The imperial capital, True Universe Star, was surrounded by the Tri-Ring Continent. The First Ring was the closest to True Universe Star, but even so, there was a considerable distance between them. It took the aircraft a full two hours to reach the First Ring despite its speed.
To put it into perspective, this was the latest model aircraft of the Daoyu Empire, faster than even the most powerful extreme realm experts, yet it still took two hours.
To Lu Yin, the space between True Universe Star and the First Ring felt like an ocean that needed to be crossed.
Their aircraft was not the only one heading to the First Ring. Along the way, Lu Yin saw dozens of other aircraft, but none were as fast as theirs.
The Tri-Ring Continent was not accessible to everyone. Only those with special clearance could enter, as all three rings were military zones. The First Ring, in particular, was a forbidden zone of the Universe Hall.
The aircraft given to Lu Yin by Crown Prince Doran Yushan had special clearance, allowing it to pass through unimpeded, bypassing the landing platform and heading straight for the Transformation Pool.
"Boss, this is awesome! Look, so many people are being inspected. Those people are clearly imperial nobles, yet even they have to stop for checks. We get to go straight through. This is the true noble passage," Xu San exclaimed excitedly.
Lu Yin told him to be quiet and glanced at Bronson, who appeared in the distance from time to time.
As they passed over the landing platform, Bronson appeared. All the soldiers and officers on the platform saluted him. Although he was the third seat, his status was comparable to the vice-captains of other squads, giving him a high position in the Daoyu Empire. This status was not given by his exploratory realm strength but by his rank.
His family wanted him to inherit the Zishan family name and infiltrate the Daoyu Empire. Did they also want him to join the Imperial Court's Thirteenth Squad? What about the Daoyu Empire Youth Council? What exactly was his family planning? No one had contacted him so far.
Thinking about these things made Lu Yin a bit restless.
The First Ring Continent surrounded True Universe Star in a circular shape. Its diameter was comparable to that of True Universe Star, but its area was much larger. The landscape was rugged, with dust storms sweeping across the sky and occasional towering tornadoes roaring by, making Xu San pale with fear.
This was where the Universe Hall was located, a place for training elite members and where the Universe Hall's military was stationed.
The aircraft followed a planned safe route and did not encounter any danger. However, just ten minutes later, a roar shook the sky, tearing the air and cracking the ground. The terrifying shockwave almost overturned the aircraft.
Fortunately, Bronson intervened to stabilize it.
Lu Yin was shocked. This was the roar of an extreme realm creature. It wasn't as invincible as those in the exploratory realm, but it still made him shudder. It was definitely an extreme realm creature. Did the Universe Hall elites often deal with such creatures? Thinking of Las and Ede, Lu Yin shook his head. It shouldn't be the case.
"Boss, I feel like True Universe Star is safer. Should we go back?" Xu San said nervously.
Lu Yin ignored him.
An hour later, as night began to fall, a vast mountain range appeared in the distance. The most striking feature was a hollowed-out area in the middle of the mountains, surrounded by an unknown transparent metal, with countless soldiers standing guard above. The scene was imposing.
This was the Universe Hall's Transformation Pool.
The aircraft landed and was secured. Lu Yin led Xu San inside but was stopped. Even with Bronson's status, he couldn't enter directly without showing a communication pass.
"You can't enter the Universe Hall at will?" Lu Yin asked curiously.
Bronson replied, "The Universe Hall is the highest-level academy for training imperial elites. Even His Majesty cannot interfere. This was decreed when His Majesty ascended the throne. Your Highness, whatever happens inside the Universe Hall, I cannot intervene unless your life is in danger. Please take care of yourself."
Lu Yin nodded, admiring Undying Yushan for granting the younger generation such freedom, which was excellent for garnering their loyalty.
As they approached the Transformation Pool, Lu Yin heard a low roar filled with extreme pain. His expression changed. It was Zhang Dingtian's voice. He was about to rush in when Bronson spoke, "Reshaping the body is extremely painful, akin to breaking and rebuilding the flesh. Not only does it dissipate the energy within the cells, but it also regenerates blood. If one cannot endure, it's a failure. Failure means death."
Lu Yin stopped, calmed down, and walked inside.
The Transformation Pool was surrounded by numerous troops, with many Universe Hall experts guarding it. Some were even star-walking experts. This was because the Transformation Pool consumed vast resources. If not for Zhang Dingtian being a cross-boundary expert, he wouldn't qualify for reshaping even if he defeated the academy's strongest.
