Under Domain Lord Lin Tian's guidance, Lu Qingshan and Terrance soon arrived at the entrance of a manor roughly one kilometer long and wide.
"This is where Heavenly Pillar Mountain's First Grade Elites cultivate!"
Domain Lord Lin Tian looked at the heavily guarded manor ahead, then introduced it to Lu Qingshan and Terrance with a smile. "This manor may not look very large, but it holds a world of its own!"
"Inside is a World Lord World built through the inconceivable methods of one of Heavenly Pillar Mountain's World Lord Level experts. In terms of area alone, this World Lord World is dozens or even a hundred times larger than the entire Heavenly Pillar Planet!"
"A world in a grain of sand-such are the vast divine abilities of World Lord Level experts!" Domain Lord Lin Tian said with great envy.
After hearing Domain Lord Lin Tian's words, Terrance, standing nearby, also felt towering ambition rise in his heart.
In the future, he would surely become a World Lord Level expert too!
Lu Qingshan's expression, by contrast, remained very calm, because he knew perfectly well that so-called World Lord Level experts were merely somewhat stronger cannon fodder in the Swallowed Star World.
Without becoming an Immortal, one would ultimately perish with the relentless passage of time!
Meanwhile, when the guards at the manor's entrance saw Domain Lord Lin Tian approaching in his blue robe, they hurriedly greeted him respectfully. "Greetings, Elder!"
"Mm!"
Domain Lord Lin Tian nodded slightly, then led Lu Qingshan and Terrance into the manor.
The guards inside the manor far outnumbered those outside, and there were even Universe Level experts among them.
Fortunately, with Domain Lord Lin Tian leading them, Lu Qingshan and Terrance did not encounter many obstructions along the way.
Just like that, Domain Lord Lin Tian soon brought Lu Qingshan and Terrance to a quiet chamber.
The entrance to this quiet chamber looked very strange, however: it was a curtain of flowing light that resembled foam.
With this flowing light blocking their view, Lu Qingshan and the others could not see inside the quiet chamber at all.
Looking at the foamlike flowing light ahead, Domain Lord Lin Tian, who was leading the way, soon explained, "Inside is where Heavenly Pillar Mountain's First Grade Elites cultivate. Let's go in!"
"Yes!" Lu Qingshan and Terrance answered respectfully, then followed Domain Lord Lin Tian's example and stepped into the flowing light ahead.
Without a sound, the three of them vanished from the spot.
After experiencing a shifting of stars and constellations, the three soon arrived inside a World Lord World.
It was an incomparably vast world, and beneath the spot where the three appeared stood numerous magnificent palaces.
"Terrance!"
Domain Lord Lin Tian soon looked at Terrance beside him and said, "Next, I'll first take you to complete your identity verification, then take Lu Qingshan to undergo the test!"
At this point, Domain Lord Lin Tian quickly turned to Lu Qingshan beside him. "Young fellow, if you can't pass the test, you'll have to cultivate with the Second Grade Elites for now!"
"Yes, Elder!" Lu Qingshan promptly replied respectfully.
Just then, Terrance, standing nearby, quickly spoke up. "Elder, I wonder if I could go take a look at those tests?"
"If Lu Qingshan really does complete the test, you can simply take us both to complete our identity verification together!"
"That works too!"
After hearing Terrance's words, Domain Lord Lin Tian soon nodded slightly.
To him, this was merely a trivial matter, something he could agree to without a second thought.
After hearing Domain Lord Lin Tian's response, however, Terrance shot Lu Qingshan a provocative look.
Lu Qingshan paid no attention to his gaze and soon followed Domain Lord Lin Tian to a towering pagoda.
A stone stele stood in front of the pagoda, with names carved into it.
NO.1: Parich (Star Level Ninth Stage spirit reader);
NO.2: Liu Guangyuan (Star Level Ninth Stage spirit reader);
NO.3: Bonas (Star Level Ninth Stage warrior);
"The pagoda ahead is the Trial Pagoda that Heavenly Pillar Mountain put great thought into building, and the names on the stone stele are the Trial Tower rankings of our First Grade Elites!"
Looking at the pagoda and stone stele ahead, Domain Lord Lin Tian soon explained, "The higher an elite's ranking, the more cultivation resources they can receive each year, so the two of you will also have to find ways to compete for rankings in the future!"
"Right now, excluding you two, Heavenly Pillar Mountain's headquarters only has a total of one hundred and thirty-six First Grade Elites. Among these elites, apart from those who perish during various trials and ordeals, at least half can successfully break through to Universe Level-and they'll be outstanding even among Universe Level experts!"
"Of course, the number of First Grade Elites isn't fixed either. Anyone who remains in the bottom three for ten years will be eliminated and demoted to a Second Grade Elite!"
"All right, enough about that for now. Follow me!"
After giving this instruction, Domain Lord Lin Tian soon led Lu Qingshan and Terrance into the majestic pagoda ahead.
The pagoda's first floor was a very spacious hall, where more than a dozen figures were conversing.
Upon seeing Domain Lord Lin Tian appear, all of them looked over, then greeted him respectfully. "Greetings, Elder Lin Tian!"
"Hahaha, no need to stand on ceremony!"
Domain Lord Lin Tian waved slightly. "I've only come to bring two young fellows here and, while I'm at it, have one of them undergo the assessment!"
"If this young fellow passes the assessment, you'll have two more competitors!"
"What?"
"More newcomers are coming?"
"Heavens, it looks like the pressure of competition is going to get even greater!"
"I hope these two newcomers aren't too strong!"
After hearing Domain Lord Lin Tian's words, the other elites around them began discussing it.
Lu Qingshan paid no attention to their discussion and soon followed Domain Lord Lin Tian to the center of the first-floor hall.
There were hundreds of sofas here, with a bright silver helmet beside each one.
"These helmets were specially manufactured by Heavenly Pillar Mountain. Put one on, and it will allow you to enter a special trial space."
Domain Lord Lin Tian soon explained, "This trial space is somewhat similar to the virtual spaces simulated by an Auxiliary Intelligence, but it's closer to reality. At the same time, everyone's physical attributes are restricted to Planetary Level Nine!"
"You must clear the seventh floor of the Trial Tower to become one of Heavenly Pillar Mountain's First Grade Elites!"
"The seventh floor of the Trial Tower?" After hearing Domain Lord Lin Tian's words, Lu Qingshan could not help feeling somewhat puzzled.
"All right!"
Domain Lord Lin Tian soon said, "Put on this helmet, and you'll understand everything!"
"Yes!"
Lu Qingshan nodded slightly and soon put on the bright silver helmet.