Chapter 1335: Unlucky! Fight! Fight!

"Barrier end countdown: 30... 29......"

The mechanical countdown echoed in Xu Jingming's ears.

"Such good luck? I'm up in the first round?"

Xu Jingming raised an eyebrow in surprise, "Still, this is fine—getting the slot early means peace of mind."

He scanned the surroundings.

Beneath his feet lay scorching yellow sand; in the distance, rolling dunes stretched endlessly.

The air was thick with dryness, each breath burning his lungs.

Within his line of sight, he could see hundreds, even thousands of competitors.

Then again, it's only a hundred square kilometers.

With over a hundred thousand competitors, encounters are inevitable.

He tried to take a step.

But found an invisible barrier had pinned him to a circular area roughly one meter in diameter.

"So I can't move freely until the countdown ends."

Having confirmed this, Xu Jingming immediately checked his own condition.

His awareness sank into his body; surging power coursed through him like a volcanic eruption.

Over seven billion bloodline and spiritual power, perfectly synchronized with reality, with not a single bit diminished.

"Crackle—pop—"

With a thought, a brilliant golden lightning orb appeared in his right palm.

As the lightning danced, faint traces of law energy flowed.

"Lightning Law and Destruction Domain are both intact—perfect condition."

Xu Jingming nodded in satisfaction.

All competitors in the preliminary round had their attributes balanced to the same level.

Though meant to ensure fairness, it was a disguised weakening for him.

This was his full strength—his Purple Nightmare Demon Body could be unleashed instantly with a thought.

"According to the intelligence provided by the Star Torch Sovereign, among over ten thousand high-tier cosmic nations, roughly two hundred geniuses have mastered Laws."

Xu Jingming calculated silently, "On average, each arena should have one or two Law comprehenders."

"If I'm lucky, I might not encounter any at all..."

Of course, that's only theoretical probability.

In reality, the Eternal Star Alliance would likely deliberately scatter the strong into different arenas to ensure fairness.

But it made no difference to him.

As long as he doesn't face Roy, he can easily win.

Meanwhile, the audience seats of the Star Torch Empire were already in an uproar.

"Lei Di is on! He's in the first round!"

"Our Star Torch Empire's Abyss King! He'll definitely advance!"

"Who's his opponent? Please don't let him face Roy, that monster!"

"......"

Not just the Star Torch Empire—every spectator present.

Even the competitors' eyes were fixed on the massive floating screen above the arena.

It clearly displayed the names of all participants on this arena.

Soon, a sharp-eyed spectator cried out:

"My god! This round has four Law Comprehenders!"

"Besides Lei Di of the Star Torch Empire, there's Bardley of the Black Dragon Mountain Empire, Mora of the Thornflower Empire, and Gal of the Silver Azure Empire!"

"Whoa, this is going to be good!"

"......"

Excited murmurs rose and fell across the audience seats.

The more powerful the opponents, the more thrilling the match!

And far above, unseen,

In a luxurious hall floating in the void, the leading Sovereigns from each cosmic nation chatted casually.

"Magnum Blade, your Star Torch Empire has produced a fine prospect this time."

A Sovereign draped in a starry robe smiled.

"Xu Jingming is indeed impressive."

On Magnum Blade's perpetually stern face, a rare smile appeared:

"He mastered Lightning Law at the Starlight Stage and reached King rank in the Abyss Arena.

He is the most gifted individual my Star Torch Empire has seen in nearly a million years.

But..."

Magnum Blade's gaze swept over the list of competitors above the arena; his brow furrowed slightly:

"His luck is bad this time."

"Oh?"

Another female Sovereign leaned in curiously:

"Let me see... Bardley, Mora, Gal... yes, all tough opponents."

Bardley has comprehended the Earth Principle, with astonishing defensive power.

Moe Lin's Wind Principle is elusive and unpredictable; Gar's Metal Principle has an extremely wide attack range.

Mo Ren analyzed in sequence.

More importantly, all of them are Starlight Ninth Stage, aged over three hundred years.

Though they are only at the First Layer of the Principle, their experience in applying the Principle is clearly far richer than Xu Jingming's, who is only twenty-five.

"Then, how do you rank your empire's Xu Jingming?" the female Dominator asked with interest.

"He should make it into the top five, but to claim first place..."

Mo Ren paused, then shook his head. "It would be difficult."

"Hahaha, it's rare to see you so cautious, Mo Ren."

The Dominator in the Star-Cloak laughed. "Our empire didn't produce any genius who comprehended a Principle. Let's make a bet—I wager Xu Jingming will make the top three!"

"I'm quite confident in him—I bet he'll take first place!"

Another female Dominator smiled and said, "What's the stake? How about your 'Stardust Pearl'?"

"You know how to pick."

The Star-Cloak Dominator snorted. "Fine, I accept! Mo Ren, you'll be the witness."

"Our empire's genius has become the subject of your bets."

Mo Ren shook his head helplessly.

All these Dominators are ancient monsters who have lived countless years.

Most of their relatives and friends have long vanished into the river of time.

That's why Dominators can become friends with each other.

Yet they usually seclude themselves in meditation, rarely gathering—now, thanks to the Genius War, they've finally come alive with excitement.

Xu Jingming in the desert was unaware of the discussions among the spectators and the Dominators.

And now, the countdown in his ear was nearly over!

"Five, four, three, two, one... Battle begins!"

With the final cue, the invisible barrier restraining all competitors vanished instantly!

"Boom!"

Almost simultaneously, the entire desert erupted.

Over a hundred thousand Starlight-stage warriors unleashed their aura at once; the terrifying Yuan energy fluctuations made the very space tremble!

"Arena free-for-all!

Among more than a hundred thousand competitors, only the one standing at the end qualifies to advance!

Fight! Fight! I want to see who can stop me!"

Xu Jingming's lips curled into a wild smile.

He grasped the void with his right hand—the Abyss Spear materialized in his grip.

"It's Lei Di Xu Jingming of the Star Torch Empire!

A Principle-wielding powerhouse! Target him first, or we'll all die!"

Meanwhile, over a thousand geniuses nearby who first recognized his identity spontaneously united.

Facing a Principle-level genius, if they didn't unite, death was their only fate!

"Kill!!"

The first to charge was a youth as swift as the wind.

Around him swirled a complete Wind Principle domain and a complete Metal Principle domain.

Their powers stacked together, instantly accelerating his speed to its peak!

Behind him, his Dharma Form's shadow solidified into a Storm War God.

In his hand, his battle blade sliced through the sky, descending with a blade aura like a rainbow—so sharp it shrieked as it cleaved the air!

He was unquestionably a top-tier genius from the preliminary arena.

"Foolish!"

Xu Jingming's eyes flashed with icy light; brilliant, dazzling Heaven's Divine Thunder erupted!

Golden lightning raged wildly—the youth's blade aura had not yet descended.

One moment, golden light flashed before his eyes; the next, searing agony tore through his chest.

His battle blade hadn't even retracted—his entire body was pierced through by the furious thunder!

How could this...?

He looked down at the grotesque, lightning-burned hole in his chest, eyes filled with disbelief.

His dual perfected domains, plus his Dharma Form—how could they not even block a single bolt of lightning?

The next instant, his body exploded into golden light and vanished into scattered starlight.

But this was only the beginning.

The brilliant golden thunder continued unimpeded, striking over a hundred competitors along its path.

Their defenses shattered like paper; their screams never left their throats—they were reduced to ash in the holy golden lightning.