Beneath the Endless Tower, All Eyes on Him (5K)

Now that the personnel have been initially determined, Lin Yi pondered that the next step is to familiarize each other with their fighting styles and capabilities.

After all, trust must be built on genuine understanding.

Lin Yi was too lazy to figure it out himself, so he turned his attention directly to the guy in the team who seemed to be the most well-informed.

"The training camp handbook contains a lot of information that's rather brief. Kenkes, you know the training camp best. Do you have any suggestions on how we can quickly get to know each other?"

Upon hearing this, Kenkes perked up, as if he had finally waited for the moment to demonstrate his value.

A bright smile immediately spread across his face. He leaned closer to the group, his colorful head pressing down in a low voice, creating an atmosphere of sharing a secret. "Captain, you've come to the right person! There really is a way to quickly improve understanding, and not only that, you can earn Points!"

As he spoke, Kenkes pointed to the colossal tower that stretched from the sky to the ground at the far end of the square.

"See that? That's the Endless Tower. As you all should have noticed, the manual says there are single-player and team modes."

"However, what the manual doesn't mention is that the higher the floor you reach in this Endless Tower, the more generous the one-time Points reward. Furthermore, based on different floors, you'll also receive a fixed daily 'settlement Points ' automatically, a steady and consistent source of Points."

Then, he changed the subject, lowering his voice, "And most importantly, the first time you challenge the tower is free."

He emphasized the word "free".

Seeing that everyone was clearly intrigued, Kenkes then got to the core part, his expression becoming much more serious.

"Of course, Points are just icing on the cake. The most amazing thing about this tower is that it can accurately measure how well we've mastered the rules. After all, dividing it into only five tiers is a bit too broad. Even within the same tier, there are different levels. If we give everyone the same resources, wouldn't that be unfair?"

Kenkes further explained:

"Therefore, the difficulty of this tower is strictly linked to the level of Rule Comprehension. Although they are all Star Core level mirror images, don't be misled by the levels. The understanding and application of the rules by these mirror images, even the most basic first level, is genuinely at the Star Vortex level. Levels 1-10 range from the lowest Star Vortex Tier 1 to the perfect Star Vortex level of Rule Comprehension."

"Furthermore, starting from the 11th level, it becomes the first Star Domain level. The higher you go, the more monstrous the opponents become, and the more sophisticated the application of the rules. From the 21st level onwards, it will become Fusion Domain."

"For us newbies, we should be able to at least clear level 6. After all, that's the minimum requirement to get a 5th-tier rating."

"Being able to maintain a stable level 9 is already quite impressive within the 5th tier. Level 10 signifies that Star Vortex level comprehension is nearing perfection, with one foot already in the threshold of the 4th tier. As for level 11..."

Kenkes's gaze lingered on Star Firefly and Amber for a moment. "That's the standard for Gear 4."

He concluded with a final, forceful wave of his hand. "So, conquering this tower is like giving each of us a comprehensive ' Rule Comprehension check-up.' We'll each go in and have a run, and we'll clearly understand our strengths, our advantages, and our weaknesses."

"Furthermore, I propose that we grant each other spectating privileges so we can watch our teammates play in real time. Is there a more efficient and direct way to understand each other?"

Open spectator mode?

The expressions on everyone's faces varied.

This means exposing your most authentic combat process, including your habits of applying the rules, your choices at crucial moments, and even any mistakes or embarrassing moments, to your teammates.

Ai Wen Whisper was the first to agree, smiling and nodding, "Kenkes's suggestion is excellent. Only by understanding each other's limits can we cooperate more effectively in future missions. I agree."

Star Firefly rationally analyzed, "The logic is sound. Team collaboration efficiency and the depth of information sharing are significantly positively correlated. Granting spectator access aligns with the principle of maximizing efficiency. Agreed."

Lei Hao patted his chest, which was covered with fine rock and soil patterns, and grinned, "I'm fine."

Mo Yuan remained with his arms crossed, his cold face expressionless. He only glanced back at Lin Yi's face for a moment after the tower in the distance, before giving a barely perceptible nod, which was taken as acquiescence.

