In the distorted spacetime center.
"Greetings to the nine strongest ones." Lin Yuan bowed slightly, showing respect.
After stepping into the eleventh rank, Lin Yuan came to meet the strongest ones immediately. During his breakthrough, the nine strongest ones had shielded him from disturbances.
Whether an eleventh-rank lifeform attempting the ultimate breakthrough had the protection of a strongest one made a significant difference.
Especially since Lin Yuan had not attempted the ultimate leap or tried to ascend. This left his breakthrough vulnerable to interference.
"No need for such formality. I believe it won’t be long before our human civilization establishes the tenth Evolution Tower," Gu Li, one of the strongest ones, said.
Human civilization currently had nine Evolution Towers, corresponding to its nine strongest ones.
A tenth tower signified the emergence of a tenth strongest one within human civilization.
To receive such recognition from Gu Li immediately after entering the eleventh rank demonstrated the value placed on Lin Yuan.
In some ways, Gu Li already regarded Lin Yuan as a future strongest one.
"Compared to the strongest ones, I am still far behind," Lin Yuan replied promptly.
The further Lin Yuan progressed in cultivation, the more he realized the immense gap between the twelfth and eleventh ranks.
The two were fundamentally different forms of life. No matter how powerful an eleventh-rank lifeform became, they were still bound by the river of time. Even if they could leap briefly, they would eventually fall back.
But the twelfth rank? They completely broke free of the river of time, standing on the shore, looking down on the struggles of countless lifeforms within the river.
The difference wasn’t just one of level and power; even their perspectives were entirely distinct.
"Do not underestimate yourself. If even you cannot reach the twelfth rank, then neither human civilization nor any race in the starry sky can produce a twelfth rank," Gu Li stated.
"Walking the path of evolution requires humility, but also confidence."
The other eight strongest ones nodded slightly. From the spectacle of Lin Yuan’s breakthrough to the eleventh rank, they could infer the extraordinary depth of his foundation.
The tearing of a cosmic rift to summon the chaotic void origin infusion depended entirely on the lifeform’s own condition.
There was no way to falsify such a feat.
For Lin Yuan, at the tenth rank, to tear open a rift comparable to those created by eleventh-rank consummate beings during ultimate breakthroughs indicated that in some areas, Lin Yuan surpassed the latter.
This was what shocked the nine strongest ones of human civilization the most.
"You are correct, Strongest One," Lin Yuan responded immediately.
However, he couldn’t help but mutter internally.
What he meant by being far behind the strongest ones referred only to combat strength.
While Lin Yuan’s combat strength far exceeded that of an eleventh-rank consummate being, even one wielding a supreme weapon, he had no confidence against a true twelfth rank.
His greatest advantage, comprehension of the sixth realm of spacetime rules, was standard among twelfth-rank beings.
Eleventh-rank beings who successfully ascended to the ultimate generally comprehended the sixth realm during the "shore" process. This was why the sixth realm was considered the threshold for the twelfth rank.
Lin Yuan’s comprehension of spacetime offered no advantage and might even be a disadvantage. His physical body and soul were also inferior to the strongest ones. As for his inner world?
A strongest one’s inner world, having transformed into an inner universe, spanned tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of light-years—far beyond Lin Yuan’s.
The only area where Lin Yuan surpassed ordinary twelfth ranks was in his spiritual will.
With a spiritual willpower index exceeding 33.33 million points, Lin Yuan estimated that even most of the universe’s strongest ones had not reached such levels.
Spiritual will was undeniably crucial, especially when paired with other trump cards. However, on its own, its effects were limited.
Lin Yuan’s comment simply meant that he currently couldn’t defeat a strongest one.
But to Gu Li, it sounded like Lin Yuan lacked confidence in ascending to the twelfth rank.
In truth, Lin Yuan was confident about his ultimate breakthrough. With further refinement of his eleventh-rank foundation and raising various fusion rules to twelfth-rank levels, his chances would be substantial.
This confidence stemmed not only from his solid foundation but also from external resources, such as the "Heart of Time and Space," which could extend his stay in the river of time, increasing the likelihood of reaching the twelfth rank.
