Chapter 144: Rechallenging the Tongtian Bridge

Virtual universe, the Tongtian Bridge plane space.

On that resplendent central island, more than ten figures were currently waiting to challenge the Tongtian Bridge.

Inside one of the Tongtian Bridges, a figure of a Wolfman race expert was currently challenging the fifteenth floor for the second time—this person was none other than Pigel, who had met Lu Qingshan several times before, the disciple of Hei Fengwang, the Undying Demon Heart King.

Under Pigel's relentless attacks, the guardian of the fifteenth floor of this Tongtian Bridge held on for a while before finally collapsing, and Pigel passed the fifteenth floor of the Tongtian Bridge very smoothly.

After passing the fifteenth floor of the Tongtian Bridge, knowing he had no chance of clearing the sixteenth floor, Pigel did not choose to continue forward, but instead returned to the Tongtian Bridge plane.

And at this moment on the Tongtian Bridge plane, more than ten of Pigel's close friends had long since gathered, among them the Wolfman race expert Kelimo, who had gone to the primal universe together with Lu Qingshan back when they were at the Realm Master level to gain insight.

When Kelimo had just broken through, he did indeed find Pigel somewhat annoying, and Pigel also held himself in high regard, looking down a little on Kelimo, who had become an Undying purely through a lower-tier Origin Law.

But after attending the Wolfman race's grand gathering held once every ten million years, they came to understand even more clearly that the reason the Wolfman race could hold a place among the human race was precisely unity!

As the saying goes, "A single thread cannot make a line, a lone tree cannot make a forest!"

The Wolfman race lineage, with only one Universe Zifeng Zunzhe, has been able to spread its branches and even hold a place in every major universe country of the human race—precisely because of unity!

And since Kelimo and Pigel were both Wolfman race experts from the same universe country, they naturally should unite even more, otherwise wouldn't they just be giving the Wolfman race experts from other universe countries something to laugh at?

So after the Wolfman race grand gathering ended, the two gradually became more frequent in their contact, and now, after more than a million years, the two of them already had a fairly good friendship.

In fact, this time when Pigel was confident he could pass the fifteenth floor of the Tongtian Bridge and step into the Marquis rank, he even invited Kelimo to come witness it together.

This was not because he wanted to show off to Kelimo, but because he truly regarded Kelimo as a friend, indicating that even if he became a Marquis Undying, the relationship between the two would remain just as before!

Whoosh!

Flying out of the Tongtian Bridge, Pigel first bowed slightly in salute to Guardian Bafen of the Tongtian Bridge plane, then quickly came before Kelimo and the group of friends.

"Pigel, you're way too amazing!"

"Hahaha! Pigel, the moment you passed the fifteenth floor of the Tongtian Bridge this time, we all received the email sent out by Mr. Guardian Bafen—you've become famous within our Virtual Universe Company this time!"

"That's right! Pigel, have you thought of your title yet or not?"

The surrounding crowd all looked at Pigel and said with smiles.

Among them, aside from one Marquis Undying, the rest were only Military Lord Undying, but because they were all very close with Pigel, they did not develop any awkwardness now that Pigel had passed the fifteenth floor of the Tongtian Bridge and stepped into the Marquis rank.

"Hahaha, I was just lucky!"

Pigel said with a smile: "After bitter cultivation for more than nine million years, I've finally successfully stepped into the Marquis rank! As for the title, I haven't thought of one yet—how about everyone help me think of one?"

"What's so hard about that? Your claw techniques are pretty impressive—how about Dark Claw Marquis?"

"I think Golden Claw Marquis sounds a bit better!"

For a moment, everyone around began offering Pigel suggestions.

Just like that, amid the laughter and talk, Pigel suddenly thought of Lu Qingshan, whom he had once regarded as a rival.

"Kelimo!"

Pigel's gaze quickly turned to Kelimo beside him, then he asked with a smile: "I remember you're quite familiar with Marquis Lu Qingshan, right? I wonder how his cultivation has been going lately?"

"I'm actually not too sure about that!"

Kelimo replied with a smile: "The last time I met Marquis Lu Qingshan was at an internal gathering of the transportation department more than three thousand years ago, but I estimate that with Marquis Lu Qingshan's astonishing cultivation speed, his strength must have improved quite a lot by now—Pigel, you're definitely no match for him!"

"That remains to be seen!"

Pigel shook his head, then continued: "I recall that when Marquis Lu Qingshan passed the fifteenth floor of the Tongtian Bridge, he had already been cultivating for over ten million years, and I've only been cultivating for just over nine million years now! By that account, my cultivation speed is still a notch better!"

Hearing this, Kelimo merely shook his head slightly.

"Pigel, I know you've always felt your talent was a bit better than Marquis Lu Qingshan's, but is that really the case?"

