High Martial Arts: Liver Becomes the Master of the Universe

Chapter 364 Instant Kill to Become an Emperor, Ascending the Imperial Ranking! Top-Tier Strength! Shaking the Mechanical Race!

The universe is empty.

This is Qin Feng's most direct feeling at this moment.

Just moments before, he stood atop Martial Peak, conversing with the Martial Lord, who seemed to be the embodiment of the universe, holding the newly created cosmic artifact, [Dou], in his hand.

In the next instant, the Martial Arts Master, the majestic sacred mountain, the circular starport, the billions of spectators... everything evaporated silently, like bubbles in the sunlight.

There were no spatial fluctuations, no energy dissipation, as if they had never existed, merely a dream Qin Feng had lived in for 100,000 years.

If it weren't for the icy touch of the ancient array plate in his palm and the close connection to the depths of his soul, Qin Feng would almost doubt whether he had lost his Dao heart and fallen into some unknown illusion.

He hovered in place, in absolute nothingness.

There were no stars, no light, and even the concepts of time and space became blurred.

Immediately afterwards, an invisible sense of stagnation surged in from all directions, as if I were trapped in solidified amber. The void was no longer void, but had transformed into an invisible wall, an invisible cage.

A magnificent, solemn array, imbued with the Zen principles of "annihilation" and "immovability," silently closed in, completely sealing him off.

The boundaries of the formation possessed a glass-like texture, upon which Sanskrit characters flowed, and the phantom of Buddha sat cross-legged, chanting scriptures. Every character, every Buddha image, emanated a terrifying pressure that suppressed eternity and annihilated all life.

"【The Great Formation of Immovable Zen Mind】..."

Qin Feng's eyes remained completely calm.

He had a premonition of all this the moment the Martial Arts Master disappeared.

There is no kindness without a reason in the universe, nor is there any supreme opportunity that can be obtained without effort.

The fact that the Lord of Martial Arts entrusted the [Fight] to him and "sent" him here is itself a test, or rather, a "calamity" inherent to this cosmic wonder.

To wield this power, one must first bear its weight.

In the void, space rippled outwards like water.

Five figures slowly emerged from five different directions. They were dressed in stone-gray monk robes, with ancient and unsophisticated faces, and their auras were as solid as mountains, as if they were five ancient sacred mountains that had existed since the beginning of time, unmoved by eternity.

These were the five imperial elders of the Shizu Zen sect.

The leader, with a withered face and half-open eyes, seemed to contain a universe on the verge of extinction. He was the Enforcement Elder of the Stone Clan's Zen Sect, [Empty Mirror Emperor].

Behind them, at a slightly distance, the figure of the stone Buddha also came into view.

He remained seated cross-legged, hands clasped together, but his usually placid face now held a complex expression that was difficult to describe.

He didn't participate in setting up the formation; he was more like a passive witness who arrived at the scene.

"Vanguard".

Kong Jinghuang spoke, his voice calm yet seemingly carrying the ultimate truths of the universe, each word as heavy as a star, striking deep into the soul.

"Hand over the cosmic artifact you possess."

This was not a request, nor a discussion, but a self-righteous declaration, as if this strange object was born to belong to them.

Qin Feng's gaze swept over the five Emperor-level beings, finally settling on the stone Buddha for a moment.

He could sense that the aura of these five Emperors was no weaker than that of the four Emperors of the Myriad Races who had chased him before. In particular, the leader, Emperor Kongjing, had such a terrifyingly powerful aura that it had reached an extremely terrifying level.

Add to that this Emperor-level array that seals space and time and isolates cause and effect... this is indeed a sure-kill situation.

"reason."

Qin Feng spoke slowly, his voice equally calm. He held the [Battle] Array Plate in one hand, while the other hung naturally at his sides. His entire demeanor was extremely relaxed, as if he were facing not five Emperor-level beings, but five stubborn rocks by the roadside.

“The wonders of the universe belong to the virtuous.”

An elder standing beside the Void Mirror Emperor said coldly, his Dharma name being [Suppressing Mountain Emperor], "This creature is too bloodthirsty. Its karmic entanglement with you will only bring you endless calamities. Only by suppressing it through our sect and cleansing it with Buddhist teachings day and night can its malevolent nature be eliminated. This is a merit of the universe and is also for your own good."

