Ah, the sheer scale of that Star Fragment, teeming with so many monstrous inhabitants and countless Demon Lords!

These creatures possessed an insatiable thirst for vital energy; sensing the aura of those present, they would undoubtedly swarm over with fanatical eagerness, much like bees drawn to honey.

Even a single Demon Lord could obliterate the ten thousand Ghost-God Realm experts gathered here in an instant!

Even with Ye Chen's power, he possessed absolutely no lethality against a Half-God Realm expert; he would only be the one facing death.

The powerfully built man in red garments watched the intense discussion swirling around him and let out a faint snort. This soft sound resonated like a thunderclap in everyone's ears, causing their minds to momentarily swim and their bodies to tingle, bringing all chatter to an immediate halt.

"This is an assessment, not a suicide mission!" the man in red stated flatly. "We will divide you into squads of one hundred. Each squad will be led by three Half-God experts from the sect. If you encounter a Demon Lord, they can absolutely shield you! However, if you run into Ghost-God Realm monsters, they will not intervene unless the numbers are substantial."

"Though you possess talent!"

"And excellent aptitude, with superb bone structure!"

"The truly strong are forged in the crucible of blood and fire. If someone perishes, it can only be attributed to poor luck; and luck, to a degree, is part of strength!"

"Furthermore, by hunting there, those 'Lost Souls' who acquire Soul Crystals can temper their bodies! Moreover, by preying on monsters, you can extract their souls and refine them into Ghost Qi."

The man in red surveyed the assembly. "This is both a trial and an opportunity to elevate your power!"

The crowd fell silent.

Although the Star Fragment was fraught with extreme danger, no one could deny it was an exceptional place for cultivation. Moreover, with Half-God experts there to engage the Demon Lords, they only needed to focus on dealing with the Ghost-God Realm 'Lost Souls' and the monsters of the Dark World.

Merely surviving for one month!

"Too dangerous!" "It's a deadly trap!"

"Even knowing the danger, one cannot refuse—it's like spotting a beautiful yet venomous snake; no one can forsake its allure just because of the peril."

No one voiced an objection. By this point, any dissent would be futile, as the Chimo Sect would never dispatch a vessel solely to escort one or two individuals back.

The alternative was remaining in Bismuth City, but the residency fees there were exorbitant—unthinkable for ordinary people.

Walking back on their own?

The probability of survival would not exceed thirty percent!

Given that reality, it was better to accept the assessment and take the gamble.

"We've truly boarded a pirate ship," Ye Chen murmured, his gaze shifting slightly. If he only had to face Ghost-God Realm monsters... he felt reasonably confident. With the Nine Palaces Secret Tome, and the imminent mastery of the first layer of the Nine Absolute Spears, he could handle even peak or ultimate Ghost-God Realm experts!

Within the Ghost-God Realm, one's power could continuously ascend as long as Ghost Qi was present!

Some individuals might never reach the Half-God Realm, yet accumulate incredibly dense Ghost Qi. At the peak of the Tenth Layer, they might possess fifty thousand units of Ghost Qi!

Reaching one hundred thousand to two hundred thousand units meant they were an ultimate Ghost-God Realm expert!

And three hundred thousand to five hundred thousand units qualified them as an ultimate-extreme Ghost-God Realm expert!

As for the legendary million units of Ghost Qi, such a figure could be deemed virtually invincible within the Ghost-God Realm!

Once such a being crossed over into the Half-God Realm, their accumulated Ghost Qi transforming into Divine Power, they would naturally become a high-tier expert among the Half-Gods!

"There are three days remaining until we depart for the C-0986 phenol Star Fragment. You may explore Bismuth City freely for now. Someone will arrange lodging for you shortly," the man in red stated coldly. "Bismuth City is home to hidden masters and lurking tigers. You best refrain from causing trouble here, or if you are killed, you can only blame your own misfortune!" "After all, you are not yet disciples of the Chimo Sect!" "Therefore, endure whatever befalls you."

With that, the man in red waved his hand, and his figure vanished into thin air, seemingly unwilling to linger another moment.

After the man in red departed, a bald man in white robes emerged from the towering structure. Standing four zhang tall, he regarded the crowd with a gentle expression. "This is a light-brain armlet. All informational updates will be relayed to you through this device. Using this armlet, you can also communicate with each other." As he spoke, he tapped his hand, and a dark, empty space materialized in mid-air, from which elaborate metal armlets floated out.

Ye Chen glanced at the space, his eyes brightening slightly. "This space is similar to a Rune Space, but the fact that it can be opened in this Ancient World suggests it must be installed with a Boundary-Fixing Stone inside!"

If a Boundary-Fixing Stone is installed in an extradimensional space, it can indeed be activated within an Ancient World!

Countless white-gold armlets floated over, landing before the one hundred thousand people present—one for each. All of their light-brain systems were in an un-bound state.

Ye Chen’s eyes flashed. He casually snatched the floating light-brain armlet before him and fastened it to his arm. As his consciousness permeated the device, a system voice immediately sounded: "Bind to owner?" "Yes!"

"Binding successful. Thank you for your patronage."

As the system prompt ended, Ye Chen felt a subtle shift in his consciousness, as if he could permeate the light-brain at will to read every piece of information within.

Ding!

"Hmm?" Ye Chen sensed a file within the light-brain armlet and quickly accessed it.