"Lin Yuan, what is your current strength?" asked Xia Qin, one of the strongest ones, looking at him intently.
As soon as Xia Qin spoke, the other eight strongest ones also turned their gazes toward Lin Yuan.
"I estimate it’s slightly stronger than the eleventh rank," Lin Yuan replied after some thought.
"Slightly stronger? How much stronger?" Xu Shen, one of the strongest ones, couldn’t help but ask.
The eleventh rank had six tiers. Which tier was Lin Yuan referring to?
"Roughly... The gap between an eleventh-rank being and me is about the same as the gap between a tenth and an eleventh rank," Lin Yuan explained.
In truth, he had tried to downplay the difference. In reality, the gap was far larger.
"The same as the gap between the tenth and eleventh ranks?"
The nine strongest ones of human civilization fell silent. This was what he called "slightly stronger"?
For a tenth-rank evolver, the limit was comprehending the second realm of a pillar-level fusion rule.
But an eleventh-rank consummate being typically had insights into the fifth realm of spacetime and mastery of multiple pillar-level fusion rules.
For Lin Yuan to equate the difference between himself and eleventh ranks to that between the tenth and eleventh ranks left the strongest ones wondering if Lin Yuan was even an eleventh-rank being.
"From the beginning of this universe to its end, you may well be the strongest eleventh rank," Yu Die, one of the strongest ones, said quietly.
Thus far, the starry sky’s races had not agreed on who the strongest eleventh rank was.
Most eleventh-rank beings relied on supreme weapons for their strength.
Even so, debates over the strongest eleventh rank persisted.
But now.
There was likely no longer any debate.
The strongest eleventh rank...
Was Lin Yuan.
And not just in this cosmic epoch.
Across past and future cosmic epochs, it would be nearly impossible to find another eleventh rank as powerful as Lin Yuan.
"With your strength, Lin Yuan, you could dominate the upcoming supermassive alien battlefield," Xia Qin said, his thoughts turning.
"The supermassive alien battlefield?"
Lin Yuan’s interest was piqued.
He had heard of this battlefield from Xia Qin before. It was a colossal battlefield, unlike any previous one, where the peak powers of the starry sky’s races would compete.
"Indeed."
Gu Li’s eyes lit up slightly.
"The supermassive battlefield was established through joint negotiations and compromises among all the peak factions of this universe."
"The faction that secures dominance in the first conflict on the supermassive battlefield will gain one ten-thousandth of the total territory of all participating factions," Xu Shen added.
"One ten-thousandth of the territory?"
Lin Yuan’s expression grew serious.
The battles on various established battlefields across the starry sky allowed the victor to claim the loser’s territories or resource-rich secret realms under agreed-upon rules.
The Milky Way star domain, where Lin Yuan resided, was once under the Shadow Clan's control. However, after losing to human civilization in a battlefield conflict, they relinquished it.
On past battlefields, even in large-scale conflicts, the loss of territory was minor compared to the overall territory of human civilization, leaving its foundation intact.
But the supermassive battlefield, with its stakes set at one ten-thousandth of the territory, was different.
One ten-thousandth of human civilization’s territory encompassed countless star domains and alliances.
It wasn’t just about land size; it represented vast resources, including countless resource-rich planets and cosmic secret realms.
Losing such a portion of territory would mean surrendering these invaluable assets as well.
"Exactly."
"This is why the peak factions will spare no effort in the supermassive battlefield, even equipping fifth-tier eleventh-rank beings with supreme weapons," Xia Qin explained.
The rules of the supermassive battlefield forbade the intervention of twelfth-rank beings.
Without twelfth ranks involved, the strongest combatants were the eleventh ranks. To boost their chances, equipping eleventh ranks with supreme weapons was standard, and even fifth-tier eleventh ranks would receive such weapons.
Refining a supreme weapon required at least the fifth realm of spacetime comprehension, equivalent to the fifth tier of the eleventh rank.
But typically, it was rare for fifth-tier eleventh ranks to be entrusted with supreme weapons.
"No problem," Lin Yuan said with a nod.
From becoming an evolver until now, he had been under the protection of human civilization.
