The Universe Artifact-Refining Tournament, which involved every Immortal God in the Human Race, was still in full swing.
Since all the "contestants" were powerhouses with eternal lifespans, it naturally could not end in just a few years like the Peak Genius Tournament. Its timescale was far longer.
Under the race's plan, this "tournament" would run for the long term, with dedicated King-level Immortals managing it in every Universe Country.
The race had even dispatched a High Universe Venerable to oversee the entire undertaking and recruit all the talented Immortal Gods.
That Universe Venerable was none other than another disciple of the Lord of Void Gold: Shi Huo Venerable, once hailed as a peerless human genius seen only once in ten million eras.
More than four eras after this grand Universe Artifact-Refining Tournament began, Li Che met this Universe Venerable amid the stars of the Mother Ancestor Universe Country.
"It's been four eras, Senior Brother Shi Huo. How has the harvest been?"
This was Li Che's first time meeting Shi Huo Venerable in person. His divine body was perpetually shrouded in his signature black flames, which seemed to be a means of specifically attacking the soul.
Li Che sensed that Shi Huo Venerable was not far from becoming a Universe Overlord. This former once-in-ten-million-eras genius had already created a Universe Venerable Ultimate Secret Technique. Only his amplification multiplier was still somewhat lacking, and his gene level had yet to reach the hundredfold limit for species capable of reproduction.
"Since I was born, the race has never held such a large-scale selection for Immortal Gods. There have been quite a few pleasant surprises."
Although Shi Huo Venerable was not very familiar with Li Che, his youngest junior brother, he treated him warmly and drew him over to look through the data together.