Chaos City

In the end, the Virtual Universe System selected 100 contestants who qualified to compete in the final arena battles for a chance to claim a place in the top hundred or top ten.

Ruoxi's name was not on the list. She had been eliminated before reaching the highest stage.

She wasn't particularly surprised by the result.

Even if she had been selected, with her current strength and condition, her chances of making the top hundred would have been slim.

Earning Core Member status and entering the End-of-the-World Secret Realm was already the result of giving it everything she had.

With the list announced and Venerable Tianyu's final ruling on the rules, the journey of this year's Ganwu Universe Kingdom talents in the Peak Genius Tournament had come to a complete end.

Some had risen to the summit and made history, some had fallen short, some had seized opportunities, and some had left in disappointment.

Initial Universe.

By the time Qin Ming learned the final results of the Peak Genius Tournament, he had already passed through the mysterious passage connecting the Primal Universe and the Initial Universe.

The only other person to earn a place in the Primal Secret Realm was Ailuos, the peerless genius known as the "Light God," from the Noah Universe Kingdom.

Qin Ming merely glanced at the name and paid it no further attention.

In his memories of the vast stages of the future, he had never heard of this person.

The Virtual Universe Company had far too many geniuses in the Primal Secret Realm.

The other geniuses who had qualified still needed to gather at Rain Phase Mountain, the Virtual Universe Company's headquarters, and wait for unified arrangements before being sent to the Initial Universe.

But Qin Ming skipped all those steps. Personally escorted by the Ganwu Kingdom Lord, he had arrived at this cultivation sanctuary several years ahead of schedule.

"We're here. This is the Initial Universe," the Ganwu Kingdom Lord said.

Qin Ming looked up.

The world before him was utterly unlike the Primal Universe.

Space was unstable. From time to time, enormous cracks spread across the sky, then slowly closed again.

Along the edges of the cracks flowed countless visible strands composed of strange secret patterns. They crisscrossed like the warp and weft of the universe.

It was as if an invisible giant hand were working a loom, "weaving" this newborn universe into something broader and more stable.

"Do you see?" the Ganwu Kingdom Lord asked Qin Ming.

"The Initial Universe is in its 'birth of the universe' stage. The universe itself is constantly taking shape and becoming more complete, so the laws governing the Universe Origin are directly visible."

"Those spatial cracks and the strands repairing them are manifestations of the Universe Origin's laws! They contain the mysteries of all kinds of Origin Laws."

"The Primal Universe is too perfect and stable. Its laws lie hidden, making them extremely difficult to comprehend.

"But here, the laws are visible to the naked eye!

"You can even directly see how different laws combine, how the universe takes shape, and how its rules operate... Almost every mystery is laid out before you. Comprehension naturally becomes twice as effective with half the effort."

As he spoke, a hint of pride appeared on his face.

"Know that in the outside world, even Immortal Gods must spend a fortune and fight tooth and nail for a limited amount of time here to pursue their insights.

"But you talents who join the Virtual Universe Company can come here while still at Star Level. Countless Immortals would be green with envy."

Qin Ming only smiled slightly and did not respond.

Indeed, the Initial Universe was better suited than the Primal Universe for comprehending laws. It was a cultivation paradise.

But compared to the Jin World where his clone was, it was like the difference between heaven and earth.

The Jin World was a Universe within a God King. The clarity of its laws and the depth of its origin were far beyond what the Initial Universe could offer.

Without the insights of his World Lord clone in the Jin World synchronizing with him, he could never have comprehended so many laws to such a profound level in just a few short years, let alone begun to fuse them.

"There are 'Three Treasures of Chaos City.' You can learn about them on your own later. For now, come with me to meet the city lord," the Ganwu Kingdom Lord said, drawing Qin Ming back from his thoughts.

Qin Ming nodded.

He knew about the Three Treasures of Chaos City, of course.

The first was the visible laws governing the universe before them.

The second was the 52 Chaos Tablets in Chaos City, which recorded the cultivation paths left behind by generations of Humanity's Universe Venerables, Universe Masters, and even the Giant Axe Founder.

The third was the Chaos Beasts roaming outside the city. Killing them could strengthen one's soul.

However, the first and second treasures, which others coveted, were of limited use to Qin Ming.

The laws visible here were certainly clear, but they still fell short of what he felt and synchronized with through his clone in the Jin World.

As for the 52 Chaos Tablets... It might sound disrespectful, but in the Jin World, Universe Venerables and Universe Masters weren't even qualified to leave behind inheritances.

And even in the Heye tribe where he lived, he could access plenty of cultivation guidance at the True God Level.

Only inheritances beyond True God—Void True God and above—were restricted by the laws of the Jin World and required one to join the army or rise to a higher level to obtain them. But that was a matter for the future.

For him, Chaos City's real value might lie in its "security," "resources," and the chance to "connect with Humanity's higher-ups."

His clone was the foundation of his cultivation and his greatest support.

"Let's go." Unaware of Qin Ming's thoughts, the Ganwu Kingdom Lord led him toward Chaos City.

Meeting the Chaos City Lord was the most important matter at hand.

The Chaos City Lord's residence was divided into the Outer Mansion and Inner Mansion.

The Outer Mansion was open to the public. It was a sanctuary where Humanity's powerful could study the 52 Chaos Tablets. It was open year-round and constantly filled with visitors.

The Inner Mansion, by contrast, was the Chaos City Lord's residence and the place where he handled important affairs. It was heavily guarded.

All the guards were Immortal Gods. Their auras were steady and their gazes sharp as lightning.

Even Universe Venerables dared not show the slightest disrespect before these guards when visiting, for the guards represented the majesty of the Chaos City Lord.

"I've come to pay my respects to the city lord," the Ganwu Kingdom Lord said as he brought Qin Ming to the entrance of the Inner Mansion.

The Immortal guard clearly recognized the Ganwu Kingdom Lord and immediately bowed respectfully. "Venerable Ganwu, please wait. Allow me to announce your arrival."

Even as a Universe Venerable, one had to follow protocol and announce oneself before meeting the Chaos City Lord. That was the rule.

A moment later, the Immortal guard returned and stepped aside.

"The city lord will see you. Please come in."

Inner Mansion.

They proceeded along a broad, ancient corridor and soon arrived at a plaza paved with Chaos Rock.

At its center stood a bald man clad in a red battle robe. His expression was peaceful and his aura restrained, as if he had become one with the surrounding chaos.

"Venerable Guiyi!" Seeing him, the Ganwu Kingdom Lord immediately stepped forward, his tone unmistakably respectful.