Chapter 759: Chapter 759

Mo Xuan, Yan Hao, and Ji Shun were already among the highest-ranking members of the Sacred Flame Hall. Once they reached a decision, it was carried out without delay.

Soon after, a series of benefits and allowances from the Sacred Flame Hall were distributed. Although the Pinnacle Cosmic Radiance Divine Weapon was still pending, the Primordial Disk had already been personally handed over to Li Pin by Mo Xuan.

Mo Xuan explained, "This Top-Tier Cosmic Radiance Divine Weapon is a reward from the Humanity Sanctum for your contributions in the Void Divine Treasure World. It's separate from the benefits you earned for participating in the Ten Thousand Tribes Dominion War."

He smiled and added, "We've also helped you secure a chance to enter the Gate of Time and Space for enlightenment."

Li Pin accepted the rewards calmly. "Thank you."

To some extent, these rewards were part of a transaction between him and the Void Divine Treasury Hall. In exchange for the information he had acquired from the Void World, he was now receiving the promised item from the Hall.

"Top-Tier Cosmic Radiance Divine Weapons are rare among our people," Mo Xuan continued. "It won't be easy to craft one customized for you, so you'll need to let us know what kind of functions you're looking for. We'll do our best to meet your needs."

At this point, Mo Xuan chuckled. "Previously, we joked that the Starfire, Wildfire, and World Glory Lists—along with those maintained by the various alien races—updated slower than your cultivation progressed. And now? Not only have the rankings fallen behind, but even the rewards we're offering can't keep up anymore."

Li Pin answered honestly, "The path of cultivation is still a long one for me."

"You're being too modest," Mo Xuan said. "Cosmic Radiances are already considered the backbone of our race, more than capable of holding their ground in any region. But you've already reached Tyrant-level combat strength. Some Tyrants are stationed alone on the alien frontlines."

These frontlines marked the border defenses of human territory. They were fortified checkpoints built to guard against infiltration, sabotage, and attacks from other races.

Each was typically commanded by a Tyrant, supported by squads of Cosmic Radiances, and backed by a scouting network run by Solar Flare cultivators.

The Abyssal Rifts, however, were the main points of erosion from the Void Faction and the Abyssal Beasts. They functioned like "wormholes" between the Void and Astral Worlds.

In these chaotic zones where natural laws collapsed, only Tyrants who had mastered cosmic evolution stood a chance of holding the line.

"What kind of abilities are you hoping for in a Divine Weapon?" Mo Xuan asked.

Li Pin recalled his battle with the Sky Clan's Tyrant on the eighty-first step of the Supreme Ladder, along with the plans he had developed afterward. "Something that supports cultivation, ideally one that strengthens the inner spirit, such as one in understanding Supreme Secret Arts."

Mo Xuan smiled. "It seems you've already recognized that weakness."

He continued, "Ascending from Cosmic Radiance to Tyrant, and from Tyrant to Sacred Monarch, isn't as simple as people think. Even if you manage to make the leap, it will take a long time to accumulate the necessary strength. Ironically, moving from Sacred Monarch to Heavenly Emperor is actually easier in comparison."

"Is it because of the Eternal Oblivion Force?" Li Pin asked.

Mo Xuan nodded. "Cosmic Radiances are considered ultimate lifeforms. As long as they avoid fighting their peers or stepping into dangerous territories, the Eternal Oblivion Force has little impact on them. In a way, Cosmic Radiances achieve true immortality within the Astral World, even under the influence of Eternal Oblivion."

"That's why most Cosmic Radiances focus on refining their Inner Spirit Secret Arts, combat techniques, and battle experience during this stage. But that requires time, and that's something you're running out of."

He paused for a moment before continuing, "It's only once you reach the Tyrant level, after mastering cosmic evolution, that you must start dealing with the Eternal Oblivion Force. You've probably already felt it.

"The destructive power of cosmic evolution far exceeds what a Tyrant can fully control. Tyrants must proceed with caution, slowly expanding the scope of the universe they can manifest within themselves, until they reach the Heavenly Emperor level, where they can finally master it completely."

The Tyrant level was indeed a realm of overwhelming destructive power. If a Tyrant was willing to sacrifice everything, they might even take a Heavenly Emperor down with them.

Tyrants, Sacred Monarchs, and Heavenly Emperors—they were all wielders of power, like gunmen. A Tyrant was like an ordinary person holding a gun, while a Sacred Monarch had been trained in evasive combat. A Heavenly Emperor was not only professionally trained but also a seasoned veteran, their reflexes nearly instinctual.

In theory, such a veteran should easily defeat an untrained gunman. But that didn't mean the gunman posed no threat—because in the end, they all wielded guns. One shot could still be fatal.

When lethality is equal, even a king can fall to a mere newbie.

"An auxiliary-type Pinnacle Cosmic Radiance Divine Weapon... one that focuses on inner spirit cultivation and supreme secret arts..." Mo Xuan pondered, but couldn't think of a suitable item. "We may need one of the Supremes in the Supreme Council to decide on that.

"It'll take some time. For now, use the Primordial Disk. It's also a top-tier auxiliary Cosmic Radiance Divine Weapon and will help stabilize the architecture of your inner universe."

Li Pin nodded. "Alright."

"What are your plans moving forward?" Mo Xuan asked. "I'm talking about your Cosmic Radiance title, your future path, and how you plan to align with the various factions..."

"I'll focus on the Ten Thousand Tribes Dominion War for now. I'll think about all that once the tournament is over. There's no rush," Li Pin replied.

