The competition consisted of five rounds, each round featuring three battles, all at fixed times.
It was absolutely impossible for the competition to be postponed indefinitely just because someone had not entered the virtual universe network. Once the battle time was publicly announced, if one side failed to enter the virtual universe network within the designated time, they would be deemed to have forfeited, and the other side would automatically win the battle.
Thus, in this match, Luo Feng won without even fighting.
Five consecutive victories!
Five points, securing the top spot in the competition with a perfect record.
“How could this happen?” Luo Feng hovered above the primeval forest, his expression complex. He had prepared thoroughly for this final battle, ready to give it his all. He still had a chance to win this match, and even if he lost, Luo Feng would have accepted the defeat openly and without regret.
But who could have imagined the match would end like this?
“Whoosh!”
Luo Feng was immediately transported out of the battlefield!
…
Inside the bar at Yuxiang Mountain, the screen above the bar had been displaying—”Luo Feng vs. Kelof, battle not yet begun, please wait!”—but suddenly it changed to another message—”Luo Feng vs. Kelof. Kelof failed to enter the virtual universe network within the designated time, thus forfeiting the match. Luo Feng is declared the winner.”
The bar was filled with noise.
Everyone was discussing why the match between Luo Feng and Kelof had yet to begin, but the sudden change in the on-screen message instantly silenced the entire bar.
Silence!
The gathered geniuses from various cosmic nations stood in shock, stunned into silence. It was as if, in the old Earth days of the World Cup, everyone was eagerly anticipating the final match, only for one of the two teams to suddenly suffer a car accident en route, leaving many players severely injured or disabled, forcing the team to forfeit.
It was a devastating joke!
“What the hell is going on?”
“Are they kidding?”
“Is this real?”
After the silence, the entire bar exploded into chaos.
“This is the final match! The one that decides who gets into the Primeval Secret Realm! Why didn’t Kelof even enter the virtual universe?”
No one doubted the on-screen message, because these messages were all controlled by the virtual universe system—and in the eyes of the entire human race, the virtual universe system was infallible.
People would rather believe that billions were wrong than question the virtual universe network.
Even Xu Xin, who had been quietly watching from a corner of the bar, was somewhat startled. She had imagined Luo Feng losing or winning, but never like this.
…
The Primeval Secret Realm competition (Cosmic Level) had ended, and all fifteen battles were concluded.
Luo Feng, with five consecutive victories, claimed first place and secured the spot in the Primeval Secret Realm!
Others such as Molo, Kelof, Yufeng, Longyun, and Bolan entered the Taichu Secret Realm.
…
The results of the competition quickly spread. In the elite genius circles of the virtual universe company, Luo Feng’s entry into the Primeval Secret Realm was actually acceptable. Although the final match was somewhat questionable, Luo Feng had won all four of his previous matches.
Defeating Molo and Yufeng proved that Luo Feng possessed the strength of a Primeval Secret Realm member.
Moreover, Luo Feng had joined the virtual universe company only a short time ago. In his very first qualification match, he was already competing against veterans who had trained for thousands of years and still managed to perform astonishingly well. His talent, in the eyes of the observing geniuses, was even more extraordinary and impressive than Kelof’s.
If given a few more qualification matches, Luo Feng’s entry into the Primeval Secret Realm would be a certainty.
Therefore—
Everyone could accept a genius like Luo Feng entering the Primeval Secret Realm. However, what no one could accept or understand was why Kelof had not entered the virtual universe at such a crucial moment. While some weaker geniuses might forfeit before the match began, it was extremely rare for someone like Kelof to forfeit at the last moment.
…
News of Luo Feng’s entry into the Primeval Secret Realm spread, and reactions varied.
Some were overjoyed, such as his teacher Zhenyan Wang, who laughed heartily: “Haha! My clever disciple managed to enter the Primeval Secret Realm in his very first qualification match. Excellent!”
Others were filled with resentment and frustration, such as Molo, a former Primeval Secret Realm member who had now been relegated to the Taichu Secret Realm. Molo gritted his teeth in fury: “That Luo Feng got such a lucky break! And Kelof was such an idiot for not showing up. Could he really be dead?”
Some were shocked, such as the immortal god ‘Poyu Marquis’ stationed at the Demon Sound Mountain. Poyu Marquis frowned slightly: “This child survived? He actually entered the Primeval Secret Realm? The entire Thousand Star Sect is full of idiots.”
Others were filled with admiration, such as the geniuses from the same batch as Luo Feng who were now in the End Times Secret Realm or the Heaven-Earth Secret Realm. They were excited: “Who says newcomers are weak? Luo Feng, from my same batch, entered the Primeval Secret Realm! What do you mean it was because Kelof forfeited? Nonsense! Even if Kelof defeated Luo Feng this time, Luo Feng would surpass him soon enough!”
