A full contingent of figures from the Nine Epochs, and nine half-step Epochs, had arrived from the Central Heavenly Dynasty, almost entirely accounted for. They had all come to try their luck at this Stellar Domain Gate, despite the extremely faint hope of passing through it. However, should they succeed, they would ascend to the realm of the Master of Civilization, and it was for this minuscule chance that they had all gathered here.

Lu Yuan casually inquired of Zhou Qingxuan about the nature of this Stellar Domain Gate. Zhou Qingxuan explained, "This Stellar Domain Gate is divided into four layers: the Layer of Lost Things, the Central Layer, the Layer of Eternity, and the Layer of Constancy. Each layer is increasingly difficult to breach. If one can break through the fourth layer, the Layer of Constancy, they can enter the heart of the Stellar Domain Gate."

"However, let alone breaking through the Layer of Constancy, even reaching it is incredibly arduous. Most individuals are blocked within the Layer of Lost Things."

"For every layer broken through, one gains an enlightenment specific to that layer."

"Thus, those who generally come here gain some insight and rewards, which is why successfully passing through the Stellar Domain Gate is nearly impossible, yet why figures from every Nine Epoch and nine half-step Epochs still present themselves each time," Zhou Qingxuan concluded. Only then did Lu Yuan fully comprehend the situation.

His own objective, however, was to breach the Stellar Domain Gate entirely and reach the realm of the Master of Civilization.

As they spoke, another Civilization Vice-Lord arrived—it was none other than the Vice-Lord of the Wind Civilization. He offered a slight smile, "Although I am only of the Eight Epoch, I have come to try my hand as well." Having already reached the apex of the Eight Epochs, harboring such ambition was entirely natural.

Even as he spoke, two more Civilization Vice-Lords appeared: the Vice-Lord of the Formation Civilization and the Vice-Lord of the Arrow Civilization. Lu Yuan instantly moved to draw his sword, but at that moment, Emperor’s Son Fa Yi abruptly intervened, "Wait a moment. The opportunity provided by the Stellar Domain Gate once every century forbids any internal conflict."

Lu Yuan paused upon hearing this. Yet, behind the Stellar Domain Gate resided over a hundred Masters of Civilization, and this rule was established by them. Bound by the dictates of so many formidable experts, Lu Yuan had no choice but to comply.

"Very well, I shall spare your lives for now," Lu Yuan declared, waving a hand dismissively.

The Vice-Lords of the Formation Civilization and the Arrow Civilization were left speechless, caught between laughter and tears. Both were figures of immense power, especially the Vice-Lord of the Arrow Civilization. He was a major figure in the Central Heavenly Dynasty, the foremost operative in the strongest assassination squad among the nine half-step Epochs. In the past, any Civilization Vice-Lord targeted by him could count on sleepless nights. There was a common saying in the Central Heavenly Dynasty: "If the Vice-Lord of the Arrow Civilization decrees your death at the third watch, you will struggle to see the fifth." Such was his usual terrifying authority, yet now he felt utterly scorned by Lu Yuan’s casual dismissal—a humiliation beyond measure for him.

But what could he do? Lu Yuan’s killing presence in the Central Heavenly Dynasty was absolute; no one dared provoke him. Even a powerhouse like the Vice-Lord of the Arrow Civilization had to yield and avoid his sharp edge.

After a short while, several more figures arrived, all strangers to Lu Yuan, hailing from the Lost Lands. These individuals from the Lost Lands also possessed extraordinary strength, quite remarkable. A few even appeared eager to challenge Lu Yuan, such as the scholar Di Ming, a figure from the nine half-step Epochs who carried an air of profound arrogance.

The assembly was nearly complete.

These individuals settled down in their respective spots. The Central Heavenly Dynasty forces were notably unified, clustered together. Lu Yuan sipped his wine, listening to their discussions, and only then did he truly grasp the immense difficulty of the Stellar Domain Gate. For instance, someone like the Vice-Lord of the Heavenly Mother Civilization had only managed to breach the first layer, the Layer of Lost Things, in the previous century, unable to advance even a half-step further.

After some time, the Stellar Domain Gate began to emit a ray of seven-colored light, shifting and uncertain, before finally reverting to the deep blue of the starry sky.

Emperor’s Son Fa Yi announced, "It begins. Each person gets one attempt."

Before the words had fully faded, the Vice-Lord of the Wind Civilization stepped forward to make his try.

With a sharp cry, the Vice-Lord of the Wind Civilization activated all his mystical power. His wind-attribute power was pushed to its absolute limit, conjuring a colossal vortex of wind. The wind within this vortex was eerily still, seemingly devoid of motion, yet Lu Yuan could distinctly feel the immense, latent power within it. Once unleashed, this wind’s force would be the ultimate gale. If the strong winds Lu Yuan felt on Mount Hua were a level four or five, and those by the sea in the Jin State were level ten to twelve, the power of this unleashed wind could potentially reach hundreds of thousands of levels. Such was the gulf in difference.

Boom! This static wind slammed violently against the Stellar Domain Gate.

Not the slightest change registered on the Gate’s surface. Even an expert of the Eight Epochs like the Vice-Lord of the Wind Civilization lacked the basic qualification to even scratch the Stellar Domain Gate.

