What the hell is a human doing here?

  There’s no way someone without qualification could have entered this zone.

  The white figure was genuinely puzzled. In the ancient starry void where gods and demons reigned supreme, humans barely clung to survival. Just being here to comprehend the mysteries was already a rare privilege.

  He had only managed to secure nine slots for humanity, carefully screened to give his race the best possible chance at grasping the profound mysteries of the Gold Origin. Those nine spots had been painstakingly arranged.

  And yet… somehow, there was a tenth human.

  “The tenth human…”

  Although the white figure couldn’t make out the face, something felt off.

  He glanced toward the Elemental Gods. Could these bastards have finally grown a conscience and granted humanity an extra slot?

  “Impossible.”

  The gods and demons of the Elemental Realm had always done everything in their power to squeeze humanity’s living space. Countless human immortal-martial worlds had been destroyed. Countless peak martial artists on the verge of becoming immortals had their foundations shattered.

  All of it orchestrated by these very gods and demons.

  So the idea that they would suddenly show mercy and grant an extra slot was absurd.

  Still, no matter the reason, this was good news for humanity.

  “At least one more person means one more sliver of hope.”

  The white figure gave a faint smile, staying silent. He neither exposed nor questioned the intruder.

  It seemed the Elemental Gods hadn’t even noticed the extra human among them.

  Watching the gods chatting and chuckling among themselves, the white figure allowed himself a rare moment of lightness.

  But even as he smiled, he knew the truth: even with one more person, it would still be incredibly difficult for humanity to stand out in this comprehension of the Gold Origin mysteries.

  Rumble—

  Ripples of Gold Origin essence spread outward like waves crashing on a beach. The entire area felt like a vast shoreline. Each powerhouse seated cross-legged on their ancient star became a depression in the sand, gathering the flowing essence into their own sea.

  The pattern was obvious.

  The closer one sat to the statue, the faster the sea of mysteries gathered and expanded.

  Everyone understood the harsh reality.

  The true victors would almost certainly be decided among the top hundred ancient stars.

  Those were the prime positions for comprehension.

  Especially the top five stars, occupied by the favored disciples of the Elemental Gods.

  The seas of mysteries above their heads had already reached diameters of a thousand miles—completely dominating everyone else.

  And the gap was still widening.

  The qualified powerhouses knew this too. None of them harbored delusions of competing directly with the gods’ disciples.

  Overpowering those who had both the best environment and the best talent to seize the statue’s ultimate inheritance? Impossible.

  They had only come to absorb what they could, to integrate a bit of the Gold Origin essence into their own offensive divine abilities and boost their power.

  After all, the Gold Origin essence excelled at enhancing destructive force.

  In the void.

  The conversation among the Elemental Gods gradually died down.

  They narrowed their eyes, watching their disciples intently.

  Though they were on friendly terms, competition still existed.

  And even for them, the inheritance contained within the statue was incredibly tempting.

  Unfortunately, they themselves were far beyond the qualification range.

  Their strength was too overwhelming. If they tried to comprehend it by force, the statue would unleash a terrifying backlash beyond imagination.

  So they placed their hopes on their disciples. Once every ten million years came this chance, yet across hundreds of cycles, no one had ever obtained the statue’s highest inheritance.

  The white figure remained silent.

  The Elemental Gods had stopped mocking him for now. His gaze fell upon one particular star among the top hundred—the one occupied by humanity’s most gifted prodigy, the only human who had secured a place there.

  This was humanity’s hope.

  Rumble!

  A terrifying beastly roar seemed to explode through the void.

  “The first wave of essence ripples has ended,” the blue Elemental God announced.

  Everyone’s eyes shifted downward, landing on the seas of mysteries above the heads of the top five prodigies.

  “Each sea is roughly fifteen thousand miles in diameter… the differences are negligible.”

  The five Elemental Gods exchanged faint smiles.

  Then their gazes turned toward humanity’s prodigy.

  “But only eight hundred miles… Humans really are as foolish as ever. They’re simply not suited for this mystery.”

  “Wasting a precious slot again.”

  “Every cycle they refuse to give up. Next time, let’s just eliminate humanity’s slots entirely.”

  Their words dripped with mockery, clearly aimed at the white figure.

  But the white figure said nothing.

  When one is weak, even breathing is a mistake.

  Still, he couldn’t help but feel disappointed. The one hope he had pinned everything on… had failed again.

