An epiphany?

All those clashing thoughts, weighed choices, and even the final advance had been completed in a single instant within the consciousness of an Immortal God capable of processing hundreds of millions of thoughts.

Yet the complete absorption and integration of the vast law comprehension that followed still required a little time.

Thus, to Lord Kandri-the white-robed, three-eyed elder who guarded the Chaos Stele and had witnessed the rise of countless geniuses-

Hu Yanbo had simply emerged from the Bronze Gate and stopped in place, as though sinking into some profound meditative state. He stood there for several minutes.

"An epiphany?" Kandri wondered with some curiosity.

His knowledge and experience were vast, and he knew full well what an epiphany meant to the countless living beings of the universe.

It was not a state one could reach merely by piling up resources or cultivating diligently. Rather, once law comprehension had accumulated to a certain degree, it was a profound resonance with the universe origin-something that could be encountered, but never forced!

Every epiphany meant a leap in understanding the essence of laws, a tremendous opportunity countless powerful beings dreamed of yet could never obtain.

Just then, an Immortal God approached from nearby, heading straight toward the Bronze Gate engraved with "Nine Universes," where Hu Yanbo stood.

He was just about to speak to Kandri.

But Kandri's three eyes abruptly narrowed, and he did not even turn to glance at him.

An invisible force of space law descended silently, instantly sealing off the space around the Immortal God. Not only was his voice completely cut off, but his body was also fixed in place, unable to move in the slightest. Only his eyes betrayed his shock and bewilderment.

Hu Yanbo's tightly closed eyes suddenly opened. Countless spatial rifts seemed to form and vanish within them, while his aura climbed steadily!

At the same time, the surrounding cosmic energy seemed to be drawn by some absolute will. It formed a vortex visible to the naked eye and surged madly into his divine body.

The sight made Kandri, who stood guard beside him, click his tongue in wonder.

He had guarded the Chaos Stele for endless ages and seen as many geniuses as grains of sand in a river, yet he had never witnessed anything so strange.

Normally, anyone who studied a Chaos Stele gained a wealth of law comprehension that required time to settle, digest, and absorb.

It was a gradual process requiring patient effort, never something that could be accomplished in one stroke.

Yet this young fellow before him had gained an entirely new understanding of the laws within mere moments of leaving the chamber!

Moreover, it had directly stirred his life origin, causing his divine body to undergo a violent, rapid transformation of its own accord, like a savage beast that had starved for hundreds of millions of years!

Feeling the divine power coursing through him and the energy pouring in madly from outside, Hu Yanbo realized he was causing too much of a disturbance.

With a thought, his powerful will instantly took control of his divine body, and only then did the frenzied influx of energy gradually diminish.

Hu Yanbo immediately turned toward the guardian, Kandri, and bowed respectfully. "I just experienced an epiphany. Thank you for standing guard over me, Lord Kandri."

Kandri waved it off. His three eyes shone with curiosity and appreciation as he asked, "Think nothing of it. Fine young fellow, what is your name? If I remember correctly, it has only been six hundred years since you first came to study this Nine Universes Chaos Stele, hasn't it?"

As a Universe Venerable, Kandri possessed an extraordinarily vast memory. The aura, appearance, and visiting times of anyone who had ever studied this Chaos Stele were all available to him with a single thought. He could not possibly be mistaken.

"My name is Hu Yanbo," Hu Yanbo replied respectfully.

"Hu Yanbo! I'll remember that." Kandri nodded, a rare hint of scrutiny in his three eyes.

For Kandri, a Universe Venerable, to take the initiative to ask someone's name was itself an exceptionally high form of recognition.

He had presided over the Chaos Stele for endless ages and seen an unending stream of geniuses. To him, most were merely fleeting visitors, worth no more than a vague impression.

His memory was indeed vast, but he had no interest in remembering the name of every person who came to study the stele.

After all, checking authorization and opening the chamber only required verifying their aura and achievements on the Heavenly Bridge. Their names were irrelevant.

Only those truly extraordinary youngsters who displayed unimaginable potential could draw his attention, pique his interest, and prompt him to ask their names.

Clearly, Hu Yanbo was one of them.

"Gaining insights after studying a Chaos Stele is commonplace, but to make two successive breakthroughs in a mere six hundred years, as you have! I've never heard of such a thing," Kandri praised him freely.

"You really are... an exceptionally good match for this Nine Universes Chaos Stele!"

"You flatter me, senior. I was merely fortunate enough to gain some insight." Hu Yanbo bowed slightly, his tone humble.

Just then, the Immortal God beside them, whom Kandri had restrained with Space Lockdown, finally regained his freedom.

The moment his restraints were lifted, he did not even have time to greet Kandri before his gaze locked onto Hu Yanbo. His face filled with incredulous shock, and he cried out involuntarily:

"What?! Hu Yanbo... you-you've broken through again?!"

This Immortal God was none other than Marquis Yan Chen-the High-level Marquis Immortal from the Virtual Universe Company's Primal Secret Region who had felt jealous when the various factions competed to recruit Hu Yanbo.

He had cultivated diligently in Chaos City for tens of thousands of years. He had come this time to use his last precious opportunity to study the Chaos Stele before leaving, hoping to find even the faintest chance of a breakthrough.

Never had he imagined he would witness such a scene!

Three hundred years ago, Hu Yanbo had broken through to High-level Marquis, prompting the five great factions to vie for him.

Now, after a mere three hundred years, he had made another breakthrough.

As Marquis Yan Chen sensed Hu Yanbo's divine body still slowly absorbing energy, he thought of his own tens of thousands of years of arduous cultivation without making the slightest progress. An indescribable bitterness and envy instantly welled up within him, nearly drowning him.

Kandri took it all in. A knowing smile flickered in his three eyes, but he said nothing.

He had seen far too many geniuses like Marquis Yan Chen who hailed from the Core Secret Realm.

Their talent was indeed outstanding, but growing up in privileged surroundings and receiving constant attention had also fostered immense pride. They often acknowledged only their core peers of equal standing, while deep down, they harbored a subtle disdain for powerful beings from outside who had fought their way to prominence through their own efforts.

Now, seeing Hu Yanbo, whom he regarded as an "outsider," make successive breakthroughs at such an inconceivable pace rendered his own tens of thousands of years of arduous cultivation pale by comparison. The shock and blow of having his assumptions utterly overturned were naturally devastating.

At his words, Hu Yanbo merely smiled and offered no further explanation. He humbly cupped his hands toward Kandri once more. "I shall take my leave, senior."

Kandri's smile deepened. He looked at Hu Yanbo and nodded, his casual tone carrying a rare note of expectation. "Go on. Cultivate well. When you break through to King Rank someday, I'll treat you to a drink."

At those words, Marquis Yan Chen's eyes widened sharply. He could scarcely believe his ears, and indescribable bitterness instantly filled his heart!

He had grown up in the Primal Secret Region since the Genius Battle and had known Lord Kandri for countless years, yet he had never seen this exalted guardian take the initiative to promise any genius a drink!

Even if it had happened, surely only those few prodigies who had been the most dazzling talents in the Primal Secret Region back then, and had ultimately reached King Rank or beyond, could have received such an honor!

Could it be that, in Lord Kandri's eyes, Hu Yanbo... already possessed the potential to stand alongside those prodigies?!