Kailen kept comprehending the profundities of the space principle fragment. The space principle fragment was turning more ethereal with time. Very soon, five months passed.

Kailen opened his eyes. The moment he opened his eyes, a notification flashed before him.

[Your five-month period in the principle fragment tower is up.

You can return again to the principle fragment tower after two weeks.

If you refuse to leave after ten seconds, your name will be taken out of the premium ranking list.]

Kailen ignored the notification. Finally, he had broken through to the Rank 2 novice-stage transcendent level. Kailen stared at the dormant principle fragment. It was more ethereal than when he arrived. If he spent more time in comprehension, it would weather away. When he returned in two weeks’ time, he would finish comprehending the space profundities of this principle fragment and choose another one.

For now, he needed to use this two-week period to take on a mission and climb the premium ranking. Kailen left the principle fragment tower.

The moment he appeared at the door, several on the premium ranking—especially those who had placed bets on him—stared in his direction curiously. They could not know how strong he had gotten unless he showed his strength.

"It seems we have to wait for a while before we know how strong he is," someone said.

"Heh, you really placed a bet on him that he will get to the Rank 2 novice stage in just five months? Even for someone as fast as him, aren’t you overestimating him? Don’t come crawling for your gold coins back when it’s revealed he’s still a Rank 1 novice-stage transcendent."

Kailen, oblivious to the discussions about him, proceeded towards their direction. The group of transcendents chilling in the lounge nodded towards his direction. All of them were in the top 20 but not in the top 10. Naturally, they respected Kailen’s strength. Even the first-ranked on the premium ranking had called this fellow terrifying and acknowledged him during the chaotic beast tide. There was no need for them to act proud and snobbish in front of him.

Kailen simply nodded towards them back without much of a reaction. He proceeded past them and turned, walking towards the mission board located somewhere in the large lounge. Kailen stood before the mission board and started going through the list of missions. He was here to choose a high-difficulty mission with an extremely large number of contribution points.

Finally, Kailen came across one mission that drew his attention.

[A group of vimodials are rumored to be hiding in the Grimwood district of Richtchard City. Vimodial transcendents do not absorb life force at the transcendent level to grow stronger, as the transcendent level is all about principle comprehension. However, before they got to the transcendent level, they cultivated by plundering the life force of beings and worlds across the light and edge regions of the universe. Therefore, they are considered the enemies of the whole universe, even in the chaotic region.

Mission: Identify these vimodials hiding in the Grimwood district and personally eliminate them.

Difficulty level: High

Rewards: 1000 contribution points; 4,000 gold coins]

"The mission did not specify how strong these vimodials are. Also, the mission did not specify the method of elimination. Just that I have to be personally responsible for their deaths. This means I cannot hire someone to do the work for me. That does not mean I cannot use unconventional methods though" Kailen thought.

"Also, I need to be very covert during this mission. There are assassins lurking in the shadows, waiting for me to be alone—especially when I leave the Castellan district—to strike." Kailen scratched his chin lightly. "I have not encountered very strong assassins yet. It’s most likely because the guild higher-ups may be protecting me from the shadows. After all, it does not make sense that the Crimson Fang guild will send only weak assassins after me when they could send stronger ones to eliminate me. Also, the other guilds in the other districts have definitely sent assassins after me if the Crimson Fang Guild has done the same thing. They most likely want to eliminate me because I may be a threat to them in the upcoming competition."

"However, the guild higher-ups probably assassinated them because they are too strong for me to handle. I can infer that the guild could be protecting me from assassination threats I cannot handle from the shadows. That means I will only encounter assassins at my own level when I leave for the mission. But I still need to be covert. It never hurts to be too careful. I can’t overestimate myself."

Kailen decided to execute this mission from a covert perspective. Quietly, he melded with the void and disappeared from the lounge.

"This guy took another mission with a high difficulty level again?"

"Look at the contribution points attached to the mission."

"It must be a very difficult mission. He could even die if he’s not careful."

"Looking at the situation, I don’t think Kailen Darkhaven will take on a mission like this if he does not have the confidence to complete it."

"What do you mean?"

"No matter how much you think about it, this kind of mission is not something Kailen Darkhaven will take on if he were still a Rank 1 novice-stage transcendent."

"Do you mean...?"

"Yes, he most likely broke through to the Rank 2 novice-stage transcendent level."

"No... I don’t think so. How could that be possible, even for him?"

"Well, we will definitely find out whether or not he has broken through with time. When the time comes, don’t think I will let you keep the gold coins. A bet is a bet."

The transcendents at the lounge discussed.

"Anyway, when are the others in the top ten coming back from the battlefield where they fought with the chaotic beasts during the chaotic beast tide?"

"They are still attaining deeper comprehension with the principle fragments on the battlefield. It will definitely take a while."

"However, I’m sure they will be in time for the upcoming competition."

"I hope they don’t return to find out Kailen Darkhaven has become the first person on the rankings. With his principle comprehension speed, I won’t be surprised if that’s the case by then... sigh."