In a stretch of starry space within the Golden Lion Starfield, there was a planet that seemed to have been cast from alloy.
This was Heavenly Eye Star, one of Heavenly Pillar Mountain's nine branches within the Golden Lion Empire.
Though Heavenly Eye Star was called a planet, it was actually a massive planetary fortress.
Heavenly Eye Star gleamed bright silver all over, with deep, dark passages leading straight into its interior.
On the planet's surface stood menacing cannon barrels of immense thickness, powerful enough to shatter a D9-class Spaceship with a single shot.
Besides those, there were numerous technological weapons, including magnetic railguns and large laser cannons.
At that moment, spaceships of every shape filled the sky like countless locusts, either flying out of those deep passages or approaching from afar to enter them!
Even the most ordinary of these spaceships were C-class. There were quite a few D-class spaceships, and even a very small number of E-class ships!
E-class ships were generally standard equipment for World Lord Level powerhouses. Some Domain Lord Level powerhouses also traveled in spaceships of this caliber, but even across the entire Golden Lion Empire, there would not be many E-class ships.
At that moment, these ships resembled countless locusts being continually swallowed and disgorged by the colossal Heavenly Eye Star.
In truth, Heavenly Eye Star had previously been nothing more than a mineral planet. Although there were no inhabited planets nearby, its rich ice gold deposits had still made it highly valuable to mine.
Ice gold was a C6-grade metal, and mining it also offered a good chance of yielding the D6-grade metal ice gold essence, or even the E6-grade metal ice gold mother.
For precisely this reason, Heavenly Eye Star had held considerable importance throughout the Golden Lion Empire and counted among its more important assets.
Several million years ago, the superpower Heavenly Pillar Mountain had purchased Heavenly Eye Star from the Golden Lion Empire's imperial family, then paid an astonishing price to turn it into one of its nine branches.
The present Heavenly Eye Star could hold out for a very long time even against an attacking World Lord Level powerhouse;
if a Domain Lord Level powerhouse tried to force their way into Heavenly Eye Star, they would probably be blasted to pieces in an instant by its numerous menacing cannons.
Just then, in the distant starry space-
Faint ripples suddenly spread through space, but Heavenly Eye Star's surveillance system paid them no heed.
These were the distinctive fluctuations produced by traveling from the Dark Universe back into the Original Universe. Such fluctuations appeared an unknown number of times every day in the space around Heavenly Eye Star.
Then...
Hum!
A silver, flying-saucer-shaped spaceship over three hundred meters in diameter suddenly appeared in this stretch of space.
After pausing briefly, the spaceship immediately flew swiftly toward Heavenly Eye Star nearby, just like the other ships.
Inside the spaceship's hall, two figures were conversing. They were none other than Lu Qingshan and his teacher, Kanuo.
"Qingshan!"
After ordering the ship's AI to activate the exterior simulation, Kanuo soon said, "Up ahead is one of Heavenly Pillar Mountain's nine branches!"
Lu Qingshan gazed ahead. Even though he had prepared himself, the enormous, terrifyingly menacing planet before him still stunned him.
Although he had long known how vast and powerful this world was, actually seeing a planet armed to the teeth still left him deeply shaken.
Even a major power within a mid-tier civilization possesses such might. What about the true upper echelons of the Human Race?
Lu Qingshan could not help marveling inwardly. I wonder how magnificent and grand the headquarters of the Human Race's five major powers will be in the future.
"Qingshan, do you see those menacing cannon barrels ahead?"
Once the ship reached an area not far from Heavenly Eye Star, Kanuo could not help exclaiming, "Those are all incredibly fearsome technological weapons. Even your teacher would perish instantly if struck by a single shot!"
Hearing this, Lu Qingshan soon gave a slight nod.
Immediately afterward, the ship's AI spoke in their ears. "Master, we have received Heavenly Eye Star's guidance signal. We must enter passage number 473, then proceed to the D-class spaceship docking port!"
"No problem!"
Kanuo promptly instructed, "Just follow the guidance signal!"
And so, after traveling aboard the spaceship for over ten minutes, Lu Qingshan and Kanuo entered a broad passage on Heavenly Eye Star.
They flew through the passage for another minute or so before steadily slowing down and coming to a stop.
Whoosh!
