Seventh World Zone

"This Genius Battle selection would be divided into two major stages.

In the first stage, the top 1,000 experts would be selected from each major universe kingdom.

In the second stage, the top 1,000 experts from each universe kingdom would gather together. The geniuses from all the universe kingdoms would convene for the final grand showdown, determining the top 1,000 in the universe-wide rankings.

Among them...

The first stage would be the larger in scale.

The universe kingdom you belonged to was the Jinlan Universe Kingdom.

The Jinlan Universe Kingdom had over 973.5 billion participants, divided into the 'Preliminary Elimination' and the 'Arena Finals.'

After the Preliminary Elimination, the more than 973.5 billion participants would be reduced to just 100,100 people!

Because there were simply too many to eliminate, the Preliminary Elimination was destined to be exceedingly bloody.

For the Jinlan Universe Kingdom's Preliminary Elimination, 100 worlds would first be divided within the 'Virtual Universe.' Each world would contain more than 9.7 billion participants. Over 9.7 billion people would slaughter one another in the same world, killing others to earn points. The more they killed, the more points they earned! Everyone had only one life; death meant the end.

When the time limit expired.

The final point rankings would be counted. Those ranked among the top 1,001 in their respective worlds would pass the Preliminary Elimination. With 1,001 selected from each of the 100 worlds, a total of 100,100 people would be chosen.

At the same time...

The top-ranked participant in each world would not need to undergo the Arena Finals and would directly claim one of the 100 slots among the top 1,000. The remaining 900 slots would be contested by those 100,000 people in the Arena Finals."

"An attachment follows this letter. More detailed information can be found there."

After reading the notification letter and its attachment, Lu Ming could not help but sigh in admiration once more.

This was how humanity's upper echelons selected geniuses—utterly insane.

The 'preliminary' stage alone threw over 9.7 billion elites into the same world to slaughter one another, survival of the fittest!

"The Arena Finals and even the subsequent Cycle Battles mean little to me. I only need to secure first place in a world zone ahead of time." The only thing he truly valued was the final peak grand finals.

"If I want to lock in an advancement slot early, simply killing people in my own city might not earn enough points. When the time comes, I can head directly to other cities and specifically target those famous figures from the major cities..." With that thought passing through his mind, Lu Ming looked forward even more to the opponents he was about to encounter.

After registration for the Genius Battle closed, the Virtual Universe Company began its preparations. The work was indeed extremely complicated, but the Virtual Universe Company was highly efficient.

Just one month later, contestants from all the major universe kingdoms received emails summoning them to assemble.

"You are the future elites and future pillars of my Jinlan Universe Kingdom."

"I hope that among those 100,100 slots, you will claim at least half!"

A deep, thunderous voice that made Heaven and Earth tremble echoed through a starry expanse. Within that starry sky stood a giant whose face could not be seen clearly, floating in the void. The space around him faintly distorted, while countless young people stretched endlessly into the distance before him, kneeling in reverence.

"Go, children. I hope to see your names among the final thousand!" The deep voice made space tremble—and souls tremble as well.

"Yes, Kingdom Lord!"

Over a hundred million Stellar-level youths knelt with immense reverence and excitement. They had never expected to meet a legendary existence, the being who had founded the Jinlan Universe Kingdom and possessed unimaginable divine abilities—the Jinlan Universe Kingdom Lord! He had occupied that position for countless ages.

"So this is the Jinlan Kingdom Lord?" Lu Ming observed that vague, towering figure from the corner of his eye. Just as his gaze met the other party's sweeping glance, his heart gave a slight jolt.

Whoosh!

In the next instant, space shifted, and over a hundred million Stellar-level youths all vanished at once. This incomprehensible divine ability even made the more than a thousand immortals respectfully standing nearby shudder inwardly.

Before long, all of the Jinlan Universe Kingdom's more than 970 billion Stellar-level experts had gathered.

Among those 970 billion people...

Some had encountered fortuitous opportunities!

Some possessed extraordinary talent!

Some had found excellent teachers!

