Chaos City

In the end, the Virtual Universe System filtered out a list of 100 participants from all the combatants, those qualified to compete in the final arena battles for the top hundred and top ten rankings.

Ruoxi's name did not appear on this list. She was eliminated outright, beyond the highest stage.

Seeing the result, she felt little surprise in her heart.

Even if she had been selected, with her current strength and state, the hope of breaking into the top hundred was extremely slim.

Obtaining core member status and entering the End-of-the-World Secret Realm was already the result of giving her all.

With the announcement of this list and Tianyu Venerable's final ruling on the rules, the journey of the geniuses under the Ganwu Universe Kingdom in this Peak Genius Tournament was completely concluded.

Some reached the pinnacle of legend, some stopped at the gates, some seized opportunities, and some faded away in obscurity.

Initial Universe.

By the time Qin Ming learned of 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 one who ultimately obtained the "Primal Secret Realm" qualification alongside him was Ailuos, a peerless genius from the Noah Universe Kingdom, hailed as the "Light God."

To this, Qin Ming merely glanced briefly and paid it no further mind.

In his memories, on the vast stage of the future, he had never heard this name.

There were too many geniuses in the Primal Secret Realm of the Virtual Universe Company.

Other geniuses who had obtained qualifications still needed to gather at Rain Phase Mountain in the Virtual Universe Company headquarters, wait for unified arrangements, and then be sent to the Initial Universe.

But he had skipped all those steps, personally escorted by the Ganwu Kingdom Lord, arriving at this sacred cultivation ground several years early.

"We're here. This is the Initial Universe." The Ganwu Kingdom Lord's voice rang out.

Qin Ming looked up.

The heavens and earth before him were utterly different from the Primal Universe.

Space was unstable; from time to time, enormous cracks could be seen spreading across the sky, then slowly healing.

Along the edges of the cracks flowed countless visible threads formed from strange secret patterns, like the warp and weft of the universe, interweaving and darting.

It was as if an invisible giant hand operated a loom, "weaving" this newborn universe wider and more stable.

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

"This Initial Universe is in the period of 'cosmic inception.' The universe itself is constantly perfecting and forming, so the operational rules of the universe's origin manifest directly outward."

"Those spatial cracks, and the threads repairing them, are the embodiment of the universe's origin rules! They contain the mysteries of various fundamental laws."

"The Primal Universe is too perfect and stable; its laws are deeply hidden, making comprehension extremely difficult.

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

You can even directly observe how different laws combine, how the universe forms, how rules operate... All mysteries are nearly laid out before you, making comprehension naturally twice as effective with half the effort."

At this point, a hint of pride showed on his face.

"You should know, outside, even Immortal Gods must exhaust their wealth and fight tooth and nail just to earn limited time to come here and comprehend.

And you geniuses joining the Virtual Universe Company can come here at the Star Level. Countless Immortals will be green with envy."

Qin Ming merely smiled slightly at this and did not respond.

Indeed, the Initial Universe was far better for comprehending laws than the Primal Universe, a true treasure land for cultivation.

But... compared to the "Jin World" where his clone resided, it was like heaven and earth apart.

The Jin World was the inner universe of a God King; the clarity of its laws and the richness of its origin were far beyond what the Initial Universe could match.

If not for the synchronized comprehension from his Jin World realm lord clone, he could never have delved so deeply into multiple laws in just a few years, even touching on initial fusion.

"Chaos City has 'Three Treasures.' You can learn about them on your own later. For now, come with me to meet the City Lord." The Ganwu Kingdom Lord's voice pulled Qin Ming back from his thoughts.

Qin Ming nodded.

He naturally knew about the Three Treasures of Chaos City.

The first treasure was the visible cosmic operational laws before his eyes.

The second treasure was the 52 Chaos Steles within Chaos City, inscribed with the cultivation paths left by successive human Venerables, Universe Masters, and even the Giant Axe Founder.

The third treasure was the Chaos Beasts roaming outside the city; killing them could elevate the essence of the soul.

However, for others, the first and second treasures were things they scrambled for, but for Qin Ming, their utility was limited.

The outwardly manifested cosmic laws, though clear, were still inferior to what his Jin World clone felt and synchronized.

As for the 52 Chaos Steles... to speak disrespectfully, in the Jin World, Universe Venerables and Universe Masters had no qualification to leave legacies.

Moreover, even just within his "Heye" tribe, he could access many True God-level cultivation guides.

Only legacies surpassing True God (Void True God and above) were restricted by the Jin World's rules, requiring him to go to the military or higher levels to obtain them—but that was a matter for the future.

For him, Chaos City's true significance might lie in its "safety," "resources," and the channel to "contact the upper echelons of humanity."

The foundation of his cultivation, his clone, was his greatest reliance.

"Let's go." Ganwu Kingdom Lord did not detect what Qin Ming was thinking and led him toward Chaos City.

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

The residence where Chaos City Lord resided was divided into the Outer Mansion and the Inner Mansion.

The Outer Mansion was open to the public, a sacred ground for human powerhouses to comprehend the fifty-two Chaos Steles. It was open year-round, with a constant flow of people.

The Inner Mansion, however, was Chaos City Lord's personal dwelling and the place where he handled important affairs, heavily guarded.

The guards were all Immortal Gods, their auras heavy and their gazes sharp as lightning.

Even if a visitor was a Universe Venerable, they dared not show the slightest disrespect before these guards, for they represented the authority of Chaos City Lord.

"We two have come to pay respects to the Lord." Ganwu Kingdom Lord led Qin Ming to the gate of the Inner Mansion.

The guarding Immortal clearly recognized Ganwu Kingdom Lord and immediately bowed respectfully: "Ganwu Venerable, please wait a moment. Allow me to announce your arrival."

Even as a Universe Venerable, one had to follow protocol and request an audience with Chaos City Lord—such were the rules.

After a moment, the guarding Immortal returned and stepped aside to clear the path.

"The Lord invites you. Please, enter."

Inner Mansion.

Walking along the wide, ancient corridor, they soon arrived at a plaza paved with Chaos Rock.

In the center of the plaza stood a bald man in a red battle robe. His expression was calm, his aura restrained, as if he had merged with the surrounding chaotic energy.

"Guiyi Venerable!" Seeing him, Ganwu Kingdom Lord immediately stepped forward, his tone carrying clear respect.