In the cold expanse of the starry sky, the Crimson Leviathan Star Lord showed a trace of surprise.
As a figure of Star Lord rank, a level surpassing the sixth tier, such emotions were rare for him.
"This tournament has produced quite a number of geniuses?"
The competition screen in front of the Crimson Leviathan Star Lord suddenly halted, then split into over a hundred screens, each displaying different tournament videos.
These screens corresponded to over a hundred evolver contestants.
These individuals were what the Crimson Leviathan Star Lord referred to as 'geniuses.'
The Dawn Star System, one of the eight star systems within the Crimson Leviathan Star Domain, boasted twelve thousand life-bearing planets.
Each of these planets hosted tournaments, distinguishing their champions.
From such an immense pool of evolvers, the Crimson Leviathan Star Lord picked only a handful, meticulously selecting each from trillions.
The Crimson Leviathan Star Lord's gaze lingered on the first three screens.
These showcased a silver-haired woman, a man with a third eye on his forehead, and a burly man wielding a giant hammer.
"Spatial talent... quite a promising candidate," the Crimson Leviathan Star Lord said, nodding slightly as he watched the silver-haired woman's battle video.
"A Three-Eyed Tribe member?" he commented, glancing at the man with three eyes.
The Three-Eyed Tribe, a rare strain of the human race, was a lineage so scarce that they couldn't form stable family lineages, as their powers awakened randomly and unpredictably.
Despite their rarity, the Three-Eyed Tribe had incredibly potent talents.
It was said their third eye could perceive the laws of the cosmos and deliver blows beyond their usual power.
"Mastery of the Laws of Strength... advancing to the sixth tier should be no issue," he remarked, looking at the rugged hammer-wielding man.
In past tournaments, having even one such individual was considered lucky, but there were three this time, no wonder the Crimson Leviathan Star Lord was surprised.
After viewing these top three contestants, the Crimson Leviathan Star Lord shifted his gaze to the next screens, stopping briefly at the sixty-eighth, where Lin Yuan appeared.
"Two extreme rule attributes... a difficult path ahead."
The Crimson Leviathan Star Lord made a brief comment and paid no further attention.
The path may be arduous, but only for those below the sixth tier.
To his grand eyes, the path was commonplace.
"With so many talents in this tournament, it's time to open the 'Seven Star Caves' challenge."
After a moment's thought, he waved his hand, declaring, "Award the top three evolvers with Crimson Marks, the next one hundred and fifteen with Gold Marks, and the top ten from each planet with Silver Marks."
"They shall all enter the 'Seven Star Caves.'"
At the manor in the Central Continent.
Lin Yuan finished his practice and was about to connect to the virtual world to duel with Fang Qing to study the 'Ancient God' evolution path, when a message popped up before him.
“You are about to enter the ‘Seven Star Caves’ realm.”
“Please prepare yourself.”
“543…”
The countdown began.
Lin Yuan was puzzled.
It was the first time he encountered such a situation where he would be forcibly pulled into something within the virtual world without consent and with no option to refuse.
Soon the countdown ended.
The surroundings changed, and Lin Yuan found himself in a massive White Jade Plaza.
He could only see a few meters around him, beyond which was shrouded in layers of mist.
“Please adjust your appearance and physique.”
A mechanical voice echoed in his ears.
“Is this to hide identities?” Lin Yuan thought, adjusting his features to give himself a colder aura.
Once Lin Yuan finished, the mist around him suddenly dispersed, revealing a plaza filled with millions of evolvers.
They varied in aura but were at least of the third tier, with many even reaching the fourth tier.
“The marks on their faces?”
Lin Yuan noticed a silver mark on each evolver's side of the face.
“Why is mine gold?”
Touching his own side, Lin Yuan couldn’t see it, but could sense it, telling him that his mark was different.
Glancing around the plaza, he began suspecting the purpose of the Seven Star Caves.
“They probably know something.”
Near him, three evolvers were whispering to each other.
Lin Yuan approached them.
The three noticed him immediately, and upon seeing the golden mark on his face, their expressions turned to fear.
“Honored Gold Mark Lord,” the leading one of the three slightly bowed toward Lin Yuan before he even arrived.
“Gold Mark Lord?” Lin Yuan remained stoic.
