Christine's face flushed as her eyes sparkled like starlight. She clasped her hands together, unable to contain her joy. "I knew it! I knew it!" she cried, her laughter ringing like silver bells. "He is the one I have fallen for without a doubt. The golden crown proves it."

Chris, standing beside her, was left speechless. His eyes remained fixed on Max, and though shock clouded his features, not a single word escaped his lips.

"How could this be possible?" Gareth muttered bitterly. His voice trembled as he struggled against the disbelief that gnawed at him. His fists clenched tightly, nails digging into his palms. He wanted to reject what his eyes were showing him, yet the golden glow left no room for denial.

Edric felt his chest tighten, his pride burning like a wound. He clenched his fists until they shook, his knuckles white. The inferiority he felt in that moment was undeniable. Compared to Max, his strength seemed hollow, and the crown's presence drove that truth deeper into his bones.

Max, however, remained calm. He lifted his eyes and looked across the void, observing the other platforms. To his surprise, he saw that similar crowns had appeared above the heads of one chosen genius from each of the nine other worlds. They all glowed with the same bright golden light, illuminating the vast space.

The realization settled heavily on him. He was not alone in being chosen. The crowns were marks of something greater, symbols that tied together ten worlds within the Heavenly Lord Secret Domain.

Just then a holographic figure shimmered into existence before all the gathered geniuses. The light solidified into the image of a man, tall and composed, dressed in a classic black suit with a crisp white shirt beneath. His presence was calm yet commanding, and even though he was but a projection, the air seemed to grow heavier with his arrival.

"Everyone knows the importance of the crown," the figure began, his voice steady and resonant, carrying easily across every platform. "But I will still say it again. The golden crown appears only upon the heads of the geniuses whose talent and strength surpass all others from their world. It is a mark that cannot be faked, and the benefits of this crown are without limit."

His eyes swept across the gathered figures as he continued. "Within the Heavenly Lord Secret Domain there exist countless trials and opportunities, each one unique, each one designed to test every fiber of your being. The ones who bear the golden crown will find themselves favored by these trials, as if the domain itself acknowledges them. This is the chance of a lifetime for the chosen, a path that will decide whether you rise beyond your peers or vanish into obscurity."

The figure straightened slightly, his tone carrying a new weight. "You who wear the golden crown are already half accepted as disciples of us seven old men. Your trials within this domain will determine if you are worthy to truly become disciples of one of us. Your every step from here on is both a test and an opportunity."

When he finished, his image flickered once more. "Now, go through the portal before you. It will carry you into the depths of the secret domain. Your journey begins there." With those final words, the holographic figure dissolved into fading motes of light, leaving only silence in his wake.

The silence that followed was heavy and absolute. Every gaze turned toward Max, and this time there were no sneers or mocking smiles. No one dared to scoff at the golden crown above his head. The crown's radiance had silenced all doubts.

Every genius present knew the truth. The crown had never been wrong. In the long history of the Heavenly Lord Secret Domain, no genius chosen by it had ever turned out to be a weakling. Every bearer of the crown had proven themselves to be at the peak of their generation, unmatched in their world.

The understanding settled into the hearts of all who looked at Max: if the crown had chosen him, then his strength and talent were beyond question.

Max could feel the tension in the air, the weight of countless gazes pressing down on him, but he paid it no mind. Instead, he turned to face the portal shimmering before them and then shifted his eyes back to the group of geniuses from his world. His expression was solemn, his tone steady and commanding.

"I trust all of you carry the contact runes Lady Divine gave you," he began. "Use them. Remember, the Heavenly Lord Secret Domain is a place overflowing with opportunities, but every opportunity is paired with danger of equal measure. Do not forget that. Some of you may even face death in the pursuit of these trials, and so I will say this only once. If you are not confident about something, do not attempt it. Look elsewhere for other opportunities. Our home world is at war, and we cannot afford to lose lives recklessly here."

He paused, letting the words settle over them before continuing. "As for the geniuses from the other worlds, conflict with them is inevitable. If you encounter them and find yourself in danger, use the contact runes without hesitation. The runes are designed to alert the nearest ally around you, so help will come. Do not waste time thinking you are alone when you are not."

His eyes swept across the group, his gaze hard but not unkind. "This is all I can tell you. Anything more would not change what lies ahead. Enter the secret domain and seek the opportunities that suit you best. One last thing—when you pass through the portal, there is a chance you will be separated. If that happens, use the contact runes to regroup. Move in small groups. It will increase both your chances of survival and your chances of gaining what the domain has to offer."

He drew a deep breath, his voice rising so that it reached all of them with finality. "Now, go and enter."

The geniuses nodded solemnly, their faces set with determination. One by one, they stepped into the glowing portal, their figures vanishing as the light swallowed them.

Christine lingered for a moment, her cheeks flushed as she smiled shyly. "All the best, Max," she said softly, almost flustered, before hurrying into the portal.

Max gave her a small smile in return, though he did not dwell on it.

Chris followed soon after, but not without a sharp glare in Max's direction. He entered the portal without another word.

The other top geniuses trailed in, their movements filled with the gravity of what awaited them on the other side. Soon the last of them had stepped through, leaving only Max behind. He cast one final look at the empty platform, his expression unreadable, before he, too, soared into the portal and disappeared into its light.

In the next moment, the platform stood silent and empty, awaiting the trials of the next generation that would one day stand upon it.

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