"Halt!" A soldier stepped squarely in front of Ye Chen, his expression cold, sharp eyes peering out from under his steel helmet. "Identity verification required!"

This was the mandatory procedure for everyone entering the city.

Ye Chen made no objection. He flipped his palm, revealing the Genius Medal, and followed the soldier to the city gate, where a smart identification machine, resembling an automated teller, was situated.

As Ye Chen stood before this machine, a beam of light shot out, searing itself onto his pupils.

"Iris Scan: Genius Hall Member, Ye Chen! (Match Confirmed)"

"Skeletal Structure Scan: Genius Hall Member, Ye Chen! (Match Confirmed)"

"DNA Scan: Genius Hall Member, Ye Chen! (Match Confirmed)"

"Genius Medal Scan: Genius Hall Member, Ye Chen! (Match Confirmed)"

A series of verifications all returned a 'Match Confirmed' status. The soldier’s demeanor remained utterly unchanged, like ancient turquoise, saying flatly, "Pass."

Ye Chen paid no mind to the tone of these specially trained guards. He pocketed the Genius Medal and walked straight into the city. Soon, he reached the vast plaza of the First-Rank Genius Hall. The plaza was paved with white jade, stretching into the distance under a boundless, scrubbed-clean azure sky, making one feel suspended between heaven and earth.

The plaza was nearly deserted. Ye Chen followed the edge of the railing toward his residence, quickly arriving before his villa.

As he approached, Ye Chen noticed several maids and guards standing by the entrance, looking around anxiously, their suppressed worry evident in their eyes, as if awaiting something crucial.

Ye Chen’s gaze flickered, but his expression remained normal as he walked toward them.

Seeing him, their eyes lit up, surprise breaking through their anxiety. They rushed forward quickly. "Master, you’ve finally returned! This is wonderful!"

Ye Chen’s expression was indifferent. "What is it?"

They were put on the spot by his directness, exchanging awkward glances. Finally, the eldest guard gritted his teeth and looked up. "Master, the Elders are waiting for you in the Deacon Hall. They requested you report immediately upon your return."

"The Deacon Hall?" Ye Chen raised an eyebrow. "For what matter?"

"This... this..." They exchanged glances, lowering their heads sheepishly. "We don't know," they murmured in unison. Ye Chen frowned, preparing to turn, just as a figure bolted out of the villa—a young man, visibly distraught, who rushed before Ye Chen. "Master, don't go! You absolutely must not go!"

Ye Chen’s brow circled, and he turned to the young man. "State your reason!"

If Ye Chen had paid closer attention, he would have recognized this young man as the one whose leg Ye Chen had helped heal after Hua Longtian had broken it—the man who had since recovered his cultivation and remained deeply grateful. He quickly urged, "Master, flee now! If you’ve returned, they will surely know. Go as far as you can!"

The others’ faces changed slightly at his words. The elder guard snapped, "Xiao Mo, you stop—"

"You shut up." Ye Chen clapped his hand, unleashing a sharp surge of energy that blasted the elder guard away. He slammed heavily against the villa wall, leaving an indentation. His chest bones cracked, blood sprayed from his face, and his expression was filled with disbelief. His lips moved twice, but before a word could escape, his neck slumped, and he was dead.

The remaining attendants were stunned. Ye Chen had always treated them leniently, without any pretense of superiority, yet now he killed without a word.

"Speak!" Ye Chen commanded, frowning.

The young man named Xiao Mo jumped, cold sweat drenching his forehead. He hurried to explain, "Master, you don't know! Last time, you killed that Purple Lightning from the Supreme Genius Hall. That person had a sworn brother in the Blazing Dragon Hall, and a few days ago, he came to the Da Men seeking your death! You must run quickly, or it will be too late!"

"So, it was him." Ye Chen’s eyes flashed, then his expression smoothed over. He waved his hand and turned toward the Deacon Hall.

Xiao Mo was terrified by Ye Chen’s stubbornness and shouted desperately, "Master, don't do anything foolish! You can't fight them, and that person is from the Blazing Dragon Hall—you stand no chance!"

Ye Chen did not look back. He slowly curled his fingers, condensing a wisp of energy at his fingertip, and flicked it forward. It shot instantly into Xiao Mo’s brow.

Xiao Mo felt a sudden heat in his forehead, as if something had pierced his skin. The searing sensation quickly spread from his brow across his entire body. His limbs and bones felt as if they were burning in a fierce fire, causing an agonizing, bloating discomfort.

He collapsed onto the ground, drenched in sweat, gasping for air, his muscles twitching uncontrollably from the unbearable pain. He clenched his teeth, his heart filled with confusion, unable to understand why such good intentions were met with such treatment.

