Concept Touch; Dharma Manifestation of Heaven and Earth

Buzz, buzz, buzz~

Streams of silver-white information shot into the sky from Paradise. Such a sight was rarely seen in the past, as Reincarnators’ deployment cycles were usually staggered.

But this time, the Reincarnators still remaining in Paradise in the real world watched the scene with a measure of reverence.

This large-scale transmission was undoubtedly Infinite Dimensional Space’s grandest internal event, a massive ceremony that decided who would be the true "big shots" in the next cycle.

Those who could receive the Space’s mysterious invitation at this time were certainly at least Strong-tier, while their Reincarnator star rating had also risen to a minimum of three stars.

Even so, among those entering the Space now, the majority had still chosen those "standardized titles."

So-called "standardized titles," also known as "mass-produced titles," referred to titles that could have multiple holders.

For example, the Seven-Colored Mage whom Bai Cangshu had once easily killed was a mass-produced title on the magic side. Forty holders would appear at the same time during each round, and the qualification requirements were the simplest: one only needed sufficient Spirit attributes and had to be a broadly defined magic-side Reincarnator.

Whether you were the most traditional sort of mage who cast spells through chanting, one of Fairy Tail’s mages who fought with raised fists, an old-school mage who hurled fireballs and Wind Blades, or someone whose magic was stranger and more unconventional, such as the magic of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End World, you all met the requirements.

Such titles were relatively the easiest to obtain, and their holders also made up the largest proportion of Title-level Reincarnators.

Although such Title-level Reincarnators were still extremely powerful in the eyes of most Reincarnators of the First Tier and Second Tier, enough to count as broadly defined "big shots."

Before the holders of truly unique titles, however, these mass-produced Title-level Reincarnators found it difficult to possess the ability to resist.

Only Reincarnators with unique titles were true big shots.

Every one of them was a core member of some team, perhaps even a high-ranking figure within certain gatherings. Nearly all possessed strength around the Strong-Upper Tier.

Among them, an even stronger group could obtain power around the Fierce-tier through certain methods. These people had previously been regarded as top-tier Reincarnators.

But as Infinite Dimensional Space continued its deployments without pause, the overall strength of Reincarnators had in fact been steadily advancing.

Whether it was Bai Cangshu or anyone else, so long as they did not die, they would always be walking the path of becoming stronger. The only difference was the speed at which they improved.

Reincarnators were precisely such a group, born toward life from death.

They grew stronger, were deployed into more dangerous worlds, died or continued growing stronger. If they kept growing stronger, they would continue being deployed into even more dangerous worlds, repeating the cycle over and over.

Thus, although only about a month had passed, the strength ranges of top-tier Reincarnators, high-level Title-level Reincarnators and ordinary Title-level Reincarnators, as well as Title-level Reincarnators and lower ordinary Reincarnators, had continued to spread farther apart.

Perhaps aside from the most mysterious Three Supreme Kings, no one could overlook and understand the true overall strength of the Space’s Reincarnators.

Only the Space Title Competition, this large-scale "exhibition match" where no one could hide their strength, was the grand event that truly measured the gap in power between Reincarnators.

When Bai Cangshu returned to his Private Space, Li Qingzi was there as well. Though her rate of improvement had slowed for a time after Bai Cangshu stripped away her resources.

In truth, however, her control over the March Group and South Goryeo had grown stronger. After realizing that Bai Cangshu’s strength far surpassed her own and that he no longer restricted her resources, Li Qingzi began hunting once more.

And she had become even more frenzied, carrying the mad intent of slaughtering everyone who refused to join her command. Thus, every time Bai Cangshu saw her, her Demonic Power and Demonic Qi had grown stronger, already infinitely close to that threshold.

As one of the former Four Demons, she had naturally received the Space’s invitation as well.

A Single Thought of Silk arrived late. She glanced at the tall Li Qingzi, her eyes carrying an unmistakable air of appraisal.

She could sense that this woman held some kind of hostility toward her—or rather, a sense of competition.

"His Excellency Mercenary Tao, this time, I do not intend to challenge for the Crown of Supremacy. I hope to retain the title of Death Sword."

A Single Thought of Silk lowered her head and respectfully reported her plans.

In truth, she had indeed had a chance to challenge for the Crown of Supremacy this cycle. But after her crushing defeat at Mercenary Tao’s hands, her rate of growth had substantially slowed.

Moreover, Azure Sky’s deliberate declaration regarding this Space Title Competition had left her feeling uneasy.

