Chapter 94: Factions!
Seeing Jiang Zhe effortlessly pass the third level, even the three critical King-level beings couldn't help but nod in approval.
"He should have no problem clearing the fourth level," said Flame Prison King, unable to hide his curiosity. "As for the fifth… that depends on his grasp and application of space laws."
King Chongpo nodded in agreement. "The Beast God's Hand and the Misleading Shadow Shuttle are both weapons focused primarily on time-based laws, which limits his use and comprehension of space laws. He's facing a dilemma now—he needs a new weapon that better matches his understanding of laws. That also means learning an entirely new set of secret techniques, which is no small task."
King Chongpo frowned. "In the next thirty years, he not only has to comprehend fundamental laws but also train new techniques to maintain his combat power. It won't be easy."
"That's a minor issue. I'll take care of all that," said the calm and poised Holy Spirit King with a faint smile. "At first, I agreed to mentor him only as a favor to someone. But now, I think he might truly be the one to inherit my legacy."
Flame Prison King and King Chongpo fell silent.
Because what Holy Spirit King said wasn't unreasonable—it was mostly true.
If the compatibility between Flame Prison King and Jiang Zhe was about 40%, and King Chongpo—who excelled in earth and space laws—had a 50% match, then Holy Spirit King's compatibility with Jiang Zhe reached a terrifying 80% to 95%.
They both started with lightning and space-time as entry points, deeply exploring the Cosmic Chaos Monument. It was like they had been carved from the same mold.
This disciple… was practically made for him.
On the Bridge to the Heavens, every three levels mark a new threshold.
Starting from the fourth level, the mist disappears, replaced by knife-like gales that rage across the bridge.
Jiang Zhe plunged into the gray storm, reaching the end of the fourth level.
There, a swirling tornado waited, echoing a voice asking him to select an opponent—just like in the first three levels.
"A Controller," Jiang Zhe chose again—the hardest difficulty.
From the tornado emerged a silver-armored figure, wearing the same silver mask, equipped with the Beast God's Hand on the left arm and stepping on the Misleading Shadow Shuttle.
"A universe-level warrior making it here on his first attempt—you're impressive enough to be remembered among humanity's elite," the silver-armored figure said.
"But this is where it ends."
With a wave of his hand, 3,000 fine needles shot out from the Beast God's Hand, floating in mid-air in a precise formation. Dark purple threads wove between them, forming a colossal construct.
Jiang Zhe furrowed his brow—he immediately recognized the move.
Fourth Form of the Beast God's Hand: "Destructive Grinding Mill" (毁娑大磨)!
"This is the best move to combine insights from both time and space laws," Jiang Zhe said with a smile. He raised his own arm, and 3,000 needles shot out as well, forming the same construct.
"What a coincidence—this is my best move too. And yes, I've fused both space and time law comprehension into it."
Under Jiang Zhe's control, the fine needles connected to form a ten-meter-wide rotating millstone, with two grinding disks rotating in opposite directions—like a yin-yang symbol in motion.
The move was terrifying.
Not only did it mirror the imagery of the Cosmic Chaos Monument (yin-yang, whirlpools, and black holes), but its sheer destructive force could cause massive tsunamis if unleashed on Earth's oceans.
The turning millstones distorted time and space, making it nearly impossible to leave phantom afterimages or escape.
The enemy tried to control their millstone to bypass Jiang Zhe's and strike directly—but every time, Jiang Zhe's own attack would intercept with perfect precision.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
After three heavy collisions, the opponent's threads began snapping. Their construct was falling apart.
"Your consciousness isn't as strong as mine. Your law comprehension isn't either. What do you have to block me with?"
Jiang Zhe roared, seizing the moment. His millstone crashed into the opponent's weakened construct, shattering it. The needles scattered, and Jiang Zhe's weapon plowed forward, crushing the enemy's body.
Fourth level—cleared!
At the fifth level, the storm grew even fiercer. Jiang Zhe could no longer see the ocean below. At the end of the bridge, the same tornado awaited his choice.
"Controller."
Out came a familiar opponent, equipped like him, belonging to the same combat style.
No words were exchanged—just action.
