Virtual World.
Many evolvers appeared at the mountain tops, seriously contemplating the floating body fragment under the sky.
This fragment, from a Strongest One outside the realm, was weakened by the virtual world and became a 'training ground' for human civilization's seventh and eighth-rank evolvers.
Despite some hidden dangers during the comprehension process, many evolvers who had previously attempted it summarized their experiences, reducing the risks to a certain extent.
The hidden dangers were minor, but the benefits were numerous.
For example, it could temper the mind and will, and provide insights into countless demonic evolution paths within the body fragment.
These factors led to the semi-public nature of this virtual world. Any human evolver who met the strength and condition requirements could apply to enter, rather than just talented evolvers as before.
"Look, that's the Milky Way Star Lord."
"Yes, it's the Milky Way Star Lord."
"Wow, after watching so many videos of the Milky Way Star Lord, I finally see him in person."
Evolvers on other peaks looked at Lin Yuan, who was sitting cross-legged at the mountaintop, and discussed excitedly.
Lin Yuan's numerous achievements had spread across the five major star regions of human civilization, and countless evolvers were passionate and even worshipful towards this Milky Way Star Lord who continuously created miracles.
"If the Milky Way Star Lord is here comprehending, and I'm here comprehending too, doesn't that mean I've trained with the Milky Way Star Lord?"
"The Milky Way Star Lord is so strong, yet he's still so devoted to cultivation. I shouldn't continue to slack off."
Many evolvers exchanged quickly, their tone excited, and a few even felt motivated to train harder.
Lin Yuan had long sensed the gazes of other evolvers on the mountaintops but did not pay attention. His primary focus was on comprehending the demonic evolution paths within the body fragment.
The demonic evolution paths were named by the humanoid statue, Shen Ji, referring to the numerous evolution paths within the body fragment. Indeed, the evolution paths within that body were 'demonic'—none were perfect or complete, but the profundities contained within were undeniably real.
"You possess unrivaled insight and are comprehending an unknown body, understanding the 33,325th demonic evolution path."
"You possess unrivaled insight and are comprehending an unknown body, understanding the 33,326th demonic evolution path."
"You possess unrivaled insight and are comprehending an unknown body, understanding the 33,327th demonic evolution path."
Lin Yuan quickly comprehended. Other evolvers spent months or years to understand one demonic evolution path, while Lin Yuan only needed half an hour to fully comprehend it.
It's comprehending, not just understanding.
Unrivaled Insight depended on Lin Yuan's level. Initially, when he encountered this body fragment, he was only at the seventh rank and found it quite laborious to comprehend.
But now, as an eighth-rank invincible, just a step away from the ninth rank, his speed and efficiency in comprehension naturally improved greatly.
"The 33,333rd demonic evolution path."
Soon, Lin Yuan began to comprehend the final demonic evolution path.
"This demonic evolution path is about emotions."
Lin Yuan carefully felt it.
Every life has emotions, it's just a matter of degree.
Controlling emotions means controlling oneself, and possibly even those who can't control their own emotions and desires.
"Unexpectedly, emotions of life can be used this way?"
Lin Yuan was amazed. He had always focused on vast rules and hadn't noticed that the emotions from life itself could be so useful.
Human civilization had countless evolution paths related to emotions and desires, but none were as detailed and specific as this demonic evolution path.
"Emotions and desires are part of me, no need to discard them."
Lin Yuan quietly opened his eyes. Simultaneously, the demonic evolution path was fully comprehended.
At the moment Lin Yuan comprehended the 33,333rd demonic evolution path, a rumble occurred.
Deep in his soul, the 'nine-story black building' shaped Devil Jade Mark began to deepen in color, becoming more realistic, almost like a real 'nine-story black building' instead of just a mark.
The next moment, the mind-will pressure from the body fragment, and the murmurs in his ears, suddenly became clear, as if a low, hoarse male voice spoke:
"Comprehending 33,333 demonic evolution paths at the eighth-rank automatically makes you a core member of the Devil Jade Tower."
"Core member of the Devil Jade Tower!"
Lin Yuan's mind settled. Core members of the Devil Jade Tower held a status far above ordinary members, representing the true elite of the Tower.
In the heyday of the Devil Jade Tower, core members would be personally summoned by the Tower's owner. Even now, with the owner's disappearance, they could still receive the legacy secret arts left by the owner.
This is why Lin Yuan delayed stepping into the ninth rank, to comprehend 33,333 demonic evolution paths at the eighth rank and become a core member of the Devil Jade Tower.
Different levels of life have different standards for becoming a core member.
Lin Yuan had informed the Wisdom Goddess about comprehending 3,333 demonic evolution paths long ago, but no human evolver had become an ordinary member of the Devil Jade Tower yet. Was it because those ninth, tenth, or eleventh-rank evolvers were foolish? Of course not.
Anyone who reached that level of evolution was extraordinary. Even if their insight wasn't as great as Lin Yuan's, over time, they would have comprehended 3,333 demonic evolution paths.
But it was useless.
Higher-level evolvers had higher requirements for becoming ordinary members.
As for the Strongest Ones, the tests for joining the Devil Jade Tower disappeared with the Tower's owner.
In other words, even if the Strongest Ones comprehended all demonic evolution paths in the body fragment, they couldn't become ordinary members of the Devil Jade Tower.
"It's time to leave."
Lin Yuan got up and left the virtual world.
Milky Way Main Star.
Lin Yuan opened his eyes.
"Now, directly to the Devil Jade Space."
Lin Yuan directed a part of his consciousness, following the Devil Jade Mark, to the Devil Jade Space.
Becoming a core member of the Devil Jade Tower entitled him to one of the Tower's owner's legacy secret arts, located in the Devil Jade Space.
Amidst the misty clouds.
