Virtual Universe, Ganwu Continent.
On a special floating island, 1,000 Geniuses representing the Ganwu Universe Country in the Pinnacle Genius Battle gathered together.
"Long time no see, Crimson."
"It hasn't been that long, only three years."
"Haha, you probably don't know, but I haven't had it easy these past three years. It felt like an eternity. I'm so looking forward to the stage of the Pinnacle Genius Battle finals."
"Me too, just not as exaggerated as you."
The Geniuses greeted those they knew and conversed with each other, and for a time, the square on the floating island was a bit noisy.
Suddenly!
An invisible pressure enveloped all the Geniuses present, as if a bloody aura permeated the entire square, filling everyone present with fear and dread!
One Genius, whose will was not firm enough, trembled uncontrollably and even fell directly to the ground.
An incomparably majestic voice rang out, "Are these the Geniuses representing my Ganwu Universe Country to participate in the Pinnacle Genius Battle finals?"
As he spoke, a man in a gray and white battle suit descended in front of the Geniuses in the square.
"Except for a few individuals, you are far too inferior compared to the previous session!"
The man in the gray and white battle suit spoke, looking at the Genius who had fallen to the ground, a hint of disdain in his words.
The Geniuses lowered their heads. Facing this Immortal expert who exuded terrifying pressure, even if they had myriad grievances in their hearts, they could only listen silently.
The man in the gray and white battle suit said in a deep voice, "I am the leading Immortal for this session's Genius Battle. You may call me 'Lord Kou Ji' or 'Military Lord Kou Ji'."
Military Lord Kou Ji, dressed in a gray and white battle suit, glanced at Nineteen in the crowd, then said softly, "Among the 1,000 of you, only Arthur Royce has a chance to break into the top 1,000 in the Universe."
"As for the others..." Military Lord Kou Ji shook his head slightly, "There's no hope."
As soon as these words came out, many of the Geniuses immediately clenched their fists, a surge of suppressed Qi in their hearts.
"I know some of you must be unconvinced, but the results of the previous Pinnacle Genius Battle have proven that I was not mistaken in my judgment at that time."
Military Lord Kou Ji said indifferently, "Except for Ender Royce, who ultimately ranked second in the Universe, none of the others broke into the top 1,000."
"In the history of the Pinnacle Genius Battle, there have also been peerless Geniuses who were ordinary at the beginning but suddenly erupted in the final Pinnacle showdown, but you..."
Speaking of this, Military Lord Kou Ji smiled slightly, "Of course, I very much look forward to one of you Geniuses breaking into the top 1,000 in the Universe to prove me wrong."
Upon hearing this, the Geniuses from various Starfields of the Ganwu Universe Country felt indignant.
They all understood that this Military Lord Kou Ji, who was leading the team, looked down on them and did not believe they were peerless Geniuses who could prove him wrong.
Unlike the other Geniuses, Eric, who stood in the crowd, appeared very calm and did not show any unconvinced expression.
Thirteen, standing beside him, listened silently. Although a hint of violent emotion arose in his eyes, it ultimately did not erupt.
"Alright, let's depart now for the Pinnacle Genius Battle finals venue."
As Military Lord Kou Ji's voice fell, the 1,001 people present transformed into white light and disappeared from the square on the floating island.
...
Virtual Universe.
There was a newly opened space, and within that space was a vast continent.
The 1,000 Geniuses of the Ganwu Universe Country, led by Military Lord Kou Ji, were teleported simultaneously and appeared on this vast continent.
A middle-aged man in a white robe stepped forward and respectfully saluted Military Lord Kou Ji, saying, "Ganwu Universe Country team, there are 1,004 buildings ahead. Your Universe Country team has been assigned to Building No. 0002."
"Hmm."
Military Lord Kou Ji smiled and nodded. Compared to Building No. 0435 in the previous session, he preferred this session's number.
As the 1,000 Geniuses looked out at the 1,004 buildings and the beautiful Central Square among them.
Military Lord Kou Ji called out, "Follow me, we'll go to the building to allocate your residences first."
Subsequently, after landing, the 1,000 Geniuses followed Military Lord Kou Ji into Building No. 0002.
Their arrival also attracted the attention of the Geniuses in the beautiful Central Square.
"It's the Ganwu Universe Country team. Someone from their previous session took second place, so their building number is 0002."
"Is it Ender Royce? I heard he's even more formidable than Kedi now, who was first in the previous session."
"I heard that too. By the way, do you know? Three of Ender Royce's brothers are participating in this Genius Battle."
"Three brothers? They didn't even pass the Universe Country preliminary selection, did they?"
"How could that be? If they hadn't passed the Universe Country preliminary selection, would I be telling you this?"
