Representatives dispatched by the royal families of the Ancient Kingdoms and top-tier institutions gathered at the Archaic Hall. They had no authority to enter the Spark-Heritage Zone—not even to approach it. The Spark-Heritage Zone housed a vast number of Human geniuses and held immense significance; if any accident occurred, no one could bear the consequences.
At this very moment.
All eyes turned sharply toward the representative from the Law-Enforcement Pavilion.
"Don't look at me."
The Law-Enforcement Pavilion representative smiled wryly. "I know nothing about this either. I hadn't heard a word about Andrew Han having such intentions."
It was as if a heavenly treasure had fallen from the sky, landing squarely on his forehead—steady and precise.
Everyone present was in a poor mood. Only the Law-Enforcement Pavilion representative showed a hint of joy—this was a major achievement, and there would surely be rewards from above.
"Impossible!"
The Human Development Bank representative's face shifted with suspicion and uncertainty. He asked in a deep voice, "Are you saying Andrew Han chose your Law-Enforcement Pavilion on his own, didn't even look at the generous terms we offered, and just joined you outright?"
How could the Law-Enforcement Pavilion have such appeal?
He was voicing his dissatisfaction. Why didn't Andrew Han choose the Human Development Bank, which never lacked money or resources?
"How would I know why?" The Law-Enforcement Pavilion representative spread his hands and shrugged helplessly.
"Hmph." The Human Development Bank representative's face darkened. He gritted his teeth and snorted coldly. "You must have contacted Andrew Han long ago and reached a series of agreements. Otherwise, with so many Ancient Kingdoms and top-tier institutions, why would Andrew Han single out your Law-Enforcement Pavilion?"
The Law-Enforcement Pavilion representative frowned in thought, scratching his green-bearded chin. "That sounds reasonable—there must be something strange about this. But what can you do? Are you planning to reject Andrew Han's wishes and publicly offend him?"
"You—you’re talking nonsense!"
The Human Development Bank representative looked grim. They had prepared extensively for this, only to end up with nothing.
It seemed that this time, they were destined to return empty-handed.
The crowd exchanged glances, then simply packed up and left the hall. At the same time, each took out their communicator—they needed to report this unexpected situation to their superiors immediately. The Law-Enforcement Pavilion representative did the same...
"Huh?"
The Law-Enforcement Pavilion representative was thoroughly shocked.
"So that's how it is!"
Everyone turned their heads, curious. He sighed with emotion, "It was probably because, when Andrew Han's home Solar System fell into extinction, Don Yuenliang from our Yarlowe Law-Enforcement Pavilion Branch stayed by his side, protected Earth, and guarded Andrew Han through the critical stage of his talent restructuring."
After hearing this.
Everyone couldn't help but look at each other in astonishment.
It was said that, at the time, more than thirty branch heads from top-tier institutions were present. The Ancient King Qin Yi and the Yarlowe Star-King both went as well, but in the end, only Don Yuenliang and another woman remained.
Mainly, it was because Ancient King Qin Yi misjudged the situation and mistakenly believed Andrew Han's soul aptitude had collapsed.
So the Ancient King flicked his sleeves and left, not staying any longer.
With the Ancient King gone and the Yarlowe Star-King departed, nearly everyone else left as well. Only Don Yuenliang and Lynn Jinn remained to watch over Andrew Han's breakthrough to the Void Rift Tier. At that time, no one knew Andrew Han was striving with all his might to ascend to Heaven-King.
"What?"
"That's not fair!" The Human Development Bank representative was even more indignant. "Our Yarlowe Branch head, Lynn Jinn, also stayed to guard him. Whatever Don Yuenliang did, Lynn Jinn did just as well."
The Law-Enforcement Pavilion representative gave a speechless, awkward smile. "Maybe it's because you're too rich—there's no tempering effect."
Human Development Bank: "..."
Many Ancient Kingdom royal families and top-tier institutions: "..."
——
Time flew by. Half a month later, at the very center of the Yarlowe Sector of the Cosmic Ancient Kingdoms.
A sudden grand feast was held, unexpectedly brought forward by several dozen star-years.
