"Alright," Yuan Guang said solemnly. "Truly worthy of the title of a supreme prodigy." Li Pin's terse response—"send it"—reflected his unparalleled confidence in his own strength. To stand as the supreme prodigy, overshadowing all prodigies across the human domain for an entire era, such confidence was indispensable. From his exceptional performance in the Heavenly Prison World to this meeting, Li Pin's presence unmistakably embodied the essence of a supreme prodigy. This left the hall master with no doubt. Even if some of Li Pin's feats in the Heavenly Prison World had been slightly exaggerated, they could not have strayed far from the truth. He deserved the title. Now, what remained to be seen was whether he could truly dominate every prodigy across the human domain, earning their wholehearted recognition. Yuan Guang smiled and said, "Various ranking lists exist within the Humanity Sanctum to maintain fair competition. Among them, three hold the highest authority. The Starfire List assesses potential. The Wildfire List tracks the fastest growth rates. The most prestigious of all, the World Glory List, is determined through the Supreme Ladder. "Those ranked in the top three of the Starfire List, the top ten of the Wildfire List, and the top twenty of the World Glory List are granted the title of Sacred Children. Meanwhile, the first on the Starfire List, the top three on the Wildfire List, and the top six on the World Glory List earn the distinction of Dao Children. As for the one who claims the top of the World Glory List, they are honored as the Sanctum's Chief." He continued, "You may not have achieved anything in the Humanity Sanctum, but based solely on your outstanding performance in the Heavenly Prison World, we hall masters have unanimously decided to place you directly at third on the Starfire List." Listening to Yuan Guang's explanations, Li Pin found the ranking system oddly familiar. Back on Gaia, when I joined the Dragon Gate Hall, a similar hierarchy had existed. The Humanity Sanctum operated on a much grander scale, but at its core, it followed the same old method of using rankings as motivation. Li Pin thought back to his days in the Dragon Gate Hall. Zhao Yunlong, Fang Ziyou, Zhou Heng, Ye Chengyuan... He smiled. Not bad. This could be interesting. Yuan Guang added, "Third is a respectable position, but rankings are reassessed every hundred stellar years, with the next evaluation in sixty-four years. Before then, you should challenge the Supreme Ladder to prove your potential and solidify your standing." He chuckled. "Better yet, prove that we've underestimated you—claim the top spot on the Starfire List." "First on the Starfire List, huh..." muttered Li Pin. "The current first place is known as Thousand Dust. He is a unique lifeform born within the human domain and has since joined our ranks," introduced Yuan Guang. "His defining trait is unparalleled. He can divide into three thousand of himself, each with independent thought yet capable of seamless communication. In other words... his cultivation is equivalent to three thousand individuals training simultaneously." Li Pin was slightly surprised. "One person... equal to three thousand?" "Precisely,” answered Yuan Guang. “Leveraging this ability, he has studied countless manuals within the Humanity Sanctum and created his own cultivation technique—the Three Thousand Demon Gods Genesis Art. He intends to walk the Highlord path." His eyes gleamed with anticipation. "I look forward to the day you two officially compete." Lu Chen nodded. "I, too, am curious to see just how extraordinary such a unique lifeform can be." Then, something occurred to him, and he asked, "What about the second place? Does he not require a challenge?" "Fan Jingtian? He's different from you. You won't be able to compete with him anytime soon," answered Yuan Guang. He explained, "Fan Jingtian has half the bloodline of the Chaos Clan. A mutation occurred when his innate talent fused with the Chaos Clan's gifts, allowing him to achieve the Eternal Solar Flare Realm in just one hundred stellar years. Since then, his Power Level has been pushed beyond fifteen million... and it's still increasing. To keep it from growing too rapidly, he spends most of his time in seclusion." Li Pin was stunned. "His Power Level increases too quickly?" He thought. Could a talent be that overwhelming? Yuan Guang continued, "If not for the omnipresent Eternal Oblivion Force, Fan Jingtian could have simply crushed the competition with sheer power, surpassing Thousand Dust and claiming first place on the Starfire List as a Dao Child of the Sanctum. Unfortunately..." He shook his head. "With such explosive growth... if he fails to condense a True Spirit when he reaches the Cosmic Radiance realm, his talent may