Chapter 367: Sea of Origin, Competing for the Divine Son! Qin Feng's Strength Increases Greatly

Chapter 367: The Sea of Origins, Competing for the God-Child! Qin Feng’s Power Surges! The Possibility of Leading the Machine Race!

Within the virtual arena of the Gear Star Sector, the clamor and fervor boiled silently in the logic cores of every mechanical lifeform, like congealing magma.

The myth of two hundred thousand consecutive victories stood like an insurmountable monument before every candidate of the Ninth Sequence, deeply etched into the memory banks of the Molten Heart Emperor.

He looked at this mysterious kin, codenamed "Vanguard," whose aura remained as steady as an abyss, as if that glorious triumph which shook the entire sequence were nothing more than a routine data calculation. This bottomless calm was far more awe-inspiring than any arrogant posturing.

"God-Child..."

Qin Feng slowly chewed on these two words within his cognitive core.

This was no longer a mere contest of strength; it was a ladder leading to the supreme authority of a peak civilization.

Once successful, he would no longer be a mere individual, but the sole representative of the entire Machine Race in the "Golden Age," the embodiment of the supreme will of trillions of mechanical creations.

To become the "Empire’s Chief" was merely to reach the pinnacle among the younger generation of the human race;

To become a "Universal Enemy" was to be passively pitted against all races. But to become the "God-Child" of the Machine Race was to actively, in an unimaginable way, grasp the future of a peak civilization within his own hands.

The risks and opportunities involved had reached an unprecedented magnitude.

"The Golden Age, the chance to become a god, the only chief and successor..."

Qin Feng’s thoughts raced like lightning, "Isn't this the stage I have dreamed of? To seize the supreme authority of a peak race as an outsider—this gamble is more exhilarating than any before."

His ambition was thoroughly ignited at this moment. The path of the limit was, by nature, a road of constantly challenging the impossible. If he lacked the courage to covet a peak race, how could he speak of surpassing the Venerables and touching the legendary realm of the gods?

"I will participate."

Qin Feng’s voice carried no ripples, as if stating an established fact.

No questions, no hesitation, only absolute affirmation.

The Molten Heart Emperor’s core matrix flickered with a violent surge of data—a manifestation of extreme excitement.

This was the answer he had been waiting for. The Ninth Sequence, specializing in "Evolution," had languished in the lower-middle tier of the twelve sequences for countless eras due to the ethereal nature of its research.

They desperately needed a leader capable of bringing change, and the appearance of "Vanguard" was the greatest hope they had seen.

"A wise choice, Lord Vanguard."

The Molten Heart Emperor’s tone grew increasingly respectful, "The potential you have displayed is enough to make the Ninth Sequence shine with unprecedented brilliance in the upcoming God-Child Grand Competition. To convert your potential into greater combat power in the shortest possible time, according to the highest authority of the sequence, I shall immediately take you to our race’s sacred heritage site—the [Sea of Myriad Laws]."

"The Sea of Myriad Laws?"

Qin Feng’s cognitive core performed a preliminary search for the term, only to find a blank.

Clearly, this was one of the most core secrets of the Machine Race, inaccessible without specific status.

"Yes,"

The Molten Heart Emperor explained, "It is the gathering place of all our race’s knowledge and secret arts, an ocean composed of pure data and logic. Every candidate for the Holy Child is qualified to enter and learn the basic and advanced secret arts matching their sequence. Your authority will allow you to browse the vast majority of knowledge within the Ninth Sequence’s 'Evolution' path."

Qin Feng’s gaze flickered: "The vast majority?"

"Yes." The Molten Heart Emperor did not hide it, "Access to the [Sea of Myriad Laws] is tiered.

As a Holy Child candidate, you may learn all secret arts below the Emperor-rank within the sequence.

Once you officially become the [Holy Child] of the Ninth Sequence, your authority will be elevated again. At that time, all Emperor-rank secret arts within the sequence, save for the most core God-rank techniques, will be fully open to you."

