A week later.
At dusk.
Beneath the gaze of crimson evening clouds, red as blazing fire, Ye Chen strode swiftly along the roads of Hunter's Peak's upper levels until he arrived before the ancient gates of the Old Clock Tower.
The young man reached out and gently pushed open the doors, letting the familiar sight of the entrance hall fill his vision.
Deep within the Clock Tower Hall, an aged figure reclined in his chair, quietly awaiting Ye Chen's arrival.
He was none other than Kuize, the head of the Hunter Corps.
Ye Chen had come at Kuize's invitation today to undergo the "Apocalypse" contact procedure that Kuize had mentioned before—a process every Apex Hunter had to complete after officially taking office.
Noticing that the old man was no longer seated in a wheelchair, Ye Chen lowered his head and bowed respectfully.
"Good day, Mr. Kuize. Have you fully recovered?"
With a kindly expression, Kuize replied in a deep voice.
"Hehe, it is nothing serious now. No need to worry. What about you, Ye Chen? How has your Spirit Realm training been going?"
Ye Chen answered evenly.
"Thanks to your guidance some time ago, I have made remarkable progress lately. Broadly speaking, there are no more issues."
Kuize nodded in satisfaction.
"Mm, good. You have never disappointed anyone."
As his words fell, Kuize picked up the pitch-black cane beside him and rose to his feet in one smooth motion before Ye Chen.
"Then, without further delay, let us proceed directly to today's main matter."
Having said that, the old man turned and walked toward the back door of the hall, while the young man naturally followed without hesitation.
Ye Chen followed Kuize first into a long, narrow corridor within the clock tower, then into an inconspicuous little room off to