Emperor’s Son Fa Yi smiled slightly. "I shall test it now." He straightened his body and stood before the Gate. No one contested his turn; going earlier or later made little difference. Fa Yi let out a resounding shout, and infinite spells gathered around him. These spells transformed, converging like stars yet simultaneously resembling dust motes—two utterly contrasting sensations melding together. Then, Fa Yi roared, striking the Stellar Domain Gate with a massive boom. The thunderous spells hammered into the star-filled expanse of the Gate, seemingly shattering something, causing the starry expanse of the Gate to abruptly break apart in one section. Those with experience knew that this meant the first layer, the Layer of Lost Things, had been breached. As Fa Yi passed the Layer of Lost Things, various spells pertaining to that layer automatically flowed into his divine sense—this was the benefit he gained.

Fa Yi struck again, pushing into the second layer, the Central Layer. However, this fully charged attack vanished into the second layer like a stone sinking into the sea, eliciting no further response.

It seemed he had only managed to break through the first layer and reach the second. Fa Yi felt a touch of regret, though he had still gained substantial benefits.

"Fa Yi's performance this time is an improvement over the last."

"Indeed, he managed to break the first layer." He was being praised simply for breaching the first layer.

After Fa Yi retreated, the Stellar Domain Gate instantly restored itself.

Immediately, several figures from the Nine Epochs took their turns. Some of these Nine Epoch experts managed to break the first layer and enter the second, gaining the first layer's enlightenment, while others couldn't even breach the first layer, let alone enter the second. Lu Yuan observed from the side and noted that those who broke the first layer and those who failed were split almost evenly among the Nine Epoch experts. Those originating from the Lost Lands showed similar records to those from the Central Heavenly Dynasty.

Finally, it was the turn of the Vice-Lord of the Arrow Civilization. He was a pinnacle expert, and his signature technique, the 'Cloud-Piercing Arrow across Ten Thousand Miles,' was one of the deadliest moves in the Central Heavenly Dynasty. Standing before the Gate, the Vice-Lord drew his bow. His bow was enormous, spanning three zhang. The bow body was ancient in style, devoid of patterns or ornamentation, as it needed none. This weapon was called the Bow of Slaughter.

The Vice-Lord grasped the Bow of Slaughter and bent it, pulling the string taut to its absolute limit.

The space between the bowstring radiated a stark, tense beauty—the aesthetic of strained force.

The Vice-Lord of the Arrow Civilization took three deep breaths, slowly circulating his cultivation method, 'One Arrow to Pacify the World.' The eighty-one streams of vital energy within him converged into a single torrent. Normally, he refined eighty-one separate streams of power, unique among his peers, but when necessary, fusing them into one could generate immense power.

The eighty-one merged into one. Shoot!

He released the string, pouring all his magical power into the shot.

For the instant the arrow flew, time and space nearly paused. Space itself was relentlessly pierced. This arrow slammed into the Stellar Domain Gate. The first layer, the Gate of Lost Things, which had appeared utterly solid against the other Nine Epoch experts, was instantly rent open. In that moment, the Vice-Lord of the Arrow Civilization gained the method to refine eighty-two streams of vital energy; combining eighty-two streams created a power far exceeding eighty-one. Though it was only an increase of one stream, the resulting difference was significant. This 'Cloud-Piercing Arrow across Ten Thousand Miles' shot deep into the second layer, only being halted by the third layer, the Gate of Eternity, near the layer’s very end. It failed to pierce the Gate of Eternity, but this achievement was astounding. The Vice-Lord of the Heavenly Mother Civilization, a figure of the nine half-step Epochs, had only reached the beginning of the second layer last time, whereas the Vice-Lord of the Arrow Civilization's shot reached the far end of the second layer—a better result than the Heavenly Mother's.

Next, the Vice-Lord of the Heavenly Mother Civilization made her attempt. She stopped again at the beginning of the second layer, clearly indicating that the combat strength of the Vice-Lord of the Arrow Civilization now surpassed hers.

Finally, it was the turn of the Vice-Lord of the Ice Civilization. As the second-most prominent figure of the preceding Epoch, he was naturally a focal point.

The Vice-Lord of the Ice Civilization was intensely cold. He stepped onto the field, his silver-white hair, handsome features, and chilling aura ensuring he remained the center of attention wherever he went. He drew his Divine Blade of Ice Soul. Countless plumes of ice and chilling energy swirled around his blade. With a sharp roar, he unleashed his strike.

The first layer, the Layer of Lost Things, shattered.

The second layer, the Central Layer, nearly broke—no, it shattered completely.

The third layer, the Layer of Eternity.

The four layers of the Stellar Domain Gate grew exponentially more difficult. Normal Nine Epoch figures couldn't even breach the first layer, and typical nine half-step Epoch experts barely reached the second. Yet, the Vice-Lord of the Ice Civilization had smashed through the second layer, breaking it, and reached the third, the Layer of Eternity.

The benefits gained from breaking the second layer must be immense. The first layer granted techniques; the second, fundamental Laws. The Vice-Lord of the Ice Civilization discovered he had integrated a fragment of a fundamental Law. He distinctly felt that the Layer of Eternity offered even greater rewards, but he simply could not break through. After a forceful attempt to push further proved futile, the Vice-Lord of the Ice Civilization had to concede, yet even so, his was the best performance this cycle, reaching the very threshold of the third layer, the Layer of Eternity.

(First update delivered.)