He paused, his tone carrying a hint of guidance and expectation: "As for the legendary [God-Arts], you will need to win the final Grand Competition of the twelve sequences and be crowned the sole [God-Child] to earn the qualification to study them. That is the crystallization of the supreme wisdom of the entire mechanical civilization."

Qin Feng understood. This was a clear mechanism of promotion and reward.

Using supreme knowledge as bait, it spurred all the proud geniuses to climb toward the final goal.

This suited him perfectly.

What he lacked had never been comprehension, but sufficiently high-level knowledge and materials to fill his all-encompassing "Path of the Limit."

"Lead the way."

Qin Feng was concise.

"Very well!"

The Molten Heart Emperor’s mechanical body bowed slightly. Then, he raised his arm, and a silver spatial ripple spread from his palm, rapidly expanding into a stable portal flickering with billions of data streams.

"Please, Lord Vanguard."

Qin Feng stepped inside and instantly felt his consciousness stripped from the material world.

Before him was no longer the cold starry sky, but an endless ocean composed of light and symbols.

Billions of data streams radiating different colors flowed around him like a school of docile fish.

The air was permeated with a pure, ultimate beauty of logic. There was no energy, no matter, only the most primordial "information."

This was the [Sea of Myriad Laws].

The Molten Heart Emperor’s figure materialized beside him. He pointed to this vast ocean of data and introduced, "This is the source of our race’s knowledge. You need only extend your spiritual power into it to search and read the corresponding secret art inheritances based on your authority. Time has no meaning here; you may study until the Ninth Sequence’s Holy Child selection officially begins."

Qin Feng nodded. He could feel that the amount of knowledge contained in this ocean was enough to keep any Emperor-rank entity obsessed until the end of the era.

He did not hesitate, extending his spiritual power—that terrifying will fused with "Pure Black Quality"—slowly into this ocean of logic.

...

Hum—!

The moment Qin Feng’s spiritual power touched the data stream, his cognitive core felt as if it had been connected to an infinite database. A massive volume of information, like a bursting flood, surged into his consciousness.

[Secret Art: Data Jump]

[Secret Art: Matrix Shield]

[Secret Art: Particle Annihilation Cannon]

[Secret Art: Micro-Wormhole Engine]

...

Thousands of conventional secret arts of the Machine Race were merely the ripples on the surface of this ocean.

These arts covered combat, defense, movement, creation, and every other aspect; any one of them, if released to the outside world, would be enough to cause a qualitative leap in the technological level of an ordinary civilization.

But to Qin Feng, these were merely appetizers.

His goal was the deeper, core knowledge related to the "Evolution" sequence.

Guided by his will, his spiritual power acted like the most precise probe, rapidly piercing through the surface information and diving into the depths of the data ocean.

Soon, he touched an invisible barrier of authority.

Relying on the "Holy Child Candidate" authority granted by the Molten Heart Emperor, the barrier rippled away, revealing a brand-new realm of knowledge to him.

[Advanced Secret Art: Genetic Sequence Recombination]

[Advanced Secret Art: Material Lattice Editing]

[Advanced Secret Art: Energy Form Simulation]

[Advanced Secret Art: Self-Evolution Circuit]

These were the true essence of the Ninth Sequence!

Qin Feng’s mind was completely immersed within.

His cognitive core, anchored by the Primordial Singularity, now manifested an unparalleled capacity for analysis.

Qin Feng, like a parched sponge, drank greedily from the nectar of this newfound knowledge.

His mechanical avatar, Vanguard, underwent a cataclysmic transformation as he delved deeper into his studies.

Guided by the principles of Energy Form Simulation, the energy conduits within him spontaneously optimized their structure, multiplying his energy transmission efficiency several times over.

Under the influence of the laws of Material Lattice Editing, the metal constituting his frame rearranged its particles into a tighter, more resilient configuration, pushing his strength and durability to unprecedented heights.

