The Dust Settles (Third Update)

Seeing Tian Ci's actions, Lin Zhen felt a chill in her heart.

Unexpectedly, Tian Ci would rather give up a spot in the next round than let himself be eliminated. Now, let alone qualify, his survival is in question.

But Lin Zhen never gives up. Even if the person opposite him is an incredibly powerful Star System Stage, he will still give it a shot!

The clone, having cleared the way ahead, was already waiting here. The main body and the clone advanced side by side, raising their Yin-Yang Yajiao Twin Spears high at the same time!

Phantom God Strike!

The two of them launched Phantom God Strike at the same time. If they succeeded, they would succeed. If they failed, Lin Zhen planned to Self-Detonation, even in death, to leave Tian Ci inside the World Stone.

His Star System Stage has only just broken through, and it's not stable at all. It's not as powerful as a true Star System Stage. If we perish together, there should still be some hope!

Faced with the simultaneous attack from Lin Zhen's main body and clone, Tian Ci revealed a sinister smile.

"You fool, this is truly like throwing an egg against a rock. You think you can fight a Star System Stage expert by risking your life? How laughable!"

Tian Ci spoke, he raised his sword to attack!

He believed that with one strike, Lin Zhen would surely die!

"Whew!!"

His sword didn't fall; a sudden gust of wind came from behind him!

Tian Ci's entire attention was focused on Lin Zhen. He never dreamed that there would be someone behind him, and hastily raised his sword to block!

"Bang!"

A dark, divine Battle Axe slammed down on his sword with tremendous force, causing even him to stagger.

However, he had already entered the Star System Stage, and he blocked the opponent's attack and casually threw out a sword!

"Pfft!!"

Blood splattered, followed by a scream.

It's Nicole the Dwarf!

He didn't leave the World Stone, but stayed there, and launched a fierce attack when Tian Ci was about to make a move against Lin Zhen.

Even if Black Hole Stage attacker cannot defeat Star System Stage attacker, a split-point attack is still easily achievable.

Because of Nicole's delay, Lin Zhen and Tian Ci passed each other by!

With a flick of Gravity, the dwarf was enveloped, and Lin Zhen intended to take him away from the World Stone.

Tian Ci's eyes turned red, and a huge burst of Star Power erupted, causing him to accelerate suddenly. At the same time, his Flying Sword slashed towards the dwarf's back. He also wanted to secure a spot and attack the dwarf simultaneously. He believed that Lin Zhen would rescue the dwarf, and if Lin Zhen did, he could get out before Lin Zhen!

This was his last hope; if Lin Zhen cold-blooded and ruthless, he probably wouldn't be able to qualify.

But he gambled correctly. The dwarf had just saved Lin Zhen, and Lin Zhen couldn't be allowed to be killed like this. Tian Ci's Flying Sword was thrown hastily and didn't have much force, so he was still able to save him.

The Yin-Yang Long Spear out, intercepting the Tian Ci Sword in mid-air.

Making even the slightest movement at this moment would slow him down, and the instant Lin Zhen made his move, he was overtaken by Tian Ci!

"Lin Zhen! Without a qualifying spot, you'll be useless. We'll settle things properly once you're out!"

Whoosh!

With the Destruction Tide closing in, Tian Ci didn't even have time to attack Lin Zhen. He could only leave behind a sentence before disappearing from the exit of the World Stone!

Tian Ci came in twentieth place!

Lin Zhen couldn't care less about anything else at this moment. He pulled Nicole and flew backward. Seeing that they couldn't escape the Destruction Tide, he instinctively unleashed his strongest move at the critical moment of life and death!

Black Hole Storm!

A gigantic Black Hole Beast appeared above Lin Zhen's head, its huge mouth opening wide as it took a deep breath of the approaching Destruction Tide!

This time, a layer of the Destruction Tide was peeled away, about ten centimeters thick!

Just ten centimeters short, Lin Zhen and Nicole narrowly escaped the world.

Even the soles of his shoes were melted by the Destruction Tide; if it had been just a little bit worse, the two of them would never have made it out!

Because of their height, Lin Zhen came out first and ranked twenty-first, while the dwarf ranked twenty-second!

As the two rushed out of the World Stone, the World Stone was completely destroyed, collapsing and dissipating into nothingness in everyone's eyes.

Thus, the three-month selection process of the Sanjiang Star Region Federation came to an end. Of the 200,000 people who entered, not counting those who forcibly withdrew midway, only 22 people came out alive.

This is truly one in a million.

********

Tian Ci was the first to come out. He thought Lin Zhen might be dead, but he was so lucky that he managed to escape even in that situation.

His face turned cold, and he gritted his teeth, ready to strike.

At this moment, Han Sha and Jerry stepped forward and stopped Tian Ci.

"How dare you! This is the council hall of the Sanjiang Star Region Federation! You actually dare to lay a hand on people? Do you think you can do whatever you want just because you've advanced to the Star System Stage?!"

"You'd better think this through. Does the Dixin Qionglou intend to declare war on our Star River Giant Beast Alliance? It's not that I look down on your guild, but you're far from being qualified to challenge our alliance!"

At this moment, the Speaker of the Sanjiang Star Region Federation also stepped out from the crowd.

The speaker was a Star Region Stage, widely recognized as the top expert within the Sanjiang Star Region Federation. He appeared without speaking, but his expression was incredibly cold, immediately making Tian Ci hesitant to act rashly.

