The five-day-long high-intensity training was grueling. Indeed, as Huo said, they practiced until they collapsed. But it wasn't the Planetary Lords who fell; rather, it was the Supernatural species. Despite their powerful physiques, the Supernatural creatures couldn't withstand such relentless, high-intensity combat exercises. All of them were exhausted, except for the Astra Militarum.
Sebastian, with his ability to channel a vast amount of origin power, accelerated the flow of time, granting the Astra Militarum ample rest. The troop count had now reached one million, the result of the latest expansion of the military.
In just five days, the strength of each Supernatural race could not be dramatically improved. However, the most vital aspect was exposure to different opponents. Practical combat experience could quickly hone their skills, something many lacked.
After all, their opponents were geniuses from all parts of the Endless Star Territory. Whether in raw power or combat experience, most were superior to them. Though reluctant to admit it, they knew their region ranked relatively low across the territory. Past competitions had yielded disappointing results for their area.
After five days of intense training, the final day was designated as a rest day, allowing everyone to relax a little. Sebastian was led by Huo to visit one of the massive halls there.
"Hmm?" Suddenly, Sebastian sensed something and turned toward the entrance.
The others followed suit and saw a middle-aged man dressed in black, accompanied by the gray-cloaked old man from before, walking inside. The aura radiating from him was intensely powerful.
"This is...?" Huo Kong's eyes widened instantly. "Someone from the Group Star Council!?"
"Someone from the Group Star Council?" Sebastian looked at the middle-aged man in black with curiosity.
"Seems to be," Huo Kong nodded. "I guess they're here to pick up those of us who qualified for the qualifiers. You know, the headquarters of the Star Council is very, very far away from here. Without their airship, even the Lordship would take ages to arrive."
"By that time..." Huo Kong chuckled, "We might already be dust."
Inside the vast hall, the Lord of the Kingdom stepped forward quickly, greeting the black-clad man respectfully. "Senior brother, you're here."
This man in black was the elder brother of the Lord. Due to this familial tie, the Group Star Council had sent him at this time.
The black-clad middle-aged man nodded slightly, surveying the Lord with a smile. "Not bad. You've become the Lord, this is truly a comfortable life."
The Lord sighed helplessly. "But my strength has not improved much. The resources here are nothing compared to the headquarters."
"Every place has its benefits, perhaps one day, you'll have an encounter," the middle-aged man in black said with a smile.
"Haha, enough of that," the Lord replied, chuckling. "Senior brother at the headquarters must be well-informed, but do you know the current situation of the other Level 2 Planetary Lords across the star areas?"
"Somewhat." The man in black nodded. "In this year's Group Star Competition qualifiers, many geniuses have emerged from almost every star area."
"In terms of overall quality, it's higher than in previous years. So..." he looked at the Lord and warned, "You'd better be prepared."
"I thought some from our region could crack into the top 1,000," the Lord lamented. "But the outside world is truly frightening."
"Oh? Some from your area might also make it into the top 1,000?" The black-clad man's eyes flashed with interest.
"This is based on past years' results," the Lord replied. "Come, let me show you a few from our region." He activated a projection, displaying information on four individuals: Skyler, Huo, Sebastian, and Shia.
"Are these four the strongest in your area this year?" the man in black asked after reviewing the data.
"For now, yes," the Lord responded. "But I'm not sure if they're hiding their true strength."
"Skyler and Huo were trained by you personally, right?" the black-clad man chuckled. "I can tell, they have your style."
"Exactly." The Lord nodded. "These two are quite impressive, especially Huo Kong."
The man in black examined the projection, nodding slightly. "Surprisingly, he managed to create the Phoenix, with the ground race Flame Ostrich, balanced and promising. I'd say he could easily reach the top two thousand in the main competition."
"Only the top two thousand?" The Lord looked disappointed.
"Didn't I mention that this year has produced many monsters?" the black-clad man laughed. "I can find out exactly how many when I have more time."
"It's a pity. If he had been born a few years earlier, he might have cracked the top one thousand," the Lord sighed. Then he asked, "And the others?"
"This Shia is from that Empire, right? Her races are balanced but lack a standout feature. I doubt she'll reach the top 10,000," the man in black assessed.
The Lord nodded. Having participated in the last Group Star Competition, he understood the importance of a unique or powerful race lineup. Balance alone wasn't enough; there had to be a special attribute.
"And Sebastian?" The black-clad man's gaze fixed on Sebastian's profile. A smile appeared on his face. "Quite interesting, he's creating an entirely new race."
"These two races are very peculiar," he continued. "Even I, who've seen many, have never encountered anything like them."
"Huo Kong was defeated by him," the Lord added.
"Oh?" The black-clad man's eyes widened slightly. "He managed to defeat Huo?"
"It appears Sebastian has a special weapon that restrains the Phoenix Flame," the Lord explained. "He's a new student this year."
"A new student?" The man in black raised an eyebrow. "Did you say Sebastian just advanced to Level 2?"
"Yes," the Lord confirmed. "It's been less than a year since he awakened his planet."
"Your region has produced such a talented genius this year," the black-clad man sighed in admiration. "It's a shame, if Sebastian had been born a few years earlier, he might have been in the top 100 in the last competition."
He paused, then added, "I didn't expect there'd be suspense this year for the title of strongest freshman."
"Brother, do you mean to say there are still freshmen capable of competing with Sebastian?" the Lord asked.
"Exactly," the man in black said with a smile. "The Endless Star Territory is vast, and some Planetary Lords develop monstrous talents. They also possess many treasures that accelerate planetary growth. This year, an unrivaled genius from a remote district even made it into the top ten of the qualifiers!"
"Top ten?" The Lord was stunned. That was no small feat, especially for a region far from their own.
"I thought that contender was the strongest freshman this year, perhaps even challenging the historical record. But I was wrong," the black-clad man said, glancing at Sebastian's profile again. "You've produced another monster, a new race, the rarest of all. I look forward to seeing how these two will fare at the Group Star Competition."
After a day of rest, the Lord personally led Sebastian to the headquarters of the Star Council. Their transport was a massive spaceship, shimmering like a bright star. Huo explained that this vessel was specially sent by the Star Council for their journey.
"The person sent from the council is the Lord's senior brother," Huo told Sebastian, revealing a little secret.
"The Lord was the winner of the last Group Star Competition and later became a councilor's disciple," Huo continued. "When he returned to establish the Kingdom, everything went smoothly, mainly because of this connection."
"Our participation in the competition can lead to significant opportunities," Huo said expectantly. "A high ranking could mean joining the Council as a member of parliament, a position with immense influence. A single word from a councilor can decide the fate of a great power."
"So, if we rank low?" Sebastian asked.
"That's not entirely true," Huo explained. "Though some low-ranked competitors have caught the eye of certain councilors, the chances are slim."
"Meaning?" Sebastian pressed.
"It's best to aim for the top," Huo said firmly. "Being in the top 1,000 almost guarantees a council member's support. Even if no one shows interest, the Council will naturally assign one."
"But it's difficult," Huo admitted with a sigh. "Inside information suggests that this year's qualifiers are more competitive than ever. I thought I had a chance, but now... It's uncertain."
Throughout the journey, Huo shared many hidden secrets about the Group Star Competition, making the long trip less tedious. Their ship, provided by the Star Council, was a majestic vessel designed for such distant journeys, especially since their region was so far from the headquarters.