Lu Yin stared intently at the minute dust floating in the air, and he occasionally avoided a particle. He did not want to withstand the increased gravity any longer than he had to even if his body could endure it. To that end, he put on his universal armor. The sourcebox’s danger zone was still bearable, but he was here to test his lockbreaking ability, and he needed to show the people in the Lockbreaker Society’s headquarters his worth.

The dust in the air was infinitesimally small, and the sourcebox’s formless danger zone was quite dense. Still, Lu Yin evaded everything as he continued moving closer to the sourcebox with his clear vision.

To outsiders, it looked as though he was drunk since he was stumbling about as he approached the sourcebox.

However, Saul and the others were overwhelmed. Lu Yin had actually managed to come into contact with the sourcebox very quickly and begun lockbreaking. With his current speed, it was no wonder why he had wanted to take the evaluation to become an advanced Lockbreaker.

Avoiding a sourcebox’s danger zone was merely the first hurdle, and the greatest challenge was still lockbreaking the actual sourcebox. If the sourcebox’s solidified energies that were its surface were not resolved, one would never be able to unlock it.

The moment Lu Yin touched the sourcebox that looked like a clod of dirt, he was immersed within an ocean of its condensed energies. However, he was lucky in that he could clearly see the veins running through the sourcebox’s energies.

One day, two days, and finally, three days passed. The sourcebox that looked like dirt suddenly quivered, and a hint of a crack appeared on its surface.

Saul and the others felt their hearts tremble, as this suggested that Lu Yin truly had the ability to unlock this sourcebox and that it was merely a matter of time.

While Lu Yin was unlocking the dirt-looking sourcebox, Ku Wei was also working hard. He had a strong talent for lockbreaking, as there was no other way he could have become a Perceptive Intermediate Lockbreaker at his age. His achievements were second to only the Distinguished Five of the Lockbreaker Society, and he was currently challenging a three star Perceptive Intermediate sourcebox, though he had never attempted such an energizing session before.

The gemspring water allowed Ku Wei’s star energy control to jump straight to the Divine Gaze realm, and he vowed to work hard and eventually achieve the same level himself in the future, as this was simply too refreshing.

***

After some days passed, back in the Innerverse, Mo Yu emerged, moving with difficulty while her face was a shocking shade of white. She had failed. The four star Perceptive Intermediate Lockbreaker exam was truly difficult, and she had not been able to succeed with her current abilities.

Perhaps in another two years and when she was in her optimum state, she might be able to succeed. However, for the moment, it was beyond her.

Although Mo Yu had failed, her appearance was still welcomed by endless cheers. As one of the Distinguished Five of the Society, she would remain an idol that countless people worshipped. She held an extremely high status in the universe, and she was also an expert on the Top 100 Rankings.

When she saw the crowd cheering, although Mo Yu still felt stifled by the shadows of Qiu Shi and Bu Kong, her mood improved slightly. At the very least, she still held some hopes of catching up to those two even if that hope was flickering.

At that moment, someone cried out in shock as they stared at their gadget, and soon, more and more people let out similar shouts.

Mo Yu felt that this was strange, and when she checked the Lockbreaker Society’s channel on her gadget, her pupils instantly shrank.

There was only one notification posted at the moment: Congratulations to Lockbreaker Brother Wei for successfully passing the three star Perceptive Intermediate Lockbreaker examination and officially becoming a three star Perceptive Intermediate Lockbreaker.’

Mo Yu was stunned, as this notification had been broadcast to every member of the Lockbreaker Society throughout the entire universe.

Such notifications would only be released for individuals who had exceptional accomplishments or unbelievable talent.

Before, a similar announcement had been posted when Mo Yu had passed the three star Perceptive Intermediate Lockbreaker exam. If this Brother Wei was being given similar treatment, then he must be someone from the same generation who was also extremely talented.

Mo Yu was absolutely stunned. Just where had this person come from?

“Look, it’s no wonder it’s a universal announcement! Before this, he was just a five star Discerning Elementary Lockbreaker. In just one shot, he jumped up to the three star Perceptive Intermediate level! That’s too insane.”

“Brother Wei? Why does this name sound so despicable?”

“For sure. He sounds like he needs a spanking.”

“A three star Perceptive Intermediate? Isn’t that on the same level as the Distinguished Five?”

“No, the Distinguished Five climbed up step by step while this person directly skipped multiple ranks. He might actually be even better than them.”

“Where’s he from? Check his location. Eh? The Outerverse? Frostwave Weave?”

