Arrival (Happy New Year)

"Family doesn't speak two languages." Ganwu Kingdom Lord patted Qin Ming on the shoulder.

"Alright, Brother Qin Ming, I won't linger. If you need anything in Chaos City later, or when you return to the Primal Universe, just reach out anytime."

"Take care, Big Brother."

Ganwu Kingdom Lord nodded, his figure gradually blurring before vanishing into the chaotic air currents, leaving the Initial Universe.

Qin Ming arrived at the City Lord's Mansion once more, but this time his goal was to choose a Chaos Stele suited to himself.

He quickly walked to the entrance of a dreamlike corridor.

On the walls of the corridor hung massive paintings, each corresponding to a Chaos Stele, embodying different law concepts and path guidance.

Qin Ming strolled past, his gaze sweeping over the paintings.

There was the Golden Void mystery of the Nine Universes Chaos Stele, the profound inclusiveness of the Mother Ancestor Chaos Stele, the domineering sharpness of the Dragon Walk Chaos Stele... each represented the essence of a lifetime of cultivation by a great being of humanity.

He didn't dwell too long. Following Chaos City Lord's earlier advice, he walked directly toward the massive painting depicting endless shattered void, swirling with golden edges—the Heavenly Ruins Chaos Stele.

What this painting revealed was the path of destruction and rebirth combining Gold and Space Laws, closely matching the direction he had shown in the Genius Tournament.

He chose the Heavenly Ruins Chaos Stele.

Still, this was more for the sake of "keeping up appearances."

For him, the true core inheritance and insights always came from the Jin World. The Chaos Stele was more of a reasonable "cover" and supplementary reference.

With his choice made, Qin Ming's life in Chaos City officially settled into a routine.

He applied for his first opportunity to meditate on the Heavenly Ruins Chaos Stele, sitting before it for seven days, absorbing the Gold-Space Law path it contained.

Then he returned to his courtyard, sinking most of his focus into the cultivation and insights of his Jin World clone, while continuously digesting and cross-referencing the inspiration gained from the Chaos Stele.

Time in Chaos City passed quietly and swiftly.

Day after day, year after year.

Outside the courtyard, the chaotic air currents flowed eternally, occasionally revealing other cultivators flying past—some heading to the Chaos Steles, others going outside the city to hunt Chaos Beasts.

Until three years later. (Three years in the Primal Universe, roughly one year in the Initial Universe; here, three years refers to the Primal Universe's time.)

The passage to the Initial Universe once again welcomed a new batch of visitors.

The massive fleet organized by the Virtual Universe Company, carrying nearly a thousand geniuses selected into the core layer from this year's Genius Tournament, finally arrived at Chaos City.

That day, Chaos City was livelier than usual.

One enormous ship after another descended above the city. Hatches opened, and nearly a thousand young Star Level geniuses filed out, curious, excited, and with a hint of awe as they surveyed this legendary cultivation sanctuary.

Looking up at the cracked sky, the flowing secret patterns, feeling the law fluctuations so much clearer than in the Primal Universe, everyone's heart surged.

Among the crowd were "Light God" Ailuos from the Noah Universe Kingdom, now a member of the Primal Secret Realm, his body seemingly wrapped in a faint holy radiance, his gaze sharp and confident. There were hulking giants from the Wild Universe Kingdom, their auras fierce.

And Ruoxi. She followed the group, her eyes unconsciously sweeping over the ancient buildings of Chaos City, as if searching for something, then withdrawing with a hint of self-mockery.

The arrival of these geniuses naturally caught the attention of some veteran cultivators in Chaos City.

"Oh, a bunch of little Star Level kids."

"I heard the Virtual Universe Company recently held a Genius Tournament. Counting the time, it should be over. These must be the ones."

"Not bad. And I heard the Virtual Universe Company recruited a young man named Qin Ming this time. Quite impressive."

By the rift in space, some immortals chatted among themselves.

Still, only a few gossiped. Most just glanced over and continued their own cultivation.

In Chaos City, time was precious. New geniuses arrived every so often—nothing unusual.

Inside Qin Ming's courtyard.

He ended another phase of insight and slowly opened his eyes.

Through the hazy chaotic air currents above the courtyard, he could sense the unusual energy fluctuations and gathered life force outside the city.

"They've come..."

He murmured to himself, his tone calm.

He had no particular feelings toward these former "peers." His path had long diverged from theirs.

Whether in cultivation progress, the level they stood at, or their future goals, they were no longer on the same plane.

He stood up, walked to the edge of the courtyard, and looked toward the City Lord's Mansion.

There, the new geniuses were being led to the square before the mansion to listen to the Stele Guardian's explanation, preparing to choose their Chaos Steles.

He had no intention of joining the crowd.

He stood still for a moment, then turned back to his meditation room and closed his eyes again.

Yet, to Qin Ming's slight surprise, the one who moved into the courtyard next to his was none other than Ruoxi.

His courtyard was in the core area near the City Lord's Mansion, originally with neighbors on both sides. One neighbor had been an immortal who had cultivated here for tens of thousands of years, but had recently exhausted his stay time in the Initial Universe and left.

The courtyard fell vacant, and it happened to be chosen by Ruoxi, who had just arrived and was qualified to select a residence in the core area.

Thus, the two became neighbors.

Qin Ming had no opinion on this; he didn't care who his neighbor was.

Ruoxi, however, upon learning that she was living next to Qin Ming, felt a mix of emotions in her heart.

There was an indescribable subtle flutter, along with an unclear sense of pressure and distance.

She wanted to muster the courage to go over and greet him, or explain that it was just a coincidence, but standing at the entrance of her own courtyard, staring at the tightly shut door next door—a door that seemed to separate two worlds—she raised her hand several times, only to let it fall weakly in the end.

That person's world was already too far from hers. A rash interruption might only invite awkwardness, or even annoyance.

Ruoxi took a deep breath, suppressed all her chaotic thoughts, turned around, and walked back into her own courtyard.

What she needed to do was quickly choose a Chaos Stele suited to her, then train desperately and strive to catch up. Even if she could never catch up, she couldn't let the gap grow too wide.

Qin Ming sensed that the new owner of the neighboring courtyard seemed to stand there for a moment, but ultimately didn't come to disturb him, so he stopped paying attention.

He once again immersed his mind, throwing himself into the endless comprehension and fusion of laws through his avatar in the Jin World.

Life in Chaos City remained as calm as water. Only occasionally, when Qin Ming briefly ended his training and rested in the courtyard, could he sense the diligent and focused waves of cultivation coming from next door.

He said nothing. The two of them weren't meant to have much interaction anyway—this was better.