I am the Arcane Archer, and all my skills are self-created.

Hua Zitong's thoughts were somewhat confused.

As a reborn person, she has always considered herself to be more clear-headed than the vast majority of people in the world.

She knew what the future held, how to make choices, and which opportunities to seize.

But now, she realizes that the amount of information she has is not even the tip of the iceberg.

"You just said that Erlin was the last survivor of the previous civilization." Hua Zitong organized her thoughts. "The Starbreakers destroyed that civilization, leaving only him behind."

"right."

"Then he spent decades creating the Origin Realm to train humanity in preparation for the next invasion of the Starbreakers."

"right."

"But how could one person create such a massive system?" Hua Zitong's speech quickened.

"Thirty-six regions, each with its own independent worldview, monster ecology, and quest system; the sheer amount of data is unimaginable."

"You're judging him using the mindset of an ordinary person," Gu Yuan said.

"Then what kind of thinking should we use?"

"He is a weaver of laws," Gu Yuan said. "For him, creating a world is not much harder than writing an article. The real difficulty is not creation, but design."

"Design what?"

"A screening mechanism." Gu Yuan stood up and walked to a stone pillar engraved with the secret script character "炽" (Cheng).

"Every design in the Realm of Origin has its purpose. The thirty-six regions correspond to thirty-six laws."

"Seven basic professions correspond to seven ways of applying the laws. The level system is used to measure a person's mastery of the laws. The equipment system is used to amplify the effects of the power of the laws."

"Even battles between PVP players are part of the selection process. Only through competition can the strongest be brought out."

"So there are guild wars, regional battles, world bosses..." Li Wu said.

"It's all planned," Gu Yuan said. "Every large-scale battle is a selection process. Those who survive, win, and become stronger are the people Erlin is looking for."

"What about those who failed?" Zhui Feng couldn't help but ask.

"They also fulfilled their mission," Gu Yuan said. "The losers are the whetstones for the strong; without them, the strong would not emerge."

Zhui Feng fell silent.

This statement is cruel, but also reasonable.

Li Wu reflected on her life journey.

From an unknown nobody in the starting village to defeating the Blood Wolf Guild, winning the arena championship, taking on the Abyss Behemoth one-on-one, and annihilating three gods with a single arrow, every step he took was propelled by someone.

Some were driven by the enemy, and some by the environment.

But no matter which one it is, he is getting stronger.

"When Erlin created the Origin Realm, what about himself?" Li Wu asked a different question.

Gu Yuan's expression changed almost imperceptibly.

"He exhausted all his life force in the process of creating the Origin Realm."

Silence again.

"He knew he wouldn't survive until the Starbreakers returned," Gu Yuan continued.

"So he poured all the remaining power he had into the Origin Realm. Fragments of his will are scattered throughout the Origin Realm: the one in the Arcane Wasteland, the one in the Tower of Despair, and the one that taught me in Zone 0."

"Did he teach you?" Li Wu asked.

"His fragments of will taught me something," Gu Yuan said, "similar to how they taught you. Except I was the first, and the method was more primitive."

Li Wu thought of the Arcane Wasteland.

There, in the thirty-six cryptic towers, fragments of Erling's will guided him step by step to comprehend the cryptic grammar, and finally, before dissipating, handed him the complete grammar notes.

That old, gentle voice.

"Remember, true power lies not in destruction, but in creation."

Now he finally understood that it was not just a mentor's message to a student.

That was the last embers of a civilization entrusting their successors with their legacy.

"But..." Hua Zitong suddenly frowned, "There's a logical inconsistency."

"What?"

"You said the Origin Realm was used by Erlin to select the strongest humans. But the design of the Thirty-Six Districts only allows one new district to open each year, so it would take thirty-six years to open them all."

"Including subsequent level upgrades and trials, the entire process will take at least fifty years."

"right."

"If the Starbreakers were to arrive in fifty years, this design would be reasonable. But you just said that the Starbreakers have arrived ahead of schedule. Their vanguard is already on the moon."

"That's right."

"Then there isn't enough time," Hua Zitong said. "It's only the twenty-first year now. Even if some strong individuals can be selected from the areas that have already opened up, the total number is far from enough."

"According to you, humanity needs at least five hundred transcendent beings. How many do we have now?"

That's a very pointed question.

Gu Yuan remained silent for two seconds.

"Including you, there are less than thirty."

Hua Zitong's heart sank.

Five hundred, we need five hundred.

There are fewer than thirty now.

"You know how much it's short, right?" Gu Yuan's voice was calm, but Li Wu could sense that he wasn't as composed as he appeared.

"What is a transcendent being?" Chasing Wind asked. "You guys keep using that word."

"Those who have their panels removed and have gained the power of the laws," Gu Yuan said. "In Erlin's design, the Transcendent Ones are the final selected elite of humanity. Only the Transcendent Ones can truly fight against the Star Shatterers."

Why?

"Because the essence of a Starbreaker is the distortion of the laws. No matter how powerful the skills in the panel system are, they are ineffective against a Starbreaker."

"If you use the fireball given by the system to hit the Starbreaker, the Starbreaker will directly tamper with the definition of the law of fire, turning your fireball into an ice block."

"Only those who truly understand the laws and can directly manipulate them can stand against the Star Shatterers. Because you understand the essence of the laws, the Star Shatterers cannot deceive you."

After hearing this, Zhui Feng's face lost a lot of color.

He chose the second one.

He is a transcendent being.

To be honest, he doesn't even know what the new power within him is, let alone how to use it to fight against something that can devour planets.

"Those people who kept the panel..." His voice was a little dry, "Caesar and his men, Immovable Mountain and his men..."

"In the battle against the Starbreakers," Gu Yuan said bluntly, "they can't help."

That's a very harsh statement.

Li Wu closed her eyes briefly.

Immovable Mountain, Steel Shield, Angelica, Pinellia, Winter... these are the brothers and sisters who have gone through countless life-and-death situations with him.

They chose to keep the panel.

They were of no use in the war against the Starbreakers.