Kelimo quickly continued: "You passed the fourteenth floor of the Tongtian Bridge a long time ago, but how long has it been since Marquis Lu Qingshan passed the fourteenth floor of the Tongtian Bridge? And you joined the Virtual Universe Company back when you were at the Star level, receiving the company's training early on! But Marquis Lu Qingshan only joined the Virtual Universe Company after entering the primal universe together with me, and before that he could only rely on himself for cultivation!"

"The fact that I could join the company's core layer at the Star level is also my own ability!"

After hearing Kelimo's words, Pigel only mildly rebutted once, then quickly explained: "Kelimo, I actually bear Marquis Lu Qingshan no ill will—I'm just a little unconvinced, that's all!"

And while Kelimo and the others were chatting, another figure wearing a purple-gold long robe soon appeared on this Tongtian Bridge plane—it was Lu Qingshan, who had just broken through.

Lu Qingshan, who had appeared on the Tongtian Bridge plane, swept his gaze around and quickly spotted Kelimo's group not far away.

Earlier, when Pigel passed the fifteenth floor of the Tongtian Bridge, Guardian Bafen's email was sent to all Military Lord Undying within the Virtual Universe Company, and Lu Qingshan, being a Marquis Undying, naturally knew nothing about it.

But even if he had known, he wouldn't have cared too much—after all, for him, ordinary Marquis Undying were already ones he could destroy with a wave of his hand!

After nodding slightly to Kelimo, Lu Qingshan quickly walked toward Guardian Bafen.

Guardian Bafen, who was wearing a crimson star robe, was also quite surprised upon seeing Lu Qingshan suddenly appear.

After all, Lu Qingshan had previously become an Undying purely through a lower-tier Origin Law, and then fought his way from the tenth floor of the Tongtian Bridge to the fifteenth floor, which had left him with some impression.

"my lord Guardian!" Lu Qingshan bowed slightly in greeting.

"Little fellow, it's been over a million years since you last came here after passing the fifteenth floor of the Tongtian Bridge last time!"

Guardian Bafen looked at Lu Qingshan, then asked with a smile: "Could it be that you've come this time because you're confident you can pass the sixteenth floor of the Tongtian Bridge?"

"I'll let you be surprised, my lord Guardian!" Lu Qingshan replied with a smile and a nod.

"Little fellow, looks like you're quite confident!"

Guardian Bafen quickly said with a smile: "Someone is currently challenging inside the Heavenly Thunder Tongtian Bridge now, and you're next in line—once that person comes out, you can go challenge it!"

"Yes!" Lu Qingshan nodded in reply, then quietly waited off to the side.

At this moment, Pigel, who had noticed Lu Qingshan, also quickly walked over with a few of his friends.

"Marquis Lu Qingshan!" Pigel greeted him quite warmly.

"Pigel!" Lu Qingshan nodded slightly.

Several hundred thousand years ago, Lu Qingshan had attended a banquet hosted by Kelimo, and at that time had also exchanged a few words with this Pigel, which actually changed his opinion of Pigel.

Strictly speaking, this Pigel was not much different from people like 'Purple Light' Rhodes, who were in the same cohort as Lu Qingshan.

They had cultivated within the core layer of the Virtual Universe Company from the very beginning, so naturally they looked down somewhat on those ordinary experts who joined the Virtual Universe Company later.

It's just that as long as the other party displayed powerful strength, they too would feel awe in their hearts!

"Marquis Lu Qingshan!"

Piger smiled and asked, "You've come to challenge the Tongtian Bridge this time — could it be that you're confident you can clear the sixteenth floor?"

"Pretty much!"

Lu Qingshan nodded slightly, then said casually, "After more than a million years of bitter cultivation, my strength has finally improved a little, so I thought I'd come challenge the Tongtian Bridge and see!"

"Then let me wish you in advance…"

Before Piger could finish speaking, the voice of Guardian Bafen rang out in everyone's ears: "Lu Qingshan, the Heavenly Thunder Tongtian Bridge is empty now — you may go challenge it!"

"Yes, Guardian my lord!" Lu Qingshan nodded in reply, then gave a slight nod to Kelimo and the others, and immediately transformed into a streak of flowing light flying toward the nearby Heavenly Thunder Tongtian Bridge.

At this moment, Piger, who stood to one side, looked toward Guardian Bafen and then asked, "Guardian my lord, I wonder if I might watch Marquis Meixin's challenge video?"

Although he had already cleared the fifteenth floor of the Tongtian Bridge, and his permissions within the Virtual Universe had been raised to a certain extent, he still could not do something like this!

"As long as Lu Qingshan agrees, you may!" Guardian Bafen answered directly.

