Survival for All: I can deconstruct projections and synthesize everything.

"Ninth-tier strength cannot be compensated for by sheer numbers!"

Zhuge Duo remained silent.

She knew Lin Xiao was telling the truth.

The difference between the ninth and eighth tiers is a qualitative leap. The difference between the eighth and seventh tiers is equally vast.

Although the Eternal Alliance has a combat power of 15 billion or more at the fifth rank, these numbers are meaningless in the face of a ninth rank.

A ninth-tier being can wipe out an army of billions with a single hand.

"Therefore, our current focus is on cultivating high-end combat power." Lin Xiao's voice was calm yet firm. "Those at the seventh rank need to find a way to break through to the eighth rank. Those at the eighth rank—"

He paused, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.

"Then we need to find a way to break through to the ninth rank."

Zhuge Duo's pupils contracted slightly.

Breakthrough to the ninth rank?

This is almost impossible in the world of mist.

For millions of years, countless geniuses have tried to break through to the ninth level, but very few have succeeded.

Those who succeed are all ancient monsters who have lived for hundreds of millions of years, and all possess extraordinary opportunities and resources.

In the Eternal Alliance, apart from Lin Xiao, the strongest is only at the seventh rank.

The seventh to eighth level is an insurmountable barrier.

The gap between the eighth and ninth ranks is an insurmountable chasm.

"I know this is difficult," Lin Xiao said softly, looking at Zhuge Duo's expression, "but we have no other choice."

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked out into the void beyond the miniature universe.

"A year from now, the God of Mist will awaken. At that time, we will not be facing a high priest, but eight ninth-rank beings."

"If we don't have enough high-end combat power, the Eternal Alliance will only face one fate—"

His voice was calm, yet carried a weight that was impossible to ignore.

"destruction."

Zhuge Duo took a deep breath, suppressing the unease in her heart.

"I understand." She nodded. "I will do my best to explore breakthrough paths for those members with potential."

Lin Xiao turned around, looked at her, and a hint of gentleness flashed in his eyes.

"Thanks for your hard work."

Zhuge Duo shook her head, a slight smile appearing on her lips.

"It's not hard work. It's what I should do."

She paused, then continued, "However, there is one person who might be of great help."

"Who?"

"Shi Yan".

Lin Xiao's brows twitched slightly.

Zhuge Duo explained, "His time-related talent allows him to create time-based training grounds. One day outside is equivalent to one hundred days inside the training ground. If we can make full use of this ability, our members can gain several times or even dozens of times more training time in a short period of time."

Lin Xiao nodded: "That's a good idea. But Shi Yan's strength isn't enough; he can't support such a large training ground by himself."

Zhuge Duo smiled slightly: "Therefore, we need to help him improve his strength."

"If he can also break through to the seventh level, his time talent will undergo a qualitative change. At that time, he might be able to single-handedly support a time training ground that covers an entire miniature universe."

A glint flashed in Lin Xiao's eyes.

"Then it's settled."

He turned around and walked out of the council hall.

"I'm going to find Shi Yan."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

In the deepest part of the microcosm, in that isolated space where time stands still.

Shi Yan sat cross-legged, with silver light slowly flowing around him.

His consciousness was immersed in the river of time, peering into countless possibilities of the past and the future.

Lin Xiao's figure appeared at the edge of the space, the Omniscient Rule operating at full power, observing Shi Yan's state.

He could sense that Shi Yan was only a hair's breadth away from the seventh rank.

That fine line is like a thin sheet of paper that can be easily broken with a gentle poke.

But Shi Yan hesitated to break through it.

"Why?" Lin Xiao's voice rang out in the space, calm and gentle.

Shi Yan opened his eyes, and silver light flowed in his pupils.

He looked at Lin Xiao, a bitter smile playing on his lips.

"Because I'm scared."

"What are you afraid of?"

Shi Yan remained silent for a moment, then slowly spoke.

"I'm afraid that once I break through to the seventh rank, I'll see even more things."

"More future, more possibilities, more—"

He paused, a complex light flashing in his eyes.

"More despair."

Lin Xiao looked at him and remained silent for a long time.

Then he smiled.

"The future is not something to be looked at."

His voice was calm, yet it carried an undeniable power.

"The future is meant to be created."

Shi Yan's pupils contracted slightly.

He looked at Lin Xiao, the seven-colored light flowing around him like a river that would never run out.

At that moment, he suddenly understood something.

"The future is meant to be created..." he murmured, a relieved smile playing on his lips.

"I see."

He closed his eyes, and a burst of silver light suddenly erupted.

The light grew brighter and brighter, eventually transforming into a towering silver pillar of light that reached the heavens and the earth.

The beam of light pierced through space, through the microcosm, through the misty world, and reached the depths of the river of time.

At that moment, Shi Yan's aura underwent a dramatic change.

Seventh rank.

He finally broke through.

The moment Shi Yan broke through to the seventh level, the entire miniature universe trembled.

The silver beam shot into the sky, drawing a dazzling arc in the void and illuminating the entire star field.

All the Eternal Alliance members who were cultivating looked up at the increasingly bright light, their eyes filled with shock.

"Seventh tier... that survivor with the time-manipulation talent has also broken through to the seventh tier..."

"What a terrifying aura... Is this the power of an SSS-rank time talent?"

"With his time acceleration, our cultivation speed can be increased several times over..."

The silver pillar of light lingered in the void for a full day and night before slowly dissipating.

Shi Yan emerged from the depths of the space, his aura completely different from before.

If he was a stream before, he is now a great river.

Silver light flowed around him, and the power of time, like fine threads, tightly connected him to the entire miniature universe.

Lin Xiao stood at the edge of the space, observing the changes in time as the omniscient rules were operating at full power.

He could sense that Shi Yan's time talent had undergone a qualitative change after breaking through to the seventh level.

Previously, Shi Yan needed to form hand seals to perform time acceleration, and it could only cover a very small area.

Now, with just a thought, he can accelerate time and extend it across the entire star field.

Previously, maintaining the Time Training Ground required a large amount of mental energy, which could only last for a few dozen days at most.

Now, with the primordial power of the miniature universe as his support, he can continue indefinitely.

Moreover, he touched the threshold of time stopping.

While it's not possible to stop time for an extended period, in crucial moments, a few seconds of time stagnation can be enough to change the outcome of a battle.

"Congratulations," Lin Xiao said softly as she stepped forward.