Victory at wave one thousand, the clone arrives

Day 10 of the qualifiers.

After all the other geniuses were eliminated due to exhaustion of source energy or tactical mistakes, the focus of the entire Pan-Spirit Alliance Virtual Network had completely shrunk to the two continuously changing match space numbers.

Lin Yi, and Edith.

At this point, the screen is split side-by-side.

On the left is a deep blue figure sitting cross-legged on a barren gray rock plain, along with his clone darting around to finish off enemies; on the right is a silver-haired girl sitting on a throne in a realm of light and darkness, along with her elegant sword-wielding reflection.

The two battlefields have vastly different terrains and styles, but the pressure they are currently under is simultaneously rising to a terrifying level that would suffocate even ordinary Star Core level cultivators who are merely observing.

At this moment, each wave of Zerg that surges out possesses at least the peak of the Star Core level energy response, with elite individuals and command units even stabilizing at the mid-to-late Star Vortex level.

Their carapaces are naturally engraved with patterns that resist the erosion of the rules, and their attacks are mixed with the energy corrosion and mental interference unique to the Devouring Race. Their cooperation is as if they were one.

Even with the absolute suppression of the dual Ninefold Domain, it cannot create an absolute death zone where "stepping in means annihilation" as it did in the early stages.

Subtle differences, under prolonged tug-of-war and extreme pressure, are gradually magnified in the eyes of countless people.

"Dear viewers, as we can see, the domains of these two prodigies remain secure, and their cleanup efficiency is still astonishing. However, our system data shows a identifiable difference in the micro-indicators of energy utilization efficiency."

On the live broadcast channel of Skywave Starsea Media, a simplified Dynamic comparison chart of energy flow was displayed on the side of the host's screen.

"The energy fluctuation curve of Lin Yi on the left is extremely condensed. The expansion and contraction of the aura of his domain perfectly match the rhythm of his clone's finishing blows, with almost no obvious energy dissipation peaks. On the other hand, the domain of Edith on the right has slightly more ornate ripples generated when light and dark switch, with a small amount of unnecessary energy dissipation."

"Our special guest commentator, Spirit Race Yong Yao of the Eldar race, what are your thoughts on this phenomenon?"

The camera pans to the guest seating area.

Seated there was a handsome, gentle-looking male of the Spirit Race, wearing a long robe embroidered with star trails, his eyes seemingly filled with the light of ten thousand years of starlight.

He is an Eternal Divinity.

Yong Yao nodded slightly. "This situation is not surprising. Lin Yi's growth trajectory has determined that he possesses certain qualities that Edith currently lacks."

He paused slightly, seemingly organizing his thoughts in a way that would be easier for the general public to understand.

"I have some understanding of the Human Race's Civilization Advancement Assessment Mechanism. It's a cruel crucible that forces civilizations and individuals to squeeze every last bit of potential out of them in a desperate situation of extreme resource scarcity and being surrounded by powerful enemies. Lin Yi stood out from it and subsequently became active on the border front for a long time, engaging in frequent combat with the Devouring Race Kunmo Race."

"Therefore, he has developed an almost instinctive and highly efficient mode of how to use every bit of energy and every ounce of concentration on the most lethal edge in this war of attrition."

The video interspersed with blurry footage of Lin Yi's early border battles, seemingly obtained from an unknown source, as well as close-ups of his clones precisely targeting the weak points of the insect swarm with each movement and attack during the preliminaries.

"On the other hand, Edith..."

Yong Yao continued, "Her talent is unparalleled, and she has now broken through to the Ninefold Domain. In terms of total source energy, she has also reached the theoretical Extreme Realm of 999 Star Core level Star Core."

"But her problem is that the breakthrough has only been a short time. She still needs time to refine and perfect the precision of her application and the accurate control of her output in dealing with the sudden surge of immense power."

"However, faced with the current strength of the swarm of insects, and with no way to predict its limits, her choice was rational: she would rather slightly increase the upper limit of the power of a single attack to ensure absolute suppression and elimination of mutated individuals or unexpected situations, even if it resulted in some acceptable waste."