Kenkes himself, of course, wholeheartedly agreed.

In the end, only Amber remained.

She said hesitantly, "I... I might not be the most stylish fighter. I'm just pretty direct."

He smiled and reassured her, "It's okay, Amber. What we need to see is the most authentic you. We chose teammates, not a beauty contest, so there's no need to feel uneasy about it."

"That's true," Amber nodded vigorously. "Alright then, I'll try my best."

Seeing that everyone agreed, Lin Yi made the final decision, "In that case, everyone is free to do as they please today, familiarize themselves with the environment, and adjust their mindset. Tomorrow at this time, we'll meet here again and take advantage of this first free opportunity to challenge the tower together and spectate each other's battles."

"Yes, Captain!" the group responded in unison. A shared sense of purpose began to dispel the initial awkwardness, and the atmosphere became noticeably more lively than before.

The group dispersed according to their interests, while Lin Yi simply logged off.

The North Wind, in its private training room.

Lin Yi slowly opened his eyes. Without any hesitation, his consciousness immediately sank into the depths of his Soul Origin.

Within the Purple Mist Space, a Spiritual Enlightenment Qi, slowly rotating like a nebula and radiating a hazy glow, floated quietly.

Since using his Spiritual Enlightenment Qi twenty years ago when he left Blue Star, which boosted his Rule Comprehension to 53%, he has accumulated Spiritual Enlightenment Qi for another twenty years. This is his precious resource for breaking through to a higher realm.

"It's time."

With a thought, Lin Yi instantly absorbed that Spiritual Enlightenment Qi.

Boom!

It was as if the first roar of the universe at its creation exploded deep within my soul.

The concepts of time and space became blurred in an instant, and his consciousness was thrown into a bizarre and wondrous realm.

What lies before me is no longer a specific scene, but a vast ocean composed of countless colorful and uniquely shaped regular threads.

They intertwine, entwine, collide, and perish, representing the most fundamental mysteries of the universe.

Lin Yi, familiar with the process, directly focused on the green threads that represented vitality, reproduction, flourishing and decay, and reincarnation— the Life Rule.

Many previously obscure and difficult-to-understand Life Rule, like viewing them through a veil of mist, have now become clearer than ever before.

The microscopic composition and macroscopic manifestation of life energy, the underlying logic of cell division and proliferation, the rules and rhythms of growth and decay of all things, and the mysterious connection between life and soul.

Various profound mysteries unfolded before his eyes like a scroll, which he understood, absorbed, and integrated.

Lin Yi's Rule Comprehension of life began to soar at an unprecedented speed, from 60% to 70% to 80%, eventually settling steadily at 82%!

However, as Lin Yi's consciousness slowly withdrew from that profound state of enlightenment and regained control of his body, carefully experiencing himself, he frowned slightly.

The improvement was indeed enormous, but Lin Yi clearly felt that this surge in understanding was like a magnificent palace built on quicksand—grand but with an unstable foundation.

He knew many subtle details, but he couldn't fully digest and control them, and he couldn't perfectly transform them into combat power as intuitive as his own thoughts.

A vague sense of power lingered in my mind, as if the power exceeded the limits of the container itself.

"Indeed, while sudden enlightenment is desirable, it ultimately requires the sedimentation of time and the tempering of practical experience to solidify its foundation."

Lin Yi murmured to himself.

However, he was not discouraged by the fundamental issues; instead, he became even clearer about his next direction.

Lin Yi knew very well that with his 82% understanding of the Life Rule and his already perfected Gold Rule Domain, he was enough to secure a place in the early stages of the training camp. However, if he wanted to reach the top, he had to digest and absorb this surge of understanding as soon as possible and transform it into real strength.

Therefore, Lin Yi did not immediately return to the virtual world, but instead quickly sat down cross-legged and began to circulate the <Star-Deriving Essence Tempering Art>.

The surging source energy within his body, like a gentle galaxy, nourished his body and soul again and again under the guidance of the cultivation technique, as he attempted to control the newly added power of Life Rule.