"I heard that among Ender Royce's three brothers, there's one named Arthur Royce who comprehended Time Law and can break into the top 1,000 in this Genius Battle."
"Time Law, one of the two Greater Laws? That's exaggerated, isn't it?"
The arrival of the Ganwu Universe Country team stirred up quite a stir in the Central Square.
Especially the news about Ender Royce, the second-place finisher in the previous Genius Battle, further ignited the curiosity of countless Geniuses on the scene.
...
Building No. 0002, first floor.
The first floor had only one large hall, and its area was so vast that even with 1,000 Geniuses gathered, it wouldn't feel crowded.
Boom!
Invisible pressure was released, spreading from Military Lord Kou Ji throughout the entire hall. This immediately made all the Geniuses present focus their minds to resist the oppression of this invisible pressure.
However, this pressure came and went quickly.
"I have numbered plates from 1 to 1,000 here. Each of you take a numbered plate, and you can use it to enter your respective rooms to rest."
After Military Lord Kou Ji finished speaking, he waved his hand, scattering the numbered plates he held.
The numbered plates floated down, each landing in front of a person, and each person's numbered plate had a different number.
Nineteen reached forward slightly and caught the numbered plate floating in front of him. There was only one number on the plate: "1."
His elder brother, Eric, standing beside him, had the number "2" on his numbered plate.
Thirteen's numbered plate had the number "31."
"Alright, you are dismissed now." Military Lord Kou Ji said, "You are free to move around, whether to rest or to sightsee in the Central Square. The Virtual Universe System will notify you when it gets dark."
After speaking, Military Lord Kou Ji walked out, heading towards Restaurant No. 1.
"Big Brother, the numbered plate in your hand..."
After receiving his numbered plate, Thirteen's peripheral vision caught sight of the numbered plate in Eric's hand, and his eyes immediately showed surprise.
...
Restaurant No. 1.
Unlike the other 98 restaurants, this was a restaurant exclusively for leading Immortals. Other Geniuses were not permitted to enter.
As soon as Military Lord Kou Ji entered the restaurant, several leading Immortals greeted him.
"Oh, Kou Ji." "Long time no see, Kou Ji."
These Immortals sat casually in the restaurant, greeted acquaintances who arrived, and then continued their idle chatter.
"Kou Ji, your Ganwu Universe Country has produced another Genius. I heard that little guy named Arthur Royce was being fought over by so many King-level Immortal who wanted to take him as a Disciple?"
"I heard that too. It seems he eventually became a Disciple of King Aurora?"
As soon as Military Lord Kou Ji sat down, two Immortals spoke up, both inquiring about Nineteen.
"Yes, that little guy became a Disciple of King Aurora." Military Lord Kou Ji nodded slightly.
Because this was not something worth keeping secret, he answered directly.
One Immortal clicked his tongue and said, "Ender Royce's brother, and he's also a Disciple of King Aurora. That little guy might be able to enter the top 100, or even contend for a Primal Ruins Secret Realm spot, right?"
Another Immortal retorted, "It's not that easy to get into the top 10 Primal Ruins Secret Realm. From the footage I watched of that little guy's Reincarnation Battle, it would be good if he could even make it into the top 1,000."
"That possibility can't be ruled out, can it? After all, he's a Disciple of King Aurora. Maybe under King Aurora's guidance, his comprehension of Time Law has progressed rapidly?"
"Comprehending a Greater Law is not that easy. How astonishing was his brother Ender's Space Law talent? Didn't he also enter the Virtual Universe Company's Core Region by relying on his high comprehension of a Lesser Law?"
"What you're saying, it's not like there haven't been Geniuses in human history with high Greater Law talent and low Lesser Law talent. Maybe that little guy is just such a Genius."
"If you say that, why not just ask Kou Ji directly, what is that little guy's Time Law talent like?"
The two Immortals spoke in turns, eventually turning their gaze towards Military Lord Kou Ji, who was drinking.
Not just the two of them, but other Immortals who heard their conversation also looked over.
"Don't ask me!"
Seeing several Immortals looking at him, Military Lord Kou Ji hurriedly said, "I also don't know the progress of that little guy's Time Law comprehension, after all, he is taught by King Aurora, not me."
"Moreover, you all know that the reason that little guy was fought over by so many King-level Immortal experts to be taken as a Disciple, besides his own comprehension of Time Law, there is another important reason..."
Military Lord Kou Ji did not finish his sentence, only hinting at it.
All the Immortals nodded upon hearing this. They all understood what the other important reason was.
That was because Arthur Royce's brother was Ender Royce!
It was that Prodigy-level Genius, Ender Royce, who appeared once every tens of millions of epochs, the beloved Disciple of an existence surpassing a Universe Venerable, and who set the Universe Level Primal Sky Mountain record!