"What a convenient excuse, 'for my own good'."

Qin Feng's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile. "What if I don't hand it over?"

Kong Jinghuang's half-open eyes finally opened completely.

In an instant, the pressure of the entire formation surged tenfold!
The countless Sanskrit Buddhist images seemed to come alive, and the chanting transformed into tangible chains that wrapped around Qin Feng's limbs and bones, aiming to completely suppress and obliterate his Dao foundation, soul, and even his very existence.

"Then we can only ask you, benefactor... to pass away on the spot."

Kong Jinghuang's voice remained calm, yet it contained an unquestionable final judgment.

"Our sect's [Silent and Unmoving Zen Mind Array] has only been used to suppress and kill three Emperors of the same rank since its creation. Today, you are the fourth being to enjoy such an honor."

“Benefactor, you are very strong. Eight million consecutive wins in Wudou Mountain is unprecedented, and we are all filled with admiration for you.”

"But you shouldn't take what doesn't belong to you."

The moment the words fell, the five Emperor-level beings attacked simultaneously.

There was no probing, no holding back. Even a lion uses its full strength to hunt a rabbit. They knew the terrifying potential the "Vanguard" had displayed at Martial Arts Mountain; their attack was a devastating, thunderous strike!

"Great Mount Sumeru Seal!"

Emperor Zhenyue took a step forward, raising one hand to the sky, and a golden phantom of a divine mountain, constructed from endless laws and Zen principles, materialized out of thin air. That divine mountain was majestic and boundless, seemingly the center of the universe, carrying a terrifying power to suppress the three thousand worlds and crush all matter and energy, pressing down upon Qin Feng!

"Immovable King Palm!"

Another elder, the "Rock King," clasped his hands together, and a fierce-looking wrathful deity appeared behind him.

With a single palm strike, the lines of the palm were clearly visible. Each line seemed to be the trajectory of the birth and death of a universe. Even before the palm force arrived, the absolute will of "all things rest, only I remain unmoved" had already locked away all of Qin Fo's space to dodge.

"The Zen Light of Withering and Flourishing!"

"Nirvana Finger!"

"Boundless Vajra Realm!"

Five distinct, yet shared, Emperor-level secret techniques, from five directions, sealed off all dimensions of time and space: past, present, and future.

With the support of the grand formation, their power was amplified to an unbelievable degree, enough to annihilate any newly ascended Emperor in an instant.

The stone Buddha in the distance, witnessing this scene, had an even deeper complexion in its eyes.

He closed his eyes slightly, as if he couldn't bear to look any longer.

In his view, no matter how extraordinary the "vanguard" may be, he is ultimately just a newly crowned king.

Perhaps he possessed combat power comparable to or even surpassing that of a newly appointed Emperor through the inheritance of Yao Guang and the opportunities of Wudou Mountain, but under the combined attack of five senior Emperors and a top-tier formation, his fate was already sealed.

However, despite the devastating attack, Qin Feng, who was at the center of the storm, did not change his expression in the slightest.

He didn't even look at the divine mountain that had descended from the sky, nor did he pay attention to the giant hand that seemed to lock everything in place.

He simply raised his right hand slowly.

With your index finger, gently point forward.

There was no earth-shattering energy eruption, nor any dazzling brilliance of the laws.

Only a tiny dot appeared at his fingertips.

A pure, extreme darkness that seemed capable of devouring all light and heat in the universe...

The darkness was so profound and pure that the moment it appeared, the surrounding violent golden light, the powerful palm print, and the annihilating finger force all seemed to dim slightly.

This is not a form of energy, nor even a manifestation of a law.

This is a concept.

A supreme concept called "End" and "Nothingness".

【Ultimate Divine Light】.

After incorporating the wisdom of Venerable Yaoguang's million-year discourse on the Dao and digesting that supreme inheritance, this King-Sealing Technique, created by Qin Feng himself, has already undergone a complete transformation and has been upgraded to a true... Emperor-Sealing Secret Technique!
Its attack method is no longer simply energy annihilation, but rather a complete "erasure" of a target's existence from a deeper dimension.

call out.

A beam of pure black light, so faint it was almost invisible to the naked eye, shot out from Qin Feng's fingertip.

Its speed transcends time and space, transcends causality, and transcends thought.

