"Did he really pass?"
The humanoid statue, Shen Ji, glanced from the starting point of the third level of the Black Tower to where Lin Yuan now stood at the 'end' point and finally realized what had happened.
"How did he do it so quickly?"
Shen Ji found it hard to believe. He had anticipated that Lin Yuan had made significant progress before daring to challenge the third level again.
Unlike the first two levels, which tested a challenger's ability to withstand omnipresent pressure and allowed them to use that pressure to temper themselves, the third level tested their ability to occupy space layers. It was a strict requirement—either you could do it, or you couldn't.
So, Shen Ji was confident that Lin Yuan had made an important breakthrough before attempting the third level again. If his strength had remained the same, there was no reason for him to try again. But this breakthrough was astonishing.
Even though Shen Ji had experienced the peak periods of the Devil Jade Tower, he was shocked by Lin Yuan's speed in passing the level. He could confirm that Lin Yuan's mental essence was still at the ninth rank.
Yet, to pass the third level, the standard left by the Devil Jade Tower's owner required an advanced ninth-rank lifeform who had developed eight to nine million layers of space, or even a tenth-rank lifeform.
Ninth-rank beings who had developed nearly a 100M space layers might carefully maneuver through the layers to avoid the pervasive pressure, but Lin Yuan?
Shen Ji reviewed the footage, slowing down the moment Lin Yuan took his step. In the main space, Lin Yuan had simply taken a step, but in that instant, he had occupied countless space layers, controlling at least 500M layers simultaneously.
Because of this, Lin Yuan could easily cross from the starting point to the end of the third level.
"This monster," Shen Ji shook his head repeatedly.
Freakish. Absolutely freakish.
Had he not witnessed it himself, Shen Ji would never have believed that such a freakish talent could emerge from a mere universe.
Developing more than 500M space layers—Shen Ji had heard of it during the glorious days of the Devil Jade Tower—but how much time had passed since Lin Yuan reached the ninth rank?
Swish.
Shen Ji appeared at the 'end' of the third level. As the keeper of the nine-level Black Tower, he had the authority to appear on any level.
"Young one, you are the fastest ninth-rank being to pass the third level," Shen Ji managed a smile.
He limited his comparison to ninth-rank beings because those who had passed the third level also included tenth, eleventh, and even twelfth-rank beings.
"Would you like to try the fourth level?" Shen Ji suddenly asked.
For other ninth-rank beings, he wouldn't even consider asking this question after they passed the third level. The third level mostly targeted tenth-rank beings, with a few advanced ninth-rank beings capable of passing.
The fourth level was designed for peak tenth-rank and eleventh-rank beings, while the fifth level was for those who had comprehended the complete time rule, and the sixth level for those who had begun integrating time and space rules.
The seventh, eighth, and ninth levels were for twelfth-rank beings, or Supreme Beings.
The jump from the ninth to the tenth rank was a qualitative change. No matter how many space layers a ninth-rank being developed, they couldn't pass the fourth level because it tested something other than the control of space layers.
"Sure," Lin Yuan nodded, curious to see what the fourth level entailed.
Passing it would be great, but failing wouldn't be a loss.
Swish.
Lin Yuan appeared on the fourth level.
"This test is..." Lin Yuan's expression grew serious. "Time?"
With his current understanding of the time rule, he immediately noticed that different areas of the fourth level had varying time flows. Some areas were accelerated, some slowed, some paused, and in rare cases, time flowed backward.
"Let's see."
Lin Yuan observed for a while and then took his first step.
Outside the Black Tower, Shen Ji's expression changed slightly.
"This young one also has high attainments in the time rule?" Shen Ji was stunned. While ninth-rank beings could perceive time fluctuations, comprehending them was a different matter.
Generally, only tenth-rank beings started to grasp the time rule. Yet, Lin Yuan was stepping across regions of distorted time as if his understanding of the time rule was on par with peak tenth-rank beings.
"How did this monster cultivate?" Shen Ji wondered, puzzled by Lin Yuan's rapid progress even if he had access to places with exaggerated time flows.
After half an hour, Lin Yuan, looking serious, stepped past the final region where time flowed backward and reached the 'end' of the fourth level.
"I did it," Lin Yuan smiled.
Passing the fourth level was entirely due to the two main gods with time attributes from the world of gods. These allowed him to observe the essence of time rules in the world of gods, significantly advancing his understanding of time rules.
Although far from comprehending the complete time rule, compared to other ninth or even tenth-rank beings, Lin Yuan was ahead in the field of time rules.
"Want to try the fifth level?" Shen Ji reappeared.
"Sure," Lin Yuan nodded.
He didn't expect to pass the fifth level, especially since the fourth level had been a challenge. But it was worth a try.
Buzz.
Moments later, Lin Yuan voluntarily exited the fifth level.
"One must comprehend the complete time rule to pass the fifth level," Lin Yuan marveled. Even at the starting point, the time-reversing flow was daunting.