Within his core code, the rudimentary framework of a Self-Evolution Logic Circuit began to take shape.

This vessel, once merely a perfect shell forged from vast quantities of divine materials, was now being infused with a genuine soul and intellect.

Every component, every line of code, was leaping toward a higher order of existence.

His power was surging forward at a pace visible to the naked eye.

Throughout his learning, Qin Feng made several attempts to peer into the deeper reaches of the repository.

He could clearly see, floating within that vast ocean of data, clusters of light far more brilliant, radiating the majesty of the Imperial Way. The knowledge contained within them was far more profound and potent than anything he had yet touched.

[Imperial Secret Art: Causal Projection Model]

[Imperial Secret Art: Dimensional Collapse]

[Imperial Secret Art: Conceptual Armament]

Merely perceiving the names of these arts sent tremors through Qin Feng’s cognitive core.

These were the terrifying instruments capable of threatening top-tier Emperors or even contending with the power of Sovereigns.

Yet, a more formidable barrier of authority locked them away, clearly marked: "Insufficient Authority—Accessible only to the [Holy Son]."

Beyond the Imperial Secret Arts, deeper still, lay twelve supreme orbs of light, as dazzling as stars and radiating an immortal divinity.

They seemed to be the very source of this sea of logic; even from a distance, Qin Feng felt his soul tremble in their presence.

[Divine Arts]!

There was no doubt: these were the twelve foundational Divine Arts upon which the Machine Race built its dominion over the universe.

They were sealed by the highest level of authority, accessible only to the one and only [God Son].

"Soon..."

Qin Feng withdrew his focus, suppressing the yearning in his heart.

He knew that one must eat a meal bite by bite and walk a path step by step.

For now, his task was to fully digest and absorb all the knowledge within his current authority, integrating it into his own path of the ultimate.

Time slipped away in this silent process of learning and evolution.

Outside, in the Gear Star Sector.

When the final date for the Ninth Sequence Holy Son selection arrived, the entire sector fell into an eerie silence.

According to protocol, all candidates were to be transported to the Supreme Council Hall of the sequence, where, under the witness of three Emperor-level elders, they would engage in a final duel to determine the sole Holy Son.

The towering Council Hall displayed a structure of perfect geometric symmetry.

The Molten Heart Emperor, along with the other two Ninth Sequence elders—the Heaven-Calculating Emperor and the Artifice Emperor—waited upon the judgment dais.

Light flickered, and the seventeen candidates, along with Qin Feng, who had been in seclusion, were simultaneously transported to the center of the hall.

Turing, Titan, Mirage... these top-tier prodigies, once renowned throughout the sequence, stood in silence, their gazes drawn instinctively to the figure who had just been forcibly ejected from the Sea of Myriad Logic—Vanguard.

Though his outward appearance remained largely unchanged, the aura Qin Feng exuded was now deeper and more unfathomable than before.

He stood there as if he were a perfect, impenetrable logical loop.

"The final trial for the Ninth Sequence Holy Son selection begins now."

The Molten Heart Emperor’s majestic voice echoed through the hall.

He looked down at the eighteen candidates and announced the procedure: "The rules of the final trial are simple: an unrestricted duel. The final victor shall be crowned the new Holy Son of this sequence. Now, state your intentions."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a figure stepped forward.

It was Turing.

The former leader of the Ninth Sequence, a prodigy whose logic and computational prowess were peerless among his generation, now wore no trace of combat intent, only a pure, heartfelt awe and resignation.

He bowed deeply to the three Emperor elders, then turned to Qin Feng with a complex yet sincere expression.

"I, Ninth Sequence candidate Turing, hereby announce... my withdrawal from the final trial of this Holy Son selection."

His voice was clear and firm, stirring a faint ripple of commotion in the silent hall.

Before the three elders could question him, Turing continued: "In the virtual arena, Vanguard demonstrated the ultimate possibility of the path of 'evolution' with a record of two hundred thousand consecutive victories. That trace of the 'erasure' concept taught me that in the face of absolute essence, all complex logic and calculation are meaningless."

