The Power of a Single "Look"

On a certain plane at the Universe Mercenary Alliance headquarters.

Void True King, immersed in quiet cultivation, diverted a sliver of his consciousness to the Virtual Universe communication interface.

As a Peak King and one of the Universe Mercenary Alliance's senior figures, his Virtual Universe inbox never lacked messages. Requests, reports, and invitations poured in like the sands of the Ganges.

Usually, Void True King would send out a strand of divine sense at intervals, sweeping through the accumulated communication requests like a scanner in an instant.

Very few could hold his attention.

Now it was time for his routine review of his messages again.

His divine sense swept across them.

Most inconsequential personal requests, business messages, and even routine reports from his subordinates were filed under "Handle later" or "Delete" after no more than a glimpse of their titles.

He noted and flagged the names of several fellow King Rank experts of similar standing and a few true core figures of the alliance, intending to reply later.

Then there was the subject line of Hu Yanbo's message-"Your junior, Hu Yanbo: I have completed the seventh level of the Void Tower and humbly request your guidance!"

Amid that process, it happened to enter the rapidly shifting awareness of Void True King's divine sense.

"Hmm? Hu Yanbo?" His brow twitched almost imperceptibly as he saw the sender's name. "How long has it been? He's already fully comprehended the seventh level of the Void Tower?"

Even with the steady temperament of a Peak King, he could not help feeling a jolt of shock!

Void True King's first reaction was intense suspicion! An almost instinctive disbelief!

After all, the Void Tower was arguably the crowning achievement of his lifelong work on the soul path!

In particular, the seventh level, "Tower soul returns to truth," was the heart of the entire secret technique's qualitative transformation. It embodied the profound mysteries of a soul defense system changing from a "rigid fortress" into an "agile living entity"!

No one understood better than he did how difficult it was to cultivate!

Every personal disciple he had taught himself had been carefully selected for outstanding soul talent.

Void True King had invested untold time and resources in them, explaining again and again, guiding them, and even giving complete demonstrations...

And the result?

Not one had succeeded!

Even the strongest among them had been just like Hu Yanbo before, stuck at the threshold of the seventh level, unable to enter!

Yet Hu Yanbo, who had come up without formal guidance, had only recently heard a single explanation from him. Thorough as that explanation had been, it had still been just one!

And a few days later, he had popped up to tell him-he had done it?!

For a moment, Void True King's emotions inevitably surged.

He truly could not believe it!

Could this young man be making things up and falsely reporting his progress for some ulterior purpose?

But... That doubt lasted less than one ten-thousandth of an instant before deeper reason suppressed it.

Any Immortal God was perfectly rational, even exceptionally intelligent. None would ever tell such an outrageous, clumsy lie that could be exposed in an instant!

Void True King quickly calmed down.

In that case, I shall personally "look" and see whether this "completion" and "perfection" are real or false! As for a discussion? Void True King reflected inwardly. As an Immortal God, his soul performed a trillion calculations every second.

With a little thought, he saw that Hu Yanbo seemed to have something he wanted to discuss with him.

Only if you can withstand the power of a single look from me will you be qualified to discuss whatever else you have in mind!

With a slight shift of his intent, he instantly sent Hu Yanbo an extremely concise reply through the Virtual Universe System:

"Coordinates: [Virtual Universe · Combat Arena 0524681, password 58...]. Come!"

As the message was sent, Void True King's figure vanished from his meditation chamber and instantly appeared in the center of the vast virtual combat arena he had selected beforehand.

This was a place specifically designed for battles between experts in the laws, and its space was extremely stable.

"I hope... you won't disappoint me." Void True King stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze piercing the void as he awaited his visitor.

He was willing to talk, but only if this young man was not a braggart hoping to curry favor after scraping through by a little cleverness or luck!

If Hu Yanbo could not withstand a test that was "insignificant" in the eyes of a Peak King, then Void True King could only admit that he had misjudged him!

Meanwhile, when Hu Yanbo received the coordinates, half the weight lifted from his heart! It worked! At least he replied!

Without hesitation, he connected with a thought, and his figure instantly appeared in the vast, empty combat arena. He bowed toward the distant figure towering like a divine mountain. "Greetings, Senior Void True King!"

"Mm," Void True King replied evenly. "The seventh level of the Void Tower? Since you claim to have completed it, withstand one sword strike from me."

The instant his words fell, there was not even the slightest warning movement!

Hum-!

A small, transparent sword formed from Void Divine Power condensed to its utmost appeared before Hu Yanbo in an instant, silent yet faster than light!

This strike carried no physical destructive force. It targeted only the soul, the very essence of the soul that constructed his defensive secret technique!

This was the scrutiny of a Peak King soul master!

Casual and effortless, yet heavy as a star!

Hu Yanbo's pupils contracted slightly!

The little sword had already silently "pierced" the seven-story tower Hu Yanbo maintained over every trace of his divine power!

The instant that transparent little sword, containing a sliver of a Peak King's profound mastery of the soul, touched the gray tower's tip, it was like a drop of water merging into an ancient pool, still and unfathomably deep!

It stirred no violent ripples!

Hu Yanbo stood where he was, his aura steady, completely unharmed!

It all happened incredibly quickly. Only an instant passed between Void True King releasing the sword and its disappearance!

For the first time, clear appreciation and understanding appeared in Void True King's calm eyes.

He had already "seen" everything he wanted to see!

"Good! Good! Good!"

He said "good" three times in succession! The calm on Void True King's face shattered completely. "You truly have cultivated the seventh level of the Void Tower to perfection!" His voice carried genuine joy and approval.

Though he had not used his full strength in this Soul Attack, its power was beyond what the soul will of anyone below King Rank could withstand. Even some weaker King Rank experts could not have received it so flawlessly!

Void True King's thoughts raced.

Could some soul treasure have protected him?

That was absolutely impossible as well!

Not only were soul treasures difficult to find, but anyone who possessed one would already have an impregnable soul defense, certainly no weaker than the seventh level of the Void Tower!

Why, then, would he spend three million mixed essence units to ask Void True King to explain the secret technique?

Having ruled out every other possibility, Void True King looked at Hu Yanbo with undisguised admiration. "Hu Yanbo, you are remarkable! To comprehend this realm so thoroughly in such a short time after hearing just one explanation-even my many disciples have never managed that!"

"Tell me, you came all this way for a discussion. Surely you wanted more than simply to share your joy?"