At the same time.

At Gold-grade Mountain headquarters, the powerhouse responsible for preparing the Starlight Rankings suddenly received a secret message.

"Change the rules of the Starlight Rankings?"

The command that appeared in his mind left him greatly surprised.

"Since this is Lord Angel’s will, then so be it."

Before him stood an ancient stone stele.

Engraved upon its surface was a ranking list—

The Canaan Starfield Starlight Rankings.

[Canaan Starfield Starlight Rankings]

On the Starlight Rankings stele, light flowed like water. Ancient runes lit up one after another, revealing names engraved deep within the star sea.

First Seat: James, Frostfall Galaxy.

Strength: Peak demi-sage rank.

Battle Record: Swept through several galaxies. Among his generation, none could withstand even a single exchange against him. He has slain Divine-grade powerhouses before.

Starlight Rankings Evaluation: His strength lies hidden beneath layers of deep ice, and no one can glimpse its full extent. Every step he takes is like walking on thin ice, cautious to the point of near obsession. The "peak" others see is far from his final destination!

Second Seat: Mosi, Misty Rain Galaxy.

Strength: Peak demi-sage rank.

Battle Record: Walks within the shadows. Has assassinated Divine-grade powerhouses multiple times, never once failing, never once tasting defeat.

Starlight Rankings Evaluation: This child has an exceptional grasp of the laws of space. He comes and goes without a trace, killing with a single strike. Whenever he makes a move, blood must be spilled. He is the blade in the dark night, rational as iron and cold as frost.

Third Seat: Raylor, Silverlight Galaxy.

Strength Rating: Peak demi-sage rank.

Starlight Rankings Evaluation: The Godkin genius with the greatest hope of stepping into the Oracle-grade realm in countless years. Obsessed with battle, training day and night without pause, possessing tyrannical combat power!

...

Twenty-seventh Seat: Faustus, Silverlight Galaxy.

Strength Rating: Quasi-sage.

Battle Record: The prodigy of this generation who reached the summit of Cloudcrest Peak, renowned across countless worlds.

Starlight Rankings Evaluation: ...

Following the command that had appeared deep in his mind, the person in charge erased Faustus’s old records one by one, then added brand-new content.

With a gentle wave of his hand, the ranking list erupted with brilliant light, and the words were reforged.

Faustus’s ranking leapt directly over Raylor and landed firmly in the Third Seat!

[Canaan Starfield Starlight Rankings]

Third Seat: Faustus, Silverlight Galaxy.

Strength: Quasi-sage.

Main Battle Record: The prodigy of this generation who reached the summit of Cloudcrest Peak. During the battle in God Realm, he single-handedly killed six Low Divine-grade powerhouses in an instant.

Starlight Rankings Evaluation: Among his generation, few can rival him. His path is a stairway to the throne, paved upon the spines of gods!

"To make Lord Angel personally speak up on his behalf... This fellow Faustus truly has good fortune."

The person in charge smiled faintly. His gaze fell upon the completely renewed ranking list as he murmured to himself.

"Once this ranking list is released, the entire starfield is probably going to be turned upside down."

...

Some major force in the Elysian Starfield.

"There’s been a huge change in the Starlight Rankings!"

Throughout the starfield, all the major forces had subsidiary steles connected to the Starlight Rankings, updating in real time.

The moment there was even the slightest movement on the rankings, they would know immediately.

But this change was simply too massive.

"The Third Seat has changed..."

"Faustus? Is that the Starchosen who reached the summit of Cloudcrest Peak in this generation?"

"His ranking shot straight from twenty-seventh place to the Third Seat!"

"Hurry, look at his battle record... He instantly killed six sages! Hiss—!"

"Peak demi-sage rank combat power. Another peak powerhouse!"

"...Hiss, what a high evaluation! If the first two weren’t still supported by their past achievements, Faustus might seriously threaten their positions!"

The news seemed to grow wings, instantly spreading throughout the entire starfield and even flying into other starfields.

