With the Wisdom Goddess's reminder, the observation division gradually lifted the alert.
The relaxed staff couldn't help but discuss in low voices.
"The Wisdom Goddess said that the energy fluctuation in that star domain was caused by an evolver breaking through to the ninth rank?"
"A breakthrough to the ninth rank causing such a big commotion?"
Many staff members were curious, as they had never seen an evolver break through to the ninth rank.
But they vaguely sensed something was off. Even if an eighth-rank peak evolver fully fused their rules, their internal world would be at most a few million miles in diameter.
Adding the body, soul, and mind-will to that, even if all aspects underwent 'qualitative change' during the breakthrough, the energy fluctuation would reach at most ten times or a hundred times, equivalent to seven or eight stars.
But the energy fluctuation they observed just now affected over ten light-years. Even if a hundred or a thousand eighth-rank evolvers broke through to the ninth rank simultaneously, it wouldn't cause such a wide-ranging fluctuation, right?
"An eighth-rank breakthrough to the ninth rank shouldn't have such a big impact."
"But since the Wisdom Goddess said so, there must be a reason."
Though many staff members didn't understand, they didn't doubt the Wisdom Goddess.
"Who do you think this eighth-rank evolver breaking through to the ninth rank is?"
"It's hard to guess. Our human civilization has many eighth-rank peak evolvers. Many of them travel through different regions of the universe seeking breakthroughs, so it could happen anywhere."
"Regardless, our human civilization has gained another ninth-rank evolver. Judging by the magnitude of their breakthrough, it definitely isn't an ordinary ninth rank. Eternal glory to humanity!"
The staff members were excited. Although they weren't the ones breaking through, being part of human civilization made them proud, as a stronger civilization meant a better life for them.
The competition among the myriad races in the cosmic starry sky is cruel. If a race isn't strong, its members often face dire fates.
For example, rare special lifeforms are often captured for their blood essence to make bloodline potions.
Is this because those special lifeforms are willing to sacrifice themselves?
Of course not.
It's because they are too weak.
Here, weak is relative to human civilization as a whole.
Special lifeforms are usually very powerful individually, starting on par with human geniuses.
Compared to the discussions among the staff, team leader Wang Xin was much calmer.
"The Milky Way Star Domain..."
For some reason, Wang Xin immediately thought of the Milky Way Star Lord who had created countless miracles.
Although the outside world believed that the Milky Way Star Lord would almost certainly step into the ninth rank, they thought it would take at least another hundred years.
The later stages of rule fusion are not easy to pass through. The Milky Way Star Lord comprehended the complete space rules, so fusing the rules should be even more difficult.
After all, controlling partial space rules for fusion is less challenging than fusing complete space rules.
But Wang Xin had a strange intuition that the evolver who broke through to the ninth rank, as mentioned by the Wisdom Goddess, was the Milky Way Star Lord.
Because the Milky Way Star Lord had created so many miracles, breaking through to the ninth rank within a century seemed normal.
"Every human civilization's ninth-rank evolver announces their breakthrough to deter the myriad races, showcasing their foundation. There's no need to hide."
"Whether it's the Milky Way Star Lord or not, we'll know from the announcement soon."
Wang Xin thought silently, a hint of expectation on his face.
Desolate Starry Sky.
Lin Yuan was still sensing his changes.
The leap from the eighth rank to the ninth rank was a major transition. His internal world became more substantial and filled, generating multiple spatial layers, and his life's essence was also elevated.
"Now, I can vaguely sense the flow of time."
Lin Yuan closed his eyes slightly. At the ninth rank, his essence was strong enough to perceive subtle time fluctuations.
Time, one of the universe's foundational rules, is more elusive and mysterious compared to space rules.
Lifeforms below the ninth rank can't sense time rules, let alone comprehend them.
With Unrivaled Insight, Lin Yuan could forcefully comprehend some time-related evolution paths, but that would be too laborious.
"If I comprehend time rules to a certain extent, controlling the time flow on my body, making a thousand years outside pass in a year or ten years inside, is that another form of extending lifespan?"
Lin Yuan pondered.
This explains why beings who comprehend time rules, though not Strongest Ones, can achieve a form of 'eternity'.
Of course, this 'eternity' is relative. No matter how much they control the time flow, they will eventually exhaust their lifespan.