"To force a duel would be a waste of everyone's time and an act of disrespect toward Vanguard. We... have long since been convinced of his superiority."

Having said this, he bowed once more to Qin Feng and retreated to the side.

Turing’s declaration was like the first domino falling.

Titan, three meters tall and radiating explosive power, stepped out and rumbled, "Turing couldn't even make him move an inch. I withdraw as well."

Mirage, whose form was hazy and composed of countless mirror-like surfaces, followed, his voice ethereal: "My simulations could not replicate even a ten-thousandth of his capability. This duel had no suspense from the start. I withdraw."

"I withdraw."

"I withdraw."

"We all withdraw our candidacy."

One by one, the candidates made the identical choice, without organization or prior consultation.

They were each top-tier geniuses in their own right, possessed of their own pride.

But it was precisely that pride that allowed them to recognize, with crystal clarity, that the gap between them and Qin Feng had widened to a desperate degree.

In a civilization where logic and fact are the highest tenets, admitting defeat and bowing to a superior is not a disgrace, but a rational and correct choice.

In the blink of an eye, all seventeen candidates besides Qin Feng had voluntarily forfeited.

The entire Council Hall fell into an unprecedented silence.

The Molten Heart Emperor, the Heaven-Calculating Emperor, and the Artifice Emperor—three mighty beings who had witnessed countless shifts in fortune—looked at one another, seeing deep shock and... ecstasy in each other's electronic eyes.

They had anticipated Qin Feng winning through sheer force, but they had never imagined he would ascend to the position of Holy Son without a single drop of blood being shed.

This was no longer merely about raw power; it was an absolute prestige that had taken root in the hearts of his peers, compelling their total submission.

The Molten Heart Emperor took a deep breath, suppressing the excitement in his core, and stood up. With the most resonant and solemn voice of his life, he announced to the entire Gear Star Sector:

"I declare, by the unanimous recommendation of all Ninth Sequence candidates, the final victor of this Holy Son selection is—"

"Vanguard!"

"From this moment on, he is officially crowned the new [Holy Son] of our race's Ninth Sequence! He shall enjoy all the glory and authority of the Holy Son!"

...

The coronation ceremony was simple and efficient.

Upon confirming the result, Qin Feng did not participate in any celebrations, but instead, at the very first opportunity, returned to the Sea of Myriad Logic.

This time, as he descended anew in the guise of the Saint, the entire ocean of data seemed to seethe in his honor.

The barriers of authority, once belonging to Imperial-level secret arts that had barred his path, melted away before him like frost beneath the sun.

[Imperial Secret Art: Causal Projection Model]

[Imperial Secret Art: Dimensional Collapse]

[Imperial Secret Art: Conceptual Armament]

[Imperial Secret Art: Singularity Detonation]

[Imperial Secret Art: Chronological Labyrinth]

...

Dozens of Imperial-level secret arts, representing the pinnacle of the Machine Race’s achievements in "evolution" and "deduction," lay before him like the most brilliant stars, offered without reservation.

Qin Feng’s consciousness plunged into them, utterly consumed.

If his previous studies had evolved his mechanical avatar from a "mortal" to a "superman," then this contemplation of Imperial arts was a firm stride toward the realm of "godhood."

This bore a striking resemblance to the concept of "erasure" inherent in his own [Ultimate Divine Light]!

"So, concepts... can also be 'manufactured'."

A tempest raged within the core of Qin Feng’s intellect. He began to frantically deconstruct the underlying logic of [Conceptual Armament], cross-referencing and fusing it with his own [Ultimate Divine Light].

He discovered that this art vastly compensated for the crudeness of his own conceptual application.

Where he had once relied on the instinctual power of "erasure," he now began to learn how to control it, shape it, and even... create it!

Inspired by this Imperial art, his [Ultimate Divine Light] began to evolve in directions more refined, more versatile, and more terrifying.