After arriving in the Devil Jade Space, Lin Yuan went straight towards the nine-story black building.
Soon.
Lin Yuan stood before the nine-story black building.
"You're here?"
The humanoid statue Shen Ji walked out, smiling at Lin Yuan.
"Hmm?"
Shen Ji looked at Lin Yuan for a while and suddenly his expression changed, as if seeing a ghost:
"You became a core member?"
Shen Ji couldn't believe it.
As the guardian of the nine-story black building, he could see every member's level—ordinary, core, and higher.
There were more than ten ways to become a core member of the Devil Jade Tower.
These methods had different focuses, but the most difficult was purely based on comprehension.
An eighth-rank lifeform becoming a core member required comprehending 33,333 demonic evolution paths.
Lin Yuan, at over two thousand years old, had comprehended the complete space rules and numerous cosmic powers, including a primordial-level cosmic power.
Such talent and potential had never been seen even during the Devil Jade Tower's prime.
Shen Ji never doubted Lin Yuan could pass the core member test based purely on comprehension, but this was too fast.
He had seen Lin Yuan's progress over the years in space rules, fusion rules, and more. How could he have time to comprehend so many demonic evolution paths?
Or was Lin Yuan's insight far beyond his imagination, needing very little time to comprehend these paths?
Shen Ji's shock was hard to calm.
Since Lin Yuan entered the Devil Jade Space, his emotional fluctuations had surpassed those of countless millennia.
"Just lucky," Lin Yuan smiled.
This is called luck? Shen Ji was speechless. If this was luck, then the top talents of the Devil Jade Tower's past must have all relied on luck too.
"Alright, let's not talk about this."
Shen Ji steadied himself and said, "Since you became a core member, by the rules, you can meet the owner and receive one of the owner's legacy secret arts."
"But the owner disappeared long ago, so you can't meet him."
Shen Ji looked at Lin Yuan, a bit regretful.
He could imagine how happy the Devil Jade Tower's owner would be to see such a monstrous talent like Lin Yuan.
"So, you can only receive one of the owner's legacy secret arts."
Shen Ji said.
"The Devil Jade Tower owner's legacy secret arts?"
Lin Yuan's eyes lit up.
The Devil Jade Tower owner was an extraordinary existence, likely stronger than the usual Strongest Ones. The legacy secret arts left by such a being couldn't be simple.
Lin Yuan had delayed becoming a core member at the eighth rank just for these legacy secret arts.
"Here are seven legacy secret arts, choose one."
Shen Ji waved his right hand.
A light curtain appeared before Lin Yuan.
One: Devil Jade Undying Body.
Body like devil jade, eternal and indestructible. Once perfected, it's unbreakable through countless tribulations.
Two: Soul Demon Bell.
A soul defense secret art that forms a bell on the soul's surface, absorbing soul attacks to temporarily enhance soul strength.
Three: Great Luo Combat Technique.
A killing secret art.
One by one, the legacy secret arts appeared before Lin Yuan.
The Devil Jade Tower owner's legacy secret arts were considerate, allowing seventh and eighth-rank lifeforms to try cultivating them.
There were no entry barriers. They were legacy secret arts, not evolution paths, meaning any being could cultivate them.
Moreover, each secret art, when perfected, had immense power. Especially the Devil Jade Undying Body, described as 'eternal and indestructible,' clearly formidable.
Unfortunately, Lin Yuan already had the blood rebirth divine ability, overlapping with this legacy secret art.
And to perfect this legacy secret art to 'eternal and indestructible' might require becoming a Strongest One.
"The seven legacy secret arts left by the owner have their strengths, covering offense, defense, survival, etc. Choose one."
Shen Ji looked at Lin Yuan.
"Which one should I choose?"
Lin Yuan hesitated.
He could rule out the defensive secret arts since he had Origin Essence Gold guarding his body, soul, and mind, maxing out his defense.
Against same-level evolvers, Lin Yuan could stand still without them breaking his defense.
With the blood rebirth divine ability, even if his defense was breached, he could instantly recover.
As for high-level evolvers, if Lin Yuan couldn't withstand them, an extra secret art wouldn't make a big difference.
No matter how strong a secret art, it depended on the user's strength.
Even a baby holding dragon-slaying techniques couldn't slay a real dragon.
Moreover, Lin Yuan had access to various secret arts from human civilization, though inferior to the Devil Jade Tower's owner's, they were usable.
Thus, his choice should prioritize what he currently lacked most.
He didn't lack defensive, survival, or offensive secret arts.
"I choose this one."
Lin Yuan decided.
"This legacy secret art?"
Shen Ji was slightly surprised.
"Illusion to Reality?"
Shen Ji's expression turned odd.
"Illusion to Reality" was one of the seven legacy secret arts, leaning towards support.
It allowed the physical body to freely switch between reality and illusion, or between energy and soul forms.
This legacy secret art could change the basic structure of life, involving higher-level essence.
But it seemed pointless.
Even if one cultivated this secret art, transforming from flesh to energy or vice versa, it wouldn't greatly enhance combat power.
It wasn't as impactful as choosing an offensive legacy secret art.
Shen Ji had predicted Lin Yuan's potential choices, but "Illusion to Reality" wasn't one of them, as it seemed less practical compared to the other six.
"Are you sure?" Shen Ji asked.
He hoped Lin Yuan would reconsider and not waste this opportunity.
The seven legacy secret arts, except for "Illusion to Reality," were top-tier in their fields.
Even after becoming a Strongest One, they would be greatly beneficial.
"Yes, this one." Lin Yuan said seriously.
Choosing this legacy secret art, Lin Yuan had thought it through.
For other strong beings, this secret art might not be very useful compared to the others.
But to Lin Yuan, it was the most suitable legacy secret art.
...
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