…

Mo Yu looked at Brother Wei’s location on the Lockbreaker network and thought to herself, The Outerverse’s Frostwave Weave? Isn’t that where Lu Yin’s based out of?

Mo Yu had a strong impression of Lu Yin. Even though they had never spoken before, he had been incredibly active in various parts of the universe, and he had even competed against Casanova in lockbreaking before. During the battle in the Cosmic Sea, although Lu Yin had not joined the battle involving the most powerful members of the younger generation atop the Champions’ Stage, he had still managed to influence that battle. In fact, he had ultimately attracted the attention of Zhi Yi, which had drawn out Liu Tianmu of the Ten Arbiters.

Afterwards, the Sixth Mainland had retreated, and Nightking Zhenwu had announced that he had personally killed Lu Yin while also declaring that Lu Yin was a traitor to the Fifth Mainland. The veracity of that accusation was unknown to Mo Yu. However, she did know that Lu Yin had managed to survive an attack from Nightking Zhenwu and also somehow unified the Outerverse.

The younger generation was yet to be convinced about whether or not Lu Yin was a traitor or not, but they were all already certain that he was an absolute monster.

Brother Wei. Could that be Lu Yin?

No, Lu Yin’s alias on the Lockbreaker network was Seventh Bro.

Brother Wei, Seventh Bro. Mo Yu was left speechless. If both of these people were in Frostwave Weave, she refused to believe that they did not know each other, even if they claimed so themselves.

The Outerverse had already given birth to Lu Yin, and now there was this Brother Wei. Were there really so many geniuses in the Outerverse?

Before the crowd could calm down from the shock of the announcement concerning Brother Wei, another notification appeared that astounded everyone. Congratulations to Seventh Bro for successfully passing the five star Perceptive Intermediate Lockbreaker examination and officially becoming a five star Perceptive Intermediate Lockbreaker.

Everyone was utterly dumbfounded.

Seventh Bro. Although this name did not appear that frequently, everyone knew that this was Lu Yin’s alias, as he was simply too well known. Within a certain region of the universe, Lu Yin was seen as a rising star ever since he had first stepped onto the path of cultivation, and everyone could see his astounding progress. Furthermore, his momentum had never slowed down, not even when the Outerverse had been isolated from the Innerverse. Once the two places reconnected, Lu Yin had still stood out, even in the Innerverse.

Jumping from the one star level to the five star level as a Perceptive Intermediate Lockbreaker was simply too exaggerated.

Everyone fell completely silent.

Mo Yu was also astonished. Regardless of if she was one of the society’s Distinguished Five, of how impressive her talent may be, or of the fact that she was targeting Boundless Advanced Lockbreakers like Qiu Shi or Bu Kong, at this moment, Lu Yin’s achievement had shocked her the most.

This person was just too much of a freak. One step—he was a single step away from becoming a Boundless Advanced Lockbreaker! Could he actually take that step?

At this point in time, it was not just Mo Yu who was stunned. Casanova was also staring at the announcement, flabbergasted.

Casanova thought back to when he had first met Lu Yin. Since then, just how many years had passed? This person had actually surpassed him already, and he had done so in a very exaggerated fashion.

Becoming a five star Perceptive Intermediate Lockbreaker level at such a young age meant that Lu Yin might possibly become an advanced Lockbreaker while still being a member of the younger generation. Casanova’s status within the society was rather high, so he had a rough idea of what such an accomplishment would mean.

Such a feat would record Lu Yin’s name down in history, and it also hinted that another glorious page would be added to the Lockbreaker Society’s list of deeds, increasing the glory of the Lockbreaker Society.

Once Lu Yin successfully passed the five star Perceptive Intermediate Lockbreaker exam, his status in the Lockbreaker Society underwent a groundbreaking change. The upper echelon of Lockbreakers who had originally simply been observing had not particularly cared about Lu Yin before, but now, they were all talking about him.

Everyone of them hoped that a talented Lockbreaker would emerge from either the Innerverse or the Outerverse who would be able to challenge the genius Lockbreakers from the Neoverse. Although the Distinguished Five’s talent was extraordinary, with them all becoming Perceptive Intermediate Lockbreakers at young ages, they were still a bit lacking when compared to the genius Lockbreakers of the Neoverse. However, Lu Yin might be able to match up to them and possibly even surpass them.

After all, it had to be acknowledged that Lu Yin had not been a Lockbreaker for more than a few years.