"This is the optimal tactical choice based on her current condition; it's not a matter of right or wrong, but simply a difference in stage."

This insightful yet accessible analysis was instantly disseminated throughout the world via media networks.

Many Human Race spectators, while realizing the significance of the situation, felt an even greater sense of pride.

It turns out that behind Lin Yi's effortless skill was a fighting instinct honed through countless battles against alien races, an instinct even the gods acknowledged!

The Spirit Race audience had mixed feelings. They were somewhat relieved that their own god had pointed out Edith's "phase," but they also had to admit that Lin Yi's efficiency represented a terrifying combat foundation.

On the Virtual Network, related technical discussion threads have seen a surge in popularity.

"I see! I was wondering why Lin Yi's fighting style seemed so effortless; it turns out he's ingrained the concept of energy conservation into his very being."

"Edith has only recently broken through, which is understandable. But judging from this trend, Her Highness is learning and adapting; she is progressing rapidly!"

"Nonsense, both of you are monstrous geniuses, how could your adaptation speed be the same?"

"Then, Your Yong Yao, may you shine forever."

The host then followed up with, "In your opinion, in the current stalemate, who is more likely to hold out until the later waves?"

The Eternal Divinity "Yong Yao" spoke calmly, almost without hesitation, "Lin Yi."

Before the Spirit Race supporters could erupt in uproar, he quickly added, "However, please note that while the preliminary rankings are important, they are not the final Decisive Battle. Edith's progress is evident to all."

"By the time they reach the final arena, both sides will likely be at a new level in terms of form and tactical preparation. The outcome will be uncertain then. The qualifiers are more of a test of experience and endurance."

This commentary both affirms Lin Yi's current strengths and leaves ample room for expectation for Edith, demonstrating rigor and fairness.

However, the two players on the field were completely unaware of this and didn't care at all.

Their entire focus was on dealing with wave after wave of increasingly powerful attacks.

--

The 990th wave of the Insect Sea recedes.

On the barren plain, the remaining turbulent currents of order slowly subsided.

Lin Yi remained seated cross-legged in the void, his breathing steady. However, if one looked inward at himself, he could see that the 999 Star Core, which had been tempered to their peak, were operating wildly at an unprecedented frequency and intensity, absorbing and releasing massive amounts of source energy.

His domain's light seemed heavier than before, no longer a simple diffusion of light, but more like a tangible chaotic color realm.

The clone stood silently to one side, gun in hand, the patterns on its armor flickering slightly, as if it too were undergoing rapid self-adjustment and recovery.

"This wave consumed nearly 7% of the source energy."

Lin Yi silently calculated and calmly assessed his own condition.

This consumption rate has exceeded his previous estimates.

The intensity increase curve of the insect swarm becomes increasingly steep as it approaches the 1000th wave.

However, the game did not end automatically.

"Besides me, someone else is continuing. This wave can only be Edith."

Lin Yi's eyes narrowed slightly, and he instantly concluded, "Moreover, she's definitely more than just at the eighth level."

According to the competition rules, the preliminary rounds will end the moment the final rankings are determined.

The battle continues, and the only explanation is that there are still multiple contestants who have not been eliminated.

The fact that she could sustain herself until after the 990th wave was something that could not be explained by the Eighth Realm plus some explosive secret techniques. Therefore, Lin Yi knew that Edith must have stepped into the Ninefold Domain.

"Based on data from previous waves, starting from the 500th wave, the Guardian Abyssal Beast's strength will become the weakest early stage of the Star Domain level 1, while at the 1000th wave, its strength will leap to the Star Domain level Abyssal Beast."

Lin Yi's mind raced as he quickly deduced the scenario.

"Based on the current consumption trend, after defeating the remaining nine waves of ordinary insect hordes, my source energy reserves will likely drop to around 30%. Then, I must use this remaining 30% of source energy to fight a Star Domain level Two Abyss Abyssal Beast."

This is not a question of whether or not we can win.