become his greatest calamity." Hearing this, Li Pin couldn't help but think of the Void Emperor. That man was born with an innate True Spirit. Yet, in the end, it was both his greatest strength and greatest downfall. "As a Sacred Child, other than having a dedicated guard squad, cultivation palace, and access to secret domains, you are also entitled to select a complete cultivation technique." Yuan Guang glanced at Li Pin. "I know you've obtained many Supreme, Highlord, and Transcendent Techniques in the Heavenly Prison World, but none of those are complete. Here, we have complete techniques... though most only include the initial chapters." He paused briefly. "Would you like to choose now, or would you prefer to do it later?" "I'll do it now," answered Li Pin. "Is there any technique that's left behind by Supreme Dao Origin?" "Supreme Dao Origin?" Yuan Guang thought for a moment before quickly responding. "Yes. Though Supreme Dao Origin never joined the Supreme Council, he did leave behind a legacy within our human domain." Li Pin smiled. "Good." As expected, having the right platform made all the difference. As soon as he joined the Humanity Sanctum, he could already access Supreme Dao Origin's legacy and gain insight into the profound theories related to the Endless Reincarnation. Yuan Guang noticed Li Pin's eager expression and didn't keep him waiting. With a wave to the others, he said, "You're dismissed. I'll take him to the Sacred Flame Vault." He then led Li Pin straight toward a distant vault. Yuan Guang smiled and asked, "When do you plan to ascend to Astral Godhood? There is no harm in moving between the Astral World and its subsidiary worlds. "Take the Eternal Oblivion Force as an example. Worlds like the Primordial World have already shielded you from it. It's the remnants of a Supreme being, so in a way, you've been living under a Supreme's protection all along." "Can Astral Gods survive indefinitely in Supreme remnants?" Li Pin asked. "Not exactly. Once you enter a subsidiary world, the Astral World's eternal indestructibility no longer applies. Your previously frozen lifespan begins to progress again, and the more vitality you expend, the weaker your inner spirit becomes. "Staying too long in such worlds is essentially severing your own future. You might as well have never entered the Astral World at all." Yuan Guang paused briefly. "Besides, subsidiary worlds also have finite lifespans. They may shield the beings within from the erosion of the Eternal Oblivion Force, but doing so gradually depletes their longevity. When they can no longer hold out, they too will collapse. However, as creations of the Supremes, these worlds can endure for billions of stellar years." "Eternal life..." muttered Li Pin. Those words held an irresistible allure for all beings. Were it not for the temptation of immortality, few would choose to ascend to the Astral World, given its current harsh environment. Before long, Yuan Guang led Li Pin into a sea of clouds, where a massive, cubic structure floated. The building was enormous, spanning over a hundred miles in diameter. Yet, despite its grandeur, it lacked any aesthetic appeal, leaving one to wonder who had designed it. Many people moved in and out of the building. Some greeted Yuan Guang with respectful bows, while others paid him no heed. Within the Humanity Sanctum, there was no strict hierarchy between the Hall Master and its members. In fact, the Hall Master and the staff existed to serve the members. Even so, Yuan Guang's sheer strength alone was enough to command respect from any member. Soon, he led Li Pin inside the vast square structure. "You're here for Supreme Dao Origin's inheritance, aren't you?" Yuan Guang asked as he continued leading Li Pin deeper into the building. As they flew inward, Li Pin distinctly felt himself passing through two spatial layers. It was like a nested box—one layer within another, then another within that. Clearly, the building's interior was far more complex than its exterior suggested. "Haha, a Sacred Monarch designed this structure to mirror the Astral World's unique characteristics. It was divided into an outer layer, an inner layer, and a core layer. All Supreme inheritances are in the core layer, while the inner layer houses Cosmic Radiance inheritances. The outer layer contains techniques below the Cosmic Radiance level, along with insights, travelogues, and personal writings." Yuan Guang stopped in front of a towering stone pillar and retrieved a crystal from it. "You can study and record it here. None of the inheritances in the core layer are allowed to be taken out." Li Pin nodded and took the Legacy Crystal. However, after examining it for a moment, he noticed something unusual. "The first half of True Chaos Interpretation only