Seeing how tense everyone was, the silver-robed man smiled. "All right, carry on chatting. I won't disturb you. I'll gather those youngsters in a while and announce the detailed rules for the grand finals."
With that, he turned and left Restaurant No. 1, vanishing into thin air at the doorway. Only after he had completely disappeared did the Immortals in the restaurant relax. That brief encounter had exposed them to the terrifying pressure of a Universe Venerable, and their backs were already soaked with cold sweat.
"To think it was Vast Firmament Venerable," an Immortal in blue battle robes said, his face filled with shock.
"I hear Vast Firmament Venerable is the disciple of a great being. He became a Space Venerable in just a million years. Back when he competed in the Genius Battle, he was every bit as dazzling as Zhou Yuan is now," another Immortal added.
"So what if he's talented? Becoming a powerhouse is hardly easy." An elderly-looking Immortal shook his head. "The road to becoming an Immortal is strewn with thorns. One careless misstep can cost you your life and end your cultivation, let alone attaining the rank of Venerable, which is hundreds of millions of times harder."
These Immortals were among the strongest fighters in their respective Universe Countries, trusted aides serving under their Universe Country Lords. Yet before a Universe Venerable, they could not muster even the slightest thought of resistance.
The gulf between a Venerable and an Immortal had long since surpassed anything sheer numbers could bridge. It was a fundamental difference in their levels of existence.
Time slipped quietly by, and evening soon arrived. The silver-robed man came to the Central Plaza and hovered above it. His figure seemed to blend into the surrounding space; without looking closely, no one could