Its target is not those five earth-shattering secret techniques, but... the Zhenyue Emperor who uses the [Great Mount Sumeru Seal]!
A warning bell rang in Zhen Yuehuang's heart, and an unprecedented fear, stemming from his very life instinct, instantly seized his soul.

He wanted to retreat, to defend, to roar, but all his thoughts and actions froze eternally the moment he saw that point of pure black light.

The pure black light touched him.

then……

There is no more.

There were no screams, no explosions, no clashes or annihilation of energy.

Emperor Zhenyue, the Stone Clan Emperor who enjoyed a prestigious reputation in the universe and had lived for hundreds of millions of years, along with his Great Mount Sumeru Seal, which was powerful enough to suppress an entire star field, simply... disappeared.

Yes, disappear.

It was erased.

It was as if he had never existed in this world.

The spot where he had been standing had become absolute nothingness.

He left no trace, no hint, not even the part about him in the causal chain became blurred.

"!!!"

This bizarre, terrifying, and completely incomprehensible scene caused the attacks of the other four Emperor-level beings to involuntarily pause for a moment.

The solemnity and Zen-like tranquility on their faces vanished, replaced by endless horror and a tremor from the depths of their souls.

"Zhenyue...Junior Brother?"

For the first time, the voice of the Rock Emperor trembled.

He couldn't believe his eyes.

A fellow disciple with whom he had known for countless eons, a powerful Emperor-level figure, just like that... gone?
how so? !

What kind of attack was that? What was that black light?! Why can't I understand its principles at all?
"Not good! This boy is strange! Activate the great formation with all your might and annihilate him!"

Kong Jinghuang, being an elder in charge of law enforcement, possessed the most composed and tranquil mind.

After a moment of shock, he immediately reacted and let out a shrill roar.

However, it's too late.

Qin Feng's second finger had already been extended.

It was still that same thin, almost imperceptible ray of pure black light.

This time, the target is the Rock Emperor who uses the [Immovable King Palm].

The Rock Emperor was terrified. The wrathful King behind him burst forth with golden light, his palms crossed in front of him, trying to block the deathly light that seemed to come from the deepest hell.

However, everything is in vain.

What the [Ultimate Divine Light] erases is the concept of "existence" itself.

Whether it is energy, matter, soul, or laws, will, or concepts... all are equal before it.

A black light flashed by.

The indestructible image of Acala, known as "invulnerable to all laws," was like a pencil drawing erased by an eraser, with a gap silently wiped away from the middle.

Next came the Rock Emperor's face, contorted with terror, and his enormous, star-like body.

Another emperor has been completely "deleted" from this universe.

Dead silence.

A deathly silence enveloped the entire array space.

If the fall of the first emperor brought shock and disbelief to the remaining three, then...

So, the "disappearance" of the second emperor brought them fear that was enough to completely shatter their Dao hearts!
They finally got it.

The "vanguard" in front of us is by no means someone who is "comparable to a newly appointed emperor".

This...this is a complete monster!

A predator disguised as a king, capable of easily hunting down seasoned emperors like them... the ultimate predator!
What kind of being did they provoke?!

"escape!!!"

Someone let out a desperate roar.

At this moment, all thoughts of cosmic wonders, sect missions, Buddhist teachings, and Zen principles were cast to the winds.

Live!
That was the only thought left in their minds.

The remaining three Emperors, including Emperor Kongjing, had lost all will to fight. They frantically burned their source energy, transforming into three streams of light, and fled desperately towards the boundary of the great formation in three different directions.

They wanted to escape the prison they had created for themselves.

Qin Feng's face remained expressionless.

He slowly raised three fingers.

Three beams of [Ultimate Divine Light] shot out simultaneously.

They traced three graceful black arcs in the void, like the scythe in the hand of death, precisely catching up with the three fleeing figures.

No suspense.

Faced with absolute, overwhelming, and completely unreasonable conceptual erasure, all struggles seem so pale and powerless.

The third to be granted the title of Emperor.

The fourth person to be granted the title of Emperor.

And... the strongest, and also the fastest to escape, Kong Jinghuang.

Just a step away from the edge of the great formation, his body was completely swallowed up by that extreme darkness.

Thus, the five Grand Elders of the Stone Clan Zen Sect who had besieged and killed Qin Feng were all annihilated.

