The Virtual Universe was an independent plane specially constructed by the human race.
Within it stretched an endless continent, vast and desolate. At its heart stood three colossal mountains, towering so high that even stars seemed small in comparison. Each mountain pierced the heavens, radiating an indescribable pressure.
Halfway up their slopes, ancient golden universal runes shone brilliantly:
Primordial. Heaven. Earth.
Among the three, Primordial Tongtian Mountain stood tallest and most imposing—its aura heavy, solemn, and absolute.
At this moment, several figures materialized at the edge of the plane.
Jiang Yan.
Ai Chen.
Luo Feng.
Hong.
Thor.
Unlike the others, Jiang Yan did not head straight for the Tongtian Bridge. Instead, he turned his gaze toward the towering mountain ahead.
He had chosen to challenge Primordial Tongtian Mountain first.
The reason was simple.
Points.
Among all assessments arranged by the Virtual Universe Company, Primordial Tongtian Mountain offered the most brutal difficulty—and the most terrifying rewards.
Universe Level clearance: 100 million pointsDomain Lord clearance: 3 billion pointsRealm Lord clearance: 100 billion points
And during the thirty-year Chaos City period, all rewards were multiplied tenfold.
In the original timeline, Luo Feng's clearance of Primordial Tongtian Mountain had not only granted him massive points, but also supreme treasures personally bestowed by the Chaos City Lord.
The value of this mountain was unquestionable.
Thor stared at the distant peaks and let out a long breath.
"Third Brother… this mountain isn't something brute force can handle."
He shook his head with a bitter smile.
"Brother Hong and I both tried. We couldn't even pass the first gate."
Luo Feng nodded.
"At the foot of the mountain, I can barely deal with two gatekeepers. The third overwhelms me completely."
Hong's expression remained calm, but his eyes carried quiet acknowledgment.
The Primordial Tongtian Mountain was divided into three layers:
Foot of the MountainMid-MountainSummit
Each layer's gatekeepers were ten times stronger than the last.
Failing at the foot meant absolute annihilation higher up.
Ai Chen smiled faintly, gripping Jiang Yan's arm.
"Ke Ti cleared this mountain once and became a legend. You're already recognized as rarer than him."
Her eyes curved slightly.
"Passing this mountain isn't impossible for you."
The others laughed lightly.
None of them could pass.
But Jiang Yan?
That was a different story entirely.
"I'll go first."
Jiang Yan stepped forward.
His figure dissolved into light, streaking straight toward Primordial Tongtian Mountain.
The mountain stood ten thousand kilometers tall, its base wrapped in ancient pressure.
At the foot of the mountain, three figures waited.
At the center slept a bull-headed giant, massive axe resting against his shoulder. Each breath shook the air.
To the left, an ape-man crouched atop a boulder, calmly polishing a dark-blue telekinetic weapon.
To the right, a snake woman reclined beside a pool, her body veiled in translucent silk, her gaze filled with dangerous allure.
Three gatekeepers.
Warrior.
Telekinetic Controller.
Illusion Spiritualist.
The moment Jiang Yan stepped forward, the bull-headed giant's eyes snapped open.
"Haha! Another challenger?"
His voice thundered.
Jiang Yan nodded.
The bull-man grinned fiercely.
"Good! Finally someone worth warming up!"
He roared, summoning the others.
The ape-man and snake woman arrived instantly.
The snake woman's eyes narrowed as she scanned Jiang Yan.
"Oh? Jiang Yan… the one from the Primordial Region."
The other two stiffened slightly—then laughed even louder.
"Excellent!"
"No rules changed," the bull-man declared. "From the foot to the summit. Victory alone counts."
Jiang Yan's reply was simple.
"Begin."
The ape-man attacked first.
His telekinetic weapon screamed through space, aiming directly for Jiang Yan's brow.
The snake woman's illusion surged simultaneously—purple-gold soul force crashing forward, distorting reality itself.
Jiang Yan did not move.
He flicked his fingers.
Boom.
A vast black domain unfolded.
Ninefold Thunder Prison Demon Realm.
The telekinetic weapon struck the domain barrier and stopped—motionless, as if embedded in solid eternity.
The illusion shattered instantly.
The snake woman coughed golden blood, eyes wide with disbelief.
Her Purple-Gold Demon Pupil Illusion, capable of trapping Domain Lords, had collapsed without resistance.
The bull-man roared and swung his axe.
The blade tore space apart—
—and froze three feet from Jiang Yan.
"Too weak."
Jiang Yan vanished.
He reappeared behind the ape-man, finger touching his brow.
No sound.
The ape-man dissolved into light.
The bull-man charged in fury.
Jiang Yan caught the axe barehanded.
A pulse of force erupted.
The axe flew.
The bull-man's neck snapped.
The snake woman turned to flee—
—but space and time locked.
Jiang Yan appeared before her.
One flick.
Ash.
Foot of the mountain: cleared.
One step forward.
Jiang Yan was already on the mid-mountain.
Here, the gatekeepers radiated pressure ten times stronger.
Jiang Yan raised his hand.
The world froze.
Law suppression descended.
Three bodies collapsed simultaneously.
Mid-mountain: cleared.
Another step.
Clouds parted.
Summit.
The final three gatekeepers stood ready—each radiating power comparable to early Immortals.
Their eyes burned with excitement.
"After millions of eras…" the bull-man roared, "a real challenger!"
The hammer fell.
Telekinetic weapons sealed space.
Illusions dragged the end of the universe into being.
Jiang Yan finally raised his spear.
One thrust.
No sound.
No flare.
The hammer shattered.
Space collapsed.
Illusions disintegrated.
Three figures fell—before understanding how.
"Congratulations, Jiang Yan."
"You have cleared the Universe-Level Primordial Tongtian Mountain."
Jiang Yan's voice followed immediately.
"Open Domain Lord Level assessment."
The gatekeepers froze.
"That isn't—"
"Request approved."
The Virtual Universe System spoke.
Silence.
Moments later—
Domain Lord cleared.
Realm Lord cleared.
Effortlessly.
The Chaos City Lord descended.
His expression was solemn beyond words.
"This information must be sealed."
He looked at Jiang Yan deeply.
"You are now the first genius in human history."
Jiang Yan nodded.
And inwardly smiled.
103.01 billion points.
All in hand.