Silken Rain Hall had originally been a place for cultivation, but over time it became a place often used for imprisoning individuals. The entire hall soared nearly a hundred meters high, stretched hundreds of meters in length and width, and was completely empty inside.
Luo Feng sat cross-legged within the Silken Rain Hall.
“Your Highness, I remain outside the hall,” Dylan’s immortal voice reverberated through the chamber, “This matter is clearly the Nightmare Candle King’s fault—he’s simply looking for trouble. They’re facing internal issues yet still dare to provoke you. Your Highness need not worry; this matter will be resolved shortly.”
“No worries,” Luo Feng replied calmly, smiling, “Just a minor setback, nothing significant.”
Suddenly, Luo Feng glanced down at the screen on his arm guard, receiving a call request.
“Hmm? Master?” Luo Feng immediately linked his consciousness to the virtual universe.
…
Within the primitive zone of Yu Xiang Mountain in the virtual universe, inside Luo Feng’s estate.
The golden-armored ape-man Zhenyan sat inside the hall. With a swoosh, Luo Feng appeared and flew into the first-floor hall, respectfully bowing: “Disciple greets my master.”
“Sit,” Zhenyan smiled at Luo Feng.
Luo Feng sat down.
“I already know about your situation and have just reviewed some records from the Wulong star region,” Zhenyan looked at Luo Feng, “Is what you told the Cosmic Sovereign true? Did Kes’er truly attempt to assassinate you, and was there truly an immortal Flame Deity sent to kill you?”
“Yes.”
Luo Feng replied respectfully, “As for what I told the Cosmic Sovereign, it’s mostly true. There are some minor details I chose not to disclose.”
Indeed, it was mostly true.
The story Luo Feng fabricated was that he defended against ‘Kes’er’ not with ten Domain Lords, but with his own Soul Void Tower defense! And he killed the Flame Immortal not with the Fire God Core Crystal, but with the Gold-Horned Giant Beast!
In short, the overall account was true.
Only the parts involving critical secrets were slightly adjusted.
“Hmm,” Zhenyan nodded, not pressing further. As an ancient being who had existed for billions of years, Zhenyan clearly understood that nearly every super-genius who reached the peak of the vast universe had some unique experiences. He also knew that his disciple certainly had some extraordinary encounters.
The Demon Sound Divine General inheritance was one such case. Before obtaining it, he had already suspected that Luo Feng had other experiences.
However, everyone had secrets.
Zhenyan would never pry into every facet of his disciple’s existence. He merely sought to verify that this was indeed his apprentice, and that the disciple’s deeds did not transgress the boundaries he had established as a mentor. Beyond these considerations, he would not intervene.
“As long as you confirm that this was indeed an assassination attempt, then there is no problem,” Zhenyan said with a trace of boldness in his smile, “No matter what, you are a genius of our Virtual Universe Company. Even if the Nightmare Candle is arrogant, he has no right to determine the fate of our company’s members.”
Luo Feng secretly exhaled in relief.
“Now, tell me in detail the conversation you had with the Nightmare Candle,” Zhenyan said.
“Yes, Master.”
Luo Feng immediately recounted the entire conversation.
After listening, Zhenyan laughed: “Haha, you really know how to wave a big banner. Claiming the Nine-Sword Sovereign’s banner is understandable, since you will eventually serve under him once you become an immortal. But you even invoked the name of the Celestial Erosion Palace Lord… Haha, when the Nightmare Candle heard that name, he must have been terrified.”
“Is the Celestial Erosion Palace Lord really that powerful?” Luo Feng asked softly, “Stronger than the Nine-Sword Sovereign?”
“The Celestial Erosion Palace Lord governs the Celestial Erosion Palace, having deterred the Blood-Luo World for billions of years,” Zhenyan’s eyes carried a trace of reverence, “He is far superior to Cosmic Kings and Cosmic Sovereigns. He is one of the true highest authorities in our Virtual Universe Company. It was truly your fortune that he once guided you.”
Luo Feng was secretly astonished.
If even his master spoke so highly of him, the Celestial Erosion Palace Lord’s status was indeed formidable.
“By the way, Master, why does the Nightmare Candle King target me so much?” Luo Feng asked in confusion, “I have never met him before.”
“It’s mainly because of me.”
Zhenyan’s eyes carried a trace of disdain, scoffing, “The Nightmare Candle, in terms of comprehension, talent, and aptitude, is merely average. Without guidance, left to cultivate on his own, even becoming a Domain Lord would be extremely difficult. But he has a very powerful father—the true peerless genius of the Axe Combat Arena, and currently the Flame-Eroding Sovereign of the Axe Combat Arena.”
“The Flame-Eroding Sovereign?” Luo Feng was startled.
“Yes.”
Zhenyan sighed, “That is the true unparalleled prodigy, not a whit inferior to the Kedi I spoke of. At the pinnacle of Domain Lord, he could slay Marquis-level immortals. Upon ascension, he directly rose as a ‘King-Grade Immortal Sovereign,’ and after hundreds of millennia, even ascended to Cosmic Sovereign.”
Luo Feng sighed inwardly.
“He has spent immeasurable resources and effort on his only son,” Zhenyan continued, “Keeping his son Nightmare Candle at the Domain Lord stage, not rushing him to become an immortal, but instead letting him remain at the Domain Lord level for over nine million years.”
