"Ignorant."
She didn’t even know the meaning of ‘flaunting one’s status.’ Lily Huang lifted her snowy chin in pride, casting a sidelong glance at Andrew Han, looking as if she couldn’t be bothered to explain.
Lily Huang had intended to explain, but Andrew’s slightly dismissive push filled her heart with a sense of grievance and stubborn frustration. With her looks, she fit the aesthetic of nearly the entire Human Race under the stars, yet Andrew simply pushed her away—her pride was a little wounded.
Hmph.
At the manor entrance, a gentle breeze stirred as Lily Huang cast a sidelong glance at Andrew, waiting for him to ask her for an explanation.
"Beg me, and I’ll tell you." That was Lily Huang’s honest inner thought.
"Oh."
Twin stars glowed on either side as Andrew raised his brows, shifting his gaze to Victor Wu, the Primordial Gate Steward waiting respectfully nearby.
"Reporting, Your Highness." Victor responded quickly, grinning, "Flaunting one's status means displaying one's special qualities before others. These may include, but aren’t limited to, symbols of nobility and luxury, high cosmic status, or formidable strength. It’s essentially equivalent to boasting or showing off—neutral in meaning."
As she listened, Lily Huang’s expression darkened slightly.
"So that’s what it means to show off one’s sanctity before others." Now understanding the term, Andrew smiled noncommittally. To go out of one’s way to leave the Primordial Gate and flaunt oneself in the Reserve-tier city, seeking praise or awe?
That was vanity. Andrew didn’t approve.
If you want honor, you must earn it yourself—for example, in the Primordial Contest half a star-year from now.
"Let’s go."
Andrew spoke calmly, his steady gaze lingering on Lily Huang’s sweet face, saying no more.
He rose, tracing a green arc as he left the tranquil manor. Victor Wu unfurled his Void Rift-tier power, following at Andrew’s side like a bodyguard... In the blink of an eye, the two left the stream of light and heat, flying toward the sole gate of the Primordial Gate.
Lily Huang remained where she was, biting her lower lip, her face darkening. "Damn it."
She huffed twice, hesitated for a moment, then turned away in a huff, not following Andrew—instead heading back to the manor to find her sister, Serena Huang.
...
Strictly speaking, the Primordial Gate was a void isolated from the outside world.
A boundless, colorless membrane formed a vast outer wall; inside lay the Primordial Gate, outside was the entire Spark-Heritage Zone. The other three main star gates were the same.
Andrew Han and Victor Wu set out from the twin stars.
They traced two brilliant arcs, passing through a small portion of the gate’s domain, arriving at the entrance to the Primordial Gate.
"We’re here."
Victor Wu transmitted softly.
"Mm." Andrew slowed down. Leaving the Primordial Gate required passing through the vast void gate; moving at light speed was too fast and could cause the gate to reject or even forcibly eject you.
At the entrance, the two stopped their rapid flight and steadied themselves.
Ahead stood the immense void gate of the Primordial Gate.
To the left and right were the Flame-Heritage Mountains, each symbolizing the path of one hundred and two Heaven-Venerables.
"Flame-Heritage Mountains."
Andrew gazed at the towering, arched white gate and at the Flame-Heritage Mountains flanking it—one hundred and two peaks in all, arrayed on both sides of the entrance, floating and sinking, radiating an indescribable aura.
This was the sole standard for judging the degree of genius.
Not only did the Primordial Gate stand among the Flame-Heritage Mountains—the other three star gates did as well.
From afar, some peaks looked razor-sharp, some exuded overwhelming grandeur, and others shrouded themselves in mysterious darkness. Each mountain represented the former brilliance of a Heaven-Venerable, standing at the forefront of Human Genius and surpassing all cosmic races.
"Heaven-Venerables are exalted beyond measure. But rumor has it there are only one hundred and two Heaven-Venerables, while the Human Race’s Supreme Existences exceed that number." Andrew murmured inwardly, suddenly enlightened.
This meant that becoming a Heaven-Venerable did not necessarily make one a Supreme Existence of the Human Race.
However.
Undeniably.
Heaven-Venerable was the highest honor a Genius could attain.
Standing among these many peaks, Andrew’s face shifted through various expressions.
Some peaks were tinted faint purple by Thunder Cauldron Mountain, some cast deep gray shadows from Eternal Yan Mountain. The world’s time and space felt unreal—half illusion, half reality—leaving Andrew silent and Victor Wu visibly awed.
"Supreme Geniuses who transcend all limits."
Even Victor Wu, a Void Rift-tier expert, felt an instinctive urge to hold his breath and submit.
At the same time—
Andrew’s mood grew complicated as his gaze swept over the peaks, sighing inwardly: "Heaven-Venerables represent the unrivaled glory of Human Genius. I wish to become a Heaven-Venerable, but what qualifies me for that? Graywhite Aura? The Soul Crystal-Diamond?"
Not enough—not nearly enough.
Pure luck and opportunity alone could never create a Heaven-Venerable among the Human Race. If they could, why would the Star-Sky Humans, one of the Four Great Life Races, have only one hundred and two Heaven-Venerables?
One must know!
Heaven-Venerables stand tall in the starry sky, uphold Human dignity, suppress all cosmic races, and their names echo throughout eternity!
"I must not aim too high, too soon." As Andrew glided between the peaks, he admonished himself, "My sole goal now is to rise into the Primeval Gate and truly touch Human Territory. Before that, the upcoming Primordial Contest will be my best starting point!"
A good beginning is the first step!
Follow up with a three-step plan—climb step by step!
Thinking this, Andrew’s mind surged with emotion, his thoughts sinking into careful contemplation. Beside him, Victor Wu’s expression was unreadable.
The two glided on with different expressions, passing the one hundred and two Flame-Heritage Mountains, heading toward the immense void gate marked with colorless sigils. Finally, they passed through the gate, leaving the Primordial Gate and entering the outer Spark-Heritage Zone.
Space shifted, light and darkness alternated—it was almost like crossing the ends of the earth.
"Mm."
Andrew surveyed his surroundings; what met his eyes was shallow-red void.
The endless void brimmed with mysterious shallow-red substance. In the distance, streams of light flickered, far-off structures glowed, yet none could be seen clearly.
Only then—
Victor Wu’s tense expression finally relaxed a little. He breathed a sigh of relief, as if returning from a solemn imperial palace to a world of birdsong and flowers.