Chapter 687: Top Ten! (Requesting Monthly Votes)

In the audience seats, billions of viewers, along with trillions more from the 108 star domains, flooded the chat with comments.

"Lin Qi from the Sol System—who is this guy, just appearing out of nowhere!"

"I remember the Sol System's talents were Yan Mo·Yao Yu, Samuel, Yu Yu Miaozhen, and others—I've never heard of this Lin Qi."

"Gun Demon Lin Qi—he's no nobody in the Sol System; he's a top-tier powerhouse."

"He's already cleared six trials—his ranking keeps rising, and now he's at #14!"

"With top-tier talents from the Tianyuan, Cangya, Divine Eye, Mangzu, and Tianjiao star domains still in the competition, he's managed to rank in the top 15."

"This is truly extraordinary!"

"If his ranking keeps improving with each trial, he might climb even higher in the seventh."

"Lin Qi from the Sol System has the makings of a dark horse!"

"Go, Lin Qi! The Sol System is counting on Yao Yu and you!"

"…"

In another virtual world, the upper-tier seating area was filled with high-ranking officials discussing the same matter.

"Lin Qi from the Sol System—the Sol System's top ten contestant—is said to come from a minor civilization!"

"He not only broke into the top 50, but now ranks #14—truly a dark horse!"

"Every year there's a dark horse—this year, it's clearly Lin Qi!"

"His willpower is extraordinary, having been forged intensely."

"I hope he continues to surprise us!"

The Sol System's high-ranking officials were also taken aback.

"I never expected that, besides Yao Yu, Lin Qi would be our most outstanding talent!"

"Samuel, Yu Yu Miaozhen, Yao Xi, and Wu Qing all rank below #30."

"They've been completely outshined by Lin Qi!"

Zhao Chen, a high-ranking official among them, smiled as he listened to the others' remarks.

"Lin Qi's performance is even better than we imagined!"

"With such immense willpower, his potential ceiling will surpass everyone else's!"

"It seems he might achieve a ranking in the third round far beyond my expectations."

…

All 108 supervisors watching simultaneously noted Lin Qi's name.

"Director Xi Yuan, congratulations—your Sol System now has two contestants in the top 14!"

"This alone puts you on par with the Tianyuan Elder Elder Xing Yu!"

Director Xi Yuan smiled humbly as other supervisors praised him:

"It's only the seventh trial—haven't you noticed that the Tianyuan Elder Elder Xing Yu has just started to unleash its strength?"

"Already, ten of the top 50 are from Tianyuan."

"That means all ten of Tianyuan's top talents have entered the top 50—no other star domain can match that."

The supervisor of the Xuan Yi Elder Elder Xing Yu, who bore a pair of horns, sighed:

"Tianyuan's overall strength is the strongest—that's common knowledge!"

"After all, the Deep Space Academy's headquarters and several supreme factions are all located in Tianyuan—under such influence, who could rival them?"

"Yet their strongest talent has quietly secured a top-three position!"

"We're all used to it by now—every edition is like this."

"By comparison, Lin Qi from the Sol System is far more worth discussing."

Everyone nodded, murmuring among themselves.

…

【Mental Trial Seventh Trial: Thunder Trial】

【Trial Content: Endure the violent force of lightning, traverse a 100-kilometer path, and reach the finish line…】

This was a planet wrapped in silver lightning, every corner covered in thunder, with black lightning pillars suspended in the sky, continuously striking down.

"Zizizi!"

On the silver alloy ground, silver serpents writhed, drenched in thunderous energy.

Anyone stepping on the ground would be electrocuted—ordinary human bodies couldn't withstand it, instantly reduced to charred corpses.

Warriors at the peak of the Yu Kong realm could channel their Golden Gangjin to resist.

As with previous trials, once they channeled Golden Gangjin, their source energy consumption would not decrease.

"Zizizi!!"

"The ground is electrified—every step feels like an electric shock; if you don't use Golden Gangjin, you'll be turned to ash."

Many contestants stood within the lightning, their Golden Gangjin clinging tightly to their bodies to block the strikes.

