Ranking Battle

In the days that followed, Qin Zhao settled into a disciplined cultivation routine. During the day, he accumulated Genetic Origin Energy at his residence in the real world while studying the two secret techniques Shockwave and Earth Pulse Guard. At night, he entered the Virtual Universe to practice the basics of Ten Thousand Line Flow.

In his spare time, he sometimes went to the Ten Thousand Mountain Wall to study the stone carvings, or attended public lectures by other Domain Lord experts at the Law Transmission Pavilion, especially those on the basic laws of Earth-style. Occasionally, he also watched other geniuses compete at the Martial Arts Arena, gaining valuable combat experience.

Amid these enriching conditions, Qin Zhao's cultivation, his comprehension of the Law of Earth Origin, and his mastery of secret techniques all improved steadily at a visible pace.

Time flew by. The Ice Ripple Secret Realm had no discernible seasons; only the Ice Ripple Star River flowed on as it had since time immemorial. A year had passed in the blink of an eye since Qin Zhao entered the Ice Plains Divine Realm.

Over the past year, Qin Zhao had followed a routine so strict it bordered on punishing. He had diligently cultivated his Origin Force at his residence in the real world, studied Shockwave and Earth Pulse Guard, and furiously practiced the basics of Ten Thousand Line Flow in the Virtual Universe while attending lectures at the Law Transmission Pavilion. With ample resources, an excellent environment, and his own tireless effort, his progress had been astonishingly rapid.

His Genetic Origin Energy had reached Planet Level, fifth rank, and his combat strength was far beyond that of a Star Level fighter! His comprehension of the laws and his cultivation of secret techniques had also yielded remarkable results.

[Name: Qin Zhao]

[Talent: Earth Element (Transcendent), Water-style (High)]

[Achievements: Saint Realm, Lowgod, Erudite, Paragon's Praise, Faced a Highgod]

[Secret Techniques: 128 Martial Arts Secret Techniques (Perfect), Shockwave (Proficient 62%), Earth Pulse Guard (Proficient 58%), Ten Thousand Line Flow (Beginner 1%)]

[Comprehension: Earth-style Laws (Earth Element 100%, Pulse of the Earth 68%, Gravity Space 5%)]

[Items: None]

[Buffs: Comprehension +30%, Soul Resistance +10%]

Shockwave and Earth Pulse Guard had both advanced from the beginner stage to the proficient stage, and their power was now on an entirely different level. Shockwave was especially formidable. As his comprehension of Pulse of the Earth's mysteries had risen to 68%, its penetrating vibrations had become ever more terrifying. The defenses of ordinary Star Level fighters at the ninth rank were as good as nonexistent against it.

He had also just completed the basic training for Ten Thousand Line Flow. Now, all he needed was one final flash of insight; perhaps then he could truly touch the threshold of the Origin Law of Space, condense his first Phantom Body, and enter the First Line Flow stage. Countless geniuses had been stymied at this step. Qin Zhao was confident he would overcome it eventually, but he knew he could not rush. It would take opportunity and accumulated experience.

Just as he was immersed in cultivation and preparing to break through the bottleneck of First Line Flow, his Identity Token began vibrating with unprecedented urgency. A mandatory message flooded his mind:

"Glacier Sacred Land Annual Ranking Battle Notice: All Planet Level Core Members must gather in the Virtual Universe's Ice Ripple Star Core—Martial Arts World three days from now to participate in this year's Ranking Battle. Participation is mandatory. Anyone who fails to attend will be considered to have forfeited their Core Member status."

"The final rankings will be decided by the number of victories and defeats. The rewards for the top three in this year's Planet Level Ranking Battle are as follows:"

"Third place: 5,000 points."

"Second place: 8,000 points and one S-Class Bloodline Evolution Agent."

"First place: 15,000 points and... one Longke Race Bloodline Evolution Agent!"

The moment he saw the first-place reward, Qin Zhao's pupils constricted, and his breathing nearly stopped.

A Longke Race Bloodline Evolution Agent!