Within the sector, countless empires dispatched their own cultivation geniuses in response to the emergency call, arriving one after another at the sector's central region. The Chenriver Empire, located in the Milky Way, was among them. Emperor Zhen Gu and Suweng personally set out, bringing the very best geniuses from Chenriver Palace to participate in this feast.
"Under normal circumstances, I would also be a participant in this feast."
In the dark vacuum, light gathered into clouds. Andrew Han smiled at Emperor Zhen Gu, then looked at the neatly dressed Suweng, joking, "I still remember, Zhen Gu, how you once placed great hopes on me, thinking I had a chance to take part in the Ancient Kingdoms' feast and stand out."
Zhen Gu replied with extreme caution, "I must have been blind back then."
One was the Emperor of an empire, the other an Eternal King of the Archaic Hall. Though Zhen Gu didn’t fully understand what it meant to be an Eternal King, he instinctively sensed its power and acted with utmost caution.
That year, Andrew Han was at Chenriver Palace.
That year, Emperor Zhen Gu personally visited, faintly perceiving the number of nodes in Andrew Han’s soul and consciousness. Afterwards, Zhen Gu admired and praised Andrew Han greatly, convinced he was absolutely qualified to participate in the feast and to compete head-on with the Ancient Kingdoms’ cultivation geniuses.
Andrew Han flicked his fingers. "Unfortunately, before I knew it, I had already become a Hall-Registered Standard-tier Genius."
"Your Highness possesses extraordinary talent." Emperor Zhen Gu spoke with utmost respect and caution. Suweng stood by his side, not daring to interrupt, because the Chenriver Empire had caught wind of rumors—the feast had been brought forward for one person.
It was held for Andrew Han!
Having guessed the truth, Suweng was so startled his heart trembled. Before coming, he had discussed the matter with Zhen Gu many times, afraid something might go wrong.
"Don't be nervous."
Andrew Han looked at Suweng, who was at Fifth-Palace Nirvana within the Stellar Palace Tier, and said, "Suweng, did you know that if one's talent falls within the Foundation Three Realms, it can be rebuilt?"
Suweng was shocked. "I didn't know."
Andrew Han stood up, patted Suweng on the shoulder, and sensed the Origin Mystic Palace within him. "You specialize in life-gene cultivation, at Fifth-Palace Nirvana of the Stellar Palace Tier. Your Origin Mystic Palace is resilient—you have a chance to once again become a Hall-Registered Standard-tier Genius."
"Thank you for your guidance, Your Highness!" Suweng exclaimed with joy.
"No need to thank me." Andrew Han had also received guidance from Suweng in the past. "From Stellar Palace Tier to Void Rift Tier, and from Void Rift Tier to Cosmos Union Tier, those are your only two chances to advance to Hall-Registered Standard-tier Genius."
Foundation Three Realms: Starlight Tier, Stellar Palace Tier, Void Rift Tier.
Once you reach the Cosmos Union Tier, your talent solidifies—first, body and mind unite, then body and soul unite, and by the Fifth Union Stage, life is harmonized with the cosmos, resembling the ancient Chinese martial arts concept of 'unity of man and heaven.'
But the Cosmos Union Tier is far more profound than 'unity of man and heaven'—it is finite life merging with the infinite universe.
"The most obvious trait of the Cosmos Union Tier is the ability to control cosmic particles, transforming one's body into a sea of stars and gaining the preliminary power of spatial teleportation." As Andrew Han spoke, he noticed Zhen Gu and Suweng’s blank expressions—they clearly didn’t understand, so he simply changed the subject.
The Emperor Zhen Gu, whom Andrew Han once had to look up to, and Suweng, who managed the workings of Chenriver Palace, had long since been surpassed by Andrew Han.
Sometimes, the gap that shows itself unintentionally is the most real. Neither of them understood Andrew Han’s brief explanation of the Cosmos Union Tier—spatial teleportation with just flesh and blood?
How could that be possible!
Zhen Gu considered himself at least Third-Stage Void Rift, able to accelerate in vacuum at nearly the speed of light.
But if he stepped out of a vessel currently in subspace navigation, he’d be obliterated in an instant.
Andrew Han noticed Emperor Zhen Gu’s skepticism and just smiled, asking, "How is Chenriver Palace these days?"
