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The rooftop of his residence.

Li Dui looked over the words Lian Luo had left behind.

Lian Luo truly lived up to his reputation as a genius. He had come up with a novel idea: using 108 sets of sword techniques to analyze the 108 mysteries at the heart of the Law of Space.

The first three diagrams of the Giant Axe Chaos Stele summarized the fundamentals of the Law of Space in three secret techniques. They also explained how to combine it with the lower laws of the space element to achieve even greater power.

By comprehending the first diagram and mastering its secret technique, one could defeat the fourth-layer Gatekeeper on the Heavenly Bridge, provided one had grasped the fundamentals of the law to the third layer.

By comprehending the second diagram and mastering its secret technique, one could defeat the seventh-layer Gatekeeper on the Heavenly Bridge, provided one had grasped the fundamentals of the law to the sixth layer.

By comprehending the third diagram and mastering its secret technique, one could defeat the tenth-layer Gatekeeper on the Heavenly Bridge, provided one had grasped the fundamentals of the law to the ninth layer.

The fourth through sixth diagrams probably described the path of combining laws.

He looked at the words Lian Luo had left behind.

At first, Li Dui had estimated that it would take him several years to comprehend the first set of sword techniques.

But now, because his comprehension speed had increased, he might need only a tenth of that time.

I seem to be a lot faster than Luo Feng. Li Dui mused.

Since coming to this world, he had understood that Luo Feng was its protagonist. The protagonist had as many responsibilities as he had opportunities.

Li Dui had never intended to compete with Luo Feng for opportunities. Besides, by this point in time, Luo Feng had already grown powerful. It wasn't as if Li Dui could take things from him just because he wanted to.

Li Dui figured that Luo Feng was most likely claiming the Star Tower around now. In other words, he was already the famous Blade River King, while Li Dui was still a nobody who had just reached Universe Rank.

Still, since he had come to this world, and had a big shot like Hula Hoop with him, Li Dui couldn't help wanting to measure himself against Luo Feng.

It's fine if I just compare myself to him in my own mind, right? At least when it comes to comprehending the first sword of Drifting Blood, I'm definitely going to win. He remembered Luo Feng taking about ten years to achieve that. As for him, counting the time he had already spent, it shouldn't take more than a year to reach that goal.

Of course, that didn't mean Li Dui was stronger than Luo Feng. Luo Feng had risen from humble beginnings, continually transforming as he advanced, each step stronger than the last. He was the real deal! Luo Feng had always been one of Li Dui's favorite protagonists.

Luo Feng had his opportunities.

Li Dui had Hula Hoop. No one could say what the future held. At the very least, if he stayed cautious and didn't die, becoming a powerful Immortal and enjoying countless eras of freedom was something he could look forward to.

"So, for the sake of a carefree future, keep working hard, young man." Li Dui shook his head with a smile, encouraging himself.

High above, currents of air swirled as laws manifested.

The black-haired young man on the rooftop suddenly opened his eyes. His gaze was clear, and a strange glint flashed deep in his dark pupils.

At that moment, a voice echoed in his mind.

"Come see me at once." "Come see me at once." "Come see me at once."

A Venerable had arrived.

Li Dui understood. He rose slowly into the air, found his bearings, then shot off in the right direction.

At the same time, figures rose into the air from all across Chaos City, converging toward a certain location.

By the time he reached the gathering point, more than a hundred people had already arrived. Li Dui joined the crowd. Talented youths greeted him now and then.

Nearly twenty-eight years had passed. There were now only ten days left before everyone had to leave Chaos City.

Around his thirteenth year, Li Dui had passed the second layer of the Heavenly Bridge. Before him, only 107 people had passed.

In other words, his ranking for passing the second layer was considerably higher than it had been when he passed the first.

Being the 108th was already an impressive position within the Battle Axe Secret Realm.

Li Dui had, of course, done this on purpose. He couldn't use his true strength to challenge the bridge, lest he shock everyone. But he also needed to show some progress, in case he was ever forced to reveal part of his strength and arouse suspicion.

Now, he was only one step away from earning recognition from the Earth Origin Law. That was the result of deliberately holding himself back.

He really didn't dare seek recognition from an Origin Law while in Chaos City. After all, he was still only at Universe Rank. And he had only thirty years here.

The Law of Space was much more difficult to comprehend than the lower laws. Fortunately, the threshold for earning recognition from an Origin Law was extremely high, leaving Li Dui plenty of room to improve.

As things stood, with only the Earth Origin Law, he already had the strength to reach the seventh layer of the Heavenly Bridge. He even had a good chance of passing the seventh layer and reaching the eighth.

If he used the Origin Law of Space, he was confident he could at least stand at the tenth layer of the Heavenly Bridge.

And if he brought out everything he had learned over the years about combining earth and space, even he couldn't say how far he could get.

He had never seen the Heavenly Bridge beyond the tenth layer, so it was difficult to estimate.

Soon, under the direction of dozens of Immortals, the 877 surviving members of this batch of 1,000 geniuses lined up.

From the Chaos Space above, which alternately shattered and re-formed, a metallic bird more than a thousand meters long flew out. It beat its wings slowly. From within its belly came an imposing aura that made people want to submit.

"Hum."

A hatch more than ten meters tall opened in the bird's belly. Seven or eight figures flew out.

At their head was an exceptionally beautiful woman wearing a black-and-white feathered robe. A crystal rested between her brows, and a pair of wings grew from her back.

"Greetings, Venerable."

Dozens of Immortals bowed in unison.

"Greetings, Venerable." All 877 geniuses bowed respectfully.

"Mm."

Venerable Meng Yu's expression remained unchanged, and her voice was cool.

Her gaze swept over the geniuses below.

Those her eyes passed over felt as though she could see right through them.

Li Dui felt a flicker of nervousness too. Fortunately, as expected, a Venerable couldn't detect Hula Hoop.

"Chaos City is safe enough, yet more than a tenth of you still died. Disappointing."

After a pause, Venerable Meng Yu continued, "Everyone will leave in ten days. If you still have unfinished business, go take care of it now. You may go."

With that, her figure vanished, and no one knew where she had gone.

Even after the Venerable had left, the 877 people below still answered respectfully before going their separate ways.

He split off a thread of consciousness and logged into the Virtual Universe, teleporting straight to the Heavenly Bridge Plane.

It was rare for the square at the center of the island to be so lively. Hundreds of people were gathered in clusters, chatting.

"Li Dui, over here."

A man with a vertical eye between his brows and arms long enough to reach his feet called out.

Li Dui nodded to him. "One moment."

He headed over to Guardian Bafen first.

Bafen smiled. "Li Dui, you're fourth in line for the Giant Axe Heavenly Bridge. There are three people ahead of you."

"All right, Guardian. Sorry for the trouble—please call me when it's my turn."

After Bafen agreed, Li Dui walked over to the three-eyed man with long arms.

The man's call earlier had attracted quite a bit of attention. Li Dui was the 108th person to pass the second layer of the Heavenly Bridge.

At least within the Battle Axe Secret Realm, he was a prominent figure. He had gone from an unremarkable underachiever to one of the top performers in one leap. Many people were very curious about him.