It's the fourth watch, asking for monthly votes! Continuing on to write the fifth update. Brothers, power through!

"In a moment, I will handle the badge and some procedures for him," the old man said with a smile. "Leave this to me, don't worry."

Ye Chen smiled and nodded.

The old man chuckled, "From today onward, you are a member of our academy. Many regulations and benefits will be sent over to you shortly."

"Very well," Ye Chen accepted without refusal.

Subsequently, Huang Tian caught up with the old man for a nostalgic chat before taking Ye Chen away.

"Nothing urgent for now, you can wander around the academy," Huang Tian glanced at the sky. "It's not too late; I'll go hunting."

Ye Chen gave him a look. "Be careful out in the wild."

Huang Tian laughed and waved before departing.

Ye Chen watched his retreating figure, then walked alone along the academy path, pondering. The God War Assembly is set to take place in three months. I wonder if the flow of time here is the same as the outside world. The data from my previous life didn't describe it, but I assume the difference won't be significant. That means I'll have to wait here for three full months!

I wonder how things are outside? Ye Chen’s heart ached for the Bright Base City. Suddenly, he felt a stir and looked at the white lotus on the back of his hand. Bai Lan mentioned that as long as the white lotus is with me, I can open the Fire Civilization Space nearby. Since I previously anchored the space entrance at that location, I need to first notify Bai Lan to shut down that entrance, severing the link to the ruins, allowing it to drift in the endless spatial planes. Then, I’ll instruct Bai Lan, using the white lotus's sense, to reopen the ruins, and the entrance will materialize right beside me.

With this thought, Ye Chen quickly took out a small metal plate—a communicator specially given to him by Bai Lan that only connected to her, regardless of location or dimension. He found an uninhabited spot and dialed the number immediately.

Beep, beep...

A few seconds later, the connection snapped open. Bai Lan's gentle voice, tinged with surprise, came through the communicator. "Is that Ye Chen?"

Ye Chen replied calmly, "It's me. How are things outside recently?"

"I was just about to discuss that with you."

Bai Lan sounded anxious. "Of those three pursuing you, the one with wings has returned. He lingered near the entrance of the Huaxia Base City ruins for two days before finally leaving. He's likely gone to rally the monster army."

Ye Chen's palm tightened, his heart sinking. "Quickly tell Bai Long to notify Xu Tianguo, and then notify the branch of the Bright Base City in Russia, to immediately enter one of the ruins and hide inside."

Bai Lan nodded. "Bai Long has already been instructed. The Bright Base City members have all entered a ruin; only a few people remain outside the base city. If the monster army charges, they can retreat into the ruins quickly. By the way, are you safe?"

Ye Chen shook his head. "Safe for now."

Bai Lan smiled sweetly. "I knew it. With the strength of those people, they couldn't possibly harm you. When are you coming back?"

Ye Chen knitted his brows. "I can't return for a while, at least not for three months."

Bai Lan murmured an "Oh," then nodded. "It's fine. Just take good care of yourself. After all, that person is a Ghost God Realm powerhouse; your return wouldn't be of much use right now. It’s best to lie low for a while."

Ye Chen slightly pursed his lips. After a moment, he said, "Transfer everyone sheltered in the Fire Civilization into the City of Atlantis, then close the space and sever that location's connection point. Use the white lotus imprint to open it beside me. I need a few things. Also, have you or Zi Lan leave one person outside to report the situation to me at all times."

Bai Lan considered it. "Alright, no problem."

Ye Chen closed the communicator, then began walking around the academy, noticing many Jingwu Platforms. The academy primarily focused on teaching combat, hunting, and knowledge about the prey's characteristics.

Not long after, Ye Chen was approached by an administrator. This administrator looked extremely young but was powerfully built. Upon seeing Ye Chen, he smiled. "Hello, I'm here to show you to your accommodation and hand over some academy regulations reports."

"Mm."

Subsequently, under the administrator's guidance, Ye Chen was taken to a communal dormitory and received a book about the school from his hands.

"Private fighting within the academy is strictly forbidden. If you wish to fight, both parties must apply, provide a guarantor, and only then will it be permitted," the administrator spoke fluently, intimately familiar with the school rules. "Normally, every morning, you must attend knowledge classes; the rest of the time is for self-study."

"Every student enters the academy at age six and is immersed in the Fountain of Divine Power once. After reaching the 'Old Age,' they are restricted from remaining in the academy unless their cultivation suddenly advances a tier!"

"For every tier of strength advancement, one earns the right to immerse in the Fountain of Divine Power once to temper their physique, leading to a significant boost in strength, and they may remain in the academy for an additional year," the administrator smiled.

Ye Chen paused in surprise. "Fountain of Divine Power?"

The administrator nodded. "Every island has one Fountain of Divine Power, jointly managed by the academy and the esteemed Elder. It is exclusively for the use of attending students. Immersion in the Fountain of Divine Power can lead to a complete transformation and a massive increase in physique. This outcome depends on individual aptitude; some with good aptitude might increase their strength by half a tier after one immersion, while others might only have their vital energy activated."

