Chapter 636: Authority

Li Pin stared at the message, slightly surprised. "Eternal Ascent of Humanity?"

He hadn't expected the Hall Master of the Void Divine Treasury Hall to actually put his name forward.

𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

He had looked into the initiative afterward. It was an elite cultivation program overseen by the Sacred Flame Hall, but their idea of cultivation had nothing to do with nurturing Astral Gods.

This initiative had only one goal—Cosmic Radiance

.

It aimed to train individuals whose names would resound across the universe.

Even across an entire galactic system, the number of Astral Gods throughout billions of stellar years could likely be counted with ease. Eternal Solar Flares were even rarer. Many star systems had never seen the rise of a single one since their birth, let alone a Cosmic Radiance.

Some Star Domains, from formation to destruction, never birthed even a single one. That alone spoke volumes about how rare they were.

An Eternal Solar Flare was a powerhouse in any human faction, but among other races? They were nothing more than an unfamiliar name.

Cosmic Radiance was different. Their reputation extended beyond humanity, reaching every corner of the universe. The moment one emerged, every alien race would establish a complete dossier on them, tracking their every move as a potential existential threat.

If war ever broke out between humanity and the surrounding races, Cosmic Radiances would be the absolute main force on the battlefield. Just one or two of them could shift the course of the regional conflict. This was the true weight of being Cosmic Radiance.

Within the Eternal Ascent of Humanity Initiative, anyone who joined had a staggering ten percent chance of achieving Cosmic Radiance, provided they didn't perish halfway. That was an absolutely terrifying chance.

This alone illustrated how precious a spot in this program was.

Li Pin had no connection whatsoever with the Hall Master of the Void Divine Treasury Hall. Yet, after just a single glance, the man had handed him such a precious opportunity?

Li Pin looked down at his communication bracelet.

There was a set of instructions beneath the message, detailing how to enter the Sacred Flame Hall, Humanity Sanctum

.

At any Astral Gate requiring Astral World transits, activating the transmitted coordinates would prompt Humanity Sanctum to establish a direct link, leading to an Astral World Transit Station.

Yes, it was an Astral World, but it wasn't an Astral World in the conventional sense.

Strictly speaking, the Humanity Sanctum used for assessments existed within a Mini Astral World. However, it was far larger than a Divine Being's Mini Astral Worlds. Its scale was immeasurable, far beyond the sum of tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of Astral World Fragments.

In a way, it was an Astral World in its own right

, a

n Astral World

devoid of Eternal Oblivion Forces

.

Li Pin pondered,

It is said that upon reaching the ninety-ninth step on the Supreme Ladder, a Cosmic Radiance could choose to abandon their Mini Astral World or Natal World to transcend beyond the Astral World. The remnants they left behind would then evolve into independent worlds, where even Astral World laws struggled to fully exert their influence.

If nothing unexpected had occurred, this Humanity Sanctum... must have been left behind by one of those transcendent beings.

That explained why this world retained many characteristics of an Astral World yet lacked its rigid rules and the omnipresent Eternal Oblivion Forces. Even someone of his level, a Divine, or even some Legendaries, could enter and undergo trials here.

Li Pin did a quick calculation. "Year 12024, January 1st... only three stellar years left?"

Three stellar years. Time is tight.

As he continued reviewing the details of the Eternal Ascent of Humanity Initiative, his bracelet vibrated again.

Li Pin glanced down and tapped it open. A projection materialized, forming the image of Yun Tu, the Second Vice Hall Master of the Void Divine Treasury Hall.

Yun Tu studied him with a hint of surprise. After a moment, he spoke.

—Pioneer Li, you received the message from the Sacred Flame Temple, didn't you?

"I did."

—To be honest, I'm quite surprised.

Yun Tu's voice carried a mix of emotions.

—Even though you've performed exceptionally well, you're still just a Divine Being. Do you understand what that means? It means that even in the stages before becoming an Astral God, you've failed to achieve perfection. That alone disqualifies you from meeting the standard of a true human prodigy.

—The purpose of the Eternal Ascent of Humanity Initiative has always been to accelerate the advancement of those with the potential to become Cosmic Radiance, not to nurture someone completely lacking in potential into one.

He paused briefly before continuing.

—Of course, not everyone in the program is a prodigy. In fact, prodigies make up less than thirty percent. But the others... their unique talents outshine yours in various ways. When the Hall Master recommended you for the program, I honestly thought you wouldn't even pass the initial screening.

"The initial screening?"

Li Pin found this unsurprising.

—The Sacred Flame Hall wouldn't have skipped the preliminary selection entirely just because you were recommended by the Hall Master. This screening was mainly to assess your background and determine whether you met the program's criteria.

