The Rune Ship burst out of the Demon God Palace and materialized in the guest quarters, instantly ballooning from the size of a mosquito to expanding tenfold, a hundredfold. As the Rune Ship absorbed the cosmic law energy of the ancient world and gradually restored itself to its true scale, Ye Chen flickered, stepping out of the vessel. With a swift grasp, he pulled the Rune Ship into his Rune Space, then followed up by snatching the entire Demon God Palace from the floor.

The whole Demon God Palace, looking like a miniature imperial seal, exquisite and compact, was examined by Ye Chen for a moment before he slowly tucked it away into the inner layer of his armor.

Having settled everything, Ye Chen’s eyes glinted coldly as he pushed open the door and left the room. After quickly settling his bill at the bar, he departed the hotel immediately, taking a Floating Light Vehicle to the nearby space station. Using his Genius Badge, he booked the next available slot and entered the waiting lounge.

Not long after, the Space Warp Channel opened. Ye Chen, along with the others taking the space warp, passed through security and arrived at the Space Warp Channel Plaza. They each retrieved their respective spacecraft and, as the channel opened, proceeded to charge into it in sequence.

When the Rune Ship was brought out of the Rune Space, its exaggerated design immediately drew many gazes. Everyone subtly glanced over, their hearts filled with silent awe.

The refined Rune Ship possessed an overwhelmingly imposing appearance, entirely cast in black and gold, bristling everywhere with jagged, ferocious cannon barrels. It was stunningly cool, resembling a super space fortress. Anyone who saw it could easily imagine the sheer intensity of its firepower!

Ye Chen moved swiftly, entering the hatch and settling onto a sofa in the main hall. He addressed the floating screen suspended in the lounge: “Proceed to the First-Class Genius Hall.”

“Easy peasy,” the old Green Rune Man chuckled, brimming with energy, taking the helm of the Rune Ship without hesitation as they sped towards the Space Warp Channel. The other ships flying alongside them, upon witnessing the Rune Ship’s formidable exterior, automatically slowed down, none daring to vie for the lead position.

The dense aura emanating from the Rune Ship felt like that of a peerless ferocious beast, chilling people to the bone and keeping them from approaching.

Once the Rune Ship entered the Space Warp Channel, Ye Chen put aside his immediate concerns. He retrieved his virtual helmet, connected, and entered the Arena. He spent some time honing his skills on the 20th floor of the War God Tower, feeling significant improvement. When attempting to reach the 21st floor, he managed to hold on for about ten seconds before ultimately being defeated again.

Ye Chen then returned to the virtual system of the First-Class Genius Hall. He didn't linger in the recreation plaza, teleporting directly to his residential building. There, he submitted an application to study the Heavenly Dao Stele.

“The more than 3,200 Divine Points won from Hua Longtian last time, added to my own 7,200 Divine Points, make a total of over ten thousand. That’s enough to view the Heavenly Dao Stele thousands of times!”

A slight smile curved Ye Chen’s lips, and his figure instantly vanished. In the next moment, he appeared before the Heavenly Dao Stele.

“Do you wish to contemplate the Heavenly Dao Stele?” the system prompted.

“Yes.”

Ye Chen’s form flickered, conveyed by a mysterious energy to the front of the ancient, towering stone tablet. He gazed ahead, his eyes revealing a thoughtful depth. Slowly, he walked forward, taking over a hundred steps before finally coming to a stop. He felt a vast expanse of white mist materialize before him. Within this mist, several points of light emerged, slowly coalescing to form a Seven-Star Diagram.

This Seven-Star Diagram shifted freely—sometimes transforming into a rhomboid pattern, other times into a linear arrangement. Amidst these changes, it once morphed into the exact configuration of the Big Dipper.

Ye Chen’s consciousness became entirely immersed within it.

...

While Ye Chen was comprehending the Heavenly Dao Stele, the Rune Ship, under the control of the old Green Rune Man, executed rapid space jumps. Emerging from one space station, it would immediately enter another, continuing this relay until new transfers were made.

As for handling expenses, that task was delegated entirely to Xiao Hei. Every time they passed through a space station, he would step out to present the Genius Badge. For him, this was truly a highly lucrative chore.

Every time he saw the diligently bowing mechanical staff members upon viewing the Genius Badge, a sense of superiority invariably swelled within him.

After approximately three days, the Rune Ship traveled from the central ring of the Imperial Capital into the core inner district. The splendor here was a hundred times that of the outer regions. The architecture was unique and beautiful, the atmosphere elegant, and the streets spotlessly clean. The sky was an endless, azure blue, resembling a true paradise on earth.

The Rune Ship headed straight for Donglin City. Upon reaching the city gates, it was intercepted by the surveillance system mounted on the massive, fortress-like city walls.

Xiao Hei rose from the sofa, his expression proud. He stepped out of the ship’s hatch and faced the several mechanical units zooming towards him. Leisurely, he pulled the Genius Badge from his pocket and languidly presented it to them.

Swish!

Two beams of red light shot from the optical sensors of these mechanical units. After scanning the Genius Badge, they immediately offered a respectful salute and retreated automatically.

