Dimensional Keeper: All My Skills Are at Level 100 Chapter 1531 Rules of the Cosmic Ascension Conference!

"Do not worry about that," Lucia remarked with a subtle smile while glancing at Max, her prior annoyance dissolving into a calmer demeanor. "The requirements to join the Cosmic Ascension Conference are way more intricate than what you know right now. All you've heard until this point is merely the simplest element."

Max's eyes focused intently as he paid attention, evidently intrigued.

Lucia reclined a bit and started her explanation, her voice firm and enlightening.

"Indeed, the initial condition for entering the Cosmic Ascension Conference was the Law Refinement Realm," she stated. "This regulation came into being during the inaugural event, which occurred millions of years ago, or possibly even longer. Back then, the mightiest prodigies in the Divine Realm typically stood at the Law Refinement Realm or its pinnacle at best. That stage marked the supreme benchmark for talent and cultivation in the youth."

She halted for a second before going on, her tone turning graver. "Yet, over the ages, circumstances shifted. Era by era, the power of geniuses throughout the Divine Realm kept climbing. Methods advanced, resources got better, and the training conditions transformed. Consequently, numerous elite disciples from mighty powers surpassed the Law Refinement Realm prior to the conference itself."

Max absorbed her words quietly, his face reflective.

Lucia's gaze tightened a touch as she pressed on. "This sparked a major issue. Countless top geniuses, those meant to champion their factions, found themselves barred from joining just because they had progressed too much. Such occurrences repeated over several conferences, breeding growing frustration among the Divine Realm's powers."

A sense of weight laced her voice as she recounted that past. "Picture pouring endless treasures into raising a prodigy, only for them to get excluded right before the crucial moment due to exceeding the boundary set for superiority. Unsurprisingly, the great factions refused to tolerate it passively."

A spark lit in Max's eyes as the direction became clear.

"Eventually," Lucia went on, "demands from every corner mounted unbearably. The powerful groups united in protest, forcing a change to the Cosmic Ascension Conference rules."

She fixed her eyes on Max while detailing the result. "A fresh provision was added. Talents at the Law Manifestation Realm can now enter the conference too. But a restriction applies."

Max inched forward, completely hooked now.

Lucia delivered the key detail sharply. "Their cultivation gets sealed at the peak of the Law Refinement Realm throughout the whole Cosmic Ascension Conference."

Silence lingered after her statement.

"No matter their true might," she emphasized. "Upon stepping into the event, their strength gets locked to that stage. This preserves balance yet lets the era's finest prodigies clash."

She wrapped up. "Still, boundaries exist. Geniuses beyond the 10th level of the Law Manifestation Realm are outright banned from the tournament."

Max stayed quiet briefly, processing Lucia's full disclosure, his look hardening as the deeper meanings sank in.

"Does that not mean true peak Law Refinement Realm cultivators lack any genuine shot in the conference?" Max voiced deliberately. "With geniuses whose real cultivation hits Law Manifestation Realm peak, just held back to Law Refinement peak in the tournament, their superior foundations, insights, and power would overwhelm anyway. Suppression of cultivation won't close that chasm for those truly at Law Refinement Realm."

He settled back, a bitter grin forming. "Thus, those hailed as peak Law Refinement talents would get utterly demolished by ones who've long transcended that realm."

Lucia showed no shock at his insight. She merely shrugged casually, her face serene, as if this truth was long familiar.

"Precisely what unfolded in recent Cosmic Ascension Conferences," she confirmed. "Your scenario isn't hypothetical. It's the norm."

Crossing her arms, she elaborated steadily. "Thanks to that policy, Divine Realm factions adjusted their approaches. Rather than holding geniuses at Law Refinement Realm, they drive them deep into Law Manifestation Realm before the start. Greater actual cultivation means greater edge post-restriction."

Her stare intensified as she noted, "There, tiny edges in base or law grasp prove fatal. A peak Law Manifestation Realm expert boasts vastly superior law knowledge over a fresh Law Refinement peak. No mere seal erases such disparity."

Max followed attentively, his focus sharpening.

Lucia proceeded with assured poise. "That's our Black Dragon Clan's strategy too. Leading true disciples hover near fifth level Law Manifestation Realm now. Come conference time, we'll mostly hit seventh level at minimum. Exceptional ones could touch tenth."

Her statement rang composed, yet its weight hit hard.

The rivals awaiting Max dwarfed his prior expectations.

"I see," Max murmured softly, giving a nod.

Grasping the complete scenario ramped up the strain in his chest. Earlier, he figured peak Law Awakening Realm sufficed, given his battle prowess matching Law Refinement peak.

That view had kept him mostly at ease facing the event. But reality proved far fiercer.

Briefly, Max shut his eyes, breaths even as he steadied his mind.

Reopening them revealed pure resolve.

Only determination.

"Only through fully evolving my bloodline," he pondered inwardly, eyes icing over with resolve, "only by consuming the Imperial Bloodline source can I surge to new heights of power."

No longer mere choice.

Absolute must.

"And Orion… is my sole shot."