Lying there, he watched the figure receding in the distance. Pain filled his eyes, gradually curdling into resentment. He secretly clenched his fists. After a while, the searing pain finally vanished, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Eh?" He suddenly froze, sensing a sweeping transformation within his body. Shock washed over him, swiftly replaced by incredulous horror. "I—I’ve reached the peak of the Demigod realm!"

Since Ye Chen had casually helped him cleanse his meridians last time, he had diligently cultivated, breaking through from the Ghost God Realm to the Demigod Realm. But now, the Demigod power within him was as vast and ceaseless as a surging river. His meridians, originally suited for a first-layer Demigod, had expanded to their peak, massively increasing his cultivation.

"Could it be, could it be..." He stood up, feeling the change in his body, his heart filled with terror. He hadn't expected that Ye Chen, also a Demigod, could effortlessly elevate him to the peak of the Demigod realm with a casual, unknowing touch—it was simply miraculous. He gazed at the disappearing silhouette in the distance, lost in thought for a moment, before slowly lowering his head, reaching up to wipe away the tears from his eyes.

The Deacon Hall was forged entirely of metal; its doors and windows were made of costly materials, and the architectural style leaned toward a Western aesthetic—beautiful and elegant.

Ye Chen ascended the stone steps to the main entrance of the Deacon Hall. Several guards stood before the massive doors. Upon seeing Ye Chen, one extended a hand to intercept him, and a cold voice issued from beneath his steel helmet, "Show your medal!"

Ye Chen flipped his palm and produced the Genius Medal.

The guard glanced at it, stepped back, and resumed his original position.

Ye Chen entered the Deacon Hall. The first-floor lobby was brightly lit, the floor smooth and immaculate, with hardly anyone visible. Nearby, a counter was staffed by several delicately featured female receptionists.

Ye Chen walked over, displayed his Genius Medal, and stated, "I am Ye Chen."

Hearing the name, the beautiful receptionists exchanged glances. One reacted quickly and said, "Please wait a moment, sir. I will notify the supervisor immediately."

Ye Chen nodded slightly, standing calmly before the counter, not looking around, his expression thoughtful as he gazed into the distance.

After a short while, a gentle voice sounded from behind him: "...You've arrived. The Elders are waiting for you in the Second Floor Conference Hall. I will escort you."

Ye Chen turned to see a middle-aged man in a leather suit standing behind him, a warm smile on his face.

"Let's go!" The man led Ye Chen, one after the other, toward an elevator nearby, quickly reaching the second floor.

Following the man, Ye Chen navigated several corridors until they stopped before a door. The middle-aged man knocked twice, unhurriedly. The door was soon opened by a young woman in professional attire. Seeing the man, she bowed respectfully. "Supervisor..."

"Mmm." The middle-aged man nodded slightly, glanced at Ye Chen, and smiled faintly. "Come in."

Ye Chen’s expression was composed; nothing could be discerned from his eyes. He followed inside. As he entered, the delicate girl covertly glanced at Ye Chen, her eyes holding a trace of curiosity.

The room was spacious, perhaps two to three hundred square meters. It contained a round wooden table surrounded by soft sofas with metal bases. Behind these sofas stood numerous tall, gracefully slender, beautiful girls.

Ye Chen’s gaze swept the room and counted nine figures seated on the sofas. Eight wore nearly identical uniforms, leaning back casually, holding wine glasses, chatting amongst themselves. Behind them, beautiful girls provided massages, yet beneath their composed exteriors, a faint melancholy was discernible in their depths.

Among them, a man in white was the most prominent. He was seated on the largest sofa, leaning back with casual grace. Two beautiful girls gently massaged his shoulders. He rested one foot on the table, staring at the ceiling, seemingly deep in thought.

Ye Chen’s arrival drew everyone's attention. The eight men and women in similar uniforms, of varying ages, all turned to look, their brows furrowing with a measure of gloom.

The man in white seemed to snap back to attention, slowly lowering his eyes to gaze down at Ye Chen. His expression was utterly detached, devoid of any warmth, yet radiating an air of cold indifference.

"You’re finally back," said a man with an effeminate appearance, leaning back on the sofa, casting a slight glance at Ye Chen with a tone tinged with coldness.

Ye Chen walked to the center of the group, facing the scrutiny of all present, his demeanor unchanged. "I wonder why the esteemed Elders summoned me?"

"Why?" A robust man beside him raised an eyebrow and sneered, "You still don't know what crime you have committed?"

"Crime?" Ye Chen looked at him with faint detachment. "Have I committed a crime?"

"Enough nonsense. Kneel and kowtow first, to apologize to this Hua Zhan from the Blazing Dragon Hall!" A white-haired, long-bearded elder nearby commanded sternly, his expression grave.