal to help them, or at least strengthen their faction and influence.

But in the eyes of the young, hot-blooded Nine Swords King—young, at least, among Invincible Kings—taking on disciples simply wasn't important.

In this world, where power belonged to the individual, in this cruel universe where the strong decided everything, his own strength was what mattered most.

Immensely proud and confident, Nine Swords King believed that if he could successfully break through to become a Universe Venerable, Immortals would flock to him of their own accord.

By then, the Human Race would have him host a Genius War or Strongest Battle. He wouldn't even need to waste his time taking on disciples and training them. Once that entire generation of geniuses grew up, they would all become his subordinates.

Wouldn't all the finest talents in the world then fall into his hands?

Wouldn't that be far better than going to all the trouble of taking on disciples and guiding them here?

As for whether he could break through to become a Universe Venerable, or whether he might be stuck there for countless years without making progress...

Nine Swords King had spent his whole life surging ahead, invincible among his peers. He felt like the chosen one of his era and had never given it much thought.

As the youngest Invincible King of the Human Race in the current era, Nine Swords King had every reason to be confident. And he believed—

That day wouldn't be far off!