Kailen glanced at the several corpses surrounding him. Above the dead bodies of the chaotic beasts, the principle fragments of space floated.

Kailen made a connection to one of the fragments. He closed his eyes and started to comprehend the profundities of the space principle fragment. When Kailen was done, he moved to the next principle fragment, in that order.

Kailen continued the process for a long time. Very soon, his eyes flashed open.

"It’s been 15 years since I entered the mountain range," Kailen thought.

In the chaotic region of the universe, this was a very short period of time. Kailen did not even see the time passing. It was as if he had just taken a nap and had woken up the very next day. Kailen felt although he was still at the Rank 2 novice-stage transcendent level, his principle was more powerful than before.

A void-like glint flashed through his eyes. Also, he had more deeper insights into the principle of space than he did previously.

Kailen checked his ID slot. He had still not received a message from the Mayor’s office. Kailen decided to keep hunting for space principle chaotic beasts. He would hunt for Rank 2 space principle chaotic beasts and use their principle fragments, just like that.

Kailen kept on repeating this cycle for a very long time. His principle of space grew more powerful, and his use of it became more versatile. Another two years passed by in a flash. Kailen felt like he was on the brink of breaking into the Rank 3 novice-stage transcendent level. He knew he needed to comprehend the profundities of the space principle in a couple more principle fragments and he would break through.

Just when Kailen was thinking of leaving the Southern mountain range to return to the guild and make use of the principle fragment tower in the guild to cultivate, he saw a notification.

"Finally, took them a while," Kailen muttered as he melded with the void and disappeared.

***

Venzula Empire.

Southern Continent.

Ritchtchard City.

Castellan District.

A few streets away from the Dawnseer Guild.

Guild Leader Dawnseer was currently seated on a bench at a walkway. She was casually going through some information she had received.

"He will be very happy to hear this," she thought.

Just when she muttered these words to herself, a figure popped out of the void.

"Guild leader." Kailen addressed Dawnseer warmly.

"Mr. Darkhaven, have a seat please."

Kailen nodded and sat, the moons spilling their evening warmth on his face.

"Just as the message you received indicated, the Mayor’s office has approved that you can come to make use of the secret realm in the Mayor’s office. You can spend as much time as you want there till the competition begins" Dawnseer said, legs crossed. "By the way, do you know about the mechanism of these artificial secret realms?"

"Not much," Kailen said.

"These secret realms contain what is referred to as artificial principle fragments. These artificial principle fragments are called artificial principle fragments because they are insights into principles condensed by some transcendent-level powerhouses. They are then moved into the artificial secret realms of these powerhouses and kept there. When the powerhouse wills it, they can sever this artificial secret realm from themselves. The secret realm becomes independent after that. If a transcendent is fortunate enough to come across such artificial secret realms which have the artificial principle fragment of the principle they have, they have really chanced on a fortuitous encounter," Dawnseer added. "However, if the secret realm does not contain the principle fragment of one’s principle, it’s useless."

Kailen nodded at her words. It made perfect sense.

"The secret realm at the Mayor’s office was made by the mayor himself, Marquis Dexter Hemsworth, a Rank 5 novice-stage transcendent powerhouse—a famed space principle user in our Southern continent. He’s an extremely low-key powerhouse, but he’s very powerful."

A glint of admiration flashed through Dawnseer’s eyes. She had been stuck at the Rank 4 novice-stage transcendent level for several years. She knew how difficult it was to cross the chasm as one climbed ranks at the transcendent level. Naturally, she admired those stronger than her. Even with her high principle comprehension speed, it was not easy to cross.

Of course, if Kailen Darkhaven managed to miraculously enter the top ten at the national level of the competition, she may even get an honorary position in the National Guild Union HQ as the guild leader behind such a genius, which would equate to better secret realms and principle fragment towers to help her cultivate.

Kailen naturally understood her thoughts. He was always on his guard, scrutinizing everything with emotional resonance. He was not angry that she was trying to ride on his coattails or anything; he was also using the guild. The universe did not run on charity.

He mused inwardly, "It’s obvious from her thoughts that the chasm between a Rank 4 novice-stage transcendent and a Rank 5 novice-stage transcendent is very wide, hence her admiration for this man, a rank above her. The same applies for the higher ranks at the transcendent level. This means the effort, principle fragments, and time to make breakthroughs as one climbs higher ranks at the transcendent cannot be underestimated."

Dawnseer spoke further, "There are actually natural secret realms that exist in the chaotic region of the universe, too. What makes them precious is the quality of principle fragments the chaotic beasts in them release after they are killed. These natural secret realms are very rare, though, monopolized by top organisations of various empires. One of the places where you can have access to these natural secret realms is the Venzula Empire Academy."

A glint flashed through Kailen’s eyes. He really needed to get into this Venzula Empire Academy. Apart from the natural secret realms they had there, just as Dawnseer was saying, Kailen had read they had principle fragment towers and some artificial secret realms that were on another level compared to what any other organization in the empire had. Even the Venzula Royal family’s resources paled in comparison to them.

"I need to win first place in this competition," Kailen thought. Forget about the top ten at the national level of the competition. Only by becoming first place on the top ten will he get a slot to enroll in the Venzula Empire Academy.

"Anyway, before we go, I am sure you have naturally deduced I am the one behind the disappearance of information related to your background?" Dawnseer smiled.

"Naturally," Kailen replied calmly.

"A friend recently went to the light region of the universe for a vacation. I told him to check on your loved ones covertly. There’s some good news," Dawnseer said. "Those who were in seclusion by the time you left the chaotic region of the universe are now at the universe level. Together with your fiancee, they are making names for themselves."

Warmth flickered through Kailen’s eyes. He was glad they were doing well. How was Grandpa, Phila, Old Ha, Grandma, Little Felicia, and the others doing? It seemed he had to pay a visit back home after the National Guild Union competitions.

"Thanks, senior," Kailen said warmly. Although he knew her intentions for doing this were because of his pragmatic unspoken partnership with the guild, he valued her effort. A simple thank you would not take anything from him.

"You are welcome. Also, if you somehow manage to pull off a miracle and become one of the top ten in the National Guild Union competitions, I can’t keep your background information covered anymore. Higher organisations will naturally be interested in you. Those at their level will have the resources to get whatever intel they want about you. It will cause quite an uproar when it’s revealed you are the first transcendent from the light region of the universe, who also tends to have a very high principle comprehension speed. Attention like that brings opportunities, but also invites unwanted trouble from some people," she added, her tone more serious. She was telling Kailen to be prepared for the future.

Kailen nodded and agreed with her. He was well aware of this. A glint of coldness flashed through his eyes.

Unwanted trouble... huh.