As the Qi Sea within the body contracted, waves of subtle internal force permeated the bones and sinews, causing the flesh and blood throughout the body to tighten and expand. Countless genes and cells split, reorganized, and transformed, shedding layers of epidermis.

All the internal force in the body converged into the cyclone, slowly expanding... Ye Chen felt his entire skin trembling, as if it were on fire.

Knowing that the force was at the critical juncture of breakthrough, he quickly gathered his spirit to restrain the intense pain. Boom!

Boom! Rounds of explosive sounds struck directly at his mind, accompanied by a deafening clang like a bell ringing in his ears.

On the surface of his skin, layers of fine membranes slowly peeled away, revealing new skin that was fairer, tougher, and brimming with explosive power. Ye Chen opened his eyes, and two cold beams shot out, making the air before him seem to detonate.

People instinctively retreated three steps. A wild aura surged out from within him, and the crystalline stone beneath his hips slowly dented several inches.

At this moment, though Ye Chen's expression was calm as still water, sitting there, he resembled a fierce, savage beast exuding a violent aura that instilled immediate dread. “Qi Source Realm, breakthrough to the Third Tier!” Ye Chen clenched his fists, feeling the quantum leap in his physical constitution—in just six days, he had reached the 'Tribute Mouth' level!

“One layer left!” “Just one more push, and my physique will shatter the ten-thousand-level barrier for a qualitative metamorphosis, achieving the Ghost God Realm!” “It’s already been 13 days; 17 more days until a full month, which is when the volcano erupts. I wonder if I can break through in these final 17 days.” Ye Chen looked at the skeleton of the primeval ferocious beast.

The entire skeleton was pitch-black, its vital life energy dense; even after six days of devouring, it showed no sign of decay. “The life energy on the skeleton should be enough, but...

the higher one cultivates, the harder it gets! Moving from the third layer of the Qi Source Realm to the fourth will take several times the previous effort!” “Hurry up!” “No matter what, I must break through to the Ghost God Realm before the Volcanic Age!” Ye Chen’s eyes were sharp.

His hand swept out, wildly drawing the energy from the skeleton into his body for rapid crushing and decomposition! Upon reaching the third layer of the Qi Source Realm, the speed of energy decomposition noticeably increased.

However, the energy acquired after devouring for several hours flowed into his meridians like a stone sinking into the sea—not causing even the slightest ripple. The energy expanded; the meridians grew wider, and the cyclone deepened.

In the blink of an eye, 10 days passed. Violet Cloud Island Master and others returned with many clansmen to garrison at the Light Base City.

During this time, Torgel, along with his retinue, repeatedly burst into the conference hall, demanding a response from Xu Tianguo, but the latter consistently postponed or deflected. On one occasion, Torgel’s suppressed anger erupted, causing him to slam his fist on the table.

All the high-ranking officials present were incensed, but Xu Tianguo smoothed things over with a casual wave. While Xu Tianguo detained Torgel in the base city, Torgel used his communicator to contact headquarters, reporting the city's situation, effectively acting as an open scout.

Many of the Light Base City’s high officials were furious at his behavior but felt helpless. Xu Tianguo issued an order restricting Torgel and his followers’ freedom, euphemistically stating: “There are many reckless individuals in the base city; if they wander about and cause trouble with those who have poor eyesight, the base city cannot be held responsible.” Torgel barely spared Xu Tianguo a glance, sneering and saying nothing further, his demeanor arrogant, radiating an air of untouchability.

One day, Torgel, accompanied by two attendants, was strolling through the entertainment alleys east of the Ancient Martial City. He suddenly spotted a purple-haired girl.

She was graceful and elegant; although she stood over ten feet tall, her figure was well-proportioned, her skin snow-white, and her face devastatingly beautiful. He immediately approached her to strike up a conversation.

The purple-haired girl’s expression was cold; she merely glanced at him and ignored him. Torgel was instantly attracted to such a beauty; his desire to conquer soared.

He immediately began flattering her incessantly while secretly investigating her identity. Upon learning she was from the Light Base City, he felt reassured and promptly headed back to the conference room to meet Xu Tianguo again.

Because Torgel’s arrival was sudden, Xu Tianguo did not summon the major high-ranking officials of the base city; the two met privately. Xu Tianguo led Torgel to an exquisitely decorated side hall and inquired calmly, “Mr.

Torgel’s sudden visit, what is the purpose?” Torgel smiled without answering, waiting a moment before chuckling, “Chairman Xu, I’ve come to ask you for a person.” “Who?” Xu Tianguo’s expression remained placid. Torgel laughed, “Rest assured, definitely not a high-ranking official.

I’ve recently taken a liking to a girl and hope you can arrange for that girl to marry me. Then, our two families could form an alliance—a bond made even closer through kinship.” Xu Tianguo inwardly sighed, just as I suspected.

He smiled outwardly, “In our China, marriage is a serious matter, not child’s play. It requires seeing if both parties are agreeable.” It turned out that Yang Baiyu from the City Management Department had reported in the last couple of days that Torgel was pursuing Zi Wan.

Xu Tianguo knew a little about Zi Wan; she was an exceptionally gifted genius among the younger generation of the Xuanyuan Clan. Through the cultivation nurtured in the Light Base City recently, her physique had advanced from the original King Grade Tier 3—3,000 levels—to the Ten Thousand Level Divine Grade realm!

