Swallowed Star: The Original Secret Realm

Chapter 238 The celebration begins, and various forces arrive one after another.
In the virtual universe, halfway up Thunder Mountain, in a pavilion in the public area, a dozen figures were drinking and chatting.

"Haha, Lei Ming, the Genius Battle is about to begin. According to the order, it should be your turn to preside, right?" said a cosmic venerable who was nearly eight meters tall, wearing silver battle armor, and had a rhombus-shaped crystal embedded between his eyebrows.

Before he finished speaking, a chorus of envious voices arose from the surrounding area.

"Lei Ming, you're really lucky."

"We wouldn't have the chance to host even if we wanted to."

The Thunderous Venerable, covered in black armor, smiled as he looked around, feeling a surge of joy and satisfaction, secretly rejoicing.

The Genius Battle, hosted by Virtual Universe Corporation, is held once every ten thousand years.

Although, according to the rules of the Virtual Universe Company, the geniuses who grow up in each Genius Battle are all under the command of the Venerable One who presides over the Genius Battle.

However, the probability of producing good talents in most genius battles is very low. Often, not even one champion will emerge in a single session.

This has led to many cosmic venerables being reluctant to preside over the ceremony.

That's how it is with Venerable Thunderclap. Every time it's his turn, he finds someone to take his place, which has resulted in delays until now, when it's finally his turn.

However, unexpectedly, hosting the Genius Battle has now become a hot commodity.

With abundant resources allocated and the guidance of ancient civilizations, the geniuses of the human race grow extremely rapidly, and the probability of breakthroughs is greatly increased.

It can be said that as long as you can enter the Primal Secret Realm, you are guaranteed to break through to Immortality.

As a result, the geniuses selected in the Genius Battle over the past 100,000 years have been highly valued by the various Venerable Ones.

Most importantly, once a genius in a competition is valued by the clan or breaks through to the level of a Universe Venerable, the Venerable who hosted the competition will also receive a large number of clan contribution points.

Just as Venerable Thunder was excitedly chatting and laughing with the other Venerables around him, in a great mood.

A voice suddenly sounded.

"Everyone, I've received some information. The Nine Swords Venerable has suddenly applied to the company to host this year's Genius Battle," said the triangular-headed Niu Zhou Venerable.

"what?"

"The Nine Swords Venerable volunteered?"

"Didn't he just take charge a few hundred thousand years ago? Besides, I remember that the great Time and Space Master was from that generation, and he was looked down upon by the Nine Swords."

"Exactly! How dare he even apply!"

A group of people were discussing it, but no one believed that the Nine Swords Master's application would be approved.

Everyone continued drinking and chatting.

They talked about secret realms, primordial planets, and how a certain cosmic venerable from another faction in their race had exchanged for another supreme treasure.

Ten days or so passed quickly, but for these Venerable Ones whose lives were nearly endless, it was only a moment.

Sitting on the stone bench, Venerable Niu Zhou suddenly shouted, "Everyone, I have received the latest news: Venerable Nine Swords' application has been approved, and the upcoming Genius Battle will be hosted by Venerable Nine Swords."

"Application approved?"

"Nine Swords Master?"

"Niu Zhou, is your information reliable?" Yan Po Luo, whose forehead was inlaid with a prismatic crystal, asked with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Venerable Niu Zhou glared at him, "You still don't believe me?"

Yanpoluo said, "It's not that I don't believe it, it's just that what you're saying is too unrealistic. If it were someone else, how could Lei Ming not know?"

As he spoke, he looked at Venerable Thunder beside him.

However, at this moment, Venerable Lei Ming's face was gloomy, a stark contrast to his smug expression just now.

Seeing this, Yanpoluo quickly asked, "Leiming, is what Niuzhou said true?"

Lei Ming nodded reluctantly, "Everyone, I have other matters to attend to, so I'll be leaving now."

After saying that, he disappeared from the pavilion, clearly indicating that his consciousness had left the virtual universe.

"Lei Ming seems to be angry; he actually left."

"I'm not happy about it either. Why should the Nine Swordsmen be allowed to cut in line when they apply?"

"Logically speaking, the Lord of Chaos City is always fair in his dealings and would not approve such a strange application."

"Niu Zhou, have you found out which lord gave the approval?"

"Lord Zhang Yi, the Master of Time and Space," Venerable Niu Zhou said slowly.

hiss!
As soon as he finished speaking, the entire room fell silent. No one dared to say anything more, nor did anyone want to say anything.

Most of them were thinking to themselves: No wonder Thunder Venerable was rejected and didn't dare to complain at all before leaving. He must already know that it was Lord Time and Space's decision.

As the inheritance of ancient civilizations gradually unfolded, the reputation of Lianbao Group grew in the primordial universe.