As long as such a Genius does not permanently fall, there is a very high possibility of him becoming a Universe Venerable in the future.
So, for those King-level Immortal experts, being able to take a Disciple with decent talent and also establish a connection with Ender, this Prodigy Genius, was a sure-win deal no matter how they looked at it.
Moreover, being a Disciple of a King-level Immortal expert is not that easy. Under normal circumstances, there will definitely be a test. If one cannot pass the test, they are just an ordinary Official Disciple.
The tests of a Limit Stage King-Level Immortal expert like King Aurora are even more difficult. Many Immortals, after learning that Arthur Royce became King Aurora's Disciple, unanimously believed that his probability of passing King Aurora's test was not high.
However, they also did not know what King Aurora's test was, and only secretly guessed that the test was very difficult.
But if they knew that King Aurora's test for Arthur Royce was to enter the God Origin Secret Realm, they would probably raise the possibility of him completing the test by two levels.
"Alas, let's not talk about that little guy anymore."
An Immortal, hearing Kou Ji's subtext, also dared not continue discussing this issue.
Because it might offend a King-level Immortal expert, so he decisively changed the topic, saying, "The standard of this session's Genius Battle, compared to the previous one, is somewhat unsatisfactory."
High emotional intelligence: unsatisfactory.
Low emotional intelligence: far worse.
"It is indeed a bit worse than the previous session. When our Noah Universe Country participated in the Universe Country preliminary selection last session, there were over 1,000 Geniuses who comprehended a trace of Law, while this session only has about half." An Immortal spoke.
"Only half less? Our Universe Country's Geniuses who comprehended a trace of Law are only one-quarter of the previous session."
"Here, it's also only one-third of the previous session."
"One-fifth."
"Yours are still considered many. Penggu Universe Country doesn't even have one-tenth of the previous session!"
"That exaggerated?"
When the Immortals talked about the standard of this session's Genius Battle, each of them complained bitterly, and the scene was like a misery-comparing convention.
Talking about this, each Immortal understood that the standard of this session's Genius Battle was lower, far worse than the previous session.
It was as if Luck had been taken away. The Geniuses of this ten thousand years seemed to have all concentrated in the previous session, leading to fierce competition in that session, while this session saw a decline in talent.
Not to mention the third-place finisher of the previous session, the strongest Illusionist 'Fei', who was barely in a league of his own.
Even Manle, who was fourth, or Nuno, who was fifth, might be able to take first place in this session.
Just as the Immortals were chatting.
A tiger-man, over six meters tall, dressed in conspicuous golden battle armor, exuding an aura that warned people not to approach, walked into Restaurant No. 1.
Seeing the arrival of this tiger-man, the Immortals quickly stood up and respectfully said, "Greetings, Venerable."
"Greetings, Venerable."
Afterward, the Immortals on the second floor also quickly came down to salute and pay respects to this Universe Venerable who was in charge of presiding over this session's Pinnacle Genius Battle.
"Hmm."
The golden-armored tiger-man, addressed as Venerable, nodded slightly. After only showing his face in Restaurant No. 1, he left directly.
After the golden-armored tiger-man left, the Immortals immediately began discussing.
"I didn't expect Venerable Jin Mu to be in charge of this Genius Battle."
"Didn't they say Venerable Jin Mu has a gentle temperament? Why is it somewhat different from the legends?"
"Heh, if you were in charge of this Genius Battle, I doubt your mood would be good either."
"Yes, it's only Venerable Jin Mu. If it were other Venerables from the Huge Axe Dojo in charge of the Genius Battle, seeing how poor the standard of this session is, they would most likely..."
While conversing, the Immortals secretly rejoiced.
It was a good thing that Venerable Jin Mu was presiding over this session's Genius Battle. If it were other Venerables from the Huge Axe Dojo, seeing how poor the standard of this session's Geniuses was, they would not give them, the leading Immortal, a good look.
Soon, it was nearing evening.
Venerable Jin Mu gathered the Geniuses from the 1,004 Universe Countries, as well as the leading Immortals from each Universe Country, and gave a brief speech.
Then, he announced, "This session's Genius Battle will be held tomorrow morning."
...
First Battlefield, Endless Island Secret Realm Battlefield.
Barracks Base No. 092, in the villa.
"Three years have passed, and the Pinnacle Genius Battle finals have begun."
Ender, who had been focused on Cultivating "Yuan Heavy Ru Yi Body," opened his eyes and said softly, "I wonder how much progress my elder brother and the others have made in these three years, and if there's any hope for them to enter the Huge Axe Dojo Core Region."
With that, his consciousness entered the Virtual Universe, preparing to watch the Genius Battle from his Primal Secret Realm manor...
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