Outside the mountain range, some people started to discuss this new development. “I think if I don’t do anything, I might actually get a higher ranking.”

“There was no such rule before. Why did Vice President Saul suddenly add it?”

“Rumor has it that his disciple was robbed twice by Cai Jianqiang, after which he couldn’t take it anymore.”

…

Cai Jianqiang’s face sank while delight flashed through Deng Pu’s eyes. “Give it back to me. If you keep it, it’ll only cause your score to drop further.”

He did not believe that Cai Jianqiang could unlock seven sourceboxes. In his opinion, Cai Jianqiang’s ability was probably far from being able to unlock seven; he might not even be able to complete three or four, and that was also under the premise that nobody disturbed the Hunter.

Cai Jianqiang shifted his gaze past Deng Pu, and he saw the Serpent Queen in the distance. He casually threw one case over towards the Serpent Queen.

She was taken aback. “For me?”

Cai Jianqiang turned around and threw three more cases in different directions so that they were spread throughout the mountain range. Evidently, he would rather toss them away than give them to Deng Pu. Cai Jianqian was no fool; since this rule had come from Saul, and Deng Pu was Saul’s disciple, this rule had obviously been established to help him. Cai Jianqiang could not take further action against Deng Pu without good cause, but he could at least make life a bit more difficult for him.

Deng Pu was indeed disgusted, and he glared furiously at Cai Jianqiang. He then chose a direction and raced away.

In the mountain range, Lu Yin saw a case descending from the skies. Who had thrown this? It nearly crashed into him.

At that moment, Deng Pu caught up to the case, and he unceremoniously greeted Lu Yin with a palm. “Scram!”

Lu Yin frowned and lifted a leg to kick at his attacker. There was a bang as Deng Pu was sent flying by the kick. He had not raised any sort of defenses against Lu Yin since this person was just an Explorer. How could he have known that disaster would come to him so quickly? Deng Pu felt an intense ache within his chest as the scenery flew past his vision at great speed. He then crash landed in a marsh in a pathetic state.

Those in the Hall of Insight were stunned, as Deng Pu had run into a chain of bad luck. They had seen this person fight against Ku Wei, and he had also shown that he could escape from Cai Jianqiang’s hands. This was not someone who Deng Pu could compare to, and he just had to provoke such a person.

Felynn felt strange, as it had been Cai Jianqiang first and Lu Yin next. Why was this Deng Pu so unlucky? She hoped that he would smoothly become the champion, or else her plan would not be perfect. Work hard!

Many were cheering for Deng Pu, and he himself was in a daze, as he had been sent flying before he could even react. That kick had been ferocious and precise, which neutered his previous courage to look for any more trouble. Weren’t the Innerverse and Outerverse separated? Where had all of these brutish people come from?

“Seventh Bro, that seemed to have been Deng Pu,” the Ghost Monkey mentioned to Lu Yin.

Lu Yin picked up the case, but he was taken aback by these words, and he asked in an odd voice, “Are you sure?”

“You didn’t look at who you just beat?”

“I forgot to look. He was just some random passerby with a strength in the Cruiser realm. His body was rather sturdy, so that kick shouldn’t have done anything to him. Still, since he’s Deng Pu, it’s best to not make things too difficult for him so that he can become the champion.”

“Seventh Bro, if he’s taken out of the picture, you can replace him, hehe.”

Lu Yin responded grudgingly, “Have you forgotten about that fierce Hunter? Even Ku Wei was frightened off.”

“That’s right, a Hunter should be at least a Perceptive Intermediate Lockbreaker. He’s the most likely person to become champion of this competition,” the monkey mumbled.

“Saul won’t allow the True Insight to fall into anyone else’s hands, so let that Hunter take the brunt of his attention,” Lu Yin said.

“Seventh Bro, this monkey feels that you should try and fight for the title. After all, you don’t plan to stand out for Felynn. Once Saul is unveiled before Felynn and the others, you can only scramble for the True Insight.”

Lu Yin muttered to himself. He was not afraid of fighting for it, but Felynn did actually represent the Outerverse Lockbreaker Society. This organization had only a few people in it, but its influence was impressive. If he offended the entire Lockbreaker Society, then it would not be beneficial for his future.