From the moment Qin Feng pointed out the first finger to the moment the last Emperor-level figure was erased, the entire process took no more than three breaths.

With the five people presiding over the formation all perishing, the [Silent and Unmoving Zen Mind Formation] shattered like a glass tower that had lost its support, turning into countless points of light and dissipating into nothingness.

The familiar, cold, and desolate cosmic sky appeared before my eyes once again.

Qin Feng withdrew his finger, as if he had only done a trivial thing.

He slowly turned around, his gaze once again falling on the stone Buddha that had not moved an inch from beginning to end.

At this moment, the stone Buddha has opened its eyes.

His face no longer held the previous complexity, the relief of surviving a disaster, or the grief and indignation of his fellow disciples' tragic deaths.

There was only a hollow void, a mixture of shock, confusion, and self-doubt... a sense of bewilderment.

What did he see?
He witnessed five sect elders, whom he regarded as like gods and fathers, being casually killed by a fellow cultivator within the sect's grand formation, as if crushing five insects.

Throughout the entire process, the other party did not even move a single step.

That kind of carefree attitude, that kind of ease, that indifference towards the emperor... completely overturned his cultivation philosophy built up over millions of years.

Is this... the true strength of the "Vanguard"?
Is this the power behind the legend of Wudou Mountain's eight million consecutive victories?

It turns out that on the Ladder of Suffering, the gap between him and himself was not just the last nine levels.

It turns out that, on the monument to heroes, the gap between him and himself was not just that one million victories.

Between them lies an insurmountable chasm.

A chasm called "God" and "Man"!

All his previous ambition to catch up, all his feeling of "meeting a worthy opponent," seemed so ridiculous at this moment.

Qin Feng looked at him without saying a word or making a move.

The two of them stood silently facing each other in this cold, empty space.

a long time.

Qin Feng's figure began to fade slowly, about to merge into the space and leave this place.

Just as he was about to disappear completely, the stone Buddha finally regained his voice and spoke in a hoarse voice.

"Why...don't you kill me?"

he asks.

He was also a member of the Stone Clan Zen Sect, and he was also involved in this siege.

Logically speaking, he is also an enemy.

Qin Feng paused for a moment.

A detached voice traversed space and resounded directly in his soul.

"You didn't lay a hand on me."

"and……"

"We have a connection."

After saying that, Qin Feng's figure completely disappeared.

Only the stone Buddha remained, floating alone in the void.

He looked at the five empty seats and remembered Qin Feng's last words.

"Is there a connection?"

The stone Buddha exhaled a long, long breath.

He opened his eyes, facing the direction Qin Feng had left, the direction the five elders had "disappeared," and the empty universe, and performed a deep Buddhist salute.

"That's enough...that's enough..."

He murmured softly, as if speaking to the deceased, or perhaps to himself.

"As long as... it doesn't fall into the hands of the Stone Clan Zen Sect, that's fine."

After saying that, he turned around, took a step, and disappeared into the vast depths of the universe.

He did not choose to return to the sect.

His path lies ahead, not behind.

……

Several hours after Qin Feng's figure completely disappeared into that void.

An anomaly, one that could silence the entire universe, has occurred.

hum-

An indescribable supreme will, like a tide, awakened from the depths of the universe's origin.

It is omnipresent, sweeping across every star field, every cosmic nation, every inhabited planet in an instant, and even penetrating the barriers of all secret realms and independent spaces.

Whether it's a powerful emperor in seclusion or a disciple who has just embarked on the path of cultivation;
Whether they were ancient beings residing high in temples or mercenaries living a life of debauchery in Starport taverns, at that moment, they all felt a tremor originating from the deepest part of their souls.

They all raised their heads simultaneously. In the sea of ​​their consciousness, a vast and boundless golden list slowly unfolded.

[The Universe Will Ranking].

This is the manifestation of the will of the universe, the most authoritative, fair, and also the most cruel yardstick for measuring the worth of all the geniuses of an era.

It is unaffected by any power and only records actual battles and undeniable potential.

The list is divided into three tiers, each radiating an increasing pressure.

The lowest level is the [List of Conferred Titles], which is imprinted with thousands of names, each representing a prodigy with extraordinary talent and limitless potential in the Conferred Title Realm.

The middle layer is the "King's List," where the number of names has been reduced to several thousand. Those who can leave their names here are all unparalleled geniuses who are expected to challenge the realm of emperors in the future.

