The onlookers on the cloud-like energy chairs surrounding the arena fell into a stunned silence as the tide of battle reversed in the blink of an eye.

Hua Longtian, seated beside them, along with the other man in white and the delicate woman, all changed expression. Hua Longtian couldn't help but stand up, shouting fiercely, "Stop him!"

Ye Chen's demeanor was indifferent; he didn't even spare him a glance. Gazing at the purple-robed man he held captive, his eyes held no trace of pity, cold as ten thousand years of ice. His palm tightened slightly.

Crack!

A sharp, tearing sound echoed as the man's throat shattered. The purple-robed man's cloudy eyes filled with agony, his brow furrowed. He gasped, unable to produce any sound as his vocal cords were destroyed.

However, his physique was robust, and his vitality strong; the crushed throat did not bring immediate death. If treated promptly, he could still be saved.

But...

The match wasn't over!

Ye Rou flung his body onto the ground with a swing of his hand. He looked down, his eyes ice-cold and detached, and slowly walked over to the fallen man. He planted his foot squarely on the purple-robed man’s face, then slowly lifted his foot high above his head.

Seeing Ye Chen’s action, everyone understood that lethal intent had been unleashed, and they felt a suffocating dread.

Hua Longtian’s face contorted again, and he roared, "Stop it, I say!!"

"What are you doing!" the white-robed man also snapped, "If a single hair on him is damaged, you will be utterly annihilated!"

"Don't be rash," the delicate woman said, her delicate eyebrows slightly raised. "We will give you a Divine Artifact. Let him go, and we won't pursue this matter afterward!"

Ye Chen heard the words of these three as if they were the whisper of the wind. The situation had escalated to this point; hatred was the densest element, difficult to dispel—

He would see it through to the end!

Bang!

His leg lashed down like a whip, stomping heavily onto the purple-robed man’s head, driving his entire skull into the packed earth. The ground beneath trembled slightly, cracking open a small crater.

Blood spattered!

The eyes of everyone present nearly bulged out as they stared at the scene in utter shock.

A warm, gentle light shone down from the sky, yet it felt like cold ice coating everyone's skin, emitting a bone-chilling frost.

Beneath Ye Chen’s foot lay only the headless corpse of the purple-robed man, utterly still. Where his neck had been, there was now only a pooling stain of blood, vivid crimson and stark.

Hua Longtian, who had been shouting moments before, stood gaping, completely stunned into silence.

Dead!

The cousin from the Supreme Genius Hall was killed just like that!

Including him, the white-robed man and the delicate woman beside him were momentarily frozen, their expressions dull. They hadn't expected Ye Chen to be so impulsive, so utterly audacious, as to kill someone from the Supreme Genius Hall!

Although, according to the rules of the arena, he had technically committed no violation, the demise of a genius from the Supreme Genius Hall involved too many far-reaching factions! Only those with truly formidable backing could withstand the ensuing entanglement with these powers.

While the crowd remained lost in shock, Ye Chen slowly retracted his foot, casting a cold, indifferent glance at the corpse on the ground, as if observing an ant.

Heaven and Earth are not benevolent; they treat all things as straw dogs! Sages are not benevolent; they treat the common people as straw dogs!

Killing a life stirred no ripple within Ye Chen’s heart. Though the slain was a genius of the Supreme Genius Hall, with the state of mind of the Sage Realm, he felt no remorse or unease.

What is a Sage? To possess penetrating insight, to see through the truth, to act and conduct oneself according to one's innermost heart! To cultivate to the state of mind of the Wise Man is to be like water—capable of containing, encompassing, yielding, and gentle; one’s dealings are primarily low-key. The Sage Realm demands the silencing of the six desires and seven emotions—no anger, no wrath, no sorrow, no sadness, no joy. The heart must be like a clear mirror, transparent and crystalline. It can perceive the essence of things, reflecting the myriad forms of the entire world.

A Sage does not stir anger; what moves him is True Fire! When a Sage is angered, the land for a thousand li is washed in blood, and the world fundamentally shifts!

Ye Chen had stirred his True Fire, unleashing his killing intent. Having attained the Sage state of mind, he would not suffer humiliation. Otherwise, once an opportunity presented itself, he would repay it manifold.

While he could have let this matter slide with a moment's restraint, such a method was fit only for common villagers. At Ye Chen’s level, he disdained using it.

Revenge for any grievance! Repayment for any kindness! To act decisively, while also calculating the consequences, ensuring one can retreat safely!

Killing the purple-robed man, though it invited great disaster, would not bring calamity upon himself. The Sage state of mind meant taking one step while planning ten; he would not easily trap himself in a desperate situation.

This purple-robed man, who himself possessed the Sage state of mind, viewed all beings as ants, believing everything was under his control and calculation. Yet, he failed to anticipate how deeply Ye Chen concealed himself, and his own perception failed to observe it, leading to his tragic death.

"Now, the faction behind Hua Longtian will certainly not let this go. The forces that benefited from this purple-robed man will also not swallow this insult. And the genius from the Blazing Dragon Hall who was his friend will undoubtedly seek retribution!"