At this time Lu Qingshan had not yet entered the interior of the Heavenly Thunder Tongtian Bridge, so he quickly turned around and replied, "Guardian my lord, I agree!"

And at the same time, Lu Qingshan secretly thought in his heart, "I hope I don't discourage these fellows later!"

At this thought, Lu Qingshan immediately stopped thinking further, and instead flew straight into the entrance of the Heavenly Thunder Tongtian Bridge.

And after hearing Lu Qingshan's reply, Guardian Bafen quickly waved his hand and conjured up a huge illusory screen, which displayed Lu Qingshan's figure continuously flying upward within the interior of the Heavenly Thunder Tongtian Bridge.

……

Inside the Heavenly Thunder Tongtian Bridge.

Lu Qingshan flew upward along the Tongtian Bridge and very quickly arrived at the sixteenth floor.

Every three floors of the Tongtian Bridge, the environment would change, and the sixteenth floor had already arrived at the stellar core within a star.

After Lu Qingshan appeared here, the entire star immediately began to tremble slightly.

Then an extremely deep voice came from within the stellar core: "Choose your opponent — Warrior, Controller, or Illusionist. Choose one, and defeating them will allow you to pass the sixteenth floor!"

"I choose Warrior!" Lu Qingshan answered quickly.

Rumble rumble rumble!

The instant Lu Qingshan's words fell, the entire star immediately began to tremble continuously, and then countless streams of purple flames spread out from within the stellar core, quickly condensing not far in front of Lu Qingshan into the figure of a mysterious powerhouse clad in purple battle armor, wearing a purple mask, and holding a purple-gold long spear in hand.

"Challenger, I didn't expect you to be back so soon!"

The Purple-Clad Man looked at Lu Qingshan, his voice rather deep: "But I remember telling you once before that my strength is far beyond what the guardian of the fifteenth floor of the Tongtian Bridge can compare to. If you want to clear my level, you must achieve greater mastery in the Law of the Origin of Time!"

"Enough talk!"

Lu Qingshan immediately said coldly, "Make your move! If you let me strike first, you won't have any chance to attack at all!"

"Very well!"

Seeing Lu Qingshan so arrogant, a hint of anger quickly appeared on the Purple-Clad Man's face as well: "It seems your strength has indeed improved quite a bit. Then let me see exactly what kind of confidence you have to say such words!"

The instant his words fell, the Purple-Clad Man instantly transformed into a brilliant streak of flowing light and charged toward Lu Qingshan's position, the long spear in his hand thrusting out like a dragon, carrying a heaven-overwhelming might!

Seeing this, Lu Qingshan, however, did not react at all — not even his figure moved in the slightest!

Outside, Piger and the others, seeing this, began to discuss it among themselves.

"This Marquis Meixin is being far too overconfident!"

"Right! Even if he really is confident he can clear the tenth floor of the Tongtian Bridge—"

"Maybe he was intimidated by the guardian!"

"You're the one who got intimidated!"

Hearing the last person's words, Kelimo immediately said angrily, "Marquis Meixin must have his reasons for doing this. Maybe he can now defeat this floor's guardian with a casual flick!"

"What a joke — that's the sixteenth floor of the Tongtian Bridge!"

"Right! If he really could casually defeat the sixteenth floor's guardian, wouldn't that mean he even has a chance to clear the seventeenth floor?"

……

Inside the Tongtian Bridge, the Purple-Clad Man appeared almost instantly before Lu Qingshan, the long spear in his hand likewise tracing an unfathomably shifting trajectory, and then thrust straight toward Lu Qingshan's Meixin Marquis.

The Tongtian Bridge plane had no such thing as an immortal body — once struck in the Marquis Meixin by the guardian, it meant Lu Qingshan had failed his challenge.

And just at this moment, the purple-gold long sword in Lu Qingshan's hand instantly leapt from its sheath!

Swish! Swish!

In the blink of an eye, Lu Qingshan swung out two sword strikes.

The first sword knocked aside the long spear in the Purple-Clad Man's hand;

The second sword pierced straight through the Purple-Clad Man's chest!

In an instant, fresh blood sprayed in all directions, and the corpse of the Purple-Clad Man guardian slammed heavily down onto the bridge surface of the Tongtian Bridge below!

And so, the sixteenth floor of the Tongtian Bridge — cleared!

And Lu Qingshan did not pause at all, but immediately flew toward the seventeenth floor of the Heavenly Thunder Tongtian Bridge.

……

And outside, on the Tongtian Bridge plane, at the central plaza.

"Impossible!"

Watching Lu Qingshan defeat the guardian of the sixteenth floor of the Heavenly Thunder Tongtian Bridge so cleanly and decisively, Piger, who had just cleared the fifteenth floor of the Tongtian Bridge, could not help but feel somewhat stunned.