When you're not in top form and facing an enemy who's more than a level above you, any tactic must be built on pushing your limits and making precise calculations, leaving very little room for error.

There can be no mistakes.

Lin Yi took a deep breath, and the light of the Chaos Domain seemed to converge slightly inward, becoming more condensed, in accordance with his will.

That's not a reduction, but rather a more concentrated application of power to the weakening and slowing effects of the rules, further optimizing the energy consumption ratio.

At the same time, the clone slightly adjusted its stance, the gray light on its Long Spear flickering uncertainly, locking onto the location where the spatial rift was about to open again.

The battle has entered its final countdown.

Wave 991. Wave 995.

The strength of each wave of Zerg swarms is subtly yet continuously increasing, the proportion of Elite Unit is rising, and the frequency of Zerg with special abilities is increasing.

Lin Yi's domain was like the most precise millstone, steadily grinding away everything that poured in.

The clones flashed more frequently within the domain, each move executed with extreme simplicity, never expending a single ounce of effort or wasting a single moment.

Wave 999.

As the last elite Zerg, resembling a giant scorpion with a tail hook that shimmered with a spatial-tearing light, was reduced to specks of light by the clone gun, Lin Yi's source energy reserves, just as he had predicted, remained at 33%.

A brief gap.

The barren plain was filled with the residual shockwaves from the intense collision of rules, and the air itself seemed to tremble.

The rift at the edge of space did not open immediately as before; instead, it emitted an extremely heavy sense of oppression, as if some enormous creature was brewing on the other side.

They've arrived.

Lin Yi and his clone both looked up at the same time, gazing in the direction from which the oppressive feeling was coming from.

"Snap!"

The sky above the entire competition area appeared to have huge cracks, like a mirror.

A will filled with an aura of destruction and chaos descended first.

Closely following behind was a giant claw covered in dark gold, ferocious bone armor, fiercely gripping the edge of the spatial rift!

This claw was wrapped in a stream of dark energy. Even the part that was exposed emitted an energy level that had already surpassed the first level of the Star Domain level and reached the second level of the Star Domain level!

"Roar!!!"

The Abyssal Beast of the Star Domain Level 2, before its Main Body had fully descended, unleashed a deafening roar accompanied by a tangible mental shock that swept across the entire plain.

For Lin Yi, who only had 33% of his source energy remaining and whose essence was still at the Star Core level, this was an absolute crushing power level.

A direct confrontation would be futile; there's no chance of winning.

Lin Yi's eyes were solemn. The moment he truly felt the pressure from the other party, the battle plan was instantly integrated into his mind.

Without any communication, the clone, which had been standing quietly to one side, suddenly lit up with chaotic light in its eyes, and the power of the Ninefold Domain covering the entire plain condensed inward with unprecedented intensity.

Space became like Amber solidified over millions of years, and the flow of time was forcibly distorted.

The giant claw that was forcefully tearing open the crack and trying to squeeze in suddenly became slow and labored, as if it had sunk into an invisible quagmire.

The flow of dark energy slowed considerably, and even the violent mental roar was stretched into a muffled whimper.

This extreme control was consuming the already limited source energy of the clone.

But his calculations were precise; this was not for long-term confinement, but to gain that crucial moment.

"Now!"

The clone's figure flickered and appeared directly in front of the spatial rift, no more than a hundred meters away from the slowly moving giant claw. For someone of their level, this distance was practically face-to-face.

At the same time, the gray Long Spear in the clone's hand instantly disintegrated, transforming into pure, highly compressed chaotic-colored domain power, which then ignited all the Star Core within its body.

Self-destruct!

The clone's form suddenly lit up, transforming into a chaotic, blazing light that was impossible to look at directly. At the core of the light was the ultimate meaning of destruction and Return to Stillness.

"Boom!!"

The dark golden giant claw was the first to be hit.

The bone armor, which was strong enough to withstand attacks at the Star Domain level, was instantly torn open with a huge wound under the highly targeted impact of the rule annihilation.

