The next day, at the Central Plaza of the Virtual Universe.
The atmosphere in the plaza remained lively after a night of rest and reflection, but the tense heaviness of the Trial Tower stage had eased, replaced by the excitement and anticipation of arena battles. The geniuses from the 1008 Universe Countries who had made it into the top 7,300 gathered there, waiting for the next round's schedule to be announced. The top hundred in the Trial Tower rankings, including Qin Zhao, Lian Luo, and Mo Yuan, were naturally among them.
"Boom!"
A pressure far more vast and unfathomable than that of an Immortal God descended without warning, as if all of space and time had been forced to a halt. In the next instant, a towering figure appeared silently in midair.
He wore simple Silver Battle Armor. His face was ancient and weathered, and countless stars seemed to be born and die whenever his eyes opened or closed. Simply by standing there, he became the center of Heaven and Earth. Even the Immortal Gods paled in comparison.
"Greetings, Star Prison Venerable!"
More than a thousand Immortal Gods bowed in unison, their voices filled with awe. The thousands of geniuses below were shaken to their cores and hurried to bow as well, not daring to show the slightest disrespect. Qin Zhao followed suit. The others might not know the Star Prison Venerable's background, but he knew it very well. This man would become one of the three strongest Universe Overlords in the Human Race!
The Star Prison Venerable calmly surveyed the many young faces below. His gaze, deep as the Star River, lingered on Qin Zhao for the tiniest fraction of a moment before his immense voice resounded throughout the entire plane of space. "The Trial Tower stage is over.