Chaos City.
Inner Mansion of the City Lord.
As the residence of the Chaos City Lord, the guards stationed before the inner palace gates were all Immortal Gods—each one capable of dominating entire star systems.
At this moment, the Immortal guards were quietly abuzz with discussion.
"I just received an order from the City Lord," one of them said in a low voice.
"His Highness Jiang Yan will arrive shortly. No need to announce him—he may enter directly."
"Hiss—does that mean…?"
"It has to. Otherwise, why would he be allowed into the inner palace without reporting?"
"That level of access is reserved only for personal disciples—or a handful of supreme existences."
"Jiang Yan is a once-in-hundreds-of-millions genius of the human race. Far beyond Keti in his prime. It would be strange if the City Lord didn't accept him."
Just as their discussion peaked, a lone figure appeared at the far end of the street, walking calmly toward the inner palace gates.
"It's His Highness Jiang Yan!"
The Immortal guards instantly straightened.
When Jiang Yan arrived, the lead guard smiled respectfully.
"Your Highness, the City Lord has already given instructions. You may enter directly."
"Thank you."
Jiang Yan nodded and stepped through the gates.
Inside lay a long, silent corridor.
At its end stood a vast square paved entirely with Chaos Stones.
At the center of the square stood a bald man in a crimson robe, smiling gently—his presence tranquil yet unfathomable.
Venerable Guiyi.
One of the Chaos City Lord's personal disciples.
Jiang Yan immediately recognized him.
"I am Guiyi," the man said warmly.
"I was ordered by the teacher to receive you."
"Jiang Yan greets Venerable Guiyi," Jiang Yan said with a respectful bow.
Talent aside, strength commanded respect—this was a rule engraved into the universe itself.
The Venerable chuckled.
"The teacher intends to accept you as a personal disciple. Since that is certain, you may call me Second Senior Brother."
Jiang Yan's heart stirred.
"Greetings, Second Senior Brother."
"Haha—good. Come."
As they walked deeper into the inner mansion, Guiyi spoke casually.
"The teacher has never casually accepted personal disciples. You are the only one in recent eras."
He paused, his expression turning solemn.
"The teacher possesses three avatars. The one you will meet is his Slaughter Avatar, stationed here in Chaos City.
You must be respectful—and never provoke him."
"I understand," Jiang Yan nodded.
Soon, they arrived at a secluded courtyard.
Outside stood a stone tablet engraved with three ancient characters:
Chaos Ruins.
"The teacher is inside."
Guiyi stepped forward.
Jiang Yan followed.
Buzz!
Reality twisted.
Time and space folded.
In the next instant, Jiang Yan found himself standing within a boundless, chaotic world.
Corpses littered the void.
Some were larger than stars.
Others were smaller than humans.
Yet every single one radiated an aura that made Jiang Yan's soul tremble.
At minimum—
Universe Venerables.
At the center of this graveyard stood a towering figure clad in dark crimson battle armor.
Three meters tall.
A scaled tail trailing behind him.
The moment Jiang Yan's gaze fell upon him—
His soul shuddered.
Submission welled up instinctively.
It felt as though the laws of the universe themselves were revolving around that figure—majestic, absolute, inviolable.
The killing intent alone felt like an invisible hand gripping Jiang Yan's throat.
This… is the Chaos City Lord.
"Teacher," Guiyi said reverently.
The Chaos City Lord's gaze shifted.
"Jiang Yan."
An ordinary voice.
Yet it struck like divine judgment.
"Jiang Yan greets the City Lord!" Jiang Yan said solemnly.
He knew—
Before this existence, he had no secrets.
Except one.
The Golden Finger remained perfectly concealed, as though shielded by something beyond even Universe Lords.
"The two Upper Laws and eight Lower Laws have been comprehended.
Space and Lightning have both received Origin recognition…"
The Chaos City Lord's eyes flickered slightly.
"Not bad."
Then, directly:
"Are you willing to become my thirty-second personal disciple?"
Jiang Yan knelt without hesitation.
"Disciple greets the Teacher!"
Guiyi's pupils shrank.
Space Origin recognition?!
When did that happen?!
Even during the Genius Battle, Jiang Yan had not revealed everything!
"Rise."
The Chaos City Lord smiled faintly—there was unmistakable fondness in his gaze.
"You are my youngest disciple.
And your talent surpasses Keti's by far."
A trace of sorrow flashed through his eyes.
"Keti… had he lived, he would at least be a Universe Venerable by now."
He looked back at Jiang Yan.
"I have accepted thirty-two disciples. Five have fallen.
Among the remaining twenty-six—twenty-five are Universe Venerables. One stands at the peak of Immortal Kings."
"You are young. Immortality should pose no difficulty for you."
"From today onward, you may directly teleport to my palace on Thunder Island within the Virtual Universe.
If you have questions in cultivation, consult me there."
"As for the Chaos Ruins—do not enter without my permission."
"Yes, Teacher."
The Chaos City Lord continued calmly.
"My principle is simple.
The greater your talent—the greater the resources."
"For you…"
He waved a hand.
"I grant you 100 opportunities to comprehend the Cosmic Chaos Monument."
"And 100 billion points."
"Your sole objective is to break through to Immortality. Everything else is secondary."
Guiyi went numb.
One hundred Chaos Monument comprehensions?!
One hundred billion points?!
Even he, a Universe Venerable, had never received such treatment.
"Thank you, Teacher!"
Jiang Yan was genuinely shaken.
The Chaos City Lord waved his hand.
"That will be all."
In an instant—
Jiang Yan and Guiyi reappeared outside the courtyard.
Jiang Yan looked at the Chaos Ruins tablet, awe filling his heart.
"Cultivate well," Guiyi said sincerely.
"Break through to immortality as soon as possible."
"I will."
Guiyi hesitated, then said quietly:
"You plan to cultivate Time and Space together, correct?"
"Yes."
Guiyi fell silent.
"That path is extremely difficult," he said at last.
"But… perhaps you can walk it."
With that, he vanished.
"Master," Salamander's voice rang out,
"Your authority has been upgraded."
"And… 100 billion points have arrived."
Jiang Yan smiled faintly.
Points meant little to him now—
But to his family, his children, and his lineage?
They meant everything.
"Check the exchange list," Jiang Yan said calmly.
"If there is Eternal Love, redeem five immediately."
"Yes, Master."
"And apply for a nutrient warehouse.
This Earth body will break through to Universe Level Nine."
Within the hour, everything arrived.
The Virtual Universe Company moved with unprecedented efficiency.
Jiang Yan stepped into the nutrient warehouse.
Chaos City trembled once more.
This time—
No one was surprised.
Because Jiang Yan becoming a personal disciple of the Chaos City Lord…
Felt inevitable.
But the envy—
Still burned fiercely.