Another positive development came after advancing to the Universe rank. Han Jue's innate secret technique, Analysis, had become significantly more effective.
At the Stellar rank, this technique had been powerful but limited, it could only maintain its analysis state for a short time. Even then, Han Jue's natural talent combined with his mastery of this technique had allowed him to reach levels most geniuses could never dream of.
After reaching the Universe rank, while Analysis still couldn't fully unleash its complete power, it was dozens of times more potent than at the Stellar rank. This dramatically increased Han Jue's speed in comprehending the fundamental laws of the universe.
Now, the title of "a genius born once in a million epochs" truly belonged to Han Jue.
After breaking through to the Universe rank, Han Jue stopped cultivating his energy directly and instead began delving into various secret techniques while comprehending the fundamental laws of space. His focus had shifted from raw power accumulation to understanding the deeper mysteries of the universe.
The three-year journey ended quickly.
"Luo Feng, it's best you save your points for now. You can purchase the secret techniques you need after arriving in Primal Chaos City."
Recalling Han Jue's instructions, Luo Feng gritted his teeth and fought hard against his simulated opponent in the virtual training space.
"Dang!"
The golden sword transformed from the Divine Weapon was deflected with brutal efficiency.
The next moment, Luo Feng felt cold steel pierce his throat as the simulated Han Jue struck him down with precise lethality.
"Still can't win?" Luo Feng sighed heavily, his virtual body dissolving as the training session ended.
In three years, he felt he had made considerable progress. Although he still had his 100,000 points saved, he also possessed the secret techniques inherited from the Golden Horned Beast to cultivate. His understanding of the fundamental laws of space wasn't too far from the Hundred Threads Flow level of the Ten Thousand Threads Flow technique.
Yet Luo Feng still couldn't defeat Han Jue from three years ago. Even Bolan from three years ago could have easily killed him.
"Hmph, you trust Han Jue too much. Maybe he's deliberately telling you not to buy the secret techniques so you'll fall behind," Babata said disdainfully, standing aside with his arms folded across his chest.
"Han Jue wouldn't lie to me," Luo Feng ignored Babata's provocation, his tone carrying absolute certainty.
The spaceship was about to arrive at the company's universal headquarters, and he began packing his things to prepare for disembarkation.
"That's hard to say," Babata muttered darkly.
Perhaps it was because Han Jue, while admonishing Luo Feng, had 'accidentally' belittled Babata's judgment and experience. Babata had previously trusted Han Jue's advice, but now he felt an inexplicable hostility toward the young genius.
Luo Feng sighed and pretended not to hear.
Babata didn't continue his complaints. In fact, the AI understood that Han Jue was right, Rimuru's former master had also been a core member of the Virtual Universe Company, giving that AI's inherited knowledge tremendous authority. Babata just couldn't accept it, couldn't get over the slight to his pride.
Lies don't hurt; the truth is the sharpest sword.
"Is that... the continent?" Luo Feng suddenly asked, his eyes widening as he gazed through the viewing portal.
"Yes." A thin, silver-haired old man standing beside Luo Feng nodded with a slight smile. "Your Highness, this is the company's universal headquarters, dozens of light-years in diameter."
The silver-haired elder's voice carried obvious pride as he continued, "The surrounding stars, planets, meteorites, and other celestial bodies you see are actually terrifying technological weapons, each capable of devastating power."
Luo Feng stared at the continent outside the spaceship with mounting awe. The sheer scale was incomprehensible, a man-made structure spanning dozens of light-years, surrounded by weaponized celestial objects disguised as natural phenomena.
Soon, the spaceship finally came to a stop after flying at sublight speed for several minutes through one of the continent's massive entrance portals.
"Han Jue!"
Luo Feng shouted happily upon seeing Han Jue standing not far away after he disembarked from the spaceship, his face lighting up with genuine joy.
"Luo Feng," Han Jue smiled warmly in return, striding forward to meet his friend.
After the two of them gathered together, they entered an oval-shaped reception hall. The entire structure was transparent around and above, offering breathtaking views. Looking up, one could see the infinite starry sky and the massive headquarters continent in the distance, a testament to humanity's technological prowess.
"Han Jue, Luo Feng!"
"Crazy, come here!"
"Han Jue!"
As soon as the two of them entered, they were immediately greeted by many other geniuses from the competition.
Among them, while Han Jue didn't share the same casual familiarity as Luo Feng with most of the gathered geniuses, he did have a few acquaintances. The main reason for the distance was that many people were hesitant to approach him directly.