The pitch-black energy flow was forcibly blasted apart, revealing a structure within which dark red flesh and strange energy surged.

The power of the self-destruction did not completely dissipate; the residual impact spread along the crack to the other side, triggering a painful and furious roar from the Abyssal Beast Main Body. The giant claw's movements became noticeably stiff and out of control.

Opportunities are fleeting.

Just as the light formed by the clone had not completely dissipated, and within a fraction of a second that the giant Abyssal Beast was stiffened by the intense pain and impact, Lin Yi's Main Body vanished from its original spot and appeared precisely in front of the hideous wound on the giant claw, no more than a foot away.

His right hand was held together like a sword, and at the fingertips, a dim light of pure "nothingness" emanated.

That was a highly compressed power of spacetime, a technique infused with all his remaining source energy and all his mental will.

"Return to Stillness".

There was no roar, no build-up of energy, only absolute calm that brought everything to an end.

Lin Yi pointed it out.

The dim light from the fingertips silently seeped into the depths of the giant claw's wound.

Time seemed to stand still at this moment.

The next moment.

Centered on the point where the fingertip penetrated, the dark golden bone armor, the jet-black energy flow, and even the Main Body part connected to it at a deeper level, were like ice and snow thrown into a raging fire, or like pen marks being erased by an eraser, quickly turning into the finest gray dust, collapsing and dissolving.

The disintegration spread at a terrifying speed, instantly eroding the entire giant claw and surging wildly along the joint towards the other side of the crack, where the Abyssal Beast's Main Body had not yet appeared.

"Aww!!"

A mournful roar came from the other end of the crack, but it quickly faded away.

Just two seconds.

The giant claw, radiating the dual pressure of the star field, along with the terrifying sense of oppression it brought, vanished completely, leaving only gray dust slowly drifting in the air.

The spatial rift quickly healed and disappeared.

The barren plains have returned to peace.

[Wave 1000, passed.]

A gentle system notification sounded in Lin Yi's mind.

A warm and vast power surged into his body out of nowhere, instantly soothing all his exhaustion and fatigue. His damaged mental energy recovered rapidly, and his 999 Star Core regained their full and vibrant luster.

Consumed status, completely reset!

Lin Yi exhaled a non-existent breath, but his eyes showed no sign of relaxation.

Almost at the same instant he regained full strength, another thought crossed his mind.

Light and shadow swirled around him, and the consumed clones coalesced once more!

His dark blue combat uniform, calm face, and solid, rhythmic energy were exactly the same as before.

Without the slightest pause, Lin Yi's Main Body and clone simultaneously turned, and the domain expanded once more, preparing to meet the upcoming 1001st wave of attacks.

However, the anticipated spatial rift did not appear.

Instead, the desolate plains before them began to fade rapidly, like a painting that had lost its color.

Lin Yi was slightly taken aback.

The next moment, his consciousness lightened, and he was gently pulled out of the competition space.

Before me was a familiar Virtual Network personal space, with Xuanji's palace-dressed phantom standing quietly to one side.

The preliminary rounds are over.

Lin Yi immediately understood.

It wasn't that I couldn't hold on anymore, but that my only opponent, Edith, failed to get past the 1000th wave.

Once the last opponent is eliminated and the rankings are determined, the competition naturally ends.

He, Lin Yi, came in first place in the preliminary rounds.

Almost at the same moment Lin Yi was teleported out of the competition space, the Pan-Spirit Alliance Virtual Network seemed to boil over completely.

All the main camera shots of the spectator footage were fixed on the final shots of the two competition spaces.

On the left, Lin Yi stood side by side with his clone, their domains slightly expanded, both in perfect condition.

On the right, the phantom of the throne dimmed, Edith's figure slowly dissipated in the aftershocks of the Abyssal Beast's terrifying attack.

At the very top of Points leaderboard, the number of waves following Lin Yi (Human Race) finally settled at 1000.

Below that, Edith Lanxing (Spirit Race)'s wave count stopped at 999.

It was just one wave off.

