In Li Wen’s designated space on the 6th Layer of the Killing Fields.
The moment the countdown ended, a terrifying pressure washed over him like a tidal wave.
The enemies here had auras of at least a Tier Two Star Lord.
The proportion of the Mechanical Race was higher, their structures more complex, and their energy fluctuations more terrifying.
’Absolute Focus, activate!’ Li Wen didn’t hesitate for a second, immediately activating the scholar’s core skill.
With a 230% boost to his comprehension, his mind operated at its absolute peak.
The enemies’ energy flows, attack trajectories, and weak points all became perfectly clear in his eyes.
’Wish Power infusion!’ With a thought, the Wish Power settled in his sea of consciousness surged forth, merging perfectly with the Power of the Time Law and coiling around his blade.
The blade hummed, and a faint, sacred golden radiance shone through its silvery light.
SWISH!
The flash of his blade slashed toward the nearest tripod mechanical beast, which was built like a fortress.
This single strike would have been enough to instantly kill an elite from the 5th Layer.
However.
CLANG—!
The deafening sound of metal striking metal exploded outwards!
The blade’s flash only left a deep gash on the mechanical beast’s heavy alloy armor; its energy core remained completely unharmed.
’What a tough shell!’ Li Wen’s pupils contracted.
The defensive strength of the 6th Layer’s enemies far exceeded his expectations.
He instantly changed his tactics, fully deploying his Time Lag Domain to narrowly avoid the torrents of energy and physical attacks bombarding him from all directions.
Even so, his protective Time Rune armor was grazed, its light flickering violently.
After just one exchange, Li Wen felt an unprecedented amount of pressure.
’At my current power level, it’s impossible to clear this layer within the time limit!’
’Looks like I have to get serious.’ Li Wen’s gaze sharpened as he roared inwardly, ’[Berserk], activate!’
BOOM—!
An indescribable, violent power erupted from within his body.
A 200% increase in combat power!
His muscles bulged slightly, and the aura around him surged instantaneously.
The phantom of his Primordial Spirit manifestation flickered into existence behind him for a fleeting moment, and its terrifying pressure actually caused the approaching enemies to falter.
"Kill!"
At this moment, Li Wen’s...
Speed skyrocketed! Strength skyrocketed! The power of his Law skyrocketed!
The long blade in his hand transformed into a destructive torrent that seemed to tear space itself apart.
SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!
The flashes of his blade were no longer ripples, but a raging silver storm.
The Blade of Time, now fused with Wish Power, possessed even more terrifying armor-piercing and annihilation properties.
The mechanical fortress that had previously been able to withstand one of his strikes...
...was now cleaved in two by a single slash, its massive body and internal core neatly bisected before it exploded violently!
Under the blade’s light, which now swirled with silver and gold, the phantoms of the defensively formidable starry sky behemoths let out unwilling wails as their massive bodies were rapidly disintegrated and dissolved by the power of time.
Swathes! Entire swathes of enemies turned into flashes of white light under Li Wen’s frenzied assault!
He was like a tiger let loose in a flock of sheep, utterly unstoppable.
Before him now, even the powerful enemies of the 6th Layer seemed somewhat fragile.
As the enemies on the 6th Layer fell rapidly like harvested wheat, Li Wen’s rank on the Virtual Cosmos general leaderboard began to climb at a frantic pace.
When 10% of the 6th Layer’s enemies were defeated, Li Wen’s name suddenly jumped from 10th place directly to 9th.
When his kill rate reached 20%, his name flashed with silver light again as he claimed 7th place!
The instant his kill rate broke the 30% mark, the top of the leaderboard erupted in a flash of golden light.
Li Wen’s name leaped past several top geniuses, audaciously seizing 4th place!
He was ranked only behind Ling Xuzi (7th Layer), the just-eliminated Time Shadow (80%), and Illusory (65%).
"My heavens! He’s still climbing! That Li Wen from Alka! He’s in fourth!"
"How is this possible?! How can his kill speed on the 6th Layer be this fast?! He wasn’t this absurd on the 5th Layer!"
"A monster! Another monster has appeared! What kind of lucky streak did the Alka Empire hit?!"
The entire cosmic spectator space fell completely silent, only to erupt moments later in a tsunami of gasps and shouts.
The faces of the spectators from the various high-level empires were masks of disbelief, shock, and horror.
That name from the remote Alka Empire of a border Star Domain was shattering their preconceived notions in the most savage way possible.
In the Alka Empire’s viewing area, the roar of the crowd was loud enough to tear the heavens asunder.
"Fourth! He’s in fourth! Li Wen is fourth!!"
"He’s carving through the 6th Layer like it’s nothing! My God, what am I seeing!"
"He’s passed Illusory! Look! He’s past 65%! Third! He’s in third place!"
"Li Wen! Third! Third in the cosmos!!" Countless spectators from Alka were so excited they began hugging each other.
An immense sense of joy washed over every single person like a tidal wave.
From being a complete underdog at the beginning, to taking second place in the Enlightenment Tower and the Solitary Staircase, and now to rocketing to third place in the Killing Fields.
Li Wen had shattered their understanding of what was possible, time and time again.
He had firmly carved the Alka Empire’s name at the very top of the most dazzling leaderboard in the universe’s genius tournament.
...
Inside the central building, the atmosphere had also changed.
The gazes of tens of thousands of immortals grew even more fervent.
If what Li Wen had displayed before was astonishing potential...
...then his current achievement of third place in the Killing Fields was definitive proof that he was one of the handful of absolute freaks of nature at the apex of the cosmos!
His value and status had taken a qualitative leap in their minds.
The congratulatory gazes directed at Chen became more sincere, even tinged with a hint of envy.
The voices congratulating Chen rose and fell, now far more enthusiastic and heartfelt than before.
"Brother Chen, your empire... truly, your fortune reaches the heavens!" an immortal on good terms with Chen lamented with genuine feeling.
"Chen, congratulations! Your nation has truly found an unparalleled treasure this time! This child’s future accomplishments will likely far exceed our imagination!"