Some possessed the heart of a powerhouse!

In short...

All kinds of geniuses believed themselves to be powerful.

"Seventh World Zone? That's a good omen." Lu Ming looked at the randomly assigned world zone number and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

"I'm in the First World Zone!"

"I'm in the Ninth World Zone!"

Around Lu Ming clustered many other Jinlan Dojo geniuses. Quite a few were discussing their zone numbers, hoping to 'team up and clear the stage' with people they knew. Not everyone was as confident as Lu Ming.

Within the Virtual Universe, more than 970 billion people gathered across the entire continent, interacting with one another. Such a magnificent spectacle was indeed rare.

"Attention, everyone. This Preliminary Elimination will be divided into one hundred 'World Zones.' Group teleportation will begin shortly, sending you to your assigned 'World Zones.' Please take this time to inspect your equipment. Once the preliminaries begin, you will no longer be able to request weapons."

A clear voice echoed above the entire continent.

Lu Ming wore Tier 2 Force Armor and a Space Ring on his hand, with all his prepared weapons stored inside. Weapons simulated in the Virtual Universe functioned exactly the same as they did in reality.

"Group teleportation is about to begin. Countdown: 60... 59... 58..." The clear voice rang across the entire continent.

A savage, violent wildness lurked faintly in Lu Ming's eyes, ready to be unleashed.

"10... 9... 8... 7... 6... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1! Teleport!" The clear Universal Language echoed in the ears of over 970 billion people on the assembly continent. Then, in an instant, everyone on the continent vanished.

At the same moment.

Over 9.7 billion people appeared in each of the hundred separate worlds created within the Virtual Universe.

The Human Universe Peak Genius Battle—preliminaries began simultaneously across the major universe kingdoms!

As a grand event for all humanity, everyone from the lofty immortals above to ordinary universe citizens capable of accessing the Virtual Universe network paid close attention to it. Naturally, as powerhouses and citizens of the Jinlan Universe Kingdom, they primarily followed their own universe kingdom's preliminaries.

Seventh World Zone.

This was a primeval forest, an endless sea of trees. Lu Ming's figure appeared out of thin air.

"The gravity is acceptable. And with this sort of forest-sea environment, it looks like this is the main theme of this world zone." Lu Ming was no stranger to such an environment; he had already trained in similar conditions within the Slaughter Space.

He raised his wrist. There was a screen on the bracer around his left wrist, which automatically received the various messages sent by the organizer, the "Virtual Universe Company."

Contestant: Lu Ming (Jinlan Universe Kingdom)

Points: 0

Rank: None

World Zone: Seventh World Zone

Time: The Preliminary Elimination will last 30 days. When time runs out, the preliminaries will end. Victors will be determined according to the final point rankings.

Note: The Seventh World Zone is a secret realm forest environment simulated after the Spirit Taming Secret Realm of the Jinlan Universe Kingdom in reality. The hardness of the soil, trees, and so forth has been adjusted to B9 grade.

Point Rules: Killing a contestant earns one point, as well as half of the opponent's points!

Ranking Rules: The deceased will remain ranked. If their points are high enough, they may still rank among the top 1,001 even after losing half their points.

Important reminder: Everyone has only one life. Death ends your preliminaries and causes you to lose half your points.

A detailed ranking list is attached below.

After reading the information sent by the Virtual Universe Company beneath a towering ancient tree, Lu Ming was about to set off in search of a target when a fanged, blue-faced youth of the Winged Ghost Race happened to look down at him from the sky.

"Found you—my first prey!" With a cold expression, the Winged Ghost Race youth sneered as he controlled the Tier 3 Psychic Weapon, the Wind Howl Wheel, and shot through the air toward him!

His Wind Domain had already reached the fifth level, and the Psychic Weapon he used was the Wind Howl Wheel, which was exceptionally compatible with him. He was confident that a single strike would kill the 'unlucky' brat below.

"The first..." Lu Ming murmured softly. Then he completely ignored the Wind Howl Wheel, his body vanishing from where he stood like a ghostly bolt of lightning...