"Xiaotong? What's wrong with you?"

Her mother noticed something was off and asked. Li Xiaotong suddenly snapped back to reality, drenched in cold sweat, and shook her head with difficulty.

"Mom, I'm fine."

She glanced again at the young man in the long cloak below and felt her breath becoming difficult. In her eyes, that figure was surrounded by a dazzling light belonging to an immensely powerful being, cloaked in a mist of pure white, yet shrouded in a deep darkness, revealing ten distinct worlds swirling in the gloom.

Extraordinary phenomena, terrifying, mysterious, powerful.

He was completely different from just a few days ago!

Li Xiaotong swallowed hard.

At this moment, her mother stepped closer, craning her neck to look. "It really is Little Chen? Let's go; I'll personally go greet him."

She led Li Xiaotong to the first floor and strode out.

"Little Chen, I was worried something had happened to you. The events in the Eighth Ring are truly shocking."

Chen Xiang smiled gently. "Aunt Li, I'm fine; just lucky."

"Alright, come in, come in!"

Her mother laughed heartily, pulling Chen Xiang into the hotel, leading him up to the familiar top floor.

"I saved your room for you, just like before. I didn't let anyone else stay in it. From now on, treat my place like your home; I'll always keep a room for you!"

Chen Xiang smiled politely, sitting down on the sofa in the reception area, casually chatting with her mother while primarily inquiring about the situation of the refugees from the Eighth Ring.

"I know you're kind-hearted, but you know how it is in the Ninth Ring—nine out of ten people are criminals. But since you've brought it up today, I'll make a decision!"

Her mother declared boldly, "All the refugees from Zones One to Four will temporarily receive a ‘Protection Certificate' that will prevent them from being ‘criminalized' for three months. As for longer-term arrangements, I can't do much; the Ninth Ring is governed by three people, and I can't disrupt the rules too much."

"That's already very good," Chen Xiang said with a smile. "I'll thank you on behalf of the Eighth Ring refugees."

"Since you call me Aunt, we're family. There's no need for thanks between family, that would be too formal!"

Li Xiaotong watched the two of them banter and couldn't help but swallow hard. She wanted to warn her mother that the person sitting there was not just an ordinary youth but a terrifying monster enveloped in pure white.

But in the end, she couldn't say anything.

Time passed slowly, and the tea in front of Chen Xiang was refilled cup after cup. As night fell, the sound of many car engines roared outside the hotel.

Her mother's smile gradually faded. "All the guests have arrived, Little Chen. I'll introduce you to the other two heads of the Ninth Ring shortly."

"Gladly," Chen Xiang nodded in response.

Under the guidance of a servant, Chen Xiang was taken to a large dining room on the 99th floor, which was relatively vintage in decor. The walls were adorned with half-human sheep skulls, and a copper table about two meters wide and over thirty meters long stood in the center. On either side, over a hundred high-backed wooden chairs were arranged, casting a deep and profound atmosphere under the dim candlelight.

At this moment, there were no other guests in the dining room.

"Mr. Chen, please wait here for a moment. The guests will be arriving one after another," the servant said as he pulled out a high-backed wooden chair for Chen Xiang and slightly bowed respectfully.

"Thank you."

Chen Xiang slowly took a seat, with Li Xiaotong beside him as her mother had instructed.

Feeling a bit bored, he turned to Li Xiaotong with a smile and asked, "Xiaotong, how do you see me now compared to before?"

Li Xiaotong shivered slightly.

Chen Xiang understood and stopped teasing her. Instead, he asked, "The academy has moved to the Sixth Ring. I checked there; the two chubby boys from the Yuan family aren't around. Are they in the Ninth Ring?"

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"They are, they are," Li Xiaotong hurriedly replied. "Their whole family has fled to the Ninth Ring and are doing well now. Later, the banquet will have Big Fatty and Abou—Yuan Wanli will also be coming."

After a pause, she whispered, "This banquet is hosted by the new master of the Seventh Ring construction group. The invitation was sent to my mom and the other two heads, and I've heard the guests don't come with good intentions."

"I know," Chen Xiang nodded firmly. "They indeed don't come with good intentions."

Li Xiaotong shyly lowered her eyes, not daring to look at the terrifying figure so close to her. Even with her high soul origin, she felt a bit disoriented. The ten illusory worlds overlapped, shadows, abysses, and whispers of taboo filled her mind.

After hesitating for a long moment, Li Xiaotong said softly, "You've become stronger. If that unknown person really comes with malice, can you help my mother?"

Chen Xiang pondered for a moment, then smiled. "Aunt and I have some ties; I will provide an opportunity."

"Opportunity?" Li Xiaotong asked, confused, not understanding what he meant.

The candlelight in the dining hall flickered slightly, and outside the door, there was a commotion of footsteps and conversations.

After a few breaths, the ancient, old-fashioned door that seemed to be moved from some ancient ruin creaked open slowly.