However, what separates these "waves" is the insurmountable chasm of whether, after exhausting all resources, they can reverse the situation and defeat the Star Domain level Two Abyss Abyssal Beast with almost nothing left.

"Passed! Lin Yi passed 1000 waves!"

"The calculation of the clone self-destructing to clear a path, followed by a fatal blow from the Main Body —the timing and execution are terrifying!"

"Edith was just a little short. What a pity."

"Just a little? Forget it, those who know, know. You're too inexperienced to explain."

"First place in the preliminary round, Mr. Lin Yi truly deserves it!"

After a brief silence, the Human Race realm erupted in a cacophony of sounds that nearly shattered the heavens from countless planets and cities.

In the auditorium of the East Peak Military Academy, Nie Chang slammed his clenched fist heavily on the armrest, and Li Zhenguo and others couldn't help but stand up and punch the railing.

Throughout the Silver Blue Civilization, virtual ribbons and celebratory light displays, already prepared, instantly illuminated the online world.

In the Spirit Race territory, there was a sense of regret and sighs, but this was quickly replaced by another emotion: recognition of Edith's honorable defeat and a strong anticipation for the final.

After all, she was only one wave away from breaking through, and that was only after she had recently broken through to the ninth level.

Yong Yao's comments were repeatedly mentioned: "The qualifiers are more of a test of experience and endurance," and "The outcome of the finals is still uncertain."

This gave Spirit Race supporters ample comfort and hope.

However, the Virtual Network arena is never dominated by a single voice.

While mainstream media and the public were still digesting this thrilling final result, some discordant voices had already quietly emerged in forums and comment sections.

"Heh, first place in the preliminaries? He's just relying on his experience and low energy consumption. Once Princess Edith fully masters the nine levels of power in three months, they'll face each other head-on in the finals and see how he tries to cheat then!"

"Human Race can only be happy for now; the finals will be the real test. The Spirit Race's heritage and resources are far beyond what Human Race can match. I'm just waiting for them to suffer a crushing defeat."

"Lin Yi is indeed strong, but Edith Edith's progress is evident to all. The gap is currently only one wave; in three months, she might even surpass him."

These comments mostly came from accounts that clearly had the intention of inciting conflict with other races, but they spread quickly and soon formed an undercurrent of pessimism and skepticism.

They accurately seized upon points such as "Edith's rapid progress," "the finals being different from the qualifiers," and "the Spirit Race heritage of the Elven race," and vigorously exaggerated the argument that Lin Yi might be overtaken in the finals.

The Human Race, naturally unwilling to be outdone online, fought back fiercely.

The two sides went back and forth, arguing quite animatedly.

Interspersed among them are many rational analysts who attempt to objectively compare the merits and demerits of both sides, but they are often quickly drowned out by emotional flame wars.

The odds on major betting platforms have also quietly changed. Edith's odds of winning the championship have been lowered, while Lin Yi's odds have been slightly raised, reflecting the market's cautious assessment of the situation three months from now.

--

Origin Star Manor, Cultivation Room.

Lin Yi did not immediately return to reality, but first used Xuanji to retrieve the battle situation of Edith's last few waves, especially the 999th wave of the Abyssal Beast battle.

After a quick glance, he understood.

"As expected, it's the ninth level, with light and darkness in space and time. She chose to confront the final Abyssal Beast head-on, but the exertion was too great, and ultimately her source energy was exhausted."

Lin Yi analyzed to himself, "Her tactical choices are still too orthodox, lacking a bit of the decisiveness to fight to the death. However, as that comment said, she adapts very quickly."

Xuanji also provided a brief summary and reminder regarding the various controversies circulating online.

Lin Yi glanced at the pessimistic and skeptical comments and found them amusing.

"They were overtaken in the final?"

He shook his head and left the discussion forum.

Verbal disputes are pointless; strength is the only answer.

His current focus is on how to make the most of the time leading up to the final to further extend his advantage.

"Owner."

