Day 5 Before the Golden Heir Tournament.

The atmosphere inside Nine Lotus Academy had completely changed overnight.

The academy no longer resembled a cultivation institution.

It resembled the center of a gathering storm.

Warships hovered across the skies continuously while countless martial vehicles entered through the giant academy gates day and night.

Peak Grandmaster auras could now be sensed almost everywhere.

Even ordinary disciples had begun walking carefully while lowering their voices instinctively.

Because everyone understood one thing clearly now.

The real monsters of the younger generation were arriving.

***

Meanwhile...

The official registration numbers continued increasing steadily across the giant floating holographic screens above the academy.

[Current Registered Participants: 2,843]

Although the numbers still looked manageable compared to the terrifying rumors online...

Every new registration carried frightening weight behind it.

Because none of these people were ordinary martial warriors.

Peak Grandmasters under the age of fifty were already considered geniuses in normal times.

Yet now thousands of them gathered together inside one academy.

The martial world had truly gone mad for the World Tree Blessing.

Meanwhile...

Inside the central academy market district, complete chaos had erupted.

The giant cultivation bazaar remained overcrowded from morning until midnight.

Sect representatives shouted prices openly.

Hidden information brokers sold participant rumours secretly.

Several merchants even displayed combat footage recordings of famous geniuses for absurd prices.

The value of cultivation resources skyrocketed further every hour.

"Three hundred spirit crystals for one recovery pill?!"

"Are you robbing people?!"

"Buy it or leave!"

"Tomorrow the price will double!"

Arguments erupted everywhere continuously.

Meanwhile, dozens of temporary alliance groups secretly recruited participants.

One large banner openly displayed:

[North Mountain Alliance Recruiting Peak Grandmasters]

[Guaranteed Resource Support During Tournament]

[Priority Healing Rights Included]

Nearby, another group displayed:

[Oceanic Front Temporary Team Recruitment]

[Need Movement-Type Martial Warriors]

The entire market district looked more like a war preparation zone than a cultivation bazaar.

Meanwhile...

Tony Clark calmly walked through the crowded market while observing everything silently.

His snow leopard lazily followed behind him, causing many people to subconsciously avoid his path.

Several martial warriors immediately recognized him afterward.

"That’s Tony Clark..."

"The one who defeated twelve inner disciples..."

"I heard his movement technique is abnormal."

"Be careful. That guy hides his strength."

Unlike before...

Very few people mocked Tony openly now.

The Academy Arena battle had changed public opinion greatly.

Not everyone respected him yet.

But most stopped treating him like useless trash.

Tony ignored the whispers completely while continuing deeper into the market.

Right now, he cared more about preparation than reputation.

Particularly after mastering the Heavenly Mirage Steps.

That technique was terrifying...

But it consumed enormous energy.

Especially during continuous movement.

Tony needed recovery resources and concealment tools before the tournament began.

Soon afterward, Tony stopped before a small hidden shop located between two giant market buildings.

Unlike the flashy cultivation stores nearby, this place looked old and quiet.

A wooden board simply displayed:

[Strange Utility Items]

Tony entered calmly afterward.

Inside, an old man wearing round glasses quietly read a newspaper while drinking tea.

The old man didn’t even raise his head while speaking.

"What do you want?"

Tony calmly replied afterward.

"Items useful for survival."

Only then did the old man glance upward briefly.

His eyes immediately narrowed slightly afterward.

"Tony Clark..."

Interesting."

Tony remained expressionless.

The old man slowly placed the newspaper aside afterward.

Then he quietly took out several strange items from beneath the counter.

"Low-grade Sea Breathing Talisman."

"Can maintain underwater breathing for thirty minutes."

"Useful for hidden movement."

Tony’s eyes flickered slightly.

Interesting.

The old man continued afterward.

"Aura Concealment Powder."

"Suppresses life aura temporarily."

"Not perfect against Supremes, but enough against ordinary Peak Grandmasters."

Then another item appeared.

"Shadow Recovery Pills."

"Restores movement-type martial energy faster than normal medicine."

Tony silently observed the items afterward.

Clearly...

This old fellow wasn’t ordinary.

Most merchants wouldn’t even stock such specialized survival tools.

Tony calmly asked afterward.

"How much?"

The old man slowly smiled afterward.

"For others?"

"Expensive."

Then his smile became stranger.

"But for a Heaven Rank movement technique user..."

"...I’ll give discount."

Tony’s eyes instantly narrowed dangerously.

The old man laughed softly afterward.

"Relax."

"I simply observed your footsteps while entering."

"Your body rhythm differs from ordinary martial warriors."

Tony remained silent afterward.

Interesting old monster.

Finally, after several exchanges, Tony purchased:

three Sea Breathing Talismans

two Aura Concealment Powders

recovery medicine

He quietly stored them inside his ring afterward.

Just as Tony prepared to leave—

The old man suddenly spoke again.

"Young man."

Tony paused slightly.

The old merchant calmly sipped tea afterward before continuing.

"Don’t trust temporary alliances during the tournament."

"People become uglier near opportunities connected to lifespan."

Tony slowly turned his head slightly afterward.

The old man continued calmly:

"The World Tree Blessing changes human hearts."

"Remember that."

Tony quietly left afterward without replying further.

Yet inwardly...

He remembered those words carefully.

Meanwhile...

Across another section of the academy market...

A giant military warship slowly descended from the sky.

BOOOOOOM!!!

The surrounding crowds instantly stepped backward afterward.

The warship doors slowly opened.

Then...

A giant man nearly seven feet tall stepped out calmly.

His upper body remained bare despite the cold wind while massive battle scars covered his skin completely.

A gigantic black axe rested across his shoulder casually.

The pressure released from his body alone caused nearby disciples to become pale instantly.

One participant whispered nervously afterward.

"That’s..."

"...Viktor Volkov."

"The Berserker Axe from the Northern Ice Federation?!"

Several surrounding martial warriors immediately stepped farther away afterward.

Meanwhile...

Elsewhere inside the academy...

A barefoot monk wearing simple gray robes quietly entered the registration hall alone.

No aura leaked from his body.

No guards followed him.

Yet strangely...

Everyone subconsciously avoided standing near him.

One hidden sect elder immediately widened his eyes afterward.

"Impossible..."

"That’s the Silent Monk from the Himalayan Temple..."

Meanwhile...

Far above the academy rooftops...

A young woman wearing dark green robes silently observed the crowded academy below.

Tiny poisonous insects crawled calmly around her fingers.

Then she slowly smiled afterward.

"So many people..."

"...this tournament will become fun."

Back inside the market district...

Tony quietly sensed the increasingly terrifying atmosphere surrounding Nine Lotus Academy.

More and more monsters continued arriving.

And this was only Day 5.

Suddenly—

DING!!!

[System Notification]

[Hidden Objective Updated]

[Examine the World Tree Blessing Before Bloom Stage]

[Warning: Delaying will lose the reward value]

Tony slowly narrowed his eyes afterward.

The system itself is pushing him to reach the world tree blessing.

-

Tq