Grinding to Become the Master of the Universe

One of the figures in the center stepped forward.

Without any amplification, his resonant and clear voice reached the ears of every Martial Artist on the scene.

"Silence, Martial Artists."

"We are the examiners for this assessment."

Then, the three figures announced their names, one after another.

"Qin Chu."

"Yun Feng."

"Luo Yu."

Each name seemed to contain a kind of Power of Rule, sending ripples through the fabric of the Cosmos.

Without a doubt, these three were all legendary Black Hole Level Powerhouses!

Once complete silence fell, the Female Martial Artist named Luo Yu, her voice clear and cold, solemnly announced:

"The rules for this sector competition are as follows."

Her gaze swept across the enormous Inheritance Stone Stele below.

"This stele was personally forged by the ’Heaven-Devouring King’—a supreme Sealed King Strongman of our Ultramarines Chapter."

"On this Stone Stele is inscribed a seventh-grade killing technique of the Heaven-Devouring King’s own creation, named the ’Heaven-swallowing Fist Technique.’"

"This fist technique contains ninety-nine core mental imprints that build upon each other. Your task, in the time allotted, is to comprehend them with all your effort."

"The final scoring will be a comprehensive evaluation based on your speed and depth of comprehension, as well as the character and potential you demonstrate throughout the process."

"The time limit for this assessment is—one hundred years."

"During the competition, no one may leave the grounds without permission.

However, you are permitted to connect to the Subspace Network at any time to enter the ’Imperial Arena’ and hone your understanding of the ’Heaven-swallowing Fist Technique’ through virtual combat."

"The sector competition will officially begin in one hour. At that time, the protective shield around the Inheritance Stele will be deactivated."

As Luo Yu finished her announcement, the three Black Hole-level examiners vanished into the nebula as silently as they had appeared, as if they were never there.

After hearing the rules of the competition, Qin Feng understood everything perfectly.

He glanced over at Fire Circle beside him and thought, ’It’s exactly like Xiaopang said.’

On the boundless dais, a platform measured in light-years, the minds of countless genius Martial Artists were still reeling from the shock of the impending, century-long assessment.

Yet in a higher dimension, one they could not perceive, the three god-like Black Hole-level examiners had not actually departed.

Their figures still hovered silently amidst the brilliant nebula of the Pillar of Creation, gazing down at the ’sea of geniuses’ below, which was composed of innumerable points of light.

"Heh, another new cycle begins."

The examiner named Yun Feng chuckled, breaking the silence.

His voice carried the weight of ages. "I wonder what kind of new talent will emerge from this sector this time."

"Who knows."

The other examiner, Qin Chu, replied in a level voice, "Geniuses are a dime a dozen in every generation. A good number of them manage to overcome all obstacles and reach the Black Hole level. But..."

His tone shifted, tinged with an indescribable wistfulness. "But those who can take that final step, who can create their own ’Dharma,’ forge their own path, and ascend to the Domain Lord Realm... they are far, far too few."

"Sigh... you’re right."

Yun Feng heaved a long sigh, one that seemed to carry an eternity of loneliness and uncertainty. "Back in the day, we were also proud prodigies who fought our way to the top.

But in the blink of an eye, I’ve already been trapped at the Black Hole-level bottleneck for two million years.

The road ahead is endless, yet there is no path to follow. It’s like staring into the boundless, dark void. It’s... not a pleasant feeling."

The three powerhouses fell silent for a moment.

They stood at the apex dreamed of by countless Martial Artists, yet they also endured the endless solitude that lay beyond that peak.

Beyond the Black Hole level, there is no step-by-step path for cultivation, no established methods from predecessors to follow.

They could only rely on themselves!

"Enough of that."

Luo Yu’s cool voice cut through the heavy atmosphere as she changed the subject. "Have either of you heard about the ’Er Ding’ affair?"

"Heard about it."

"The Heaven-Devouring King himself is the one who sent me."

"’The Heaven-Devouring King has already made his intentions known. If this little fellow can break through all ninety-nine mental imprints and fully master the ’Heaven-swallowing Fist Technique’ during this assessment, he’ll make an exception and take him as a Direct Disciple.’"

"The Heaven-Devouring King is taking a disciple himself?"

"I seem to recall he hasn’t taken on a new disciple in over a million years, has he?"

"You mean that kid... what’s his name, Qin Feng? The one who reached the Planetary Level in under a century? His speed is terrifying."

"Still, I wonder if he can actually do it."

"The Heaven-Devouring King’s ’Heaven-swallowing Fist Technique’ ranks among the top one hundred of all seventh-grade killing arts.

What’s more, for this trial, he even slipped some... nasty surprises... into the last nine mental imprints. They contain the very essence of his true legacy."

"Who knows?"

A meaningful smile touched Luo Yu’s lips. "After all, we’re talking about ’Er Ding.’ Miracles are made for beings like him."

"..."

Just as the three examiners were in the midst of their discussion, the space beside them suddenly began to ripple.

Then, seven or eight figures, their auras just as profound and terrifying, stepped out from the distorted space. They descended from on high, landing beside the three examiners.