Outside the Trial Pagoda.
Several First Grade Elites had already gathered there and were talking among themselves.
Suddenly, a streak of azure light approached from afar and soon landed before the First Grade Elites, revealing a figure with long, flowing blue hair. It was Terrance, who had just reached the Wind Domain Second Level.
"Terrance!"
Upon seeing Terrance, a genius from the Fox-kin Race quickly asked with a smile, "Didn't you take on another cultivation mission? Why have you come back so soon today?"
"Hahaha!"
Hearing the question, Terrance quickly replied with a smile, "I successfully reached the Wind Domain Second Level during this adventure mission, so I came back early. This is also a good chance to see which floor of the Trial Tower I can reach!"
He could hardly wait for more people to learn that he had reached the Wind Domain Second Level, so naturally, he concealed nothing.
"What?"
"Terrance, your wind domain has reached the second level?"
After hearing Terrance's words, the nearby First Grade Elites all looked over, their faces filled with surprise.
"That's right!"
Terrance nodded slightly, then said, "Matt, I'll go challenge the Trial Tower first. Let's talk later!"
With that, Terrance quickly walked into the Trial Pagoda ahead.
The First Grade Elites who remained exchanged looks, then quickly passed the news along.
After all, spirit readers were exceedingly rare among the First Grade Elites, and almost every one of them stood out among their peers.
A spirit reader who had reached the domain second layer only needed to put in a little extra effort after completing their usual cultivation missions to contend for the top ten in the overall rankings.
In other words, as long as Terrance had truly reached the Wind Domain Second Level, he would absolutely be able to secure a firm place in the top ten in the future.
That would naturally make the competition fiercer for everyone else hoping to break into the top ten overall.
Meanwhile, after receiving the news from Matt and the others, the other elites also hurried to the entrance of the Trial Pagoda.
Last year's overall rankings were about to be updated, and they also wanted to see whether Terrance had truly reached the Wind Domain Second Level!
Terrance, however, knew nothing about any of this. After entering the Trial Pagoda, he quickly put on a consciousness-sensing helmet and entered the actual Trial Tower.
Since he had already cleared the eighth floor of the Trial Tower, he was soon transported into the ninth-floor space after selecting suitable weapons and equipment.
His opponents on this floor were ten Stellar Level One Sky Wolves. Previously, even with all his strength, Terrance had only been able to kill three of them.
But after reaching the Wind Domain Second Level, these ten Stellar Level One Sky Wolves no longer posed any threat to him!
In less than five minutes, Terrance killed all ten Stellar Level One Sky Wolves and was then transported to the tenth floor of the Trial Tower.
Unfortunately, his opponents on the tenth floor of the Trial Tower were a hundred Stellar Level One Azure Sky Demon Apes, and every one of them was extremely powerful.
Even though Terrance's strength had improved greatly, he still could not clear the tenth floor.
After holding out for a little over three minutes and killing sixteen Azure Sky Demon Apes, Terrance was surrounded and killed by the remaining apes.
"The tenth floor of this Trial Tower is still far too difficult!"
After being ejected from the Trial Tower, Terrance slowly removed the consciousness-sensing helmet from his head and could not help thinking, How exactly did that freak Liu Guangyuan clear this floor with only a second-layer domain?
But since he could do it, I'll naturally be able to do it in the future too!
Terrance had always been proud and competitive. Now that he had successfully reached the domain second layer, he naturally set his sights on Liu Guangyuan, whose performance was the best among those at the domain second layer.
Since Liu Guangyuan had been able to clear the tenth floor of the Trial Tower with a second-layer domain, he naturally had to do the same.
But there's no rush!
Terrance thought to himself, I'm only at Stellar Level Seven right now. I haven't even reached the limit of my energy accumulation!
Fortunately, once I break into the top ten overall, I'll be able to apply for Evolution Spirit Liquid, which is far more precious than Moon God Tears. I estimate it'll only take a few decades for me to cultivate to Star Level Ninth Stage!
Looking at it this way, falling behind a little in energy accumulation because of my cultivation was actually a good thing! Once I start cultivating with Evolution Spirit Liquid, my rate of energy accumulation will definitely far surpass what it was when I used Moon God Tears!
No wonder Lu Qingshan has never tried to improve his physical attributes. So this was what he had in mind! Unfortunately, he isn't a spirit reader. Even after reaching the domain second layer, breaking into the top ten overall will still be incredibly difficult for him!
Hahaha! Among the top ten overall, I'm now the only one who hasn't finished accumulating energy. Only I am qualified to use that incomparably precious Evolution Spirit Liquid!
At this thought, a trace of smugness could not help rising in Terrance's heart.
After all, by the time the other geniuses broke into the top ten overall, they had essentially all cultivated to Star Level Ninth Stage. Naturally, they could not continue applying for Evolution Spirit Liquid to cultivate as he could.
As all these thoughts flashed through his mind, Terrance quickly headed toward the exit of the Trial Pagoda.
Just then, however, a figure clad in earthen-yellow battle armor suddenly walked in from outside the Trial Pagoda. It was Lu Qingshan, who had joined Heavenly Pillar Mountain as a First Grade Elite alongside him.
Upon seeing Lu Qingshan, Terrance naturally felt extremely conflicted.
Back when he and Lu Qingshan had become First Grade Elites of Heavenly Pillar Mountain together, he had quickly left Lu Qingshan far behind. At the time, he had almost forgotten Lu Qingshan even existed.
But later, Lu Qingshan reached the domain second layer and surpassed him once more. No matter how hard he worked, he could not overtake him.
Now, at last, he too had reached the domain second layer. With his advantage as a spirit reader, his future ranking would naturally surpass Lu Qingshan's once again.
At this thought, a trace of fighting spirit once again appeared in Terrance's eyes as he looked at Lu Qingshan.
Across from him, however, Lu Qingshan felt no ripples in his heart when he noticed the fighting spirit in Terrance's eyes.
Just before entering the Trial Pagoda, he had already learned from the other First Grade Elites' conversations that Terrance had reached the Wind Domain Second Level.
It had to be said that Terrance's ability to reach the Wind Domain Second Level in such a short time absolutely made him an impressive genius. Even among all the Star Level geniuses of Heavenly Pillar Mountain, he could be counted among the very best.
Given some more time, as long as Terrance did not perish, he would definitely become a Special Grade Elite of Heavenly Pillar Mountain.
Talent of this caliber was quite rare even across the entire Golden Lion Starfield.
But compared to Lu Qingshan, Terrance's so-called talent was not worth mentioning.
Because just now, after fifty long years of cultivation, Lu Qingshan had finally successfully reached the Earth Domain Third Level!