Attention

The Virtual Universe contained an absolute core plane that only beings at Venerable Level or above could enter.

The enormous circular hall seemed like the center of the universe.

Some figures were as imposing as ancient mountains, some as ethereal as starry rivers and clouds, and some had withdrawn auras like bottomless abysses.

Just standing there, they stirred a resonance in the surrounding Space-Time Origin Law.

Gathered here at that moment was the host of this Genius Tournament on behalf of the Virtual Universe Company, Venerable Tianyu.

And several dozen incarnations or projections of will from the country lords of the 1008 Universe Kingdoms, who had hurried over upon hearing the news.

Their gazes pierced through every obstacle, all focused on the one and only image.

Qin Ming, on the Seventh Trial Tower's seventh floor.

"The seventh floor."

A country lord surrounded by a ring of icy stars spoke slowly. His voice was as placid as an ancient well, yet it made the void tremble faintly.

"Since the Trial Space was established, countless eras have passed... and at last, someone has made it here."

"Not merely 'made it here.'" Another country lord, a woman shrouded in hazy radiance, added softly, unable to conceal her astonishment.

"He broke through six floors and reached the final stage, yet his aura remains perfectly balanced, and his life force is astonishingly steady. Such a foundation, such control... it's unheard of."

"The key is whether he can break through this seventh floor." Seated in the central seat, Venerable Tianyu spoke calmly, his aura the most boundless of all, as if it encompassed the birth and destruction of countless worlds.

He wore an ancient robe, and his face was indistinct. Only his eyes were clear, reflecting the birth and extinction of countless galaxies.

"The Zerg Hive's endless production of troops is the most direct embodiment of the 'theoretical limit of Star Level.'

Anyone who can break through it head-on will have demonstrated an 'absolute possibility' of shattering the limits of our current understanding."

"That would make him... an existence on par with Kedi." Venerable Tianyu's words caused the entire hall to fall silent.

The name Kedi represented a legend, and a standard.

He was one of the rare peerless prodigies in Humanity's history who had truly shaken Chaos City.

"Based on his mastery of the Law of Space alone, he has already surpassed the realm of a genius seen once every tens of thousands of eras." An undying country lord with dark golden skin and a horn growing from his forehead gave his solemn assessment.

"In my view, his potential is at least that of a genius seen once every several million eras. He has a very good chance... of growing to our level."

"Our level" referred to the country lords, all of whom were at least beyond the undying level.

"Tsk, Ganwu, your luck..." Another country lord looked toward Ganwu Kingdom Lord's incarnation, his tone complicated.

"I thought he was just a young fellow with a chance of making the top thousand. Who'd have thought... he'd be a monster like this? Even if he fails to pass the seventh floor, his talent is there for all to see. Ganwu, you've struck it rich this time. You've actually got yourself a genius like him."

"Haha, I just got lucky, that's all." Ganwu Kingdom Lord's laughter echoed through the hall, filled with undisguised delight and a shock he had yet to fully absorb.

"But I've already claimed him as my disciple, so don't any of you try to take him from me." He spoke half in jest and half in earnest.

"Ganwu, with the little you have, can you really afford to cultivate a genius like this?" A country lord immediately scoffed, though there was a measure of seriousness in his tone.

The undying beings might not know, but who among them, the Universe Venerables, didn't know Ganwu Kingdom Lord's situation?

There might be disagreement over which Human Venerable was the wealthiest. Ancestor Tree Venerable and Sky Erosion Palace Master were far beyond the rest of them, and no one knew what treasures they possessed.

But when it came to who was the poorest among the Venerables, there was no disagreement at all.

"Heh!" Ganwu laughed awkwardly.

"I can still afford the resources needed to cultivate Qin Ming."

Ganwu Kingdom Lord knew exactly what the others were thinking. In truth, regardless of whether Qin Ming could pass the seventh floor, nearly every one of the several dozen country lords in the hall was already considering taking him as a disciple.

With talent like his and a clean background, he was worth the full investment of any force or powerful being.

On the other hand, if Qin Ming really did pass... they might not even be qualified to "snatch" him up.

A genius who appeared once every ten million eras would almost certainly become a Venerable, provided he didn't fall—and not just an ordinary Venerable.

Once that was confirmed, Chaos City Lord, the Virtual Universe Company's absolute controller, or even Giant Axe Founder, who stood at that level, might personally take an interest in him or accept him as a disciple.

"Let's put aside the matter of taking him as a disciple for now," a country lord with an aura as sharp as a blade interrupted.

"Let's see how he deals with this first wave of Zerg."

"Three thousand of them, each with the strength of a top-ten finalist... If he chooses to meet them head-on, the cost will be immense.

"If he tries to skirmish and strike at the core, destroying the Mother Nest amid a Zerg swarm this intelligent and coordinated will be even harder."

All the supreme beings kept their gazes fixed on Qin Ming in the image.

At that moment, he faced not only the Trial Tower's test, but also the scrutiny of a small group of Humanity's most powerful leaders.

His performance would directly determine what top-tier resources the Virtual Universe Company and even the Five Great Powers would invest in him, what level of protection they would grant him, and how much they would expect of him.

Would he remain merely a "super genius," or... would he truly merit the core hopes of the race, a "genius of an era" who might lead an entire age in the future?

The answer was about to be revealed.

In the image, Qin Ming moved.

He didn't choose to attack first, try to interrupt the Zerg Warriors before they had fully surrounded him, or use that dazzling movement technique.

Just before the torrent of death was about to strike, he instead took half a step back and calmly closed his eyes.

This made the many powerhouses in the circular hall narrow their eyes.

Closing his eyes?

At this critical moment, when every second mattered and the Zerg swarm was poised to strike a deadly blow?

Just as the first wave of three thousand Zerg Warriors, radiating a terrifying aura and each with a different, hideous shape, fully separated from the Mother Nest and surged toward him like a black tide of death, bringing screams that tore at space and a stench of blood—

Qin Ming opened his eyes.

Deep within his pupils, miniature cosmic singularities seemed to spin, collapse, and be reborn.

Golden, azure, and yellow strands of law appeared with unprecedented clarity and vitality, intertwining and resonating.

Even more profound was a layer of silver radiance, representing the supreme authority over space. Like the most precise skeleton and network of veins, it perfectly unified, supported, and amplified the other three laws.

He didn't create countless doppelgangers.

He merely raised the seemingly ordinary long sword in his hand.

Then he thrust it forward with a plain, unremarkable stroke.

The sword thrust even seemed too slow, too simple.

And yet, the instant its tip pierced the air before him!