Very few ever gain recognition, but it's always worth trying—what if you're acknowledged? Wouldn't that be wonderful... That was precisely Blake Bloodchart's thought.
The surroundings were utterly silent.
This was the Shallow-Red Void within the Primeval Gate.
"Heaven-Venerable Relic-Site."
After listening to Bloodchart's explanation, Andrew Han murmured softly and looked straight ahead.
A massive star immediately came into view. Its surface was dim, dotted with billions of patterns; clumps of stellar matter occupied every direction, and clusters of flame waves were all frozen, seemingly on the verge of separation... about to disperse but not yet dispersed, about to collapse but not yet collapsed—a marvelously suspended state.
The colossal star had reached its final stage, yet instead of becoming a white dwarf, it revived from the brink of death.
A perfect fusion of collapse and renewal!
An unbroken harmony of decline and resurgence!
Deathly stillness and vibrant life—contradictory meanings overlapped here, creating a strange sensation. Yet there was nothing amiss; one could only marvel at the boundless mysteries of the cosmic starry sky.
"On the verge of collapse, yet revived once more."
"In the midst of deathly silence, new life emerges."
Murmuring inwardly, Andrew Han nearly held his breath, his eyes growing ever brighter.
This very essence perfectly matched the central theme of the Life-Death Reincarnation Seal soul secret art. If he could personally experience and comprehend it up close, his cultivation of the Life-Death Reincarnation Seal would surely become deeper, and the power he could unleash would be even more formidable.
The thought turned over in his mind.
Andrew Han did not hesitate any longer.
A Heaven-Venerable Relic-Site that perfectly fits his own soul cultivation path—truly a match made in heaven.
"However..."
Andrew Han hesitated for a moment. "Can I just walk over directly? How exactly do I attempt it, and whose recognition am I supposed to obtain...?"
To the side.
Victor Wu's expression was respectful, but inwardly waves of shock surged within him.
He had served as a steward for over ten thousand epochs, all in the Standard Gate and Primordial Gate. This was Victor Wu's first time at the Primeval Gate, hearing its secret lore firsthand. He couldn't help but listen with full attention, not daring to speak or move, lest he interrupt Bloodchart's explanation to Andrew Han.
"Andrew Han, watch closely."
"Do you see? The exterior of this Starry Wonder is covered by a semi-transparent membrane, barring passage. Unless the Wonder's master actively opens this membrane, or a new master is born, entry is forbidden. Right now, this Wonder is unclaimed, so you can walk straight over. If the membrane lets you in, that means you've gained recognition. When I tried in the past, I was kept outside, refused entry." Bloodchart pointed at the massive star in the distance, shook his head, and sighed.
As for whose recognition is required?
Even the generations of Primeval-tier Geniuses at the Primeval Gate can't say for sure—there are many theories, but no consensus.
Among the various opinions, three main guesses exist: First, recognition by a Heaven-Venerable; second, a hidden evaluation by the Spark-Heritage Zone; and third, sheer, elusive luck.
But the issue is, Heaven-Venerables stand supreme. As long as a Heaven-Venerable is alive, they've basically reached the Human Race's pinnacle—why would they pay attention to something so minor?
Therefore—
Bloodchart leans toward the second theory: a hidden assessment by the Spark-Heritage Zone.
"I see."
Andrew Han nodded, his gaze settling beyond the massive star. He vaguely saw a layer of semi-transparent barrier—like gauzy silk, like ripples in space—barely visible unless one looked closely.
"Then I'll give it a try."
Without further delay, Andrew Han strode forward.
Bloodchart's voice came from behind: "It's simple, don't be nervous. If this one doesn't work, there are still two other idle Heaven-Venerable Relic-Sites. Besides those, there are Starry Wonders with Eternal-King traces you can choose from."
Bloodchart was thoroughly considerate.
This instantly calmed Andrew Han's mood.
"Not bad at all."
"Having someone on the inside really makes things easier." As Andrew Han walked toward the massive star, he mused inwardly, "That's a universal truth, valid across the cosmic starry sky. If I didn't know Brother Howard, why would Bloodchart bother with me, or waste time helping a complete stranger? I owe thanks to Brother Howard, and to Bloodchart as well."
Thud, thud—Andrew Han advanced step by step.
Ripples churned through the Shallow-Red Void; only Andrew Han walked onward, drawing ever closer to the colossal star.
......
Bloodchart watched silently, his expression as calm as a still lake.
"Andrew Han."
"Will he gain recognition? Brother Howard did back then—he personally witnessed the embryonic form of a Heaven-Venerable Path, and his progress soared afterward."
......
"Your Highness—Andrew Han, Your Highness." Victor Wu clutched the brim of his ten-meter-tall hat so tightly his knuckles turned white.
......
At that moment, two pairs of eyes focused as Andrew Han arrived before the semi-transparent membrane.
"Oh."