The Shock of the Crowd

While the Planetary Level matches were underway, the main event—the Star Level army—was also in the midst of their own battles.

Their combat was simpler and more brutal compared to the Planetary Level, divided into four distinct stages.

The first stage: Arena Melee.

Nine hundred participants were split into eighteen groups of fifty, taking turns in the arena for a chaotic brawl to tentatively determine the top one hundred and eighty.

These one hundred and eighty were not the final qualifiers, as they still had to undergo a challenge phase. The top one hundred and eighty were granted three opportunities to be challenged, and they had to remain undefeated through all three to secure their spot.

The seven hundred and twenty eliminated participants were given one chance to challenge a winner from the top one hundred and eighty. If they won, they would take the victor's place; if they lost, they still had one final chance to challenge someone else to try and reclaim a spot.

These two stages were the most time-consuming, lasting a full seven days before concluding. Because people would win, get knocked off, and then use their one chance to climb back up—only to win twice and get kicked off again on the third—it was an endless cycle of who knows how long before the final list was confirmed.

Li Yilin watched this stage with great amusement. He noticed one unlucky fellow who was knocked off the arena a full ten times, yet every single time he managed to find someone he could beat to reclaim his spot, only to be challenged and defeated again.

That kid ended up standing off the stage with his face turning blue from rage, as he had failed his final challenge and lost his chance to enter the top one hundred and eighty.

"Hahaha, that poor sap got knocked off fifteen times!" Ba Ku roared with laughter, his Domain Lord aura leaking out involuntarily. Had it not been for the transparent barrier separating the audience from the arena, those little ones below would likely have been unable to stand the moment his aura spread.

"Do those two have a grudge? You beat me, so I challenge you—how many times has this cycle repeated?"

"How do they manage to win one match and lose the next?"

"That girl is fierce; she wields that axe with such ferocity that no one can even get close."

Seven days later, the one hundred and eighty victors entered the second round: one-on-one duels.

They were divided into two teams to face off against one another. This division was based on their performance in the first round, with the judging elders carefully deliberating on their strength to determine the matchups.

Once the duels concluded, the winners secured the top ninety spots, while the ninety defeated participants entered a round-robin tournament to decide the final ten (similar to the round-robin in the Genius Tournament).

It took a full fifteen days to select the final one hundred.

For the strong, ten days can pass in the blink of an eye.

With one hundred participants remaining, they officially entered the third stage: Team Battles.

The purpose of this stage was to ensure the ranking of warriors who were not skilled in direct combat, such as Illusionists, and to test the synergy and rapport between teammates.

Warriors, Spirit Readers, and Illusionists formed three-person teams. However, since Spirit Readers and Illusionists were fewer in number, there weren't enough to go around for every team. Fortunately, the team battles didn't place too much emphasis on this, focusing instead on the rapport and coordination between teammates.

Those who made it to this stage were essentially the top geniuses from every major faction; regardless of their final ranking, they would be highly valued upon returning home.

As the team battles commenced, the Planetary Level group finally reached their grand finale.

Qian Min leaped onto the arena like an agile cat. "Qian Min, Planetary Level ninth-stage warrior, first layer of the Fire Domain."

Si Yao hovered in mid-air, her massive wings unfurled as cyan light shimmered. She stretched her petite frame slightly and smiled. "Celestia Si Yao, Planetary Level ninth-stage warrior, first layer of the Wind Domain."

"Oh, they're finally facing off! I'm so excited!" the audience cheered.

"Qian Min, the pride of Cloud Sea Planet, against the only disciple of a Domain Lord Giant Axe Warrior—a genius who has also grasped a domain at the Planetary Level. I can't imagine how spectacular this duel will be."

"It's only the Planetary Level; how spectacular can it be? Compared to the Star Level battles, it's just child's play," someone scoffed.

"That is a domain, something only a Domain Lord would grasp. You little trash, shut your mouth if you don't know what you're talking about."

On the arena.

Following the host's command.

"Whoosh—"

Qian Min transformed into a red streak, silently merging into the domain she had unleashed.

"Boom!"

Towering flames erupted from thin air, burning fiercely as waves of heat rolled out.

Swish!

Si Yao flapped her wings and took to the sky. She had intended to use her domain as she always did, only to realize that Qian Min's Fire Domain was the perfect counter to her own.

Unless her domain could instantly extinguish the fire, it would only feed the flames with wind, making them burn even larger.

Shoo!

A piercing whistle accompanied the sound of tearing air. A sharp glint flashed in Si Yao's eyes, and her speed surged as she darted from her spot. Simultaneously, she flicked the silver sword in her hand, sending out several slivers of silver light along with fierce blade energy to firmly trap the suddenly appearing Qian Min.

"Hmph." Qian Min let out a soft grunt, her feet shifting as she stepped along a strange path, exiting the range of the blade energy in a few moves. She was so fast that she left an afterimage behind.

"An afterimage?" Si Yao's pupils constricted, and she unfolded her domain without hesitation.

"Boom!"

The energy fluctuations from the expanding domain instantly suppressed the speed of the approaching Qian Min, forcing her hidden figure into the open.

In the audience, everyone watched intently, only cheering once Qian Min was suppressed and revealed.

"Too spectacular."

"Can a domain really be used like that?"

"Are they even human? Their domain control is smoother than my teacher's."

On the arena.

Qian Min was forced to reveal her figure by the suddenly expanding domain, but instead of panicking, she grinned, her eyes shining with brilliance.

"I've finally waited for you to release your domain," she whispered.

Si Yao's expression changed drastically, and she retreated without hesitation, but Qian Min pursued her just as swiftly, her own domain unfurling as boundless flames instantly engulfed the entire arena.

"The second stage of a domain?" Li Yilin stood up abruptly, his eyes filled with both astonishment and worry.

He was astonished by the talent Qian Min had displayed, and worried for Si Yao, who was currently facing her.

"Good heavens!"

"The second stage of a domain? Is she even human?"

"As expected of a genius; such comprehension is beyond our reach."

"Qian Min has suddenly erupted with power; Si Yao is going to lose."

In the spectator stands, the Cloud Sea Family Head watched Qian Min shining brilliantly on the arena and couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"Hahaha, not bad, not bad at all!"

He was the family head, as well as an elder to the branch of the clan that Qian Min belonged to. The more outstanding Qian Min performed, the more importance his branch would receive within the family.

There was no helping it; although the Cloud Sea Family was vast, a massive family meant there were many power struggles. Everyone had selfish motives, and no one wanted to receive the least amount of benefits; everyone had to fight for their share.

"Gu Nuozuo, the child you've raised is excellent!" The Cloud Sea Family Head turned his head to look at Gu Nuozuo, his face showing appreciation.

Gu Nuozuo was Qian Min's biological father.

Sitting beside Gu Nuozuo was his wife, who was also Qian Min's biological mother, Ai Naling. She watched Qian Min shining on the stage, her eyes filled with pride.