Now that a Hunter had become a thorn in Saul’s side, he would definitely be targeted. Lu Yin himself presented almost no threat to Deng Pu at all, so there was still a chance for him to compete for the title of champion.

***

Outside the mountain range, there were screens floating all over Sourcepeak Planet, allowing everyone to see the Lockbreaker Competition unfold.

Within a manor that stood beside a mountain and a water body, Wei Xin'er was unhappily eating something even as her eyes were glued to a screen. She occasionally crunched into her food.

Near her, Wei Rong was amused at his sister’s behavior. “Xin’er, come to Brother.”

“No, I get mad when I look at you,” she snorted.

Wei Rong had no other choice. “It’s too early for you to compete in this competition since you don’t have any lockbreaking experience. Brother promises to let you compete in the next season—it’s only ten years away.”

Wei Xin'er glared at Wei Rong, completely furious. “Ten years? Do you know what ten years means to a woman?”

“You’re still just a little girl.”

“You’re not allowed to say that I’m little!”

“But you aren’t even twenty.”

“I’m mature, and I can make my own decisions.”

“Alright, alright. Even if I agreed at this moment, you still wouldn’t be able to compete since the competition already started a day ago.” Wei Rong smiled.

Wei Xin'er gritted her teeth in anger, snorted, and then ran off. She did not want to spend any more time with this horrible person.

When he saw Wei Xin'er leave, Wei Rong’s expression calmed down, and he looked at Deng Pu’s image on the screen. “Stay focused on him. He has to be this season’s champion. True Insight cannot end up in anyone else’s hands.”

Behind him, a cultivator acknowledged his words.

“How are the preparations going?” Wei Rong asked.

“All done. We’re just waiting for the last moment for Lu Yin to make the objection.”

“Lu Yin. This person means trouble. He used external aides to remain undefeated even against Enlighters. That foolish woman, Felynn, actually wants to use him, and she only told us about it at the last minute. Foolish beyond belief. Send out an order to avoid him as much as possible.”

“What if he blocks us?”

“Let Felynn negotiate, and then as a last resort…” Wei Rong’s gaze frosted over as he finished his sentence. “Take care of it.”

“Yes.”

Inside Forest Hotel, Angie stood atop a tall tree and stared at a screen while Ah Mu stood behind her. She said, “We’ll make out well even if this entire planet fights against us. Send down a word of caution to those under us and remind them to not reveal our identity until our goals are achieved.”

“Yes, Young Mistress,” Ah Mu answered softly. He looked up, and coincidentally Lu Yin’s image appeared on the screen. Since Ah Mu had already seen Lu Yin’s disguised appearance, he immediately recognized Lu Yin, and his friend’s appearance worried Ah Mu. Lu Yin’s presence was a huge variable.

At Sourcepeak Planet’s space station, inside a spacecraft belonging to Endless Borders, there were many cultivators wearing matching battle suits devoid of any symbols. They were all standing in formation. These people were mercenaries from Aegis, and they were all independent cultivators. Although they were not affiliated with any organization, their discipline was strict as a result of Aegis’s training.

Those watching the drama and bustle on Sourcepeak Planet had no idea about the disaster that was waiting just around the corner.

***

Another day passed, and within the mountain range, Lu Yin had finished unlocking five sourceboxes, taking an average of three hours for each one. Most of his time had been spent searching for more sourceboxes.

Although there were more than a thousand Lockbreakers scattered throughout the mountain range, those who were capable of finding any sourceboxes with their own abilities were very few. Additionally, the presence of those like Ku Wei who snatched sourceboxes from others meant that most of the sourceboxes were concentrated in the hands of the top-notch Lockbreakers. The majority of contestants had not even found a single sourcebox, let alone successfully unlock one. Lu Yin had also gained two sourceboxes by stealing them from others.

Lu Yin did not know if lockbreaking five sourceboxes was a good or bad result.