describes up to the Cosmic Radiance level? What about the cosmic perspective? Is it all in the latter half?" "Yes." Yuan Guang nodded. "This is all we have in regards to the inheritance Dao Origin left behind." Then, as if recalling something, he asked, "Are you searching for the mysteries of reincarnation power?" "Yes," Li Pin admitted. "That kind of power... it might be a bit too soon for you." Yuan Guang mused. "What you truly need now is to refine your Perfect Realm further. At the very least, you must reach the point where you can fully control ten million power units. To achieve that, I suggest you focus on learning combat techniques." Li Pin set the crystal down. Without reincarnation power, this legacy held little value to him. "Refining the Perfect Realm, huh..." "Combat techniques are essentially various attack methods, like sword arts and fist techniques." Yuan Guang looked at Li Pin. "For a Cosmic Radiance, these don't offer much in terms of power. "But that's because anyone who reaches Cosmic Radiance has already spent endless years honing their mastery of swords, fists, and blades to the point of grasping truth itself. But you're different. Your cultivation time has been too short. So, learning a combat technique and refining your Perfect Realm's control is crucial." Li Pin nodded, acknowledging Yuan Guang's point. "Hall Master, do you have any recommendations?" "Based on your situation, I have three suggestions," Yuan Guang said. "The highest-tier option is the Phantom Spark, created by a Sky Clan's Sacred Monarch. This combat art seamlessly integrates movement and attack while systematically establishing the foundation of void principles, effectively paving your path toward the Sacred Monarch realm from the very beginning. "Mastering this technique to perfection significantly enhances combat power. Upon reaching Tyrant level, it makes comprehending space-related mysteries far easier." This technique was clearly meant to prepare Li Pin for his eventual path to becoming a Sacred Monarch. "The second option is a sword technique called Quantum Sword Intent. It belongs to the Cosmic Radiance level and focuses on concentrating all power into a single point before unleashing it in a devastating explosion. "At minor completion, it's merely an outburst of force. Upon major completion, it mimics a singularity collapse. Once perfected, it can trigger effects akin to the universe's Big Bang. It's a technique with immense destructive potential, and it deepens one's comprehension of the singularity and cosmic evolution." Li Pin's interest was piqued. "Oh?" "The final option is the Three Thousand Sword Dao. Like Quantum Sword Intent, the term 'sword' here refers more to its nature—sharp, precise, and focused—rather than an actual weapon. This technique consists of three thousand different sword arts, covering countless combat scenarios. If mastered, your battle techniques would be unparalleled, leaving no weaknesses." Yuan Guang paused before continuing, "The advantage of this technique is that none of the three thousand sword arts are Supreme-level techniques. Anyone willing to dedicate time and effort can learn them. The only difference lies in how long it takes. It's the embodiment of perseverance, proof that diligence is rewarded. The downside, of course, is that it requires an immense investment of time." He smiled. "As for the other two options, Phantom Spark demands exceptional perception, taleant, and aptitude. But if mastered, it allows one to move unpredictably in battle, rendering attacks nearly indefensible. It also lays the foundation for the Sacred Monarch Realm... assuming you can master it, that is. "Quantum Sword Intent, on the other hand, strikes a balance between the two. Its difficulty and power are moderate, but it provides valuable insights for cultivation." "Can't I learn them together?" Li Pin asked. "It's not that you can't, but I want you to think carefully. Once your technique reaches a certain level, its impact on combat strength becomes negligible. In Supreme Ladder's terms, the most it can do is raise your Power Level by one or two levels at best. Instead of spending excessive time and energy honing battle techniques, it's better to focus on advancing your cultivation realm." Yuan Guang spoke with emphasis. "I know your talent is exceptional, but cultivation is the foundation." After a brief pause, he added, "As I mentioned before, the Three Thousand Sword Dao and its Three Thousand Sword Techniques aren't Supreme Sword Arts. As long as you dedicate yourself, you can master them. "However, the prerequisite for this mastery is that a single human prodigy must emerge from an entire star domain. I can't say for certain whether true prodigies can master them. The same goes for Phantom Spark and Quantum