Upon hearing the rules announced by Venerable Gu Lun, the three Geniuses with the slowest winning speeds changed their expressions because, according to the rules, their opponents in the next round would be the universally acknowledged top three.
They clearly knew that their journey in the Pinnacle Genius Battle was about to end.
"Chris is truly unlucky; winning last means he directly faces Kedi."
"What's so unlucky about that? They've already made it into the top ten, successfully entering the Virtual Universe Company's Absolute Beginning Secret Realm."
"That's right! With Kedi and the other two, it's impossible for anyone else to get into the top two."
As Venerable Gu Lun finished announcing the rules, the eliminated Geniuses present all lamented how unlucky the last three winners were, as they were directly pitted against the acknowledged top three of this Pinnacle Genius Battle.
The 1004 Immortals chatted amongst themselves. This Pinnacle Genius Battle had not had any surprises since the Trial Tower pre-selection ended; the acknowledged top three had consistently maintained their overwhelming dominance.
…
Not long after the matches began, Kedi, Ender, and Fei defeated their opponents, successfully advancing to the top five.
Subsequently, the remaining two matches also concluded, with the winners being Nuno and Manle, both members of major clans.
The former was a member of the Flame God Race, a clan with a super existence, and one of the highest echelons within the Human Race.
The latter was from the Barbaric God Clan. The Barbaric God Clan and the Man Ka Star people were the royal clans of the Barbaric Universe Country, possessing the Human Race's first-grade bloodline, reaching Domain Master upon adulthood.
Thus, the top five of this Pinnacle Genius Battle were born, namely…
Li Yu Universe Country — Kedi!
Ganwu Universe Country — Ender!
Nine Flame Universe Country — Fei!
Barbaric Universe Country — Manle!
Lan Ting Universe Country — Nuno!
Swish!
Venerable Gu Lun, clad in fiery red battle armor, instantly appeared in the air. An invisible pressure enveloped everyone, causing them to respectfully await his words.
"After exciting battles, the top five have been decided," Venerable Gu Lun said with a smile, looking down at the 1000 Geniuses. "Please rest. In a moment, we will proceed with the top five Reincarnation Battle. The rule is that each of the top five must fight one match against each of the other four. The winner gets one point, and finally, the first and second places will be determined by points ranking."
After Venerable Gu Lun left, the eliminated Geniuses began to discuss amongst themselves.
"The rules for the top five Reincarnation Battle are very fair."
"Indeed, very fair. Except for Kedi, everyone else starts with a default loss. They only need to achieve three wins to secure second place."
"Haha! The battle for second place!"
…
The Reincarnation Battle began.
In the first round, there were two sets of matches: Kedi VS Manle, Ender VS Nuno. Fei had a bye.
Swish!
Ender teleported onto the arena.
"Ender!" Nuno's voice transmission came from afar: "I told you! I will defeat you!"
"Hmph!" Hearing this, Ender sneered and replied: "Who can't boast?"
Nuno raised the halberd in his hand, pointing it directly at Ender and said: "Then let's see if I'm boasting!"
As his voice fell, Nuno's figure swayed, instantly splitting into a phantom image. His main body also became illusory, as if shrouded by Time Law turbulence, making it difficult to discern.
Swish!
The two phantom figures drifted unpredictably, charging towards Ender at extreme speed.
…
"Time Phantom!"
"This Nuno hides quite deeply. Besides the Wind and Fire Origin Law, he has also comprehended the Time Law."
"His talent is good, but a single phantom image is still too far from being able to deal with Ender!"
"That's right! The gap in Law comprehension is too great."
The 1,004 Immortals outside the arena felt a hint of surprise, but this surprise came too late and was too small.
…
"Your talent is indeed good. Besides two lower-level Laws, you've even comprehended the Time Law." Ender was somewhat surprised, but then the corners of his mouth turned up as he said: "Unfortunately, trying to use a single phantom image's Time Law to deal with me is too far-fetched!"
While transmitting his voice, his Spiritual Force moved, and fluctuations of Wood Origin Law emerged from the Green Vine Pillar behind him. Subsequently, a vine shimmering with green light extended out. Creak!
The Endless Vine made a sound of tearing through the air, extending towards the two incoming phantom figures.
Upon seeing the Endless Vine approach, Nuno's two phantom figures split, attacking Ender from the left and right respectively.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, the Endless Vine, shimmering with green light, disintegrated. Nine streams of green light flew out from the disintegrated Endless Vine, also splitting into two and attacking the two phantom figures!
"What?!"
Four streams of green light attacked, arriving too quickly and too suddenly. Nuno's true body, among the two figures, was startled and quickly dodged.
The other phantom figure, however, was pierced by five streams of green light, and with a "pop" sound, it shattered like a bubble.
"Found you!"
Seeing one phantom figure dodge, Ender mobilized his Spiritual Force, and a needle-like Spiritual Force directly pierced forward!
This was the Spiritual Force attack secret technique he exchanged for in the Stellar Training Camp, the Soul Piercing Needle!
Suffering a Soul attack, Nuno's figure paused. Although he quickly recovered, this brief pause allowed Ender to seize the opportunity!
Whoosh!
The four streams of green light disintegrated, combining into a small Endless Vine. Taking advantage of Nuno's momentary pause, it directly wrapped around his arm.
"Damn it!"
Nuno was furious. While rapidly retreating, he tried to pull the Endless Vine with his left hand.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Numerous small Green Vine Pillar components from nearby, like flowing water in a stream, gathered to form a green stream.
Seeing numerous small Green Vine Pillar components continuously joining the Endless Vine wrapped around his arm, Nuno pushed with difficulty with his right hand, transferring his halberd to his left hand, and slashed at the Endless Vine wrapped around his right arm.
For the first slash, he targeted the converging green stream.
Whoosh!
The halberd swung through empty air. The green stream was composed of many components, making it difficult to hit.
For the second slash, this time he held the upper part of the halberd shaft and directly struck the Endless Vine wrapped around his arm.
Clang!
The halberd struck the Endless Vine, emitting a crisp metallic clang. A deep gash appeared on the green vine, and faint green light diffused from the gash, but that was all.
After two slashes, he no longer had a chance to deliver a third.
Watching the Endless Vine continuously grow, rotate, and extend along his arm, spreading over his entire body, Nuno let out an angry roar, "No!"
The Endless Vine enveloped Nuno, then furiously contracted and squeezed. The sound of bones cracking, "creak, creak," emanated.
Soon, Nuno died under the Endless Vine's compression!
Ender's first battle, victory!
…
Seeing Nuno defeated and dead, the Immortals present began to discuss.
"This young fellow from the Flame God Race has good talent, but unfortunately, he's a jack of all trades and master of none."
"That's right! Not only does his Law comprehension fall short of Ender's, but his Soul defense is also this poor."
"Soul defense has always been his weakness. He instantly succumbed to the Zerg Queen's Soul attack in the fifth Trial Tower, and he struggled immensely when facing the Zerg Queen in the fourth Trial Tower."
"He instantly succumbed to the Zerg Queen in the fifth Trial Tower; when he faces Fei later, the result will be the same."
…
"He can also use Soul attacks…"
Fei, who had a bye and was below the arena, furrowed her delicate brows after watching Ender and Nuno's match. "This is troublesome!"
Ender being able to use Soul attacks to interfere with Nuno indicated that his will was very strong, and his Soul secret technique was likely not bad. This was not good news for her.