Chapter 136

On May 16, 2066, the "pre-selection" of the Ganwu Universe officially commenced.

This day marked the gathering of elite geniuses from across the universe, representing countries from elementary, mid-level, and advanced civilizations, as well as powerful organizations, divine kingdoms, secret realms, and other forces. They had all sent their best to compete in this great battle of talent.

The event drew immense attention, not only from the citizens of the entire universe but also from organizations eager to seize this opportunity to identify and recruit the brightest talents.

The selection was a monumental event, not just for the Ganwu Universe Country but for the entire human domain.

In the virtual universe, on a vast and boundless plaza hovering above Ganwu Continent, over 820 billion Stellar-level participants from all across the Ganwu universe had gathered. A sea of people, with faces from every corner of the universe, filled the plaza as far as the eye could see.

The pre-selection would be divided into 100 world zones.

Each contestant received a world zone number upon entry.

"I'm in Zone 2. Where are you, Thor?" Wang Yi asked.

"Zone 11."

"I'm in Zone 3," said Luo Feng.

"Aha!" Thor widened his eyes, turned to look at Luo Feng next to him, and grinned. "Xiao Feng, looks like we're in the same zone. Make sure to watch my back!"

Luo Feng blinked. "There's no such thing as 'brothers' on the battlefield."

"Come on, you don't have to be that ruthless! Don't leave me behind!" Thor exclaimed dramatically.

The four of them laughed and chatted while observing the massive crowd around them.

Over 800 billion people gathered in one place—an awe-inspiring sight, unlike anything they had ever seen before.

"Attention, everyone. The pre-selection elimination will be divided into 100 'world zones,' and you will be collectively teleported to your designated zones. Please check your equipment," a voice rang out across the continent.

The crowd stirred in anticipation.

"It's about to begin!"

Wang Yi glanced down at his gear: a dark red shirt, helmet, and combat boots. In his space ring, he carried his weapons—the Scarlet Moon Wheel, the Scarlet Moon Disk, the Scarlet Moon Mirror, and the Yan Shenbing—along with two war knives strapped to his back.

Thor and the others were similarly ready, waiting for the teleportation.

"Good luck, Xiaofeng!" Thor called out.

Hong said "Wang Yi, this time you won't be the first, you have to pay for alcohol when you come back."

"Okay, no problem, Brother Hong and Brother Lei!" Wang Yi responded with a hearty smile.

People nearby glanced over, curious as to who could be so bold. To claim first place among billions of participants? Was Wang Yi treating the other contestants as if they were mere air?

The voice echoed again, loud and clear.

"Teleportation begins in 60... 59... 58..."

After exchanging words of encouragement, Wang Yi and his friends stood ready.

"10... 9... 8... 7... 6... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1! Teleport!"

In an instant, the hundreds of billions of participants disappeared from the plaza, reappearing in the 100 separate worlds created within the virtual universe.

The Universal Humans' Peak Genius Battle had begun, with the pre-selection phase taking place simultaneously across 1,008 cosmic nations.

This grand event had captivated the attention of all mankind, from the highest-ranking immortals to ordinary citizens. Everyone who had access to the virtual universe network was watching.

"It's started! Haha, we've waited so long for this day!"

"Too bad it's not broadcast live; you have to enter the virtual universe selection battlefield to watch."

"I'm so excited! I even invited a friend to watch it with me."

In the Ganwu Universe Country, countless people eagerly poured into the world zones to witness the battles.

In the second world zone, Wang Yi appeared in the vast interior of a flying saucer-shaped spaceship, over a thousand kilometers in diameter—like a massive asteroid. He found himself in a white, metallic room that resembled personal living quarters.

Wang Yi examined his surroundings. The gravitational force here was many times stronger than normal, and he could feel the extra weight on his body. Even his mental power was limited, with a much-reduced range of detection.

He looked down at the arm guard screen on his wrist, which automatically displayed messages from the "Virtual Universe Company." The device was indestructible.

On the screen, the following text appeared:

Participant: Wang Yi (Black Dragon Mountain Empire)

Points: 0

Ranking: None

World Zone: Second World Zone

The pre-selection elimination would last for 30 days. Points would be accumulated based on eliminations, and the winner would be determined by their final point ranking.

Wang Yi approached the door, and the silver-white hatch opened automatically. Stepping into the corridor, he found it long and empty, with more rooms identical to his own. The silence was almost eerie, as if he were the only person aboard.

Using his mental power, Wang Yi attempted to sense movement in the surrounding area. However, the ship's advanced materials seemed to block most signals, making it difficult to detect any activity.

Then, something flickered on his radar—an anomaly behind one of the doors. Suddenly, the metal hatch burst open from the inside, sending shards flying everywhere. A dark figure wielding a massive axe lunged at Wang Yi with lightning speed.

In this space, every participant had the same Stellar-level abilities, including mental and physical powers. Just as Wang Yi could scan others with his mental power, others could detect him as well.

The attacker was a burly man clad in pitch-black armor, his face hidden behind a horned helmet. His sharp eyes locked onto Wang Yi, and without hesitation, he charged, axe raised to strike.

Wang Yi remained calm, eyeing the oncoming threat. "Confident, aren't you?" he muttered, ready for battle.