Chapter 587 - 355: Summiting the 7th Layer

Chapter 587: Chapter 355: Summiting the 7th Layer

He knew that to withstand the tide of doubt that came with making no progress, especially under such immense scrutiny and the pressure of being in second place, required immense fortitude.

The fact that Li Wen stuck to the cultivation method most beneficial to him showed a disposition far more commendable than any temporary advancement.

Since Li Wen had made his choice, Chen was relieved and no longer checked on him so frequently.

...

Time flew by. A year passed inside the tower, which equated to just over a month in the outside world.

The first phase of the Enlightenment Tower assessment was nearing its end, entering its final moments.

The eyes of billions of spectators focused once again on Li Wen’s ranking.

Expectation, curiosity, speculation... all sorts of emotions brewed and fermented within the crowd.

Everyone waited with bated breath, eager to see just how far this legendary dark horse would progress on the 7th Layer.

’A minimum of 10%? Maybe even higher?’

Almost no one doubted it. As one of only two super-geniuses to reach the 7th Layer, his progress couldn’t possibly be less than 10%.

However, when the final bell tolled, everyone’s eyes were immediately fixed upon the overall rankings.

[Li Wen (Alka Empire) 7th Layer (Progress 0%)]

The number hadn’t budged!

For a brief moment, the entire, massive staging area fell into a dead silence.

"His progress... didn’t move?" one contestant whispered in disbelief, rubbing his eyes. "Is... is it lagging? Did the Virtual Cosmos make a mistake?"

"What a joke!" someone nearby immediately retorted sharply.

"The Virtual Cosmos spans hundreds of millions of light-years and carries the consciousness of trillions of beings. How could it possibly suffer from a low-level error like data lag? Its rules are a direct reflection of the Laws of the universe!"

"Then... then doesn’t that mean..." a voice piped up, stating the conclusion that gave everyone pause, "that Li Wen... after a year on the 7th Layer... couldn’t even comprehend 1% of it?!"

"That’s absolutely impossible!" the remaining contestants from the Alka sector shouted almost in unison. "Just reaching the 7th Layer is proof of his aptitude! How could he have made zero progress!"

"What’s so impossible about it!" a sharp, caustic voice suddenly cut in, filled with long-suppressed venom and the glee of finally finding an outlet.

All eyes turned to the source of the voice: a genius contestant from a high-level empire named Kane.

He had previously looked down on Li Wen, only to be brutally humiliated when Li Wen surged to the sixth and then the 7th Layer. Now, at last, he had found his chance to strike back.

"I said it all along! How could some guy from a backwater, dilapidated empire possibly possess an aptitude that surpasses so many top-tier prodigies?

He must have used some forbidden Secret Technique—one that burns through potential or even breaks the rules—to luckily exploit a loophole and crawl his way to the 7th Layer!

This is a blatant blasphemy against the rules of the Source Net! It is the greatest injustice to all of us who are competing with our real skills!

The Source Net must investigate this person! Strip him of his results!"

Kane’s words were highly inflammatory, instantly igniting the emotions of many contestants, whether out of jealousy, disappointment, or simply a love for drama.

"Yeah! He’s right! We demand a full investigation!"

"How could the Alka Empire possibly produce a genius like that? Something’s definitely wrong!"

"This is completely unfair! The Source Net must give us an explanation!"

"That’s right, punish the cheater!"

A tsunami of doubt surged through the staging area, where tens of millions of contestants were gathered, growing more intense by the second.

The contestants from the Alka Empire argued back, their faces flushed, but they were hopelessly drowned out by the overwhelming roar.

Barton clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white.

There was a murderous glint in his eyes. If not for the rules, he would have likely charged out and torn Kane to shreds.