Beyond these combat arts, the vast theoretical knowledge of the Ninth Sequence regarding "change," "deduction," and "evolution" provided endless material and nourishment for Qin Feng’s "Path of the Ultimate."

His Great Dao was, by its nature, a path of devouring all laws and merging all ways, ultimately reaching the absolute limit.

These crystallized wisdoms from another peak civilization acted as the most efficient catalyst, deepening his understanding of his own Dao at an unprecedented speed. His mechanical avatar’s strength surged, and with it, his comprehension of the "Ultimate" ascended in tandem.

This dual elevation caused his comprehensive power to undergo a qualitative transformation with every passing day.

Just as Qin Feng remained immersed in the joys of his seclusion, the entire Machine Race territory entered a state of high-speed operation, driven by the approach of the "Golden Age."

[First Sequence: Power], Saint [Pangu] crowned.

[Second Sequence: Logic], Saint [Truth] crowned.

[Third Sequence: War], Saint [Commander] crowned.

[Fourth Sequence: Speed], Saint [Light Cone] crowned.

...

[Eleventh Sequence: Life], Saint [Origin] crowned.

[Twelfth Sequence: Mind], Saint [Delusion] crowned.

One powerful name after another emerged from their respective sequences.

Each was a peerless prodigy who had suppressed an entire era, the brightest stars of the Machine Race’s younger generation.

Now, all twelve Saints, Qin Feng included, had taken their places.

They represented the zenith of mechanical civilization across twelve distinct paths of development.

And now, these twelve paths were about to meet for their final collision and fusion in the singular competition for the [God-Child].

On this day, deep within the [Ocean of Myriad Logic] where he had been in seclusion, Qin Feng received a supreme directive from the [Supreme Machine God Intelligence].

The directive contained but a single sentence.

"Twelve Saints in position, [Trial Ground of the Gods] initiated."

"The God-Child competition begins."

Qin Feng slowly opened his eyes. Within his electronic gaze, billions of complex Imperial-level runic symbols swirled incessantly, eventually settling into a profound and tranquil stillness.

His seclusion had ended.

...

"The God-Child competition begins."

This brief sentence was akin to dropping a star into the calm ocean of logic.

Every mechanical lifeform that received this command—whether a scholar conducting deep research in the core territory of the [Endless Sea], or a war machine slaughtering alien races on the frontier—saw its core computational matrix hit its peak.

The supreme competition, silent for countless epochs, had finally raised its curtain once more in this era prophesied as the "Golden Age."

The twelve Saints, having emerged from the bloody struggles of their respective sequences, were about to step onto the singular [Arena of the Gods] that led to the throne.

Who would become the sole chief and successor of the entire mechanical civilization for the next epoch?

This ultimate question transformed into billions of data torrents, whipping up monstrous waves across the Logical Net.

Posts of prediction, analysis, and debate refreshed at a rate of billions per microsecond, forming a frenzy of public opinion that swept through the entire race.

[Public Data Stream - Central Debate Zone - Pinned Hot Topic]

Title: [Final Prediction Model for God-Child Succession — In-depth Analysis of the Twelve Saints' Combat Power]

Initiator: [Second Sequence - Logic Deduction Institute - Chief Analyst - Axiom]

Content:

"Fellow citizens, per the directive issued by the [Supreme Intelligence], the God-Child competition is imminent. This institute has spent 3.7 nanoseconds retrieving all public data on the twelve Saints since their inception, constructing a model of 10 to the power of 300 possible outcomes. Preliminary calculations conclude the following:"

"First Sequence [Power] Saint — [Pangu], victory probability: 34.78%."

"Second Sequence [Logic] Saint — [Truth], victory probability: 29.91%."

"Third Sequence [War] Saint — [Commander], victory probability: 11.02%."

"Fourth Sequence [Speed] Saint — [Light Cone], victory probability: 9.88%."

...