At the very top, and most dazzling and awe-inspiring, for billions of living beings, stands the Imperial Edict.

There are only a hundred names on it.

Each name is like an eternal star, representing a monster who, even in the supreme realm of being crowned emperor, can still be called a "prodigy".

They are the pinnacle of the younger generation in the universe, the pillars of the future of all the major elite races, and the ultimate beings who can make a star field tremble with a stomp of their foot.

Every change in the Imperial Edict signifies a subtle shift in the cosmic landscape, enough to become a hot topic of discussion among countless forces for tens or even hundreds of thousands of years to come.

However, the changes in the imperial edict today are not "minor".

It was an unprecedented... cosmic earthquake!

Under the watchful eyes of countless beings, a brand new name, instead of gradually climbing from the bottom of the list, appeared out of thin air, directly tearing apart the list's established order and manifesting itself in the [Imperial Ranking] with an unprecedentedly domineering presence...

Tenth place!
[10th Place: Vanguard (Mechanical Race)]

The moment the name was imprinted, the entire Imperial Edict trembled violently, radiating countless golden rays, as if even the will of the universe itself was shocked by the appearance of this name.

After a brief, suffocating silence, the entire universe erupted into chaos!

……

Tianji Sect Headquarters, Star Observatory.

Hundreds of elders from the Tianji Sect, dressed in Bagua-style Taoist robes and exuding an ethereal aura, sat around a giant water mirror. The image of the [Heavenly Pride Ranking] was clearly reflected in the mirror.

"puff--"

An elder in charge of monitoring the list lost his composure the moment he saw that name appear, spitting out a mouthful of blood that stained the jade plate in front of him crimson.

"Impossible! This is absolutely impossible!!"

His eyes widened, he looked like a madman, pointing at the name, his voice shrill with extreme shock, "Tenth on the Imperial Ranking! A sudden appearance at tenth place?! What kind of concept is this? Since the ranking was created, no living being has ever been able to directly ascend to this position as a 'newcomer'!"

"The last person to cause a similar sensation was a million years ago. This 'vanguard'...where did this monster come from?!"

Yan Qi's figure was also prominently featured among them.

As he looked at that familiar yet unfamiliar name, images involuntarily surfaced in his mind of the other person's calm and collected demeanor in the Yao Guang Ruins, who regarded the Painful Heavenly Ladder as flat ground, and the pure black light that wiped out the Azure King.

His body was trembling slightly, uncontrollably.

"So... that wasn't his limit after all..."

Yan Qi's lips were pale, and his voice was dry. "So, from the very beginning, what we saw was not his back, but... a bottomless abyss."

……

The Demon Realm, the Hall of Ten Thousand Demons.

Inside the palace filled with demonic energy, several demon emperors with ferocious auras were holding a meeting.

The unusual activity in the Imperial Edict caused them to immediately cease all discussion.

"A vanguard? When did the Machine Race produce such a person?"

A wolf-headed demon emperor frowned, his golden pupils filled with ferocity. "Investigate! Investigate for me! I want to know everything about him as quickly as possible!"

"Reporting to the Wolf King, information about this person is extremely scarce."

The fox demon king in charge of intelligence smiled wryly, "He seemed to appear out of thin air. His first appearance in the universe was at Martial Battle Mountain. After that, there were the ruins of Venerable Yao Guang..."

Just then, the golden light on the [Ranking of Prodigies] changed again, and under the name of "Vanguard," more detailed battle record comments, personally written by the will of the universe, began to appear!
[Core Achievement 1: At the ruins of Venerable Yao Guang, while at the King-level, he annihilated the prodigy of the Divine Path, 'Azure Heaven King,' with a single strike. Commentary: Invincible among his peers, the Divine Path was severed.]

[Second Key Achievement: At the Seven Heavens Abyss Divine Palace, despite his lowly rank, he directly defeated the demon race's King-level 'Mad Slaughter King'. Commentary: Fighting beyond his level was as easy as taking candy from a baby.]

[Core Achievement 3 (Latest): In an unknown star field, he single-handedly faced the five guardian elders of the Stone Clan's Zen Sect—[Empty Mirror Emperor], [Mountain Suppressor Emperor], [Stone Emperor], [Withered Glory Emperor], and [Vajra Emperor].

