Within the upper echelons of human civilization, it was widely recognized that the Milky Way Star Lord had a strong chance of reaching the eleventh rank.
However, a strong chance was still just a possibility—after all, the Milky Way Star Lord had not yet reached the eleventh rank, nor even the tenth rank.
Given these circumstances, how could Deputy Tower Master Nalan, who had just ascended to the eleventh rank, show such regard for the Milky Way Star Lord?
The Black Star Lord and others were quietly astonished.
It was no secret that the Milky Way Star Lord was highly valued by the Strongest One, Xia Qin. But in human civilization, strength was everything. Even if someone was the offspring of a Strongest One, without significant achievements, they wouldn't be highly regarded by other evolvers.
Now that Deputy Tower Master Nalan had ascended to the eleventh rank, he had essentially reached the pinnacle of human civilization. He had no need to be overly concerned with the potential of the Milky Way Star Lord.
Even if everything went smoothly in the future, the Milky Way Star Lord would only be at the same level as him.
As for becoming a Strongest One? Outsiders merely believed that the Milky Way Star Lord had the potential to challenge that rank, but no one could guarantee that he would actually succeed.
As the Black Star Lord and Glazed Star Lord watched Lin Yuan chatting pleasantly with Deputy Tower Master Nalan, a thought crossed their minds.
For the Milky Way Star Lord to be so highly regarded by a newly ascended eleventh-rank evolver, there must be some secret they were unaware of.
On the other side, Deputy Tower Master Nalan secretly transmitted a message, "Milky Way Star Lord, if it weren't for you defeating me in that time rule sparring match, I wouldn't have broken through so quickly."
Deputy Tower Master Nalan was deeply grateful to Lin Yuan. His recent breakthrough was indeed closely tied to the Milky Way Star Lord.
Furthermore, that sparring match made Deputy Tower Master Nalan realize Lin Yuan's true potential.
To reach such a level of understanding in time rules while only at the ninth rank—what would the future hold for him?
While others might think that the Milky Way Star Lord had a strong chance of reaching the eleventh rank, Deputy Tower Master Nalan was convinced that, barring any unforeseen accidents, the Milky Way Star Lord was certain to ascend to the eleventh rank.
Moreover, even at the eleventh rank, the Milky Way Star Lord could swiftly rise to its peak.
Even within the eleventh rank, there were significant differences. Some eleventh-rank beings had not fully comprehended the time rules, while others not only mastered time rules but also merged them with space rules. Some even possessed special techniques that allowed them to resist the Strongest Ones.
"Even without me, with your foundation, you would have broken through soon enough," Lin Yuan replied immediately.
Deputy Tower Master Nalan's breakthrough was partly due to the motivation from Lin Yuan, but more importantly, it was because of his own deep foundation.
The latter was the primary reason.
"It's different," Deputy Tower Master Nalan shook his head.
With his pride, if he hadn't been defeated by someone at the ninth rank like Lin Yuan, he wouldn't have undergone such a shift in mindset.
"Regardless, I, Nalan, owe you a favor, Milky Way Star Lord. If you ever need anything, just say the word," Deputy Tower Master Nalan said solemnly.
A favor from an eleventh-rank being was priceless. Eleventh-rank beings had incredibly long lifespans, and after mastering time rules, they could achieve a form of alternative immortality. With such a favor, who in human civilization would dare to provoke Lin Yuan in the future?
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, other guests came to congratulate Deputy Tower Master Nalan.
"I'll let you attend to your guests," Lin Yuan said tactfully, then returned to his seat with the Black Star Lord and others.
"Milky Way Star Lord, you and Deputy Tower Master Nalan seem to have a good relationship?" The Black Star Lord couldn't help but ask.
Deputy Tower Master Nalan's attitude toward Lin Yuan had been so unusual that the Black Star Lord was intensely curious.
The Glazed Star Lord, sitting nearby, also looked at Lin Yuan with interest, wanting to understand why Deputy Tower Master Nalan treated him that way.
"Not bad. We've met a few times," Lin Yuan said after thinking for a moment. He had indeed only met Deputy Tower Master Nalan a few times.
"Just a few meetings, and he treats you like that?" The Black Star Lord shook his head in disbelief.
When interacting with someone like him, an A-level tenth rank, Deputy Tower Master Nalan had merely smiled and casually exchanged a few words. But with Lin Yuan, his enthusiasm was unmistakable—it was obvious even to a fool.
The difference in treatment was too stark.
"I really don't know why," Lin Yuan said, shaking his head. He didn't mention the sparring match he had with Deputy Tower Master Nalan.
Firstly, it concerned Deputy Tower Master Nalan's pride.
Secondly, Lin Yuan didn't want to expose the depth of his understanding of time rules.
Seeing Lin Yuan's response, the Black Star Lord didn't press further.
The conversation quickly shifted to another topic.
"A celebration for an eleventh-rank evolver—it's hard to say how many years it'll be before the next one in human civilization."
"There really are a lot of strong figures here today," the Black Star Lord remarked, chatting with Lin Yuan and others while surveying the guests around them.
Lin Yuan nodded in agreement.
Not long ago, his sister Lin Yi's wedding had also attracted many powerful figures.
But compared to this celebration, it was clearly on a different scale.
At least at the wedding, aside from the eleventh-rank elder of the Xia family, most eleventh-rank evolvers hadn't attended in person, sending representatives instead.
