Chaos City Lord

"How much?!"

"4,800 times."

Yan Ning repeated obediently.

Golden Feather Venerable stared at him for a full three seconds, then suddenly burst into laughter: "Good! Good! My disciple Golden Feather has taken under his wing is truly extraordinary!"

He patted Yan Ning on the shoulder, his eyes full of relief: "This way, you've turned misfortune into fortune. A 4,800-fold gene level is top-tier even among special lifeforms!"

Yan Ning scratched his head and grinned sheepishly: "Then, Teacher, is this disciple still... considered a member of the human race?"

Golden Feather Venerable's smile faded, and he said seriously: "Although the Yan God Clan has betrayed the human race, since you never participated and were always out of contact, the Virtual Universe Company naturally won't pursue the matter. However, you still need to state your own stance."

Yan Ning nodded firmly.

"This disciple is willing to stay with the human race."

"Good!"

Golden Feather Venerable laughed heartily twice.

He naturally didn't want his precious disciple to have any contact with the current Yan God Clan. The relationship between humans and the Yan God Clan was now extremely tense.

If it weren't for that person... perhaps the Yan God Clan would have ceased to exist by now.

As if suddenly remembering something.

Golden Feather Venerable put away his smile, his expression turning a few degrees more serious: "Oh, and one more thing. Chaos City Lord just sent word for you to go to the City Lord's Mansion."

Yan Ning's heart skipped a beat, a guess forming in his mind.

Was it because the commotion from his gene evolution earlier was too great, or because of his identity as a member of the Yan God Clan?

Most likely the former, since this kind of gene-level increase was a bit too exaggerated.

Golden Feather Venerable seemed to read his concern, smiled slightly, and reassured him: "Relax, it's nothing bad."

Yan Ning's eyes flickered: "Teacher means...?"

Golden Feather Venerable nodded: "Your current gene multiplier has reached 4,800 times. Do you understand what that means? Even among special lifeforms, it's a top-tier level! It's only natural for Chaos City Lord to take an interest in you. As long as you still acknowledge yourself as human, the City Lord won't do anything to you."

Yan Ning felt a little more at ease, but still somewhat uneasy.

After all, Chaos City Lord was one of the human race's most pinnacle Universe Masters, controlling the Primordial Universe, with unfathomable power.

Facing him directly, the current Yan Ning couldn't help but feel a bit intimidated.

"This disciple understands."

Yan Ning said respectfully.

Golden Feather Venerable patted his shoulder, his tone gentle: "Go. Remember, no matter what Chaos City Lord asks, just answer truthfully. Your current talent is enough to make the human high command take you seriously."

Yan Ning nodded, then turned and left the hall, heading toward the City Lord's Mansion.

In the core area of Chaos City, the City Lord's Mansion stood towering, surrounded by faint streams of chaotic energy, as if merged with the entire Primordial Universe.

Yan Ning stood before the mansion, his thoughts churning.

How would Chaos City Lord view him?

As a hidden danger from the Yan God Clan, or as a future powerhouse for the human race?

Just as he was pondering, the gates of the City Lord's Mansion opened silently, and a voice, gentle yet filled with boundless authority, echoed in his mind: "Come in."

Yan Ning steadied himself and stepped inside.

Within the mansion, chaotic energy swirled. A blurry figure sat on a throne, as if resonating with the laws of the entire universe.

Even without seeing the face clearly, Yan Ning could feel the vast, star-ocean-like pressure.

He bowed respectfully: "Human Yan Ning pays respects to the City Lord!"

Chaos City Lord's gaze fell upon him, as if it could pierce through everything.

After a moment, the voice sounded again: "A 4,800-fold gene level. Not bad."

A simple evaluation, yet it made Yan Ning's heart jolt. Sure enough, nothing could be hidden. Before he even spoke, Chaos City Lord had seen through it at a glance. In this Primordial Universe, Chaos City Lord was like a god.

Chaos City Lord continued: "Although the Yan God Clan has betrayed the human race, since you did not participate and possess extraordinary talent, the human race will naturally cherish you."

Yan Ning's heart relaxed slightly, but then Chaos City Lord's next sentence made his entire body tense up.

"However, since your gene level has reached such a state, can you tell me the reason?"

Yan Ning repeated to Chaos City Lord what he had told Golden Feather Venerable earlier.

Although Chaos City Lord couldn't verify the truth, if Yan Ning didn't want to say, he wouldn't force him.

Whether out of respect for Golden Feather Venerable's face, or because of Yan Ning's current status.

After Yan Ning finished speaking, a brief silence fell over the hall. The chaotic energy flowed slowly, as if time itself had slowed down.

Chaos City Lord's gaze remained deep, but that formless pressure gradually receded.

"Since you have encountered an opportunity, then it is your fortune."

Chaos City Lord's voice was calm and majestic.

"The human race will not force its members to reveal all their secrets. As long as your heart remains turned toward the clan, that is enough."

Yan Ning felt a slight relief in his heart and said solemnly, "This disciple has always taken pride in being a member of the human race."

Chaos City Lord gave a slight nod. "Very good."

He paused, then continued, "Your gene level has reached 4800 times. However, although gene multiplication is formidable, true combat power still requires the mutual reinforcement of law comprehension, secret techniques, and treasures. You must not slack off."

"This disciple understands."

Yan Ning replied respectfully.

"Go now."

Chaos City Lord said indifferently.

"Golden Feather will arrange the subsequent matters for you."

As his voice fell, the chaotic currents around them stirred faintly, as if signaling the end of the conversation.

Yan Ning bowed once more. "Thank you, City Lord."

Then, he slowly withdrew from the great hall. Only after leaving the City Lord's mansion did he let out a long breath. The battle armor on his back was already soaked through with cold sweat.

"As expected of Chaos City Lord..."

Yan Ning sighed inwardly.

"Before him, I couldn't even muster the thought of resistance."

Still, the outcome was far better than he had anticipated.

Chaos City Lord had not delved deeply into his secrets but had instead tacitly allowed his growth.

"It seems the weight of 4800 times the gene level is heavier than I imagined. Or perhaps... Chaos City Lord is more magnanimous than I thought."

He looked up at the clearly visible cosmic laws above Chaos City, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

Since the upper echelons of the human race were willing to accept him, the path ahead was much clearer.

Become stronger!

With his current talent, as long as he didn't fall midway, stepping into the ranks of Universe Venerable in the future was almost a certainty. Even... Universe Master was not impossible!

What's more, he had awakened the system!

He would have to study it carefully when he got back.

"First, return to find my teacher."

Yan Ning collected his thoughts and flew toward Golden Feather Venerable's palace.

Meanwhile, deep within the City Lord's mansion.

Chaos City Lord's figure remained seated upon his throne.

As for Yan Ning, to be honest, he had paid him some attention.

After all, he was the second being, besides the Yan Emperor, to break through the hundredfold gene barrier.

He knew the Yan Emperor very well. His gene level had definitely reached over ten thousand times.

Coupled with his full set of treasures, his combat power pressed close to that of a fourth-tier Universe Master!

This created an absolute gap between him and the rest of the Yan God Clan.

And now, Yan Ning had become the second!

In his heart, he couldn't help but equate Yan Ning's potential with that of the Yan Emperor.

That is, he possessed a sliver of possibility to become a Universe Master.

This made it impossible for him to ignore.

Fortunately, for now, Yan Ning's sense of belonging to the human race far outweighed that to the Yan God Clan.