The hatch opened, and Lu Qingshan followed Kanuo outside.
A middle-aged man in green robes was already waiting outside. Upon seeing the teacher and disciple emerge, he promptly stepped forward with a smile. "Hahaha, Kanuo, is this your disciple who has already comprehended an earth domain?"
"That's right!"
Kanuo quickly nodded in reply, then turned to Lu Qingshan and introduced him. "Qingshan, this is Deacon Spencer of Heavenly Pillar Mountain!"
"Deacon Spencer helped a great deal with your smooth admission to Heavenly Eye Mountain this time. You must thank him properly!"
Hearing this, Lu Qingshan hurriedly said to Spencer, "Thank you, Deacon Spencer!"
On their way to Heavenly Eye Star, Kanuo had already introduced him to some of Heavenly Pillar Mountain's circumstances.
Within Heavenly Pillar Mountain, those dressed in green robes were all Universe Level powerhouses;
those in blue robes were Domain Lord Level powerhouses and counted as the backbone of Heavenly Pillar Mountain;
as for those in white robes, they were World Lord Level powerhouses, of whom there were few even in all of Heavenly Pillar Mountain.
The green-robed Spencer was a Universe Level deacon of Heavenly Pillar Mountain. Kanuo had used his connection with him to recommend Lu Qingshan for admission.
"No need for thanks!"
Spencer soon said with a smile, "This young fellow only earned this opportunity because his own talent was strong enough!"
"But before that, I must confirm it once more!"
Spencer looked at Lu Qingshan again. "Young fellow, display your earth domain!"
"Yes!"
Lu Qingshan answered respectfully, then unleashed his earth domain.
A hazy, earthen-yellow glow instantly enveloped his body, as though clothing him in a suit of earthen-yellow armor.
"It really is earth domain first level!"
Seeing Lu Qingshan truly unleash an earth domain, Spencer smiled once more. "Young fellow, you're quite impressive!"
"To possess a domain at Star Level Second Stage, you can at least become a Second Grade Elite in our Heavenly Pillar Mountain!"
"A Second Grade Elite?" Lu Qingshan was slightly taken aback.
"That's right!"
Spencer soon explained, "When our Heavenly Pillar Mountain cultivates the younger generation, we focus primarily on the Star Level!"
"All Star Level geniuses who join our Heavenly Pillar Mountain are divided into four tiers according to talent. The lowest are Third Grade Elites, followed by Second Grade Elites, First Grade Elites, and the most gifted, Special Grade Elites!"
"Since you possess a domain at Star Level Second Stage, you can at least be classified as a Second Grade Elite. If you're quite proficient at using your domain, you could even be assessed as a First Grade Elite!"
"Within our Heavenly Pillar Mountain, a First Grade Elite's status is already no lower than that of an ordinary Universe Level powerhouse. As for Special-Class Elites, their status surpasses that of most Universe Level powerhouses!"
Hearing Spencer's explanation, Lu Qingshan soon asked, "Deacon Spencer, may I ask how many Special Grade Elites Heavenly Pillar Mountain currently has?"
"Three!"
Spencer soon answered with a smile, "They're all at Star Level Ninth Stage. Two possess fourfold domains. The other only possesses a triple domain, but has cultivated for a shorter time-not even a thousand years yet!"
"What is it, young fellow? Do you want to become a Special Grade Elite of our Heavenly Pillar Mountain too?"
Hearing this, Lu Qingshan promptly replied, "This junior will work hard!"
"Oh?"
Seeing Lu Qingshan accept the challenge, Spencer looked surprised, then smiled again. "Then I'll wait and see!"
"All right!"
Spencer looked at Lu Qingshan again and said solemnly, "Lu Qingshan, are you willing to join our Heavenly Pillar Mountain?"
"Once you join, you can immediately be designated a Second Grade Elite, and you may also take the assessment to compete for First Grade Elite status!"
"This junior is willing!" Lu Qingshan promptly agreed.
"Good!"
Spencer nodded slightly, then said, "Since you're willing to join our Heavenly Pillar Mountain, young fellow, come with me!"
Hearing this, Lu Qingshan immediately looked toward his teacher, Kanuo.
"Go ahead, Qingshan!"
Kanuo soon said, "With Deacon Spencer's help, there won't be any trouble!"
