"Do not worry about that," Lucia said with a faint smile as she looked at Max, her earlier irritation fading into a more composed expression. "The criteria for participating in the Cosmic Ascension Conference is far more complicated than what you currently know. What you have heard so far is only the most basic part of it."
Max's gaze sharpened slightly as he listened, clearly interested.
Lucia leaned back slightly and began explaining, her tone steady and informative.
"It is true that the original requirent for participation in the Cosmic Ascension Conference is the Law Refinent Realm," she said. "This rule was established when the very first conference was held, which dates back millions of years, perhaps even earlier than that. At that ti, the strongest geniuses across the Divine Realm were generally at the Law Refinent Realm or at most at its peak. That level represented the highest standard of talent and cultivation among the younger generation."
She paused briefly before continuing, her voice growing more serious. "However, as ti passed, the situation began to change. With each passing era, the overall strength of the geniuses across the Divine Realm continued to rise. Techniques improved, resources beca more refined, and the cultivation environnt evolved. As a result, many of the top disciples from powerful forces began to break past the Law Refinent Realm even before the conference took place."
Max listened silently, his expression thoughtful.
Lucia's eyes narrowed slightly as she continued. "This created a serious problem. Many of the strongest geniuses, the very individuals who were supposed to represent their forces, ended up becoming ineligible to participate simply because they had already advanced too far. This happened repeatedly across multiple conferences, and over ti, it led to widespread dissatisfaction among the various forces of the Divine Realm."
Her tone carried a hint of gravity as she spoke of that history. "Imagine investing countless resources into nurturing a genius, only to have them disqualified at the most important stage because they surpassed the limit that was ant to define excellence. Naturally, the major forces did not accept this situation quietly."
Max's eyes flickered slightly as he began to understand where this was going.
"At so point," Lucia continued, "the pressure from all sides beca too great. The major forces collectively raised their voices, and eventually, the rules of the Cosmic Ascension Conference were revised."
She looked directly at Max as she explained the outco. "A new rule was introduced. Geniuses who have reached the Law Manifestation Realm are also allowed to participate in the conference. However, there is a condition."
Max leaned slightly forward, his interest fully captured now.
Lucia spoke the final part clearly. "Their cultivation will be forcibly restricted to the peak of the Law Refinent Realm for the entire duration of the Cosmic Ascension Conference."
The words hung in the air.
"It does not matter how strong they actually are," she added. "Once they enter the conference, their power is sealed to that level. This ensures fairness while still allowing the strongest geniuses of each era to compete."
She concluded. "But there is also a limit to this. If the cultivation of the geniuses went past the 10th level of Law Manifestation Realm then they are truly ineligible to participate in the tournant."
Max fell silent for a mont as he absorbed everything Lucia had explained, his expression gradually turning more serious as his thoughts began to connect the implications behind her words.
"Does that not an that those who are truly at the peak of the Law Refinent Realm do not stand any real chance in the conference?" Max said slowly. "If there are geniuses whose actual cultivation has already reached the peak of the Law Manifestation Realm, but are rely restricted down to the peak of Law Refinent during the tournant, then the difference in their foundation, comprehension, and overall strength would still be overwhelming. Even if their cultivation is suppressed, they would still dominate those who genuinely belong to the Law Refinent Realm."
He leaned back slightly as he continued, a wry smile appearing on his face. "In that case, the so called peak Law Refinent geniuses would simply be crushed by those who have already stepped far beyond that stage."
Lucia did not seem surprised by his conclusion. Instead, she shrugged lightly, her expression calm as if this reality was sothing she had long accepted.
"That is exactly how things have been in the last few Cosmic Ascension Conferences," she said. "What you just described is not a possibility. It is the standard."
She folded her arms as she continued explaining, her tone steady. "Because of that rule, all the forces in the Divine Realm have adapted their strategies. Instead of keeping their geniuses at the Law Refinent Realm, they push them as far as possible into the Law Manifestation Realm before the conference begins. The higher their actual cultivation, the stronger they remain even after being restricted."
Her gaze sharpened slightly as she added, "At that level, even a small difference in foundation or comprehension becos decisive. Soone who has already reached the peak of the Law Manifestation Realm will have a far deeper understanding of laws compared to soone who has just reached the peak of the Law Refinent Realm. That gap cannot be erased simply by suppressing their cultivation."
Max listened carefully, his expression growing more focused.
Lucia continued, her voice carrying a quiet confidence. "This is also what our Black Dragon Clan plans to do. The top true disciples are already around the fifth level of the Law Manifestation Realm. By the ti the Cosmic Ascension Conference begins, most of us will have reached at least the seventh level. Those with higher talent might even reach the tenth level."
Her words were calm, but the aning behind them was clear.
The competition Max would be facing was far beyond what he had initially imagined.
"I see," Max said quietly, nodding his head.
As he understood the full picture, the pressure within his heart increased noticeably. Before this, he had assud that reaching the peak of the Law Awakening Realm would be enough to compete since his combat power would be at the peak of Law Refinent Realm.
That assumption had allowed him to remain relatively calm about the upcoming tournant. However, now that he understood the reality, he realized that the situation was far more intense.
For a mont, Max closed his eyes, his breathing steady as he cald his thoughts.
When he opened them again, there was no hesitation left.
Only clarity.
"Only by evolving my bloodline completely," he thought to himself, his gaze turning cold and focused, "only by devouring the source of the Imperial Bloodline can I achieve a qualitative leap in strength."
That was not just an option anymore.
It was a necessity.
"And Orion… is my only chance."
User Comments
0 comments from readers