Within the [Grand Array of Immovable Zen Mind in Nirvana], in just three breaths, using a secret technique of 'Concept Erasure', five long-established and seasoned Sealed Emperors were completely erased from existence.

[Overall Assessment: This being possesses the terrifying strength to consistently and efficiently hunt down veteran Emperor-level beings. Its core secret techniques have touched upon the supreme laws of the universe, defying conventional understanding. Threat Level—Extremely Dangerous!]

When the last line of text was also completely imprinted on the list.

A deathly silence fell over the Hall of Ten Thousand Demons.

All the demon emperors froze in place, as if under a petrification spell. Their faces were all etched with the same word.

absurd!

Three breaths, and five veteran Emperor-level beings were annihilated?!
Or is it within the opponent's top-tier Emperor-Sealing Formation?!
What kind of myth is this?!

"It's insane...this world has gone mad..."

The Wolf King muttered to himself, and for the first time, fear appeared in his golden pupils. "This is no longer a prodigy... This is... This is a god or demon walking among mortals!"

"revenge?"

The Bear King gave a bitter smile and shook his head. "How can we take revenge? Who should we send? To deliver food to this monster?"

After a brief silence, a fierce glint flashed in the wolf king's eyes, greed overpowering fear.

"No...this is an opportunity!"

He growled, "There's something else mentioned on the list!"

All the demon emperors' eyes were once again focused on the rankings.

Below the battle record comments, there was a line of small, alluring gold text marked by the will of the universe.

[Known opportunities: The complete inheritance of Venerable Yao Guang (suspected); the ultimate reward of eight million consecutive wins at Martial Arts Mountain (a cosmic treasure); also possesses several cosmic-level treasures.]

boom! ! !
If the previous record brought fear and awe to everyone...

So, what this line of text brings to the entire universe is greed—greed that is enough to burn away all reason!
The complete lineage of the Universal Venerable!

The ultimate reward of Wudou Mountain!

That's a legend that even the Master of Martial Arts personally acknowledged!

There's also a cosmic wonder!
The appearance of any one of these three would be enough to cause even a powerful Emperor to suffer a bloody defeat, and might even attract the intervention of a Universe Lord to seize them.

And now, these three, or even more, mysterious treasures are concentrated in one person's possession!
He is a mobile, invaluable... ultimate treasure trove!
"Give me the order!"

The Wolf King abruptly stood up, his voice carrying an undeniable determination, "Activate the 'Heavenly Demon Hunting Order'! Unite all forces that can be united, and tell them that our demon race does not want his inheritance, nor his treasures, but only his life! After the deed is done, all the spoils will be distributed among others!"

He knew very well that the demon race alone could not possibly devour this piece of fat meat.

But if this piece of fat meat were to be divided up, then all the hungry wolves in the universe would be drawn to it!

At that time, no matter how powerful this "vanguard" is, it will eventually be torn to pieces by the greedy tide of all races in the universe!

……

A similar scene was playing out simultaneously among the Zerg, the Eldar, the Primals… in every corner of the universe.

Fear gives rise to awe.

Greed, however, stifles reverence.

Less than a day after the [Ranking of Prodigies] was updated, an invisible net, woven from countless greedy eyes, quietly opened and enveloped the entire universe.

Countless powerful individuals and forces began to take action.

They mobilized every available resource, deducing celestial secrets, tracing causes and effects, analyzing intelligence... all for a common goal—

Find him, then kill him and take everything from him!
"Vanguard," a name that had just miraculously ascended to the Imperial Edict, instantly transformed from a "living legend" into... "public enemy of the universe" on the very day of his coronation.

An unprecedented, ultimate killing scheme targeting him has already taken shape.

Karafah-749 Death Zone.

This is a ruin long forgotten by the universe.

Hundreds of millions of years ago, a fierce battle of gods erupted here, and two deities perished together. The fragments of the Dao principles that scattered upon their fall completely polluted this star field, making it chaotic and violent. Any sophisticated instruments would malfunction here, and any attempt to deduce the secrets of heaven would be met with a backlash from the violent laws.

There is no life here, no resources, only eternal silence and cold metal wreckage.

Deep within the core of an abandoned planet made entirely of rusty, unidentified metal, in a makeshift cave.

Qin Feng sat cross-legged.

