The Genius Tournament was a grand event that swept through countless galaxies in every Universe Country, tugging at the heartstrings of billions of living beings.
Now, the showdown between the top talents from all 1,008 Universe Countries had pushed that attention to its peak.
However, the elimination stage in the Trial Tower had not been broadcast to the public. People could only follow the constantly shifting overall rankings, feeling the tension of this silent yet heart-pounding battle.
Every leap in the rankings was enough to spark a tidal wave of discussion.
"Look! The Virtual Universe Company's official website has updated Qin Ming's promotional video again!"
On a bustling street in Ganwu Continent, in the Virtual Universe, a girl pointed excitedly at a huge floating screen.
The screen showed Qin Ming's calm yet unstoppable figure inside the Trial Tower, edited into a short clip packed with impact.
The boy beside her grinned proudly. "Of course! The Virtual Universe Company makes promotional videos for anyone who breaks into the top thousand in the overall rankings.
"Although Qin Ming is the only one from our Ganwu Universe Country to earn this honor so far, he's ranked first in the entire universe! That makes all the difference!"
Throughout the Ganwu Universe Country, across hundreds of millions of galaxies and countless inhabited planets, people with access to the virtual network were talking about one thing: the name at the very top of the rankings—Qin Ming.
Excitement and pride spread everywhere like wildfire.
Much of that feeling came from the satisfaction of finally holding their heads high.
Early in the tournament, spectators from other Universe Countries, especially supporters from the powerful ones, had taunted the Ganwu Universe Country in the Virtual Universe's public areas, saying they "didn't even have a promising talent who could make the top thousand."
Now Qin Ming had claimed the top spot by an overwhelming margin, delivering the loudest possible slap to every skeptic.
"Haha, where are those people who said Ganwu was no good? Why aren't they saying anything now?"
"Lord Qin Ming is incredible! This is our Ganwu genius!"
"He's first by a mile! Let's see who dares look down on us now!"
The major game worlds, forums, social spaces, and every other place where people could post in the Virtual Universe were nearly drowned in the excited comments of the Ganwu Universe Country's citizens.
They praised Qin Ming to their hearts' content, savoring this hard-won collective glory.
Most supporters from other Universe Countries could only stay silent or reluctantly acknowledge the gap.
There was no helping it. Qin Ming's lead was so absurdly large that they didn't even have the nerve to be "salty."
All they could do was hope their own geniuses would catch up in the next stage, or wait for a turnabout in the arena battles.
If the Ganwu Universe Country had already reached a full boil, then the Windfall Empire had gone completely mad!
"Lord Qin Ming!"
"Lord Qin Ming!!"
On the island belonging to the Windfall Empire in the Virtual Universe, crowds surged everywhere.
Dense throngs gathered before every huge floating screen on the streets.
They looked up, fixed on the name that represented supreme glory and the ever-rising score that left everyone else far behind. Their faces shone with uncontainable excitement and delight.
Every so often, someone would let out an ecstatic howl, wave their arms, and high-five complete strangers nearby as they cheered Qin Ming together.
"He's the once-in-countless-ages peerless genius of our Windfall Empire... no, of our Ganwu Universe Country!"
"He's sure to become a true superpower in the universe!!!"
Before, their support for Qin Ming had been mixed with hope and apprehension. But after he claimed first place in the entire universe beyond all dispute, that support turned into fervent faith and unconditional adoration.
In the hearts of countless young people especially, Qin Ming's image had been elevated almost to the level of myth.
He was no longer merely a powerful genius. He represented a possibility, a dream, a brilliant light illuminating the dull years of cultivation.
He was their idol, their spiritual totem.
If anyone dared mutter even a single word of doubt about Qin Ming's strength in the Ganwu region of the Virtual Universe, they would immediately draw countless angry glares and fierce rebuttals.
"What did you say? What do you know? Lord Qin Ming is first in the entire universe!"
"Insulting Lord Qin Ming? Which star region are you from? State your name!"
"We won't allow anyone to slander the 'god' in our hearts!"
Young admirers formed a massive fan club of their own. They couldn't bear to see even the slightest flaw in the perfect "idol" they had just raised up in their hearts.
Every move Qin Ming made was imbued with a sacred aura.
The name Qin Ming had become the brightest and most unifying symbol of this era in the Ganwu Universe Country.
Over the next ten thousand years, countless children would probably be named Qin Ming. Their parents wouldn't expect them to possess Lord Qin Ming's talent; even one ten-thousandth, one hundred-thousandth, or even one millionth of it would do.
At the Qin Family residence, a massive virtual projection screen hung in the air, displaying the live rankings that had shocked the entire universe.
The words "Qin Ming (Ganwu Universe Country)" were emblazoned at the very top, shining brilliantly.
Inside the hall, Old Ancestor Qin Shanhai stroked his long beard. His hands trembled slightly, his eyes blazed, and he kept murmuring, "Good! Good! Good!"
His father, Qin Feng, and his mother, Lin Wan, clasped hands and looked at each other. They could both see the almost unreal delight in the other's eyes, along with a trace of bewildered disbelief.
His eldest sister, Qin Lan, covered her mouth, while his second brother, Qin Shou, gaped for a long moment, unable to close his mouth.
The entire Qin Family had been swept up in this heaven-sent glory, far beyond even their wildest imagination. The hall was filled with speechless shock and joy.
Only Qin Xue, sitting at the front with her little legs swinging, turned to look at her overwhelmed family. A helpless expression that said "you're making a fuss over nothing" crossed her little face.
She reached out a soft, pale finger and poked her dazed second brother, Qin Shou. "Second Brother, your jaw's about to hit the floor!"
Qin Shou instinctively shut his mouth and looked at his little sister.
Qin Xue wrinkled her adorable little nose, her voice brimming with matter-of-fact pride. "What's there to be surprised about?
"Third Brother said ages ago that he'd take first place, didn't he? If he said he'd do it, then he'll do it!"
She looked at the name at the top of the screen. Her big eyes shone brighter than the stars, filled with complete, instinctive trust.
"Third Brother is the best! If he says he'll be first, then he'll definitely be first!"
Her childish voice rang with unwavering certainty, standing out clearly amid the excited breathing filling the hall.
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