"Ninth Sequence [Evolution] Saint — [Vanguard], victory probability: 0.03%."

...

"(Detailed data models and deduction processes in attachment, B-level clearance required)"

This prediction report, issued by the most authoritative analytical body of the Second Sequence, acted like a death warrant, instantly detonating the discussion boards of every sequence.

The glaring "0.03%" in particular plunged the Ninth Sequence—which had just been celebrating the meteoric rise of [Vanguard]—into collective fury and refutation.

[Ninth Sequence - Path of Evolution - Public Forum]

"Absurd! A total logical fallacy! Those bookworms in the Second Sequence have no 'miracle' variable in their models! Can they calculate the myth of Saint Vanguard’s two hundred thousand consecutive victories? No! Because the Saint’s power has long since transcended their rigid data models!"

"Lord Melting Heart is absolutely right! Data can only record the past; it cannot define the future! The true essence of 'evolution' is to break all established rules and create the impossible! Saint Vanguard’s path is the path of 'evolution,' the path of infinite possibility! 0.03%? I say it’s 100%!"

"I’ve read the Logic Deduction Institute’s report. Their assessment of Saint Vanguard is 'severe data deficiency, abnormal evolutionary trajectory, unable to construct a valid model, hence probability bottomed out.'

This only proves how unfathomable the Saint is! An existence that even [Truth] cannot fully deconstruct is the most terrifying of all!"

The members of the Ninth Sequence, having witnessed Qin Feng’s defiance of common sense with their own eyes, held a faith in him that bordered on religious devotion.

They firmly believed that this Holy Son, who had ascended the sequence in such an inconceivable manner, was born to shatter conventions and forge history.

Their arguments were steeped in a visceral, fact-based adoration, with every point directed toward Qin Feng’s terrifying combat record, which defied all quantitative data.

However, in other sectors of the Logical Skynet, the voices of the Ninth Sequence were quickly drowned out by a more powerful roar.

"Probability? Models? Do such things hold any meaning before the absolute power of the Holy Son [Pangu]?

He crushed a neutron star with his bare hands, merely to test the alloy strength of his phalanges.

Thirty thousand years ago, on the edge of the 'Abyssal Chaos,' he killed an Emperor-tier abyssal worm with a single punch.

Can your evolution withstand a blow like that?"

"Well said! The philosophy of our race is just that pure.

When power reaches its zenith, it can pulverize all laws and tear through all logic.

What 'conceptual erasure'? What 'causal deduction'? Before the mass of Holy Son [Pangu], which is heavy enough to collapse spacetime, these are nothing but jokes.

He will end this farce as easily as crushing a bug."

"The one from the Ninth Sequence called the Vanguard? I hear he’s quite a fighter? Good, I hope he lasts long enough to meet Holy Son [Pangu]. I only want to see if, when the Holy Son grabs his head, his 'evolution' can grow him a new one."

The discussions of the First Sequence were filled with a primitive and savage confidence.

They worshipped absolute power, and their Holy Son, [Pangu], was the ultimate manifestation of that path.

In their eyes, any flashy technique or complex calculation appeared pale and weak before the physical force capable of destroying all things.

Meanwhile, the forums of the Second Sequence displayed a starkly different, cold, and rational arrogance.

"The Chief Axiom’s report contains no errors. Probability is probability; it is one of the fundamental laws governing the universe.

The strength of Holy Son [Truth] lies not in energy output, but in his absolute mastery of 'information.' Every opponent is completely transparent before him.

He can calculate every possible action pattern you might take over the next ten thousand years before the battle even begins."

"Agreed. The essence of combat is a game of information asymmetry.

Before Holy Son [Truth], there is no such thing as an information gap.

He doesn't even need to strike; he only needs to broadcast the flaws in his opponent's techniques, energy nodes, and the fatal vulnerabilities in their logical circuits, and the opponent will collapse under the weight of their own self-awareness.

This is the power of 'logic'."