Now, Lin Yuan intended to give back.
It wasn’t entirely an act of obligation, either. According to the strongest ones, every eleventh rank who participated in the supermassive battlefield would earn significant merit points from human civilization.
Achievements on the battlefield could also be exchanged for a large number of merit points, and any spoils gained would belong to the individual.
With his strength surpassing the eleventh rank, Lin Yuan planned to explore the battlefield even without an invitation.
After all, to secure dominance in the first conflict, the peak factions’ eleventh ranks would likely equip themselves to the teeth.
For Lin Yuan, this was a treasure trove of moving riches.
Moreover, there was virtually no risk for Lin Yuan in going to the supermassive alien battlefield.
Even if he perished, it would only be an avatar. Lin Yuan could recreate one easily.
Having reached the eleventh rank, even if a strongest one attacked Lin Yuan, they could at most destroy his avatar, leaving his true form unharmed.
With over 33.33 million points in spiritual will, Lin Yuan could easily resist any twelfth-rank memory manipulation.
As for karmic curses? At Lin Yuan’s current life level, even a twelfth-rank being couldn’t curse him, no matter the cost.
And with the Mysterious Emperor Secret Realm isolating karma, Lin Yuan was effectively untouchable.
In simple terms, while Lin Yuan couldn’t yet defeat a twelfth-rank being, they would find it almost impossible to kill him.
"By the way, should we make your breakthrough to the eleventh rank public?" Xia Qin asked after some thought.
Currently, the criteria for entering the supermassive battlefield were the eleventh rank or above.
Beings below the eleventh rank were insignificant compared to eleventh ranks wielding supreme weapons.
Only something like the Insect Race’s countless warrior swarms could make a difference.
So—
To enter the supermassive alien battlefield, one had to demonstrate eleventh-rank strength.
"Make it public," Lin Yuan said calmly.
In the past, he had concealed his identity to avoid assassination attempts when transitioning from the fifth to the sixth rank.
But now?
There was no need for secrecy.
Lin Yuan had grown beyond the reach of alien strongest ones who might try to eliminate him.
Moreover, entering the supermassive alien battlefield required proving eleventh-rank strength. Announcing his breakthrough would prepare him for participation.
"It makes sense," Yu Die said. Given Lin Yuan’s previous display of talent, stepping into the eleventh rank, while slightly ahead of expectations, was entirely plausible.
From the seventh rank to the eighth, the eighth to the ninth, and the ninth to the tenth, Lin Yuan had consistently shattered expectations.
After chatting briefly with the nine strongest ones, Lin Yuan returned to the Milky Way’s main star.
"My physical body… The ‘Mysterious Emperor Body’ has regressed to the minor stage," Lin Yuan thought as he examined himself.
In truth, calling it a regression wasn’t accurate.
More precisely, the upper limit of the "Mysterious Emperor Body" had been raised.
A perfected "Mysterious Emperor Body" at the tenth rank and a perfected "Mysterious Emperor Body" at the eleventh rank were fundamentally different.
Upon reaching the eleventh rank and beginning the eleventh chapter of the "Mysterious Emperor Body," the tenth-rank chapter remained just as strong as before. However, Lin Yuan now had greater potential for growth with this body-refinement technique.
"To perfect the eleventh-rank ‘Mysterious Emperor Body’…"
Lin Yuan furrowed his brow. After the chaotic void origin infusion, his physical body had grown so powerful that advancing further would require far more resources than usual for an eleventh-rank "Mysterious Emperor Body."
Of course.
This wasn’t a bad thing.
Lin Yuan estimated that with his current physical foundation, perfecting the "Mysterious Emperor Body" at the eleventh rank would give him a physique surpassing that of ordinary strongest ones, nearing the level of a twelfth-rank perfected "Mysterious Emperor Body."
After assessing the resources needed for his next stage of cultivation, Lin Yuan was astonished.
A moment later.
Setting aside concerns about his physical body, Lin Yuan began attuning himself to the cosmic rules and their vast fluctuations.
"My comprehension speed now…"
Closing his eyes slightly, Lin Yuan felt as though the myriad rules and paths of the universe were rushing toward him.
...
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