--

The following day, at the training camp.

Seven figures appeared precisely at the foot of the Endless Tower.

Dozens of figures had already gathered around the base of the Tower Base, waiting in a dispersed manner.

A semi-transparent light screen floats beside the tower, displaying the current queue sequence and estimated wait time.

The atmosphere was somewhat somber and oppressive, a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of the rest of the square.

"This is the Endless Tower?"

Lei Hao gazed at the tower that exuded a chilling aura, his rugged face grave. "Each entry costs 2000 Points; that's no small sum."

"After all, the rules can be perfectly executed inside, which would be extremely expensive if you paid for it yourself. Crucially, you can't even get access to a perfect simulation. Furthermore, because it's a perfect simulation, only one person or one team can enter at a time."

Kenkes, his colorful head close to the group, explained, "However, since battles are usually quick, there's no need to worry about long queues. Besides, unless you're confident you can break through a bottleneck, or a newbie like us getting a free trial, who would bother burning Points every day? Most of the people around here are newbies like us, or..."

He gestured with his eyes to several small groups not far away, who were exchanging subtle glances with each other. "Those veteran teams are waiting to pick up the scraps; they're here to observe our newcomers' performance, to see if there are any promising talents worth recruiting or those we need to keep a close eye on."

Lin Yi nodded slightly and looked at his teammates. "Just as Kenkes said, this is an opportunity for us to showcase our strength and observe others. Watching each other play allows us to understand each other most directly. Is everyone ready?"

"Ready!" The response was filled with a well-adjusted fighting spirit and anticipation.

"Open in-team spectating privileges, then we'll go queue up."

Lin Yi took the lead and went to the registration area to enter the names of the seven members of his team one by one.

Their arrival also attracted the attention of some veteran teams and other newcomers present.

Several pairs of eyes, filled with scrutiny and curiosity, swept over the unusually shaped group of newcomers, but most only gave them a perfunctory glance and did not linger for long.

New talents emerge every time, but ultimately only a very small number truly stand out and become worth investing in.

The process of waiting in line is like a silent qualifying round.

As more people enter the tower, the names of those who attempt the tower and the floor they ultimately reach are clearly displayed on the light screen outside the tower.

Most scores were concentrated in the 6th to 8th floors, with the occasional 9th floor score causing a brief, subdued discussion.

"Look, that ' Flame Wolf ' team's newly recruited member has cleared level 9."

"Hmm, the potential is decent; it's reached the excellent level of 5."

The discussions were restrained and practical, more like a calm assessment of resources and a value judgment.

Soon, it was the turn of Lin Yi's team members.

Kenkes was the first to enter.

Lin Yi discovered that Kenkes's performance was agile and extremely deceptive. His colorful figure moved through the tower's space, making the use of the rules of light to the extreme, and finally managed to finish on the 9th floor.

When he came out, he had a smug look on his face and winked at his teammates.

This result is already excellent among the newcomers present. Several members of the veteran teams noted it in their database. "Kenkes, 9th floor, 5th grade, excellent."

Next up was Ai Wen.

Although it was also the 9th floor, his combat style, which involved sustained attrition and defense using sophisticated Life Rule, caught Lin Yi's eye. "So this is how Life Rule can be used."

As for Lei Hao, he played steadily and surely. His score of 9th floor, combined with his reassuring earth-based defensive style, made Lin Yi nod slightly.

As Mo Yuan's figure disappeared into the tower, and after a considerable period of time, the number of floors on the light screen finally and firmly settled on the 10th floor, a murmur of discussion arose around the base of the Tower Base.

"10th floor, Starry Sky Perfection."

"Which team is it? Write down the information and highlight the key points!"

Xing Yu, the Deputy Captain of the "Star Radiance" team who had previously tried to recruit Lin Yi, was also in the crowd.

Looking at Mo Yuan's cold and stern face and his score of tenth level, a hint of regret flashed in his eyes. Why hadn't he discovered this potential talent back then?

Subsequently, Star Firefly's achievement of reaching level 13 and Amber's achievement of reaching level 12 further amplified this level of attention.