If Azure Sky joined the contest for various titles on a large scale, the pressure on certain top-tier Reincarnators would be immense.

Those people were usually criticized as madmen, but the reason those madmen had remained alive was because those madmen… were very strong~

Therefore, A Single Thought of Silk planned to first secure her Death Sword title. She had grown increasingly adept at using this title’s abilities, and her control over instant-death attacks was becoming ever more refined. She hoped to directly obtain the relevant authority and might.

Bai Cangshu waved a hand, entirely unconcerned. He had never required those under his command to seize any particular title.

A Single Thought of Silk swiftly disappeared.

Li Qingzi moved her lips. She had also intended to report her plans, but A Single Thought of Silk had beaten her to it. Just as she was about to speak, she saw Bai Cangshu twist the doorknob and vanish from the Private Space.

The corners of Li Qingzi’s picturesque brows drooped. She pressed her lips together and looked at the sword in her hand. Restlessness, impatience, unease, and jealousy began to intermingle within her, her emotions intense enough to make her Demonic Power surge.

"Li Qingzi, have you become so weak that he no longer even notices you…?"

She took several deep breaths before finally abandoning her previous choice.

When Bai Cangshu entered the public space, he discovered that Infinite Dimension’s public space had undergone enormous changes. The blue sky and white clouds that had once hung overhead were gone, replaced by a galaxy that filled the heavens.

It was as though night had fallen over the public space, while neon lights flickered along the road from the stone bridge where newcomers appeared to the Slum Area. The atmosphere had become completely different.

The passing Reincarnators rarely saw such a sight either. Among non-Title-level Reincarnators, there were actually not many who had survived from the previous cycle into this one.

The fate of most Reincarnators who had failed to grow stronger in time was to die during one deployment or another.

This change in environment made the Reincarnators in the Slum Area even more excited. Everyone seemed to be waiting for the end of a grand event.

At this moment, new information emerged from the Slum Area almost every instant.

The choices of those big shots became the topic everyone eagerly awaited. Though they had nothing to do with most people, weak Reincarnators would always tilt their heads upward, looking toward the summit and fantasizing about becoming one of them.

"New information! Death Sword Single Thought of Silk has given up challenging for the Crown of Supremacy and has chosen to retain the Death Sword title!"

"Then according to the current rumors, she has quite a few opponents too…"

Bai Cangshu looked mockingly at the Reincarnators wasting their precious time in the public space on this sort of gossip.

These people probably would not survive until the next cycle at all.

In other words, this was probably the only grand event they would ever witness in their lives.

Ignoring the many Reincarnators who approached him with the intention of asking questions, Bai Cangshu went straight into the Rank Management Office.

Though the Rank Management Office should theoretically have been crowded with Reincarnators at the moment, Bai Cangshu still saw Knight Sister resting alone atop the counter.

The Space’s few special institutions had probably undergone some special treatment. Whether through stacked time or something else, they always ensured that Reincarnators had the chance to receive one-on-one service.

This casually revealed authority and power made Bai Cangshu regard Infinite Dimensional Space somewhat more highly.

"You have appeared again, powerful Reincarnator…"

Knight Sister narrowed her eyes and smiled as she greeted Bai Cangshu. Her gaze lingered briefly on his arm before she continued with a sigh of admiration.

"Such brilliant starlight is truly rare. As expected, you are the Reincarnator best suited to this place."

As the most popular "NPC" among the various institutions, Knight Sister was probably beloved because she could always offer sincere praise.

She provided tremendous emotional value to these pitiful creatures who could die at any moment.

Bai Cangshu knew she was referring to the starlight obtained from an SSS-grade evaluation. He did not explain, merely saying, "I want to check the strength of the concepts I have touched. If possible, please also explain the relevant tiers to me."

"This is also my first time seeing the so-called… Concept Tier."

Knight Sister’s eyes widened as she put on an astonished expression. Then she took the initiative to step out from behind the counter. Dressed in blue-and-white armor, she looked somewhat like a younger version of Artoria.

"You encountered that kind of thing so early? As expected of… Though there are traces of that power within your body, so perhaps it is not too surprising…"

Knight Sister muttered softly for a few moments before revealing an energetic smile again. She extended one finger and drew it through the air before Bai Cangshu.

Silver-white streams of information began falling from where her fingertip had passed, forming lines of text.

At the same time, she said, "As you know, the great existence that gave birth to all of us is also continuously evolving. Even the tiers specially created for you Reincarnators are constantly being extended and refined."