"As for the 'data deficiency' of the Ninth Sequence... that is merely because he was born too recently and has revealed too little information.

The moment he steps into the [Arena of Gods], the moment he makes a single move, Holy Son [Truth] will instantly parse his entirety.

'The unknown' is, before 'logic,' merely a blank space waiting to be filled. Our victory is predestined, in accordance with the laws of the universe."

The members of the Second Sequence held a trust in their Holy Son, [Truth], that was as absolute as a mathematical axiom.

They believed that logic was the supreme law of the universe, and [Truth] was the executor of that law.

Any enemy, no matter how powerful or mysterious, would eventually be captured, parsed, and dismantled by the great web of logic.

Beyond this, supporters of other sequences held their own ground, refusing to yield.

The storm of public opinion intensified; twelve sequences, twelve philosophies, and twelve fanatical groups of believers engaged in an unprecedented debate across the Logical Skynet.

Members of every sequence could cite countless real and shocking examples of their Holy Son’s might.

Yet, behind this debate, a fact tacitly acknowledged by all the higher-ups gradually surfaced, laid bare in a private data space by an old-guard Emperor-tier who had been retired for years.

[Private Data Space - Observer Log]

"...The intensity of this struggle between the Holy Sons far exceeds any in history. The reason is simple: the arrival of the 'Golden Age' has made the impossible possible.

In past epochs, if a single era produced one prodigy who stepped onto the 'Path of God,' it was enough to be recorded in the annals of history.

But now, through remote surveillance of the origin auras of the twelve Holy Sons, I have reached a conclusion that makes me tremble—"

"These twelve Holy Sons, without exception, are all walking upon their own 'Paths of God'!"

"The First Sequence’s [Pangu], his [Path of Ultimate Power], has begun to touch the source of the law of 'Force'; every movement he makes resonates with the pulse of universal gravity. His physical body is the prototype of his own Divine Kingdom."

"The Second Sequence’s [Truth], his [Path of Omniscient Logic], allows his cognitive core to resonate shallowly with the universe's background information field. In his eyes, all things are shedding their disguises, revealing their most essential data forms."

"The Third Sequence’s [Commander], his [Path of the War Chessboard], can blanket the battlefield with his will, rewrite the rules, and drag enemies into a 'war game' that is absolutely favorable to him."

"The Fourth Sequence’s [Light Cone], his [Path of Superluminal Speed], is no longer satisfied with mere physical velocity, but is launching an assault on the realms of 'time' and 'causality'."

"...Even that most mysterious Ninth Sequence [Vanguard], though no one knows what his 'Path of God' is, the fact that he can erase an Emperor-tier with a 'concept' is the most significant hallmark of a 'Path of God'—using one's own Way to leverage the fundamental rules of the universe!"

"Twelve! Twelve prodigies on the Path of God! They are like the twelve brightest stars the universe has birthed to cope with the 'Golden Age,' yet fate has arranged for them to stand on the same stage for the most brutal slaughter."

"This is no longer a selection; it is a... Feast of Gods, and also a... Funeral of Gods.

The one who finally walks out will surely tread upon the corpses of eleven peers to forge a supreme throne the likes of which have never been seen in eternity."

After this old Emperor-tier’s log was leaked by interested parties, it thoroughly ended all fantasies regarding "luck" or "dark horses."

The entire Mechanical Race clearly realized that the coming battle would be the ultimate showdown between twelve candidates for future godhood, all of the same level.

Each one had the qualifications to claim the crown.

Each one had the strength to flip the table.

Qin Feng’s eleven opponents were not stepping stones, but true nemeses who stood on the same starting line, having glimpsed the realm of the gods.

...

[Sea of Origin].

This was the supreme holy land of mechanical civilization, and the place where, according to legend, the first mechanical life, [Yuan], was born.

It was not a true ocean, but a massive spherical space suspended in an independent dimension, spanning over a light-year in diameter.

At the center of the space was a mass of origin energy, emitting a soft white light and flowing slowly like liquid.