Luo Feng was utterly stunned. Earlier, the Dragon Sparrow King had mentioned that Nightmare Candle was a prodigy who, upon achieving immortality, instantly ascended to the ‘Marquis-Peak Immortal’ realm. Yet now, he learned that this same genius had lingered at the Domain Lord level for more than nine million years.
“The Flame-Eroding Sovereign even bestowed upon his son an extremely powerful treasure—one that even Cosmic Sovereigns would covet,” Zhenyan said.
“What?” Luo Feng was astonished.
“You saw those mysterious runes on Nightmare Candle’s forehead? They are external manifestations of that treasure after he refined it,” Zhenyan explained.
Luo Feng immediately recalled his first encounter with the Nightmare Candle King, seeing those mysterious runes on his forehead… those runes indeed exuded an ancient and eternal aura.
“Countless resources and treasures, even those coveted by Cosmic Sovereigns, were lavished upon his son, who was merely a Domain Lord at the time,” Zhenyan sighed, “Even Nightmare Candle’s body was elevated by his father’s treasures to an almost perfect state. That’s why he is so stunningly beautiful. With nine million years of cultivation at the Domain Lord level, plus countless treasures, how could he not be strong?”
“It is entirely natural that he ascended to immortality at the ‘Marquis-Peak’.”
Zhenyan shook his head, “Even a mere celestial, wielding that supreme artifact, could ascend to the pinnacle of Marquis rank.”
“Ah,” Luo Feng was amazed.
So putting it all together…
The Nightmare Candle King was no genius at all.
“He simply had a peerless genius for a father—an incredibly powerful one,” Zhenyan sneered, “As for himself, he was a spoiled brat with a narrow heart. He always envied true geniuses, so when I rose to power, he challenged me. But I gave him a severe beating.”
Luo Feng smiled.
“He challenged me time and again, only to be defeated each time. And I would never tolerate oppression without striking back. Every duel ended in his loss, turning us into sworn enemies,” Zhenyan shook his head. “With his petty nature, it’s no wonder he’d set his sights on you. First, you’re a prodigy in your own right. Second, his hatred for me runs deep, yet he dares not lay a finger on me—so he takes his rage out on my treasured disciple instead. Truth be told, I’ve spared him considerable dignity—despite suffering multiple humiliations at my hands, I’ve never exposed his defeats publicly, chiefly out of respect for his father. That man… is a true overlord. After billions of years, his power has grown unfathomable, and his standing within the Axe Combat Arena is peerless.”
(Note: “枭雄” is rendered as “overlord” to convey the ruthless ambition and dominance implied in the original term, while maintaining the fantasy genre’s stylistic tone.)
Luo Feng nodded.
To ascend to King-Grade Immortal Sovereign in less than ten thousand years, and to become a ‘Cosmic Sovereign’ in tens of thousands of years, and after billions of years… his strength must be even more formidable.
“No wonder he’s so arrogant and domineering. No wonder Longque King, Dalian King, and the other four with backgrounds always give in to the Nightmare Candle King,” Luo Feng thought inwardly, “He was simply pushed to the level of King-Grade Immortal Sovereign by his super powerful father. His father paid a great price—treasures he himself could have used were all given to his only son.”
“Just endure for now,” Zhenyan smiled, “No matter how strong the Flame-Eroding Sovereign is, he is still part of the Axe Combat Arena. If the Axe Combat Arena dares to openly oppress our Virtual Universe Company members, we certainly won’t back down.”
Luo Feng nodded.
This involved a covert struggle between the two major powers.
“The Nightmare Candle King will eventually have to let you go,” Zhenyan said, “But you must wait… until someone from the upper echelons speaks.”
Luo Feng understood. Behind the Nightmare Candle King was the Flame-Eroding Sovereign.
His master Zhenyan was merely the one closest to a Cosmic Sovereign. Compared to the Flame-Eroding Sovereign, who had cultivated for billions of years, his status was still much lower. In this matter… his master’s influence alone might not be enough. After all, the Nightmare Candle King hated Zhenyan deeply and would not give him any face.
…
In a magnificent and luxurious palace within the Wulong star region.
“A disciple of Zhenyan dares to challenge me?” The handsome-faced Nightmare Candle King’s expression was now twisted, his eyes burning with hatred. Recalling his past confrontations with Zhenyan, the latter had been truly arrogant—unafraid of heaven and earth, unafraid to stir up trouble even with the Flame-Eroding Sovereign’s only son!
The Nightmare Candle King had suffered greatly back then.
Zhenyan had mercilessly crushed him. If Zhenyan hadn’t slightly considered the Flame-Eroding Sovereign, he might have killed the Nightmare Candle King outright.
“Hmph.”
“Zhenyan?”
“I didn’t expect your disciple to be just as arrogant as you. With such a conceited teacher, it’s no wonder you have such a conceited disciple. No matter… your disciple has now drawn my attention. Even if he escapes this time, there will be more opportunities to deal with him in the future.” A cold glint flashed in the Nightmare Candle King’s eyes.
Having survived all these years, aside from his father’s strict punishment, no one had ever humiliated him as deeply as Zhenyan had.
Back then, the Nightmare Candle King had been utterly crushed, driven to madness, and had screamed at his father—“Kill Zhenyan! Kill him! He must die, or I will die!!! I cannot coexist with him!”
But his father, the Flame-Eroding Sovereign, had responded by…
Throwing his son into the ‘Ninth Sector Prison’ for a thousand years. After returning, the Nightmare Candle King had become much more obedient, though he remained narrow-minded and ruthless, no longer as lawless as before.
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