After the first culling,only 15% of the remaining world population made it to this stasis period of the second culling. Taking into account that previously the population was approximately six billion,it means at least 900 million people are considered elites of the human populace.
May seem like a huge number but, compared to the requirement of the first culling process,which tested the aspirants capability of accepting change,the number was abysmal.
Truly, ordinary people are only ordinary because they represent the majority. They can't approve the choices of the minority. And every single one of the remaining nine hundred minority are people with their own choice. People with their own wills and thoughts.
All with the potential of taking the lead,forming their own groups and factions while the best of them having grand ambitions befitting kings and conquerors.
"Are you seriously saying that all these people are at the ninth level of the awakened realm?"
Norlan pointed at all those people with absurd potential and ambitions. Thousands of them, hundred of thousands of them spread all over the 3 dimensional map given by the Celestial Tower of providence.
"Look careful my lord. Most of these people are converged at five different parts of the new world. Only a small number of them are spread out."
Titus pointed at red dots in clusters. He then urged his expression energy a bit and the map zoomed in one of these clusters.
Like a live feed from a satellite,the more energy put into it,the more it zoomed in. Titus did this until the focus was near enough to see individual live feed of the people in those clusters. Imagine it or not,these people were already building wooden fortification using whatever resources available.
"This is the Marsh family. One of the five oldest families of old earth. I should have expected this. These people are all from families that would have received warning from their systems. It seemed that they converged at the same place before the transition began."
"This is bad for us,right?"
"Very bad indeed. Although am confident i am the current strongest in this new world,facing a trained unified unit means that we need to be careful from now own.
We need to reevaluate our next moves. Especially since I can confirm that the leaders of these families will most likely breakthrough to the awakened realm soon."
The revelation hit Norlan like a rampaging bull. They really had to adjust their plans accordingly. Just the thought of these families having a figure that can convince other elites to rally among them gave him chills.
Their earlier plans involved them laying the foundation of their empire among the people of earth. Fresh talent that could be subdued with both the carrot and stick. Weighing greatly over this ancestor whose expression had already taken a nascent form.
Now however, although they knew that the old families of Earth would pose significant problem,they kinda hoped that they would be scattered all over the plane.
"How did they converge that fast!" Norlan wondered as he manuvered the map to take a closer look at the other four families.
The three dimensional map unveiled a mountain range. Taking a better look,Norlan couldn't help but exclaim with shock. The scene was just that peculiar.
The mountain range was circular in nature. Mountains arranged in a pattern circumstance, acting like pillers to a humongous flat platform with a radius of 100 kilometers. A huge terrain nestled up in the sky by the numerous mountain peaks. A visual epically made perfect by the vortex portal ten times bigger than the one beside Norlan and Titus.
This portal was at the epicenter of the large platform,and vertically down,at the base center of the mountain range,was a normal looking hut dwelling, contrasting the grandeur and magnificence of the portal above.
"The Hexwill family." Titus said in a scowl as he pointed at the group of people that were setting fortifications to that small hut dwelling.
"Ouroborous minor Celestial dungeon! " A plaque in the front of the hut displayed. Making Norlan and Titus take in a beep breath. That dungeon was not simple. Not simple at all, having the word Celestial in it's name.
"So this is a tier 3 dungeon?" They couldn't help but think.Taking a step back while manoeuvering the map towards other families.
"It's said that to access the tier 3 portal,one must first complete the accommodating dungeon. The Hexwill family is as arrogant as ever. They don't even have an awakened master and still dare covet a tier three dungeon!" Rebuked Titus as the map focused on the sheikh, Ming and Makelele families.
The sheikh were around a vast desert,the Ming on the winter plains lands while the Makelele were on a Savannah grassland like terrain. On each of these terrains were 2nd tier portal with it's accompanied dungeons.
Looking closely,the only third tier dungeon was the Ouroborous minor Celestial dungeon that the Hexwill's family fortified.
"It seems that a third tier dungeon will only manifest itself when the number of top level awakened reach a certain number." Norlan commented,earning a smile from Titus. This lad was really exceptional.
"How did you come to that conclusion?"