  He hadn’t truly expected this prodigy to suppress the gods and demons of the Elemental Realm and claim the top spot.

  He had only hoped for a decent showing—something that could at least keep pace with their disciples’ seas.

  But perhaps humans truly had no talent for the Gold Origin mysteries.

  Among the top hundred, humanity’s prodigy was dead last.

  “Don’t rush,” one of the Elemental Gods chuckled. “There are ten waves in total. Humanity still has a chance to struggle.”

  “How else will they learn what true despair feels like?”

  “Hahaha…”

  The taunting laughter echoed.

  It felt as though they were deliberately trying to provoke the white figure.

  But he remained unmoved, completely ignoring them—as if they were nothing more than air.

  Yet his eyes had dimmed considerably, the light within them fading.

  If only they could obtain the inheritance, perhaps humanity would have a chance to reverse their desperate situation and break free from the Elemental Realm’s encirclement.

  But alas… humans really seemed to have no aptitude for this.

  …

  Bathed in endless golden light, Lu actually felt a strange sense of comfort.

  Though the light carried an aura of ultimate destruction and annihilation, overwhelmingly powerful, it didn’t harm the body at all.

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  Instead, it felt warm—like sunlight soaking into the skin.

  Bit by bit, it was absorbed into his soul.

  Vaguely, Lu seemed to see a golden behemoth being born on a life-bearing star.

  Then joyfully playing and frolicking across its surface…

  Everything was peaceful and harmonious.

  A perfectly natural cycle of life.

  The corner of Lu’s mouth lifted slightly.

  He began gathering his own sea of mysteries. As the golden ripples flowed past him, he absorbed them carefully, forming a golden ocean above his head.

  Unlike the others, Lu wasn’t in a hurry. He even moved with a trace of caution, as though these wisps of Gold Origin essence were timid little spirits—one wrong move and they’d scatter in fright.

  So compared to everyone else, his sea gathered slowly.

  …

  A deafening beastly roar shook the entire ancient starry void.

  A vast surge of golden energy ripples erupted from the statue.

  Compared to the first wave, this one felt different—stronger, more violent…

  Hum—

  The top five prodigies momentarily held their breath. Then, gritting their teeth against the impact that threatened to knock them over, they began absorbing the new wave, expanding their seas.

  The further along it went, the harder it became to expand the sea, because the ripples now carried traces of the statue’s will.

  The more one gathered early on, the stronger the foundation—and the better the chance of expanding further later.

  The second wave ended.

  It felt like a storm had swept through.

  Looking around, the scene was one of devastation.

  The top hundred prodigies had managed to hold steady, their seas intact.

  But beyond the top hundred, many had their seas shattered by the second wave.

  They tumbled across their stars, jolted out of their meditative state.

  Many felt regret. Many felt unwilling.

  But their seas were gone—they had lost the right to continue.

  Of course, while some failed, others endured.

  Still, compared to the top hundred, far more had been eliminated.

  In the void.

  The white figure let out a soft sigh.

  Including the intruder, humanity had sent ten participants this time.

  And the second wave alone had eliminated five of them.

  Though the prodigy on the top hundred star had held on, the white figure could no longer see any hope.

  Suddenly, something caught his attention.

  “This intruder… actually survived the second wave?”

  After a moment of surprise, he glanced at the intruder’s sea.

  His eyes flickered.

  Because that sea… had reached a diameter of three thousand miles!

  But the light in his eyes quickly dimmed again.

  “Not bad talent. If I’d known, I would’ve arranged a spot in the top hundred. But being outside that range, the position is too poor. There’s almost no chance now…”

  After another glance, he looked away, turning his gaze back to humanity’s prodigy—who had finally reached a sea of five thousand miles.

  The atmosphere was growing tense.

  Those whose seas had been destroyed by the waves didn’t leave. They remained seated on their stars, watching the others continue.

  Most eyes were fixed on the top five prodigies.

  They clicked their tongues in admiration.

  After the second wave, those five had likely reached seas of twenty-five thousand miles!

  Truly worthy of being the prized disciples of the Elemental Gods.

  Even if they couldn’t obtain the statue’s inheritance, the level of comprehension they had already achieved was enough to derive incredibly powerful offensive techniques from the Gold Origin essence.

  The world fell silent.

  Everyone watched this silent contest unfold.

  Finally, the second wave ended. The third wave began to surge.

  Once again, many were swept away.

  Seas collapsed and vanished into the starry void.

