Tristan called out his status.
[Race: Duality (Human Form)]
[Evolution: First Plate, Physical Evolution I]
[Progress: 0%]
[Physique: Corrosion Resistance 35%, Supreme Human Body, Basic Energy Body]
His race had changed, his progress set to zero, he had evolved and got a new physical form - basic energy body, because of the racial trait.
He tried to use his skills, while some were passive, he could control the others. He could transform into an energy form, he still looked like himself, but he could not interact with any object physically. However he could intuitively manipulate and attract energy. In this form he could use liquid life essence and energy stones to grow. It is much simpler than the physical body, though combat arts are useless and can only use pure energy to damage opponents.
Tristan decided to rest. He looked up the news regarding the whole issue with Admin Quinn. It seems like a dispute had broken out between the government and the war conference as well as the mage tower and the government.
He also hadn't seen any news about the man who wanted a piece of dawn. It seems like that information is even beyond his own access.
Tristan was now preparing for the future. He had to get stronger. Just the vows he had to follow through on with the Temptation Merchant gave him a headache. He didn't understand how his not practicing foreign practices was helpful to the Temptation Merchant's larger goals.
In a few days, he had to enter the ruins of the seventh civilization. At least when it came to this particular ruin, Tristan felt that he had an advantage over other people because of the items he had regarding the seventh civilization, as well as knowledge regarding the totem cultivation method and what the ruin actually is.
Tristan then remembered an object he had to absorb once he formed his plate.
[Ares Warrior Aura Orb]
[Absorb? Y/N]
Tristan thought about absorbing and immediately the Aura orb split apart and the aura started dressing his body. He was covered in a black liquid like corporeal material that fused with his body on a cellular level, but did not affect his plate. Even the progress remained zero. Yet his status had changed.
[Race: Duality (Human Form)]
[Evolution: First Plate, Physical Evolution I]
[Progress: 0%]
[Physique: Corrosion Resistance 35%, Supreme Human Body +44% Aura Cladding, Basic Energy Body]
Ares had already explained the next path to him. He had to constantly use the aura in battle to slowly grow the cladding to perfection aka 100% and he would be able to evolve his physical body again.
Six days later, Tristan was at the ruin. There were at least 50 other people present. Most of the places were internally allotted before hand other than the five which were sold in the auction. All were youth. The ruin restricted entry by age, and thus none of the entrants were above 20.
When the other people saw White Star, they felt a terrifying suppression from him. Many of the elders who were there had also seen him and were shocked. This mysterious young man had already broken through human limits?
Heavy Matter, who had appeared here to represent Vast Expanse went to White Star and asked him.
"White Star, have you surpassed your limits? Did you awaken an innate ability?" He asked.
White Star simply shrugged. He was not required to reveal anything. If he ended up having to use any innate ability and others saw it, they could make their own judgements.
Soon the ruins were about to be unlocked. The different youths got ready in groups, while White Star stood alone, waiting for the entry to be unlocked.
Soon the door opened, and the youth rushed in. White Star wasn't in a hurry, he went in at the end and the door closed.
Tristan wasn't too worried. He already know what this place was. It was actually a research institute in the seventh civilization that was set up to thwart some kind of doomsday event.
When the group entered, they discovered that the place was surgically clean. Everything had a metallic sheen to it. The seventh civilization was a mixture of totem powers as well as technology. The research institute was filled with weird vats with creatures and beasts and many other items of that sort.
Suddenly a spirit like creature appeared in front of the group.
"Welcome, I am the artificial intelligence in charge of promoting the inheritance trials at Research Institute Negative One. You will now be taken to the first trial, a test of compatibility.
Soon the structure of the rooms began morphing around and the series of rooms turned into one large hall and in front of the youth was a totem made of wood. The wooden totem had painted over it various faces and the face on the top suddenly opened its eyes as if it were real and the eyes glowed.
The AI then spoke out. "Please walk and touch the totem one at a time to find out your compatibility."
One of the youth walked up to the totem and then touched it. The Totem glowed for a bit. The Ai then spoke. "36% compatibility. Failed!"
Immediately, the young man disappeared from the hall and arrived at the exit of the research institute. The elders were shocked and asked him what happened and he described it.
Soon others started coming out as well. Inside a woman finally walked over. She was someone who White Star recognized as Tina, but it seemed like the girl didn't have the courage to interact with him this time. She walked to the totem and touched it.
The AI smiled. "77% Compatibility! Passed"
Then Tina also disappeared, but she appeared in another hall, where she was made to wait for the first test to end.
This process went on for a while. Out of the fifty youth, only 35 were left in the next level. It was finally White Star's turn, but there wasn't anyone present to see his performance.
The AI smiled. "You don't have to take the test. You already have formed a plate. I will send you to the next test."
Tristan shook his head as he waved his hand and an object appeared. It was the first of the seven objects he had purchased from Tina. "I was not planning on taking any test."