Chapter 336: Dual Titles and the Foreigner’s Final Look Back at the Homeland

Chapter 336: Chapter 336: Dual Titles and the Foreigner’s Final Look Back at the Homeland

The more Legends one had, the more immense the Star Realm Power they could bear.

In this world, if Immortal Spirit Particles were an exclusive power that only Star Realm Heroic Spirits could fully command...

...then, in a way, the function of a title was somewhat similar to the function of the Heroic Spirit Hall to a Heroic Spirit.

It was equivalent to a legal port.

It allowed Professionals in the Material Realm to lawfully call upon the Mental Power of the masses to aid themselves.

Without the participation of this collective Mental Power...

...a Professional would find it very difficult to walk far on the arduous Ascension Ladder in the later stages.

Whether it was in his past life or as he climbed to the pinnacle of Power in this Otherworld...

Lance knew better than anyone.

’Gathering the masses is always a grand path to success!’

At this moment, because the crown had not yet truly been placed upon him, Lance could only vaguely grasp the function of the [Rank Breaker] title through his hazy Perception.

It seemed to be the type that focused on analyzing rules and then breaking limitations.

It was a title with strong utility.

’This sounds like a weakened version of the "Foreigner" Source Material, doesn’t it?’

Lance shook his head and immediately gave up on this option.

His gaze shifted to the second title.

[Evil Star]

This was a title that sounded incredibly simple and brutal just from its name.

And within its originally purple glow, there was faintly a trace of a noble, golden streamer of light!

This title was composed entirely of the perfect scores he had earned from his performance in combat in the Extreme Path Rating.

The reason a trace of gold, symbolizing the highest quality, had appeared...

Lance estimated...

...was definitely because he had just overcome a huge Tier gap to forcibly kill Bronze Dragon Galeos, thus earning this beyond-spec bonus.

The bonuses gained from a purely combat-oriented title like this were certainly all related to brute-force damage output.

This was indeed very tempting.

However, this purple title, tinged with a hint of gold, only served to highlight the preciousness of the hidden achievement in Lance’s possession!

Because when Lance’s gaze fell upon the third title...

...it was a top-tier title that radiated a pure, dazzling golden light!

Lance could clearly feel that this golden title...

...was a result of the [Gathering Stars into Fire] achievement Trait taking effect, forcibly upgrading the "Gathering Heart" dimension he had maxed out in the camp!

The name of this title was [Red Dragon Wood Master].

And the origin of this name...

...came entirely from the phrase "Gathering Stars into Fire, transforming into a Red Dragon," which had been constantly chanted by the tens of thousands of Adventurers in the camp over the past dozen or so days.

’What a proper title.’

Lance mused.

He didn’t hesitate in the slightest.

He reached out with both hands, bypassing the first two options.

He took the golden crown that represented the highest quality and placed it firmly on his head.

The moment the crown touched the top of his head...

...Ripples of tangible, crimson Energy spread out from Lance, expanding throughout the great hall.

A magnificent robe woven from pure starlight and flames appeared on his body.

In Lance’s vision...

...he felt as if he had ascended into a part of the Star Realm even higher and more distant than the Pantheon.

He saw countless twinkling stars floating in this vast, boundless universe.

He finally understood now. These stars...

...were actually title anchors left behind in the Star Realm by powerful Professionals!

Just as Lance was preparing to carefully feel the power of the title...

...the panel popped up.

[Now congealing the physical title ’Red Dragon Wood Master’ for you in the Star Realm... Success!]

[Title upgrade ceremony in progress...]

[Warning: Upgrade failed!]

[Activating backup plan... Congealing backup title ’Red Star’ for you...]

’Upgrade failed?!’

Hearing this, Lance wasn’t surprised. After all, the right to upgrade came from seizing Royal Authority. Just like that imaginary domain, it was normal not to have it.

Lance took a moment to feel out this title.

He discovered that this [Red Star] title was just an empty shell attached to the original title.

He could now switch the manifestation state of these two titles at will within the Star Realm.

This was equivalent to him registering two completely different alternate identities in the Star Realm all by himself!

Moreover, what surprised Lance even more was...

...this empty shell title [Red Star] could also have a Legend attached to it separately!

This meant that, in addition to the original five Legend slots for [Red Dragon Wood Master]...

...Lance could now attach a total of six Legend concepts!

This was an absolutely unexpected delight!

’A blessing in disguise.’

Lance rejoiced inwardly.

However, what came next was the main event he had been anticipating most.

The 100% positive mutation clearly mentioned in the achievement’s description!

