Chapter 894: Another Self in the Multiverse

"How many do you think will survive?" Medusa asked with a faint smile.

"Probably less than one percent, no, perhaps one-thousandth," said the little girl named Ironstone. Having inherited a cultivation system, she naturally possessed a broader perspective. She was also rapidly growing within a high-dimensional space-time. However, unlike Xu Zhi, she lacked the direct realm-boosting energy of the Zerg race. She could only cultivate step-by-step, though her growth rate in high-dimensional space-time was still extremely fast.

"Yes, one-thousandth... These tens of thousands of people are already geniuses. What we need are the one-thousandth of those geniuses who are super-geniuses—extreme super-geniuses from an entire planetary civilization, an entire race." Medusa, with an utterly calm heart, looked at them. "These individuals are mostly top talents from an entire continent or nation. Perhaps they've lived amidst the cheers and praise of the masses, but over long eons, they still won't make the cut. They still need to be sifted..."

"The universe is inherently unfair, extremely unequal. Birth, wealth, power, knowledge, heritage... these factors already dictate that most beings can never achieve certain things in their lifetime," the little girl Ironstone stated. "The races you and I were born into inherently stand above all others... In the vast universe, a being's race almost determines its future destiny. But there's no need to envy us. When they envy us, they should envy themselves more for being able to envy others. Because it is their ability to think that allows them to envy us. As intelligent beings, there are countless races more pathetic than them: animals without intelligence, livestock that cannot even think, only act on instinct..."

"Indeed, the universe is inherently unequal," Medusa simply smiled. She herself was once one of those ordinary people. But now, the body she inhabited was one she had stolen through her own abilities, allowing her to stand as an equal to this iron-based life form born with noble heritage.

She looked down. The Plant-Type Pillar Gods were killing indiscriminately, and countless people were frantically fleeing, screaming in terror. The one hour Medusa mentioned was indeed one hour in real time. However, as they had to flee into high-dimensional space-time to escape the pursuit, that one hour in high-dimensional space-time felt incredibly long. The two of them spent the hour chatting.

"Many will die." Medusa smiled, staring at the countless corpses below. "Many of them were backed by significant wealthy forces. Their legacies after death will be immense, perfect as a newborn gift for you, to fuel your growth." Medusa, of course, was too lazy to spend her own resources. "Borrowing flowers to offer to the Buddha" was the best option.

Soon, only about thirty people remained on the land, including those from the technological side with their cloned gods, and powerhouses from the transcendent side. The survivors, among them the Thirteenth Prince, Princess Nashar of the Empire, and other powerful gods, began to band together in a final struggle. At this point, they were covered in blood and wounds, looking utterly wretched.

*Crack!* Suddenly, space-time froze. The plants halted their assault.

"Congratulations, everyone. You have passed the outer sect assessment. From today, you are inner sect disciples," Medusa said, walking out and quietly observing them.

Was it finally over? Everyone sagged to the ground, exhausted, their faces beaming with the joy of surviving a catastrophe. Even the most reserved individuals couldn't hide their excitement. "I dare say this was the longest hour of my life. Normally, I spend this hour taking a nap," said the offspring of a god, lying on the ground spreadeagled, making a wry joke without caring about appearances.

However, as they quickly gathered and tallied their numbers, they realized something was wrong. "How did people from low-dimensional space-time also pass the assessment?" "Such low cultivation levels, and they escaped the pursuit? That's impossible!" "My heavens, there are even Fifth-Tier Legendary powerhouses here, wild cards pushed forward by minor sects." Everyone realized something was amiss.

"I merely advised that those unable to enter high-dimensional space-time should not come; I never said they would certainly die if they did," Medusa chuckled. "In fact, I arrange creatures of corresponding cultivation levels to hunt them... For candidates who cannot enter high-dimensional space, I arrange desperate enemies whose speed matches their low-dimensional movement to pursue them..."

Everyone's expressions subtly changed. So, the words spoken before entry were meant to deter those with lower cultivation levels. But if they came in, there was still hope of passing.

"Of course, they faced the same desperate, near-fatal odds as you. They just happened to be the one survivor out of ten, just like you," Medusa chuckled. "Isn't it commendable that they dared to come in, even though they couldn't enter high-dimensional space?"