During the Transformation Pool's use, entry was strictly forbidden. Outside, Lu Yin saw Bai Xue and Shi Wuzhang.
Bai Xue's eyes lit up when she saw Lu Yin.
"How long has Zhang Dingtian been inside?" Lu Yin asked.
"Several hours," Bai Xue replied softly.
"He's been in pain for several hours?" Lu Yin was surprised.
Bai Xue nodded, looking a bit pale.
Lu Yin was impressed. Reconstructing the body involved immense pain, and even someone with Zhang Dingtian's military resolve found it hard to endure. He glanced at Shi Wuzhang, suddenly curious about this intimidating monk. Would he scream if it were him?
"Damn, where's that barking coming from? It's annoying," a discordant voice came from not far away.
Lu Yin and the others looked over. It was a group of young men, their clothes dirty and disheveled, clearly returning from training outside. Anyone who could be here was likely an elite of the Universe Hall, at least at Ede's level.
"What are you looking at, trash? Wasting imperial resources. If the resources in the Transformation Pool were given to us, we'd have reached the fusion realm long ago. You bunch of native trash," one young man insulted Lu Yin provocatively, clearly displeased.
The others stared at Bai Xue, their eyes bulging. The young man who had just cursed also noticed Bai Xue and gaped. She was incredibly beautiful.
Bai Xue showed her disdain. "If you want resources, earn them yourself. The opportunity to reshape was something we fought for."
"Oh, feisty, huh? Alright, let's see what you've got," one of them, clearly interested in Bai Xue, moved first, not to harm her but to touch her face.
Lu Yin frowned but didn't intervene.
Bai Xue snorted coldly and struck with a palm. The young man's expression was frivolous, but his eyes were serious. Anyone who could join the Universe Hall was not ordinary. They understood the significance of qualifying for reshaping and didn't underestimate her. He immediately changed his hand into a claw, roaring like a beast, "Sky Beast Claw."
Bai Xue's expression changed but showed no fear. She had grown much stronger since her time on Earth. Her training on the Willpower had shown results. Facing the Sky Beast Claw technique, she dodged with a flicker, using the Shadow Step Lu Yin had taught her. Bai Xue could adapt better to forty times gravity than Shi Wuzhang, her speed surpassing that of a typical exploratory realm.
The Sky Beast Claw hit the ground without causing much damage. Bai Xue's palm landed on the young man's abdomen, and in the next moment, ice spread rapidly. The young man was shocked. "Ice attribute talent!" He retreated instantly, shattering the ice with a clang. Suddenly, another figure leaped over the young man, striking at Bai Xue.
Lu Yin's eyes narrowed. "Despicable," he muttered, raising his palm. Five stars appeared within it.
At the same time, Bronson nearly intervened, for the assailant was a fusion realm expert. But when Lu Yin made his move, Bronson stopped. In that instant, he felt Lu Yin was not inferior to the attacker, possibly even stronger.
The two palms passed by Bai Xue, colliding violently. In an instant, the air shook, and a wave of force swept out like a tsunami. Bai Xue, closest to the impact, was pushed away first, followed by the Universe Hall students and Shi Wuzhang.
The massive shockwave created a momentary vacuum in the area. Lu Yin saw the attacker, an unfamiliar man, and noted his fierce gaze targeting him, not Bai Xue.
A terrifying pressure emanated from the man, a fusion realm expert. The power of star energy crushed Lu Yin, increasing in strength. Lu Yin's eyes sharpened as he detonated the stars in his palm. The first three stars exploded, countering the man's force. When the fourth star detonated, the man's eyes shifted. He bent his fingers into a claw, pressing down with the Sky Beast Claw. Lu Yin shouted, and the fifth star burst, resulting in a loud explosion. Both men were forced back.
The shockwave arced outward, drawing the attention of the troops guarding the Transformation Pool.
Lu Yin staggered back five steps. Opposite him, the fusion realm youth retreated seven steps, his face full of astonishment.
Not only the youth, but Bronson and the Transformation Pool guards were also stunned. A peak realm fighter had repelled a fusion realm expert.
This was more than just crossing boundaries; it was extraordinary, especially considering the opponent was a Universe Hall elite.
Bai Xue was equally shocked, gazing at Lu Yin. He had grown stronger.