He himself was already considered a rare genius within the Virtual Universe company — back then, among the many World Masters of the Heaven and Earth Secret Realm, he had also ranked among the very best.

Even after he broke through to become Immortal, he could be counted as outstanding among the many high-ranking Army Masters!

Yet even so, he had still devotedly cultivated for over two million years at the Immortal stage, had his teacher's help, and spent a great deal of wealth — only then did he succeed in clearing the fifteenth floor of the Tongtian Bridge!

"This Marquis Meixin only cleared the fifteenth floor of the Tongtian Bridge a little over a million years ago. Even if his talent is heaven-defying, and he can clear the sixteenth floor after cultivating for such a short time, it shouldn't be this easy!"

At this moment Piger's heart was filled with shock and bewilderment: "Could he possibly have a chance to clear the seventeenth floor of the Tongtian Bridge as well?"

One had to know, clearing the seventeenth floor of the Tongtian Bridge meant he was only one step away from becoming a Hei Fengwang Immortal.

If there were no obvious shortcoming in any aspect, and with the support of several powerhouses behind him, he might even have a chance to obtain the Black Wind King title!

And beside him, Kremo was now left with nothing but excitement and joy!

"Did you see that?"

Kremo looked at the several Immortal Deities around him who had previously doubted Lu Qingshan: "I told you Marquis Qingshan must have been confident to act that way. Now do you believe me!"

The other Immortal Deities lowered their heads in embarrassment at the sight.

But compared to the surprise and excitement of Kremo and the others, Guardian Bafen beside him remained very calm.

After all, he had already served as Guardian of the Skyreach Bridge plane for countless eons, and the genius figures he had witnessed over the endless years were simply too many to count!

Not to mention the peerless genius Yarvis from over a million years ago, who cleared the twentieth level of the Skyreach Bridge in tens of thousands of years and the twenty-first level in hundreds of thousands of years, stepping into the Venerable Realm — that was the absolute top genius among the human race!

As for Lu Qingshan's current performance, he was undoubtedly still far from that!

"I wonder if this little fellow can clear the seventeenth level of the Skyreach Bridge next?" Guardian Bafen secretly guessed in his heart.

……

Just as the people outside were shocked by Lu Qingshan's effortless clearing of the sixteenth level of the Skyreach Bridge, Lu Qingshan himself quickly arrived at the seventeenth level of the Thunder Skyreach Bridge.

Lu Qingshan stood at the end of the seventeenth level of the Thunder Skyreach Bridge, surveying the star cores around him filled with scorching aura.

At the same time, the star cores quickly began to tremble, and a rumbling voice sounded: "Choose your opponent — Warrior, Controller, or Illusionist. Pick one and defeat them to pass the seventeenth level!"

"I choose Warrior!" Lu Qingshan answered once more.

Rumble…

Space trembled as countless purple flames flew out from the surrounding star cores, then converged in midair into the figure of a mysterious powerhouse clad in purple battle armor.

He was seen stepping in purple-gold battle boots, wielding a purple-gold battle blade in one hand and a round purple shield in the other, then looking at Lu Qingshan and saying coldly: "Challenger, first congratulations on making it to my level, but if you want to clear it, it won't be that easy!"

"Enough talk!"

Lu Qingshan immediately shouted: "Guardian, bring out everything you've got — don't get defeated by me too easily!"

"As you wish!" the Guardian quickly nodded in reply.

Boom! Boom!

The moment the words fell, Lu Qingshan and the purple-clad Guardian instantly erupted with dazzling purple light, while dense purple threads began to spread across the purple-gold longsword and purple-gold battle blade in their hands.

Terrifying law ripples centered on the two of them, constantly clashing in the surrounding void.

"Kill!" Lu Qingshan and the purple-clad Guardian roared simultaneously.

Whoosh!

The purple-clad Guardian stepped in his battle boots, and the purple-gold battle blade in his hand directly slashed out streak after streak of brilliant blade light;

Meanwhile, the longsword in Lu Qingshan's hand carried world-shaking might, every strike imbued with an unstoppable grand momentum — wherever it passed, space twisted and time warped!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The weapons in Lu Qingshan's and the Guardian's hands clashed continuously, exchanging over a hundred bouts in the span of a brief moment.

"This Guardian is somewhat interesting! But it's time to end this!"

After carefully sensing the mysterious laws displayed by the Guardian, the might of the longsword in Lu Qingshan's hand instantly surged!

Rumble!

An incomparably terrifying might erupted in an instant, then directly crushed toward the purple-clad Guardian with overwhelming grand momentum.

The purple-clad Guardian resisted with all his might, but under this terrifying might it was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot — in the end, his entire body turned to ash!

Skyreach Bridge, seventeenth level — cleared!

(End of chapter)