Chapter 77: The Victor’s Reward, The First Perfect Level of Mathematics! (Part One)

That golden light came from the void, from the laws, from chaos, from a source Stone Ironheart could not possibly fathom. It seemed to shine through reality from the realm of fantasy, or perhaps from the rules themselves into the material world. It was impossible to distinguish, impossible to comprehend, but Stone Ironheart had no need to know what it truly was.

He simply felt, in that instant, the golden light pierce through everything—from soul to body, the entirety of his being.

In truth... it didn’t feel particularly remarkable. It wasn’t painful, nor did it itch, nor did it bring pleasure.

Yet a vast, ineffable grandeur and solemnity echoed within his heart.

His vision interface shifted accordingly; at its center, a massive award-like icon appeared. Outlined by delicate gold lines, it bore a large character for “award,” squared off and nearly identical to those in this world. But its interior was empty and transparent, devoid of any substance.

The award seemed fashioned precisely to contain the golden light. That radiance, having pierced Stone Ironheart from the void, transformed into a golden waterfall that cascaded from the top of his vision, pouring with a rush into the vacant award’s vessel.

Like an empty bottle being filled, the bottom of the award immediately brimmed with radiant golden liquid, which continued to accumulate as the light streamed down. Gurgling, the golden light shone for roughly three seconds, and the empty award was nearly half-filled by the time it stopped.

After three seconds, the golden light vanished as suddenly as it had appeared, disappearing as if it had never existed.

Stone Ironheart, shaken from the grandeur and solemnity, snapped back to himself, eyes wide with indescribable astonishment.

What was that!

What exactly was that golden light!

What on earth was happening—it felt just like those old television dramas where someone ascends to immortality!

He looked frantically around and found all the nearby students staring at him, wide-eyed, as though he were some rare creature. Wait... did these people see it too?

“Is he the top scorer from the loser class?”

“So it’s him! He’s really tall!”

Whispers rose all around, but when Stone Ironheart listened closely, he heard nothing about golden light or ascension. Looking more carefully, he realized the students were merely surprised.

Even someone like me, soul-transposed into this world, with vision interface and experience of that diagram, nearly leapt up in shock at first contact. If the students could really see it, a few might have fainted on the spot.

Judging by their reactions, it seemed no one had noticed the golden light.

He could finally breathe a little easier.

Wait... What exactly was that golden light?

Stone Ironheart focused his attention on the vision interface. The massive award icon had shrunk to a small one, slightly larger than the previous circle of enlightenment, now arranged to the side. Inside, about half was filled with gently swirling pale gold liquid, which pulsed with astonishing vitality and weight.

It felt as though every drop of this golden liquid was heavy as a thousand tons.

So this was what the system created by collecting the golden light?

What exactly was it?

Stone Ironheart stared intently at the award icon, and after a moment, explanatory text appeared.

[Celestial Gold Refining Liquid]
[Quantity: 45]
[Explanation: Heaven rewards diligence; the victor reigns. An Origin Saint engraved this rule into the cosmic law: any pan-human who wins first place in a credible competition may receive Celestial Gold.]
[Note: Celestial Gold has immense effects; it can directly advance any imperfect cultivation technique. Its uses are broad—explore them yourself. Celestial Gold is hard to obtain; use it prudently.]

Celestial Gold?

The victor reigns?

Wait—most important of all... directly advance any imperfect cultivation technique?!

That means—!

As Stone Ironheart’s thoughts whirled, the vision interface responded naturally, listing all his current techniques. The one he had cultivated most deeply leapt out, transforming into a familiar progress bar suspended in view.

Basic Mathematics, First Tier: Ninety-nine increments of proficiency.

It was as though a terminally ill patient had stumbled upon a miraculous cure. Stone Ironheart was elated yet hesitant, ready to test it out—swish! A beam of golden light shot forth from the award icon, identical to Celestial Gold, and struck the Basic Mathematics progress bar.

Suddenly, the entire progress bar radiated dazzling brilliance. Stone Ironheart sensed a massive inherent barrier blocking his way. He had never noticed such an obstacle before, but now, like a blind man regaining sight, he saw it clearly—a formidable wall, seemingly insurmountable.

But now, under the golden light, that wall loosened, cracked, dissolved, and finally collapsed.

Crackling, the thought energy in his mind surged, as if welcoming a beneficial mutation. The golden liquid in the award icon was consumed drop by drop, and the barrier Stone Ironheart felt dissipated rapidly.

Until a certain moment, the immense golden force surged forward and shattered all obstacles.

Boom!

A tremendous explosion echoed—in Stone Ironheart’s vision. The progress bar for Basic Mathematics, First Tier, finally reached its last increment, transforming into boundless radiance. Within the brilliance, the golden word “Perfect” leaped forth, hanging high above, shining in all directions.

The word “Perfect” remained aloft; no new progress bar appeared for Basic Mathematics, First Tier. Perfection was the ultimate limit for this stage.

And the actual changes continued. The surging thought energy seemed to break through a dam, rapidly increasing. His mathematical cultivation—represented by this energy—nearly doubled in a short span, becoming stronger, firmer, more complete, and more active.

It felt as if the thought energy itself had evolved a little.

The vision interface’s changes weren’t over. The hovering “Perfect” condensed and contracted, finally transforming into a star.

Not a cartoonish five-pointed star, but a crystalline, ancient, mysterious, deep, and beautifully enchanting star—like those seen in the night sky of this world.

This star symbolized the flawless foundation Stone Ironheart had laid in the first step of his mental discipline.

[Basic Mathematics, First Tier: Progress upgraded to Perfect]
[Attribute unlocked: Insight +1]