It seems ‘Gold Mark’ referred to the mark on his face, implying it was superior to the Silver Mark, a fact evident from the three’s deferential demeanor.
“Hmm,” Lin Yuan responded casually.
“We hail from ‘Ice Sea Star.’ Which star does the Gold Mark Lord come from?”
“Moon Spirit Star,” Lin Yuan replied nonchalantly.
Moon Spirit Star, a high-level life-bearing planet in the Dawn Star System, was also where Lin Yuan had bought the 'Primordial Force' evolution path.
“Moon Spirit Star, indeed a planet of formidable strength.”
“No wonder it produced a Gold Mark Lord this tournament!”
“Surely, the Gold Mark Lord will pass the Seven Star Caves trial.”
Through the flattery of the three evolvers, Lin Yuan understood the purpose behind the Seven Star Caves world.
“A trial by the Crimson Leviathan Star Lord?”
Lin Yuan thought to himself.
He had anticipated Crimson Leviathan Star Lord’s attention during the tournament’s latter stages.
Even the Goddess of Wisdom subtly urged him to seize the opportunity.
During the global top ten competition, Lin Yuan revealed his fourth-tier strength to showcase his talent.
Originally, he thought he might receive a reward or two from the Crimson Leviathan Star Lord.
“The Seven Star Caves World is a virtual world specifically created by the Crimson Leviathan Star Lord to test talents. Passing through all seven star caves grants the right to join the Crimson Lineage. “Of course, before entering this world, the Crimson Leviathan Star Lord grants evolvers ‘Crimson Marks,’ ‘Gold Marks,’ and ‘Silver Marks’ based on their tournament performance.
Crimson Marks signify limitless potential, future sixth-tier seeds.
“Gold Marks, while not as esteemed as Crimson Marks, denote extraordinary talents, scarce even in a star domain, with high prospects of reaching the sixth tier. “As for Silver Marks, they are granted to the top ten of each planet’s tournament contenders.
While these silver-marked evolvers are 'stars' on their own planets, here they are rather ordinary compared to everyone else.”
“The Crimson Lineage,”Lin Yuan was slightly excited.
Without a doubt, the Crimson Lineage was the strongest force in the entire Crimson Leviathan Star Domain, and the Crimson Leviathan Star Lord himself was a being beyond the 'Falling Star Level.' If Lin Yuan could enter such a power, it would significantly benefit his growth, providing immense safety for a long time.
Moreover, if he could receive personal guidance from an entity like the Crimson Leviathan Star Lord, its effects would far exceed his own contemplation. Heaven-defying comprehension was especially adept in this regard.
“But how to pass through the seven star caves...”
Lin Yuan pondered. He needed to know the contents of each trial, like the method of passing through. Knowing these details in advance would give an advantage.
Although Lin Yuan had stepped into the fourth tier and begun understanding various laws, he didn’t underestimate other evolvers. He wasn’t worried about fellow Gold Marked ones, but above Gold, there was Crimson. The Crimson Leviathan Star Lord had deemed him Gold, believing he hadn’t reached Crimson standard yet.
Meaning, the Crimson Marked were stronger. While Lin Yuan thought, a grand phantom appeared above the massive white jade plaza. “Twenty-four hours from now, the Seven Star Caves trial will officially commence."
“Friendly reminder, the trial consists of seven stages.
Successfully passing through all seven star caves will lead to success.”
“Finally, the trial process must not be disclosed; violation will lead to punishment from the Universal Human Alliance and the Star Lord.”
With those words, the grand phantom vanished.
“Don’t disclose the trial process?”
Lin Yuan frowned slightly. They were restricted, and previous participants had likely faced the same rule. This meant acquiring trial intelligence would be much harder.
As information became more valuable due to its scarcity, it became even more challenging to obtain relevant details. Perhaps high-status evolvers knew the trial contents, but they wouldn’t reveal it to Lin Yuan without reason.
“Hello, I come from Morning Star,”a short-haired man with a golden mark like Lin Yuan approached.
“Morning Star?”
Lin Yuan looked at him. Morning Star, the main star of the Dawn Star System, was the most prosperous area in the system, with an abundance of high-tier evolvers.
“Moon Spirit Star,”Lin Yuan nodded.
“Interested in exchanging information?”the short-haired man asked quietly.