Xuanji's voice rang out, "During and after your competition, we received a large number of messages. They have been categorized and processed according to priority. Among them, Xuan Yan sent a virtual meeting invitation. In addition, the majority of messages congratulated you on winning first place in the preliminaries. Some messages also specifically mentioned Edith's breakthrough to the ninth level, so please pay attention."

Lin Yi nodded. "In my own words, I'll reply with a general thank you. For those reminders, I'll specifically state that I've taken note and thank you for your concern."

"Yes," Xuanji replied, then asked, "An invitation from Xuan Yan?"

"Accept now."

Consciousness was drawn in once again.

Evergreen Palace remains unchanged.

After sitting alone at the jade table, the Xuan Yan saw Lin Yi's figure materialize and a gentle smile appeared on his face.

He got straight to the point, "First place in the preliminaries, surpassing the strongest prodigy of the Spirit Race in this generation, well done."

"Thank you for your praise, Your Excellency." Lin Yi respectfully.

Xuan Yan waved his hand, gesturing for him to sit down, his expression turning serious.

"However, we must not be careless because of this. Edith's breakthrough to the ninth level at the last minute shows that the Spirit Race's determination this time is not small, and the assistance that the Spirit Race can provide for her is probably not limited to this."

As he spoke, he looked at Lin Yi and solemnly said, "There aren't many areas where your strength can be improved at the moment. The only difference between you and the theoretically invincible Star Core level is those powerful forbidden secret techniques that require a long period of immersion or have extremely deep requirements for the origin of the rules."

"These things cannot be accomplished overnight. Our race does not possess a peerless treasure land like the Spirit Race's Time Tower, which can distort time and is specifically for cultivation. Therefore, I do not recommend that you blindly devote all your remaining time to trying to cultivate those secret techniques. The efficiency is too low, and the risk is not small."

As for the laws, Xuan Yan didn't mention them at all.

After all, that's too difficult.

In his view, although theoretically, if Lin Yi chose a basic rule and with the help of some treasures, with his talent, he might have a chance to break through to the realm of laws.

But what a joke! A genius from the Ninefold Domain of the realm, just to get first place in the Genius Battle, randomly choosing a law to break through? Even if he gets first place, it'll be a laughing stock.

Therefore, he didn't mention it at all.

Lin Yi listened quietly, knowing that the Lord would surely have more to say.

As expected, Xuan Yan changed the subject. "However, since the Spirit Race has already provided additional assistance to Edith, although our Human Race is not as resource-rich, we cannot allow you to fall too far behind in terms of resource support. This is not only about your personal victory or defeat, but also about the face and morale of our race."

He paused, then slowly said, "Therefore, the clan has decided to award you an additional bonus for winning this preliminary round: 2000 clan merits."

Lin Yi's heart skipped a beat.

Even with his current composure, he was taken aback by this number.

500 clan honors is already a generous reward, 2000 clan honors...

"You can decide how to use these clan honors. Whether you exchange them for forbidden secret techniques from the clan honor treasury or for other rare resources is entirely up to you."

Xuan Yan looked at Lin Yi, "What the clan can do is provide full support in terms of resources. As for the rest of the journey, how you choose to proceed and how fast you can go, that's up to you."

Lin Yi suppressed his excitement, solemnly rose, and bowed deeply. "Lin Yi thanks the clan for their generous gift!"

"Good."

Xuan Yan nodded in satisfaction. "Go ahead and plan well. If you have any questions before the finals, feel free to contact me or Tian Ge."

"Yes!"

Consciousness returns.

Lin Yi opened his eyes, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up slightly.

2000 Clan Honors!

This was truly an unexpected delight; no one expected that Edith's breakthrough would prompt the tribe to offer such a generous reward.

This enormous fortune must be carefully planned.

Should he continue to invest in comprehending the laws of time, or wait until he breaks through and exchange for some rare items that can directly enhance his combat power? Lin Yi's mind raced with thoughts.

After a moment, he composed himself, got up, and left the cultivation room.

In the living room, Aurelia, Chen Yu, Zhou Yuxuan, Kaliya, Lin Yao, and others were already waiting.

