News of the Necropolis of the Gods opening was like a boulder cast into a tranquil lake, its ripples swiftly sweeping through the upper echelons of the entire Yulan Continent. Within the Ernst Institute, undercurrents surrounding the selection of candidates also began to stir. The Saint-level powerhouses needed promising talents who could scout ahead, bring back resources, and had the potential to become deities-not burdens.
The institute's leadership soon announced the preliminary selection criteria: candidates had to be under thirty, at least level seven, and pass assessments of combat ability and potential jointly devised by several Saint-level instructors.
These criteria immediately eliminated more than ninety percent of the students. Even at the Ernst Institute, level seven experts under thirty were exceedingly rare. With his talent of being superb in two elements, Lin Yinuo's careful guidance, and the hidden enhancement of his Dragonblood lineage, Linley's battle qi had already reached the peak of level six, just one step away from level seven. Yet he still lacked that final breakthrough and did not currently meet the strict requirements, leaving him somewhat dejected.
Lin Yinuo, however, fully met the criteria, both in age and in his publicly displayed strength of at least a Level Seven Mage-though his actual strength far exceeded that. Everyone considered his registration only natural.
Several days before the assessment, Lin Yinuo ventured deep into the Magical Beast Mountain Range alone once more. This time, his goal was not training. Instead, he followed the increasingly clear guidance of the [Plane Beacon] toward the region where the spatial barrier was most unstable, near the future entrance to the Necropolis of the Gods.
The deeper he went, the more violent and chaotic the elements in the air became. Ordinary magical beasts had long since vanished, and his surroundings were terrifyingly silent. Eventually, he stopped before a deep gorge shrouded in thick mist.
This was the core region the beacon had sensed! Though the necropolis had not officially opened, the space above the gorge was already visibly distorted. Fine spatial rifts like black lightning flickered in and out of sight, radiating a heart-stopping aura of destruction. Wisps of chaotic energy from other planes leaked out, causing even the surrounding rocks to undergo abnormal crystallization.
This is it! The weakest point in the spatial barrier, and the best place to check in!
He carefully chose a relatively stable spot where he could still clearly sense the spatial fluctuations, sat cross-legged, and brought his spiritual power to its optimal state. At the same time, he operated the [Soul Concealment Technique] at full strength to avoid detection by any Saint-level powerhouses who might be secretly monitoring the area.
Check in.
He silently spoke the words in his mind, with a trace of anticipation and solemnity.
[Ding! Check-in successful! Congratulations to the host for checking in at the edge of the [Soon-to-Open Interplanar Passage], triggering a higher-dimensional spatial disturbance and receiving the rewards: [Space Law Fragment · Ripple] and [One-Time Space Mark · Disguise]!]
Boom!
An immense torrent of information instantly surged into Lin Yinuo's sea of consciousness! It was far more obscure and abstract than what he had experienced while comprehending the fire elemental laws, yet it pointed straight to the fundamental rules of the world. This was not about the burning and destruction of "flame," but the folding, extension, rippling, and stabilization of "space"! [Space Law Fragment · Ripple]!
In an instant, Lin Yinuo felt his "vision" change. He no longer merely saw with his eyes; he could "hear" the "sounds" of space through his spiritual power! In his perception, those flickering spatial rifts were no longer disordered forces of destruction. Like ripples on water, they possessed distinct frequencies and trajectories! He could even vaguely "see" that behind the distorted space lay a faint connection to a vast, deathly silent, shattered world containing countless treasures-the Necropolis of the Gods! And deeper still lay that prison plane filled with brutality and chaos!
The laws of space! It's actually the laws of space! Though it's only a fragment of the profound mystery of "ripples," its value is immeasurable! This gives me insight and the ability to avoid danger far beyond ordinary people when facing spatial rifts, or even interplanar teleportation in the future!
At the same time, a strange, entirely silver rune appeared in his hand, its interior seemingly filled with flowing liquid-the [One-Time Space Mark · Disguise]. Its function was simple but extremely practical: carrying it while passing through an unstable spatial passage would perfectly simulate spatial fluctuations at the "Lowgod" level, providing excellent disguise and protection sufficient to fool the vast majority of probes.
Good stuff! When the entrance to the Necropolis of the Gods opens, Deity-level powerhouses from the major factions will surely be monitoring it. With this, I can conceal my true strength and the unusual nature of my soul, and pass more safely through that still-unstable passage!
