The days flew by, and before Xu Jingming knew it, the day of the preliminaries had arrived.
In his chamber, Xu Jingming sat cross-legged, his mind empty.
In over 5,000 years of descending into the Myriad Species World, the first champion had been the Fire Dragonborn powerhouse, Thunderhorn Mountain. The second champion was the Golden Fire Divine Bird, and the third champion was the King of the Mountain Demons. Of the top five in the first tournament, three had claimed first place. The remaining two—the one-armed Giant Ape King and the Rain Tiger powerhouse—had died in the tournament.
The top five selected from the first tournament had been extraordinary beyond comparison. They had either won first place or died.
The fourth champion is a powerhouse of the Poison Dragons, but the fifth champion is a five-meter-tall Sea Tiger powerhouse. If I had participated in the fifth tournament, my strength would probably place me third or fourth.
Since he could match the third and fourth place from the previous tournament, and Xu Jingming had grown even stronger in the subsequent millennium, he believed he stood a chance of clinching first this year. Thus, he decided to participate.
The sixth tournament suits me perfectly. Since it's suitable, I have to participate. Once this drags on, those super-small species will emerge, Xu Jingming thought. Even if the Ants, Bees, and other super-small species can slow their aging, they probably only live about 10,000 years. Once they reach their peak… it would be very difficult for me to fight them.
Everyone's levels were on par. The smaller they were, the tougher and more terrifying their bodies, giving them an advantage in head-on combat.
How terrifying would the density and tenacity of a 20-centimeter-tall Ant powerhouse be compared to a Mountain Demon over 60 meters tall?
Therefore, the smaller they were, the stronger they became! However, their lifespans were also short. They could only maintain their prime for a few millennia, which meant they only had a few chances.
I have to seize the opportunity this year. Xu Jingming clearly remembered how many powerhouses had died in the past five tournaments.
Especially the ultimate round-robin competition which the top five underwent. When one was closest to clinching first place, they would all risk their lives, and deaths were very likely to occur.
It's about time.
Xu Jingming got up and left the chamber, leaving the Jing family manor alone and walking to the preliminaries.
…
At the preliminaries, the gathering place.
Xu Jingming leaned against the wall alone in a corner, eyeing the hundreds of thousands of preliminary contestants.
There are quite a number of natives. Xu Jingming recognized them instantly. After all, it had been over 5,000 years, yet they were still in the 50s. They were naturally natives.
The past five champions had released their body-tempering techniques. Numerous other high-dimensional lifeforms had also disclosed their methods… The natives are growing stronger. Perhaps the great being had captured us to enrich this world and unveil more techniques.
Over five million high-dimensional lifeforms had gathered from various dominions, bearing all sorts of experiences. Their minds, intellect—everything towered over the natives and their fleeting lives. They could propel the body-tempering techniques to new heights in no time.
Yet, among the five million, few would survive. The rest would perish.
"Lord Jing Ming."
"Lord Jing Ming."
Voices in the distance.
Xu Jingming looked over and saw three human figures dashing toward him.
"It's you guys." Xu Jingming smiled. These three people were Yu Yangwei, Shadow, and Fengke.
"You signed up too, Lord Jing Ming?" Yu Yangwei asked with a smile.
Xu Jingming nodded.
"You haven't joined since the first tournament, Lord Jing Ming," Shadow said, more talkative now. "You must be sure of grabbing first place."
"Too many powerhouses. No telling what's in store," Xu Jingming replied.
The champions of the last three tournaments, Fire Dragonborn, Golden Fire Divine Bird, Mountain Demon King, had dominated from the start.
The later victors emerged from nowhere, unknown until their moment of glory.
"So many powerhouses have powered up." Xu Jingming scanned the crowd. "No telling what'll emerge from over five million high-dimensional lifeforms."
Their interference cloaked their exchange.
"We signed up for the last five tournaments. Couldn't get past the preliminaries," Yu Yangwei lamented.
"Couldn't clear the second round of preliminaries in all five." The portly Fengke shook his head. "With new powerhouses every year, we've never made it."
Xu Jingming nodded in response.
The preliminaries had two rounds. The first round of selection was fixed, and one had to fly to the main competition venue. The second round changed every year.
"He's here too?" Yu Yangwei looked at a figure in the distance in surprise.
Xu Jingming turned his head and couldn't help but have a grim expression.
It was a Xiao powerhouse, about three meters tall and covered in black fur.
"Lilu?" Xu Jingming naturally knew the other party.
In the inaugural tournament, only two members from the weaker species made it to the second round of the main competition. One was Xu Jingming, and the other was Lilu of the Xiaos.
"Lilu didn't participate in the subsequent tournaments either," Shadow said gravely. "He's probably confident enough to participate in the sixth tournament."
Xu Jingming and the others' gazes attracted Lilu's attention.
Lilu also looked over. When he saw Xu Jingming, his expression turned severe as he nodded slightly at the latter.
Xu Jingming nodded slightly.