"ID: X-6890. Lodging located at Lily District, Building 176, Unit 6, Apartment 320!"

"Address map..."

A flood of information entered his view. Ye Chen absorbed the address details and, utilizing the knowledge repository system within the armlet, conducted a quick search. He learned that Lily District was where the Chimo Sect housed those undergoing assessment.

The true disciples who passed the assessment, however, resided in Star-Moon Bay.

The disparity in treatment between the two locations was stark.

"Everyone!" the bald man in white robes said kindly, smiling at the crowd. "This light-brain armlet serves as your identification marker. Now that you have bound to it, your identity information and soul (brainwave) imprint have been etched into the main server. Should you die, the armlet will automatically detonate."

"Furthermore, if the armlet is moved beyond a certain proximity to your body, it will also explode."

"This is to prevent outsiders from infiltrating our sect."

"Any news will be directly relayed to you via the armlet. You are now dismissed!" With that, the bald man turned and walked away.

The assembled crowd exchanged glances before eventually dispersing one by one.

Everyone knew they were headed for the Star Fragment to undergo rigorous training, likely facing unforeseen dangers. Consequently, they immediately began rallying companions.

In a flash, many formed clusters, conversing animatedly with those they deemed like-minded.

Those weaker in power were naturally excluded. These individuals had no choice but to band together, recruiting others similarly marginalized—perhaps only Ghost-God Realm Levels Two or Three—to form their own small cadres.

Although official team assignments had yet to be finalized, preparations were already underway.

"Hey," a rough voice sounded near Ye Chen. "Are you the leader of that Spiritual Civilization? I've long admired your name. Interested in teaming up? I am currently at the peak of the Ghost-God Realm!"

Ye Chen turned to see who spoke: a massive man, stocky and dark-skinned, standing nearly six zhang tall, with a pair of curved black horns atop his head—a native of the Bull Demon race from the Demon Realm civilization!

Every civilization comprised numerous races. Just like the Spiritual Civilization, it had the Han, Manchu, and Gaoshan peoples, among others. Though their appearances were generally alike, there were subtle differences in skin tone, eye color, and so forth.

"No need," Ye Chen replied with a slight nod, declining the offer.

The Bull Demon man’s eyebrows shot up, and the smile on his face diminished somewhat. "Perhaps you think I'm not qualified?" His voice carried a low current of anger. As a peak Ghost-God Realm expert, extending such an offer to someone of his own level was already showing great respect; to be met with refusal fueled his immediate displeasure.

Ye Chen shook his head. "Just not interested."

"Not interested? Hmph!" The Bull Demon scoffed, glancing dismissively at the Vietnamese Guild Master standing near Ye Chen before turning away haughtily, a hint of disdain in his expression.

"Alliance Leader, why...?" The Vietnamese Guild Master tried to question Ye Chen after the Bull Demon had left, but Ye Chen waved him silent. "Follow me, and don't ask so many questions. Until teams are officially assigned, all attempts at networking are a waste of time.

If it's just about social favors... then you are far too naive!"

The Vietnamese Guild Master fell momentarily silent.

Indeed!

When truly significant interests were at stake, camaraderie often proved thinner than paper!

Although refusing so directly risked offending someone, Ye Chen simply didn't care. If the other party decided to seek trouble later, stepping on him at a critical moment, they wouldn't need this initial snub to justify it.

People, it seemed, were naturally adept and interested in committing misdeeds.

"Hello..." At this moment, a soft, refined voice spoke. A woman with a delicate oval face and stunning beauty, clad in a moon-white long gown, approached Ye Chen politely. "You must be Mr. Ye Chen, the leader of the Spiritual Civilization? I am Aifei from the Angel Civilization, Ghost-God Tenth Layer. May I be friends with you?"

"Oh."

..."Oh?"

"Um..." "You agree?"

"Hello, I am from the Heaven Civilization..."

"..."

In the span of a few breaths, the Vietnamese Guild Master felt his head spin. Standing beside Ye Chen, he watched helplessly as one expert after another at the peak of the Ghost-God Realm approached to invite Ye Chen. Those who were direct plainly stated they wished to form a team; those more subtle asked to become friends.

All were politely refused.

Although the Guild Master understood the limited utility of friendship in this cruel world, seeing so many peak Ghost-God Realm experts depart in disappointment, he couldn't help but feel a pang of regret!

Those who approached Ye Chen were generally at the Ninth Layer or higher of the Ghost-God Realm; those significantly lower didn't dare come forward.

Ye Chen's previous battle in the Thunder Square had drawn the attention of all major civilizations to this newly arrived one. Not only did they boast a Pseudo-God Realm expert, but Ye Chen's own explosive combat power had put many Ghost-God Realm experts to shame.

Therefore, the peak Ghost-God Realm experts who were rejected felt only a slight pique, not genuine anger or deep-seated resentment!

If a fighter with the mere combat strength of Ghost-God Ranks Eight or Nine had rejected an invitation from a peak Ghost-God expert, the latter might have been murderous. But being rejected by someone they themselves perceived as stronger elicited only minor frustration.

"Let's go!" Ye Chen shook off the surrounding throng and led the Vietnamese Guild Master away from the square and onto the main street. With three days remaining before departure, he planned to search the city for the Divine Beast Compendium.