Ye Chen couldn't help but ask, "So, I am also qualified to use the Fountain of Divine Power?"

The administrator replied without hesitation, "Of course, you are now a member of the academy."

Ye Chen's eyes brightened. Calculated this way, didn't he have six opportunities to enter the Fountain of Divine Power?

Afterward, the administrator explained the basic bylaws and then left Ye Chen's dormitory.

Around evening, Ye Chen found Huang Lu and asked him, "Tomorrow, I need to visit the Fountain of Divine Power. Where do I go?"

Huang Lu was stunned for a long moment, then slapped his head, his face beaming with ecstasy. "I completely forgot! Brother Ye, with your physique, you possess the equivalent of six opportunities to use the Fountain of Divine Power! After using them all, your physique will increase by at least one or two tiers!"

Ye Chen nodded. He had already guessed why the Academy Dean favored him so much—it wasn't just his Sixth Tier combat strength, but more so the six chances to immerse in the Fountain of Divine Power. Upon emerging, his strength would reach a new level!

It was important to remember that the Sixth Tier was merely the threshold for participation!

Only by exceeding the Sixth Tier was there any hope of defeating the powerhouses from other islands in the Assembly!

And this Fountain of Divine Power was managed by the Divine Temple and could not be used arbitrarily. Therefore, the Dean had thought of making him an academy member so it would be legitimate. As the saying goes, the old ginger is spicier...

"Haha..." Huang Lu laughed heartily, extremely pleased. "Brother Ye, if you wish to go to the Fountain of Divine Power, you need to apply to the Dean first. The Dean will then take you to the Elder for verification, and only then can you enter the Fountain of Divine Power."

Ye Chen understood and nodded. "I'll go prepare first."

Huang Lu smiled. "Good luck!"

After parting ways, Ye Chen returned to his residence and cultivated for the night. He felt his internal vital energy reach saturation, with a subtle trace of further growth. Because the local environment was unsuitable, otherwise, if he extracted and absorbed the energy crystal from the Dark Creature in the Rune Space, his vital energy would have surely skyrocketed!

Through his observations during the day, Ye Chen realized that although people like Huang Tian and Huang Lu could exert the destructive power equivalent to a 400-level physique in the outside world, they possessed no awakened vital energy or innate talents internally.

After some thought, Ye Chen quickly figured it out.

"These people here are born with physiques that are ten times that of the outside world! This proves one thing: the life gene level here is extremely high, ten times that of the outside! It's like tigers, lions, or whales. When humans outside awaken their talents at level 100, many monsters require level 200, or even thousands, to awaken! This is due to life genes!"

"In other words, those from the First to Tenth Tier warriors here rely purely on brute force combat! Only upon reaching level 1000 can they awaken their talents—what is known as the King Grade Warrior! Beings like the Divine Temple Emissaries are those capable of controlling vital energy and awakening innate talents!"

Ye Chen was learning more and more about the Xuanyuan Divine Tomb.

The next day.

Ye Chen arrived at the Dean's residence early in the morning. After waiting for two hours, the door slowly opened, and the Dean stepped out. He immediately saw Ye Chen waiting at the entrance, paused briefly, and then, instead of surprise, a smile spread across his face. "So early?"

Ye Chen spoke neither subserviently nor arrogantly. "Great Friend Dean, I wish to immerse myself in the Fountain of Divine Power."

The Dean stroked his beard and smiled faintly. "I knew you would come. I have already finished my preparations. Let's go!"

Ye Chen felt a sense of helplessness, and the two then walked together toward the Divine Temple in the back mountain. After being announced, they proceeded directly into the temple.

"Xiao Chong? Why do you have time to visit today?" The Elder, clad in white robes with white hair, was practicing his fist forms in the rear courtyard of the Divine Temple. His fingers were strong, his stance steady, his movements like a swimming dragon, stirring up gusts of swirling wind.

Hearing the Elder call him by his nickname, Huang Zhong felt a bit awkward and replied with a wry smile. "I've brought a student to immerse in the Fountain of Divine Power."

The Elder slowly stopped moving, walked to the side, picked up a towel to wipe the sweat from his face, and then turned to look at Ye Chen. His gaze flashed, and a smile touched his lips. "Xiao Chong, you are truly eager for talent."

How could Huang Zhong not understand the implication of those words? He looked somewhat chagrined.

"Very well, since he is now your student, and you wish for him to represent this island in the competition, I won't object. After all, if the island develops well, I will receive rewards from the higher-ups, perhaps even be transferred to a Middle Island as an Emissary, enjoying even greater benefits." The Elder didn't seem to care and smiled. "Follow me!"

The two followed him into the rear hall of the Divine Temple. The white-haired old man pressed something, and with a loud rumble, the floor in the rear hall slowly opened up, revealing a pool with a diameter of... a pool, slowly surfacing. Golden liquid flowed within it. Next to it stood a metal dragon head, from whose mouth golden liquid continuously poured out. Pale golden mist permeated the air above the pool, and merely inhaling a breath made one's pores expand! (To be continued H)