I haven't seen him in 5,000 years, but Lilu's aura is even more unfathomable, Xu Jingming thought. From his appearance, Lilu's fur was all over his body back then. Now, his fur was much sparser, and all the fur on his head had fallen off, turning him bald.
"Human Jing Ming and Xiao Lilu are here?"
"Only the two of them entered the second round of the first tournament's main competition. Both of them are here for this competition."
"With their potential, they are probably gunning for first place."
Many high-dimensional lifeforms also noticed Xu Jingming and Lilu. The two of them were extremely renowned.
Suddenly—
The golden AI robot materialized out of thin air, as an invisible electromagnetic force subdued all the contenders. It grinned and announced, "Welcome contestants to the Myriad Species Tournament preliminaries. The rules stay the same as always: rely on your flying abilities to reach the main venue in the sky. The top 10,000 advance to the next round."
"The rules of the preliminaries have long been made public. I shall not repeat them."
"All contestants, please get ready. Countdown begins: 5… 4… 3… 2… 1! Begin!"
The moment the golden AI robot finished, the electromagnetic restraints vanished.
Instantly, over 500,000 contestants summoned their power and rocketed skyward.
Birds still dominated this first round, but weaker fliers slowed down to avoid the shockwaves from the front-runners, which could kill them.
Though many natives were at Level 50, they only joined to witness the other powerhouses in action. They just flew up once, then let gravity take over.
We're still far from true powerhouses, the natives sighed.
Whoosh!
Xu Jingming stomped the ground and shot into the air. He tapped the air, producing shockwaves to propel himself into third place among hundreds of thousands.
First was an immense bird moving at blinding speed.
Second, a minuscule creature that flew like a bullet.
Third, Xu Jingming.
An Ant? Xu Jingming glimpsed it clearly. The thing outpacing him was an Ant powerhouse, 30 centimeters tall, just bigger than his palm.
This made Xu Jingming's expression turn solemn. There are already Ants this mighty in just the sixth tournament? A super-small species like Ants have risen so quickly?
The Ant—Havering—eyed Xu Jingming flying below, his gaze icier. I'm way smaller, with far less drag, yet I'm only slightly faster than him?
Whoosh!
Xu Jingming noticed that the seventh-ranked figure was a thin, 1.5-meter Gray Elf. With his gray skin, pointy ears, and scrawny build, there was no mistaking him.
For a Gray Elf to move that fast, he has to be exceptionally strong.
As Xu Jingming flew on, he also watched the top 30 contenders outside the avian species. None were over nine meters tall.
Clearly from the preliminaries, this is a swan song for the powerful species, Xu thought.
Whoosh!
Having the arena stand at a height of 100,000 meters was nothing for Xu Jingming and the others. Xu Jingming didn't put in too much effort and arrived at the arena at a normal speed.
"Lord Jing Ming is the third into the arena," Shadow, Yu Yangwei and Fengke saw. However, they'd been eliminated in the first round, finishing outside the top 50,000.
The eliminated ones landed one after another.
The portly Fengke's eyes looked disheartened. "I gave it my all but couldn't even clear the first round. Now Ants, Bees, and other super-small species are in the main competition. I don't stand a chance."
"Nothing we can do," Yu Yangwei said, patting his shoulder. "Success isn't just about hard work, Fengke."
"Only half-step Third Realm powerhouses, Abyss Overlords or super-talented Eternals can leave this world now. How many Firstborn high-dimensional lifeforms can leave?" Yu Yangwei said. "Let's get drinks. They're on me."
"Let's go and get some drinks," Shadow urged.
The portly Fengke nodded and walked out with his companions.
…
In the arena.
Xu Jingming and the others were in round two of the preliminaries.
The temperature in the arena was insanely hot, the air shimmering. Xu Jingming and the others endured the torment of the extreme heat.
"Round two of the preliminaries tests your limits in high temperatures. The temperature will climb without limit until only 300 contestants remain."
Xu Jingming felt the terrifying heat seep into every fiber of his being. This level of temperature was still quite comfortable for him, like taking a hot shower.
However, many contestants on the field were already starting to crack.
"Give up." "I give up." "Give up."
Many contestants' bodies had turned lobster-red, on the verge of reaching their limit. They had no choice but to throw in the towel.
The stronger ones still had the luxury of checking out the competition.
There are quite a number of super-small species. Xu Jingming looked at the Ants, Bees, Demon Rats, and other extremely small contestants. From the looks of it, there are quite a number of super-small species that can enter the main competition.
Urgency seized Xu Jingming.
Doubtless, more super-small species would emerge in the subsequent tournament.
He had to clinch victory this year! Rank first, no matter what!
Finally, after over an hour in the high-temperature selection, only 300 contestants remained.
Whoosh.
The ghastly heat vanished in an instant, temperature normalized. The 300 contestants adapted their battered bodies, recuperating.
The AI's golden voice thundered across the arena: "Congratulations, contestants, on becoming entrants of this year's Myriad Species Tournament!"
