Lord Qianwu

In the boundless starry expanse of the Ganwu Universe Kingdom,

a towering figure, vast as a star, stood motionless. Space twisted completely around him, and light bent and vanished in his presence, making it impossible to glimpse his true form.

"I commanded you to devote yourselves to cultivating the younger generation in the Ganwu Secret Realm, to marshal the entire kingdom's strength to select hundreds of millions of geniuses, and to provide them with the finest secret realms, the best resources, and the most complete inheritances."

A rumbling voice rang out, as if it came from the Universe Origin. The entire starry expanse shuddered, the stars flickered, and space groaned beneath the strain.

"Yet the best candidate selected by my Ganwu Universe Kingdom is this one 'Qin Ming'?

"Not only did he not come from my secret realm, but you even say that he 'only has a chance of making the top thousand in the finals'?"

His voice was not raised, yet it carried an authority and disappointment that froze the soul.

Two Immortal Gods, beings whose presence could shake star systems and inspire awe in civilizations, stood bowed deeply before him. Cold sweat poured down their foreheads, and they did not dare move a muscle.

"What use are you?"

The deep voice seemed to become an invisible giant axe, crashing down upon the souls of the two Immortal Gods.

Their faces turned deathly pale. Both dropped to their knees involuntarily, heads bowed low.

"Worthless! Nothing but worthless!"

The speaker seemed to rein in some of his anger, but his authority only grew heavier. "Cultivating the younger generation has apparently hindered your own cultivation.

"So be it. Starting today, you two are relieved of your duties. Focus on seclusion and improving your strength. As for cultivating the next generation... I'll have Colt, Edgar, and Conrad take over."

"Yes, Kingdom Lord! We obey your decree!" The two Immortal Gods answered respectfully, as if pardoned, their voices trembling slightly.

"Leave."

Only after the immense pressure receded like a tide did the two dare breathe again. They maintained their respectful postures and quickly vanished into the twisted starry expanse.

Yet once they were gone, the towering figure at the center of the stars did not return to stillness. The twisted space rippled faintly, and a sigh too soft to hear escaped him.

"Alas... at this rate, when will I ever repay the enormous debt I owe the clan? Do I really have to venture into a Primal Star again?"

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

After a brief silence, the figure seemed to pull up some information.

"Qin Ming...?"

The Ganwu Kingdom Lord's gaze seemed to pierce through time and space, settling on the detailed file of the young genius.

"Only eighteen, yet he's already shown such astonishing talent. He comes from a tiny Universe Level family and had never even ventured out to gain experience before... Such talent is truly rare."

"If we'd discovered him a few years earlier, or if the Genius Tournament had been held decades later... with his foundations and comprehension, it might not have been impossible for him to reach the top ten in the all-universe finals."

"Three years of tournament rounds, followed by a year of rest... Four years will be enough for you to change tremendously."

A rare glimmer of hope shone in that vast will.

"Little fellow, I hope you can bring me a few pleasant surprises."

"If you make it into the top ten of the finals... no, even if you only make the top hundred, I'll make an exception and take you as my personal disciple!"

A corner of the Heye Tribe in the Jin World.

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

Qin Ming's clone now looked three years old. His opponent was a boy who seemed about six, with a round, boyish face.

If the powerful figures of the Ganwu Universe Kingdom could see this, they would be terrified out of their wits. The six-year-old boy was unmistakably radiating the laws of a genuine Immortal God!

Six years old, and an Immortal God!

More incredible still, Qin Ming, who was only three and still a World Lord, was fighting this "Immortal child" evenly—and even seemed to have the upper hand.

Their fists and feet collided as they effortlessly deployed exquisite combat techniques, wielding energy with astonishing precision.

Unable to make headway, the six-year-old boy was instead forced back several steps by a palm strike Qin Ming had condensed to its utmost. He grimaced in pain.

"I'm done, I'm done! Qin Ming, I give up!" The boy rubbed his numb arm and waved his hand in surrender. Yet his face showed no frustration, only excitement.

"You're ridiculous! You're only three and already this strong. Once you break through, I probably won't even be able to take one punch from you."

Qin Ming came to a stop, his breathing steady.

Though this clone of his was only three years old, it had grown in the Jin World, where the origin energy was exceptionally rich and the laws were as clear as a painting. Its foundations and insights were far beyond what anyone outside could imagine.

In terms of combat strength alone, he already surpassed an Ordinary Immortal.

In the Jin World, becoming an "Immortal" was nothing extraordinary.

There were no complicated ranks like "Army Master," "Marquis," or "King Rank." For most natives, immortality was simply a threshold they crossed naturally as they grew, as ordinary as a child learning to walk.

If Qin Ming wished, this clone could draw upon its vast inner energy and become immortal at any moment.

But he didn't.

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

His ambitions went far beyond that. During this golden period, he wanted to lay a foundation in the laws so deep and solid that even the natives of the Jin World could scarcely match it.

A year later, on Lanfeng Planet.

"Third Brother, did I practice this move correctly?"

Qin Xue's cheeks were flushed with excitement. She had just turned ten and officially reached the Planetary Level. Like the Third Brother she admired most, she had become a formal citizen of the Windfall Empire.

She carefully practiced the basic combat techniques, performing each move with precision. Though still a little awkward, she already showed signs of grace.

Qin Ming stood nearby, watching her with a gentle expression.

When she finished, Qin Ming nodded. "Very good, Xue."

"Aw, Third Brother, you're just humoring me again!" Qin Xue puffed out her cheeks like an angry little pufferfish, ran over, and tugged at Qin Ming's sleeve.

"You weren't even watching carefully! My teacher says the angle of force in this move is always just a little off. Hurry and tell me what I'm doing wrong!"

Qin Ming laughed and ruffled her hair. "All right, all right. Third Brother was wrong. Come on, let's practice it again. I'll watch closely this time."

"Xue, are you bothering your Third Brother while he's cultivating again?" Qin Lan's voice came from the entrance to the courtyard, carrying her usual sternness.

Qin Xue instinctively shrank her neck, immediately letting go of Qin Ming's sleeve and straightening up to defend herself. "I'm not! Big Sister, I... I came to ask Third Brother for help with my combat techniques! I'm being serious!"

It was strange. Qin Ming's strength was unfathomable, and he had long since become a legend within both the family and the empire. Yet Qin Xue was most relaxed around him and would shamelessly cling to him without the slightest fear.

But when facing her Big Sister Qin Lan, who doted on her but also kept a strict hand over her, the little girl always seemed to rein herself in a little, with a touch of awe.