In every world zone, participants were restricted to flying no higher than 9,000 meters above the ground.
Beyond that altitude, an invisible spatial membrane blocked all passage.
Above this barrier—
Luxurious spaceships drifted slowly through the skies.
These were spectator vessels, carrying viewers who had paid enormous sums to observe the qualifiers from above.
The preliminary rounds were not broadcast live.
With over eight billion participants per world zone, a public broadcast was simply impossible.
Thus, nobles, officials, and wealthy citizens of the Qianwu Universe Kingdom chose another method—
They boarded viewing ships and personally descended above the battlefield.
Each ship could freely select which world zone to observe.
Spectators of Power
Above World Area 21, a resplendent spaceship hovered quietly.
Inside, a group of young men and women dressed in extravagant attire drank, laughed, and watched real-time battlefield simulations projected in the air.
They were—
Princes and princesses of subordinate empires.
Direct descendants of the three hundred princes of Qianwu.
Children of powerful families within the Universe Kingdom.
Every one of them carried extraordinary status.
"Haha!"
A burly man nearly three meters tall, draped in an ornate robe, raised a goblet in laughter.
"Tell me—this time, which empire's genius do you think will be the first to obtain a temporary qualification?"
Only minutes into the qualifiers, the first person to reach 10,000 points would earn a temporary pass.
That meant—
Either ten thousand kills in record time, or harvesting points at an absurdly fast rate.
"Your Highness, the Crown Prince," someone replied immediately with a flattering smile,
"Of course it will be someone from the Star Domain directly under the Qianwu Universe Kingdom."
"Indeed!"
"In nearly every Genius Battle, the first person to temporarily qualify has come from the direct Star Domain!"
"And not just first—historically, even the final champion has almost always come from the direct Star Domain!"
"Geniuses from subordinate empires are impressive, but compared to those trained in the Dry Witch Secret Realm, the gap is still too large."
Voices echoed in agreement.
This was common knowledge.
The direct Star Domain was where the Qianwu Universe Kingdom cultivated its true elites.
The Crown Prince smiled, clearly pleased.
But then his gaze shifted.
He looked toward a silver-haired woman seated calmly on the main couch to his left.
"Qinia," he asked curiously,
"Most of the participants from our direct Star Domain are gathered in World Area 61."
"Why did you choose to watch World Area 21 instead?"
At his words, several nobles turned to look at her.
Qinia—
Apprentice of the Third Lord of the Qianwu Universe Kingdom.
Among everyone present, her status and strength were unquestionably the highest.
If she chose World Area 21, no one dared object.
A Single Sentence
Qinia's expression remained composed.
"Because," she said calmly,
"the first place of this session is in World Area 21."
Silence fell.
She had learned through her own channels that Jiang Yan was assigned to World Area 21.
Since leaving the Thunder World, perhaps because Jiang Yan had gifted her a valuable treasure, she had paid him special attention.
The more she investigated—
The more disturbed she became.
One day.
Nine-star rating in the decisive battle space.
A single strike to kill Lei Buqun.
Only then did she realize—
"He was hiding his strength in the Giant Axe Arena."
"He was acting."
Combined with the mysterious woman called Red Kite who accompanied him that day—
Qinia had no doubt.
Jiang Yan was a genius secretly cultivated by a terrifying existence.
Public Doubt
"The first place… in World Area 21?"
Murmurs spread through the cabin.
"Who's even in that world zone?"
No one answered immediately.
Then—
A man dressed in purple spoke up.
"Jiang Yan is in World Area 21."
All eyes turned toward him.
"Botero," a man in white asked, frowning,
"Who is Jiang Yan?"
Botero straightened and answered respectfully:
"Your Highness, everyone—"
"You may not recognize the name Jiang Yan…"
"But you certainly know his other title."
"He is the Thunder Emperor, the Stellar-ranked warrior who obtained the title of Giant Axe Warrior in the Giant Axe Arena."
"He hails from the Black Dragon Mountain Empire."
The name triggered instant recognition.
"The Thunder Emperor?"
"He's in this world zone?"
Even the Crown Prince frowned slightly.
He turned back to Qinia.
"The person you're referring to… is this Thunder Emperor?"
"Yes," Qinia replied without hesitation.
"It's him."
"I'm very optimistic about him."
Her certainty caused an immediate uproar.
Laughter and Disbelief
"Impossible."
"He might pass the first stage, but first place? No chance."
"Winning the Giant Axe Warrior title at the stellar level doesn't make him a true genius."
"Real geniuses don't participate in life-and-death arena battles."
"In the direct Star Domain, many have earned the Giant Axe Warrior title—"
"And among them, only one has ever entered the top thousand!"
"I've watched some of the Thunder Emperor's fights."
"He didn't feel that terrifying—probably just lucky."
"Anyone strong enough wouldn't waste time in the arena."
"Only those with no future, or forced slaves, fight there."
Laughter and dismissive remarks filled the cabin.
In their eyes—
The Giant Axe Arena was not a stage for real prodigies.
Qinia ignored them all.
How could their vision compare to hers?
The First Shock
Suddenly—
"Wait!"
A startled shout rang out.
"The first person to obtain a temporary qualification… has appeared!"
"What?! Already?"
"Ten thousand points in just a few minutes?"
"Quick—see who it is!"
"Direct Star Domain or subordinate empire?!"
Every gaze snapped toward the massive display screen at the center of the spaceship—
Including Qinia's.
The answer—
Was about to be revealed.
[am writing a marvel gacha novel on my patreon please support]
_____________________
https://[email protected]/mrSOMEONE01234? [replace @ with a]
>>>>>I'm a student, and I'll try my best to keep uploading chapters regularly <<<<<
thanks for your support
[[READER TIER 1: translates stories {15$} ]] { RECOMENDED }
[[READER TIER 2: translated & original stories {20$} ]]
[[[[Please at least visit my patreon so I can have some traffic]]]]]
Also try
[[[Restaurant in Douluo Dalu (530+ch)]]] {6$}