Shen Ji felt a bit relieved, having judged from Lin Yuan's display on the fourth level that he wouldn't pass the fifth. But it was reassuring to see that judgment confirmed.
"According to the rules left by the master, you can choose one treasure each from the third and fourth level treasure vaults," Shen Ji said after some thought. "However, you can choose to select just one item from the fifth level treasure vault instead."
"Of course, you can refuse and still pick two items from the third and fourth level vaults."
The higher the level, the more precious the treasures.
"I'll choose from the fifth level vault," Lin Yuan said without hesitation.
The fifth level required comprehending the complete time rule, and the corresponding vault likely held at least eleven-star treasures, possibly even top-tier eleven-star treasures like the World Tree.
A single top-tier eleven-star treasure was worth far more than several regular eleven-star treasures combined.
"Alright," Shen Ji nodded, waving his hand.
Three images appeared before him.
The first was a crystal-clear jade stone. Though it looked ordinary, its presence in the fifth level vault meant it was anything but.
"This jade contains a broken evolution path," Shen Ji smiled. "A broken Supreme evolution path."
"The ultimate existence of this path perished long ago."
"A Supreme evolution path?" Lin Yuan was shocked. Such a path was invaluable, driving many eleventh-rank beings mad. Even broken, it marked a road to the Supreme level. Restoring it would just be a matter of time and effort.
Lin Yuan felt that if the peak races of the universe knew about a broken Supreme evolution path, it could trigger a full-scale war.
"The second item is a special treasure, slightly stronger than ordinary eleventh-rank treasures."
Shen Ji turned to the second image, a gray spear. Though weathered, it emitted a chilling killing intent.
"Stronger than eleventh-rank treasures?" Lin Yuan's interest was piqued. Such a weapon could boost his combat power significantly.
On small and medium battlefields, those permanent spatial rifts were created not by Supreme Beings directly but by powerful tenth or eleventh-rank beings wielding Supreme weapons, delivering Supreme-level strikes.
In certain special periods, full-scale wars involving human civilization and other races had seen traces of tenth-rank beings even on small battlefields. So this gray spear, theoretically usable by Lin Yuan, would enhance his power even if he couldn't fully unleash its potential.
"The third item," Shen Ji looked at the final image, "is a microcosm, a completely independent and complete microcosm created by the master during a million-year seclusion."
The third image was a gray sphere, resembling the Chaos Crystal but much more profound.
"A microcosm? A completely independent microcosm?" Lin Yuan's eyes lit up. What did complete independence mean? In the primary universe, the inner worlds of eighth, ninth, tenth, and even eleventh-rank beings weren't truly independent. They relied on the primary universe, sharing its time rule.
To be truly independent, one had to merge time and space, transforming the inner world into an inner universe.
A truly independent world had its own time flow, unaffected by external factors.
"This microcosm allows you to deeply experience its rules once refined," Shen Ji explained.
In some ways, this microcosm surpassed the category of eleventh-rank treasures, requiring a Supreme Being to create, and not just any Supreme Being.
"You may choose one of these three items," Shen Ji looked at Lin Yuan.
"Choose one?"
Lin Yuan's thoughts raced. The first item, a broken Supreme evolution path, was tempting. If not for his Unrivaled Insight, he might have chosen it. But with plans to elevate the Martial Path evolution method to the Supreme level, the Supreme evolution path held less allure. He wouldn't abandon the Martial Path for a completely different path.
As for the second item, the gray spear stronger than eleventh-rank treasures, Lin Yuan dismissed it. He couldn't risk giving such a precious weapon to his avatars, and his main body was usually in safe locations, making it less useful.
"I choose the microcosm," Lin Yuan decided.
"Very well, take it," Shen Ji smiled, waving his hand.
The gray mist-enveloped microcosm flew to Lin Yuan.
Reaching out, Lin Yuan sensed its space, only a few hundred light-years across, but with complete time and space rules.
"Go and refine it quickly," Shen Ji smiled. "You will find it very beneficial."
"Okay," Lin Yuan nodded.
Before leaving the Devil Jade Space, Lin Yuan thought of something and asked, "Senior Shen Ji, have you heard of the 'Mysterious Emperor' or 'Yellow Emperor'?" (The names of these two are similar so MC is confused)
The origin of the Mysterious Secret Realm was unknown to the peak races' Supreme Beings, who only knew it wasn't from the current cosmic epoch.
Though Shen Ji wasn't a Supreme Being, he had served the mysterious owner of the Devil Jade Tower. His knowledge might include information about the Mysterious Secret Realm.
"'Yellow Emperor' 'Mysterious Emperor'?" Shen Ji was puzzled. After a moment of thought, he said, "You mean 'Mysterious Sovereign,' right?"
...
20 chapters ahead on patreon: patreon.com/David_Lord
Discord Server: https://discord.gg/hPxxHTeyFy
77