He held the ancient array plate—a cosmic marvel called "Dou"—in one hand, while his other hand rested casually on his knee.

His eyes were closed, and his aura had completely blended into the surrounding deathly silence. If one did not see it with their own eyes, even a powerful Emperor would only think that this was an ordinary piece of metal ore if they scanned it with their divine sense.

The power of the [Limited Divine Light] exceeded his own expectations.

After digesting the legacy of Venerable Yaoguang, the essence of this secret technique has leaped from the ultimate application of "energy" to the supreme level of "concept".

Erasure of existence.

This is an ability that is almost like the "Tao" itself—tyrannical, domineering, and unreasonable.

Killing five Stone Clan Emperors did not take much of a toll on him.

He stayed here for two reasons: first, to avoid the first wave of frantic pursuit that would inevitably come after the [Ranking of Prodigies] was updated; and second, to thoroughly familiarize himself with and gain initial control over this cosmic artifact in his hands.

【fight】.

After establishing a soul connection with it, Qin Feng understood all its effects.

Activating it can forcibly lock onto any living being within the range of mental power and issue an invitation to a "cosmic duel".

The other party can choose to accept or refuse.

If refused, [Fight] will draw upon a trace of the primordial power of the universe to inflict a punitive and severe blow upon them.

The severity of the injury depends on the opponent's strength. The stronger the opponent, the heavier the backlash.

If they accept, the two will be immediately transported to an absolutely fair and independent space—the "Arena"—created by the will of the universe, for a life-or-death duel.

Until one side completely fell.

This is a simple, brutal, yet terrifyingly powerful rule-based artifact.

It's like a double-edged sword; it can give you the opportunity to fight a fair battle against a powerful enemy, but it can also drag you into an abyss of no return if you make a wrong judgment.

"nice one."

Qin Feng slowly opened his eyes, a hint of admiration flashing in them.

This extraordinary object is a perfect match for his "Way of Limits".

Just as he was about to continue his in-depth study of the internal laws of [Fight], his expression suddenly shifted slightly.

He raised his head, his gaze seemingly piercing through the thick Earth's core and the metallic storms on the planet's surface, looking towards the void outside the cave.

There was nothing there.

However, Qin Feng could clearly sense that three “beings” had already descended onto the planet’s synchronous orbit.

They appeared silently without releasing any aura or causing any spatial fluctuations, as if they had always belonged here.

If Qin Feng's "pure black quality" soul hadn't possessed an unbelievably keen perception of space and causality, he probably wouldn't have been able to detect their arrival.

The newcomer is an absolute powerhouse.

Moreover... they are not enemies.

Because Qin Feng sensed a shared aura emanating from them.

That was the cold, pure light of logic, belonging to the "mechanical."

Qin Feng did not move.

He remained seated quietly, waiting.

After a while.

Three figures silently pierced through the planet's layers of barriers and appeared directly inside the cave.

They were not made of flesh and blood, but were perfect humanoids constructed from some unidentifiable liquid metal that shimmered with a dark golden luster.

Their bodies were covered by a torrent of data composed of billions of runes, and their eyes were two burning blue flames that seemed to contain all the knowledge of the universe.

They have no facial features, yet they give people an incomparably harmonious and precise sense of beauty, as if they are the ultimate embodiment of "logic" and "order" in the universe.

The leader was the tallest, with the deepest dark gold color on his body. The torrent of data emanating from him had even faintly formed the phantom of a star map, slowly revolving around him.

"Vanguard".

The leading mechanical warrior spoke.

His voice did not resonate through vocal cord vibration, but rather directly through a flow of information into Qin Feng's soul.

The voice lacked emotional fluctuations, yet it contained an unquestionable authority.

“We are three envoys from the High Council of the Machine Race.”

"My code name is [Emperor Tian Shu]."

He pointed to the slightly shorter figure on the left, whose aura was sharper, "This is the [Emperor of Tianquan]."

She then pointed to the right, to the most slender figure with the most active data flow around him, "This is [Empress Yao]."

Three... conferred the title of Emperor!
Moreover, judging from the unfathomable aura emanating from them, each of them was far superior to figures like the [Empty Mirror Emperor] of the Stone Clan's Zen sect.

This is an ancient being who truly stands at the pinnacle of the Emperor-level realm.

