"Where are the geniuses from the overlord forces of the Middle Domain?" Max asked, his gaze fixed on Lyra as he thought of his eldest brother and the other prodigies who represented the strongest powers of the Middle Domain.

During his brief clash with Victor, Max had released his Three Dimensional Body, spreading it across the entire arena. Yet, no matter how carefully he searched, he found no trace of the figures belonging to the most prominent geniuses from the Bright Buddha Palace, the Absolute Sword Palace, or the other forces that stood at the peak of the Middle Domain.

"They will arrive at any moment," Lyra replied, her voice calm but certain.

"Why are they taking so long?" Max pressed, his tone laced with curiosity.

Lyra explained with a faint glance toward Alice. "They have already reached the Four God Nation. Right now, they should be undergoing a medicinal bath prepared by the elders of the Four God Nation. It is said that this bath can elevate both one's combat power and innate talent to an entirely different level."

Alice nodded in agreement, her expression steady. "That is true. However, the medicinal bath can only be taken once in a lifetime. If it is attempted again, it loses its effectiveness completely."

Max acknowledged their words with a slight nod. He felt no desire to seek out such methods of improvement. His combat strength was already pushed to its very limits, and he doubted whether a medicinal bath would make any difference to him at all.

With that, the geniuses settled into silence once more, their eyes drifting toward the horizon as they waited. It was said that the Heavenly Lord Secret Domain would open today, though the precise moment remained a mystery. No one, not even the elders of the Four God Nation, could say with certainty when the gates would appear.

Hours slipped away in tense anticipation until, at last, the long-awaited geniuses from the overlord forces of the Middle Domain arrived at the square. Their presence immediately drew attention, their figures radiating an aura of superiority that set them apart from the rest.

Max's gaze swept over them, studying each face carefully. Most of them were strangers to him, their features carrying the pride and confidence of those born to stand at the peak of the younger generation. Yet among the unfamiliar stood one face he recognized instantly. It was Kevin.

Kevin had once been a member of the Void Soul Tower. That force, along with the Thunder Monarch Hall, had been revealed as a demon-aligned organization and was eradicated overnight in a swift, merciless strike. However, not every member had shared in the corruption of their elders.

The Four God Nation and the Hunter Association had intervened, conducting thorough investigations into the disciples and younger members. Those who were proven innocent, who had merely joined without knowledge of the dark affiliations of their leaders, were given a second chance.

Kevin had been one of those spared. After the destruction of the Void Soul Tower and the deaths of its elders, he was taken under the custody of the Hunter Association. Following careful evaluation, he was permitted to join another force. His new allegiance lay with the Mountain Gods Valley, one of the great powers of the Middle Domain.

"So he chose the Mountain Gods Valley," Max thought, his eyes lingering on Kevin. The sight stirred another concern within him, a question he had yet to answer. Had Kevin found a way to deal with the parasite in his body? Max himself had not.

During the month he had spent in the Four God Nation, he had exhausted every method Blob had suggested. He had sought out each of the hidden training grounds reserved for the Four God Nation's geniuses, hoping that one of them might contain a clue or a remedy. Yet nothing worked. The parasite remained lodged within him, stubborn and immovable, unaffected by any attempt to expel it.

Even infernal energy, which warped nearly everything it touched, had proven useless against it. Lady Divine had attempted to help him as well, inscribing runes of purification with her own hands. Her efforts failed. In the end, she could only offer a faint hope. Somewhere within the Heavenly Lord Secret Domain, there might exist methods or treasures capable of countering the parasite.

That possibility became one of Max's deepest worries, a shadow he could not ignore. As he stood among the gathering geniuses, his calm expression masked the gnawing weight of that concern.

"Lyra, you are here as well." A familiar voice rang out as Adrian, the eldest prince of the Great Ruler Empire, stepped forward. Behind him stretched a long line of geniuses, each one carrying the proud bearing of the empire, their presence marked by the authority of Adrian who led them at the forefront.

"Eldest Brother, how did it go? Did you become stronger?" Lyra asked, her eyes bright with curiosity as she studied him.

Adrian gave a small shrug, his expression thoughtful. "I cannot say for certain. I do not feel a great change, yet I believe I have grown stronger." His gaze then shifted to Max, and a faint smile touched his lips. "You must be the infamous Max. It is good to finally meet you," he said, extending his hand.

"The pleasure is mine," Max replied, his tone steady as he took Adrian's hand in a firm shake.

Adrian's smile faded, replaced by a solemn look. "I am aware of what the Great Ruler Empire did to you. You were treated as if you were no better than a prisoner, locked away despite your strength and loyalty. I spoke to my father, pleading with him not to take such measures, but in decisions of that scale my voice carried no weight."

His expression hardened with resolve as he added, "I offer you my apology. Yet words alone may not be enough. If that is the case, then take this as my promise: I and the forces under my command will follow your every order without question. We will place ourselves entirely at your mercy."

Lyra's face darkened at Adrian's words, the weight of shame pressing heavily upon her. Even she could not escape the sting of what had been done in the name of her empire.

"Do not think too much about it," Max said calmly, his eyes steady. "What happened is in the past. It was not your fault, so you should not carry the burden of it."

Adrian gave a slow nod, though the tension in his shoulders betrayed his lingering unease. He could only hope that Max bore no deep resentment toward the Great Ruler Empire.

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