A top bloodline ranked among the top thirty of the Human Race! Longke reached Universe Level naturally upon adulthood! They stood about three meters tall and had two flexible feelers growing from their foreheads. Apart from that, they looked just like the people of Earth in Qin Zhao's previous life. Making a single Bloodline Evolution Agent usually required extracting the essence of life from six or seven Longke... Its value far exceeded 15,000 points. It was even more precious than many World Lord-level treasures!

For Qin Zhao, whose bloodline was currently among the lowest in the universe, this reward would be a lifeline. It was a peerless opportunity to improve his foundation, make up for his innate shortcomings, and accelerate his future cultivation! It might even provide immeasurable help with his comprehension of the Law of Space and breaking through the bottleneck of Ten Thousand Line Flow!

"I have to get it!"

A glint of determination flashed in Qin Zhao's eyes. After a year of painstaking cultivation, it was time to test his progress. He would use this battle not only to temper himself but also to undergo a true transformation with the reward! Even if that meant revealing that he had already crossed the threshold of law comprehension, he would do it!

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

Virtual Universe, Ice Ripple Star Core, Martial Arts World.

This vast world was shrouded in special rules. It contained every kind of terrain imaginable—mountains, rivers, deserts, glaciers—enough to accommodate every style of combat. Countless spectator stands floated in the sky, and they were already packed with people.

Although this was only a Ranking Battle for Planet Level students, many Star Level and Universe Level fighters had come to watch, and occasionally even a Domain Lord expert could be seen among them. The annual Ranking Battle was a major event at the Glacier Sacred Land. It determined resource allocation and helped assess the potential of its geniuses, so it drew enormous attention.

Of course, that was just an excuse!

The real reason was that the intervals between rounds in the Star Level and Universe Level Ranking Battles were simply too long! The Planet Level Ranking Battle was held once every ten years, while the Star Level one came around once every hundred years, and the Universe Level one only once every thousand! The Planet Level Ranking Battle was held more frequently, and it almost always featured new faces, so it had always attracted plenty of attention.

There were eighty-seven Planet Level contestants, including Qin Zhao. They were randomly assigned to different starting areas.

Qin Zhao's first opponent was a towering, muscular man wielding a giant axe named Lie Yuan, from the Blazing Sun Divine Realm. A scorching Flame Domain surrounded him, and it had clearly reached the third level!

"Kid from the Ice Plains Divine Realm, I hear your Earth Domain is only at the first level. Just surrender and save yourself some pain!" Lie Yuan's voice boomed. His giant axe tore through the air with a shrill roar, wrapped in blazing flames as it crashed down toward Qin Zhao's head! The ground cracked and melted wherever the flames passed.

Faced with this furious strike, Qin Zhao remained calm. He didn't even use a Force Weapon. He simply raised his right hand, spread his fingers, and pressed down toward the incoming axe.

"Whoom—"

An invisible force field, as heavy as a mountain, abruptly expanded around him! The ochre shield formed by Earth Pulse Guard appeared in an instant, its veins flowing across its surface. It not only blocked the giant axe's blow with ease, but its force sent a numbing shock through Lie Yuan's arm. At the same time, the burly man felt as though he'd fallen into a quagmire. His movements became sluggish and heavy in an instant. It was the special gravity field that came with Earth Pulse Guard!

"What?" Lie Yuan's expression changed. His Third-Level Flame Domain couldn't shake the opponent's seemingly thin shield at all?

But what came next was even more alarming. Qin Zhao didn't withdraw his outstretched hand. Instead, he gently clenched it.

"Shockwave!"

There was no earth-shattering boom, only a muffled hum, as though it came from deep underground. A tightly concentrated ochre ripple raced along the ground at a speed far beyond sound, reaching the burly man's feet in an instant before erupting violently!

"Pfft!"

Before Lie Yuan could even react, a bizarre vibrating force bypassed the Origin Force defenses and Flame Domain surrounding his body, penetrating straight into him. His internal organs, bones, and meridians seemed to be pounded by countless tiny hammers all at once, rattling and shaking!

"Ugh!" Blood spurted from Lie Yuan's eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. His eyes filled with shock and disbelief as he crumpled to the ground, his body still twitching involuntarily.

The fight ended in an instant.

One strike! With a single move, without even appearing to exert himself, Qin Zhao had defeated a genius with a Third-Level Domain!