Now, however, many eleventh-rank evolvers, who were only known through legends, were present.
"Milky Way Star Lord," a white-haired elder approached with a smile.
"Vice President Luo," the Black Star Lord and others straightened up and immediately greeted him.
This white-haired elder, surnamed Luo, was the Vice President of the Biluo Association and an A-level tenth-rank evolver.
The Biluo Association was an incredibly powerful force within human civilization, second only to the nine Evolution Towers. The President of the Biluo Association was an eleventh-rank evolver, and a very powerful one at that.
"Vice President Luo," Lin Yuan greeted as well.
"I've long heard of the Milky Way Star Lord," Vice President Luo said kindly, "In this era of human civilization, your emergence has made it incredibly dazzling."
No matter what achievements Lin Yuan would reach in the future, the series of myths he had created at the eighth and ninth ranks would ensure his place in the history of human civilization, revered by countless future generations.
"I've just been lucky," Lin Yuan said with a slight shake of his head.
But Vice President Luo wasn't wrong. At least in this era, within the next hundred thousand years, Lin Yuan's fame would undoubtedly be among the greatest.
Elsewhere on the planet, guests were seated according to their status.
Anyone allowed to sit on the central planet was no ordinary person, with both status and background playing a role.
"Who is that, sitting with a group of A-level tenth-rank experts? Even the Vice President of the Biluo Association approached to chat with him?"
"You don't know who that is? That's the Milky Way Star Lord, the greatest genius in the history of human civilization. Today, we're celebrating Deputy Tower Master Nalan's advancement to the eleventh rank, but one day, it might be the Milky Way Star Lord's turn."
"But the Milky Way Star Lord is still at the ninth rank. The eleventh rank is still far away."
"I believe that with his talent, reaching the eleventh rank is just a matter of time."
"Indeed, the Milky Way Star Lord is so young, and with such achievements already, he's destined to stand at the pinnacle of human civilization."
Many guests were very optimistic about the Milky Way Star Lord, believing he had a great chance of reaching the eleventh rank. After all, how long had it been since the Milky Way Star Lord first rose to prominence?
"Milky Way Star Lord, if you ever have time, you're welcome to visit the Biluo Association. Our President has mentioned you several times," Vice President Luo said as he prepared to leave.
"I'll be sure to visit if I get the chance," Lin Yuan nodded.
The Biluo Association was most famous for controlling a medium-sized secret realm called the "Biluo Secret Realm."
This secret realm was home to some unique indigenous life forms and had many resources beneficial to evolvers.
Countless evolvers in human civilization longed to visit the Biluo Secret Realm, but very few had the opportunity.
Now, the Vice President of the Biluo Association had personally invited Lin Yuan, a clear sign that the President of the Biluo Association held the Milky Way Star Lord in high regard.
On the central planet, ninth-rank evolvers were common, and only tenth-rank evolvers drew much attention.
Just then, a commotion arose in the distance.
"The Patriarch of the Xuanyuan family has arrived."
The Black Star Lord and Glazed Star Lord looked up.
They saw a black-haired man, dressed in a white robe, calmly descend onto the planet.
"The Patriarch of the Xuanyuan family?"
"The patriarch of the Xuanyuan family?"
"One of the most powerful evolution families in human civilization?"
"And a family directly descended from one of the Strongest Ones of human civilization?"
Countless guests whispered among themselves. The few Strongest Ones in human civilization not only guarded the nine Evolution Towers but also had their own families.
The Xuanyuan family was one of the most powerful and deeply rooted families in human civilization, with their founder being one of the Strongest Ones.
"Patriarch Xuanyuan." Deputy Tower Master Nalan personally greeted him.
Patriarch Xuanyuan was himself an eleventh-rank evolver who had long comprehended the time rules. Combined with his power, even Deputy Tower Master Nalan didn't dare show any disregard.
Lin Yuan observed Patriarch Xuanyuan closely, as did the Black Star Lord.
It was rare to have the opportunity to closely observe an eleventh-rank being who had mastered the time rules.
After all, many eleventh-rank beings hadn't fully comprehended the time rules.
"When will I be able to master the time rules..." the Black Star Lord couldn't help but mutter.
As an A-level tenth rank, he was somewhat confident about reaching the eleventh rank, but mastering the time rules? That was far more uncertain.
Not every eleventh-rank being could fully comprehend the time rules.
Mastering the time rules had profound significance for any being, allowing them to slow down their own time flow and live much longer.
It's worth noting that for eleventh-rank beings aiming to reach the ultimate rank, timing and opportunity were crucial.
This era might not offer a chance to reach the ultimate rank, but if they lived long enough, the next era might.
So, living long enough meant infinite possibilities.
"Indeed," Lin Yuan echoed.
"Mastering the time rules is still quite difficult for us at the moment," the Glazed Star Lord added, speaking pragmatically.
"True," the Black Star Lord said after thinking for a while, nodding in agreement.
They weren't even at the eleventh rank yet—how could they talk about mastering the time rules?
They hadn't even learned to walk, and they were thinking about running? It seemed a bit too ambitious.
"Milky Way Star Lord, let's not overthink it," the Black Star Lord said, looking at Lin Yuan.
What he didn't know was that Lin Yuan, sitting beside him, was only one step away from fully mastering the time rules.
...
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