Ultragene Warlord

Zhang Lie waved a hand. "I don't care for such transformations—I just want to save Hanxiang."

Bu Wentian replied, "Even if it can't fix the problem entirely, her situation will surely improve considerably."

"When will the Galactic Rising Stars Cup be held?"

"Not every lifeform will be able to participate. One of the reasons for constructing this trial-taker's chamber is to select existences that might be able to participate in the Cup. Of the six challengers who have passed the trial, only you and that couple would even have a chance. The husband of the couple did participate, but performed terribly."

"What requirements are there for participation in the Cup?"

"Participants must be fewer than fifty years old—well, you're not even thirty—and they must meet minimum qualifications in terms of strength. You easily meet both criteria, and you can certainly participate. The Cup boasts lavish rewards, and the flower of universal life is only one among many."

However, Zhang Lie wasn't interested in the other rewards.

"When is the next Cup?"Thᴇ link to the origɪn of this information rᴇsts ɪn ɴo(v)elFɪre.ɴet

"A week later, in Milky Way time."

"That quickly?!" Zhang Lie raised an eyebrow.

"Considering the time dilation of the fourth realm, it's a year later for us."

Zhang Lie asked, "Are there restrictions on the number of people who can participate?"

"At most ten, as long as they're strong enough."

Zhang Lie nodded. "Let's see what they think, then."

Bu Wentian was clearly very excited that Zhang Lie was intending to participate.

Zhang Lie then asked, "Do you know what crisis the Milky Way is currently facing?"

Bu Wentian's smile vanished. "This isn't something you can learn about at the moment. Do you understand?"

Zhang Lie frowned. "Why are you all so mysterious about this purported crisis? What's the problem here?"

"By the time you ascend to the fifth realm—no, by the time you return from the Cup, you'll likely have an idea already."

"And if I want to know now?"

Bu Wentian shrugged. "Then I regret to inform you that I won't be able to help."

"If I remember correctly, I still have two rewards left."

"To be accurate, one arbitrary reward. The other reward, for defeating the past challengers, is fixed."

"Very well. I'd like to use my arbitrary reward to exchange for information about the crisis that the Milky Way is currently facing."

Bu Wentian crossed his arms. "Unfortunately, the prize must be a material good, not information."

"Forget it, then."

Zhang Lie could already hazard a guess as to the nature of the crisis based on what his father and Bu Wentian had divulged. Clearly, there were other galaxies beyond the Milky Way—and it had to be from those galaxies that the crisis emanated.

Zhang Lie intended to investigate these mysteries fully when he returned to the Milky Way. There were too many questions that he had. Why had his parents' names and accomplishments been censored throughout the Milky Way, and whence came the crisis the Milky Way faced?

He also had to chat with Zhang Hanxiang. For the time being, he intended on hiding the information about her spiritual avatar of frost.

Further, he had to inform the members of Team Zenith to ascend. Once they did so, he intended to bring them toward the trial-taker's chamber.

The trial-taker's chamber boasted large quantities of disaster-grade lifeforms, and it was valuable merely for the disaster gene fragments that it gave to the trial-takers, let alone the additional prizes.

If they could pass the trials, he would bring them toward the Galactic Rising Stars Cup. Once again, just like when he participated in the Void Cup, he would sweep the championship with them.

As he pondered these problems, he turned to leave.

Bu Wentian called out, "Don't you want your rewards?"

Zhang Lie waved a hand. "I'm not too interested."

Bu Wentian continued, "The Galactic Rising Stars Cup will have plenty of strong opponents for you to contend with. If you're not strong enough, you'll quickly be suppressed. I have something that will allow you to grow stronger by leaps and bounds."

Zhang Lie developed a spark of interest. "What is it?"

"Considering that you're still using a superior-grade blood ant soulshard to boost yourself, how about this?" Bu Wentian retrieved a soulshard.

The soulshard looked like a galaxy, like an endless expanse of starlight.

"This is a monarch-grade limitless universe soulshard."

Zhang Lie was shocked. "A monarch-grade soulshard..."

"It'll take down any disaster-grade lifeforms easily. All the opponents you face now will be disaster-grade or higher, and it's far too humiliating for you to still be using a superior-grade soulshard. It's time to improve your equipment. Take this monarch-grade soulshard—I look forward to your performance during the Galactic Cup."

Zhang Lie picked up the soulshard that looked like a miniature universe. Is this all you're giving me? Don't you have an emperor-class soulshard on hand?"

Bu Wentian gave him a skeptical look. "You're aware of emperor-grade lifeforms?"

"I cultivated one myself."

Bu Wentian gaped. "Really? The dimensional world hasn't fostered one for countless years! How did you do it?"

"It was a rather unusual lifeform to begin with, and it developed rapidly as a result of the blessing of the world upon the unification of the third realm. I expect it won't be reproducible."

Zhang Lie took the soulshard. The will of the realm announced in his head, [You have obtained a monarch-grade limitless universe soulshard.]

Bu Wentian replied, "I do have one such, and I'll give it to you as a bonus reward if you can win the championship."

"Then you'd best be prepared," Zhang Lie announced confidently.

"Furthermore, for winning against all five previous eidola, you've won a diamond chest." Bu Wentian handed Zhang Lie a gleaming chest that reflected light.

Zhang Lie opened it to reveal a model airship.

Zhang Lie was speechless. "You're giving me this as a commemorative gift?"

Bu Wentian replied, "This isn't a commemorative model. It's a real airship, which will transform into actual size when you leave this chamber."

Zhang Lie frowned. "If I remember correctly, no technology is allowed within the dimensional world."

Bu Wentian replied, "More accurately, it's technology that exists in the Milky Way. This airship uses technology that lies beyond it, and is compatible with the dimensional world. There's a furnace inside, a gigantic training room, as well as a research laboratory. Small though it might look, it fulfills three of your wishes."

"It doesn't sound very realistic..."

"It does consume quite a bit of fuel, but you can essentially use anything as fuel, including the meat and flesh of genetic lifeforms."