The aged man’s benevolent face was a mask barely holding back a tempest; his knuckles cracked audibly within his cuffs, his lips twitching uncontrollably, and his eyes seemed ready to spew fire. After a forceful suppression, he finally managed to quell the raging inferno within, his voice dropping to a low rasp. “Even though you’ve become a member of the Blazing Dragon Hall, you have no authority to mete out punishment to my nephew!”
The old man in the green talisman chuckled derisively. “A regular member of the Blazing Dragon Hall certainly doesn't. But who is my boss? He can instantly obliterate a regular Blazing Dragon Hall member with a single move. Let me tell you, if you manage to try his patience, by the time he ascends to the position of Divine Emperor, your entire Huaylong Group will vanish completely from Donglin City!”
The benevolent elder’s eyelids fluttered, the fierce heat of anger in his chest instantly drenched by icy water, leaving his heart frozen. He was too stunned to speak, never having imagined that a youngster who had barely entered the First Grade Genius Hall a few days ago could, in such a short span, leap to become a member of the Blazing Dragon Hall!
His eyes flickered for a long moment before he gritted his teeth and nodded stiffly. “Fine!” Saying this, he waved his hand toward a man in sunglasses standing nearby. “Go get it for me.”
The man in sunglasses showed no change in expression, his demeanor as cold as ice. He merely gave a slight nod before turning and taking his leave immediately.
The old man in the green talisman felt a surge of satisfaction, beaming as he looked at the benevolent elder. “You’re quite sensible, little elder. Remember this lesson next time. When a great tower is built tall, sooner or later, a few worm-eaten ants will appear. Don't let them spoil your century-old foundation because of them.”
The benevolent elder remained silent, uttering not a word.
A moment later, the man in sunglasses returned, holding a crystal card. He presented it with both hands to the benevolent elder.
The benevolent elder took it casually, glanced at it, and then stated, “It’s all here. You can go to any bank to make the withdrawal.”
“Give it to me.” The old man in the green talisman’s voice dropped, and a mechanical arm, like a tentacle, extended from a circular metal cylinder at the front of the Rune Ship. It delicately plucked the crystal card from the benevolent elder’s hand and retracted.
The benevolent elder’s palm trembled slightly. He watched with a pained expression as the crystal card was swallowed by the Rune Ship. It felt like a knife twisting in his heart. This 1 million True God Stones represented an excruciating cost even for the vast Huaylong Group, practically skinning him alive—a bitter pill to swallow.
When Tian’er grows strong in the future, I will reclaim every single loss from today! the benevolent elder vowed in his heart, though his outward expression remained a gentle smile, betraying not a hint of rage.
Whoosh!
The Rune Ship pivoted and departed, vanishing into the distant horizon.
After the Rune Ship left, the entire bustling street seemed to break free from a seal. Everyone looked up toward where the vessel had disappeared, and the place erupted in a deafening clamor. The street exploded with gossip and fervent discussion.
...
Having collected the 1 million True God Stones from the Huaylong Group, Ye Chen immediately boarded the Rune Ship and returned to the Blazing Dragon Universe, heading for the Ninth Great Star. As he arrived, the planet’s entire space surveillance system automatically identified the Rune Ship and granted it clearance.
Upon reaching the Ninth Great Star, Ye Chen saw numerous mechanical beings on the surface, hauling materials from various transport vessels and constructing numerous structures. A small settlement was already taking shape at an astonishing speed.
“Master, you’ve returned.” A blue vessel flew over from a short distance away. The hatch opened, and a blue-haired maiden, breathtakingly beautiful, stepped out. She gazed at Ye Chen with wide, dark eyes and chirped playfully, “I am the Deputy Captain of your guard detail. From now on, Master, your safety will be my responsibility to protect!”
Ye Chen nodded slightly. “I entrust it to you.” He then recalled his Rune Ship and left a message: “I need to find a quiet spot to cultivate. Please oversee the construction of the residences for me.” With that, his figure streaked toward the distance, vanishing in an instant.
Whoosh!
Ye Chen’s figure materialized in a secluded forest on the Ninth Great Star. The forest was utterly silent, devoid of any ornamental pets yet. Sunlight pierced through the canopy, casting dappled patches of light upon the undergrowth. The fragrance of nature mixed with the scent of fresh grass washed over him.
With a sweep of his hand, Ye Chen carved out a recessed cave. Entering inside, he immediately donned a virtual helmet and connected to the Monument of Heavenly Dao to begin his comprehension.
In two months, the Youth Hero Assembly will take place. Currently, my state of mind is only at the peak of the Second Stage of the Saint Realm, comparable to a Lower God. I still have a considerable gap to bridge before reaching the level of a Middle God. Meanwhile, my Secret Technique Amplitude has already reached the level of a Peak God!
My state of mind is a flaw.
I must temper my state of mind rapidly. Otherwise, no matter how well I cultivate my combat secret techniques, a single mental attack from an opponent could instantly slay me.
Ye Chen clearly recognized his deficiency and immediately immersed himself entirely in comprehending the Monument of Heavenly Dao.
Time flowed...
Two days, five days, ten days...