[Exclusive entry for the ’Gathering Heart’ dimension title is now congealing...]

[Base entry ’Deserving of Popular Support’ has been formed.]

[Detected achievement Trait ’Foundation of the Fire King’ taking effect!]

[Entry ’Deserving of Popular Support’ is beginning a deep mutation!]

[Mutation path locked: The final effect of this entry will be determined by randomly selecting and fusing with a High Tier title entry left behind by a relevant Heroic Spirit in the Star Realm’s Heroic Spirit Hall...]

’It’s mutating this way!’

Lance was greatly shaken.

One must understand that the title entries that could be inscribed in the Heroic Spirit Hall had all been passed down through long ages and tempered by countless trials.

Their practical combat effectiveness was absolutely countless times stronger than a newly, hastily created title entry like this.

Lance rubbed his hands together, waiting for the result with great anticipation.

But he never would have imagined...

...that at this critical moment of selection...

...the [Foreigner] Source Material within him, already 1% unlocked, would start acting up again!

If before...

...this Source Material’s exertion had only slightly influenced the judgment of combat rules or used an information gap to open a small back door for him...

...then at this moment, this Foreigner Source Material, which had officially begun to unlock...

...was unleashing a power that was somewhat beyond the limits of Lance’s imagination.

[Detected a high degree of overlapping characteristics between the currently bestowed ’Red Dragon’, ’Royal Authority’, and ’Tinder’ Attributes and your soul’s homeland!]

[Source Material: Foreigner (1% unlocked state) is beginning to resonate violently!]

[The river of time from your soul’s homeland has captured a historical afterimage of the same origin from within the endless void...]

[Under the powerful pull of the Foreigner’s longing, a strange Heroic Spirit’s afterimage is forcibly congealing!]

[Perhaps this is one last, long gaze toward the homeland...]

And at that very moment...

...the Star Realm scenery before Lance’s eyes began to rapidly blur and disappear.

He felt himself falling at high speed, plunging directly into the star formed by the [Red Star] title he had just obtained in the Star Realm.

When the feeling of weightlessness vanished...

Lance regained his footing and opened his eyes.

The scene before him made his heart begin to pound uncontrollably.

’No way...’

He stared at the scene, completely stunned.

He saw, by the misty and vast banks of a distant river, a quaint, Chinese-style pavilion!

Green bricks, black tiles, and upturned eaves.

Outside the pavilion was the ruddy glow of a setting sun.

A fine, gentle rain drifted down from the sky.

Carried by the breeze, countless tender pink peach blossom petals swirled and fluttered down from the air.

The air was filled with the aroma of wine—familiar, yet as alien as if centuries had passed.

For a moment, Lance wondered if he had transmigrated back again.

Without any hesitation, he immediately strode toward the pavilion.

From a distance...

...he saw a low wooden table placed in the center of the pavilion.

A young man in a wide, crimson Han-style robe was casually leaning against the low table.

One of the young man’s feet was propped on a long bench in an extremely casual, even somewhat crude manner.

The crimson lapels of his robe were half-open, revealing a solid chest.

In one hand, he held a rough ceramic wine jug with a chipped rim, tilting his head back and drinking heartily from its mouth.

Wine flowed down from the corner of his mouth, soaking his lapels.

Hearing Lance’s footsteps...

...the young man stopped and casually put down the ceramic jug.

He raised his arm and wiped the wine stains from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand in a very frank and open manner.

Lance got a clear look at the young man’s face.

It was a young, handsome face, yet his brow carried a lingering, roguish street-smart air.

"You’re here, kid."

The young man glanced at Lance and casually tossed an empty, coarse ceramic bowl from the table, landing it precisely in the empty spot opposite him.

Then, he grabbed the wine jug and filled the empty bowl with fragrant, potent-smelling wine.

"Sit."

This single word...

...was spoken in flawless, unaccented Mandarin.

The instant he heard this long-lost sound of his homeland...

Lance was stunned for a moment. He truly hadn’t heard it in so long.

The young man looked at Lance and chuckled softly.

"What’s wrong? Can’t guess who I am?"

The young man forcefully slapped his sturdy chest, making a "THWAP THWAP" sound.

"Or are you muttering to yourself, ’How could the great founding emperor of the Great Han be a beardless young punk who looks just like a street hoodlum?’"

But Lance quickly came to his senses and broke into a smile.

How could he possibly not guess the identity of the person before him!

’In history, there were only two people Lance could think of who fit the words "Red Dragon" and "Tinder".’

’If the first person had appeared and called him "comrade," Lance probably would have burst into tears on the spot.’

’And the other was the man right in front of him.’