Chapter 581: Award Ceremony! The Most Brilliant Xu Jingming!

"He used supplies after me?" Catherine's expression froze.

In the defense-offense match, supplies are extremely important.

The later it gets, the more supplies one has left, the better one's condition can be maintained.

Yet my rank is higher than Xu Jingming's, and my energy reserves are also greater than his.

How could Xu Jingming be using supplies after me?

"Xu Jingming of Great Xia is exceptionally skilled at finding the weaknesses of ferocious beasts."

Each time he kills a ferocious beast, his physical exertion and energy consumption remain at the lowest possible level."

"Although you, Saint, can also kill ferocious beasts, your physical and energy expenditure per wave of beast assaults is far greater than Xu Jingming's."

"Thus, over time, Xu Jingming naturally endures longer than you."

At this moment, a seventh-rank peak white male adept in a pale golden robe spoke with a hint of admiration.

By this point, Catherine had fully understood.

This was essentially a matter of combat experience.

Xu Jingming's rich practical experience allows him to kill ferocious beasts with less effort.

Then the question arises—her own practical experience is not poor either.

Besides training on the ice plains, she had also entered the wilderness multiple times to hunt ferocious beasts.

Why could Xu Jingming be more proficient than her?

"According to news reports on Great Xia's internet, since entering the Magic Capital Adept University last June,"

"and subsequently joining Lei Ting Martial Hall, up until today,"

"he spent most of his time in the wilderness, totaling more than a year in duration."

"Additionally, before the Peak Tournament's Top 32 began, Xu Jingming traveled to Great Xia's frontline battlefield."

"There he slew numerous ferocious beasts, including several seventh-rank king-class beasts, earning astonishing battle merits."

A member of the Holy Church whispered.

With the end of the Peak Tournament, Xu Jingming's battlefield record in the southern front was no longer concealed.

Reports on this had been circulating on Great Xia's internet throughout this period—anyone could easily look them up.

"This..."

Her rosy lips parted slightly, her lovely face filled with disbelief.

From last June until now, it had only been a year and a half.

Xu Jingming had spent over a year in the wilderness!

No wonder he was so skilled at killing ferocious beasts!

"This guy is truly a prodigy..."

Catherine stared blankly at the holographic projection, where the towering figure of Xu Jingming was wreathed in golden lightning, like a god.

Having trained for years in the northern polar regions, she had thought herself sufficiently diligent.

But compared to Xu Jingming, she felt her past training had been nothing but a joke...

"Thunder Dragon Art!"

Boom—!

In Arena 01, under the final strike of the Thunder Dragon Art,

the remaining ferocious beasts outside the wall were finally all cleared by Xu Jingming, including the several king-class beasts.

"Phew, finally made it through this wave."

Xu Jingming landed on the wall, flapping his Thunder Dragon Wings, gasping for breath.

After four straight days of battle, all supplies had been exhausted.

Even the Ultimate Radiant Thunder Ring could no longer squeeze out a single drop of stored energy.

The only thing worth celebrating was,

that he alone had faced thousands of sixth-rank ferocious beasts and fifteen seventh-rank king-class beasts—and still emerged victorious.

"Pity—this virtual world is still not reality."

"Otherwise, the energy points harvested from killing ferocious beasts over these five days would have been an astonishing number."

Xu Jingming shook his head regretfully.

In this virtual world, even the system interface couldn't be opened, let alone harvesting energy points.

"Contestant 01, Xu Jingming, you are now the only remaining contestant in the defense-offense match."

"The next wave of beast assaults will arrive in one hour. Do you choose to continue or withdraw?"

At this moment, a grand announcement echoed from the sky.

"I'm the only one left?"

Xu Jingming was surprised, but after thinking it over,

it made sense.

Even he was nearing his limit—others must be far worse.

Since he had already won the championship, there was no need for him to stay.

After replying "withdraw," he was teleported back to the center of the stadium arena.

"Lei Di! Strongest!"

"Lei Di! Strongest!"

"..."

The moment he reappeared, thunderous cheers erupted all around him.

Among them were not only people of the Great Xia, but even tens of millions of viewers from other countries.

It was obvious,

Xu Jingming's ferocious performance in the Peak Tournament and the Attack-Defense Tournament had conquered them utterly!

"Congratulations to Xu Jingming! He held on until the very last moment in the Attack-Defense Tournament!"

The commentator's high-pitched, resonant voice rang out across the stadium.

"And thanks as well to the other contestants — Catherine, Su Yu, Andre!

You have given our hundreds of millions of viewers here a series of absolutely brilliant matchups!

This is absolutely the most spectacular edition of the Global Genius Exchange Tournament to date!

Now, let us invite the top three contestants of the Peak Tournament to the stage to receive their awards!!"

Rumble rumble—

From the alloy floor before Xu Jingming, a magnificent convex award platform slowly rose.

On each step sat a trophy.

The champion's trophy, placed at the very top, was pitch-black all over, gleaming with a mysterious and regal luster.

The trophies for second and third place were white and yellow, respectively.

All three trophies were forged from SSS-grade alloy.

Yet one could clearly see that the champion's trophy was even more exquisite and resplendent.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Catherine and Su Yu were also teleported onto the arena.

"First place in the Peak Tournament — Xu Jingming!

Will receive one single-use Grade Nine Guardian Talisman, one set of SS-grade battle armor, and one portion of SS+ grade cultivation resources!

Second place in the Peak Tournament — Catherine!

Will receive one set of SS-grade battle armor, and one portion of SS-grade cultivation resources!

Third place in the Peak Tournament — Su Yu!

Will receive one set of SS-grade battle armor, and one portion of S+ grade cultivation resources!

Additionally, the top 100 contestants of the Peak Tournament — including the three of you — will all qualify to enter the Clear Peak Secret Realm!"

Amid the commentator's high-pitched voice, Xu Jingming, Catherine, and Su Yu —

Stepped onto the award platform, each lifting up the trophy that belonged to them.

Boom!!

The stadium's hundreds of millions of viewers erupted in cheers — some shouting "Lei Di" and "Saint," others cheering "Su Yu."

This edition of the Genius Tournament was absolutely far more spectacular than those of previous years.

The prodigies that emerged from it were countless — Xu Jingming, Catherine, Su Yu, and so on.

But if one were to ask who shone the brightest, there was no doubt it was Xu Jingming — a mere twenty years old, who had swept aside strong opponents one after another all the way.

Before the Genius Tournament began, many people had thought Xu Jingming would stop at the round of sixteen or the quarterfinals.

Yet no one had expected that Xu Jingming would actually defeat Catherine — five years his senior and a full minor realm above him — head-on.

"Truly dazzling..."

Classmates from Jiangcheng Second High School, classmates from Mo University, students of the Prodigy Training Camp —

Many who knew Xu Jingming all watched with emotion the tall figure standing at the highest point of the award platform.

They knew Xu Jingming would eventually rise to fame the world over!

Yet no one had expected that day to come so quickly...