However, due to the Xuanyuan Clan’s unique physique, they require 100,000 levels before their flesh and blood can reach its limit and they become Ghost God Realm powerhouses. At that stage, once they enter the Ghost God Realm, they will be at the tenth layer of the Ghost God Realm!

How could Xu Tianguo bear to hand over such talent to Torgel? Torgel sensed Xu Tianguo’s intention to stall, and his expression immediately darkened.

He let out a cold snort, stood up, and said, “Chairman Xu, I respect you as a powerful figure capable of single-handedly controlling the Light Base City. But if you are unwilling to give up even one woman, isn’t that rather petty?” One woman?

Xu Tianguo heard the dismissive tone in his voice, his five fingers slowly clenching, a strong killing intent flashing in his eyes. Having lost his parents early, he relied on Huang Tianci, and he held women in the highest regard.

He even established a department dedicated to protecting women’s rights in the city. Hearing Torgel’s contempt, he suppressed the rage in his heart, took a deep breath, and said chillingly, “Mr.

Torgel! Please respect women, and respect yourself!” Torgel had never heard such a cold tone from him and raised an eyebrow.

“I do respect them. Do you perhaps think I am unworthy of that woman, Chairman Xu?” Xu Tianguo knew the situation could not be allowed to deteriorate further.

His expression softened slightly. “Certainly not.

It’s just that this matter depends on the other party’s consent. Otherwise, even if you are willing, it is useless!” As he spoke the last part, an undeniable sense of disgust crept into his voice.

The high-ranking officials in the base city all knew that Xu Tianguo was self-disciplined and deeply respected women. Therefore, they dared not casually visit entertainment venues, much less openly scorn women in front of him, lest they face severe consequences.

In the entire base city, if anyone’s protection of women could surpass Xu Tianguo’s, there was only one: Bailong. Seeing Xu Tianguo’s firm stance, Torgel slowly clenched his fists and said coldly, “Chairman Xu!

You’ve kept me here with all sorts of excuses but refuse to give a clear answer. I know you are unwilling to form an alliance.

If that’s the case, you should have said so earlier; why the delay? Are you perhaps afraid of the strength of my Divine God Alliance!” “You must know that our Divine God Alliance has already gathered base cities from fifteen nations.

Our military personnel alone number over ten million! The ordinary civilians residing in those base cities total hundreds of millions combined!” Torgel knew that since they had torn off the pretense, there was no need to hide anything.

His expression turned arrogant. “Although your Light Base City is powerful and its rise astonishing, you are ultimately just an ant.

Once the army of our Divine God Alliance arrives, we can crush your Light Base City in an instant!” “I know you have a true hidden Chairman in the Light Base City who is extremely powerful, but... once you witness the Alliance Leader of the Divine God Alliance, you will know what true strength is!” He looked down at Xu Tianguo with utter disdain.

“The Alliance Leader instructed me to treat you courteously. I showed you deference before, but you are simply too ungrateful!

If I recall correctly... your Chairman was once chased and forced to flee by several Ghost God Realm powerhouses, wasn't he?” “Hahahaha…” He burst into laughter.

“Our Alliance Leader can crush a Ghost God Realm expert with one hand, so don’t assume your Chairman’s strength means he can hold up half the sky alone! Earth is vast—you Chinese have a saying: there is always someone stronger, and there is always a higher heaven!” Xu Tianguo remained expressionless, responding indifferently, “Are you finished speaking?” Torgel raised his head, looking down at him.

“I believe for matters of this magnitude, you should let your hidden Chairman come to meet me in person. Don't let your momentary mistake drag your base city into a catastrophic disaster—can you bear that responsibility?” Xu Tianguo looked up, his eyes like lightning, glaring coldly at Torgel.

“Since ancient times, in diplomatic negotiations, we do not strike the envoy. You should return; our Chairman is not receiving guests!” Torgel stared at him for a moment, sneered, “You will bear the consequences!” With that, he turned and left without a backward glance.

Watching his retreating back, Xu Tianguo clenched his five fingers and violently slammed the table, shattering every table in the grand hall into dust. His face was ashen, and he said with bone-chilling coldness, “If not for the consideration of the base city...

you would have died a thousand times over!” His voice was filled with killing intent! After Torgel left, he immediately transmitted the results of the negotiation to the Divine God Alliance headquarters, grossly exaggerating the details.

He claimed Xu Tianguo was completely uncooperative, that he had been imprisoned and restricted, and even starved of food and provisions—tales so outrageous they were appalling. The Alliance Leader of the Divine God Alliance replied with only one sentence: “A fine Light Base City!” and nothing more.

Torgel packed his belongings and, leading his former subordinates, walked out of the Ancient Martial City. Because they were conspicuous with their blue eyes and golden hair, passersby, who had heard whispers about the recent alliance negotiations, pointed and gossiped as they watched the group on the roadside.

Torgel’s expression grew grim. He looked up and inadvertently saw a woman leading a child by the roadside looking at him with distaste, pointing and murmuring.

Anger flared in his heart. He strode forward in one step, stopping before the woman, and snarled in accented Chinese, “Say that again!” This woman was an ordinary resident who made a living by doing odd jobs like greeting guests and sweeping floors in the base city.

Her physique was weak. Under Torgel’s fierce gaze, she trembled slightly, stammering, “Sir, I...

I didn’t say anything.”