  Even among the top hundred, some failed.

  But that was normal; the figures in the void paid it little attention.

  The white figure was focused on humanity’s prodigy.

  The others watched their own disciples.

  Wave after wave of essence ripples spread, each one stronger than the last, growing more terrifying—as though the giant beast within the statue was growing increasingly agitated.

  And with each wave, the amount the prodigies could absorb decreased.

  The further it went, the harder expansion became.

  …

  After bathing in enough essence ripples, Lu felt as though his very soul had been refined and elevated.

  The next moment, his mind shifted.

  He activated the Indestructible Golden Body in soul form.

  The instant he did—

  It was as though his body became a massive vortex, frantically pulling in and devouring the free-floating essence energy drifting through the void.

  His sea of mysteries began expanding at terrifying speed.

  While everyone else’s expansion slowed to a trickle…

  Lu’s was growing exponentially.

  First wave: one thousand miles.

  Second wave: three thousand miles.

  Third wave: five thousand miles.

  Fourth wave: ten thousand miles…

  While others gathered less and less, Lu gathered more and more.

  His sea expanded faster and faster.

  …

  “Sigh.”

  The white figure let out a breath.

  When the fifth wave spread—

  The human prodigy on the top hundred star trembled violently. His sea shattered. Unable to withstand the statue’s pressure any longer, he tumbled across his star, losing all right to continue.

  Failure.

  The white figure felt a pang of pain.

  “Hahaha… Humans really are hopeless. They couldn’t even last past the fifth wave.”

  “Taking up one of the top hundred spots with that kind of performance? What a waste of a perfect spot.”

  “Humans don’t deserve this kind of opportunity.”

  The Elemental Gods had noticed too. Their mocking voices rang out.

  The white figure, already in a foul mood, swept an icy glance at the five gods.

  “Shut up.”

  Boom!

  A terrifying, oppressive aura erupted from him.

  But the Elemental Gods seemed to have been waiting for this moment, as though goading him into attacking.

  The white figure’s aura fluctuated. He gave the golden statue a wary glance and forcibly restrained himself.

  Had all of humanity’s participants failed?

  His gaze swept across the field.

  Suddenly, his pupils shrank.

  He looked toward the black-robed intruder.

  And what he saw…

  Above that black-robed figure’s head, the golden sea of mysteries swirled—

  Vast. Stable.

  “Fifth wave… eighteen thousand miles in diameter?”

  “This… how is this possible?!”

  Unbelievable!

  If he remembered correctly, the first time he looked at this black-robed figure, the sea had only been three thousand miles.

  By the logic of the previous waves, there was no way it could have reached eighteen thousand miles.

  Is this guy cheating?

  And he wasn’t the only one who noticed.

  Many powerhouses on nearby stars had also seen it.

  After all, in a field full of failures, the one still calmly expanding his sea stood out like a sore thumb!

  “Is that… a human?”

  “Everyone else’s sea shrinks with each wave, but his keeps growing?!”

  “This doesn’t make sense… Humans can’t possibly have this kind of talent!”

  …

  Amid the growing clamor.

  Countless gazes turned toward Lu.

  There was heat. There was envy.

  This must be what it’s like when a prodigy finally appears from the slums.

  Because right now, Lu’s sea of mysteries had already reached the level of many in the top hundred.

  Though still far from the top five.

  But this was already a miracle.

  In the void.

  The Elemental Gods noticed as well. They exchanged glances.

  “A human?”

  “Impossible… How could a human have such talent?”

  “It’s only eighteen thousand miles. Still far behind our disciples. This is probably the peak of what this human can do. The next wave will shatter his sea.”

  Their voices were calm.

  Though surprised, they weren’t overly worried.

  But the white figure’s heart surged with excitement. The despair he had felt earlier was replaced by a new spark of hope.

  Though… he knew the odds were slim.

  Lu’s position was terrible—far outside the top hundred.

  But even so, the white figure’s heart pounded.

  After all… wasn’t humanity the race that lived to create miracles?

  Boom!

  Another beastly roar. The massive statue seemed to tremble.

  Almost alive.

  The essence ripples it unleashed grew even more terrifying, like a golden hurricane!

  Muffled grunts came from the top five prodigies.

  Their seas fluctuated violently.

  The sixth wave.

  Their expansion had slowed dramatically.

  But the gap between them remained tiny—all five hovered around forty thousand miles.

