Lin Yuan's guess was spot on.
President Liao indeed came looking for him.
However, the purpose wasn't just to offer congratulations.
Lin Hao, with his keen sense, reacted swiftly when he heard that Director Liao had important matters to discuss with Lin Yuan.
He immediately stood up and led others out, leaving only Lin Yuan and Director Liao in the private room to talk.
Lin Hao, being the director's secretary, wasn't fazed even by the likes of Colonel Huo of the Yanming Military District.
The others naturally had no objections and left the room as well.
Inside the private room, Lin Yuan and President Liao sat facing each other.
"Mr. Lin, I've come to ask a favor," President Liao got straight to the point.
"Please speak," Lin Yuan replied seriously, unsure of President Liao's intentions.
He could guess why the Chu and Huo families had come, but President Liao was a different matter.
Despite being a second-class citizen and an evolver of notable rank, President Liao wasn't someone easily outclassed by Lin Yuan.
What could such a person possibly need from him?
"In another year, the Azure Wave Star Arena Battle will take place. I want to invite Mr. Lin to represent Eastern Peace City," President Liao stated gravely.
"Arena Battle?" Lin Yuan was slightly taken aback but quickly recalled what it was about.
The Arena Battle was a famous and intense event that captivated the entire Universal Human Alliance.
Evolvers would duel each other until a champion emerged, and the whole process was broadcasted live, thrilling countless spectators.
"Why choose me?" Lin Yuan asked casually.
"Because you are from Eastern Peace City, under a hundred years old, and meet the arena's conditions," President Liao explained.
"More importantly, your strength is near the second tier, already among the top in Eastern Peace City. If not you, who else would we send?"
Indeed, the arena battles on Azure Wave Star were a competition where evolvers from various cities would test their strengths against each other.
"To be honest, Mr. Lin, our city hasn't performed well in the past few battles. If it continues like this, I might have to resign as head of the Evolvers Association," President Liao said with a bitter smile.
The Evolvers Association was responsible for managing and nurturing all local evolvers.
If Eastern Peace City's evolvers couldn't achieve a decent rank in the arena, the chief would bear the primary responsibility.
It's a strategy by the Universal Human Alliance to spur the evolution potential, aiming for more powerful evolvers to emerge.
If a city could perform well, at least in the top three thousand, there would be official rewards.
"I see," Lin Yuan immediately understood.
"Mr. Lin, rest assured. For this battle, if you can secure a spot in the top five thousand, we'll provide you with fifty million Civilization Coins as a reward," President Liao quickly promised, fearing Lin Yuan might decline.
Historically, roughly ten thousand evolvers would participate in the battles.
Ranking in the top five thousand was considered average.
In the past, Eastern Peace City had often ended near the bottom, something that had worn down President Liao.
For this time, he wasn't even daring to hope for top three thousand rewards, just to avoid penalties.
"Fifty million?" Lin Yuan's curiosity was piqued.
Who wouldn't want more money, especially when he was in dire need of it? High-grade nutrient solutions alone were a significant demand.
After the first traversal, Lin Yuan had needed twenty-one bottles just to restore his full strength.
Who knew how many more bottles would be needed after the next traversal? And as his strength grew, mere high-grade nutrient solutions might not suffice; he'd probably need even more restricted resources, all of which required money.
"If I had fifty million coming in, the financial pressure I'd face in the coming years would be greatly reduced," he thought.
"Alright, I'll consider it," Lin Yuan nodded after some thought.
"No problem," President Liao replied, unworried.
With a year left before the battles began, there was plenty of time for Lin Yuan to decide.
Outside the private room, a large group of people waited in nervous speculation.
"Shoucheng, your son's future is limitless," Lin Hao sighed, glancing at Lin Shoucheng's anxious face.
At these words, those relatives around showed complex expressions.
Many had initially felt jealous of Lin Yuan, but those feelings had long dissipated.
When the gap between two sides becomes insurmountable, envy and resentment become hard to sustain.
Now, Lin Yuan was such an example.
Even the esteemed head of the Evolvers Association had personally come to discuss matters with him.
Anyone with common sense could understand the significance of this.
"Foolish child, can you still stand here with a straight face?" Lin Hao cast a glance at his son, feeling a surge of anger.
If not for Lin Yan's last words during the meeting, his initial offer to transfer his position to Lin Yuan would have earned significant favor.
Now, because of Lin Yan, any favor gained would be significantly diminished.
"Father..."
Lin Yan mumbled, head hung low.
He hadn't anticipated Lin Yuan would wield such influence, commanding attention from key figures in commerce, the military, and the Evolvers Association.
Half an hour later, Lin Yuan and President Liao emerged from the private room.
After bidding farewell, the Chu and Huo families also took their leave.
Recognizing their place as outsiders, after meeting Lin Yuan, they felt it was time to depart.
Once they left, the Lin family's banquet resumed.
Yet, no one could fully engage, their hearts weighed with complex emotions, casting Lin Yuan in awe and bewilderment.
An hour later, the Lin family banquet concluded.
Many relatives hesitated but failed to muster the courage to approach Lin Yuan.
"Xiao Yuan, what's going on?" Lin Yuan's mother, Lu Qiong, finally asked when they returned home.
Her son had certainly made a great impression during the family banquet, but now Lu Qiong felt anxious about what had transpired.
"Mom, don't worry," Lin Yuan reassured gently.
"During the last evolver registration, I was classified as Rank 1, Level 12."
"Rank 1, Level 12?" Lu Qiong almost felt she was dreaming.
She had never seen an evolver, let alone one at such a high level.
"My son, a Level 12 evolver?" Lin Shoucheng was equally stunned.
And so, time passed quickly.
In what felt like no time, more than half a year had gone by.
In Water Moon District, House Number 32, in the underground training arena, Lin Yuan sat cross-legged.
Suddenly, sensing something, his mind focused deeply on the innermost parts of his consciousness.
There, the grand and majestic Gate of Myriad Realms blazed brightly along its edges, fully illuminated.