Chapter 650: Reality

"Senior Bai Chan... you're a formal member of the Eternal Prosperity of Humanity Project!?"

"One hundred million!? One hundred million geniuses were exiled to the outer region!?"

"Turning over a hundred million geniuses into mere providers... Who'd dare to commit such an atrocity!? This is madness! Sheer madness!"

In that instant, everyone comprehended the profound implications behind the staggering number "one hundred million."

Those with lesser talents felt their minds reel, their emotions spiraling out of control as they denounced the sheer insanity of it all.

They had assumed the locals were nothing more than indigenous people. Viewing themselves as immortals descending upon mortals, they saw their arrival in this world as a transcendent act, while the locals were nothing but ordinary folk. In essence, they summed them up with a single phrase: "the common masses."

But now, they were horrified to realize that those they had regarded as locals were actually the same as them. They were geniuses from various civilizations who had been captured and brought here.

It turned out that they were no different from these people. They, too, belonged to the so-called "common masses."

What did it mean to be a genius?

True geniuses were rare. Perhaps, there was only one in an entire galaxy, and they would be powerful enough to dominate it. It could take tens or even hundreds of thousands of civilizations to produce a single one.

In terms of sheer population, even in an era with countless trillions, one might not emerge.

Each of them possessed the potential to cultivate inner spirit and even held a glimmer of hope to reach the realm of Astral Gods.

In their home galaxies, they were revered as paragons of excellence, showered with endless accolades and admiration.

However, in this world, over a billion prodigies could not even secure the most basic necessities of life. They had been reduced to mere energy sources, fueling the cultivation of the ten thousand elites standing here.

And if these ten thousand failed to advance in their cultivation, within ten stellar years, or perhaps a hundred, they too would join the ranks of those billions. Their talents, insights, aptitudes, and fortunes would slowly be stripped away, piece by piece.

How was this any different from death by a thousand cuts?

No. This was far worse. A thousand cuts inflicted pain on the body. This, however, carved deep into the soul.

One day, they might suddenly realize that something they once cherished as a treasure was gone. They would remember having possessed it, knowing it had been precious to them, yet no matter how hard they tried, they could not recall what it was. Even if they revisited familiar places and felt a faint sense of nostalgia, they would never grasp the source of that feeling.

It felt as though a part of them, a part they had known intimately, had been ripped away, erased, and replaced by a stranger. When they looked at themselves, they saw someone unrecognizable, a foreign presence staring back.

The hollow emptiness, the crushing sense of loss, was enough to unravel even the strongest mind.

Bai Chan stood silently, observing the emotional turmoil of the dozens before him. His expression remained calm, devoid of pity or scorn. He offered no comfort, nor did he mock their vulnerability.

Compared to them, his situation as a prodigy might have seemed slightly better, but how much better was it, really? It was merely the difference between fifty steps and a hundred steps, a marginal gap at best.

The reason he had been assigned the task of guiding newcomers likely stemmed from his status as a formal member of the Eternal Ascent of Humanity Initiative. Sasha, the one who had assigned the task, had to have taken this into consideration.

Among humans, this identity alone was enough to humble nearly ninety-nine percent of so-called geniuses.

It took a long while before the group finally began to regain their composure.

Many remained silent, their expressions shadowed by suppressed emotions.

Yun Lai, however, let out a bitter chuckle and said, "Apologies, Senior Bai Chan, for making a spectacle of ourselves."

"No need for apologies," Bai Chan replied, shaking his head. "As I mentioned earlier, this world suppresses the power of the inner spirit but heightens emotional sensitivity. It compels us to experience the ebb and flow of life, the warmth and coldness of human nature, all of which can lead to profound enlightenment. Having guided over a dozen groups before you, I can say your reaction is among the more composed."

"What should we do next? Should we select a cultivation technique?" Yun Lai inquired. "Are there any particular considerations we should keep in mind when choosing? Your guidance would be invaluable."

"There's no strict rule to follow. Simply trust your instincts," Bai Chan advised, his eyes scanning the group. "My recommendation is to choose a path that aligns with your inherent strengths. Focus on honing your most exceptional qualities and pursue them with unwavering determination."

His gaze lingered momentarily on Yun Lai and a few others who seemed to form the core circle. "Many may appear unremarkable at first, but that's often because they haven't yet discovered their true path or understood their direction. Here, you have a unique opportunity to recognize your true calling and choose the right path. If you do, your cultivation will advance with twice the efficiency and half the effort."

He sighed. "I've seen countless unknown individuals rise to greatness, surpassing even the most talented prodigies, mastering the second and even third levels of their techniques before others.

"I've also witnessed so-called prodigies stagnate, paralyzed by indecision over their cultivation paths, wasting precious time. Some never even completed the first level within ten stellar years and were ultimately exiled to the outer regions."

His words made Yu Li, Gao Shengyan, and the others' faces grow even paler.

Even prodigies... could be exiled? But these are individuals with the potential to achieve Cosmic Radiance.... How could anyone waste such talent as mere energy sources?

"Choose your techniques as soon as possible. If you can take on missions to earn Creation Gold Coins, do so. Focus on surviving the first level first. Ten stellar years... is far too short."

Bai Chan gestured toward the tower where cultivation techniques were stored, then turned to leave.

"Senior Bai..."