Xiao Hei smugly returned the Genius Badge to his pocket, turned around serenely, and returned to the ship. He took a sip of fragrant tea and chuckled, “Done. Let’s go!”

“Easy peasy,” the old Green Rune Man grinned, steering the Rune Ship directly onward, entering Donglin City’s high-level flight path and rocketing toward the First-Class Genius Hall in the city center.

As the Rune Ship proceeded, an electromagnetic signal flowed from the city wall’s central system into the main brain, immediately receiving a response: “Target detected. Notify the Hua Tian Group immediately!”

Simultaneously, in the heart of Donglin City, within a towering crystal skyscraper—the building was a lustrous water-blue, like a magnificent crystal, its beautiful, translucent color reflecting the sky and surrounding structures, conspicuous and bright.

Inside this building, in the luxurious top-floor office, a small metallic robot hanging on the wall suddenly stirred. Two beams of red light flashed from its tiny eyes, and it spoke in a mechanical voice: “Chairman, the target has been detected and locked onto the Seventh Inner City Aviation Ring.”

Leaning back in this office was a white-haired elder, eyes closed, meditating. A pile of documents needing review sat before him, alongside a cup of tea steaming gently. His expression was peaceful and serene. The bright afternoon sun, filtered by the window’s temperature-regulating system, bathed the room in a lazy, comfortable warmth.

This was his most comfortable time of the day.

However, upon hearing the small robot’s report, the previously calm atmosphere of the office suddenly froze. The white-haired elder, who had been resting with his eyes closed, snapped them open. Two beams of cold light, sharp as swords, pierced the air. He sat bolt upright, staring at the small robot on the wall, his fists clenching with audible cracks.

“Good, good!” Cold light flashed in his eyes. “Waiting for the rabbit has finally paid off! To dare rob my son of 3,200 Divine Points, ruin his prospects, and kill little Dian’er—today, if you leave this Donglin City alive, I, Hua Weitian, will write my name backwards for you!”

A slightly savage curve twisted his lips. He swept his hand across his wrist, activating a watch-like metal device. Pressing a spot on it—which functioned as a pendant communicator—he quickly dialed a number.

“Xiao Chong, dispatch one thousand Elite Reapers to the Seventh Inner City Aviation Ring. Intercept a spacecraft entirely black and gold. The surrounding surveillance systems will be compromised for one hour. Within that hour, the target must be neutralized!” the white-haired elder commanded menacingly.

“What?” A surprised voice responded from the communicator. “Dispatch one thousand Elite Reapers? Chairman, who exactly is the opponent that requires such a massive deployment?”

“Go quickly!” the white-haired elder snapped.

“Yes, yes!” The voice on the communicator startled, quickly suppressing any further questions before hastily hanging up.

“If not for the Yan God Empire’s strict Genius Protection Law—which mandates the extermination of the entire clan if anyone harms a genius through improper means—I would have captured you and tortured you a million times to appease the hatred in my heart!” Hua Weitian gritted his teeth, his eyes radiating a chilling light, betraying a hint of savagery that completely erased his former placid demeanor.

He had every reason to be enraged.

How difficult was it to cultivate a genius? The birth of two geniuses among the scions of the Hua Tian Group was enough to make all other forces in Donglin City envious. Now, one had perished!

Years of cultivation, washed away like spilled water.

“If you were outside Donglin City, I truly might be helpless against you,” the white-haired elder murmured, gazing out at the pure blue sky, a sinister grin curling his lips. “But, here within Donglin City, things might not be so certain…”

...

Meanwhile, on the Seventh Inner City Aviation Ring, the Rune Ship traveled forward in energy-saving mode. In truth, within the city limits, the ship’s speed was strictly regulated; exceeding the limit would incur severe penalties.

“This is delicious,” Xiao Hei leaned back on the sofa, his legs crossed, looking utterly relaxed, holding a bowl of crystal grapes. These grapes were entirely sapphire blue, sweet and flavorful, capable of boosting human metabolism and supplementing Vitamin C—very nutritious.

“This life, ah…” Xiao Hei was beaming, feeling as carefree as an immortal.

Just then—

“What’s happening?” the old Green Rune Man suddenly exclaimed in alarm. “The electromagnetic signals on the radar have all vanished, and we can’t receive signals from nearby satellites. This entire sector seems to have been completely shielded.”

Xiao Hei sat up abruptly from the sofa, surprised. “Shielded?”

The old Green Rune Man seemed to realize something, his brow furrowed, his expression turning grim. “Hurry and wake up that Devil Lord.”

Xiao Hei’s eyelids twitched. The severity of the situation must be dire if they needed to wake Ye Chen. Without further questioning, he hurried into the bedroom area, pushed the door open, and saw Ye Chen sitting cross-legged on the gravity plate, wearing his helmet, his expression intensely focused.

The gravity plate was a portable, sofa-cushion-like device containing a powerful suction engine, capable of generating up to 100 times the normal gravity—a piece of standard fitness equipment.

“Devil… ahem, Old, Boss,” Xiao Hei carefully tugged at Ye Chen’s clothing, calling out softly.