Leading the way was her mother, accompanied by a middle-aged man wearing a top hat and leaning on a cane, and an elderly, limping man using an umbrella as a cane. Behind them followed a group of people, each exuding a heavy murderous aura.

"Please take your seats, everyone," her mother smiled and instructed the servers to show everyone to their seats. Over half of the hundred chairs at the table were already filled with prominent figures from the Ninth Ring, except for one round, chubby boy.

"Teacher Chen! You're here too!"

Yuan Wanli puffed in, looking like a large ball, plopping down in the seat next to Chen Xiang with a face full of surprise. "You've also fled to the Ninth Ring? No, wait, you can't just be fleeing."

Chen Xiang smiled gently. "Where's Qianli? Didn't he come with you?"

"My brother stayed home to take care of Dad and Mom. During the upheaval in the Eighth Ring, my parents were injured a bit, but thankfully, it's not serious."

Chen Xiang lowered his gaze. "Were many people injured in the Eighth Ring this time?"

"A lot, many, and even more died."

Yuan Wanli sighed heavily. "At first, the flood wasn't too fierce; very few died in the disaster. But more died in the chaos that followed. Many suppressed evils were released, and it was tragic."

Chen Xiang fell silent, knowing that what Big Fatty Yuan said was true. When disaster strikes, the most terrifying thing is not the disaster itself but human nature.

In such situations, when people are unrestrained, what they will do and can do is unpredictable, but the vast majority will be pure evil!

Yuan Wanli whispered again, "But things are much better in the Ninth Ring. Although it's chaotic, at least there's some semblance of order, even if it's a twisted order."

Chen Xiang sighed lightly, sensing a gaze fixated on him. Turning his head, he saw the elegant middle-aged man with the top hat and cane—it was probably the Duke. Beside him stood an old acquaintance, trembling slightly and breathing heavily.

Little Hu.

At that moment, Aunt Li clapped her hands, and the noisy banquet hall gradually quieted down. As the host, she spoke first: "Everyone here are old friends, no need for me to introduce too much. However, there is one person I'd like to highlight."

With a beaming smile, she stood up, walked to Chen Xiang's side, and placed a broad hand on his shoulder: "This is Chen Xiang, our dear friend from the Tian Ding Hotel, and the ‘Terrifying Giant' who smashed that madwoman at Gu Dao Bar."

Whispers erupted in the hall, many looking at Chen Xiang with trepidation, having heard stories about this ‘Terrifying Giant.' Some glanced at Little Hu, who trembled and slightly lowered his head.

*Tap, tap, tap.*

The middle-aged man in the top hat struck the musty wooden floor with his cane, making a muffled sound, and then spoke with a smile that didn't reach his eyes: "I've long admired your reputation."

The atmosphere momentarily became tense.

After a moment, Aunt Li's hearty laughter broke the silence as she patted Chen Xiang on the shoulder: "Little Chen, let me introduce you to this well-known Duke. Do you know where the name ‘Duke' comes from?"

"I'd love to hear more," Chen Xiang replied leisurely, and Aunt Li smiled as she explained: "He used to be a baron in the White Star Nation, but after committing some offense, he was expelled and came to our great city. Interestingly, he once served as a teaching assistant at the Giant Academy."

Nearby, the old man with a limp smacked his lips: "Oh, is that so? I seem to recall a little about that; it must have been ages ago."

After a pause, he chuckled: "Aunt Li, you shouldn't pick on others. You were once just a fishmonger, weren't you?"

Aunt Li chuckled lightly, her tone cooling slightly as she introduced Chen Xiang further: "Speaking of which, this is our illustrious ‘Old Lame,' a prominent figure in the Ninth Ring. Back when I was still struggling, he was the one who sheltered me and drove me around. Later, he carved out quite a career for himself!"

Old Lame nonchalantly raised the umbrella he used as a cane: "Yes, it's this very umbrella. I'm a sentimental person; I've kept it all this time."

Then he patted his own leg with a smile: "Almost forgot to mention, this leg is also a gift from you, Aunt Li."

Tension crackled in the air, with the three top figures seeming ready to come to blows.

Seeing the atmosphere grow heavier, a large, blind black man stepped forward to mediate: "Alright, everyone, this is not the time for infighting. The new master of the Seventh Ring is about to arrive, and their intentions are unclear. It's better for us to unite against a common enemy."

Aunt Li's expression softened somewhat as she finally introduced him: "This big black guy is known simply as ‘Big Black.' He doesn't belong to any faction and is quite a skilled broker and information dealer, adept at navigating all sides."

Chen Xiang nodded with a smile, watching everything with great interest.

Aunt Li returned to her seat, and one of the Duke's subordinates then banged on the table: "Big Black is right. But we've all gathered; where are those from the Seventh Ring Construction Group? They really have the audacity to act so important!"

Old Lame sneered: "What's the Seventh Ring Construction Group? I could break through them alone. If the new master has some sense, they'll cooperate; if they come with ill intent, then we'll just have to take them down!"