When Lin Yi came out, everyone's faces were filled with smiles.

"Congratulations, Commander, first place in the qualifiers!" Chen Yu was the first to shout.

Others also offered their congratulations.

Lin Yi walked to the head seat and waved his hand, saying, "We're all family, no need for formalities."

He glanced at everyone. "I've seen your performances. Among the countless geniuses in the Star Sea, achieving such results is quite impressive; you haven't let your hard work go to waste."

With Lin Yi's affirmation, everyone's smiles grew even wider.

Chen Yu scratched his head, hesitated for a moment, and then asked, "Commander, has Edith really reached the ninth level as well?"

His question echoed the sentiments of many present.

While the final results of the qualifiers were certainly gratifying, Edith's astonishing breakthroughs and catch-up speed weighed heavily on everyone's minds.

Lin Yi glanced at Chen Yu, then at the others, smiled calmly, and waved his hand. "It's alright."

"She has her opportunities and progress, and I have my path and preparations. The world is vast, and there are countless geniuses. How can I be the only one who can improve? Facing my opponents squarely and perfecting myself is enough."

Seeing Lin Yi so composed, the worries in everyone's hearts dissipated considerably.

Since the Commander said it was alright, he must have a plan.

--

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

Soon, the knockout stage began.

The knockout stage format is simple yet brutal.

The top 10,000 players in the preliminary rounds will engage in one-on-one duels in the order of 1st place vs. 10,000th place, 2nd place vs. 9,999th place.

The winners advance, the losers are eliminated.

Three rounds were held consecutively to determine 1,250 finalists.

Then, the rankings are based on the total time taken in the three matches, and the top 750 players with the shortest times directly qualify for the ranking matches.

The 500 players ranked 751st to 1250th in terms of time will need to participate in an additional round to determine the 250 qualifying spots.

In the end, a total of 1,000 players participated in the qualifying rounds.

For players of Lin Yi and Edith's caliber, the difference in strength between their opponents in the first three rounds was too great.

After three rounds, both Lin Yi and Edith defeated their opponents with overwhelming advantages.

The two had the exact same total time, tying for first place among all those who advanced.

This result has once again sparked considerable discussion.

"The knockout stage was completely inadequate; it ended as soon as the domains opened."

"It seems the real competition will have to wait until the qualifying rounds and the finals."

"Three months! It's been so long. I really can't wait to see them face off!"

After the knockout stage, the list of 1,000 players who advanced to the ranking stage was officially released.

Next comes a three-month period of rest and preparation.

These three months are the final hurdle for all the top contenders to digest what they've learned in the competition, adjust their form, and seek breakthroughs.

At the same time, it was also the time for the organizers of the Pan-Spirit Alliance Genius Battle to mobilize spaceships to various star fields to pick up these 1,000 prodigies and take them to the "Ultimate Arena" specially prepared by the Spirit Race for the ranking matches and finals.

Lin Yi knew that the so-called "guidance" was essentially because these 1,000 people were the team that would later enter the "Myriad Secret Realm" together.

The Spirit Race decided to bring forward the assembly time to allow for final coordination and integration.

These three months are crucial for him.

He devoted almost all his energy to in-depth research on the "Great Evolution Timewheel Deduction Model" and his understanding of the laws of time.

The hustle and bustle of the outside world and the debates on the internet seem to be shut out from this tranquility.

Time, in this state of focused meditation, passed quietly, swiftly yet steadily.

On this day, Lin Yi was immersed in yet another microscopic node deduction of the time law model when suddenly, Xuanji's phantom appeared silently beside him.

"Master," Xuanji said softly, "Your clone has arrived at the outer ring road of the Origin Star and is applying for port entry according to the pre-arranged procedure."

A glint of light flashed in Lin Yi's eyes.

The clone is back.

He nodded slightly, his expression calm.

"Understood. Follow the pre-arranged procedure to access the manor's underground secret chamber."

"Yes."

The illusory image of the palace attire dissipated.