Carl explained, "There are different ranks within the Core Layer of the Axe Fighting Arena. From highest to lowest, they are the First Secret Realm, Second Secret Realm, Third Secret Realm, and Fourth Secret Realm. The First Secret Realm is also called the Axe Secret Realm. Though they're all part of the Axe Fighting Arena's Core Layer, the benefits and treatment they receive are worlds apart!"
Gulanxiu nodded. The four Secret Realms were divided much like those of the Virtual Universe Company. But the names certainly suited Giant Axe Founder's personality: simple and blunt, just like the names of his secret techniques.
Carl continued, "You've just joined the Axe Fighting Arena's Core Layer. Since you haven't passed the Trial Tower, you can only be a member of the Fourth Secret Realm, and you're ranked last among its Cosmic Level members."
"Ranked?" Gulanxiu asked in confusion, waiting for Carl to explain. The geniuses in the same Secret Realm of the Virtual Universe Company hadn't been ranked in the original story, so Gulanxiu had no idea what purpose these rankings served.
Carl smiled. "The members of the Axe Fighting Arena's four Core Secret Realms aren't fixed. Sometimes, when a spot opens up in a higher-ranked Secret Realm, a highly ranked member of the next Secret Realm down will move up to fill it. For example, if the Cosmic Level First Secret Realm has three spots and one member dies or breaks through to become a Domain Lord, the first-ranked member of the Second Secret Realm will move up to the First Secret Realm, and so on. Anyone who's just joined the Core Layer is ranked last in their Secret Realm."
"How do you move up in rank?" Gulanxiu asked. If there were rankings, there had to be a way to advance. Otherwise, the rankings would be meaningless.
"One way is to move up when someone ahead of you is no longer there. The other is to challenge someone," Carl said calmly. "The Axe Fighting Arena is different from the Virtual Universe Company. At the Virtual Universe Company, members move up or down between Secret Realms through the Secret Realm Qualification Battle in the Virtual Universe.
"But the Axe Fighting Arena has no Qualification Battle. If you want to advance, you have to challenge someone stronger. Cosmic Level members get one chance to challenge someone every hundred years. You can only challenge someone ranked above you, never below, and those ranked higher aren't allowed to refuse. If you win, you switch ranks with the person you challenged.
"Challenges aren't restricted by Secret Realm, either. In theory, even you could challenge the top-ranked member of the First Secret Realm directly."
"Wouldn't that be unfair to the person being challenged? If they win, they get nothing, but if they lose, they're demoted," Gulanxiu asked, puzzled.
"Those in higher Secret Realms enjoy better resources. Isn't winning only right?" Carl explained. "Besides, although the person being challenged can't refuse, they can choose the type of battle."
"There are two types. One is a Virtual Battle, where you fight in the Virtual Universe with the same physical attributes and weapons within the permitted limits. It mainly tests your Law Comprehension and secret techniques.
"The other is a life-and-death battle. You have to report it to your superiors, then a powerful expert will oversee the duel in the real world. The winner lives, and the loser dies! In a life-and-death battle, you can use any means except technological weapons and potions or puppets you didn't develop yourself. For example, the Flame God Race you fought before has a much stronger foundation than ordinary humans of the same level, giving them a considerable advantage in a life-and-death battle.
"So challengers usually need to be confident in both their Law Comprehension and their actual strength before challenging someone stronger. Otherwise, losing your life in a life-and-death battle would just be foolish."
Gulanxiu understood now. Put simply, the Axe Fighting Arena was raising Gu. They didn't care whether ordinary geniuses lived or died. Over the endless passage of time, it didn't matter how many Realm Lords died. Even if they didn't die in battle, they would eventually reach the end of their natural lifespans.
What the Axe Fighting Arena cared about was the strong who emerged after these geniuses fought their way through the ranks.
Compared with the Virtual Universe Company's relatively gentle approach to nurturing talent, the Axe Fighting Arena was clearly far more brutal and blood-soaked.
That was obvious from the various levels of the Axe Fighting Arena's competitions. They wanted to eliminate the weak and select the strong through endless killing.
As for the losses among the weak, they might inspire sympathy, but they wouldn't affect humanity's overall strength.
After pausing to let Gulanxiu digest what he'd just heard, Carl continued, "New members of the Axe Fighting Arena, as well as members who've just advanced, get a period of protection. Challenges are forbidden during that time: one hundred years for Cosmic Level members, one thousand years for Domain Lords, and ten thousand years for Realm Lords. Of course, you're already ranked last in the Fourth Secret Realm, so no one can challenge you anyway!"
Gulanxiu was at a loss for words.
Carl ignored his feelings and continued, "I've already applied for a ship for you. It'll come here in six months to take you to the Initial Universe. You can cultivate here until then. I've already made the arrangements. Qianmo and I have other things to take care of, so we'll be leaving now."
Gulanxiu nodded. "Thank you for everything, Lord Carl."
Carl smiled. "Don't mention it! I benefited from this, too. And if you become a Realm Lord someday, perhaps we'll fight side by side!"
With that, Carl left with Qianmo, the young Snake Human.
At that moment, Gulanxiu's Light Brain received an email from the Axe Fighting Arena.
"Hello, Gulanxiu! Congratulations on passing the assessment and becoming a member of the Axe Fighting Arena's Fourth Secret Realm. Your current ranking is D5404. From now on, please do not travel far. The company has dispatched a ship to take you to the Initial Universe. It is expected to arrive in 192 days."
After reading the email, Gulanxiu breathed a sigh of relief. He'd been in this world for hundreds of years, and now he was finally safe—for the time being, at least. All he had to do now was work hard to improve himself. Advancing to a higher Secret Realm after joining the Axe Fighting Arena wasn't something he was considering for now.
After all, judging by what he knew, his talent was only average. At the Star Level, his strength would have been about on par with the Heaven and Earth Secret Realm or the Last Place Secret Realm in the Virtual Universe Company's Genius Battle of the original story. Given the Axe Fighting Arena's system for advancement, reaching a higher Secret Realm would be difficult. He only had one life, after all, and shouldn't aim too high.
With talent like his, becoming an Immortal shouldn't be too difficult as long as he didn't pursue the absolute limits. But becoming a Venerable was practically impossible, let alone a Universe Master or a True God.
In that case, he might as well work toward becoming an Immortal, then kick back and wait for Luo Feng to appear so he could ride on his coattails!
It might tarnish the reputation of a transmigrator from Blue Star, but what could he do without a cheat? The Withered Seed that had transmigrated with him into his Sea of Consciousness hadn't come with an instruction manual, and it hadn't made a peep in all these years.
He just didn't know how long it would be until the original story began. It was probably still a long way off, since the Yan God Race hadn't left humanity yet.
Before you continue