The sacred auras surrounding the two great powerhouses had been restrained to the absolute limit. Their presence was no different from that of ordinary mortal beings.

One of them wore a black robe, and embroidered upon his chest was a dazzling Golden Mountain. His expression was calm as he glanced at Justin beside him.

Justin felt as though a rabbit had been stuffed into his chest, jumping wildly up and down. He carefully stole a look at that Tier-6 Oracle-grade existence, then gave an awkward smile and spoke.

"I have never been able to stand those who bully others by relying on their power. Just now, I lost control for a moment and acted a little too heavily."

When he said this, his expression was so natural that it was almost as if he were commenting on the weather.

Whether that Tier-6 Oracle-grade believed him or not was hard to say.

In any case, Justin himself almost believed it.

"No matter. They were merely a swarm of ants." 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

The Tier-6 Oracle-grade smiled and blinked, his gaze casually sweeping over the directions where the Astral Corsairs and the Council of Races were located.

Boom—!

Jack felt his mind buzz violently, turning completely blank.

It had only been a careless glance from that Oracle-grade powerhouse, yet Jack felt as though he had returned to the time when he had still been a mortal and had been locked onto by a legendary-grade powerhouse. Every hair on his body stood on end, and a chill ran down his spine.

"Go! Hurry up and go!"

Jack’s voice trembled as he desperately urged the powerhouses of the Council of Races to leave at once.

"No kidding. If we don’t run now, it’ll be too late..."

The powerhouse from the Council of Races gave a bitter smile.

"The one who came is actually a major figure from Golden Mountain."

"Just what kind of identity does that human brat have? How could he draw out an existence like this?"

In a fluster, he controlled the astral vessel and pushed it to maximum power, vanishing into the void.

On the Astral Corsairs’ side, several Divine-grade powerhouses simultaneously felt a chill rush from their tailbones straight to the crowns of their heads.

Only one thought remained in their minds.

Run!

Run as far away as possible!

"Something’s wrong with this place! Retreat, now!"

"It’s Golden Mountain! Two Oracle-grade existences actually came!"

"That human brat is far too bizarre... What the hell did we provoke?"

The Astral Corsairs, who were normally savage, arrogant, and unruly, no longer had even the slightest intention of plundering anything.

They did not dare to entertain so much as a single greedy thought. All they wished for now was to leave this patch of void alive.

With just one casual glance, that Oracle-grade existence had frightened this group of desperadoes into scattering in all directions.

...

Daniel looked at the two powerhouses without the slightest attempt to hide his scrutiny.

In his memories, only the ancient existence he had encountered when the World War had been forcefully initiated—the one capable of roaming the Time River—possessed the power to casually erase a Sage.

"These two... just what realm have they reached?"

He could not see through them.

The two powerhouses did not mind Daniel’s brazen gaze.

The Golden Mountain powerhouse’s eyes were filled with curiosity and investigation. Deep within his pupils, radiance flowed and shifted, as though he were activating some secret technique in an attempt to see through Daniel’s background.

As for Justin, his surface remained as calm as still water, yet his heart was surging with indescribable emotions.

"Justin, you came looking for him for something too, didn’t you?"

"How about... you go first?"

The Oracle-grade Angel turned his head, his tone carrying a hint of casualness.

"I would not dare overstep."

Justin lowered his posture to the extreme and spoke with utmost respect.

"Lord Angel, you have important matters to attend to. My small affair is nothing compared to yours. Naturally, you should go first."

Angel smiled. The light in his eyes slowly faded away, but inwardly, he was secretly shocked.

This little human fellow could not be seen through even by him.

How interesting!

Then Angel thought of Justin’s earlier secret intervention, and understanding immediately dawned in his heart.

This kid Justin definitely knew something about this human. Otherwise, he would never have killed those Divine-grade powerhouses for no reason just to sell him a favor.

"Faustus."

A warm smile appeared on Angel’s face.

When it came to things he could not see through, he always liked to leave himself plenty of room to maneuver. Therefore, his attitude was unexpectedly amiable.

"I am Angel, an envoy of Golden Mountain."

Golden Mountain?

That Golden Mountain, the strongest faction in the Canaan Starfield?

Daniel remembered seeing a brief introduction to it during a certain class change quest.

The starry sky of the myriad races was made up of galaxies. Above galaxies were star rivers. Above star rivers were starfields. And Golden Mountain was the most colossal behemoth in this starfield.

Golden Mountain...

It was terrifying!

"Greetings, Your Excellency."

Daniel gave a slight nod, neither servile nor arrogant.

"May I ask what instructions Your Excellency has come to give?"

"Do you know of the Starlight Rankings?"

In Angel’s hand, an invitation forged from some unknown material appeared out of thin air.

"I don’t know much."

Daniel glanced at the invitation and had already guessed something in his heart.

"It is a competition held by Golden Mountain once every so often, between powerhouses below the Divine-grade, correct?"

"More or less."

Angel smiled and shook his head.

"In the past, it was indeed hosted by Golden Mountain within its own domain. But this time, things are different."

His expression gradually turned solemn, and his voice also sank.

"This time, forces from other starfields have joined hands with Golden Mountain to co-host the first-ever cosmic Starlight Rankings Tournament! Every ranked powerhouse in the Canaan Starfield must participate."

Daniel’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Must participate!

Those two words carried an unquestionable sense of compulsion. They were also enough to show just how much importance Golden Mountain attached to this tournament.

Most likely, the matters hidden behind this tournament involved far more than a mere struggle between several starfields.

"I... am on the Starlight Rankings as well?"

Daniel raised his brows in slight surprise.

"Haha..."

The solemnity on Angel’s face instantly faded as he shook his head with a laugh.

"You still don’t know how famous you are now, do you?"

"You are the Starchosen of this generation who reached the summit of Cloudcrest Peak. Not only are you on the rankings, your position is not low either."

"Is that so?"

Daniel blinked, his interest now piqued.

"You are ranked twenty-seventh."

Angel explained, "Golden Mountain happens to be taking the top thirty this time, and you are on the list."

As he spoke, he handed over the invitation.

The invitation had seemed as light as a sheet of paper in Angel’s hand, but once it reached Daniel’s hand, it became so heavy that it nearly pressed his arm down.

"Rise."

Daniel used ninety percent of his strength before he barely managed to hold it steady.

His understanding of Angel’s strength deepened once again.

A trace of appreciation flashed through Angel’s eyes.

"I still need to deliver invitations to the other young powerhouses on the rankings, so I will not linger here any longer."

He looked at Daniel with expectation in his eyes.

"With this invitation in your possession, once the time comes, it will teleport you to the location designated by Golden Mountain."

"Prepare well. I shall take my leave first."

"Thank you for your guidance, Your Excellency."

Daniel nodded, thinking to himself that this had saved him quite a bit of trouble.

"Farewell, Your Excellency."

"Justin..."

Angel turned to look at Justin and gave a slight nod.

"Respectfully sending off Lord Angel."

Justin bowed respectfully.

Angel’s figure rapidly faded, then dispersed into the void like smoke.

Daniel looked at Justin curiously.

Strange...

Why did he feel as though something on this powerhouse’s body was connected to him somehow?

Golden Mountain had come looking for him because of the Starlight Rankings.

Then what had this powerhouse named Justin come looking for him for?

Seeing Angel leave, Justin’s heart suddenly relaxed.

But the moment he realized he had to face Daniel alone, he became somewhat at a loss again.

...