Bafen smiled at Barbarian Hammer King. "Barbarian Hammer King! Congratulations on passing the twentieth layer of Sky Bridge. From now on, our Human Race has another Peak King!"
Barbarian Hammer King grinned and replied happily, "After nearly a hundred million years of cultivation, I've finally broken through. By the way, Bafen, I remember you used to notify my old friends every time I tried Sky Bridge. How come none of them came to watch this time?"
Bafen smiled awkwardly. "I forgot just now, but after you passed, I sent them a message. I imagine they know by now!"
At the same time, he grumbled inwardly, Who knew you'd actually pass this time? You've been coming every so often to try Sky Bridge, using its Gatekeepers as sparring partners. You failed to pass the twentieth layer dozens of times in a row. How could I bring myself to email those Marquis-level Immortals again?
Thinking of this, Bafen tried to change the subject. He turned to Gulanxiu and said, "Kid! The Giant Axe Sky Bridge is free now. You can go try it!"
Only then did Barbarian Hammer King notice Gulanxiu standing nearby. He asked Bafen, "Who's this?"
Gulanxiu hurried forward and bowed. "Gulanxiu, a member of the Fourth Secret Realm of the Axe Fighting Arena, pays his respects to Lord Barbarian Hammer King!"
Barbarian Hammer King nodded. "So you're one of the youngsters from my Axe Fighting Arena! What layer of Sky Bridge have you reached?"
Gulanxiu replied sheepishly, "I passed the first layer just ten years ago."
Bafen added a reminder. "This kid only joined the Axe Fighting Arena ten years ago. He's been cultivating in Chaos City for ten years, and this is his second attempt at Sky Bridge."
Barbarian Hammer King nodded. "Kid, I'm in a good mood today. Since fate brought us together here on the Sky Bridge Plane, how about this: if you pass the third layer today, you can become my disciple. You should know I've never taken a disciple. If you join my school, you'll be my first and eldest disciple!"
Gulanxiu hurriedly nodded, excitement in his voice. "Thank you, Lord Barbarian Hammer King! I'll give it everything I've got."
It was only natural for Gulanxiu to be excited. Although passing the third layer of Sky Bridge meant one could become the disciple of a grandmaster in Chaos City, the grandmaster still had to accept you. After all, becoming master and disciple was a mutual choice.
Gulanxiu didn't know many people in Chaos City, and he wasn't familiar with the temperaments of the various grandmasters. Unlike Luo Feng in the original story, Gulanxiu hadn't shown any particularly impressive abilities, so no grandmaster had extended an offer to him.
So Gulanxiu wasn't sure whether he'd be able to find a master after passing the third layer of Sky Bridge. Normally, after passing the third layer, one had to attend the lectures of the grandmaster one wished to follow. If one's first attempt to become a disciple failed, it would be difficult to try again. After all, if the teacher you wanted wasn't your first choice, why would they give you priority?
Now that a Peak King had taken the initiative to offer Gulanxiu a place, he had to seize the opportunity. After all, any King-level Expert who had passed the eighteenth layer of Sky Bridge qualified as a grandmaster of their faction. Barbarian Hammer King was a Peak King, making him one of the strongest among the grandmasters.
Moreover, Barbarian Hammer King had said he'd never taken a disciple before. If Gulanxiu could become his first, Barbarian Hammer King would treat him differently from his other disciples, both emotionally and in terms of resources.
Thinking of this, determination flashed in Gulanxiu's eyes. He transformed into a streak of Flowing Light and flew toward Sky Bridge. This time, he was determined to pass the third layer of the Giant Axe Sky Bridge.
Just as Gulanxiu entered Sky Bridge, several more people arrived.
They were clearly King-level Experts who knew Barbarian Hammer King well. A middle-aged man with a golden longsword on his back laughed and said to him, "Ha ha! Barbarian Hammer, you're something else! You passed the twentieth layer of Sky Bridge without anyone even noticing!"
Barbarian Hammer King laughed. "I just got there first! Golden Sword, you'll reach this stage sooner or later too!"
Golden Sword King shook his head. "It's not easy to take that step. I've been stuck here for billions of years, and I still haven't broken through. I suppose I've reached the limit of my potential!"
A dragon-man clad in black scale armor stood beside Golden Sword King. He said, "Golden Sword, don't lose heart! The Flame Dragon Venerable who recently broke through in my Universe Mercenary group cultivated for over a trillion eras before becoming a Venerable. The time we've spent cultivating isn't even a fraction of his. As long as we persevere, we'll eventually make further progress!"
Barbarian Hammer King nodded too. "That's right, Black Dragon's right! I've challenged the twentieth layer dozens of times myself. This time, I finally had a breakthrough during the challenge and comprehended Space Seal. That's how I managed to pass the twentieth layer!"
Just then, Bafen spoke up. "Look! That kid's starting his challenge!"
As he spoke, he projected a video of Gulanxiu's challenge into the air.
A handsome man with wings on his back, his whole body bathed in a holy radiance, exclaimed in surprise, "It's that kid!" This was Light Sword King, who had brought Gulanxiu to Chaos City to cultivate ten years earlier.
Hearing Light Sword King, Barbarian Hammer King turned to ask him, "Light Sword, you know this kid?"
Light Sword King nodded. "I was the one who brought him to Chaos City. I wonder how much he's progressed in these ten years!"
On the screen, Gulanxiu had already chosen his opponent. This time, he'd chosen a Warrior again.
Gulanxiu struck first. As soon as the battle began, he charged forward and swung an axe at the Gatekeeper!
The Gatekeeper also wielded a giant axe and charged at Gulanxiu.
But Gulanxiu was clearly the stronger of the two. He sent the Gatekeeper flying with a single axe blow.
Then Gulanxiu pressed his advantage, following up with two more axe strikes. The Gatekeeper barely blocked the first, but the second cut him in half at the waist.
Seeing this, Golden Sword King said, "The kid passed the second layer so easily. Looks like the third won't be a problem!"
Bafen nodded. "Based on the strength he's shown so far, it certainly seems that way! Congratulations, Barbarian Hammer!"
Barbarian Hammer King nodded. "I only said it on a whim. I didn't expect the kid would really pass."
Bafen smiled. "What? Are you going to go back on your word?"
Barbarian Hammer King shook his head. "Meeting me was his good fortune. Passing the challenge means he seized the opportunity. Of course I won't go back on my word!"
Black Dragon King hurriedly asked, "What's this? Is there some story here that we don't know?"
Barbarian Hammer King replied, "Nothing much. I just promised the kid I'd take him as my disciple if he passed the third layer."
Light Sword King chimed in, "That kid really is lucky! If I remember right, this is your first time taking a disciple!"
Before you continue