These high-level cosmic venerables are all beneficiaries. They each possess at least four or five ordinary supreme treasures, and some of the more fortunate and well-accumulated cosmic rulers even have high-level supreme treasures.

This would have been unimaginable in the past.

Most importantly, their stagnant realm began to gain new insights under the detailed guidance of the ancient civilization, gradually leading them to create secret techniques at the level of cosmic overlords.

It's important to understand that once they create a secret technique at the level of a cosmic overlord, their strength will be at the level of a cosmic overlord.

This filled them with enthusiasm and gave them motivation to cultivate.

According to their understanding, both the inheritance of ancient civilizations and the Lianbao Group are said to be due to the Time and Space Master.

This news also instantly gave Zhang Yi extremely high prestige among the human race.

It can be said that Zhang Yi's status among the core forces of this group of races, the Universe Venerables, is in no way inferior to that of the Giant Axe.

This is also what the Giant Axe and the Chaos City Lord wanted to see.

The foundation upon which humanity rose to power in the cosmic sea was laid by Zhang Yi.

Ten thousand years ago, when the plan to rise to power had just begun.

Giant Axe had already discussed with the Lord of Chaos City that they must subtly let the elders of the clan know about Zhang Yi's contributions.

In the virtual universe, on the mountainside of Thunder Mountain, there is a completely black palace with axe drawings on the walls.

On the throne in the palace, Venerable Thunder appeared, his expression not very good.

Being suddenly replaced would make anyone unhappy.

However, because it was Zhang Yi's decision, he dared not question it, nor did he dare to show any dissatisfaction on the surface.

Whoosh! An email arrived.

He quickly opened the email; it was very brief, containing only one message.

"Respected Venerable Thunder, in view of extending your hosting of the Genius Battle for another term, the Virtual Universe Company will compensate you with 1 Treasure Point, which will be credited to your account shortly."

Upon seeing the email, Venerable Thunder was taken aback.

"1 Treasure Point?" In a moment, the Treasure Point was already in his name.

The bitterness on Venerable Leiming's face vanished, replaced by a broad smile, while he inwardly sighed with emotion.

“The Treasure Points are much more practical than hosting the Genius Battle. It’s not like he can’t host it anymore; he’s just extending it for another session.”

"Moreover, Lord Time and Space is truly fair in his actions."

Clearly, the compensation was ordered by Zhang Yi.

In another palace halfway up Thunder Mountain, the Nine Swords Venerable, whose face was covered in purple scales, looked at the email in surprise.

"The application was approved?"

"Was it personally approved by Lord Time and Space?"

The Nine Swords Venerable felt both excited and somewhat uneasy.

In the last ten editions, it has become quite common for people to apply to host the Genius Battle, but none of them have ever been approved.

But his application was approved this time. Could it be that Lord Zhang Yi was considering their past relationship?
After much deliberation, he decided to visit Zhang Yi.

In the virtual universe, in the Thunder Island Palace, not far from the Chaos City Lord's Palace stands a dark golden palace, which is Zhang Yi's new residence on Thunder Island.

Inside the palace, Zhang Yi sat high on the throne, looking down at the Nine Swords Venerable below, his voice booming.

"Nine Swords, go back now. Remember, do a good job in this year's Genius Battle. The final battle of the second stage will be scheduled during the celebration. Many super beings will be watching, and if they take a liking to someone, it's possible to accept them as disciples on the spot. Consider it a perk for this year's youngsters."

"Yes, Lord Time and Space, Nine Swords will do everything in our power," Nine Swords Venerable said respectfully, though he felt immense pressure.

"The final competition will be held during the celebration?"

Given his position, he already knew that the upcoming celebration was the top priority for the Virtual Universe Company and the most important event for the human race.

In such an important occasion, doing it well is a great achievement, while doing it poorly is a complete loss of face in front of a group of top officials.

Watching the Nine Swords Venerable disappear into the hall full of energy, Zhang Yi on the throne couldn't help but shake his head.

"The Nine Swords thought that I approved his application out of consideration for our past relationship and out of personal favoritism."

"Little did he know, even if he hadn't applied to host, I would have arranged for him to go."

At this moment, his human form in the divine kingdom looked up into the distance, his gaze piercing through the spatial interlayer and arriving directly at the Qianwu Universe Kingdom, the Milky Way Galaxy, on that azure planet.

In a desolate region of a continent, a figure, standing on a shield and carrying a giant egg on his back, flew at high speed, pursued not far behind by a massive dragon-like monster.

Turning his gaze back, Zhang Yi smiled and said, "This year's Genius Battle is to be held ten years from now. Luo Feng should still participate according to the timeline in the original story. It seems that the original timeline has not been changed."

Ten years have passed in the blink of an eye.