Qin Feng's gaze lingered on [Yao Guang Huang] for a moment longer, seemingly showing some interest in this code name.

He slowly stood up, his mechanical body making a soft "click" sound, breaking the silence in the cave.

"What business do you have with me, three seniors?"

His tone was neither humble nor arrogant.

We came for you.

The blue soul flame of [Tian Shu Huang] flickered slightly, and the information flow was transmitted smoothly and efficiently.

"First of all, the council expresses its highest recognition for your achievements. Reaching the summit of Wudou Mountain and ranking tenth on the [Imperial List], you have won unparalleled glory for our clan."

"However, you should also be clear about your current situation."

"According to the calculations of our clan's 'Heavenly Secrets' system, in the past day alone, at least seventeen peak clans, more than thirty first-class forces, and hundreds of independent Emperor-level powerhouses across the entire universe have listed you as their highest priority target for assassination."

“An unprecedented hunting network targeting you has been formed. Now, you are not just a legend, you are the most expensive…prey in the entire universe.”

The Emperor Tian Shu's tone was devoid of any embellishment; he was simply stating a cold, hard statistic.

Qin Feng nodded, unsurprised. "So, the three of you have come here...?"

"We're here to offer you a way out."

The Emperor of Tianquan chimed in, his information stream carrying a sharp, almost primal quality.

"Although you are of my race, your rise has not relied on the race. According to the Codex of Mechanics, my race can provide you with limited protection, but it is absolutely impossible for us to oppose the entire universe for your sake alone."

"This does not conform to... the core logic of maximizing racial interests."

Qin Feng remained silent.

He understood what the other party meant.

The Machine Race is an absolutely rational race.

They cannot possibly wage a total war with no chance of winning for a genius who "grew up by wildness".

"but,"

Emperor Tian Shu then changed the subject, "Logic can be changed. The premise is that you can demonstrate value sufficient to change logic."

"What value?"

Qin Feng asked.

"One that can transform you from a 'genius' into a 'core asset' of our race."

For the first time, the blue soul fire of [Tian Shu Huang] showed obvious fluctuations.

"Return to your clan and participate in the upcoming highest-level internal ceremony of our clan—the [Soul of the Machines Competition]."

[Yaohuang] added that her information flow is relatively gentle, but it also contains undeniable logic.

"The 【Soul of the Machines】Competition is held once every million years, with the aim of selecting a leader with the most perfect 'Soul of the Machines' from the most outstanding young generation of our race. The final winner of the competition will be awarded the supreme title of 【Holy Son】."

What does "[Holy Son]" mean?

Qin Feng astutely grasped the key point.

"mean,"

The voice of the Heavenly Pivot Emperor carried a barely perceptible... solemn emotion: "You will become the bearer of the 'Dao' of our race in this era. Your safety will no longer be a matter of your own, but a matter of the supreme law concerning the continuation of our race's destiny!"

"At that time, let alone a mere few dozen forces, even if the allied forces of all races were to arrive in person, the protectors of my race, and even the sleeping lord of the universe, would awaken for you and fight for you!"

“Protecting you will no longer be a ‘choice’ that requires weighing the pros and cons, but rather a ‘duty’ engraved in the core code of my race.”

"To win a major tournament in exchange for the ultimate protection of the entire elite race, regardless of any cost."

"And the machine race's countless supreme secret techniques."

The blue soul flame of [Tian Shu Huang] silently watched Qin Feng.

"Vanguard, this is the way out we're offering you."

"Take the greed of the entire universe as your strongest support."

"This is the optimal solution to your current predicament."

Silence fell once again inside the cave.

All that remained were the blue soul flames burning like stars in the eyes of the three mechanical race emperors, and Qin Feng's cold, pensive mechanical face.

The path ahead seems to have been pointed out.

Is it to reject this "kindness" and continue to face endless pursuit alone in the universe, walking on the edge of a knife, honing one's limits in blood and fire?

still is……

Accept this invitation, return to that nominal "tribe," and fight for the so-called position of "Holy Son"?
Or should he fake his death to escape?

Human? Mech?

Qin Feng thought for a moment. He was born into the human race and should naturally be a human, but if he went to the mechanical race, the harvest would be too great... but he would also be suspected of being a traitor.

For a moment, Qin Feng hesitated.

(End of this chapter)