"13 floors, and still Machine Race, that's quite good even among the top four newbies."

"On the 12th floor, that girl from the Li Race, didn't she say she wouldn't join teams? Why did she join a newbie's team?"

"This new team is quite interesting. Two are excellent (level 4), one is just shy of level 4, and three are excellent (level 5)."

"The one leading this is also Tier 4, Human Race, a new face, a newcomer. I think his name is Lin Yi, what's his background?"

The veteran team observers' eyes sharpened, and their mental exchanges increased several times over.

Xing Yu's expression was somewhat complicated. He was thinking that after two more rounds, he would try to recruit Lin Yi again, but he didn't expect that Lin Yi would raise a team that looked pretty good the very next day.

Finally, it was Lin Yi's turn, who was at the end of the line and was also the core of the team.

At this moment, most of the eyes around Tower Base were focused on him.

As the captain of this suddenly emerging new team, he undoubtedly bears the brunt of scrutiny and curiosity.

Lin Yi remained calm, as if the invisible gazes around him did not exist.

He adjusted his breathing, maintaining his optimal condition, and then stepped into the portal of light that flowed with countless data and runes.

On the light screen, the light spot representing him suddenly lit up, and the number of layers began to jump at a steady and rapid speed.

1 3 5 7 9

The rapid progress through the early levels did not cause much of a stir, which was expected and was the performance expected of a strong captain.

Ten floors! The speed of passage did not slow down significantly, showing no signs of slowing down.

11th floor! The light spot rose steadily with almost no pauses.

Floor 13! Still the same efficiency, cleared instantly.

Upon reaching this floor, the expressions of those still queuing or observing became genuinely serious.

The fact that they were able to pass through all 13 levels so smoothly means that their understanding of the rules and the breadth of their application have reached a very solid level, far exceeding that of ordinary newcomers, making them one of the best among the four tiers of newcomers.

Floor 14! Speed remains constant. Pass!

15 floors! Passed!

"It's already on the 15th floor."

"A veteran team's scout murmured."

16th floor! The light spot stayed on for a little longer, clearly encountering some resistance, but it still lit up steadily.

The area outside the tower gradually quieted down, and more and more people turned their attention to the light screen. Even some of the older team representatives who had been talking in hushed tones stopped talking.

A score of 16 is a solid improvement over all the newcomers in this season, and even surpasses the best historical performance of some of the veteran contestants in the fourth tier.

17 floors! This time, the stay was noticeably longer.

Everyone can imagine the intense clash of rules and the battle of wills taking place inside the tower.

That kind of silent waiting creates more invisible pressure than any sound.

Several minutes passed, and the light spot continued to flicker on the 17th floor, neither going out nor rising.

Some people began to exchange opinions in hushed tones, speculating that he might be about to stop there.

After all, 16 floors is already a remarkable achievement for a newcomer.

However, in the next moment, the light suddenly went out and then suddenly lit up again on the 18th floor.

Level 17, passed!

In an instant, almost all eyes were focused on the name and number of layers on the light screen.

First day! 17th floor!

The implications of this achievement were perfectly clear to the veteran team observers present.

This goes beyond the category of "4th grade excellent"; it has the potential to approach the threshold of 3rd grade.

Xing Yu's pupils contracted slightly, and for the first time, his usual composure vanished from his face. Beside him, Qing Feng, the captain of the "White Fang" team, had also arrived nearby at some point.

She stared at the screen, a complex smile playing on her sharp features. She whispered to her deputy, "It seems our initial bargaining chips for 'fair distribution' are truly insignificant in their eyes. The 17th floor on the first day. Heh, this is getting interesting."

Several representatives who were originally just conducting routine observations have now stepped aside with grave expressions and begun urgently transmitting this information, which is enough to attract the attention of the team's superiors, through an encrypted channel.

However, just as everyone was anticipating whether Lin Yi could pass the 18th floor, the light suddenly disappeared.

Then, at the exit of the Endless Tower, light flickered, and Lin Yi's figure slowly appeared.