Sword Intent. The Phantom Spark, in particular, I know eighty-one people who have trained in this combat technique, forty-four of whom are geniuses. Yet, only ten truly mastered it. That's less than a quarter." Phantom Spark involved space. Space was the key distinction between a Sacred Monarch and a Tyrant, just as time distinguished a Sacred Monarch from a Heavenly Emperor. Li Pin was confident he could master Phantom Spark, but as Yuan Guang had said, cultivation was the foundation. Spending too much time on combat techniques would be putting the cart before the horse. With that realization, he made up his mind. "I'll choose Quantum Sword Intent." Quantum Sword Intent was only a Cosmic Radiance-level sword art, but it had both lethal potential and the added benefit of deepening a cultivator's understanding of singularities and cosmic evolution. He had already achieved the second level of his Phantom Space Technique. The next step was to collapse matter, energy, time, and space into a cosmic singularity. However, collapsing these four concepts into a singularity was vastly more challenging than collapsing the fundamental forces—Strong, Weak, Gravitational, and Electromagnetic—into one. Thus, the deeper his comprehension at this stage, the better. "Quantum Sword Intent is indeed the most suitable choice. I was worried you'd overestimate your talent and stubbornly insist on mastering Phantom Spark." Yuan Guang chuckled. "The Heavenly Prison World is different from the real world. The most noticeable difference is that in the Heavenly Prison World, your mind and inner spirit are more active than ever. "You're constantly in a heightened state, with an overwhelming influx of inspiration and an unparalleled ability to comprehend things. In that state, your potential is fully unleashed, making anything seem possible." He gave Li Pin a meaningful look and said earnestly, "But once that passion fades, things that once seemed clear will blur. Some feats you could achieve in the Heavenly Prison World will become impossible in the outside world. To prevent that, you must review and solidify your achievements here as soon as possible. Quantum Sword Intent is particularly effective for that." It was like learning efficiency—while the same person might study at different ages, a forty-year-old's learning ability would clearly lag behind a twenty-year-old's, even though, in theory, the older person should have more experience. "This is Quantum Sword Intent," Yuan Guang handed him a Legacy Crystal. "Alright, now take your time to absorb and refine it..." He paused before smiling. "You're thinking it's time to merge with the Astral World and ascend to Astral Godhood, aren't you?" "Yes," Li Pin nodded. "I'll ascend once I return from the Void Divine Treasure World." "The Void Divine Treasure World..." Yuan Guang cast a glance at Li Pin. "With your talent and potential—" "I know." Li Pin cut him off. "But this journey to the Void Divine Treasure Hall is crucial for me." Yuan Guang did not press further. He had already heard from the Void Divine Treasury Hall that Li Pin had managed to exit the treasury world midway. Breaking through it entirely was now within reach. Everyone had to bear the consequences of their own choices. He had given his advice and fulfilled his duty. If Li Pin insisted on going, there was nothing more he could do to stop him. After selecting the appropriate technique, Yuan Guang led Li Pin to his residence. As a Sacred Child, the privileges he enjoyed far surpassed those of the ordinary participants in the Eternal Ascent of Humanity Initiative. His residence was an island, and the formation core granted him high-level permissions. With these, he could enhance his comprehension, adjust the strength of the Eternal Oblivion Force, and—once per stellar year—access a time mirage, space mirage, and cosmic evolution mirage free of charge. The direct and indirect benefits were too numerous to count. Upon arriving at the island, a middle-aged man clad in golden armor was already waiting with ten others. The golden-armored man gave a slight bow. "Hou Yun, reporting for duty." Li Pin studied him in surprise. This man was an Eternal Solar Flare, and the other ten individuals behind him were all Brilliant Starshine Astral Gods. "The Sacred Child's guard is composed of one Solare Flare and ten Starshines. As for the Dao Child, their guard strength is ten times greater. If they leave the Humanity Sanctum, even a Cosmic Radiance will personally accompany them." Yuan Guang smiled. "Hou Yun has reached the sixty-first step on the Supreme Ladder. He stands at the pinnacle among Eternal Solar Flare cultivators. I specifically assigned him to protect you. As long as you don't encounter an alien Cosmic Radiance determined to die with you, your