For a time, the name "Faustus" became the hottest topic.

In a city on a certain major plane, powerhouses from all sides fell into heated discussion.

"The starfield really is producing one powerhouse after another. Recently, another one called Faustus appeared. I heard he once instantly killed sages!"

"I know him. Third Seat of the Starlight Rankings. His evaluation is terrifyingly high—few rivals among his generation."

"Hiss—such a high evaluation. Gold-grade Mountain must really think highly of him!"

"Whether he has true ability or not, we’ll know once the tournament begins. This Starlight Rankings Tournament is going to be interesting."

"The Canaan Starfield holds three top prodigies in the top three seats. Compared with the other starfields, that’s already first-rate."

...

Somewhere in another starfield.

"Faustus—!"

A powerhouse wrapped entirely in hazy light spoke with a voice filled with hatred.

"You slaughtered my Godkin powerhouses and even pushed me out of the Third Seat. You will die without a doubt!"

"If I remember correctly, he should be an Aetheria lifeform under our rule, right?"

"Aldor, have you heard of this human called Faustus?"

Raylor asked.

"I don’t know much about him, but Nubat was killed by him."

Aldor was equally shocked deep down.

He had only just arrived at this secret realm when he heard the news of the Starlight Rankings changing. Even now, he had yet to fully recover from the shock.

"Right now, the tournament comes first. After the tournament ends, we’ll settle accounts with Faustus."

Raylor’s voice turned cold.

"The blood debt of countless kin must be repaid."

A cold light flashed in Aldor’s eyes.

...

In the shadows of other starfields, whispers surged like the tide.

"Another peak demi-sage rank has appeared in the Canaan Starfield? And he stepped straight into the Third Seat? Something about this doesn’t feel right."

"The Canaan Starfield’s luck has always been good. Hmph, but that’s all there is to it."

"The tournament is about to begin. Is the Canaan Starfield deliberately pushing this Faustus too high, or is he truly hiding some unknown ability?"

"This fellow... is worth watching carefully."

...

God Realm.

The conditions Faustus had proposed were like a blade pressed against their necks. God Realm did not dare refuse.

"The times have changed..."

A sage felt bitter in his heart, his voice filled with helplessness.

Who could have imagined that the Aetheria humans, who had once been no different from refugees of the starry sky years ago, would now ride above God Realm’s head?

"Why does my Godkin only have one Raylor? If the Godkin also had a powerhouse like Faustus, how wonderful would that be?"

They could not help but envy the Fortune Points of the Aetheria humans.

Such a barren land had actually given birth to a heaven-defying prodigy like Faustus.

"Aldor can barely be considered presentable as well, though he’s still somewhat inferior to Raylor. Right now, only Raylor can compare with Faustus."

Someone thought of the few geniuses among the younger generation of the Godkin.

"I just wonder, between Raylor and Faustus... who is stronger?"

Although they said that, after experiencing the battle against Faustus, their hearts had long since leaned toward that human.

That guy was too strong!

So strong it made them despair!

...

Bloodtide Sea.

Faustus’s figure abruptly appeared beneath this inverted sea.

Bloodtide Sea was not on the ground.

It was in the sky.

The seawater was not azure blue, but purple-red, like stagnant blood that had congealed for tens of millions of years.

The entire sea hung upside down upon the dome of heaven, yet not a single drop of seawater fell.

This was Bloodtide Sea—

The number one forbidden land of God Realm, a place even Divine-grade powerhouses did not dare set foot in lightly.

At this moment, beneath Bloodtide Sea, a figure was waiting for Faustus.

It was Simon, the one known as "trash," the descendant of the master of Pantheon Summit Hall.

He was the existence who had been entrusted with great expectations from the moment he was born, only to eventually become the laughingstock of the entire God Realm.

"Faustus... you came!"

Simon wore a smile as he slowly spoke.

Faustus saw him at once, then frowned slightly.

"It’s you?"