"If anything comes up, you can contact your teacher through the Virtual Universe!"
"Yes, Teacher!" Lu Qingshan promptly nodded in reply, then followed Spencer out of the ship docking port.
Kanuo remained where he was until Lu Qingshan's figure slowly disappeared. Only then did he turn back into the ship's hall and leave Heavenly Eye Star aboard the spaceship.
Meanwhile, Spencer soon led Lu Qingshan into an oval hall.
Several dozen figures were quietly waiting in the hall.
When Lu Qingshan appeared, the others all turned their gazes toward him, but paid him little attention.
"Young fellow, wait here for a while!"
Spencer soon said, "Once we have enough people, I'll take you to headquarters!"
"Yes!" Lu Qingshan promptly nodded.
Meanwhile, after hearing Spencer's words, several figures nearby turned their attention back to Lu Qingshan.
Once Spencer left, a Star Level member of the Fox-kin Race soon walked toward Lu Qingshan.
"Hey, hello!"
After approaching Lu Qingshan, the Fox-kin genius soon said, "I'm Molik from the Nuota Galaxy. May I ask your name?"
Hearing this, Lu Qingshan looked at him with interest.
Among the more than eight thousand galaxies within the Golden Lion Empire, the Nuota Galaxy could be considered one of those most firmly controlled by its imperial family.
Yet Molik had not chosen to join the more powerful Golden Lion Empire's imperial family, instead choosing to join Heavenly Pillar Mountain.
"I'm Lu Qingshan from the Scorpio Galaxy!" Lu Qingshan replied with a slight nod.
"Were you also designated a Second Grade Elite by Heavenly Pillar Mountain?"
After saying this, seemingly noticing the puzzlement in Lu Qingshan's eyes, Molik soon explained, "Within Heavenly Pillar Mountain, Third Grade Elites generally cultivate at branches like Heavenly Eye Star. Only Second Grade Elites and above are sent to headquarters to cultivate!"
"So that's how it is!" Lu Qingshan understood at once.
Molik soon continued, "Heavenly Pillar Mountain designated me a Second Grade Elite too. Once we reach headquarters, we can exchange pointers more often!"
"No problem!" Lu Qingshan nodded slightly without mentioning his intention to take the assessment for promotion to First Grade Elite.
And so, after more than a day passed, several hundred geniuses had gathered in the hall.
Just then, Spencer soon arrived in the hall with several other Heavenly Pillar Mountain powerhouses.
Leading them was a Domain Lord Level powerhouse dressed in blue robes, with Spencer and the other powerhouses following behind.
Once these powerhouses appeared, the many Star Level geniuses who had been conversing immediately fell silent.
"Welcome to our Heavenly Pillar Mountain!"
The leading Domain Lord Level powerhouse soon said, "Next, I'll explain the rules of our Heavenly Pillar Mountain lineage. I hope you'll listen carefully! If anyone violates these rules in the future, that will constitute a betrayal of our Heavenly Pillar Mountain, and our powerhouses will certainly hunt them down!"
Hearing this, Lu Qingshan and the others all grew solemn, then listened quietly.
Heavenly Pillar Mountain did not actually have many rules. Apart from respecting one's teachers and the path, and not committing betrayal, the most important rule was that they could not subsequently join another power on the same level as Heavenly Pillar Mountain, such as the Golden Lion Empire's imperial family...
As for a behemoth like the Heavenly Star Dojo, they were entirely free to join.
However, the Heavenly Star Dojo mostly only offered guidance from renowned teachers and rarely provided cultivation resources. Thus, Lu Qingshan had not previously chosen to join the more powerful Heavenly Star Dojo.
After explaining all of Heavenly Pillar Mountain's rules, the Domain Lord Level powerhouse soon spoke again. "Third Grade Elites, remain where you are. You'll leave with the person on my left shortly!"
"As for Second Grade Elites and above, follow these others to headquarters!"
After that, Lu Qingshan and the other geniuses soon walked over to Spencer and the other Universe Level powerhouses.
Among the several hundred elites present, only twenty-odd were Second Grade Elites or above.
Soon, Lu Qingshan's group followed Spencer and the other Universe Level powerhouses to the ship docking port, then boarded an E-class ship bound for Heavenly Pillar Mountain's headquarters.