Yun Tu's voice carried a hint of longing.

—After all... that's where Cosmic Radiances are nurtured!

—Don't let your guard down just because you've entered the second phase of the performance assessment. Historically, less than a third of the recommended candidates have ever passed this stage.

—So, it's too early for me to congratulate you, but I still hope you make it into the Humanity Sanctum and become part of the Eternal Ascent of Humanity Initiative.

At that moment, something crossed Yun Tu's mind.

—If you do make it into the program, then even if Gaia Civilization doesn't receive the Astral God's inheritance, the chosen successor will still give you some face. At the very least, they may spare your civilization when absorbing all the astral energy.

He looked at Li Pin once more.

—Give it your all. In the next six months, focus entirely on the upcoming assessment. Any Star Domain-level conflicts? Just present your status as a candidate for the Eternal Ascent of Humanity Initiative, and those issues will resolve themselves.

—From this moment on, you've stepped beyond the Star Domain level. Aside from the most deep-rooted elite families, no other forces within a Star Domain will have access to the details of this matter. Even if they catch wind of something, it'll take a long time for such vague speculations to gain traction.

Li Pin nodded. "I understand."

Nevertheless, Li Pin wanted to test his current strength. He wanted to see if he could take on a hundred combat-specialized avatars at once.

—Since you managed to pass the program's initial screening... I'll help you upgrade your clearance.

While speaking, Astral God Yun Tu quickly got to work.

Moments later, Li Pin's communication bracelet vibrated slightly. He glanced at it and saw that his clearance level had risen from 9 to 13.

— Humanity's faction ranks clearance levels from 1 to 100, based on the Supreme Ladder. The simplest way to increase clearance is by climbing the Supreme Ladder. Whatever step you reach determines your clearance level.

—But that method is only suitable for cultivators with formidable strength. Some researchers, for instance, receive high clearance due to their contributions to human civilization. Climbing the Supreme Ladder is just the most direct and brute-force approach.

—Thirteen is the highest level I can grant you. In theory, this is equivalent to an Astral God who has established themselves in the Astral World. But if you pass the assessment, even as an ordinary member of the Humanity Sanctum, your clearance will rise to forty. That's the equivalent of the fortieth step of the Supreme Ladder, on par with an Eternal Solar Flare.

"Level forty..." muttered Li Pin.

Thinking of something, he asked, "What clearance level is needed to access information on Transcendent Techniques and inheritances?"

—Transcendent.... That's a path only the Cosmic Radiance can explore. You'll need clearance level seventy to access it. Within the Humanity Sanctum, only the highest-ranked Sacred Children would have access to such knowledge.

—Even if you obtained the relevant techniques, you might not be able to comprehend them. But if you're just looking for basic information rather than actual techniques or hidden knowledge, you should be able to access it once you officially join the Eternal Ascent of Humanity Initiative.

"Joining the Eternal Ascent of Humanity Initiative, huh..." Li Pin murmured.

He nodded.

He had already reviewed the program's details. It was overseen by the Sacred Flame Hall, but its structure was unlike a sect, noble house, or academy. During the program, members weren't bound by any restrictions. Training, studying, cultivation, everything was voluntary.

However, only those who showed sufficient growth could earn access to heavenly treasures, mirage domains, and secret domains.

Growth was measured through the Supreme Ladder. The faster one ascended, the greater the rewards and the stronger the support.

Every hundred stellar years, the Sacred Flame Hall conducted an assessment. Those who failed were expelled from the program.

It was precisely this level of freedom that made Li Pin willing to join.

Besides, from what he speculated, the Dao that the Void Emperor had spoken of likely belonged to the same level of power as the Transcendent path.

If information on the Transcendents was accessible, the truth about the Dao would be within reach as well. When that time came, he might finally understand why the Void Emperor had expelled him from the Void Divine Treasure World for grasping that power.

—In the Astral World, you need to keep a low profile. But in the Humanity Sanctum? That's completely unnecessary. That place is where humanity cultivates its future Cosmic Radiances with everything it has. It's filled not only with the most extraordinary geniuses from across human territory but also with those human prodigies who have dominated entire eras in their Star Domains and Abysses.

—That place... represents the true strongest of humanity's new generation. So go ahead, show your full potential!

Yun Tu looked at Li Pin, his eyes filled with admiration and nostalgia.

—In fact, once you're there, your concern won't be about standing out too much. It'll be whether you can stand out at all. Because... if you're not careful, you might just get completely overshadowed by the true prodigies of this era. It could be a devastating blow; one you might struggle to accept.