  “It’s growing! Growing again!”

  “Reverse growth again?! Is this human a monster?”

  “What terrifying talent!”

  Whispers spread. Shock rippled through every heart.

  Even the powerhouse who had once explained things to Lu was dumbfounded.

  He never imagined Lu could do this.

  Originally eighteen thousand miles, after enduring the sixth wave, Lu’s sea had surged to thirty-two thousand miles!

  It had increased!

  While everyone else weakened, one person was growing stronger… How could that not shock the world?

  And most importantly…

  Lu was seated outside the top hundred.

  In the worst possible environment!

  Yet in that terrible position, he had forcefully surpassed many of the top hundred prodigies.

  Slowly closing in on the top five.

  Breathing grew heavier.

  The atmosphere grew heavier still.

  Everyone stared at what came next…

  Vaguely, they felt they might be about to witness a true miracle.

  The white figure’s eyes blazed.

  He stared at the black-robed figure, wanting to probe deeper, but discovered that even his soul power couldn’t penetrate the robe.

  “Is this child… a disciple of some saint?”

  Lu’s aura wasn’t particularly strong—only at the Extreme Emperor realm—yet he could block the white figure’s investigation. That was the only explanation.

  Even the Elemental Gods grew tense.

  They hadn’t expected a dark horse to emerge from humanity!

  The seventh wave surged!

  This time, the storm was even more terrifying.

  The golden ripples seemed to take the form of a massive golden claw, thick with profound power.

  Puff!

  Seas collapsed one after another.

  Muffled groans echoed across the top hundred stars.

  One prodigy after another failed, unable to withstand the pressure, falling at the seventh wave.

  But the top five… still held on.

  Their seas reached forty-three thousand miles!

  Their growth had slowed dramatically!

  But at least they had endured the statue’s pressure and still managed to grow.

  Yet at this moment, no one was looking at them.

  Not even the Elemental Gods.

  All eyes were fixed on the black-robed figure seated alone on an ordinary, forgotten star outside the top hundred.

  Above his head, the sea of mysteries surged…

  It had reached forty-two thousand miles!

  Though the rate of increase had slowed… it had still grown by ten thousand miles from the previous wave!

  Terrifying!

  Most importantly…

  This human’s sea was now only one thousand miles behind the top five disciples of the Elemental Gods!

  That was what set everyone’s blood boiling!

  The white figure almost laughed out loud!

  He never dreamed that, after giving up all hope, such an unexpected joy would arrive!

  Could he actually overtake them?!

  The white figure was filled with anticipation.

  The five Elemental Gods, however, had ice-cold expressions.

  At this point, even they began to feel uneasy…

  They tried to probe Lu, only to be blocked by the black robe—just as the white figure had been.

  The same thought flashed through their minds.

  “The eighth wave!”

  Whispers rose again.

  Everyone’s breathing quickened.

  Suddenly.

  The world seemed to fall into absolute silence.

  Even the Elemental Gods and the white figure felt an overwhelming pressure—the terrifying might radiating from the statue.

  The giant statue seemed to truly come alive.

  Its gaze swept across star after star, landing on the few beings still withstanding its pressure.

  Perhaps it felt its authority being challenged.

  The next instant.

  A golden ripple of essence surged forth.

  It took the form of the golden statue itself—leaping out with astonishing agility!

  Puff!

  Cracks seemed to appear on the top five stars.

  The five prodigies swayed. They struggled desperately against the crushing pressure of the entire statue bearing down on them.

  But after a moment…

  They couldn’t hold!

  Their seas ultimately stopped at forty-three thousand miles…

  Boom! Boom! Boom!

  The next moment, all five seas shattered.

  Their bodies tumbled across their stars.

  Rubble rolled.

  The five prized disciples of the Elemental Gods calmly rose to their feet.

  Across the distance, they exchanged glances—eyes full of rivalry.

  Though their masters were close, here they were competitors, each representing their own master.

  Still, they all knew the gap between them was minimal.

  Unfortunately, they hadn’t endured the eighth wave to reach the ninth.

  Of course, they were still quite satisfied with forty-three thousand miles. The eighth wave was already impressive.

  But soon, they froze.

  They had finished so long ago… yet no one seemed to be paying attention to them?

  As though realizing something, they turned.

  And saw, beyond the top hundred stars…

  A black-robed figure still seated in meditation.

  Above his head, the sea of mysteries roared…

  He was still comprehending?!