"Training at the ninth rank mainly involves two aspects."
"One is developing multiple spatial layers in the internal world, which is the foundation of a ninth-rank powerhouse's combat strength. The various stages of ninth-rank cultivation are named after this."
Lin Yuan's thoughts expanded.
The ninth rank has five stages.
Ten-layer realm.
Ten-thousand-layer realm.
Hundred-thousand-layer realm.
Million-layer realm.
Ten-million-layer realm.
These layers refer to the number of spatial layers in the internal world.
Ten-layer means ten spatial layers.
Ten-thousand-layer means ten thousand spatial layers.
And so on, ten-million-layer means ten million spatial layers.
The spatial layers represent the depth of the internal world's foundation, and the internal world is the evolver's essence.
The stronger the internal world, the stronger the world power, enhancing the nurturing effect on the evolver's body, soul, and mind-will.
"My internal world's spatial layers are about thirty-nine thousand, so I'm at the ninth-rank ten-thousand-layer realm? And not weak within this realm?"
Lin Yuan smiled.
Newly advanced ninth-rank evolvers usually develop just a few spatial layers, not even reaching the ten-layer realm.
"No wonder it's said that invincible eighth-rank evolvers, after breaking through to the ninth rank, progress quickly. Cosmic power greatly aids in developing spatial layers."
Lin Yuan comprehended dozens of ordinary cosmic powers, more than ten advanced cosmic powers, and one primordial-level cosmic power.
Just entering the ninth rank, he developed nearly forty thousand spatial layers.
This alone set him ahead of newly advanced ninth-rank evolvers by tens or hundreds of thousands of years of cultivation.
"The key is that cosmic power's effect on developing spatial layers isn't one-time but continuous."
Lin Yuan sensed this again, concluding that it would always be easier for him to develop spatial layers compared to other ninth-rank evolvers.
"The second aspect of ninth-rank cultivation is comprehending time rules."
"But this isn't very impactful, at least not before reaching the ten-million-layer realm."
Lin Yuan thought.
Ninth-rank evolvers, even if they can sense time rules, can only barely do so, making it difficult to even get started.
"Almost done."
"Time to go back."
Lin Yuan finished sensing his changes and disappeared, returning to the Milky Way Main Star.
Milky Way Main Star.
Chaos reigned.
Even the Central Star Region's observation division detected the A-level energy fluctuation in the Milky Way Star Domain.
As the core of the Milky Way Star Domain, the Milky Way Main Star naturally detected it too.
Compared to the Central Star Region's observation division, the evolvers on the Milky Way Main Star felt it more concretely, more detailedly.
And more terrifyingly.
In the face of such massive energy fluctuations, even powerful eighth-rank evolvers felt as fragile as dust.
"What's going on?"
"How can there be such a powerful energy fluctuation?"
The eighth-rank alien leaders, Red Skin and Green Eyes, frowned. With experience managing the Red Kun Main Star, they had been diligently managing the Milky Way Main Star for Lin Yuan.
Discovering such an event in the Milky Way Star Domain, they immediately took it seriously.
"Not sure."
"However, the energy fluctuation erupted in the desolate area of the star domain, with no immediate losses."
Chun Bo and Jia Li shook their heads, feeling uneasy.
They predicted many possibilities, including an alien invasion.
If that were true, given the level of the energy fluctuation, it would involve at least ninth-rank aliens, no, at least dozens of ninth-rank aliens working together.
Oh, my.
Dozens of ninth-rank aliens?
Many eighth-rank evolvers had never seen so many ninth-rank powerhouses in their lifetimes.
"Have you reported this to the Star Lord?"
Chun Bo steadied himself and asked immediately.
Whether it was an alien invasion or not, this matter should first be reported to Lin Yuan. He was the pillar of the Milky Way Main Star and the entire Milky Way Star Domain.
"I did."
"The Star Lord hasn't replied."
Red Skin hesitated.
"No reply?"
Jia Li was puzzled, then spoke sternly, "Contact him again."
At that moment.
A figure appeared in the hall.
"No need to worry."
Lin Yuan glanced at the crowd, speaking warmly.
Breaking through to the ninth rank had put him in a good mood, making his tone softer.
"Star Lord."
"Star Lord, you're here."