After all, as a genius from the Primal Secret Realm, Luo Feng's strength was closest to theirs, and he seemed the easiest to get along with among the top three. Bolan, with his constant cold expression and aloof demeanor, made people feel completely intimidated, approaching him felt like walking toward an ice sculpture. Han Jue, though often smiling pleasantly, displayed a talent that intimidated many on a fundamental level. Only those geniuses from the Primal Secret Realm who were already close to Luo Feng had naturally interacted with Han Jue through that connection.
"Hello, everyone," Han Jue greeted them politely, unceremoniously taking a seat on the central sofa as if it had been reserved specifically for him.
To his left sat the withdrawn Bolan, and to his right were Rong Jun, Wu Ka, and several others from the Primal Secret Realm.
"Han Jue." Bolan's typically stoic face miraculously forced what might have been a smile, stunning everyone around him with the unexpected expression.
Han Jue, seemingly oblivious to the shocked reactions, smiled naturally and asked, "What did you think of what I told you?"
"It certainly helped me a lot," Bolan said after a brief pause, nodding solemnly. His voice carried genuine gratitude. "Thank you very much."
"It's just a small matter," Han Jue waved his hand dismissively, his tone casual and unconcerned.
Bolan stopped talking and returned to his characteristic silence, his moment of openness already past.
At this time, the others around them began chattering curiously about this unexpected exchange.
"Han Jue, between you and Bolan..." Wu Ka asked tentatively, his eyes bright with curiosity.
"Nothing significant," Han Jue replied easily. "Just discussed some cultivation problems he was experiencing."
It was indeed nothing extraordinary. In the past three years, Bolan had finally been forced to confront the results of the Genius Battle. The pride that had sustained him for so long had been shaken, and he had privately asked Han Jue about methods of cultivation and mental state.
At that time, Han Jue had told him about his understanding of mental fortitude and confidence. Only confidence based on one's actual abilities could allow someone to fully explore their potential, while mindless arrogance and stubbornness would only lead to stagnation and eventual failure.
After listening to these words, Bolan had experienced some insights. Han Jue didn't know exactly what decisions Bolan had made afterward, but judging from his appearance and demeanor, he seemed to have gained considerable benefit. Han Jue suspected that Bolan had given up on his ambitious plan to simultaneously cultivate the laws of both time and space, a goal that, while theoretically possible, was extraordinarily difficult even for geniuses of their caliber.
The group continued chatting casually while waiting.
More than six hours passed in easy conversation and speculation about what awaited them in Primal Chaos City.
Eventually, a tall, thin man with striking red eyes and clad in a simple white robe appeared. This was an Immortal escort who would lead the thousand geniuses to their next destination. He gestured for them to follow, and the massive group boarded a spaceship shaped like a giant fish, its sleek, organic design unlike anything from conventional human engineering.
Aboard the ship, the atmosphere shifted from casual excitement to nervous anticipation.
Venerable Nine Swords, a powerful Universe Venerable with a green robe and purple scales covering his head, stood waiting alongside a dozen other Immortals. Upon seeing Han Jue approach among the gathered geniuses, his eyes narrowed slightly, as if he had discovered something particularly interesting. His gaze lingered for just a moment before he retracted it, turning his attention back to the assembled group.
With everyone finally aboard, Venerable Nine Swords gave the order in a voice that carried absolute authority, "Depart, to the Beginning Universe!"
The fish-like spaceship's tail fin flicked with impossible speed, and the vessel instantly vanished from its original location, entering a dimension beyond normal space.
Deep within the human race's territory, hidden within an Immortal Kingdom shrouded in darkness and conspiracy...
"Master, in this year's Human Genius Battle, a genius known as one who appears once in a million epochs has emerged," a figure reported from the shadows, his voice carefully neutral. "He has reached the sixth floor of the seventh Trial Tower, an unprecedented achievement."
In the dim shadows of an opulent chamber, a hidden presence listened with calculating attention.
"I understand," the voice replied, cold and measured. "You remain on standby. For now, designate him as the seventh assassination target."
A pause, heavy with implication.
"When necessary, eliminate him at all costs."
"Yes, Master!" the shadowed figure replied respectfully, his eyes filled with fanatical enthusiasm for his master's cause.
Whatever conspiracy was brewing in the darkness, it seemed Han Jue had already attracted dangerous attention from forces that operated beyond the light of public knowledge.
The Beginning Universe!
The moment they entered, Han Jue sensed something fundamentally different about this place.
The fundamental laws of the universe observed by his Six Eyes technique seemed to be... different from those in the outside world? Not wrong, exactly, but more visible, more accessible, as if the very fabric of reality here was somehow less complete, more raw and exposed.
His analytical mind immediately began cataloging the differences, recognizing that this strange quality was precisely what made the Beginning Universe so valuable for comprehending the origin laws.
The real training was about to begin.