I Think the Virtual Universe System Should Just Declare Me First

Their rivalry did nothing to affect the progress of the competition.

In just over five minutes, the 3,600 matches had all been decided, eliminating half the contestants.

Half an hour later, the second round began.

Another half of the 3,600 geniuses fell, while the rest advanced.

Half an hour later, after everyone had rested and prepared, the third round began.

All 1,800 peerless geniuses were filled with longing. They were just one step away from victory... Yet only one person from each arena could enter the core layer of the Giant Axe Martial Arena. The other had to be eliminated.

In the end, only 900 figures remained on Giant Axe Plaza. As soon as their battles ended, everyone else was transported by the Virtual Universe System back to the continents of their respective Universe Countries.

The 1,000 elite geniuses gathered together. Many of them had been identified as having the strength to place in the top ten or twenty—or believed they could rank near the top—and were watching the others.

"Congratulations!"

A cold, stiff voice rang in the minds of the thousand contestants. Venerable Beiyan appeared before the crowd. "You are the 1,000 best contestants in this edition of the Genius Tournament, chosen from among the Cosmic Humans' 1,000 Universe Countries. The Giant Axe Martial Arena will do everything in its power to cultivate you. If anyone doesn't want to join the Giant Axe Martial Arena, you may say so now."

Silence. No one spoke.

"Good."

"However, you should understand that competition is ever-present in the universe. It exists everywhere. The 1,000 of you... cannot all receive the same treatment and cultivation resources. Even the Giant Axe Martial Arena cannot afford to waste precious resources so lavishly." Venerable Beiyan spoke impassively, his expression stern. "Allow me to make an announcement."

"Among the 1,000 of you, those ranked 101st to 1,000th will receive a bonus of 10 Hunyuan Units, be permitted to study in the Initial Universe, and be admitted to the Giant Axe Martial Arena's core, the 'Shenfeng Secret Realm.'"

"Those ranked 11th to 100th will receive a bonus of 100 Hunyuan Units, be permitted to study in the Initial Universe, and be admitted to the Giant Axe Martial Arena's core, the 'Kaitian Secret Realm.'"

"Those ranked 3rd to 10th will receive a bonus of 1,000 Hunyuan Units, be permitted to study in the Initial Universe, and be admitted to the Giant Axe Martial Arena's core, the 'Shenshi Secret Realm.'"

"Those ranked 1st and 2nd will receive a bonus of 10,000 Hunyuan Units, be permitted to study in the Initial Universe, and be admitted to the Giant Axe Martial Arena's core, the 'Giant Axe Secret Realm.'"

"Normally, the Giant Axe Secret Realm admits only one person per edition. But the overall level of this edition is quite impressive, so after deliberation, the upper ranks of the Giant Axe Martial Arena have granted you two spots in the Giant Axe Secret Realm."

"The 1,000 of you are not all equally strong, so naturally, you cannot all receive the same resources."

"The arena duels will begin tomorrow to determine the final rankings." Venerable Beiyan rarely said so much. "The rules for the duels have already been sent to each of you. Get some rest today."

Boom!

Venerable Beiyan vanished as soon as he finished speaking. Only then did the 1,000 powerful Immortal Experts start talking.

"The Giant Axe Secret Realm is taking in two people this time, but our Universe Country probably doesn't stand a chance. Yanmo and Yanshen both cleared the Trial Tower, and they're far stronger than everyone else."

"Exactly. It's so unfortunate to be competing in the same edition as geniuses like them. If this were any previous edition, Kaster from our Universe Country would definitely have made it into the Giant Axe Secret Realm." Someone spoke with regret.

"Give me a break. Of the top ten, Feng Lishuang should be the strongest. She reached fourth place as a martial artist, behind only Leng Yanqiu, and the difference in their scores isn't large."

"Not necessarily. The others might have been holding back, for all we know."

As these powerful Immortal Experts discussed who was stronger, everyone else examined the rules that had been sent to them.

Once they had read them, some of them were left speechless.

