Hae-Hyuk knew what the man referred to. Arialdo Vassi was the strongest man alive and at the 76th stage, on the verge of reaching the final stage, the 77th, the End Point. Such a man had powers beyond his understanding. It wasn't far-fetched to expect him to be aware of what he did. In fact, many knew or guessed it.

Hae-Hyuk nodded and openly admitted to it. The Saint, Arialdo Vassi, nodded back and asked him: "Do you trust in your chances? You do know that you aren't the only one able to glimpse through fate, right?"

Hae-Hyuk smiled. The words of the Saint rang true. Just like he had been able to see through fate, the others could have done the same. It was the power one attained after breaking through the 60th stage. One could glimpse through the past and present and make small assumptions about the future. Of course, a price had to be paid in exchange for violating the laws of fate. It was a profound ability and one that was rarely used.

It had a high cost and it wasn't fool-proof. Because others could use it as well. Fate was ever-changing. But he trusted what he glimpsed through the strands of fate.

He answered the Saint: "I am certain of success this time"

The Saint chuckled before warning him: "Nothing was ever set in stone, Hae-Hyuk, not even fate. How much did you pay for that small opportunity?"

Hae-Hyuk chuckled too as he told him: "The cost would only matter if it ends in failure"

The Saint agreed with him. As one who had won this trial, he was aware that this was a success that was worth any price. If whatever Hae-Hyuk paid could net him victory this time, then it would have been worth it. The Saint didn't continue questioning. Instead, he welcomed them and went on towards the front alone.

As the strongest, it was his duty to preside over the sacred ceremony.

He walked to the front and the four others who had crossed over the 70th stage joined him. He began a new speech: "I would like to welcome all of you once more. I will be detailing the process of the ceremony as some of you might be new to it"

There were indeed a few new faces this time so it wouldn't be useless talk. He could remember two hundred years ago when there had been no new blood... He had felt stupid enunciating the rules to the old timers. At least, this time, it wouldn't be so.

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He spoke: "As usual, we will open the time-altered realm for an hour in which all of you will be allowed to place a single treasure of your choice inside. We will then proceed to close the realm. For the next seven days, all of us will continuously infuse our spiritual energy in it. It will be sealed and a million year will pass inside while a hundred years will pass outside. One treasure will absorb all nutrients and become the prize we will fight for a century later. Do any of you have a question?"

There was a long silence. Even if they had never been a part of it before, most of those here were familiar with the process. The Saint nodded to no one and every one before he went on: "Let us first proceed with the pledge to the heavens for fairness..."

They all made identical vows to open before a spatial vortex was opened through the combined efforts of the five Saints. Every one of the 86 cultivators stepped through the vortex in order of seniority. They went inside and arrived on a very small island surrounded by a void. They looked around at the desolate island who had absolutely nothing upon it but soil.

Every cultivator went to a spot they liked and dropped a treasure upon it. A treasure that contained their favorite element in hope that it would be the one to triumph over the others and grow to become the next prize.

Hae-Hyuk was slightly different as he dropped a treasure identical to Isla's. His previous treasure was this time's prize and he planned to get it. As such, what happened here a century later did not matter. He decided to give a favor to Isla who sweetly smiled at the gesture. She knew he only did this because it didn't cost him anything but it still pleased her.

They exited the realm not long later and after less than a dozen minutes, every cultivator was outside. Saint Arialdo looked at them and said: "Since everyone has left before the time elapsed, we will close the vortex now. Does anyone wish to oppose this decision?"

No one answered.

He continued after the vortex was closed by the five of them: "We will now be sending our spiritual energy through the small totem here towards the treasure plane. Everyone, please form a circle and begin"

They all sat around a totem and began to send their spiritual energy into it. The totem looked to be a simple wooden sculpture of a tree but it was in fact the array center of the realm where they sent their treasures. It was a grade 6 treasure left behind since eons ago by the founder.

Every pinnacle expert was continuously sending their spiritual energy into the totem as they all hoped for their treasure to emerge victorious and be the sole treasure alive after the million-year passed in there. They hoped that the next prize would be the one they needed.

It wouldn't stop them from vying for a treasure that wasn't theirs as it could still be used to cross over the 70th stage. It was just that using one closer to your cultivation would enable one to have higher odds of success.

If they had only 50% of success, having the right elemental treasure could boost that up to 60% or even 70%. It was a big difference.

It was also why Hae-Hyuk went all out this time.