safety is assured." A Solare Flare and ten Starshines as personal guards... At this moment, he truly felt the extent of the Humanity Sanctum's regard for people like him. After explaining a few more things to Li Pin, Yuan Guang had other matters to attend to and had to take his leave. After he left, Li Pin took some time to get accustomed to the island. The island spanned over sixty miles in diameter, and its environment was quite refined. As he surveyed his surroundings, a dozen streaks of light suddenly flew toward him. Hou Yun, responsible for patrolling and guarding the island, quickly reported, "Sacred Child Li, twelve individuals claiming to be your friends have come to visit. Here is their list..." Li Pin glanced at it and said, "Take them to Flowing Water Peak." Hou Yun bowed slightly in acknowledgment. Soon, a Starshine Astral God soared into the air, leading the twelve visitors toward one of the island's peaks. As Li Pin arrived, the twelve of them rose to their feet in unison. They greeted him one after another, their voices filled with excitement. "Hall Master, you're finally here." "Hahaha, I never thought we'd meet again so soon in the Humanity Sanctum." The one leading the group was none other than Wang Fuyun. Among the others were Yun Lai, Yu Xuexian, Yu Li, Gao Shengyan, and several more. All of them were part of the Eternal Ascent of Humanity Initiative's prodigies and naturally would reside within the Humanity Sanctum. Yun Lai, Yu Xuexian, Yu Li, and Gao Shengyan, in particular, had arrived years before Li Pin and had long since passed their adaptation phase. "You're here," Li Pin said. "Please, have a seat." His gaze swept over Yun Lai and the others. "How is life in the Humanity Sanctum?" "Life..." Yun Lai was momentarily stunned. Then, with a bitter smile and a somewhat complicated expression, he said, "Back in the Heavenly Prison World, we already suffered quite a blow. "But after coming here, I finally realized that the Heavenly Prison World was nothing more than child's play. The Humanity Sanctum is where the true prodigies gather. Compared to it, the Heavenly Prison World is nothing more than a minor skirmish." "The Heavenly Prison World and the Humanity Sanctum were both established by Supremes and Highlords, but the Sanctum has existed for far longer. In terms of foundation, it was far beyond the mere ten-thousand-year-old Heavenly Prison World, especially when the Black Abyss Highlord had to rely on forceful recruitment." Li Pin wasn't surprised. "The true peak prodigies and supreme talents are heavily guarded by their factions. It's not so easy to abduct them." In the Heavenly Prison World, Wang Fuyun had been the leader of one of the four great organizations, Worldbreaker Peak. But here, in the Humanity Sanctum, he wasn't even a Sacred Child. That alone spoke volumes about the difference in foundation between the two. "Prodigy Li... oh, I suppose it's Sacred Child Li now," Wang Fuyun chuckled before his expression turned serious. "We believe your title as Sacred Child is well deserved, but the rest of the Humanity Sanctum may not think the same. "In fact... even directly becoming a Sacred Child upon arrival isn't enough to attract everyone's attention. What truly matters is that... you have entered the eyes of the Supremes and Highlords." His tone grew heavier. "Though His Majesty, the Black Abyss Highlord, has not officially taken you as a disciple, both he and the other Supremes are now aware of your existence. So tell me—what do you think will go through the minds of those who are desperate to gain the recognition of a Supreme and rise to the top?" "They'll want to defeat me and prove themselves worthy of a Supreme's attention," Li Pin said with a smile. "Exactly. They'll want to defeat you," Wang Fuyun's voice was firm. "Normally, even if someone makes it to number one on the World Glory List, they'll struggle to catch the attention of those who exist beyond the Astral World unless they possess an overwhelming brilliance that shakes the world. "But you... you have made that possibility real. Even if the Supremes have already forgotten about you, the Heavenly Emperors and Sacred Monarchs will never take their eyes off you. And so, defeating you and stepping into their sight—perhaps even the eyes of the Supremes—is their best chance to rise." He took a deep breath. "Since you've just arrived, they won't act immediately. But sixty-four years from now, during the re-evaluation period, once your official ranking is determined and your newcomer protection ends, challengers will come one after another." "Countless challengers will try to use me as their stepping stones to gain Supremes' recognitions," Li Pin said, laughing. "No need to wait sixty-four years. Let's go for an evaluation right now."