Seeing this, those who had initially carried an air of arrogance could no longer remain composed. They hurried forward, eager to ask for more details.

Li Pin, however, did not follow. Instead, his gaze shifted to the towering structure said to house countless Supreme, Transcendent, and Highlord-level techniques. Without hesitation, he strode toward it.

The tower wasn't far. It was just over ten kilometers away.

Li Pin activated his inner spirit power to lift himself off the ground, attempting to fly across the distance. However, within moments, he had already begun to feel exhausted.

Something feels off,

thought Li Pin.

He glanced around. Most of the others weren't using their mental spirit power to fly. Instead, they were running at a brisk pace.

He quickly realized something.

"Perhaps the reason inner and mental spirit were preserved wasn't for convenience in daily life, but because cultivation here inherently requires their use. So, while these powers remain, employing them for mundane tasks might drain energy at an exponential rate..."

He then adjusted his approach and began to move on foot. However, the rugged terrain of the mountain soon took its toll, and he felt the strain of the journey. The similarity between this world and the divine treasure world was striking.

He swiftly activated a body-tempering art, using his mental spirit to refine his physique as he walked. By the time he arrived at the inheritance tower, his physical strength had improved slightly.

The low energy consumption during his mental spirit cultivation further confirmed his belief. This world was heavily skewed toward the cultivation of the inner spirit. Nearly all extraordinary powers related to energy and matter had been sealed off.

Li Pin estimated that, no matter how much he refined his body, the pinnacle he could reach would be equivalent to that of a Gaia Martial Saint, essentially the upper limit of combat prowess in most mortal worlds.

With mental spirit also being restricted...

"No wonder an area of less than 10,000 square kilometers, inhabited by over ten thousand people, doesn't feel crowded," Li Pin mused.

The mountain range stretched over 130 kilometers in length and spanned more than 60 kilometers in width. Without access to extraordinary powers, traversing 130 kilometers on foot would take several days. As a result, with ten thousand people scattered across such a vast area, it was inevitable that the region would feel sparsely populated.

By the time Li Pin arrived at the towering structure, fewer than ten people were in sight.

As he stepped inside, the first thing that caught his attention was the eighteen massive stone pillars, each nearly a hundred meters tall, seemingly supporting the entire structure.

However, calling them mere stone pillars didn't do them justice. Each pillar shimmered with a flowing light from within, emitting a peculiar ripple that seemed to slow down his thoughts.

After a moment of sensing, Li Pin realized it wasn't his mind that had slowed. Rather, the flow of time around these pillars had accelerated.

Li Pin was suddenly hit with realization.

No! It is the speed of thought that has been altered.

Astonished, he approached one of the pillars and reached out to touch its surface. Instantly, a stream of information projected from within the pillar. It was none other than the Primordial Supreme Technique that Bai Chan cultivated. It was a cultivation technique that pointed directly to the Supreme path.

"A Supreme Technique, and nearly a complete version at that, freely accessible..." Li Pin murmured in awe.

He had no precise answer to the true value of a Supreme Technique. What he did know was that even a cultivation method capable of reaching the level of Cosmic Radiance required over a hundred million Divine Treasury Points. That was equivalent to the value of a Solar Flare Divine Weapon.

A Supreme Technique... a hundred billion wouldn't be an exaggeration.

The technique he was currently studying leaned heavily toward the inner spirit and the cultivation realm. Even if it was incomplete and worth only a tenth of its true value, it would still be like gaining ten Solar Flare Divine Weapons for free.

Li Pin delved into the Supreme Technique, quickly becoming immersed in it.

Supremacy lies in mastery.

Starshine Astral Gods focused on amplifying energy, Solar Flare Astral Gods enhanced energy levels, while Cosmic Radiance cultivators condensed their True Spirit.

The Supreme path, however, marked the completion of all foundational frameworks. It was the stage where one began creating a universe from nothing, replicating the existing cosmos with its structure, space, and time.

However, the complexity of constructing an entire universe was staggering. Asteroids, planets, stars, neutron stars, black holes, celestial phenomena, cosmic wonders—each element had to be meticulously accounted for. Without absolute mastery over every detail, attempting to forge a universe would be nothing more than a futile dream.

And mastery alone wasn't enough. The True Spirit, a force capable of perceiving, judging, and mirroring all things, was essential. It ensured the universe's seamless operation, preventing any potential disruptions.

The sheer complexity and volume of calculations and variables involved were enough to make anyone's head spin. Li Pin found himself utterly overwhelmed. For the first time, he began to doubt whether humans could truly master such a profound technique.

"This is the genuine act of creating a universe within oneself. Not just a miniature one, but an actual, full-fledged universe!" he marveled.

He recalled his earlier days when he had first ventured into pioneering the martial path. Back then, his concept of a "miniature universe" had been nothing more than an abstract idea. But the Supreme path... was taking it to an entirely different level. They were making it real.

"Before Supreme Beings can establish a newborn universe, they engage in continuous simulation and refinement within the Astral World. The Astral World, existing in a state that hovers between existence and non-existence, provides the perfect environment for trial and error. This unique condition is precisely why all cultivators choose to integrate into the Astral World to become Astral Gods."

The Astral World and the path of the Astral Gods were, without a doubt, the indispensable steps toward achieving the Supreme and the Transcendent.