"Isn't it obvious? 90% of these people are at the ninth level of awakening mortal realm. This shows that they suffered the least damage in foundation among the five great families.
As you can see,apart from the Hexwill family, the others are all battling awakened beasts at a large scale. Since one needs to go through the dungeon to access the 3rd tier portal and the fact that awakened beasts are not as stupid as humans,they would never go near such a dungeon. That means that they haven't suffered a single casualty among the top combatants.
But it's also a dubble edged sword. This also means that the dangers of the dungeons are too great.. Should they enter,it will be their doom. And if an awakened beast Ascends to the awakened master realm and makes it's way there,it will also be another disaster."
Titus sighed, thinking to himself that although Norlan was exceptional,he was still a youth in the end.
He looked at the map,zoomed out of the third tier dungeon and pointed at several locations and lectured.
"Although the Hexwills are arrogant,they are not stupid. Since they dare covet the third tier dungeon,they naturally have a set plan of action.
My guess is that they actually won't allow anyone from their main line to enter the dungeon. Instead,they will expand outwards from there. Looks here,50 kilometers west is a second tier dungeon while 300 km east is another. There is also numerous first tier dungeons in-between these two.
They will most likely send there top awakened realm seniors to the second tier dungeons in hopes some of them ascend to the awakened master realm while some of the juniors will go to the 1st tier dungeons to temper themselves to the new world as they aquire resources and inheritances from them.
So, although setting fortifications around the third tier dungeon is a double edged sword,the gains outway the losses. And if they get a few seniors to ascend to the awakened realm,they may have the capability and advantage of fortifications to control the dungeons. Slowly accumulating strength and resources over the 50 year limit before total integration.
Meaning that like us, they are also preparing for the 4th tier dungeon and portal. Wanting to take the Celestial level Tower trial as awakened masters."
Norlan's eyes opened wide. He looks at the map with a whole new perspective. It seems that with all the advantages they had,it still wouldn't be easy as he thought to create a stable foundation with these families around. It became clear that getting the help of a goddess and his ancestor that had formed an expression made him overconfident.
This mindset had to change. He has to change his way of thinking. He has to learn as much as possible about asking the right kind of questions. Picking up the hidden meanings of every move of his opponents.
He sighed,looking at Titus with an inquisitive gaze. " Why is it that the Celestial Tower trial has to be taken as awakened masters while the difficulty is apparently suitable for Awakened grandmasters?
How come people can ascend to awakened master in second tier portals but cannot ascend to awakened grandmaster in 3rd and 4th tier dungeon?"
"Now you're asking the right kind of questions." Titus spoke with a thunderous laugh.
"There are two answers for you. One is that there are no third order spirit vein in this stasis world. Spirit veins are found beneath the dungeons and are what power the portals.
These spirit veins determine the size of this place and the dungeons that spawn here. The greater the number of top level cultivators the smaller this statis world is, and the greater the tier of dungeons that will spawn.
Take the Hexwills for example,they have many top-level cultivators hence a top level dungeon awakened. This means is that if there were awakened masters before this world formed,forth tier dungeons would have spawned here. Along with forth order spirit veins that would generate natural spiritual energy that could allow the ascension to awakened grandmaster.
As for the second reason,it is that these 3rd and 4th level dungeons that appear in a stasis world with 2nd order spirit veins are expression inheritance dungeons. They aid a cultivator in forming an expression. They provide resources that aid in enlightenment and those that enhance foundation of the divine aperture.
These resources are very valuable. So valuable that many covetous eyes linger on them longer." Titus looked at Norlan with a serious expression.
"These resources are very lucrative even in the main Albera realm. They are so rare that they can only be found in a stasis world where cultivators lead to the spawning of these dungeons.
They are also the reason artificial dungeons are made. The kind where Taboo sacrificial formations are set such that for every life lost in these dungeons, someone from Albera is able to enter a stasis world.
This means that apart from the families, we also have to be wary of these intruders"
Titus spoke as he waved his hands to show the current artificial dungeons on the map.
Coincidentally,in the vicinity of the two,a dungeon flagged itself in bold red words on the map.
"BONE SAGE DUNGEON "