As Li Wen cleared the 4th Layer.
Ling Xuzi, Time Shadow, Illusory, and the others had already started a new slaughter on the 5th Layer.
Their names were high on the leaderboard, their progress bars advancing steadily.
The spectators from the Alka Empire outside noticed that Li Wen had been on the 4th Layer for significantly longer than the top-tier contestants.
They saw the "4th Layer" tag next to his name stubbornly remain, not yet changing to "5th Layer."
Meanwhile, Ling Xuzi and the others were already on the 5th Layer, even starting to push for more progress.
The excitement that had surged when he’d instantly cleared the first three layers and broken into the top hundred couldn’t help but wane slightly, a faint, almost imperceptible sense of disappointment creeping into their hearts.
"Sigh, as expected... the 4th Layer is a real watershed. After all, Li Wen has been cultivating for too short a time. His foundation of raw power is still a bit lacking."
"Yeah, it’s already amazing that he could rush to the 4th Layer so quickly! In the past, it was hard for anyone from Alka to even make it into the top thousand!"
"Right, right! Li Wen is already doing great! He’s still in the top hundred! Look, he cleared it! He’s on the 5th Layer now!"
The disappointment was momentary. The instant they saw Li Wen’s name finally jump from the 4th Layer to the 5th Layer, his rank leaping into the top fifty, the flames of hope in the hearts of the Alka spectators immediately began to burn fiercely once more.
Their eyes were glued to that name.
...
At the same time.
In another space on the 3rd Layer of the Slaughterhouse.
Blood Slaughter Barton, drenched in blood, had just shattered the core of the last mechanical warrior with his crimson longsword.
The enemies on the 3rd Layer had already forced him to expend some effort to clear the field.
A flash of white light, and he stepped into the space of the 4th Layer.
For the first time during the trial, Barton ignored the countdown and the impending wave of enemies, opening the holographic leaderboard instead.
He wanted to see his current position.
"487th place..." Barton’s gaze swept over his own name and rank, a look of satisfaction appearing on his face.
To break into the top five hundred among tens of millions of geniuses was an achievement to be proud of.
It also matched his own assessment of his combat standing within the entire tournament zone.
His gaze habitually drifted upward, locking onto the very top.
First Place: Ling Xuzi (Celestial Vault Divine Country) - 6th Layer (15% progress)
Second Place: Time Shadow (Chrono Sanctum) - 5th Layer (92% progress)
Third Place: Illusory (Mimeng Dynasty) - 5th Layer (89% progress)
...
His gaze continued down, searching the upper section of the list for familiar names.
Suddenly, his pupils constricted, and his breath caught in his throat.
Li Wen (Alka Empire) - 5th Layer (0% progress), Current Rank: 49th!
"For... forty-ninth place? The 5th Layer?!" Barton’s hand, holding the blood-red blade, clenched unconsciously.
On his face, which had long been a mask of calm, an expression of near-uncontrollable shock appeared for the first time.
"How... How is this possible!"
’In the first two trials, the Enlightenment Tower and the Solitude Stairway, Li Wen’s monstrous comprehension and tenacious will had placed him ahead of me. While I was surprised, I could understand it. After all, those trials valued the upper limits of one’s talent more.’
’But this is the Slaughterhouse! This is a real battlefield, with no room for tricks or shortcuts!’
’It’s a direct clash of power, technique, Law application, and combat instinct.’
’The rankings are the most direct reflection of combat strength.’
’Li Wen’s name appearing on the 5th Layer, ranked forty-ninth... this could only mean one thing. This person, who had been inferior to me in actual combat just six months ago... his true combat power had already left me—the publicly acknowledged number one combatant from the Alka Empire in this generation—far, far behind.’
An indescribable, complex mix of emotions churned in Barton’s chest.
There was disbelief, a powerful sense of shock, and even a hint of something he was unwilling to admit to himself... a feeling of defeat.
He snapped his head up, his gaze seeming to want to pierce through the spatial barrier and see into the 5th Layer.
...
"49! Rank 49! Li Wen is on the 5th Layer!"
"My god! The top fifty! Someone from Alka made it into the top fifty of the Slaughterhouse!"
"Barton made it into the top five hundred too! But... but Li Wen... he’s rushed so far ahead!"
"Hahaha! Who cares! Li Wen is awesome! Long live Alka!"
In the Alka Empire’s spectator area outside, the moment Li Wen’s rank locked in at 49th and showed him entering the 5th Layer, the crowd went completely wild.
Their previous anxiety and disappointment were instantly tossed to the Nine Heavens, replaced by a deafening tide of cheers and ecstatic joy.
Countless Alkans embraced each other in excitement. Never before had they felt so proud and elated.
Top fifty in the Slaughterhouse!
This rank was an unprecedented height for the Alka Empire in all the years they had participated in the Universal Genius Tournament.
...
Slaughterhouse, 5th Layer.
The white light faded, and Li Wen’s figure appeared in the center of a vast, empty space.
The instant he landed, light and shadow twisted all around him, and hundreds of figures exuding powerful auras instantly solidified.
HUM!
Li Wen’s Primordial Spirit sense immediately spread out, encompassing the entire space of the 5th Layer in an instant.
Compared to the 4th Layer, the auras of the enemies here were more condensed and fierce. Their energy fluctuations were almost all at the mid-stage Tier One Star Lord level.
Among them, a dozen or so auras faintly touched the threshold of a Tier Two Star Lord.
There were even a few Mechanical Race warriors mixed in, gleaming with a cold metallic light and built with intricate precision.
’To instantly kill all the enemies and clear the 5th Layer, you’d probably need the power of at least a Tier Three Star Lord. But just to pass, a mid-stage Tier Two Star Lord should be enough.’
Li Wen quickly made his assessment, his eyes as sharp as blades.