The Tier 6 array was only [Qualified] quality, which meant it was riddled with logical exploits. Theoretically, the higher the quality, the fewer the flaws; a [Perfect] array had no structural weaknesses and could only be broken by overwhelming force. A [Legendary] array required an attack far exceeding its own rank to even scratch it.
But this array was amateurish compared to what Lance now understood.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
As his spiritual energy invaded the faulty nodes, the array began to fracture. The brilliant light of the flames flickered and dimmed as the foundation crumbled under his precise sabotage.
The sight sent a shiver down Sovereign Glacia’s spine.
From her vantage point, she watched in total disbelief as Lance dismantled over eighty percent of the array’s hundreds of thousands of nodes in a matter of seconds. At this rate, the entire formation would collapse in heartbeats. It wasn't just the speed that terrified her; it was the fact that a fifteen-year-old boy was systematically deconstructing a Tier 6 array with the precision of a surgeon.
"Who the hell is he!?" she thought, her mind racing. "Is he the reincarnation of some powerhouse from the Immortal Realm? Those are definitely 5th-rank techniques he’s using, but even a [Perfect] 5th-rank technique shouldn't be able to unravel a Tier 6 Mid-Grade array this easily. Unless... unless those are the fabled [Legendary Grade] techniques?"
Shocking theories flashed through her mind. Yet, judging by his personality and the pure essence of his soul, he didn't feel like some old monster who had possessed a new body. The more she watched, the more mysterious he became.
Sensing the protective barrier failing, the Solar Stellar Flame in the center of the array began to pulse violently. It was clearly preparing to bolt the moment the formation vanished.
"Thinking of running? You’re dreaming," Lance sneered.
In an instant, a torrent of terrifying, pitch-black fire erupted from his body. The Dark Magic Flame surged outward, swallowing the entire array.
Boom!
The formation shattered, dissolving into a million flecks of light that were instantly consumed by the black inferno.
Rumble!
A supreme, primordial aura exploded from the Dark Magic Flame. The absolute, destructive pressure bore down on the Solar Stellar Flame, which instantly lost its aggression. The once-violent core shriveled into a tiny, trembling spark in the corner, unable to move an inch.
The black flames swirled around it, compressing the essence into a small black orb that floated gently into Lance’s palm.
"What? SSS-Rank Dark Magic Flame? How can he have that too!?" Glacia was stunned yet again. Finding an SS-Rank Ice-Soul Flame in a backwater place like the Milky Way was already a miracle, but for an SSS-Rank fire to appear was simply absurd.
However, after everything she had seen, she finally started to resign herself to the madness.
"Why am I even surprised anymore?" she muttered to herself. "I’m a Domain Lord Realm powerhouse, for heaven's sake. Act like you’ve seen the world. The kid has Immortal Grade cultivation techniques—why wouldn't he have an SSS-Rank fire?"
She had to console herself this way. Lance was simply too much of a freak; if she didn't find a way to rationalize it, she’d lose her mind.
"And that’s that. Job done," Lance said with a satisfied smile, tucking the orb into his pocket.
He wasn't sure if he’d absorb it yet; he’d decide once he got back. With his current Reconstruction capabilities, he didn't strictly need to hoard similar items. He could simply upgrade his existing Dark Magic Flame. If this new flame had high potential, he’d use it for a repair; if not, he’d find another use for it.
Picking up the unconscious Selina, Lance took flight. As he cruised through the air, he pulled up his status panel.
[User Status Panel]
Name: Lance
Reconstruction Quota: 0/5
Martial Rank: [Grandmaster - Rank 1]
Soul Rank: [Gold Tier - Rank 10] (Tier 6, 220k/300k)
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CON: 15,400 (1 pt = 30,000kg strength)
Soul: 10,000
Profession: Array Master (5th-Rank Low-Grade, 0/3M, [Legendary])
Mastery: Spear Arts (Master Peak, 900%), Movement (Master Peak, 900%)
Traits: Undying God-Body (Eternal Rank, +300% DMG), Innate Law Body (Desolate Grade, 100k Multiplier), Solar Stellar Flame (S-Rank), Holy Light (SS-Rank), Dark Magic Flame (SSS-Rank)
Techniques: Titanium War Art (Rank 4, +300% Speed), Eternal Soul Protocol (Immortal Grade, Tier 5 Shatter, 32x), Heavenly Demon Disintegration (Tier 8)
Skills: Titanium Fist (Rank 4, 400%), Meteor Spear Art (Tier 6 Mid, 1000%), Solar Flare Blast (Tier 6 Peak, 1500%), Inferno Dragon Step (Tier 7 Mid, 1500%), Astral War Body (Tier 7 Mid, 1500%)
Items: Black Slayer Set (Tier 7 Mid), Black Flame Spear (Tier 7 Mid), Aircraft (Tier 8 Mid)
Pet: Infernal Cerberus-Dragon (SSS-Rank, Tier 4, 10-Star)
The panel had evolved, adding a profession tab and streamlining lower-level attributes. Lance noted the system's previous mention of his Undying God-Body. Once he hit the Grandmaster rank, it was supposed to change.