One lean, muscular contestant frowned:

"It drains source energy and stamina too fast—if we keep this up, we'll run out before halfway."

Another contestant, veins bulging across his body, said:

"Another method: use less source energy, let some lightning enter your body, and let your body absorb it."

"This saves stamina and source energy—but it's excruciatingly painful."

"It demands willpower to endure."

"If you can endure it, you'll reach the finish line; if you can't, you die."

"This is experience distilled by countless past geniuses."

Others, upon hearing this, began to follow suit.

"Zizizi!!"

Each one then felt a paralyzing, numbing pain—both tingling and agonizing!

"Too painful! How can anyone withstand this!"

Some contestants screamed—many were already mentally and physically exhausted from reaching the seventh trial, their gear still not fully restored.

Now, enduring this seventh trial relied solely on willpower.

Ahead of the contestants, Samuel, a towering figure, strode forward with long steps, his body encircled by lightning.

He had comprehended the Thunder Dao, granting him greater resistance than other contestants.

Thus, he felt less pain.

"Finally, this trial is mine!"

"I'll break into the top 20!"

Samuel, the strongest genius of the Sol System's Lei Zetian,

was supremely confident in his talent.

Among Lei Zetian's high-ranking officials, he was considered one of the absolute elite among all hundred generations of the Genius Competition.

With his talent and immense willpower,

he should easily rank in the top 20 in the Mental Trial, even with a chance to break into the top 10.

But after entering the Mental Trial, he realized he'd vastly underestimated the other geniuses.

His ranking had remained stuck around #40—sometimes slipping into the 40s, sometimes falling outside the top 50.

Now, on average, he could barely manage #40-something!

This trial, he would push his ranking upward.

Most importantly, he would surpass Lin Qi ahead of him.

Ahead of him, a man clad in black-gold battle armor, his face cold and stern, was shrouded in golden light, accompanied by flickering lightning.

This man was Lin Qi—he had already entered the first tier.

Though he had not awakened any Thunder affinity, he moved swiftly through the lightning as if unimpeded.

Samuel erupted with blood qi, his Golden Gangjin surging wildly, trying to catch up—but Lin Qi's speed was no slower.

The distance between them remained constant, and seemed to be widening further.

This situation was unbearable to him!

Meanwhile, the dozen or so contestants ahead—geniuses from various star domains—had already noticed Lin Qi.

"Who is this guy?"

"I've seen him in several trials already!"

"His name isn't in the records!"

"Is he a dark horse?"

"He endures the pain of lightning and strides forward as if unharmed—does he aim for the top ten?"

"I won't let him beat me!"

Dozens of meters ahead of Lin Qi, Gu Ta'ao, a massive figure like a steel tower, surged with blood qi, his earth-yellow Golden Gangjin clinging tightly to his body.

His veins bulged, his three-meter-tall frame striding forward with powerful steps,

"Zizizi!"

Silver serpents continuously struck his body, but his brute, overwhelming physique blocked them all.

"I come from the Mangzu Elder Elder Xing Yu, possessing the unique physique—Mangshen Body—my constitution is extraordinary; this lightning can't touch me!"

Feeling others closing in, Gu Ta accelerated his pace.

Enduring the searing pain of lightning strikes, he gritted his teeth and pressed forward!

He was first in the first trial, but dropped to third in the second.

Then fourth, fifth, sixth...

His ranking kept falling; now he had sunk to tenth place.

One more drop and he'd be out of the top ten!

He came from the Manzu Elder Xing Yu, one of the top five star regions among all humanity!

He had to at least push for the top five!

Lan shared the same ambition—she was currently ranked eleventh.

She barely scraped first in the second trial, then her ranking slipped continuously.

Though exhausted in body and mind, she still strived for a higher rank.

With Lin Qi and other prodigies closing in behind her, under pressure, she too endured the agony of lightning strikes and pressed onward!

Lin Qi, behind them all, was faring no better.

"Crackling! Zapping!"

Waves of lightning, channelled through the sky's thunder pillars, continuously gathered current and slammed into the earth.

Within the metal, the current struck every contestant.