Someone nearby mumbled, "That's not commendable courage; that's a madman, a lunatic who knows they'll surely die but comes to gamble their life away."

"No, what I want are precisely such madmen—those who are reckless, who love to fight on the brink of life and death, who enjoy making wild gambles with their lives." Medusa turned, her eyes glinting with a hint of crimson as she stared intently at them. "Why do I say this? Naturally, because their cultivation level is low. And with low cultivation, born into poverty, and with inferior talent, they must compensate by fighting desperately. If they put their lives on the line, they will develop an unyielding will, and that, of course, allows them to pass the assessment."

If one's talent is inferior, must it be compensated by an unyielding will? Those nearby seemed pensive. Medusa chuckled, "In fact, I believe true power doesn't come from one's talent or abilities, but from one's courage and the determination to risk everything for an opportunity. What I want are these madmen who love to walk on the edge of life and death, who gamble their lives wildly to constantly climb upwards, only then can they become true supreme powerhouses."

Everyone present looked unsettled. Many of those present were prodigies, even offspring of gods, lauded by all, and had never possessed such resolve.

"Unlike the ancient Cosmic Garden, here, my methods must be followed; my word is law... You've gambled and won—you're among the one-thousandth. Are you excited?" Medusa stared at the crowd below.

The crowd recalled their recent struggle on the brink of death, their lives hanging by a thread, and their breathing gradually quickened. What they had just faced was indeed a life-or-death situation unimaginable in their entire lives! They had successfully become the one-thousandth of geniuses, and the joy of that success was perhaps the most exhilarating feeling they had ever experienced.

"Remember this feeling. Life is a constant struggle; every realm eliminates countless peers. Here, you will become gamblers who wager against death," Medusa stated, her voice chillingly indifferent as she gazed down. "I don't need cowardly failures. I don't look at talent; I only look at temperament."

Beside her, the little girl Ironstone's eyes shone brightly, radiating an inexplicable brilliance. Although she, like Medusa, was a life destined for greatness from birth, Medusa possessed such an incredibly strong will, charismatic personality, and exuded the aura of a mad fighting enthusiast, even hinting at a touch of perversion... This newborn little one seemed utterly captivated by this irresistible charm, her eyes gleaming with admiration.

"I'm not one for dawdling. Next, we move on to the next stage." Medusa looked at them. "What? Do you already think you're ready to meet the ancient Leimansga and become his disciples? Not so fast! You are still probationary inner sect disciples. Inner sect disciples are also divided by aptitude. Next, we will test your aptitude, character... and potential."

"Potential, how do you test potential?" someone asked.

Medusa glanced at the questioner, a flash of approval in her eyes. "Yes, that's how you should be. No need to be polite with me; just relax. Ask any questions you have. If you even feel strong enough, you can challenge me and take my place..."

At that moment, the little girl Ironstone's eyes were filled with complete admiration. Of course, if she knew that Medusa wasn't what she imagined—that Medusa was a psychological deviant whose hands itched from not fighting for too long, wishing someone would beat her to death—

"You asked how to test potential? That's a good question. While it's called an aptitude test, it's actually an opportunity." Medusa chuckled, "I value a person's temperament, but most people's temperaments are imperfect. On their path of growth, their Dao heart has flaws, psychological vulnerabilities, things they fear... So I want you to return to the past, relive everything, mend regrets, perfect your entire Dao heart, and press forward with courage."

Return to the past? Everyone looked bewildered. How could a person return to the past? They showed alarm. Could Leimansga truly have reached the legendary ultimate state of the universe? Had he already gained the ability to reverse time, decrease entropy, and return to the past?

All the disciples, covered in blood, stood tall and lined up in place. "You will not only return to the past, but you will also see yourselves in every world across the entire multiverse, to see if your past self, by making a different choice, would have any regrets," Medusa's words utterly stunned everyone. "Yes, mend those regrets. Let me see what your spiritual aptitude truly is."

"Go then, return to the very beginning of your lives!"

*Whoosh.* The next second, everyone's vision went black, as if they were being pulled into a black hole.