"Mad. He's mad."
"Galaxy has to be mad."
Once the news was confirmed, countless people were stunned.
Evil Eye had ruled the Canglan Domain for ages. In all that time, only two people had challenged him. He killed one on the spot; the other became his most loyal subordinate. Through the countless eras since, no one else had dared challenge his might.
No one knew whether Evil Eye had grown stronger during those years without a fight. They only knew he was fearsomely powerful, a single step from Saint Transformation.
Now, after untold eras, someone had finally dared challenge him again.
They had little faith in Galaxy's strength, but everyone wanted to see Evil Eye fight. Even if Galaxy lasted only a few moves, he would have served a purpose.
They looked forward to the battle, though they had their doubts.
"Galaxy dared challenge the City Lord? Could he really be that strong?"
"He's too arrogant. Does he think he's invincible?"
"Where did this Galaxy come from? I've never seen the City Lord fight, but I've seen Brand, who ranks fifth on the Azure Rankings. He's grasped the mysteries of the Fire Origin. He could probably burn even the Barbarian, with all his famed defenses, to nothing. Yet Brand is only fifth. How strong must the top-ranked fighter be?"
"Even if Galaxy beat us easily, he can't compare with the City Lord. The gulf between Eternal True Gods can be enormous. However strong he is, he can't be stronger than the City Lord. The City Lord is surely invincible below the Saint Realm. Even the master of the Celestial Star Pavilion, who ranks second on the Azure Rankings, is nowhere near his match, let alone Galaxy."
"Galaxy's asking to die. Still, I'd like to see them fight."
"Galaxy has won a hundred straight. They were only low-level victories, but that's enough to meet the rules for challenging the City Lord. The City Lord has to accept."
"Come on, let's guess which move will kill Galaxy. I say he won't survive the first."
"..."
News of Luo Feng's challenge spread through the circles of Eternal True Gods, Void True Gods, and True Gods. People gathered in small groups within the virtual space to discuss it. Not one of them favored Luo Feng. They saw no reason to.
Each of the top five on the Azure Rankings was a renowned powerhouse, yet the City Lord could all but disregard them. He had grown so strong that no one dared challenge him lightly. Either of his two challengers from years past would rank in the top five today. Yet one had been killed with ease, while the other had been beaten into submission and made a subordinate.
To them, Galaxy's challenge was nothing more than an ant trying to shake a tree.
Celestial Star Pavilion.
As the foremost of Azure City's eight great powers, it occupied a prime site second only to the City Lord's Residence.
At that moment, the pavilion master was teaching his disciples in a vast training ground.
"That will be all for today. Go back and study what you've learned. You can bring me your questions next time." Zhan Tianxing's rich voice was gentle.
"Thank you, Teacher!"
The disciples filed out, leaving only Zhan Tianxing and his servant on the platform.
Zhan Tianxing looked more human than most, with strikingly handsome features. A crown of iridescent feathers rose from his head, and a pair of enormous white wings spread from his back like an angel's.
"Galaxy? A human?" Zhan Tianxing murmured. He, too, had heard that the human Galaxy had challenged Evil Eye.
"Uncle Lu, what do we know about this human Galaxy who's appeared out of nowhere? Anything detailed?" Zhan Tianxing rose and turned to the servant beside him, who also appeared human.
"Young master, this old servant has heard of some of his recent deeds and had people investigate," Uncle Lu replied respectfully. "We've learned a little. Galaxy arrived in Azure City not long ago. There's no record of him before that, and we still don't know where he came from or who he is."
Zhan Tianxing nodded. "Do we know where he is now? I want to meet him."
"Young master, you want to go to him? I can bring him here," Uncle Lu said quickly.
Zhan Tianxing smiled. "If he loses his challenge against Evil Eye, he dies. Do you think someone willing to take that risk has no ability?"
"I'll have someone confirm his location and let you know, young master," Uncle Lu said.