The day of the celebration has finally arrived. For convenience, the celebration will be held in the virtual universe network.

A plane created specifically for the celebration, this plane consists of only one enormous palace.

Inside the palace, a group of super beings from the human race were chatting and laughing together.

Over these 100,000 years, the comprehensive spread of the ancient civilization has not only brought great benefits to those realm lords, immortals, and cosmic venerables, but also to this group of cosmic lords who have benefited the most.

"Time and Space, I heard that you changed the host of this year's Genius Battle from your Virtual Universe Company and even gave him compensation?"

“Yes, I’ve heard about it too. If you ask me, you can make the decision. Anyone who dares to disobey will be sent directly to the Starfield Prison District,” said the Lord of the Desolate Mirror.

Zhang Yi shook his head and said, "Huang Jian, this matter was inherently unfair, so it's nothing for me to offer some compensation."

"Haha, you're just like your teacher, you're too polite."

call!
Suddenly, a group of figures descended upon this place and appeared in the square in front of the palace.

"Everyone, the Ancestral God Sect has arrived. I'll go and greet them," the Chaos City Lord said with a smile.

Outside the palace gates, the Lord of Chaos City and Zhang Yi appeared, followed by several Universe Lords from the Virtual Clan.

Although this grand ceremony is a great celebration for the human race, it is ultimately a celebration of the Chaos City Lord's attainment of true godhood and Zhang Yi's succession as the first leader of the Virtual Universe Company. Naturally, it would be better for the Virtual Lineage to receive the distinguished guests on their behalf.

"Chaos, Zhang Yi." The ancient ancestor stepped forward and said with a smile, "Congratulations to Chaos on becoming a true god, and congratulations to Zhang Yi as well. The fact that the Lord of the Universe can create a seventh-order secret technique to suppress a true god is truly admirable."

He meant it sincerely; it was the primordial cosmic will of the three ancestral gods that enabled him to unleash the top-tier sixth-order secret technique and exert the most ordinary strength of a true god.

However, Zhang Yi created a top-tier seventh-order secret technique, which naturally shocked them. In addition, since their Ancestral God Sect had no territorial disputes with the human race, they were naturally willing to make friends with him.

The ancient ancestral god continued, "It hasn't been long since the incident at the Origin Secret Realm, and Zhang Yi, your strength has already surpassed ours. Now that you have taken over the responsibility of the Chaos City Lord, I believe that under your leadership, the Virtual Clan, and even the human race, will become even stronger."

"Ancestral God, you flatter me," Zhang Yi said with a smile. "Back then, I should have thanked the Ancestral God for the treasure."

"Zhang Yi." The young Ancestral God and the Two-Faced Ancestral God greeted him with a smile.

Shortly after the procession led by the three ancestral gods entered the main hall.

Another group arrived, led by the old Beast God of the Starry Sky Beast Alliance. After exchanging pleasantries, the old Beast God led his powerful subordinates into the main hall.

Teams arrived one after another.

The Nine Domains Alliance and the Thorn Ring Alliance are second-tier alliances, formed by the combined efforts of several powerful universe lords within each alliance.

They also sent congratulatory gifts.

"These forces are quite generous," Zhang Yi remarked. Each of these forces had given him at least one treasure of the peak domain level.

This is already a huge loss for an alliance like theirs.

"Haha, they're trying to get closer to you," the Chaos City Lord said with a laugh. "Your growth rate is astonishing. If it were just your teacher becoming a true god, they might not be willing to do this."

"I never expected that the Ancestral God Sect and the Starry Sky Beast Alliance would personally come to offer their congratulations." The Ice Peak Lord behind him also sighed.

Upon hearing this, the Lord of Chaos City smiled slightly, "The secrets of our ancient civilization's inheritance have been kept very well hidden by our human race, but these powerful forces have already received the news. Although they cannot be certain, they have long had their own guesses."

"Didn't you notice? Of the top forces from the original universe present, only these two are here. The other top forces have territorial disputes with our human race, so they won't come."

"Junior brother, another team will be arriving later, so don't be too surprised."

"Huh?" The Ice Peak Lord was taken aback; another team was coming.

Zhang Yi, who was standing to the side, smiled knowingly. He was naturally aware of this matter, and he had agreed to it.

While talking.

Whoosh! A huge procession arrived, led by two skeletal figures.

“It’s the Skeleton Clan.” The Lord of the Ice Peaks stared intently.

The Skeleton Clan contacted Zhang Yi, expressing their desire to participate in this human celebration.

After discussing with the Lord of Chaos City and the Giant Axe, Zhang Yi decided that the enemy of my enemy is my friend, so he agreed.

To this end, a special virtual universe receiving sensor was specially made, allowing the Skeleton Race to connect to the virtual universe even at the edge of the original universe.

(End of this chapter)