3,000 needles from each side formed two massive grinding mills, colliding mid-air.
Don't mistake it for repetition—this move corresponded with the fifth tier of divine weaponry: Spatial Severance.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
After five intense collisions, Jiang Zhe once again outmatched his enemy—crushing their mill and body with ease.
Fifth level—cleared!
At the sixth level, the tornado waited again.
Jiang Zhe made his choice—"Controller."
The opponent emerged.
"To reach this level on your first attempt as a universe-level warrior... impressive. In nearly 10 million years, no member recruited in the genius wars has ever passed this sixth level before leaving Chaos City. You may be the first."
"But I still only use one move—'Destructive Grinding Mill'. Defeat me, and a new world will open to you."
"Please, show me," Jiang Zhe said.
Boom!
Two grinding mills collided once more.
This opponent was different. The speed, the pathing, the subtle space-time interference—everything was refined.
But Jiang Zhe remained unshaken.
The sixth level required a mastery of 36 fundamental law insights.
Jiang Zhe, on the other hand, had gone beyond that—he delved into the essence of the laws.
He had mastered 21 time-law insights and 13 space-law insights—far exceeding the famed Luo Feng at the same stage.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Three successive clashes—every attempt to flank or misdirect failed.
"Give it up! Within a 700-meter radius around me, I have absolute control over time and space!"
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Nine more failed attempts. Finally, the enemy tried a full-frontal assault.
But Jiang Zhe's consciousness, insight, and mastery over laws easily overpowered them.
Their grinding mill slowed, then was shattered by Jiang Zhe's counterstrike.
Seizing the opportunity, Jiang Zhe teleported to the opponent's location using his Misleading Shadow Shuttle.
Within his controlled domain, he crushed all the illusions and destroyed the enemy's true body.
Sixth level—cleared!
At the seventh level, the surroundings changed into a dreamlike starry sky.
At the end of the bridge, a floating meteor shattered, revealing a new opponent.
"Controller," Jiang Zhe said once more.
A blue-armored figure stepped forward, wearing the same mask and gear.
"For someone at the universe level, reaching this place is truly impressive. But this is your limit."
"Watch carefully—I will show you the secrets of the world!"
The world? Jiang Zhe's heart tightened.
He launched his "Destructive Grinding Mill," preparing for the worst.
In an instant, the bridge, the stars—everything—vanished. All that remained was a bleak world of scorched earth, black clouds, and dancing lightning.
"This… this is the 'End World'..."
It was the fifth and most advanced form of the Beast God's Hand, representing the sixth tier of divine weaponry: Self-Created World.
Even with top-tier stats, no universe-level warrior could maintain this for more than a few seconds—much less wield it in combat.
One would need to understand at least some of the 72 advanced law insights to do so.
Jiang Zhe tried to hold on, but within seconds, his grinding mill shattered, and lightning pierced his skull.
As consciousness faded, he heard the opponent say:
"You should consider switching to a weapon that better suits your law comprehension."
Jiang Zhe—defeated at the seventh level.
The moment he failed, the three King-level beings exited the virtual universe. The overseer, Baffin, didn't even get to greet them.
"Tsk tsk... what a freak of nature. Time to share this news—let everyone see what real power looks like."
He sent an email to all participants of the Genius War, followed by a different version with video footage to all King-level and higher beings.
As was his duty as the overseer of the Bridge to the Heavens.
Jiang Zhe's peers were initially stunned by his performance… but then simply became numb.
The difference was just too vast.
They even began to accept that "Anything Thunder Emperor (雷帝) does is just natural."
It became a kind of blind reverence.
In Estate #115 of the Original District, Berran was meditating, reflecting on his own experience after failing at the third level.
"He reached the sixth level?"
His cold face finally revealed emotion. Thinking about his own defeat, his gaze dimmed.
After a long silence, he unclenched his fists.
"So my talent isn't as extraordinary as my master said. But I won't give up. I won't be beneath you forever!"
Berran, hailed as a once-in-ten-thousand-eras genius, didn't earn the title for nothing. His talent was top-tier, but so was his mindset.
He hadn't been the reigning champion—only a challenger. So the defeat didn't crush him.
He just got started.
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