Before long, the Thirteenth Divine General sent Zhang Dong an email, asking him to choose a book called Universe.
A secret art named after the universe itself.
Ganwu Kingdom Master was astonished to learn that Zhang Dong had chosen the Universe Chaos Stele and intended to cultivate both Time and Space.
As far as he knew, Zhang Dong had never studied the laws of space before—not even its subordinate laws, such as metal, wood, water, fire, or earth. Yet he dared to choose the Universe Chaos Stele and cultivate both.
Even if he focused on Time and supplemented it with Space, he still needed some comprehension of the laws of space.
The news spread like wildfire and soon reached the upper echelons of the Virtual Universe Company.
These old-timers, who had watched over countless eras, enjoyed keeping an eye on each generation of juniors in their spare time. Occasionally, they even placed bets on which ones had the most potential.
Zhang Dong's dazzling rise into the Primordial Realm naturally drew the attention of many higher-ups.
In the Virtual Universe, inside Ganwu Kingdom Master's palace halfway up Thunder Island.
More than a dozen ancient Universe Country Lords and Cosmic Venerables had gathered there, sitting together and chatting. Their conversation ranged from Cosmic Secret Realms to the younger generation's talents, covering the Realm Lords of the Primordial Realm before finally turning to Zhang Dong.
"The Universe Chaos Stele? And he wants to cultivate both?" Gulun Kingdom Master chuckled. "Ganwu, that kid you brought here is quite interesting. Who knows? He might become one of humanity's supreme beings someday."
Mastering both Time and Space meant becoming a Universe Master. Choosing to cultivate both paths showed enormous ambition.
But Gulun Kingdom Master was obviously joking. No one thought Zhang Dong could become a Universe Master. Becoming a Cosmic Venerable would already be quite an achievement.
Stele Remains Venerable said softly, "It's only natural for a young man to be proud and ambitious. Once he hits a wall with the laws of space, he'll figure out which path to take."
The two Cosmic Venerables had been relatively polite, so Ganwu Kingdom Master could only smile helplessly.
Zhang Dong was merely a Cosmic-level junior. Ganwu had brought him to the Virtual Universe for testing on a whim, but Zhang Dong's subsequent performance had been dazzling, earning him a place in the Primordial Realm.
Only then had Ganwu Kingdom Master begun to place high hopes on Zhang Dong.
Venerable Yi Chen, sitting nearby, sneered coldly. "What a foolish choice. I heard Sha Yue say that Zhang Dong had never studied space or even its subordinate laws before. And now he dares to cultivate both Time and Space? Idiotic."
At that, Ganwu Kingdom Master's expression darkened, but he couldn't be bothered to argue.
Among the countless powerful figures in the universe, there were very few who could cultivate both Time and Space. A few of humanity's truly supreme beings had managed it. They were brilliant talents who had quickly become Universe Masters.
Zhang Dong couldn't compare to Ke Di or Erosion Fire Venerable. There was no point arguing. They could wait and see after his thirty years in Chaos City. Ganwu Kingdom Master wasn't all that pessimistic.
What if Zhang Dong really could work a miracle? Cultivating both Time and Space at once meant that even if his comprehension of Space lagged behind, his strength would far surpass that of others at the same level.
Zhang Dong was aware of the rumors circulating outside, but he didn't care what others said. Whether they believed in him or not had nothing to do with him.
Before Luo Feng became Chaos City Lord's disciple, some of humanity's higher-ups had disliked him, thinking him too brutal.
Later, when Luo Feng became the Galaxy Lord, even the Universe Strongest, did that Cosmic Venerable necessarily change his mind?
Perhaps he had simply stopped daring to say it out loud.
Why care so much? The universe was vast, and strength reigned supreme. As long as Zhang Dong became strong enough, others wouldn't dare speak carelessly about him.
Zhang Dong immersed himself in seclusion at his residence, studying the first volume of the secret art Universe and occasionally searching for traces related to the laws of space.
That was one of the advantages of living in Chaos City.
Many traces had been casually left behind by King-level Immortals and even Cosmic Venerables, and they contained countless mysteries.
In his first year in Chaos City, Zhang Dong, as a member of the Primordial Realm, chose a Marquis-level Immortal to serve as his long-term teacher.
He had originally submitted a request for an Immortal skilled in both the laws of space and the laws of time, and from the Universe Chaos Stele's lineage.
But the Virtual Universe Company couldn't find a Marquis-level Immortal like that.
Seriously, someone skilled in both the laws of space and the laws of time would still be a Marquis-level Immortal?
There were Immortal Gods in the Universe Chaos Stele's lineage who cultivated both Time and Space, but they were all Kings—Peak Kings, or even at the limit of King Rank, bordering on invincibility.
In the end, the Virtual Universe Company sent him a Marquis skilled in the laws of space. His name was Luo Jin, and he would guide Zhang Dong regularly in the Virtual Universe. If Zhang Dong passed the next Qualification Battle, Luo Jin would move into his manor.
At first, Zhang Dong often went to Luo Jin for advice.
When Luo Jin had first arrived, he had also thought Zhang Dong was overestimating himself and wasting his time by choosing to cultivate Space and Time at once.
But after guiding him several times, Luo Jin realized that Zhang Dong seemed to have a talent for Space as well. He was progressing quickly.
Pole True Intent was a great help in cultivation. Though the fundamental rules of the two Source Worlds differed, the general direction remained the same.
The mysteries of the laws lay in studying the most fundamental rules underlying all things.
Pole True Intent, meanwhile, concerned the balance of all things, so it offered some help with both Time and Space.
In the Virtual Universe, inside Zhang Dong's manor.
"You've been in Chaos City for a long time. Why haven't you challenged the Heavenly Bridge? You have to pass the third level to qualify for the lectures." Luo Jin hadn't planned to bring it up, but he belonged to the Universe Chaos Stele's lineage and had naturally heard the rumors.
Everyone knew Zhang Dong was capable of passing the third level.
But he had to actually pass it to qualify for the classes taught by King-level Immortals.
Zhang Dong had been in Chaos City for almost twenty years, yet he hadn't challenged the Heavenly Bridge even once. He wasn't qualified to attend the lectures.
There was no point in shutting oneself away to cultivate. Without testing yourself in battle, how could you know what needed work?
"Teacher, I have my own pace and plans," Zhang Dong replied calmly. "Before I leave, I'll challenge the Heavenly Bridge once."
Newcomers who challenged the Heavenly Bridge soon after arriving in Chaos City earned ten times the points.
It wasn't that Zhang Dong didn't want to attend the lectures. Who would turn down guidance when they could get it? But there was a serious issue: usually, attending someone's lecture for the first time meant you wanted to become their disciple.
He could attend a lecture and then refuse to become the lecturer's disciple, but that would be somewhat disrespectful. Even if Zhang Dong didn't care, his teacher, the Thirteenth Divine General, was still operating within the Virtual Universe Company's sphere of influence.
"With my potential as a First-Class True Intent transcendent, and my ability to visit the Boundary Heart Continent, becoming a World God will be quick for me," Zhang Dong thought. His reasoning was simple: a King-level Immortal wasn't worthy of becoming his master.
In the Tianyu Universe, Qing Jun had become a First-Heaven World God faster than anyone else, in just three hundred years.
Even if Zhang Dong only visited the Boundary Heart Continent occasionally, he was confident he could become a World God within a few years. There was no point in taking a King-level Immortal as his master.
Luo Jin was different from a true master; he was simply a teacher assigned by the Virtual Universe Company.
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