…
Earning a spot in the Primeval Secret Realm was a tremendous honor. Friends such as Ronjun and Wuka, his brothers Hong and Leishen, and his family—parents, wife, children, and younger brother—had all come to congratulate him. Even the Black Dragon Mountain Empire and the Qianwu Cosmic Nation had sent gifts to the Luo family to express their congratulations.
A joyous occasion?
“It is a joyous occasion, but I can’t bring myself to feel excited,” Luo Feng sat in his study, his emotions complex.
The final and most crucial match of the competition had ended with Kelof forfeiting, and it felt like a thorn in Luo Feng’s heart, making the honor feel less than satisfying. Of course, the opportunity to enter the Primeval Secret Realm was invaluable, and Luo Feng had no intention of giving it up.
He wasn’t foolish enough to do that.
“Don’t trouble yourself, Luo Feng. Others would do anything for such opportunities—bribery, murder, whatever it takes. Like Molo, who tried to kill you outright. Kelof didn’t show up because he failed to seize the opportunity. Whose fault is that?” Babata said. “Don’t think too much about it. Lone warriors with fewer resources and fewer chances fight for every opportunity with their lives. Your teacher climbed his way up step by step like that. And now you’re still overthinking?”
“I understand.”
Luo Feng nodded. “I won’t give up the opportunity I’ve already obtained. But there’s still a question in my heart—why didn’t Kelof show up?”
“One, he’s dead. Two, he was held back by something. Three, he forfeited for a special reason. Those are the only three possibilities. Why dwell on it?” Babata, the fist-sized orb on Luo Feng’s shoulder, said.
Luo Feng nodded.
But in his heart, he still couldn’t shake the question—why hadn’t Kelof appeared at such a crucial moment?
Was he really dead?
…
The day after the competition ended, Luo Feng had to move out of the Taichu District and relocate to the Primeval District at Yuxiang Mountain.
Inside Luo Feng’s mansion in the Taichu District.
Luo Feng gathered with friends from the same batch—Wuka, Ronjun, Achen, Qianshui, and others—to celebrate and bid him farewell as he prepared to enter the Primeval Secret Realm. After all his friends had left, Luo Feng sat alone on the intricately carved sofa in the living room, looking around.
He had lived here for a long time.
“I have to leave now,” Luo Feng murmured.
“Beep!”
“Hey Luo Feng, you’ve got an email from the virtual universe company,” Babata called from his shoulder.
“Really?” Luo Feng’s eyes lit up. He quickly clicked on the empty space before him, and a screen materialized. He opened the email client and selected the latest message.
The email opened.
“Statement
In the final match of this Qualification War (Cosmic Level) for the Primeval Secret Realm, the forfeiting party ‘Kelof’ was in the process of executing a ‘Desperate Mission’ during the competition. The mortality rate for Desperate Missions is as high as 90%, making them extremely dangerous. Given that Kelof has not entered the virtual universe network for such a long time, it is highly likely that he perished during the mission.
We issue this solemn reminder.
While missions are important for every Cosmic Level member, one must choose missions that are within their capabilities. Going beyond one’s limits may result in death.
Throughout history, many extraordinary geniuses have perished on Desperate Missions. Nearly half of all Cosmic Level Primeval Secret Realm members who have died met their end on such missions.
We leave you with this final message.
The company has prepared many resources for you, but the path you take is ultimately your own.”
“What!”
Luo Feng was shocked as he read the email. “Kelof was on a Desperate Mission during the competition?”
Desperate Mission!
Extremely dangerous. Even now, Luo Feng had only ever entered one—Demon Sound Mountain in the Demon Mountain. He had survived only because of his extraordinary willpower, far surpassing other geniuses, and the assistance of his Mosha Clan clone.
Without his Mosha clone, Luo Feng himself would have perished.
Moreover, it was generally difficult to find a safe haven while on a Desperate Mission. Luo Feng had only managed to do so thanks to his hidden ace, the Mosha clone, which led him to the core inheritance hall. That was the only reason he could safely focus most of his consciousness on entering the virtual universe network.
“If it weren’t for my hidden abilities that suited the Demon Sound Mountain so well, even I would have faced a near-certain death on a Desperate Mission,” Luo Feng thought. “Kelof, even while competing, probably had to keep part of his consciousness alert in the real world. As the company’s statement says, he may have perished.”
Whether Kelof was alive or dead, even the virtual universe company would struggle to determine in the short term.
Because the worlds where Desperate Missions took place were generally extremely dangerous, and it would take time for the virtual universe company to confirm Kelof’s fate. Just like when Luo Feng went missing for years, the company couldn’t confirm his status either.
…
Luo Feng was shocked by this statement, and the elite geniuses who had been upset about the final match were equally stunned upon reading it.
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