"You're right. The tournament comes first." Mo Xuan nodded. "Until then, should I continue using the Humanity Sanctum identity to represent you publicly? Now that you've reached the Cosmic Radiance level, it doesn't really fit to keep labeling you as a member of the Eternal Ascent of Humanity Initiative. How about we give you an honorary title instead—something like Special Honorary Instructor?"

Li Pin agreed. "Sure."

Still, a part of him felt conflicted. He had barely enjoyed the Eternal Ascent of Humanity Initiative's benefits before it came to an end for him. Get full chapters from NoveI(F)ire.net

After exchanging a few more words and offering some encouragement, Mo Xuan left.

Outside the door, Vice Hall Masters Yuan Guang and Shi Xingzun were waiting.

When they saw Li Pin, both greeted him with their usual smiles. But this time, the sincerity behind those smiles was noticeably stronger.

After all, when Li Pin first joined the Humanity Sanctum, he was just someone with the potential to become a Tyrant one day. But now, he had truly attained Tyrant-level combat strength.

Even if that power only surfaced on the Supreme Ladder and he couldn't fully control it in the Astral World, it was enough. In a life-or-death battle, he could now take a Tyrant down with him.

Yuan Guang smiled and said, "Instructor Li, the Hall Master already informed us. We've arranged a new residence for you at Sacred Flame Hall. Of course, your place at the Humanity Sanctum will remain. You're free to live wherever you prefer."

Li Pin gave a small nod. Then, he glanced at Yuan Guang. "May I ask how many secret arts you've mastered now?"

Yuan Guang immediately understood what Li Pin meant. "So, you made it to the eighty-first step on the Supreme Ladder but got stuck because you didn't have enough secret arts?"

He chuckled. "The Cosmic Radiance phase is all about accumulation—secret arts, combat techniques, experience, and matching Divine Weapons. Most newly advanced Cosmic Radiances go into closed-door cultivation first. Once they've made some progress, they head to the alien battlefront.

"There, they hone their techniques, pushing them toward mastery or even perfection, while also earning merit points. These points can be exchanged for Cosmic Radiance Divine Weapons suited to their abilities. After enough time on the frontlines, some choose to purchase property and settle down, while others keep pushing toward the Sacred Monarch Realm."

After a brief explanation, he answered, "After advancing to Cosmic Radiance, I went into seclusion for forty-three epochs, then spent another thirty-nine fighting on the alien battlefield.

"When I returned, I began teaching at the Humanity Sanctum. Over the next twenty epochs, I delved into the evolution of the cosmos and eventually ascended to Tyrant.

"After that, I spent sixty-one more epochs consolidating my foundation and eventually became a Vice Hall Master. As of now, I've mastered six secret arts and four combat techniques. I also possess two Top-Tier Cosmic Radiance Divine Weapons. Among Tyrants, I'd say I'm fairly average."

He then glanced at Shi Xingzun beside him. "I only reached the eighty-second step on the Supreme Ladder. In that respect, I fall short of Shi Xingzun."

Shi Xingzun didn't hold back either. "I've trained in five secret arts—three of them are Supreme-grade—and all five have been perfected. They cover offense, defense, and burst potential. I've also mastered and perfected three combat techniques."

He added with a sigh, "Once you reach the Tyrant level, the gaps in secret arts and combat techniques are mostly filled. From that point on, it's all about deeper research and refinement, especially when it comes to Top-Tier Tyrants facing a Sacred Monarch.

"They might still be at a disadvantage, but as long as they avoid reckless moves and hold their ground, they can endure for centuries. In some cases, there's not much difference between the two."

Yuan Guang nodded. "The main difference between a Sacred Monarch and a Tyrant is that the former can wield space power and move across the battlefield much faster. But in terms of offense and defense, they aren't vastly superior to Top-Tier Tyrants."

After a brief pause, he added, "Even when facing a Heavenly Emperor who controls time, a Top-Tier Tyrant who's willing to risk everything might still have a chance to turn the tide."

Li Pin understood that they were referring to the strongest among Tyrants. As for turning the tide against a Heavenly Emperor, that would only apply to the weaker Emperors.

In a true life-and-death confrontation, the gap couldn't be ignored. Otherwise, there wouldn't be clear distinctions between Tyrants, Sacred Monarchs, and Heavenly Emperors.

Yuan Guang smiled and said, "I heard from the Hall Master that you plan to participate in the Ten Thousand Tribes Dominion War? If you're confident, and you manage to seize a Pinnacle Cosmic Radiance Divine Weapon, or even a Sovereign Divine Weapon, your cultivation path will become much smoother.

"Whether it's the Divine Race or the Sky Clan, they're far wealthier than our Human Race. The Unique Lifeform Alliance, in particular, every one of their participants carries a Pinnacle Cosmic Radiance Divine Weapon. And in crucial battles, they may even bring out a Sovereign Divine Weapon..."

His gaze carried a hint of admiration. "If you can get your hands on one, the eighty-first step won't be your limit. With that kind of power, breaking through to the eighty-third, eighty-fourth, or even eighty-fifth step isn't out of reach."

Li Pin was surprised at first, but then it hit him.

The Human Race depended on Divine Weapons to stand against the unique lifeforms, yet ironically, it was those other races who held the greater advantage.

Not because the Human Race lacked Divine Weapons—but because there were simply too many powerful cultivators waiting to use them.

If he could really secure a few Pinnacle Cosmic Radiance Divine Weapons in the tournament, at the very least, he wouldn't have to worry about being "poor" anymore.