Every nation possessed its own prodigies. These geniuses, in their respective homelands, regarded themselves as superior, commanding immense attention in everything they undertook. But now, gathered here in the Great Yong Kingdom, with ten thousand talents from two hundred and forty-nine nations assembled, this sense of superiority dissolved. Everyone here was a genius; no one was truly inferior to another. What, then, was a mere genius worth? Currently, the most conspicuous figures were the peerless geniuses! Yet, one must not assume that being a peerless genius guaranteed passing the assessment; it was hardly news if such talents faltered. This assessment, after all, was renowned across the entire continent as the most arduous trial.

By the evening of the first day, the complete reward structure had been unveiled. For this Southern Realm assessment, the first-place victor would earn the continuous use of the Enlightenment Pavilion for the subsequent six months. The benefits of the Pavilion needed no introduction—the potential for cultivation advancement within its walls far surpassed that of the outside world. Back at Deer-Leaping Mountain in the Seven Kingdoms, the top recipient managed only twenty shichen (hours) per month; here, the first-place winner was granted three hundred and sixty shichen monthly, eighteen times the allotment at Deer-Leaping Mountain. However, breaking through from two hundred and forty-nine nations to seize first place was a feat so impossibly difficult, almost unimaginable, that such a reward seemed warranted. Furthermore, the top contender would receive one hundred Heavenly Enlightenment Stones—one hundred stones! Lu Yuan had previously managed to acquire only two or three at a time, but the first place prize now offered a hundred, a generosity that felt utterly staggering. Heavenly Enlightenment Stones were crucial for grasping Sword Intent and realizing the principles of the Great Dao; their importance was immeasurable. Second place through fifth place would receive four months in the Enlightenment Pavilion, along with fifty Heavenly Enlightenment Stones. Sixth through tenth place would gain two months in the Pavilion and twenty Heavenly Enlightenment Stones. Eleventh through twentieth place would secure one month in the Pavilion and ten Heavenly Enlightenment Stones. The Enlightenment Pavilion access and the Heavenly Enlightenment Stones were the most coveted prizes. Beyond these were precious elixirs for augmenting magical power, and rare natural treasures. In short, merely reaching the top twenty guaranteed rewards, and the higher the rank, the richer the bounty. This realization sent a fresh wave of excitement through the assembled talents. Fight! Fight! Fight!

Simultaneously, the rules for the first round of assessment were announced. The first round comprised two distinct components. The first was a test of magical potency, a stipulation set by the Southern Realm, with a maximum possible score of twenty points. The second component assessed practical combat ability. A Heaven-Reaching Tower would manifest, and the farther one ascended within it, the better the resulting score. The Heaven-Reaching Tower performance accounted for eighty points. The initial magical potency test, worth a mere twenty points, might seem less significant, but one should never underestimate these twenty points. Out of ten thousand geniuses, only two hundred and forty-nine would advance. Every single point held immense weight. Rumor had it that some individuals were eliminated for lacking a mere 0.05 points, forfeiting the chance to enter the Central Celestial Dynasty—a regret that would last a lifetime.

The magical potency assessment began the day after Lu Yuan arrived in Great Yong City. That morning, torrential rain lashed down from a sky thousands of zhang overhead. Yet, in Great Yong City itself, not a single drop touched the ground. That heaven-splitting deluge evaporated before reaching the city limits. The number of cultivators in Great Yong City was already vast, and recently, the addition of ten thousand geniuses—all figures at or above the Third Level of the Great Dao Realm—generated an imposing, heaven-shattering aura. This collective presence vaporized the rain clouds a thousand zhang above, ensuring not a single drop descended.

The venue remained the Central Harmony Plaza, where an enormous mirror had long been erected. This mirror seemed capable of peering through the veils separating heaven and earth. At the mirror's apex, three characters blazed forth as if piercing eternity: Zhao Jian Jing (Illuminating Mirror). The Sovereign of the Great Yong Kingdom, Zhou Zhongyong, stood there with his hands clasped behind his back. He remained silent, waiting for the assembled crowd to settle. In due course, nearly everyone had arrived. In these critical moments, no one dared to be careless; missing this Hundred Kingdom Assessment meant waiting another two hundred years, and these individuals would not willingly postpone the realization of their ambitions. Everything was for entry into the Central Celestial Dynasty! To attain greater strength! To secure a longer lifespan! The age had shifted from what it once was. In previous eras, cultivation could thrive outside the Central Celestial Dynasty. Back then, Yan Kuangren from the Great Yi Kingdom could sweep aside armies mobilized by hundreds of Central Celestial Dynasty members. That was impossible now; those at the Fifth Level of the Chaos Void Realm and above were compelled to ascend to the Lost Lands or the Central Celestial Dynasty. The ultimate power of this entire epoch resided within the Central Celestial Dynasty.

