Qing Yu was standing in the plaza, looking around, when a heavy set of footsteps suddenly approached. Qing Yu didn't need to turn around; his mental power had already 'seen' the newcomer—it was Moka.
Turning around, he saw it was indeed Moka. He walked to a spot not far from Qing Yu and stood still, his gaze intently fixed on the silent, glowing white longsword on Qing Yu's back.
"Qing Yu," Moka's voice was low, carrying a hint of hoarse battle intent.
"It's been four years."
"That last battle in the preliminaries…" A flash of lightning appeared in Moka's single eye.
"I lost fair and square. The Tribulation Divine Weapon… lives up to its name." He frankly admitted defeat, but then his tone shifted, filled with strong reluctance and rekindled fighting spirit.
"But these four years, I've honed myself day and night on the Law of Lightning, battling countless powerful foes in the killing fields! My 'Thunder Prison Sky Barrier' is no longer what it once was! I've even… touched a deeper threshold of the Law!"
He clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking as if lightning was brewing within them:
"In this final battle, I must fight you again! Fair and square, with my lightning, I will cleave open your Tribulation Divine Weapon!"
Qing Yu looked at the battle intent and reluctance almost overflowing from Moka's eyes, his expression still unreadable. He simply nodded faintly:
"Congratulations on your progress. However," his gaze swept past Moka, towards the core areas of the plaza where a few figures radiated the most astonishing, star-like auras.
"Your opponents, I'm afraid, are not just me."
Moka followed Qing Yu's gaze, and his expression also became a few shades more serious.
"I've heard a lot about the deeds of those monsters from other Universe Kingdoms," he said, pointing to a figure at the center of the plaza, surrounded by scorching airflow, like a miniature sun.
"See that crimson-skinned fellow? Huang Li! From the 'Blazing Phoenix Universe Kingdom'. I heard his Law of Fire has already crossed the threshold, and his 'World-Burning Furnace' secret technique instantly killed several geniuses in the ninth stage of the domain!"
He then pointed in another direction.
"That's You Meng, who follows the path of an Illusionist. His illusions are incredibly bizarre and Unparalleled, and it's said that even geniuses who have comprehended the Law have fallen prey to his tricks. Next to him is Xing Hen, a genius from the Gulun Universe Kingdom, with a profound understanding of the Law of Space!"
Moka rattled off names, pointing in different directions, his tone carrying deep apprehension:
"Each of these guys is much stronger than I was during the preliminaries! They are all aiming for the top one hundred in the entire universe!"
"Indeed… very strong," Qing Yu's voice remained calm, but in the depths of his eyes, a spark of a challenger's flame quietly ignited.
'However, this generation is indeed much weaker than Luo Feng's generation in the original novel!' Qing Yu compared silently in his mind.
Just as the millions of geniuses were either chatting, observing, or secretly competing, an irresistible will, like the voice of the cosmic law itself, suddenly echoed in the mind of every genius, clear, grand, and authoritative:
"All participants, gather at the central plaza!"
The moment the voice fell, no matter where they were in the plaza, whether at the edge of the buildings or in the center of the plaza, an irresistible spatial force instantly enveloped everyone!
Swish!
As if space-time had shifted, all a million geniuses appeared in the plaza, forming orderly phalanxes, and the 1008 leading immortal also appeared in front of the formations.
Above the plaza, space rippled like water.
A figure stepped out from within.
Dressed in an ancient, simple cyan battle robe, his face was so handsome it seemed otherworldly. His forehead was covered with several delicate, shimmering scales with a mysterious purple glow, like a natural crown.
He merely stood there, like the center of the entire universe. The million geniuses below, and even the Immortals leading their teams at the top of the buildings around the plaza, seemed to lose their radiance and become incredibly small before him.
"Welcome, all of you, to the 'Pinnacle Genius Battle' hosted by my Virtual Universe Corporation."
"I am Venerable Nine Swords, the chief person in charge of this Genius Battle."
Qing Yu's heart jolted, and his pupils contracted almost imperceptibly. He remembered that Venerable Nine Swords was a very young Venerable.
Venerable Nine Swords!… It's actually him presiding over this generation! It seems the era of Luo Feng… shouldn't be too far away…
Venerable Nine Swords's gaze, as profound as the star-abyss, slowly swept over the dense, hushed million geniuses below.
"You are the elites who have emerged from 1008 Universe Kingdoms through layers of selection," Venerable Nine Swords's voice was calm and unwavering.
"But the core of the Virtual Universe Corporation only recruits the strongest geniuses! We only need 1000 people!"
"The rules for the upcoming final battle are very simple." His words were concise and to the point.
"All of you will enter a 'trial space' separately. Our Virtual Universe Corporation has prepared over a million trial spaces for you, one for each person."
"There are seven trial towers in each trial space! Each trial tower has seven levels!"
…
"The first 100 ranked in points will be directly absorbed as core members by our Virtual Universe Corporation without further screening, securing 100 spots."
…
"As for those ranked beyond 7300… all will be eliminated!"
The breathing of the million geniuses in the plaza seemed to halt for a moment the instant Venerable Nine Swords announced the cruel rules. However, the Virtual Universe Corporation did not give them any time to process their emotions or make last-minute preparations.
"Everyone, please prepare. A mass teleportation will commence shortly, sending all participants to their respective trial spaces," Venerable Nine Swords' voice like the cosmic law itself, echoed again, devoid of any emotion.
The next moment, an unparalleled spatial force instantly enveloped everyone in the plaza.
Swish!
Space shifted, and the view became clear.
Qing Yu found himself alone, standing in an boundless void.
Beneath his feet was a colossal asteroid, seemingly existing since ancient times. The only focal point on the asteroid's surface was the seven towering giant pagodas majestically standing before him!
Qing Yu did not hesitate in the slightest, nor did he spare a glance at the virtual screen floating at the edge of his vision, displaying his identity and initial points.
Participant: Qing Yu (Jinlan Universe Kingdom)
Points: 0
Ranking: None
Trial Space: No. 0010927
With a step, his figure transformed into a blurry stream of light, directly rushing into the first level gate of the first trial tower!
"It has begun."
"Tsk tsk, these little ones this generation seem generally more nervous than the last."
In the central plaza, in the floating spectator space, 1008 Immortals from different Universe Kingdoms sat in comfortable chairs, chatting in various postures.
"Look, Huang Li from the Blazing Phoenix Universe Kingdom has already cleared the first tower. What a fierce spear technique!"
"You Meng is also good; the attacks of the Zerg Queen Mother on the seventh level of the first tower had no effect on her."
"Hmm? Xing Hen from the Gulun Universe Kingdom is also very fast. His application of the Law of Space is quite skillful; the first tower poses no difficulty for him."
Suddenly, a slightly surprised voice rang out:
"Qing Yu from the Jinlan Universe Kingdom… his speed is so fast!"