***

In the Outerverse, on Frostwave Weave’s Planet Hydrotink, Ku Wei had originally been gleefully checking out the Lockbreaker’s network. However, when Lu Yin’s announcement appeared, Ku Wei felt like he had been utterly beaten.

His expression grew bitter, and he looked over at Lu Yin with a depressed expression as Lu Yin emerged from the secure lockbreaking room. “Your Highness, couldn’t you just have waited a little bit longer? Even just a minute longer?”

Lu Yin’s face was pale, and he was both exhausted and very excited, as he had successfully completed his exam. From this moment on, he was officially a five star Perceptive Intermediate Lockbreaker, and he was only a single step away from breaking through to the Boundless Advanced level.

Although it appeared to be just a single step, Lu Yin was aware that it would be extremely difficult for him to become a Boundless Advanced Lockbreaker anytime soon. It definitely was not impossible, but it would take him time. Lockbreaking was not just a matter of a few days, and it could sometimes even take a few months or years.

The further one progressed in cultivation, the longer they would need to continue progressing, and lockbreaking was the same in that sense. It was very common for some Lockbreakers to spend several years lockbreaking, and some might even spend several decades.

Lu Yin’s time was limited, and for the moment, becoming a five star Perceptive Intermediate Lockbreaker was sufficient since he had even greater aspirations.

“Your Highness, what did you get from your lockbreaking session?” Ku Wei moved closer as he asked curiously.

Ku Wei was not the only one, as everyone present was curious. It was just that Saul, Felynn, and the others did not make a single sound.

Lu Yin raised a hand, revealing a grey, lumpy object in his hand that looked like a tree root.

Ku Wei blinked. “What’s that?”

Lu Yin himself was very curious, and he had already asked the Ghost Monkey, but the monkey was not sure either. Lu Yin looked at Saul. “Does the president know what this is?”

Saul studied it carefully, but then he shook his head and answered in bewilderment, “I don’t know.”

Felynn, Yi Feng, and the others did not recognize it either.

Ku Wei pursed his lips. “Your Highness, you shouldn’t take out some random, moldy tree root to try and deceive us. Is this supposed to have come from a five star Perceptive Intermediate sourcebox? Don’t mess with us.”

Lu Yin replied, “This is it.”

“I know!” the Ghost Monkey suddenly cried out, startling Lu Yin. He reflexively put the thing away in his cosmic ring. Based on the monkey’s reaction, there seemed to be something wrong, and this object definitely was not simple.

“Seventh Bro, this is a Root of Intelligence!” the Ghost Monkey declared in a serious manner, though the monkey also sounded almost absurdly surprised by his tone.

Lu Yin was puzzled. “Root of Intelligence? What’s that?”

The monkey explained, “Exactly what it sounds like: Root of Intelligence, a tree root that was left behind by Progenitor Hui.”1

Lu Yin was dumbfounded. How could he wrap his mind around such a thing? It sounded so logical, but not at the same time.

“Are you sure?” Lu Yin felt that the monkey was playing with him.

The Ghost Monkey sighed. “I saw this object be mentioned in a powerhouse’s journal. A long time ago, Progenitor Hui planted a tree. After many ages of being raised by Progenitor Hui’s secret technique, it gained a mysterious strength, much like the strength of the predecessors. This tree preserved the might of Progenitor Hui’s secret technique, and anyone who touches it can receive enlightenment, and they might find themselves instantly comprehending something that was previously impossible. If you use this tree root to brew a pot of tea, then you can use it as an antidote, a cultivation supplement, or many other options. In any case, it’s very mysterious.

“That powerhouse once personally saw a Root of Intelligence come out from a lockbreaking session, and it triggered a contest that involved countless experts of that era. Nobody knows what happened to it in the end, but the powerhouse only learned of the root’s miraculous uses after listening to others. This has to be a Root of Intelligence, as it fits the description in that powerhouse’s journal perfectly.”

Lu Yin was incredulous. “Isn’t it just a moldy old tree root? You can find something like this wherever you look, so just how are you supposed to tell the difference?”

“This moldy tree root came from a five star Perceptive Intermediate sourcebox. What could it be if not a Root of Intelligence? It’s a pity that it’s moldy. If it was a perfect root, then you would have made a fortune, Seventh Bro. After brewing it into tea, you could have comprehended any battle techniques you wished,” Ghost Monkey said longingly.

1 For this name, "Hui" actually means "intelligence." So, this is the intelligent/smart Progenitor.