Inside the Trial Tower's main hall.
When Lu Qingshan and Domain Lord Lin Tian removed their consciousness-sensing helmets and regained awareness, all the other elites in the hall immediately turned to look.
One of the elites even respectfully asked Domain Lord Lin Tian, "Elder Lin Tian, did he pass the test?"
"He passed!"
Domain Lord Lin Tian quickly continued, "I'll take these two youngsters to complete their identity registration now. You'll have two more competitors from now on!"
At these words, the many elites in the hall immediately broke into discussion.
"Heavens, two more competitors at once! The competition is going to be even fiercer now!"
"I hope these two newcomers aren't too formidable, or my ranking will fall even lower!"
"That Stellar Level Six spirit reader looks formidable. He was recognized as a First Grade Elite without even taking the test!"
For a moment, many of those present turned their gazes toward Lu Qingshan and Terrance.
After hearing everyone's discussions, Terrance also gave Lu Qingshan a slightly provocative glance.
He had not expected Lu Qingshan to pass the test successfully and become a First Grade Elite of Heavenly Pillar Mountain alongside him.
But just as the others had said, he was a spirit reader, naturally stronger than warriors at the same level. Lu Qingshan had only become a First Grade Elite after taking the test and was indeed far inferior to him.
Lu Qingshan, however, paid Terrance no attention at all and simply followed Domain Lord Lin Tian to the place where identity registration was handled.
"Having become First Grade Elites of our Heavenly Pillar Mountain, you two are destined for dazzling futures!"
After leaving the trial hall, Domain Lord Lin Tian gave a brief introduction as he led Lu Qingshan and Terrance toward the registration office. "Some factions within our Heavenly Pillar Mountain may try to recruit you two next, but I suggest you consider carefully!"
"Because within our Heavenly Pillar Mountain, talent and strength matter most!"
"You're still only at Star Level, so strength is naturally out of the question. That means you need to demonstrate your talent!"
"The more dazzling your future performances, the more importance our Heavenly Pillar Mountain will place on you, and the better the terms those factions will offer!"
"But if you lose yourselves in the generous terms they offer now, you'll ultimately fade into the crowd!"
Hearing this, Lu Qingshan and Terrance hurriedly replied respectfully, "Thank you for your guidance, Elder!"
A short while later, Domain Lord Lin Tian brought Lu Qingshan and Terrance to the registration office.
"All done!"
After completing Lu Qingshan's and Terrance's identity registration, Domain Lord Lin Tian quickly spoke again. "You two are now First Grade Elites of our Heavenly Pillar Mountain!"
"Every year, our Heavenly Pillar Mountain ranks First Grade Elites like you according to your performance. Since neither of you has any previous performance record, you can only be placed at the bottom for now! Terrance, you're ranked 137th, while Lu Qingshan, you're 138th!"
"When the rankings are next updated, your positions will be updated along with everyone else's according to your regular performance!"
"What I need to remind you of now is that the benefits you'll enjoy in our Heavenly Pillar Mountain are closely tied to your rankings!"
"The higher your ranking, the better the benefits you'll enjoy!"
"The benefits for the top ten among you First Grade Elites even exceed those of many Universe Level experts within our Heavenly Pillar Mountain!"
"In fact, some of the top ten First Grade Elites are already capable of breaking through to Universe Level, but they keep holding off precisely so they can continue enjoying the benefits of being First Grade Elites!"
Hearing this, a glimmer of fighting spirit flashed in Terrance's eyes.
His goal, after all, was to become a Special Grade Elite of Heavenly Pillar Mountain. To achieve that, he had to charge into the top ten of the overall First Grade Elite rankings as quickly as possible.
After briefly introducing some more of the rights First Grade Elites enjoyed and the obligations they had to fulfill, Domain Lord Lin Tian brought Lu Qingshan and Terrance to their respective residences and soon left.
After entering his residence, Lu Qingshan soon began looking into the various rights and obligations of Heavenly Pillar Mountain's First Grade Elites in detail.
Rankings mattered most to First Grade Elites. After the rankings were updated each year, the First Grade Elites would receive a certain number of points based on their positions.
The higher their ranking, the more points they received.
The rankings of First Grade Elites were primarily tied to their mission results and Trial Tower results.
Their Trial Tower results naturally referred to each person's Trial Tower rating. For example, Lu Qingshan had killed one Ziqian Myriad Snake on the Trial Tower's eighth floor, so his Trial Tower rating was 8.1.
Mission results referred to the missions these First Grade Elites completed each year.
To temper Lu Qingshan and the others, Heavenly Pillar Mountain would assign a certain number of missions to First Grade Elites like them every year, such as venturing into dangerous places within this World Lord World or killing powerful demonic beasts in reality, and so on...
The more missions they completed, the better their mission results would naturally be!
Within Heavenly Pillar Mountain, ranking points could be exchanged for numerous cultivation resources, such as access to various facilities that aided cultivation.
As for cultivation resources used to accumulate energy, Heavenly Pillar Mountain provided those to First Grade Elites free of charge.
Any First Grade Elite who had yet to reach Star Level Ninth Stage could apply each year for a certain quantity of Star Essence based on their cultivation level, using it to cultivate and improve their physical fitness;
First Grade Elites ranked in the top hundred who had yet to reach Star Level Ninth Stage could apply each year for a certain quantity of "Moon God Tears" for their cultivation.
These Moon God Tears were more precious cultivation aids than Star Essence. A thousand drops of Moon God Tears could allow a Stellar Level One warrior to cultivate to Star Level Ninth Stage, taking anywhere from one hundred to two hundred years depending on their talent. Each drop cost as much as 2.5 billion Golden Lion Currency, making a thousand drops worth 2.5 trillion Golden Lion Currency-more expensive than an ordinary life planet.
As for First Grade Elites ranked in the top ten who had yet to reach Star Level Ninth Stage, they could apply each year for a certain quantity of "Evolution Spirit Liquid" for their cultivation.
This Evolution Spirit Liquid was far more precious than Moon God Tears. A thousand vials of Evolution Spirit Liquid could allow a Stellar Level One warrior to cultivate to Star Level Ninth Stage, taking anywhere from fifty to one hundred years depending on their talent. Each vial cost as much as 30 billion Golden Lion Currency, making a thousand vials worth 30 trillion Golden Lion Currency. That wealth was enough to purchase a Universe Level slave.
Of course, among the First Grade Elites currently ranked in the top hundred, only one was at Stellar Level Seven, while all the rest were at Star Level Ninth Stage;
As for the top ten First Grade Elites, every one of them had cultivated to Star Level Ninth Stage.
Thus, Heavenly Pillar Mountain actually spent very few resources on the energy accumulation of its First Grade Elites.
Aside from this, Heavenly Pillar Mountain's First Grade Elites also had numerous special conditions and rewards.
For example, taking first place in the overall rankings for ten consecutive years earned a complete set of tier-three Origin Force (psychic force) weapons, along with a Force Battle Suit;
Taking first place in the overall rankings for twenty consecutive years earned a life planet as a territory;
Taking first place in the overall rankings for fifty consecutive years earned a Universe Level slave;
Taking first place in the overall rankings for one hundred consecutive years allowed one to become a Special Grade Elite of Heavenly Pillar Mountain!