The tournament offers many ways to profit, and the most long-lasting is to build a fanbase and cultivate star Evolvers.
Within the Cosmic Human Alliance, the top star Evolvers have countless fans, many of whom are second-generation members of powerful forces.
The influence of their every action is astonishing.
"So, I've already qualified as a 'dark horse' in the eyes of those corporate conglomerates?"
Lin Yuan stroked his chin, shaking his head slightly.
Indeed, in the previous tournament, even though Lin Yuan only showed a portion of his strength, it was Fourth Rank.
A Fourth Rank Evolver under a hundred years old might be somewhat common on prosperous higher-grade life planets.
But on a middle-grade life planet like Canglan Star, it might take tens or even hundreds of thousands of years for one to appear.
The education, cultivation, and resources of middle-grade life planets are far inferior to those of higher-grade life planets.
In such an environment, reaching Fourth Rank, whether it be by fortuitous encounter or luck, isn't much weaker than the top Evolvers from higher-grade life planets.
That's why Lin Yuan caught the eye of the Xiangwen Group, who specially sent someone to invite him.
"The Goddess of Wisdom turns a blind eye to such things because the invitations from major forces and conglomerates might constrain the Evolvers, but they also cultivate them,"
"And, constrained by the laws of human civilization, the contracts these conglomerates sign with Evolving geniuses aren't too excessive. Even in cases of breach, the penalty isn't exorbitant..."
Lin Yuan thought to himself.
With gains come sacrifices, and this is the unwritten rule accepted by the Human Alliance.
Seeking to take advantage of one's genius status, ignoring contracts and agreements – that would not be supported by the three goddesses.
"My current Soul Compatibility..."
Lin Yuan's consciousness returned to reality, and he began to feel more intently.
"Is probably about 80% complete... At this rate, I'll reach full compatibility in at most two years, enough to officially step into Sixth Rank..."
A smile appeared on Lin Yuan's face.
Sixth Rank holds a special significance for every Evolver.
Below Sixth Rank, no matter how powerful, lifeforms are still terrestrial and need the environment within a planet to survive.
Once they leave the planet and come into the starry void, it becomes hard for them to continue living.
But at Sixth Rank, one can roam the Starry Sea, and all Sixth Rank Evolvers are thus called star lifeforms.
Furthermore, Sixth Rank is a phase of qualitative change in strength.
Why did Lin Yuan only need to cultivate to Sixth Rank to openly reveal his identity as the Peak Master of the Red Kun Lineage?
Because Evolvers at Sixth Rank are difficult to assassinate; at the very least, their means of ensuring their safety are far superior to those at Fifth Rank.
Typically, unless absolutely necessary, Different Species wouldn't try to assassinate a Sixth Rank Evolver, as the cost is too great—equivalent to the cost of cultivating dozens of Seventh Rank powerhouses.
And that's still without any guarantee of killing the Sixth Rank Evolver.
"The conversion speed of Soul Compatibility is unstable. It might be fast initially and slow down later on, or it could be slow at the beginning and speed up later."
"My current compatibility transformation is still normal,"
Lin Yuan continued his observation.
"But... Soul Compatibility can be interrupted before reaching one-tenth, allowing the choice of another Evolution Path..."
After stepping into Sixth Rank, the cost of changing Evolution Paths skyrockets.
But Lin Yuan, strictly speaking, has not yet stepped into Sixth Rank, still being within Fifth Rank.
"Among the many Evolution Paths I've mastered, the most powerful is undoubtedly the Xuan Huang Evolutionary Path. If I were to use this as the direction for soul transformation..."
Lin Yuan pondered for a moment before immediately dismissing the thought.
Even if the Xuan Huang Evolutionary Path is strong, it isn't created by Lin Yuan. Using it as the fundamental Evolution Path might seem beneficial in the short term.
But over a longer timeline, it might not be advantageous.
Lin Yuan feels more confident in the Martial Path Evolutionary Path.
The Xuan Huang Evolutionary Path can be studied and even practiced concurrently, but it must not become the foundation.
All other Evolution Paths, including the Xuan Huang Evolutionary Path, can only serve as nourishment to perfect the Martial Path Evolutionary Path.
"Let's continue to perfect the Martial Path Evolutionary Path."
Lin Yuan's mind sank back into the Martial Path Evolutionary Path.
In Lin Yuan's latest vision, the Martial Path Evolutionary Path has transcended chapters like the Taiyin Chapter, the Taiyang Chapter, and the Yin Yang Chapter.
Various attributes of power could all be integrated into the Martial Arts Evolution System.
Whichever attribute an Evolver is good at, they can enter into Martial Tao to cultivate.
Martial Tao shouldn't be so meager; it should be infinitely expansive.
Lin Yuan found that when perfecting the Martial Path Evolutionary Path in this direction, the speed of his soul's compatibility transformation would gain a certain increase.
While perfecting the Martial Arts Evolution System, Lin Yuan examined the reddish 'stone' sent by the Chikun Star Lord.
he refused the invitations from the financial conglomerates of various Star Domains.
Aside from the Xiangwen Group who noticed Lin Yuan's potential to become a 'dark horse,' other powers took note as well.
In the interstellar age, any slightly powerful force has its own Think Tank, tirelessly planning and taking actions that align with their interests based on information about human civilization and even Different Species.
As a Fourth Rank under a hundred years old from a middle-grade life planet, Lin Yuan, with great potential and a relatively low 'price tag,' is extremely 'welcome.'
As for these forces' invitations,