"The so-called Fifth Tier: Concept Tier was originally a tier that should not have existed. Yet now, it seems nearly complete…"

EX051, now querying the concepts you have touched

Concept Death — Immediate Death (Touch Rate: 27%)

Concept — Absolute Invincibility (Touch Rate: 3%)

Concept — Strength Without Flaws (Touch Rate: 0.7%)

Warning: Upon reaching a Touch Rate of 100%, you will enter the Fifth Tier: Concept Tier and obtain the power of concepts. However, if your existence is insufficient, you will suffer irreversible damage.

Bai Cangshu looked at the concepts. Aside from the unexpectedly high touch rate for Instant Death, the touch rates of the other concepts were extremely low.

Simply looking at those words formed from streams of information caused corresponding sensations, scents, essences, and other things too complex to describe with language to arise in his mind.

He somewhat understood why Knight Sister had not described them directly, instead using the Space’s information streams to display them.

Such things simply could not be described.

Looking at them, Bai Cangshu had no doubt that these were Saitama’s powers. After he had observed and imitated them, they had thus been touched by him.

"Are concepts powers above authority?"

Bai Cangshu asked, but Knight Sister shook her head.

"In fact, authority, Heart Light Pulse, and concepts are not linear powers. The three proceed side by side. What determines whether one is strong is tier and adaptability!"

The Mad King’s image surfaced in Bai Cangshu’s mind. That fellow’s authority and Heartlight were not particularly powerful, and even his ability setup was simpler than that of most Reincarnators.

Yet after pushing several abilities to their limits, he had obtained terrifying strength. He was the strongest Reincarnator Bai Cangshu had fought so far.

Powers that proceeded side by side…

After considering the meaning of that information, Bai Cangshu looked at Knight Sister once more.

"I want to know what exactly is the difference between the tiers I am currently climbing, including God’s Staircase, and the tiers shaped by the Space."

"And what differences are there in the levels of power ultimately touched by staircases of different lengths?"

As the Space’s most mysterious original power system, Bai Cangshu had once believed tiers to be the core of every Reincarnator’s advancement.

But after successfully throwing a Serious Punch in the Native World, he began to question it.

He seemed to have directly crossed the tiers and obtained power beyond the limits.

Knight Sister thought for a moment, then grasped the air.

As golden light burst forth, illusory staircases began to appear in the air.

They stretched upward layer by layer, step by step, reaching a terrifying height.

Knight Sister climbed the stairs one step at a time. With every level she ascended, her appearance began to change, her height and figure gradually maturing.

"A true staircase is a shortcut that allows the climber to walk step by step toward the endpoint of the power it represents. But the Space has merely extracted a few platforms where Reincarnators can briefly remain."

She suddenly leaped directly onto a higher step. As her body rapidly changed, the armor on her surface began to strain apart, no longer fitting her.

Bai Cangshu understood what she meant. The Fourth Tier: Heart Light Pulse and Fifth Tier: Concept Tier probably also existed within other sufficiently advanced power-system staircases.

But those staircases would have a step-by-step process, allowing Reincarnators to gradually master their power.

The Space’s crude tiers, however, divided the essential nature of powers belonging to different tiers. There were no intermediate steps. Reincarnators needed to be like Bai Cangshu, relying on unbelievable World-shattering Wisdom or Super Strength to directly cross the process in between and reach the endpoint.

That was probably why top-tier Reincarnators were so rare in the Space.

At the same time, Bai Cangshu understood why the Space so desperately desired the Native World where the Celestial Dynasty of the Vault of Heaven was located. There were probably enough staircases there, detailed enough staircases.

Enough to nurture the Reincarnators.

After resolving the doubts in his heart, Bai Cangshu returned to the Slum Area and began his final enhancement before the competition.

First was…

Ability Scroll Manifestation of Heaven and Earth (?)

Usage Requirements: Energy Attribute >100; possesses a God Demon bloodline or Daoist orthodoxy

Effect: Master spell Manifestation of Heaven and Earth (?)

Bai Cangshu looked at the scroll in his hand, which continuously flickered with a faint glow. Its usage requirements were harsh, yet he happened to fulfill them.

Those big shots from that world really had… calculated everything flawlessly.

You have used Ability Scroll Manifestation of Heaven and Earth

Determining cultivation eligibility...

Energy Attribute strength assessment... Passed

God Demon bloodline detection... Passed

You have mastered spell Manifestation of Heaven and Earth