Qian Wu, the National Lord

In the boundless starry sky of the Ganwu Universe Kingdom.

A towering figure, majestic as a star, stood silently. Space around him was completely twisted, light folding and annihilating near him, making it impossible to glimpse his true form.

"I commanded you to devote all efforts within the Ganwu Secret Realm to nurture the younger generation, to select over a hundred million geniuses with the full strength of the kingdom, granting them the finest secret realms, the top-tier resources, and the most complete inheritances."

A rumbling voice rang out, as if originating from the very source of the universe. The surrounding starry sky trembled in response, starlight flickered, and space itself groaned under the unbearable pressure.

"Yet the best candidate my Ganwu Universe Kingdom ultimately produced is merely one 'Qin Ming'?"

"This person did not even emerge from my secret realms, and you even say he... only has 'a chance to break into the top thousand of the finals'?"

The voice was not impassioned, but it carried a majesty and disappointment that could freeze the soul.

Two beings, Immortals who could make entire galaxies tremble and civilizations revere in the outside world, were now deeply bowed, cold sweat beading on their foreheads, not daring to move an inch.

"What use are you, then?"

That deep voice seemed to transform into an invisible great axe, striking heavily upon the souls of the two Immortals.

Their faces instantly turned deathly pale. Simultaneously, they involuntarily knelt, burying their heads low.

"Useless, utterly useless!"

The owner of the voice seemed to restrain a trace of anger, but his majesty only grew: "It seems nurturing the younger generation has delayed your own cultivation."

"Very well. From today onward, the two of you will be relieved of your relevant duties. Devote yourselves to closed-door cultivation and improve your strength. As for the matter of training the juniors... I will assign Colt, Edgar, and Conrad to take over."

"Yes, Kingdom Lord! We obey your decree!" The two Immortals, as if granted amnesty, responded respectfully, their voices trembling slightly.

"Withdraw."

Only when the vast pressure receded like a tide did the two dare to breathe a sigh of relief. Maintaining their reverent posture, they swiftly vanished into the twisted starry sky.

Yet after they left, the towering figure at the center of this starry sky did not return to calm. The twisted space rippled faintly, and a barely audible sigh escaped.

"Alas... at this rate, when will I ever repay the enormous debt I owe to my clan? Must I truly brave the 'Primal Star' once more?"

"No... absolutely not! If I were to die again..."

After a moment of silence, the figure seemed to scroll through some information.

"Qin Ming... is it?"

The gaze of the Ganwu Kingdom Lord seemed to pierce through time and space, landing on the detailed records of this young genius.

"Only eighteen years old, yet with such heaven-defying performance. Born from a mere small family at the Universe level, never having ventured out to train before... His talent is truly rare."

"If I had discovered him a few years earlier, or if this Genius Tournament were delayed by a few decades... with this child's foundation and comprehension, breaking into the top ten of the universe-wide finals might not have been impossible."

"Three years of the cycle tournament, plus one year of rest... Four years is enough time for you to undergo tremendous change."

Within that vast will, a rare hint of expectation emerged.

"Little one, I hope you can bring me some pleasant surprises."

"As long as you can break into the top ten of the finals... no, even just the top hundred, I will make an exception and accept you as my personal disciple!"

Jin World, a corner of the Heye Tribe.

A battle that would have shocked the world outside was unfolding between two "children."

Qin Ming's clone was now three years old in appearance. His opponent was a boy who looked about six, with a sturdy, tiger-like head.

If a powerhouse from the Ganwu Universe Kingdom were to see this, they would be terrified out of their wits. This six-year-old child was exuding the pure law fluctuations of an Immortal God!

Six years old, an Immortal!

Yet even more unbelievable was that Qin Ming, only three years old and still at the Domain Lord stage, was fighting this "Immortal child" to a standstill, even subtly gaining the upper hand.

As fists and feet clashed, the two displayed exquisite combat techniques with ease, their use of energy as natural as a deer's horn.

The six-year-old boy, unable to break through after a long assault, was instead sent stumbling back several steps by a highly condensed palm strike from Qin Ming, grimacing in pain.

"I'm done, I'm done! Qin Ming, I concede!" The boy rubbed his numb arm and waved his hand decisively, his face showing no frustration, only excitement.

"You're too monstrous! Only three years old and already this strong. Once you break through, I definitely won't even be able to take one of your punches."

Qin Ming withdrew his stance, his breathing steady.

Although this clone of his was only three years old, having been nurtured and grown in the Jin World—a place with an extremely dense origin energy and laws as clear as a painting—his foundation was solid and his insights profound, far beyond what the outside world could imagine.

In terms of pure combat power, he already surpassed ordinary Immortals.

In the Jin World, "Immortal" was not such an impressive realm.

There were no complex divisions like "Army Lord," "Marquis," or "King" here, because for most natives, it was a threshold they naturally crossed as they grew, as ordinary as a child learning to walk.

If Qin Ming wished, this clone could at any moment channel the vast energy within him and achieve Immortality on the spot.

But he did not.

During the Domain Lord stage, the soul was closest to the Primal Universe, making it the most efficient time to comprehend laws.

His ambition went far beyond this. He wanted to lay down the most solid and profound law foundation possible during this golden period—one that even the natives of the Jin World would find hard to match.

One year later, Lanfeng Planet.

"Third Brother, is this move right?"

Qin Xue's small face flushed with excitement. Now that she had turned ten and officially stepped into the Planetary realm, she had become a full citizen of the Windfall Empire, just like her most admired Third Brother.

She practiced the basic combat techniques earnestly, each move precise and deliberate. Though still immature, a hint of lively grace had already begun to show.

Qin Ming stood to the side, watching her with a gentle gaze.

As she finished her stance, Qin Ming nodded. "Well done, Little Xue."

"Ugh, Third Brother, you're brushing me off again!" Qin Xue immediately puffed out her cheeks like an angry pufferfish, running over to tug at Qin Ming's sleeve and shake it.

"You didn't even look closely! Teacher said my power angle on this move is always a little off. Tell me what's wrong, quick!"

Qin Ming chuckled and ruffled her hair. "Alright, alright, it's Third Brother's fault. Come on, let's practice it again. I'll watch carefully this time."

"Little Xue, are you bothering your Third Brother's training again?" Qin Lan's voice came from the entrance of the courtyard, carrying its usual hint of sternness.

Qin Xue instinctively shrank her neck, immediately letting go of Qin Ming's sleeve and straightening her small frame to defend herself. "No way! Big Sister, I... I came to ask Third Brother for advice on combat techniques! Very seriously!"

Strangely enough, even though Qin Ming's strength was unfathomable—long since a legend in the family and the empire—Qin Xue was always the most relaxed and spoiled around him, without a trace of fear.

But when faced with her eldest sister Qin Lan, who doted on her yet disciplined her strictly, the little one would involuntarily rein herself in, carrying a hint of small reverence.