Ye Chen’s gaze was as placid as water; he saw all potential changes in the situation. As the purple-robed man died, the mysterious pressure bearing down on him suddenly vanished. Immediately, the clock above his head emitted a mechanical sound: "Ye Chen wins!"

The entire arena fell silent.

No one could have imagined that the arena battle would conclude in such a manner! A member of the Supreme Genius Hall had been slain by someone from the First-Grade Genius Hall! Everyone exchanged bewildered glances, speechless.

Ye Chen felt the mysterious power lifted. With a wave of his palm, he opened the Rune Space and swept the purple-robed man’s corpse inside. He then retrieved a pile of medicinal herbs from the Fire Civilization Space, swallowed them down, and instantly felt the fatigue dissipate, his Demigod power restored.

Ye Chen selected a 'Blood Bone Pill' and consumed it. The pill was rich crimson and crystal clear. It slid down his throat and dissolved instantly, feeling like a ball of warm fire spreading through every limb and bone. His pores opened, and his injuries began to rapidly heal.

At the fracture point near his left nostril, flesh and blood wriggled, supported by vast energy, accelerating the healing tenfold. Even the shattered bone fragments rapidly regrew into tender, pale new bone, still slightly soft and requiring time for complete recovery.

Ye Chen glanced dismissively at Hua Longtian and the others, then leaped up, soaring toward the distant sky.

"Stop!" Hua Longtian roared. His body flashed with lightning speed, quickly intercepting Ye Chen and blocking his path. His eyes seemed capable of spewing fire, and he snarled, "Give me back my cousin’s body!"

Ye Chen glanced at him and uttered a single word: "Scram!"

Hua Longtian nearly went mad, roaring, "Do you believe I can leave you without a burial place, your soul annihilated, forever barred from the Wheel of Reincarnation?"

"I don't believe it," Ye Chen waved his hand, frowning slightly. "Move aside."

Hua Longtian’s fists clenched with a loud kaka, his neck turning crimson as he glared fiercely at Ye Chen, resembling an enraged wolf, his eyes savage and terrifying. If not for some unspoken constraint, he would have lunged already.

Two figures approached swiftly from the side—the white-robed man and the delicate woman. They stood beside Hua Longtian, their brows tightly knitted as they stared at Ye Chen. The white-robed man’s expression darkened slightly, and he stated, "Please return the corpse of Zidian to us. It's useless to you. We are willing to exchange it for a Divine Artifact!"

Ye Chen looked at him and repeated, "Move aside!"

Hua Longtian was furious to the point of madness, snarling, "You will regret this! The moment you dare step outside Donglin City, I will hunt you down to the ends of the earth!!"

"Oh," Ye Chen acknowledged, repeating once more, "Move aside!"

"You!" Hua Longtian could barely restrain himself from strangling him.

Ye Chen swept his gaze over the three, coldly labeling them, "Three vicious dogs." Then, with a flicker of movement, he sidestepped them and whistled away toward the distant sky.

The white-robed man’s expression became somewhat grim. He watched Ye Chen’s retreating back, a faint light flickering in his eyes. "Ye Chen, hmm..."

Leaving the arena, Ye Chen returned to his residence and immediately entered the virtual world. After a quick check, he found his account credited with 3,200 Power God Points!

"Tsk tsk..." Ye Chen couldn't help but sigh, "Earning money has never been easier."

As Ye Chen mused, a tremendous uproar was erupting in the outside world!

Zidian had fallen!

Within the Supreme Genius Hall, Zidian was considered a figure in the mid-to-upper tier, certainly not comparable to those who had just entered with only a 10-million-times secret technique amplification.

In the Blazing God Empire, the demise of a genius was invariably a major event. Even Hua Longtian's staged death incident had startled the higher echelons and drawn intense scrutiny. All major factions and families, well-informed, had spread the news across nearly a hundred vassal states of the Blazing God Empire!

Now, Zidian's death inevitably drew the attention of many high-ranking figures. Initially, they suspected an assassination by foreign agents, but upon investigation, they were astonished to discover he had died during a First-Grade Genius Hall arena match.

Simultaneously, Ye Chen's fierce reputation, seemingly built upon Zidian’s corpse, was attracting considerable attention in this ancient world teeming with powerhouses, specifically within the Blazing God Empire.

"Investigate immediately! Which family does this person belong to." "Lost a match in the arena? This young man named Ye Chen is truly extraordinary!" "According to reports, the arena system detected his secret technique amplification reached ten million times, meeting the minimum requirement for admission to the Supreme Genius Hall! He will likely become a member soon!"

Various factions launched investigations into the incident.

Meanwhile, in the virtual world, Ye Chen suddenly received an email with the following content: "Respected Mr. Ye Chen, greetings!"

"Given that your secret technique amplification has reached ten million times, you have qualified for entry into the Supreme Genius Hall. As per regulations, you will be automatically transferred next month. Please report to the Supreme Genius Hall headquarters promptly to exchange for the Genius Medal, or report your coordinates to headquarters, where a dedicated officer will deliver the medal, the Supreme Genius Hall virtual system chip, and the accompanying helmet to you."

"Sender: GU!"