250: Chapter 25 Journey to the Origin Star Sea

Closed World No. 37.

A spring the size of a bowl's mouth ran dry, shedding its final droplet.

Stagnant time quietly synchronized, and the long-sealed world opened once more.

Gazing at the familiar scenery within the academy, Zhang Huaiyuan felt a momentary sense of disorientation, as if separated by an entire lifetime.

This time, a full 90 years had passed under accelerated time—fifty times longer than all the years he had lived before combined.

Of course, given the strength of his cerebral domain, this degree of temporal erosion was negligible.

The only regret was that in the five thousand years that followed, although the overall level continually rose, he only succeeded in capturing one of the opponent's pieces once. All other matches were utterly one-sided defeats.

"Junior Martial Brother, how do you feel?"

At that moment, a vaguely familiar voice sounded.

He saw a figure standing not far away with hands clasped behind his back, numerous ethereal tentacles neatly retracted, exuding an air of a lofty master.

It was none other than the second disciple of the Virtual Tower's master, the current principal of the academy.

"Sec... Second Senior Brother."

Zhang Huaiyuan adjusted to the sluggishness in his language center caused by long periods of silence and quickly recovered.

He nodded slightly with a smile:

"The gains have been immense. I thank the academy for its cultivation. At the very least, I won't be holding others back anymore."

"Oh? That sounds quite confident. Let this senior brother test you a bit."

Hearing this, the Second Senior Brother, intrigued, extended his hand. Streams of data and light coalesced into a twisted, bizarre form.

"A sixty-sixth-order Stan model."

Zhang Huaiyuan glanced at it and immediately recognized this tool commonly used to assess knowledge mastery.

Simply put, it involved complete knowledge fragments that had been scrambled and mixed together; one needed to sort out their order and complete the reassembly.

If this were before his 90 years of arduous cultivation, solving a sixty-sixth-order model like this would have been impossible without at least a month or two.

However, having undergone the "Truth Chess Game" assessment, such a test wasn't even child's play to him.

He had the answer in his mind within just ten seconds.

Zhang Huaiyuan smiled faintly, reached out, and swiftly adjusted it dozens of times. Instantly, the awkward, bizarre model transformed into a Möbius strip with no reverse side.

"Seventeen seconds?!"

The smile on Second Senior Brother's face paused as he reassessed the Junior Martial Brother before him.

He had heard feedback from various special training instructors that this Junior Martial Brother's talent in other disciplines wasn't top-tier.

He had deliberately combined a "Stan model" outside the fields of Virtual Technology and Material Science, never expecting the other to solve it in just over ten seconds!

Even some Senior Scholars wouldn't be much faster.

In other words, this guy's mastery and integration of knowledge below level 4 was already on par with a Senior Scholar!

This... was truly good news.

Second Senior Brother's smile widened a bit more, his expression understanding as he said:

"Junior Martial Brother, the academy and the association will always be your backing. There's no need to hide your talents too deeply."

He didn't believe that a mere 90 years could achieve such a level.

"Second Senior Brother, that's not the case. Before this period of arduous cultivation..."

"I understand, I understand... When I was young, after every exam, whenever others asked me, I'd also say things like 'I didn't study at all,' 'I know nothing,' or 'I failed miserably.' I understand completely, senior brother understands."

"Uh... I really... Never mind. Second Senior Brother, when do we depart for the competition?"

Seeing the other's teasing expression, Zhang Huaiyuan immediately gave up on explaining.

After all, from the outcome, there was no difference.

"Three days from now, gather here. I'll be leading the team personally."

Second Senior Brother synchronized a set of coordinates to Zhang Huaiyuan's integrated device.

"Take these two days to rest well and adjust your state. The academy's performance this time rests entirely on you."

"I understand. Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother."

...

Several days later, in an indescribable location.

"Is this the Origin Star Sea?"

Including Zhang Huaiyuan, everyone from the Time Book House who had emerged from the high-dimensional transmission channel marveled at the sight before them.

It was an unimaginably colossal energy phantom of a giant tree.

Its height was incalculable, spanning billions of light-years.

Its drooping branches were covered in leaves, the veins of which traced swirling patterns shimmering with dazzling starlight.

Each leaf bore an entire universe!

No further explanation was needed. Zhang Huaiyuan instantly understood its identity.

The World Tree.

"This is the energy phantom of the World Tree. Like the Sea of Time, it is a connection point within this dimension..."

Various leading mentors explained in hushed tones.

The academy principal at the forefront, Mild, seemed long accustomed to the sight. He casually took out a silver metal plate and affixed it to the void. Countless virtual circuits extended outward along it.

After tapping it lightly three times...

Soon, a branch descended from not far away.

Two handsome elves with pointed ears and elegant attire appeared ahead.

"Scholar Mild, esteemed members of the Time Book House, welcome to the Origin Star Sea."

The two performed an elegant bow and simultaneously drew two flower-wreathed portals behind them.

"Accompanying Scholars, please proceed through the portal on the left. Students here to participate in the competition, please enter the portal on the right."

"A reminder to all: this place is unlike those remote backwaters. It is patrolled by His Majesty the Sovereign's swarm guards. Please do not leave the guided areas."

Their polite words carried a subtle hint of arrogance.

Zhang Huaiyuan could even see disgust and disdain flickering in the depths of their gaze.

This was true even when they looked at his Second Senior Brother.

Only when their eyes swept over himself and the Seventh Princess, Fang Qingran, did they nod with a slight smile.

"Tsk... As expected of a race that doesn't even bother to hide its obsession with appearances."

The accompanying Scholars seemed to have heard of the Elf Race's ways and did not take offense.

Instead, they turned and instructed in low voices:

"The real competition begins the moment you enter the Origin Star Sea. We will be watching you from the spectator seats. Remember, do not tarnish the academy's reputation..."

"Understood, teachers."

Talix, Zhang Huaiyuan, and the others listened and nodded solemnly.

"We trouble the two envoys. Please lead the way."

The leader, Mild, seemed to have deliberately waited a moment, allowing the Scholars to finish their instructions before politely addressing the two Elf Race envoys.

"Please proceed."

The two Elf Race envoys gave a slight nod and each led a group toward the portals.

"Biological wormhole technology combined with magical rune techniques..."

Zhang Huaiyuan gave the portal a brief, appraising glance before stepping through.

After a slight dizziness, a world filled with flowers and lush vegetation came into view.

Most eye-catching were the treehouses on the branches, each like a work of art.

"Those are your temporary dormitories."

Before everyone could examine them closely, an aloof voice came through.

Zhang Huaiyuan followed the direction of the pointing.

A row of small, cramped tree hollows came into view.

The expressions of all the academy candidates changed in unison.

...