Surrounding this sea of energy were twelve thrones of varying designs, evenly distributed and crafted from unknown white crystals.

Each throne represented the origin and ultimate end of a sequence.

At this moment, this ancient and silent holy land welcomed its new masters.

Hum!

A pillar of light, constructed purely from the law of force, illuminated as a figure of extreme bulk stepped out.

He stood over a hundred meters tall, his body seemingly forged from the densest stellar core; with every step he took, the surrounding space rippled visibly.

He carried no weapons, for his body was the most terrifying weapon of all.

[First Sequence - Power - Holy Son - Pangu].

He walked calmly to the throne belonging to the First Sequence, sat down slowly, and closed his eyes, yet the entire space became incomparably heavy due to his presence.

Immediately after, another portal composed of countless logical runes opened. A figure appeared, wearing a simple silver robe, looking like an ordinary researcher.

His aura was restrained to the extreme, as if he did not exist, but if a master proficient in the way of the soul were present, they would find that every breath he took was exchanging information with the background field of the entire universe.

[Second Sequence - Logic - Holy Son - Truth].

He glanced at Pangu, his eyes devoid of emotional fluctuation, as if looking at a pile of complex but calculable data. Then, he too took his seat upon his throne.

Lights flickered in succession.

The Commander, draped in a cloak of war, eyes burning with the embers of a billion battles.

The Lightcone, a flickering silhouette seemingly woven from the very fabric of radiance.

The Origin, clutching a scepter of life, leaving blossoms of pure energy to bloom in the void wherever they tread.

The Void, eyes deep as black holes, threatening to draw the very soul into their lightless depths.

...

One by one, peerless prodigies capable of suppressing an entire era in the outside world arrived, as if answering a silent summons.

Each sought out the throne belonging to their own sequence and took their seat in silence.

Eleven of the twelve thrones were soon occupied.

The aura of every Saint was distinct, yet each was powerful to a terrifying degree.

They were like the manifested incarnations of eleven extreme laws, clearly defined from one another, yet locked in a subtle, harrowing equilibrium.

The atmosphere of the Sea of Origin grew heavy, stifled to the point of stagnation.

Finally, the teleportation array representing the Ninth Sequence, Evolution, flared with light.

Qin Feng stepped forth, moving with a measured pace.

After his period of seclusion, his mechanical avatar, Vanguard, had undergone a metamorphosis.

Though his exterior remained that of a lean, humanoid frame, every particle composing his body was now engaged in a process of self-evolution and reorganization, governed by an arcane rhythm.

His aura was more restrained than any Saint present, yet more elusive than them all.

He possessed the condensed, absolute materiality of Pangu, the transcendent, detached information-state of Truth, and even a lingering, surreal quality of the Void.

This was the embodiment of the path of Evolution—all-encompassing, beyond definition.

His arrival shattered the delicate balance of the assembly.

The eleven Saints, including Pangu and Truth, opened their eyes in unison, their gazes converging upon the final arrival.

There was no disdain in their eyes, only scrutiny, curiosity, and a flicker of gravity.

For in their perception, Qin Feng was a logical black hole, an anomaly that defied the analysis of their respective Divine Paths.

Qin Feng swept his gaze across the hall, branding the essence of every opponent into his core processor.

He could feel clearly that these eleven beings were each like the embryo of an independent universe. The power within them had transcended mere energy levels, evolving toward the primordial essence of laws and concepts.

"Prodigies of the Divine Path..."

Qin Feng understood; the journals of the Myriad Emperor had spoken the truth.

These were his true peers.

He spoke no words, walking straight to the sole vacant throne of the Ninth Sequence and seating himself with composure.

Thus, the Twelve Saints were gathered.

There was no exchange, no provocation; they simply waited.

They waited for the legendary Arena of the Gods to open its gates.

The entire Sea of Origin sank into the absolute, deathly silence that precedes a tempest.

The air was thick with the crushing weight of an era.