The atmosphere in the assembly was far from quiet. However, the Great Yong Sovereign cleared his throat lightly. That gentle sound alone released the immense authority of a Fourth Level Chaos Void realm expert, instantly silencing every voice present—a display of overwhelming might. "You are all gathered. This old man will not waste time with pleasantries. The details regarding the Southern Realm Assessment, which concern you all, have already been publicized. I shall reiterate them once more…" After finishing the particulars, the Great Yong Sovereign continued, "Now, we commence the first component of the Southern Realm Assessment: the Magical Potency Test. It is quite straightforward. Before you stands the Zhao Jian Jing. Each person will stand before it, place a hand upon its surface, and channel their strongest magical power into it. The mirror will reveal the depth of your potency, every thread and every fraction, without the slightest error. Finally, the mirror will issue a precise ranking and score, making it known to everyone." "Begin."

The magical potency assessment for the participants from the Great Yong Kingdom commenced immediately. Their magical power levels were remarkably robust; the Zhao Jian Jing displayed results mostly ranging from the Fifth to the Sixth Level of the Great Dao Realm. "Great Yong, Zhezong Chong, Mid-Stage Seventh Level Great Dao Realm." "Great Yong, Shen Yu, Early Stage Seventh Level Great Dao Realm." "Great Yong, Fu Hao, Mid-Stage Seventh Level Great Dao Realm." Such cultivation levels drew gasps of admiration from the onlookers. Reaching the Seventh Level of the Great Dao Realm truly marked a distinction—the Seventh Level was the Grandmaster Realm, and it was impressive to see so many from the Great Yong Kingdom achieving it. The people of Great Yong appeared quite proud of those who reached the Seventh Level of the Great Dao. "Murong Kingdom, Murong Huangfu, Mid-Stage Seventh Level Great Dao Realm." Indeed, Murong Huangfu of the Murong Kingdom had also reached the Seventh Level. Every cultivator achieving the Seventh Level of the Great Dao Realm elicited praise. This was the first non-Great Yong talent to reach the Mid-Stage Seventh Level. "Yitian Kingdom, Yin Wuji, Peak Seventh Level Great Dao Realm." This announcement sparked even greater discussion. Even the Great Yong Kingdom lacked anyone at the peak of the Seventh Level. Unexpectedly, Yin Wuji from the Yitian Kingdom had reached the apex of the Seventh Level Great Dao Realm. Truly formidable, so formidable that he instantly stole the spotlight from the many talents of the Great Yong Kingdom, leaving them collectively looking diminished. "She Diao Kingdom, Guo Kan, Peak Seventh Level Great Dao Realm." Another cultivator at the Peak Seventh Level Great Dao Realm appeared, causing the people of Great Yong to exchange uneasy glances. In the Hundred Kingdom Assessments held over the past two centuries, it was invariably the Great Yong participants who commanded attention. Never before had the stage been so dominated by talents from other nations as it was today. "Great Hua Kingdom, Mo Zihe, Peak Sixth Level Great Dao Realm." Lu Yuan paid attention to this result; others seemed unconcerned. When Lu Yuan saw Mo Zihe register the Peak Sixth Level Great Dao Realm evaluation, the latter turned toward him in a deliberate display of challenge. Undeniably, the Peak Sixth Level was an exceptional achievement; while not comparable to the absolute elite, it was outstanding among first-tier talents. "Lingxu Kingdom, Xu Kongzi, Mid-Stage Seventh Level Great Dao Realm." Another Seventh Level Great Dao Realm cultivator appeared, drawing some surprise even if it wasn't the peak. Even the Great Yong Sovereign stroked his beard thoughtfully. Just how many peerless geniuses were there this time? They were all terrifyingly strong. "Ancient Tomb Kingdom, Liu Guo, Mid-Stage Seventh Level Great Dao Realm." Yet another Seventh Level Great Dao Realm figure emerged, leaving the crowd almost numb from shock. "Hundred Poverty Kingdom, Xiao Xiongfeng, Early Stage Eighth Level Great Dao Realm." When this result was announced, it sent shockwaves through the assembly. The sole Eighth Level Great Dao Realm cultivator among the ten thousand geniuses had finally appeared! An Eighth Level! Such profound strength caused everyone to turn their gaze toward the powerfully built man, privately speculating that the first position in this initial assessment was almost certainly destined for him. "Jin Kingdom, Lu Yuan, Peak Fourth Level Great Dao Realm." Undoubtedly, Lu Yuan's result was unremarkable, falling into the lower-middle range, attracting no attention. Lu Yuan paid it no mind; magical power was inherently his weakest point. Fortunately, the first assessment was only worth twenty points; the second test held the bulk of the score. Naturally, Lu Yuan was curious to see where he would rank among the ten thousand geniuses once the scores from this potency test were finalized. Later, he recognized the power levels of some familiar faces: Yue Nü Xiaoqing of Yue Kingdom, Peak Fifth Level Great Dao Realm; Tiemu Er, Peak Fourth Level Great Dao Realm. Despite the numerous Seventh Level cultivators just counted, they represented the absolute apex of the ten thousand talents. The majority fell into the Third, Fourth, Fifth, or Sixth Levels of the Great Dao Realm, rarely reaching the Seventh. Someone had tallied the Seventh Level experts: only nine in total. And only one Eighth Level, Xiao Xiongfeng of the Hundred Poverty Kingdom. With only ten such figures among ten thousand talents, the usual metrics could not apply.

As the testing proceeded, the magical cultivation level of nearly everyone was measured—detailed and perfectly accurate. Now, everyone waited for the final rankings and the corresponding scores.