"Sizzling!"

Lin Qi felt his entire body jolted by electric shocks; his body was shielded only by a thin layer of Golden Gangjin, while Lei Zhi's Faze stirred to resist the thunder.

Even so, the violent electric strikes still exploded with overwhelming force.

His muscles ached, his heart pounded violently—he relied on his formidable physical constitution to resist the thunder's power.

His heavy, mercury-like blood qi was pumped to every part of his body, rapidly repairing the damage.

The damage wasn't severe, but the pain was truly excruciating.

A normal person, struck once, would never dare touch it again.

Yet they now endured electric torture at every moment.

Only when they reached the finish line could this torment end.

The entire process was excruciatingly painful.

He endured the agony, lifting his gaze to the giant screen.

【#15: Lin Qi (Riyang Elder Xing Yu)】

He was now ranked fifteenth—solidly within the first tier.

Those ahead of him were mostly prodigies who had awakened special physiques.

Breaking into the top ten would still be difficult.

Everyone had awakened special physiques, condensed nine source veins, and possessed extraordinary physical traits.

He glanced at the number of survivors—it was plummeting fast.

In the blink of an eye, dozens of contestants had been eliminated.

He turned back to the rear of the line; each contestant's face showed exhaustion, pain, and resentment.

One after another, they collapsed!

Lin Qi had a feeling this round would eliminate many contestants.

"Hummm~"

He activated his Golden Eyes, observing the lightning's trajectory, feeling the current surge through his body.

He was cultivating insight into the Lei Zhi Faze!

Nothing was more real than experiencing the Lei Zhi Faze firsthand.

"My understanding of the Lei Zhi Faze might improve within these two days."

Lin Qi thought to himself, advancing while cultivating insight into the Lei Zhi Faze.

He maintained a steady pace, watching the lightning in the air, the current surging chaotically within his body.

The true meanings of Divine Speed, Lei Ji, and Fierce Fury all manifested before him.

Though his mind ached, his spirit felt unusually alert.

The longer he watched, the deeper his insight into the Lei Zhi Faze became.

The essence of his body technique, Thunder Dash: Sky-Tearing Diagram, surfaced—he instantly understood!

His comprehension of the Lei Zhi Faze continued to rise.

Unconsciously, countless lightning bolts slashed across his vision, thunder vibrated, and the force of the Faze flowed around his body.

His application of the Lei Zhi Faze grew increasingly refined.

After dozens of hours, he felt his body grow slightly lighter, the pain from the lightning strikes steadily diminishing.

Whether it was because his body had gone numb or his tolerance had strengthened—

Or perhaps because he could now channel more of the Lei Zhi Faze to resist it.

His interface updated, displaying a prompt.

【You are within the Fierce Thunder Prison, enduring endless lightning strikes. In agony, you have gained new insight into the Lei Zhi Faze. Your Faze power has increased and merged with your body technique. Body Technique +1%】

【Body Technique: Rank 6, 10% → Rank 6, 11%】

…

Lin Qi looked at the interface—his body technique had risen another 1%.

That 1% made his body feel even lighter.

The pain from the lightning strikes lessened.

Back in reality, without realizing it, the finish line was now just over a hundred meters ahead!

Around him, front and back, several others remained—including the top prodigies Gu Ta'ao and Lan.

Lin Qi quickened his pace, slowly closing the gap between himself and the two.

Then, one by one, he surpassed them.

Two minutes later, he overtook Lan.

Ten minutes later, he overtook Gu Ta'ao.

"How is this possible? How could he surpass me?"

Gu Ta'ao couldn't accept this outcome—he possessed top-tier physical traits, the strongest prodigy of his star region, yet he'd been beaten by an ordinary prodigy?

He erupted in power, golden-earth energy surging as he surged forward with giant strides.

He tried to overtake Lin Qi again.

But Lin Qi had already reached the finish line.

【Congratulations to Lin Qi of the Riyang Elder Xing Yu, the 9th contestant to pass the Mind Trial, the 7th Trial: Lei Zhi!】

【Congratulations to Gu Ta'ao of the Manzu Elder Xing Yu, the 10th contestant to pass the Mind Trial, the 7th Trial: Lei Zhi!】

…

The giant screen in the sky began announcing the results.