One of the rules stated that the Virtual Universe System would select 100 powerful fighters from the 900 geniuses who had just made it through the three elimination rounds. They would then face the previous top 1,000 in one-on-one duels.

The 100 winners would qualify to enter the Kaitian Secret Realm.

The other 900 would all enter the Shenfeng Secret Realm.

Then, from among the 100 winners, the Virtual Universe System would choose the 20 best contestants and pit them against each other one-on-one... to decide the top ten.

Faced with such an arbitrary rule, one that relied entirely on the Virtual Universe System's judgment, many people immediately lost their tempers.

They insisted they were certain to make the top ten. Those whose names weren't on the list of 100 were especially incensed, openly crying out that it was unfair.

"Why should we trust the Virtual Universe System so much? I'm absolutely certain I can make the top 100, maybe even the top ten. Why won't you even give us a chance to compete fairly?"

"Unfair! This is unfair!" someone beside him shouted.

"This is unfair!"

"Let us fight for real! The losers should be eliminated—that's what would be fair. Otherwise, we won't accept it!" More than a dozen young people from various Universe Countries began shouting.

"If you want someone to blame, blame your own weakness!" Cao Benqi sneered. He never passed up a chance to show off. "The weak are meant to be ruled by the strong."

"You..." Their faces flushed red, like shrimp thrown into boiling water.

"Not satisfied? Trash like you would all be killed with a single thrust of my halberd in the real world. The Virtual Universe System has already granted you the greatest honor by giving you a chance to stand on the same stage as me. And you dare demand more?" Cao Benqi's aura surged, forcing those people to tremble in fear.

"Hmph!" Venerable Beiyan snorted. His overwhelming presence erupted instantly, making everyone present, geniuses and Immortal Experts alike, shudder.

"How dare you question the great Virtual Universe System?"

The man tried to explain himself, but no sound came out.

"Remember: even if you doubt your own intelligence, never doubt the Virtual Universe System. Even we Universe Venerables feel insignificant in the Virtual Universe. And you, a mere Star Level brat, dare question the Virtual Universe System?"

Venerable Beiyan's voice was icy, matching his stone-like face. He seemed like death itself had descended.

"Any other objections? I already said that anyone who doesn't want to join the Giant Axe Martial Arena may leave now. I won't say it a fourth time."

The crowd fell utterly silent. No one dared challenge the authority of a Universe Venerable.

Someone could defy the Virtual Universe because the Virtual Universe System couldn't speak. A Universe Venerable was different. Not only could one speak, one could kill.

"Since there are no more objections, you're dismissed." Venerable Beiyan gave another cold snort and left.

Only then did everyone else on the plaza finally breathe a collective sigh of relief.

"What idiots. If super-geniuses like Cao Benqi and Ling Xuan, who cleared the Trial Tower, had voiced their objections, perhaps they might have received a little consideration. But you're just members of the outermost fringe of the core layer, and you want to question the higher-ups? Don't forget, the Genius Tournament is held once every 5,000 years, and at least 1,000 people are admitted each time. The Giant Axe Martial Arena has existed for countless eras. Geniuses like you are a dime a dozen here." Blood Sword Marquis's tone was icy too, though his words were tinged with unmistakable smugness.

"I think the Virtual Universe System should just declare me first," Ling Xuan whispered beside Blood Sword Marquis.

"Ahem." Blood Sword Marquis awkwardly glanced around, hoping no one else had heard.

My dear ancestor, I just finished praising you, and now you're making things difficult for me. You really are something else. Couldn't you save that sort of thing for when we get back and speak in private?

Unfortunately, the laughter ringing around them ruined his plan.

Yet the Immortal Experts, who had been so overbearing toward the other geniuses, didn't rebuke Ling Xuan. Anyone who could clear the Trial Tower would easily surpass them in the future, as long as he didn't perish.

And he would get there very quickly, too.

"Big mouth." Ren Yaoli rolled her eyes at Ling Xuan.

The top hundred geniuses also chuckled softly, and the tense atmosphere immediately eased.

Cao Benqi glared at him.

First place?

First place is mine!!

Mine!!!