From the Metropolis to the Strongest in the Cosmos

A smile graced Celestial Net’s face—an incredibly warm one that made him look like a close friend of Li Yang’s.

But the moment Li Yang saw him, his expression turned grim.

This was the man who coveted the unknown treasures hidden on the planets surrounding Earth, the man who had been suppressing Earth’s development all this time. His appearance here could only mean one thing.

He said nothing.

BOOM!

The aura around Li Yang erupted, and he turned to flee!

But as he moved, Celestial Net moved as well. He was impossibly faster, appearing before Li Yang in an instant.

”Li Yang, it’s such a joyous occasion when old friends meet. Why run off?” a placid voice remarked.

”WHAM!”

Celestial Net’s right leg whipped out like a long lash, landing with deceptive lightness on Li Yang’s body.

Although it looked slow, Li Yang was completely unable to dodge it.

With just a single attack, Li Yang lost more than half his life force, and his strength plummeted.

Of course, with Celestial Net’s power as a Mid-Longevity Realm expert, he could have easily killed Li Yang. He was clearly holding back on purpose.

”To withstand a tenth of my power and survive... Li Yang, you’re not bad! No wonder you could instantly kill those standard-model virtual people,” Celestial Net said with a smile.

He had just been testing Li Yang’s strength.

He had met Li Yang before, but they had never truly fought, so he wasn’t certain of the exact extent of Li Yang’s power.

But now, he had a clear measure of it.

Li Yang’s current strength was somewhere between the Peak of Law Realm and the Early Longevity Realm, which could be considered genius-level.

But that was all it was.

Li Yang wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his gaze fixed on Celestial Net. ”Celestial Net,” he said in a low voice, ”you’re a genius recruited by the Yangyuan Empire. What are you doing at a genius selection competition for the Golden Moon Empire?”

”Haha, Li Yang, you’re sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong. I, Celestial Net, will participate in any competition I wish. Do you think you can stop me?” Celestial Net scoffed lightly.

He looked at Li Yang and said, ”But, since I happen to be here at the Golden Moon Empire’s genius selection, and since I’ve run into you... I’ll go ahead and announce that as of now, you are eliminated from this competition.”

As if he were a judge, he directly pronounced Li Yang’s fate.

Looking at his smile, Li Yang was filled with rage.

This was the man who had always targeted Earth, blockading it and bribing the personnel responsible for mining and surveying. When Li Yang had tried to join the Yangyuan Empire, Celestial Net had appeared to stop him, blocking him at the second trial!

”Celestial Net, you dare to interfere with the Golden Moon Empire’s genius selection? Aren’t you afraid of being punished by the Yangyuan Empire?” Li Yang said, suppressing his volcanic rage.

”Punishment?”

At Li Yang’s words, Celestial Net burst out laughing—a wild, unrestrained laugh.

His laughter was even tinged with mockery.

”Punish me? Celestial Net? For an ant like you from Planet Zero? Li Yang, believe it or not, even if I personally went to Earth to kill you, and even if the local branch of the Human Race Saint Hall found out, I still wouldn’t be sentenced to death.”

Celestial Net stated confidently, ”You understand far too little about this Cosmos. Potential and strength—that is its true nature!”

”In terms of potential, I am a genius known to countless people in the Yangyuan Empire, while you, Li Yang, are a nobody. In terms of strength, I can instantly kill an Early Longevity Realm expert, while you can barely handle someone at the Peak of Law Realm. Oh, and besides potential and strength, you also have to consider backing.”

”I am backed by the great Yuanlan Clan of the Deities. As for you, Li Yang... on your home planet, Earth, an ant like you is already the strongest there is.”

”You fighting me? You truly overestimate yourself!”

Celestial Net was smiling as he spoke, but his eyes were filled with cold indifference.

In the Cosmos, there is no shortage of life-bearing planets. A weak galaxy like the Milky Way Galaxy alone contains hundreds of thousands of them.

And the Yangyuan Star Continent contains an unknown number of galaxies!

People from planets like Planet Zero that show no potential are legally sold off.

Even the complete destruction of a life-bearing planet is hardly considered an event. Few would even notice.

Cruel and cold—this is the nature of the Cosmos!

”Alright, my time is limited. I won’t waste any more of it on you.”

Celestial Net stood in the void, looking down on Li Yang with an indifferent expression. ”Li Yang,” he said, ”your participation in this genius selection is over.”

With a wave of his right hand, a ray of golden light shot out, reaching Li Yang in an instant.

Li Yang stared at Celestial Net, his eyes burning with fury and hatred. But here in the Virtual World, he had no Teleportation Stone, and he was no match for a Mid-Longevity Realm expert like Celestial Net.

The golden light pierced through his body, and the aura around Li Yang faded away like a receding tide.

Li Yang was dead.

Li Yang’s run in the genius selection competition was officially over.

’Pathetically weak.’

Gazing at Li Yang’s corpse, Celestial Net’s expression was calm, showing no emotion.

Beside him, Lentz looked at Celestial Net and chuckled. ”Celestial Net, it seems your strength has improved again.”

He didn’t even glance at Li Yang’s corpse. Given his status, someone from Planet Zero was truly beneath his notice.

Celestial Net glanced at him.

The aura around his body also faded away like a receding tide.

After killing Li Yang, Celestial Net immediately committed suicide.

He couldn’t let his name appear at the top of the rankings and attract unwanted attention.

...

Elsewhere in the Virtual World, Li Yang’s family was waiting.

”Yangyang will definitely pass the second trial.”

Li Guohai, Zhao Rou, and the others waited in anticipation.

In addition, Shao Jie and the other King Level Cultivators from Earth were filled with even greater anticipation.

Both Li Yang and Shen Xuan were competing. How high they ranked would have a huge impact on the fate of Earth!

”Li Yang and the Boss will both definitely pass the second trial!”

”That’s right! They’re the strongest on Earth. They can even easily kill other cultivators at the Peak of Law Realm!”

The group watched expectantly.

In front of them were lists of rankings, displaying those at the top.

The rankings for Li Yang and Shen Xuan were also displayed.

They could check for changes in the rankings at any time.

”The Boss’s rank has risen to 50,000,000th, while Li Yang is still ranked over one hundred million,” Shao Jie said. ”This is just the beginning. Both of their names are sure to climb the ranks quickly!”

The group was speaking with anticipation, but just as the words left their mouths, their expressions changed.

In the distance, Li Yang’s figure suddenly materialized.

Shao Jie and the others were stunned.

The genius selection competition was currently underway and was supposed to last for seven days. How could Li Yang be out already, right after it began?

There was only one way to be out this early: elimination.

”Yangyang.”

Not far away, Li Guohai and Zhao Rou’s expressions changed the moment they saw Li Yang, and they hurried over.

They too knew there could only be one reason for Li Yang to appear now.