At the same time, the other top-five fighters on the Azure Rankings learned of the challenge.
"Someone nobody's heard of dares challenge Evil Eye? Interesting." The Azure Nether Demon Lord grinned.
"The human Galaxy challenged Evil Eye?"
The Blood Witch Lord and Fire Man Brand had also received the news. "Find out where this human came from."
The news spread swiftly across Azure City and then out through the Azure Domain.
The Azure Domain spanned more than ten billion light-years. Besides Azure City, it held several other major cities. Their city lords were nearly as powerful as Evil Eye, and some were even stronger than Zhan Tianxing. They had long coveted Evil Eye's position and would challenge him if they ever gained the strength.
For those ancient city lords, any challenge to Evil Eye was a major event.
Jing City was the Azure Domain's greatest city after Azure City. It was named for the powerhouse who ruled it: City Lord Jing.
City Lord Jing possessed extraordinary strength. He was said to stand at the peak of the eighth tier of Eternal True Gods—the Eternal True God Pinnacle. Apart from those with one foot in the Saint Realm and those with exceptional skill in illusions or Soul Attacks, few could make him wary.
At Jing City's heart stood the residence where he cultivated.
Inside one of its chambers, Jing, who had spent years in cultivation, opened his eyes. He had heard the news earlier.
"My will broke through soon after I heard about the challenge. That human Galaxy is my lucky star."
Jing was an enormous Special Lifeform with two arms, four legs, a massive body, and a head shaped like a mountain. Rumor put the size of his divine body at hundreds of millions of kilometers.
My will has reached Saint Transformation. I no longer need to fear Evil Eye. Exhilaration surged through Jing.
He had never dared challenge Evil Eye because his will had remained at the Eternal True God Pinnacle. Even with a Void Level soul Supreme Treasure, he knew he could not withstand Evil Eye's fourth eye, backed by Saint level willpower. A challenge would end in death or enslavement.
Now that his will had reached Saint Transformation, he had some confidence.
In close combat, he believed he was Evil Eye's equal, perhaps even his superior. His weakness had always been his soul and will. Against someone like Evil Eye, whose powerful Innate Secret Technique targeted the soul, he had lacked the courage to fight.
Both his soul and his will had been weaknesses.
My will was already at its limit. It only needed a push. Who would have thought this human Galaxy would provide it? If you die in your challenge, I, Jing, will avenge you. City Lord Jing knew how terrifying Evil Eye was and held little hope for Luo Feng. He himself had gained the confidence to face Evil Eye only after his will reached Saint Transformation.
The other major cities gradually learned of the human Galaxy's challenge as well. Before long, word had spread through nearly every circle of powerful beings in the Azure Domain.
"Find out who this human is, and keep watch on Evil Eye."
Galaxy had appeared without warning, with no one having heard of him before, yet he had challenged Evil Eye outright. They wanted to know where Luo Feng had come from—and they intended to watch the battle.
Azure City.
Inside a great hall of the City Lord's Residence, a humanoid figure in blood-colored armor sat upon a throne nine kilometers high. Black currents like dark fur seeped from beneath his gold-and-crimson armor, carrying an eerie aura.
Those strange black currents completely hid his head.
It was Evil Eye.
"The human Galaxy wants to challenge me?" Evil Eye remained utterly at ease. He had been challenged before; his challengers had either died or been enslaved. "My true body is away on a mission, though. It'll take about an era to return. I hope you're worth shaping. Otherwise, you'll die. You dared provoke me, after all."
Evil Eye soon accepted Galaxy's challenge. Because his true body was away on a mission, the battle would be arranged after an era.
Word of his acceptance reached Luo Feng at once.
"After an era?" Luo Feng raised his brows slightly, then laughed. Time was what he needed most. For him, one era meant more than ten thousand eras. His strength might rise further in that span.
Soon, the City Lord's Residence announced that Evil Eye had accepted the challenge. His true body was currently away on a mission, however, so the battle would be held ten thousand years later.