Forcing down his excitement, he immediately began studying the [Space Law Fragment · Ripple]. Unlike the violent, straightforward fire elemental laws, the laws of space were more elusive and difficult to grasp. But his soul was powerful, and he had the beacon as a reference. Though his progress was slow, he improved steadily. His perception of the surrounding spatial fluctuations grew increasingly keen. He could even begin guiding his own magical power to simulate extremely faint spatial ripples. Though they had no destructive power whatsoever, they represented a qualitative leap.
Several days later, the Ernst Institute's internal selection assessment officially began.
The assessment took place at a special training ground in the hills behind the institute, with Headmaster Harrington personally overseeing it and several Saint-level instructors serving as judges. Only a dozen or so students qualified. Almost all were talents who had long been famous within the institute, each with a steady, composed aura and a sharp gaze.
Lin Yinuo's arrival drew everyone's attention. He remained as calm as ever, his aura restrained. Yet to perceptive observers, an invisible "membrane" seemed to envelop him, making his true depth difficult to discern. They even had the illusion that he might merge into his surroundings at any moment-a subtle effect of his initial contact with spatial ripples.
The assessment was simple and direct: endure for the time it took an incense stick to burn within the "Elemental Tide" domain jointly established by three Saint-level instructors, while launching as many effective attacks as possible at the target in its center.
Within the "Elemental Tide" domain, earth, water, fire, and wind elements raged in violent chaos. Not only did they severely disrupt spellcasting, but they also generated powerful mental pressure and physical impacts. It was an extreme test of a mage's control over magical power, mental resilience, and ability to adapt in combat.
The assessment began, and the students entered one after another, each displaying their abilities. Some struggled to resist behind sturdy magical shields. Others tried to bombard the target with powerful spells, only to fail because of the elemental disorder. Some were even reduced to a sorry state by the tide's impacts.
When Lin Yinuo's turn came, he stepped into the domain. Violent elemental turbulence swept toward him, yet within roughly a foot of his body, it seemed to strike an invisible layer of constantly undulating "ripples," its power greatly weakened and dispersed. He walked with ease, as though strolling through his own garden.
Hmm? He isn't using a magical shield? Is that... some form of ultimate control over the elements? No, it's more like... he's affecting the surrounding spatial structure? How is that possible?! one observing instructor thought.
Something even more shocking followed. Lin Yinuo chanted no lengthy incantation. He merely raised his hand, and a dark red spark flashed at his fingertip.
Whoosh-!
The Fire Condensation Finger appeared once more! This time, however, the highly condensed flame ray did not travel in a straight line. Its trajectory carried an extremely slight, almost imperceptible distortion, cleverly avoiding several of the most violent elemental vortices along its path and striking the target at the very center of the domain with unerring precision from an impossibly tricky angle!
Pfft!
With the same soft sound, the target was instantly pierced through! Throughout it all, Lin Yinuo's expression never changed. Not even the hem of his clothes had been stirred by the chaotic elements.
The entire training ground fell silent!
Everyone could see that Lin Yinuo's control over his power and use of his surroundings had reached a level beyond their understanding! This was definitely not something an ordinary Level Seven Mage could achieve!
An unprecedented brilliance burst from Headmaster Harrington's clouded eyes. He stared fixedly at the invisible layer of "ripples" surrounding Lin Yinuo and the flame ray's bizarre trajectory, while towering waves surged through his heart.
Laws! He has definitely touched the edge of the laws! And the exceedingly rare... laws of space?! This boy... this boy is destined for greater things! There must be a place for him in the Necropolis of the Gods!
The assessment results held no suspense. With an overwhelming advantage, Lin Yinuo secured the institute's sole guaranteed place. Through the various factions' informants, word of his performance also swiftly reached the ears of those who held power across the continent.
The "Imperial Bulwark," Lin Yinuo, not only possessed mysterious Magic Cannons, but was himself a monstrous genius who had touched the laws!
This appraisal made the factions that had still been somewhat hesitant finally make up their minds.
Ignoring the upheaval outside, Lin Yinuo returned to his dormitory. He rubbed the silver space mark in his hand, his gaze calm.
The place is secured, I've taken my first steps into the laws of space, and I have the disguise mark... The conditions for entering the Necropolis of the Gods are now in place. Next, all that remains is to wait for the gates to open wide and visit that place where gods fell, as well as... that chaotic Gebados Prison.
Deep within his soul, he sensed that the beacon pointing toward Gebados had become clearer and more familiar because of his initial grasp of the laws of space.
The storm was coming.
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