Two days had passed since Leander's decisive battle at the Yelem Church. The sheer, overwhelming fever that had consumed both the Assassin's World and the general underground networks had finally, completely subsided. Now, only a profound silence remained.The martial world and the Assassin's World-the two colossal pillars of the global underground—had seemingly lost their color and were utterly devoid of sound.Everyone knew the outcome: the clash between the number one on the Assassin Leaderboard and the number one in the International Combat Units had ended with the latter's resounding victory. The Hermit, a name that had stood as a legend for nearly a century, was now history. Leander, the greatest figure in the history of the International Combat Units, was still writing his own unstoppable legend.On the International Martial Network forum, deep and meticulous discussions raged over the true extent of Leander's power. Countless martial artists voiced their opinions, igniting fierce debates and verbal conflicts.But in the end, the master behind the International Martial Network, The Destroyer, suddenly appeared and rendered the final judgment.'Regardless of whether you are a martial artist or an assassin, Jeff has already climbed to an unprecedented peak. If the King Phase masters of a century ago do not appear, Jeff is invincible!'The Destroyer had once declared Leander invincible in the world, provided no current King Phase masters emerged, after Leander annihilated fifteen Chief Arbitrators. Now, he had made a subtle yet crucial change: he replaced "current King Phase masters" with "the King Phase masters of a century ago." This minor difference in wording represented an entirely different realm of mastery.Everyone understood: Leander had ascended to an unimaginable level. His cultivation was now sufficient to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the King Phase beings who had dominated the world a hundred years prior.Leander was the living standard, the absolute benchmark for every martial artist and every assassin. There was no higher peak left to conquer!...Following the battle at Yelem, Leander returned to the Yelem Hotel. Celia was constantly by his side, attending to him with imported fruits and fine cuisine, ensuring he lived a life of imperial comfort.During his stay, prominent families from Yelem constantly came to pay their respects, showering him with valuable gifts. His accommodations were immediately upgraded from a standard luxury suite to the presidential suite. Every influential family in Yelem practically groveled, working tirelessly to curry his favor.Nathan and the others, having grasped the terrifying extent of Leander's capability, finally dropped their guard and their anxieties. They spent their days touring Yelem's scenic spots. Thanks to their connection with Leander, they were granted unimpeded access everywhere they went. They enjoyed private car services, dedicated tour guides, and had all their meals and expenses covered, giving them an experience of unparalleled comfort.The more favors they received, the more acutely they realized Leander's profound influence over these prominent families. He was like a deity, towering over everything, commanding the reverence of all.In the garden of the Yelem Hotel, Leander reclined on a lounge chair, swaying gently.Celia, wearing a simple, elegant, plain dress, peeled an imported fruit and placed it directly into his mouth.Leander chewed slowly, his eyes utterly calm."So, any major movements from the International Martial Network or the Global Assassin Network?" he asked softly.Celia took a tissue to wipe his mouth before replying, "Nothing yet. Since you killed the Hermit, the International Martial Network has effectively declared you a deity, placing you on the same level as the King Phase beings of a century ago."As for the Assassin's World, countless assassins are grieving for the Hermit, but not a single post has called for revenge. It's clear that this one battle completely crushed the Assassin's World. Even the bounty posted by the Arbitration Office has been officially withdrawn.""Is that so?" Leander gave a faint nod, a hint of a smile touching his lips."They withdrew the bounty because they recognized that no assassin left in the world could ever pose a threat to me. That bounty was nothing more than useless paper," he mused. "I killed six more Chief Arbitrators in this encounter. Out of the original twenty-four, only three remain unaccounted for. I suspect these three are stronger than Neil, and there's a possibility one of them might even be a King Phase master from a century ago."Celia agreed with a nod. "Global legacy organizations like the Arbitration Office and the Church possess incalculable depths of power and hidden strength. They managed to survive the War of the King Phase intact, which speaks volumes about their might."Her beautiful eyes paused, a shadow of concern clouding her expression."What worries me is your current position. You were already at odds with the Arbitration Office and Netherweb. Now, this latest battle has put you in direct conflict with the Church. Essentially the three most powerful forces in the world are now standing against you." Leander merely offered a relaxed smile at her words."I never pay mind to such things. No matter how many stand against me, a single swing of my sword willè shatter them all," he declared coolly Besides organizations like the Arbitration Office, the Church and Netherweb have been unchallenged in this world for far too long. It's high time for a change." Celia wasconvinced. She set down the fruit platter. "Indeed. The world's structure eventually requiressomeone to break it. Just as the netKing Phase masters once ruled the world and were later conquered by ironclad ships and cannons-and the advent of atomic weaponscompletely ended their age ofdominance-perhaps a new era isabout to dawn." Leander finished the last slice of apple, stood up, and stretched his arms above his head."Some things are meant to change. The catalyst for that change might be a person,a major nation, or a dominant force. And perhaps, I am the one playing that rolenow."He lifted his gaze, staring at the blazing sun above, his eyes impossibly deep. "Our business here is nearly concluded. Throughout Yelem, and even across Dechor, no one dares to threaten Nathan and the others anymore. You may now take me to the Sandsong Oasis. I am very keen to witness the treasure of the Westerian divinity myself."Celia bowed respectfully, nodding with utmost seriousness."Yes."Their journey into the Sahar Wastes was finally moving toward its most critical phase....Inside the presidential suite, Maeve was sprawled on the velvet bed, chatting relentlessly with Zara and Liana.Ever since Leander's true identity was revealed, Zara and Liana had become intensely curious about how Maeve and Leander met, peppering her with questions like two inquisitive children whenever they had the chance.To pay them back for the times they had mocked Leander, Maeve was deliberately playing coy, refusing to give details on the crucial parts of the story."You wicked girl! Stop holding out on us! Hurry up and tell us how you and the Chief Instructor actually met!" Liana cried, shaking Maeve's arm insistently.Maeve didn't answer right away, just batted her eyes. "I'm not telling. Didn't you two call him reckless and arrogant before, saying he didn't know his place? Now that you're desperate, I'm going to make you squirm."She lifted her eyebrows smugly, immensely enjoying the sight of the two girls' exasperated faces.Just as Zara and Liana were about to pester Maeve to continue, a piercing, high- pitched alert suddenly blared from a device on both of their hips.Their eyes locked instantly, and their expressions turned to one of profound shock."This is..."noveldrama"The Wyvern Blade's emergency signal?"