As an evolver recognized with a Gold Mark, touching origin rules, they undoubtedly were rare talents likely supported by a powerful group. While the Seven Star Caves trial was forbidden to leak outside, large powers had ways to skirt around such rules, given enough resources.
“You first,”Lin Yuan replied, hoping to gain information without giving away anything himself, counting on the other’s inability to hold him accountable.
“Which stage is hardest?”the short-haired man probed first.
“Which?”
Lin Yuan feigned calm, unaware of the answer.
“Seventh Stage,”Lin Yuan replied confidently, based on experience where the last stage often was the hardest.
“You’re lying,”the short-haired man said before walking away.
“Hmm,”Lin Yuan at least gathered that it wasn’t the seventh stage.
“Is the first stage the hardest?”
Lin Yuan considered. It didn’t align with trial logic, as an early hurdle knocking everyone out would defeat the purpose. Not long after, another Gold Marked evolver approached.
“Which stage is the hardest?”
Lin Yuan asked preemptively.
“The first one,”he replied.
“You’re not sincere,”this evolver remarked before leaving, giving Lin Yuan an odd look.
Several Gold Marked evolvers attempted to exchange information with Lin Yuan, but none divulged the trial contents easily.
“Honored Gold Mark Lord,”a Silver Marked evolver approached.
“I know the trial information for the Seven Star Caves and am willing to share it without charge,”the Silver Marked said.
Lin Yuan considered.
“What do you want in return?”
“I hope the Gold Mark Lord can do three things for me inside the trial area,”he requested.
“What three things?”
Lin Yuan asked.
“That, I don’t know yet,”the Silver Marked evolver said, acknowledging the trial’s unpredictable nature.
“Then forget it,”Lin Yuan declined, knowing such vague terms could mean anything, even impossible tasks.
“Are you sure? Knowing the trial information would greatly increase your chances,”the Silver Marked implored, but Lin Yuan remained firm.
“Unless you can specify exact tasks beforehand,”Lin Yuan reiterated, and the Silver Marked left, disappointed.
After numerous attempts from others offering exchange for information, Lin Yuan disconnected from the virtual world, returning to reality. Back at his manor’s main building underground training area on the Central Continent. Lin Yuan rubbed his forehead, reflecting.
“Information is crucial,”he acknowledged.
Like having an exam with one person having the answers, the difference in their situations would be significant. The Seven Star Caves were even more decisive. With only paper answers, Lin Yuan’s heaven-defying comprehension meant he could still ace any test without help.
But in the trial, any evolvers with knowledge could sabotage him with their advantage, posing significant risk. He needed some lead, or those with information might set him up.
“I’ll ask the Goddess of Wisdom,”Lin Yuan decided, connecting through his permissions.
As a deity within the Universal Human Alliance, she should know the trial contents, but whether she'd disclose them was another matter." Civilian Lin Yuan lacks sufficient permissions,”her dignified voice replied. The response was expected, given alliance rules barring test revelations, with penalties from the Universal Human Alliance, as well as the Star Lord.
This made the Goddess’s refusal predictable, since her operations were tightly bound by alliance laws.
“Forget it. ""Even without their intel, I’ll pass the Seven Star Caves.”
Lin Yuan sighed, preparing to drop the idea. Aware that some evolvers knew about the trial, Crimson Leviathan Star Lord left loopholes for a reason, evidently believing one could pass the trials without foreknowledge.
“Strength is the base of all.”
Closing his eyes, Lin Yuan returned to cultivation. Meanwhile, outside his Number Sixty-Six Manor. A visitor had arrived—Fang Qing.
Fang Qing appeared despondent. Nearby, an elderly man’s voice, full of urgency, echoed in his ears.
“You waste!
In terms of strength, you’re behind Lin Yuan.
In talent, you're left eating dust!”
“Now’s the time to make ties! What are you waiting for?”
“Your master prepared trial information for the Seven Star Caves before his death; deliver it to Lin Yuan immediately!”
“Don’t delay until Lin Yuan finds out for himself!”
The old man's voice urgently pushed Fang Qing.
Today will be just one chapter.
I need to refine the storyline's outline for the next arc before continuing.
Until it's set, I hesitate to write for fear of a ruined arc.
Keep writing with love~~~
(End of Chapter)