His teeth were clenched so tightly they were clicking. "Lin Zhen, you're lucky to be alive, but since you didn't make it into the top twenty, you can't go to the Concentration Camp. Let's see how long you can keep jumping around!"

After saying that, Tian Ci turned and left, while giving Hong'er of the Qingluan Society a fierce look. It was a mistake not to completely eliminate the Qingluan Society this time, but what he urgently needed to do now was to stabilize his realm and advance to the Star System Stage, which was an unexpected joy for him.

Once his cultivation level stabilizes, he will let everyone know how powerful he is!

From then on, he was a powerful figure in this vast universe, a Tian Ci by Heaven.

Lin Zhen put the dwarf down. "Are you alright?"

The dwarf gave Lin Zhen a deep look. "Brother, you were able to save me in that situation. I knew I hadn't misjudged you."

Lin Zhen laughed and said, "Of course, didn't you save me too?"

"It's different. If it weren't for sending me out, you probably could have left smoothly too. I owe you that."

As he spoke, the dwarf took out a Space Ring.

"This is something I obtained from the World Stone, and I'm giving it to you."

Lin Zhen took the ring, glanced at it, and was immediately stunned.

Inside the ring was a piece of Golden Paper, which turned out to be the second page of Flash Strike!

"This thing is too valuable."

"If we're brothers, don't say that. This thing is useless to me, but I feel it might be useful to you."

The dwarf patted Lin Zhen on the shoulder. "There's no point in me staying here any longer. I'm going back to my hometown. Although I didn't make it this time, I feel like I'm close to breaking through. As for Tian Ci, if I have the chance, I really want to have a go at him."

Lin Zhen glanced at Nicole. The dwarf was indeed showing signs of a breakthrough. Perhaps when they met again in the future, he would have become a Star System Stage expert.

The dwarf and Lin Zhen exchanged Dimensional Universe numbers, waved to Lin Zhen, and then turned and left.

********

"The order of the finalists is now clear: First place, Qingluan Society, Feng Hong'er; Second place, Dixin Qionglou, Tian Ci; Third place, Star River Giant Beast Alliance, Hong Bo; Fourth place..."

A member of parliament was announcing the results, listing all the names from first to twentieth.

Lin Zhen ranked twenty-first, missing out on the Under-Hundred-Year-Old Training Camp by one place, which is undoubtedly a pity.

"The list has been announced. Due to internal affairs of the Fire Kirin Empire, the Under-Hundred-Year-Old Training Camp, originally scheduled to begin in one month, will be delayed by one year. Please be prepared."

The reason for the delay is clear to everyone: the Fire Kirin Empire is going to war with its neighboring country, so the days of the Concentration Camp will be postponed.

However, a year is nothing; everyone can go back and cultivate for a while and it will pass.

People from all sides began to take their things back and dispersed.

Only two people from the Star River Giant Beast Alliance emerged at the last moment: Lin Zhen and Hong Bo.

Hong Bo was quick to react; when he sensed something was wrong, he suppressed his desire for the Cosmic Crystal and ran away, becoming the third person to escape the World Stone.

Before the two of them, there were also some people who forcibly left the World Stone, including Tai Shan and Cao Yang, as well as a few others.

As Lin Zhen walked over, Hong Bo's face revealed a hint of sarcasm.

"Weren't some people quite dominant in the World Stone competition? They were attacking this and that, and they snatched a lot of Cosmic Crystal, so how come they didn't get a qualifying spot in the end?"

"Hehe~! Maybe their ideal is to be a nouveau riche. You can't force these things, right?"

"Haha~~! You guys are going too far with what you're saying. It's hurting some people's feelings, but I like hearing it anyway. Our group still has to rely on Boss Hong Bo."

Tai Shan and Cao Yang walked up to Lin Zhen and glared at Hong Bo and his group, seemingly ready to attack at any moment.

Han Sha and Jerry walked over and glared at Hong Bo and the others. "Does qualifying mean everything's fine? Hurry up and start training. If we lose face in the Concentration Camp, you'll be in big trouble."

Hong Bo snorted coldly, "You guys should keep an eye on Lin Zhen. I don't need you to worry about me. Let's go."

With that, he turned and left with a few of his underlings. In his mind, he would be going to Concentration Camp in a year and then he would go to the Fire Kirin Empire to develop his career. He would no longer have to stay in such a small place as the Sanjiang Star Region Federation.

Hanshajeri and the others won't be able to control him anymore, so he doesn't need to give them too much face.

Han Sha and Jerry watched Hong Bo leave with cold expressions. Their ideal plan was for Lin Zhen to advance, but now something had gone wrong, which made them very unhappy.

Lin Zhen waved to Han Shajieli: "Mentors, I think there's nothing more for me to do here. If there's nothing else, I plan to go back to my hometown to visit. My son should have been born by now, and I want to go back and see him."

Han Sha Lin Zhen's hand. "Lin Zhen, you don't need to be too discouraged. Since there's still a year left, things won't be settled until the very last moment."

Lin Zhen smiled slightly. If he couldn't participate, he couldn't participate. With his memories from his previous life, he could make a name for himself anywhere. As for Han Sha, he was probably just trying to comfort him.

After bidding farewell to everyone, Lin Zhen first returned to his residence on Baichuan Star to visit Ling'er.

If Ling'er is willing, he plans to take her back to Earth with him.

Judging by the time, An Ning's child should be born by now, and if Yue'er got pregnant the last time, she should have given birth by now as well. Lin Zhen was eager to go home.

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