There was one last day before the first stage’s end, and those like Deng Pu and Xi Qi would have hidden themselves before starting their all-out lockbreaking session. With their ability as Perceptive Intermediate Lockbreakers, their speed would not be any slower than Lu Yin’s, and they would probably end up with good results. However, Lu Yin’s own results were definitely enough to pass the first round, though his ranking was completely unknown.

Cai Jianqiang lethargically walked out from underground, where he had just finished unlocking his second sourcebox after nine grueling hours. It had only been a Discerning Elementary sourcebox, showing that his lockbreaking ability was truly too poor. He was confident that he could unlock many sourceboxes, but he required time for that, which was what he was currently lacking the most.

There were not many people who were slower than Cai Jianqiang, and he frowned as he looked around. He should not have any problem in passing this first round, but his results were too poor to obtain the championship. He muttered to himself for a while and then looked up as determination solidified in his eyes. I’m sorry, everyone. Although it goes against my own morals, I have to do this for True Insight. Everyone can only rely on their own abilities!

Within the Hall of Insight, Saul looked down with satisfaction, as Deng Pu had already finished unlocking seven sourceboxes. Saul’s preparation of indicating the locations of various sourceboxes for his disciple had not been done in vain, and if he had not run into Cai Jianqiang partway through the first stage and been disrupted, then his number would have been even higher. Not bad, not bad.

“That kid’s lockbreaking speed isn’t slow, and he takes an average of about three hours for each sourcebox. Saul, that’s even faster than your disciple.” Fiend Li who seldom spoke, suddenly broke his silence. He was looking at Lu Yin in the mountain range and sighed in appreciation.

Saul’s face sank, but he did not reply.

Felynn appeared astonished, as she had not expected Lu Yin’s lockbreaking skills to be so adept. This person had only become a Lockbreaker recently, but he was already a five star Discerning Elementary Lockbreaker. Furthermore, despite his level, his lockbreaking speed was not much slower than a Perceptive Intermediate Lockbreaker’s. His talent was truly as impressive as rumored.

“Xi Qi’s pretty good as well. She’s already unlocked four, with an average of 3.5 hours per sourcebox,” Yi Feng commented indifferently.

“And that Serpent Queen—her lockbreaking speed is about four hours per sourcebox, and she’s similarly completed four sourceboxes.”

“That Ku Wei has completed five sourceboxes at an average speed of five hours for each one. But one of the sourceboxes took him less than two hours, which is the fastest out of everyone,” Mr. Jun said.

“With such lockbreaking ability, why can’t he search for sourceboxes himself? All of his sourceboxes were seized from others.” One of the Perceptive Intermediate Lockbreakers was unhappy with Ku Wei since his disciple had been robbed by him.

The others did not speak up, as being able to seize sourceboxes was also a type of one’s capabilities. Deng Pu had also been robbed by Cai Jianqiang twice, and Saul had been left with no choice but to forcefully change the rules.

The crowd only discussed some simple matters, and there was only one day left before the first stage ended. If nothing out of the ordinary happened, then Deng Pu would be the final winner of this stage as he still had three sourceboxes left. He did not need to go out and search for more, which the other competitors would have to do, essentially wasting their time.

As for Cai Jianqiang, nobody even mentioned him. Although he was also a Perceptive Intermediate Lockbreaker, his speed was truly too slow. If not for the fact that he had succeeded in unlocking a Perceptive Intermediate sourcebox, the society definitely would not have allowed him to become a Perceptive Intermediate Lockbreaker. This person was a disgrace to many Lockbreakers.

At this moment, the Hall of Insight suddenly quivered, and the faces of Saul and the others changed as they looked at the screens. “Not good, what does Cai Jianqiang want to do now?”

The crowd had originally assumed that this last day would be very calm, as many contestants had secluded themselves to begin their lockbreaking sessions. Suddenly, surging star energy burst forth that caused the entire mountain range behind the Hall of Insight to tremble. Everyone was puzzled; what was going on?

Cai Jianqiang stood high in the sky and forcefully took control of all the star energy, only to unleash it upon the mountain range behind the Hall of Insight without restraint. With his overbearing strength, it was no different than crushing the other competitors.

Many Lockbreakers were in the midst of their lockbreaking, and they were forcefully interrupted by this explosion of star energy.