"The change hasn't kicked in yet," he mused. "It’s probably waiting for my Soul rank to catch up. I need to push my Soul to Grandmaster level as soon as possible."
He expected the evolution to boost his recovery speed. Currently, he could regenerate from as little as 0.5% of his body. After the upgrade, that might drop to 0.1%. More importantly, his Eternal Soul Protocol would likely reach the Tier 6 Shatter state, doubling his power multiplier to a staggering 64x.
As he reached the ruins of Sunfire Hall, he sensed a familiar presence below. He swept the area with his spiritual awareness.
"Huh? Why is the High Speaker frozen?"
Lance stared at the old man trapped within a block of solid ice. Judging by his frantic expression, he must have tried to charge in to rescue Lance and Selina during the chaos. Given the warning the old man had given him earlier, Lance actually had a good amount of respect for the man. He had no idea the High Speaker had nearly run himself to death trying to protect him.
"You certainly have a measured hand," Lance joked, glancing at the bell in his pocket. "He’s frozen solid, but he hasn't taken a scratch of damage."
Sovereign Glacia sounded quite proud. "Of course. He didn't have any killing intent, so why would I kill a little old man? But I’ll tell you this: my ice is Planetary Class. Unless you use your Dark Magic Flame or wait here for a few years, that Solar Stellar Flame of yours isn't going to melt it anytime soon."
"I never said I was going to be the one to save him," Lance replied with a smirk. "Someone else is coming for that."
Lance smiled and cast his gaze toward the far reaches of the starry sky. "He should be arriving any moment now," he whispered.
Rumble!
Suddenly, a pressure of unfathomable magnitude descended from the void. In a heartbeat, the entire solar system was blanketed by a supreme, all-encompassing aura. Every human being, every Void Beast, and even the planets themselves were instantly locked in place, unable to move so much as a finger.
"A Stellar Class powerhouse, Rank 2?" Sovereign Glacia’s voice echoed in his mind. "How did you know he was coming? Oh, right—you have a Tier 7 intellect. No wonder."
Feeling the weight of that power, Glacia immediately understood the situation. Lance’s earlier attempt to melt the ice with his Solar Stellar Flame had been nothing but a performance. Everything was a stage play.
Lance maintained a calm expression. Even though the sheer force of this supreme pressure had pinned him in place, he had no reason to fight it. According to the data from his wrist communicator, the newcomer was a Guardian of the human race—one of the High Guardians. To the current Federation, an SS-Rank genius like him was a treasure above all treasures. They would never allow harm to come to him.
Vroom!
A majestic aura coalesced directly in front of Lance. An elderly man with an ethereal, immortal-like air slowly descended from the sky.
Guardian Aether looked at Lance—who was still "struggling" to melt the ice around the High Speaker—and nodded in silent approval.
"His character seems solid. Having such a talent is a blessing for the human race," Guardian Aether thought, stroking his long white beard. "It’s a good thing that Solaris brought about his own destruction. Otherwise, he would have become humanity's greatest sinner for trying to harm this boy."
Lance’s performance had successfully deceived everyone. It was a script written by a Tier 7 intellect, after all. While many human powerhouses had reached the Stellar Class, their technological AI development had stalled at the peak of Tier 6. The only Tier 7 Central Intellect in existence had been recovered from an ancient ruin. Thus, a Tier 7 script was more than enough to fool the world.
Vroom!
With a slight shift of Guardian Aether's will, the invincible pressure vanished. Throughout the Solaris Intermediate Sector, the planets resumed their orbital paths. The sheer scale of that power gave Lance a much deeper understanding of the Stellar Class. It was a realm beyond anything the Planetary Class could hope to touch—a thousand-fold difference in raw power.
"Huh?"
The moment the lock was lifted, Lance went into full actor mode. He assumed a posture of intense caution as he looked at Guardian Aether.
"May I ask who you are...?" Lance asked, playing the part of the wary survivor.
"Brat, do you think you're up for an Oscar?" Glacia's sarcasm rang in his head.
Lance ignored her. Why was a powerhouse of her level such a chatterbox?
Guardian Aether merely smiled at Lance's confusion and waved his hand.
Crack!
The ice encasing the High Speaker shattered instantly. The Speaker blinked, looking around in a daze until he spotted Lance holding the unconscious Selina.
"Lance? Are you two alright? What happened? Where is Solaris? Did he hurt you?" The High Speaker’s head was filled with a thousand questions.
"Thank you for your concern. We’re safe now," Lance replied, moved by the old man's genuine worry. This was the true spirit of the human elders—they cared for the future of their kind above all else. "By the way, do you know this gentleman?"
The High Speaker let out a breath of relief, then turned to look at the figure beside him. He froze, his eyes nearly popping out of his head.
"Lord Aether!?" the High Speaker cried out. He had only just received word that Guardian Aether was en route. How was he here so quickly? Even with a peak Tier 6 starship, it should have taken at least an hour to arrive. Had he been unconscious for that long?
After the initial shock, the High Speaker bowed deeply. "This junior greets Lord Aether!"
Lance followed suit, keeping his expression respectful. "Lance greets Lord Aether."
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