"Not bad," Suweng replied. "Thanks to Your Highness’s favor, the average level of this year’s Chenriver Palace far surpasses previous years—and a Hall-Registered Standard-tier Genius has even emerged."
Zhen Gu added, "He’s a later-rising Commonline Human named Kane Hu, just reached Fifth-Stage Starlight Tier, but his realm isn’t yet stabilized. If Your Highness ever has time to offer him some guidance, it would be an immense blessing for Kane Hu."
"We’ll see."
Andrew Han waved his hand. Time was tight; he had come simply to observe the feast. Besides, as Chief Supervisor of Ancient Kingdoms’ cultivation geniuses, both duty and reason required his presence.
As for the message from Ancient King Qin Yi, it really was an invitation.
He read it and replied, but had no intention of staying with the royal family, nor of serving them. Joining a top institution isn’t tied to nationality—joining the Ancient Kingdom is fine, but joining the royal family? That’s another matter.
At that moment—
A figure flashed nearby: the tall, broad-shouldered Don Yuenliang in a golden robe.
"Greetings, Your Highness."
Don Yuenliang greeted him respectfully, bowing slightly.
Hiss—
Emperor Zhen Gu and Suweng both gasped in shock.
"Th-this isn’t..."
Emperor Zhen Gu looked at Suweng; Suweng looked back at Zhen Gu. Both were shaken to their core.
They had been fortunate enough to read Don Yuenliang’s profile: he was a Cosmic Eternal Realm powerhouse—an undying, indestructible starry sky giant! Many legendary tales spread across the cosmos feature such beings, able to toy with stars and race across the galaxy, destroying an entire stellar system in just three days.
"Your Highness actually found time to come here?" Don Yuenliang was curious. "Finishing up at the Spark-Heritage Zone and joining the Law-Enforcement Pavilion—those procedures are awfully complicated."
Andrew Han nodded. "Just squeezing in a moment to take a look."
"Oh."
Don Yuenliang patted his forehead. "Your Highness’s homeland is nearby, isn’t it? My own strength is nothing special, but I have plenty of followers. If you need, I can send three or five Return-to-Cosmos Tier cultivators to help manage your homeland."
On the surface, it was management—really, it was protection.
At that moment—
Watching Don Yuenliang, the starry sky powerhouse, speak with such respect, Zhen Gu and Suweng felt their worldview shatter: "He can’t really be a Cosmic Eternal Realm, right? After all, His Highness Andrew Han is still just Void Rift Tier."
Emperor Zhen Gu’s mind went blank, thoughts in turmoil.
Suweng was even more stunned, instinctively holding his breath, his mind a blank: "A Cosmic Eternal Realm powerhouse claims his strength is average—how are us Stellar Palace Tier folks supposed to survive?"
Both belonged to the empire. Their vision and experience were limited; naturally, they couldn’t understand.
"Your Highness, the feast is about to begin." Don Yuenliang gestured. "Please come this way—the Yarlowe Star-King is waiting for you."
Andrew Han frowned. "I’m not the host."
That year, the Solar System fell into silence. The Yarlowe Star-King came and went, offering only polite formalities. Andrew Han held no grudge—but he wouldn’t blindly offer gratitude, either.
Don Yuenliang whispered, "Perhaps the Yarlowe Star-King wants to ease relations with Your Highness."
Andrew Han nodded gently, said a few words to Zhen Gu and Suweng, then walked toward the grand floating palace in the distance. In front of the palace, a massive arena had been set up, with all the empire’s cultivation geniuses waiting around it.
No matter the feast, the real focus was never on the cultivation geniuses, but on the interactions of the various governors from across the Yarlowe Sector.
But this time, all eyes were on Andrew Han.
"My heavens..."
Zhen Gu and Suweng watched Andrew Han leave, step by step heading for the heart of the feast, confirming their suspicions.
Even a Cosmic Eternal Realm powerhouse had to show utmost respect. Emperor Zhen Gu couldn’t speak—he felt Andrew Han’s presence was both close at hand and impossibly distant, forever out of reach.
"Emperor," Suweng said gravely, "What does the Ancient King mean? I’ve searched every starry legend—there’s barely a trace."
Zhen Gu swallowed. "You’re asking me? Who should I ask?"