All contestants could hear.

"Did I hear that right? Who's ninth?"

"It's Lin Qi from the Riyang Elder Xing Yu—he finished faster than Gu Ta'ao from the Manzu Elder Xing Yu!"

"Damn it! Why is the gap so huge? I can barely hold on, yet they've already reached the finish!"

"The gap is too great—there's no hope left!"

Many contestants, upon hearing the announcement, broke down completely and could no longer endure.

Their source energy depleted, they were charred by lightning, their hearts stopped, and they collapsed, eliminated.

Lin Qi felt overwhelming fatigue surge through him.

Seven trials done—he'd held on this far; only two more remained.

"Lin Qi, you're impressive!"

Beside him, Gu Ta'ao, towering like a steel tower, panted as he spoke.

"In our Manzu Elder Xing Yu's records, there were forty-nine prodigies worth noting—and your name wasn't among them."

"Yet you broke through from among all these contestants!"

"And you even finished ahead of me—truly formidable!"

Lin Qi smiled: "Though I awakened a Metal affinity, I've also grasped the Lei Zhi Faze —so in this trial, I had an advantage."

Gu Ta'ao laughed heartily.

"You're right. Next trial, you'd better push hard—but staying in the top fifteen is already impressive!"

"My goal is to hold a top-ten spot!"

Lin Qi smiled silently—Gu Ta'ao's personality was straightforward, saying exactly what he thought.

"Foolish."

A clear voice rang out.

Lan, tall and supple as willow, skin pale as snow, spoke.

She said:

"I see Lin Qi has already grasped two major Faze —his talent is exceedingly rare!"

"Besides, the next two trials are only Jin Zhi Faze and Illusion Trial—you won't catch him."

Gu Gu Taao shook his head, his weary mind finally registering the truth.

"Lin Qi, we underestimated you!"

"But there are only two trials left—I should start pushing now!"

Lin Qi smiled but said nothing, silently recovering.

"Lin Qi, impressive!"

At the front, Yao Yu, a tall man with a scorching aura, turned around.

He nodded at Lin Qi and praised:

"I originally thought that, besides myself, the strongest in the Sol Elder Xing Yu were Yu Miao Zhen and Samuel."

"Now it seems you are the second strongest—the Deep Space Academy's AI system truly had foresight."

"Your bye-pass was truly earned through your own strength."

Lin Qi smiled back: "Yao Yu, your strength is even greater than I imagined!"

In the seventh trial, the Thunder Trial, the top rank went to Shen Tu Zhen from the Cangya Elder Xing Yu, a man radiating domineering energy, specializing in the Thunder Principle.

Yan Mo Yao Yu ranked fifth—a very high placement.

His true strength had now been fully revealed.

In this year's Deep Space Genius Competition, he has a real chance at the championship.

Yao Yu chuckled: "In the next two trials, you have a chance to move even higher!"

"I hope that in the Mind Trial, two of us from the Sol Elder Xing Yu make the top ten."

"Two top-ten placements? That's not easy!"

A woman in silver battle armor stepped forward, her features delicate, her long swan-like neck, hair, eyebrows, and even pupils all white-blue.

She radiated bone-chilling cold—the strongest genius of the Eternal Frost Elder Xing Yu: Bai Lan!

Her face brimmed with arrogance; she currently ranked sixth, just slightly behind Yao Yu.

Bai Lan sneered: "The next two trials are where the real competition begins!"

"The other geniuses must start pushing now!"

Several nodded silently—they indeed, as Bai Lan said, planned to unleash their full strength from the eighth trial onward.

"It's time to enter the eighth trial!"

A man clad in golden armor spoke up and stepped into the eighth trial.

After resting a moment, catching his breath, he felt considerably lighter and soon others followed him into the eighth trial!

"Let's go!"

"Alright!"

Lin Qi followed Yao Yu and the others into the black space wormhole, transported into the eighth trial of the Mind Trial.

……

(End of Chapter)