All the evolvers in the hall felt their anxious hearts calm down quickly.
"Star Lord."
Mo Li and Wu Lan were equally excited to see Lin Yuan.
They had been on the Milky Way Main Star for some time but hadn't met Lin Yuan yet.
"Star Lord, you said no need to worry?" Chun Bo asked tentatively after a moment.
The others immediately perked up their ears.
The energy fluctuation was so massive and occurred in the Milky Way Star Domain. How could they not worry?
"The energy fluctuation was caused by my breakthrough to the ninth rank. It only affected the desolate area and won't impact life planets or resource planets."
Lin Yuan said calmly.
He had carefully chosen the breakthrough star region to minimize the impact of his breakthrough.
"So it was the Star Lord's doing..."
Chun Bo nodded, then realized something was wrong, his voice trembling, "Star Lord, what did you say? Breakthrough to the ninth rank?"
The others were equally stunned, looking at Lin Yuan in shock.
A breakthrough to the ninth rank?
"Yes."
Lin Yuan nodded.
His breakthrough to the ninth rank would be publicly announced by human civilization soon, to deter the myriad races. There was no need to keep it a secret.
Why not keep it hidden as a trump card?
Human civilization indeed secretly nurtured evolvers, but these evolvers were unknown from the first rank.
As the strongest talent of his generation in human civilization, Lin Yuan had no need to hide.
Human civilization isn't a weak race that needs to bide its time. As one of the strongest races in the cosmic starry sky, other races already feared them.
The more monstrous human civilization's talents were, the greater the deterrence to other races.
"The Star Lord has reached the ninth rank?"
Red Skin and Green Eyes were stunned.
They had once been given to Lin Yuan by the Red Kun Star Lord as reliable subordinates.
From the prosperous Red Kun Star Domain to the barren Milky Way Star Domain, from the invincible eighth-rank Red Kun Star Lord to the newly advanced eighth-rank Milky Way Star Lord.
Red Skin and Green Eyes, though not daring to have other thoughts, felt a sense of disparity.
But now?
Lin Yuan had reached the ninth rank?
Surpassing their former master, the Red Kun Star Lord?
"Star Lord..."
Mo Li was bewildered.
When he was selected into the Thirteenth Mountain by the Thirteenth Peak Lord as a Crimson Mark tester.
Mo Li had been overjoyed because his family's analysis suggested that the Thirteenth Peak Lord of the Red Kun Lineage had great potential.
Joining the Thirteenth Mountain was like holding onto a future powerful ally.
But now?
The future came too quickly!!
And this ally was too powerful!!
The ninth rank.
How long had it been?
Already reached the ninth rank?
Mo Li swallowed, suddenly feeling anxious.
Could he really hold onto this falling surprise from the sky?
"Congratulations to the Star Lord for reaching the ninth rank."
Wu Lan was the first to react, mainly because she didn't fully understand the significance and impact of Lin Yuan reaching the ninth rank.
Ignorance is bliss isn't without reason.
"Congratulations to the Star Lord for reaching the ninth rank."
The others quickly regained their composure and congratulated in unison.
"Rise."
Lin Yuan waved his hand casually.
"Star Lord," Jia Li cautiously said, "I heard that ninth-rank evolvers can merge with the grand universe. Is that true?"
Even without personal experience, they've seen it in videos.
Human civilization's virtual world has many videos introducing ninth-rank evolvers.
"Merging with the grand universe?"
Lin Yuan smiled, "It's just a method of integrating deeper into spatial layers."
Ninth-rank evolvers' internal worlds generate multiple spatial layers, allowing them to explore deeper into the main universe's spatial layers.
Using the spatial layers of the internal world to resonate with those of the main universe, they can integrate into it. This is what the outside world refers to as ninth-rank evolvers merging with the grand universe.
In this state, unless the spatial layer they're in is locked, any attack from the outside is useless.
Physical attacks.
Soul attacks.
Even more mystical attacks.
If they aren't in the same spatial layer, they can't be touched, let alone attacked.
This merging with the grand universe is a common method used by ninth-rank evolvers.
For evolvers below the eighth rank, battles are straightforward comparisons of attack strength.
For ninth-rank and stronger evolvers, the battles are about finding the opponent's spatial layer.
...
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