After about ten days of comprehension, his God Points were depleted. He left the cave and traveled to the Central Elder Star, where he exchanged for another 50,000 God Points. Returning to the Ninth Great Star, the construction above ground had already been completed. Ye Chen settled into his newly built palace.
It was an antique-style wooden and metal structure—a rare wood alloy that was as hard as metal yet possessed the fragility of wood, capable of being broken.
Ye Chen went straight to the cultivation chamber and plunged back into training.
...
In the blink of an eye, a month and a half passed.
On this day, a distinguished guest arrived outside the Ninth Great Star. It was a pure white vessel, seemingly sculpted from ice. It passed through security checks smoothly and entered the star, finally hovering above an ancient, classical palace situated on the ocean.
The hatch opened, and a white-bearded, white-haired elder emerged. His complexion was ruddy and smooth. Gazing upon the classical palace, he let out a hearty laugh and boomed, “My good disciple, why are you lingering? Your Master is here to take you to White Spirit Mountain!”
His voice carried a magical resonance that swiftly calmed the rolling waves of the sea, leaving the surface utterly still.
Outside the palace, the blue-haired maiden, who had been perching while playing a flute, moved instantly into the air. Upon seeing the white-haired elder, she immediately lowered her head in reverence. “Greetings, Elder Bai!”
“Hmm,” the white-haired elder nodded with a smile, then turned his gaze toward the palace.
A moment of silence hung over the palace before the main doors suddenly burst open. A figure shot out, rocketing skyward like a feathered arrow, only to execute a sharp turn and plunge straight into the ocean. A moment later, it erupted again, the resulting downdraft kicking up several geysers of water from the sea.
A shower of rain began to fall, pattering onto the palace roof and leaving wet streaks on the wooden planks.
A figure in black stood suspended in the air, long black hair whipping around his shoulders, his expression calm and detached. His dark eyes seemed to hold the vastness of the starry sky, and his tall, lean body stood relaxed, yet radiated the unyielding aura of Mount Tai.
Venerable Bai Ya fixed his gaze upon the figure, two sharp beams of light flashing in his eyes. He couldn't help but exclaim, “Good, good, good!”
Ye Chen smiled faintly, composed and steady, and advanced to greet him. “Disciple pays respects to Teacher.”
Venerable Bai Ya scrutinized him up and down for a moment, then suddenly expressed astonishment. “It’s only been a little over a month. What have you been doing? Your state of mind has improved by such a large margin!”
Ye Chen replied truthfully, “Lately, Disciple has been comprehending the Monument of Heavenly Dao.”
Venerable Bai Ya was taken aback. “I didn't think those old fellows were exaggerating. I heard you’ve been comprehending every day. Last time, you even exchanged 50,000 God Points! How—how did you acquire so many Dark Chieftain Tokens?”
“I obtained them last time in the Great World of Darkness,” Ye Chen summarized briefly.
Venerable Bai Ya nodded slightly, not pressing for details. He studied Ye Chen for a long moment, then sighed softly. “Get ready, come with me. The Youth Hero Assembly held at White Spirit Peak is about to start.”
Two cold, sharp glints flashed in Ye Chen’s eyes. “Everything is prepared. Let’s go!”
Venerable Bai Ya glanced at him, said nothing more, and with a sweep of his large hand, the entire spacetime shifted rapidly. When Ye Chen could see clearly again, he found himself outside the star, floating in space.
“Board the ship.” Venerable Bai Ya led the way into his White Crystal Vessel.
Ye Chen followed closely. After both entered, the hatch sealed, and the vessel accelerated along the flight path, easily reaching light speed. Soon, they left the Blazing Dragon Universe far behind.
In the main hall of the White Crystal Vessel.
Ye Chen and Venerable Bai Ya were seated on dragon-skin sofas, surrounded by several maids. The table was piled high with pastries and wine. Ye Chen casually sampled a few items and inquired, “Master, do you know how the Youth Hero Battle is conducted?”
Venerable Bai Ya leaned back on the sofa, showing little of a master’s formality, holding a bottle of crimson wine. He took a sip and said casually, “I looked into it previously. This Youth Hero Battle is actually quite simple; it’s a process of layer-by-layer screening to ultimately select the strongest participant!”
“This strongest participant will gain the recognition of the Bai Family Patriarch and become his son-in-law.”
“Oh, right.” Saying this, he suddenly recalled something and looked at Ye Chen with keen interest. “Have you prepared any gifts? Everyone competing brings precious gifts—either a complete set of High-Grade Divine Artifacts, or a Peak Divine Artifact. The wealthier ones don't hesitate to offer Peak Domain Divine Artifacts.”
“Alternatively, you can present precious medicinal herbs that can extend life or strengthen the body. The quality of the gift is quite significant. According to Bai Family regulations, even if one’s strength is supreme, if the gift presented fails to rank among the top six in the collective offering, they will still be eliminated!”
Ye Chen’s brow furrowed slightly, and he fell silent.
Venerable Bai Ya observed him, noting his subdued expression. He immediately chuckled. “Don’t worry, your Master has already prepared a gift for you.” As he spoke, he flipped his palm, revealing a glistening jade bead. It exuded a brilliant emerald radiance, dotted with shimmering crystalline specks—dazzling, magnificent, and truly beautiful.