C18 Chen Tianxin!

As Yang Chen's gaze settled on the middle-aged man who resembled a scholar, he could sense a terrifying energy amassing within the man's slightly gaunt frame.

It was as though a primordial beast was cloaked in human flesh. The man's seemingly innocuous smile was, to Yang Chen, brimming with danger.

This man was fearsome!

The thought flashed urgently through Yang Chen's mind.

Sensing Yang Chen's stare, the middle-aged man's mouth twitched into a smirk. He cocked his head, locking eyes with Yang Chen with a look of intrigue.

Boom!

It was as if an invisible explosion had detonated.

Yang Chen's mind was suddenly overwhelmed by a wave of weakness, accompanied by a terrifying shockwave that burst forth within his consciousness.

In an instant, Yang Chen felt his very soul might have shattered, his vision erupting in a shower of golden sparks.

"Mr. Yang, what's wrong?"

Wild Wolf, observing from the side, noticed Yang Chen's distress. With a puzzled look in his eyes, he leaned in and whispered his concern.

Shaking his head to clear it, Yang Chen fixed a grave look on the middle-aged man and replied, "It's nothing. This must be the chief officer of Jiangnan, right?"

"And this must be the young prodigy from Hancheng!"

Before Wild Wolf could respond, the scholarly middle-aged man approached Yang Chen with a leisurely stride, holding a cup of coffee. His lips curled into a smile, gentle as a spring breeze, seemingly capable of dissolving any negativity.

Even Yang Chen, momentarily charmed by the man's smile, forgot the earlier mental clash and the harm it had inflicted upon him.

Meanwhile, Wang Teng's gaze was thick with veneration.

This was the chief officer of Jiangnan, a legendary figure!

To witness such a person today, and from such close quarters, was exhilarating for Wang Teng. His body quivered with excitement, his eyes alight with fervor.

The middle-aged man simply smiled, then ushered the trio into the office.

Beyond the elevator doors, Yang Chen was struck by the sheer opulence of the office. The space was encased in glass, the kind that allowed visibility from the inside out but not vice versa, ensuring privacy.

Such luxury came at a steep price, but for the chief officer of No.98 in Jiangnan, it was fitting—even expected.

Yet, a twinge of envy flickered in Yang Chen's eyes. Accustomed to a life of hardship, he couldn't help but covet the lifestyle of the elite, free from worry and elevated in every way.

Shortly thereafter, the middle-aged man led Yang Chen and the others into a spacious room, now occupied by several more figures.

One of them, an elderly man, waved at Yang Chen with a smile. Yang Chen recognized him with a jolt of surprise—he was the Grandmaster who had intervened on the first floor.

The middle-aged man closed the door and, after fetching another cup of coffee, nodded to the assembled figures and announced, "These are the Grandmasters of Jiangnan! You came to witness Grandmasters, and now you shall have your fill!"

Yang Chen scratched his head, feeling somewhat sheepish. He might have been brash and defiant earlier, but he knew to show respect in the presence of his elders.

Among the figures, one was the old man he had met before. The others were new: one carried a blood-red blade, exuding a scent of blood more potent than that of Xueh Tu's ability; another was skeletal, his aura chilling the air around him; and the last was a stunningly beautiful woman whose every gesture was laden with allure. She flirted with Yang Chen, her teasing gaze turning his cheeks a fiery red.

Though Yang Chen had risen to Grandmaster Level through the system's power, he was still a youth, brimming with vigor. The beautiful woman's flirtation momentarily ensnared him, but he quickly regained his composure.

Surprise flickered in the woman's eyes. She knew the strength of her charm well, yet Yang Chen, a mere boy, had resisted where seasoned S-grade superpowers had succumbed. His swift recovery was indeed a remarkable feat.

Impressive!

That was the young woman's impression of Yang Chen!

Beside her, the middle-aged man's eyes briefly sparkled with surprise, mirroring the young woman's astonishment. However, he quickly subdued his reaction and said with a smile,

"You've met the elder; just call him Elder Wang. The one with the knife, that's Shan Shou. And the skeletal figure? You can call him Gui Hsing. Now, this person..."

He paused, rubbing his temple as if trying to recall a distant memory, "What was his name again?"

The stunning young woman shot the middle-aged man a look of veiled frustration before her words flowed sweetly, "Grandmaster Chen is swamped with his duties; naturally, he wouldn't remember a minor character like me. Little brother, make sure you remember this—my name is Mengyao."

Mengyao cast an annoyed glance at the middle-aged man before withdrawing her gaze, seemingly brooding in silence.

Yang Chen touched his nose thoughtfully, his eyes sweeping the room as he committed each name to memory.

He was here to join No.98, after all. Interactions with these individuals were inevitable, and it would be more than a little embarrassing if he couldn't recall their names when the time came.

"Hehe, as for me, I'm Chen Tianxin. Feel free to call me Uncle Chen or Grandmaster Chen," he said with a grin, giving Yang Chen's shoulder a friendly pat.

"Go on, introduce yourself. Let these Grandmasters witness the talent that Jiangnan has to offer!"

Yang Chen nodded, his voice taking on a note of gravity.

"I'm Yang Chen... a Half Step Master."

He hesitated when stating his level of expertise, unsure if he truly qualified as a Grandmaster given that his Qi cultivation was only at Grade A.

Yet, that declaration resonated like a bombshell throughout the room.

Half Step Master!

All four Grandmasters turned their attention to Yang Chen.

A Half Step Master of his age... was unheard of!

Disappointment flickered in Elder Wang's clouded eyes. He was well aware that Yang Chen's Qi cultivation was merely Grade A, and to boast so boldly in their presence seemed a bit much.

Youthful exuberance!

Elder Wang shook his head, his initial favorable impression of Yang Chen diminishing.

Then, the skeletal middle-aged man spoke up, "Youngster, you claim to be a Half Step Master? Don't be so presumptuous!"

He was openly skeptical of Yang Chen's claim. After all, anyone linked to the title "Master" was no minor player.

He remembered all too well the arduous journey to reach the Master Stage, a path that had left him more ghost than man. And here was Yang Chen, barely twenty, claiming the title of Grandmaster. It was audacious!

He felt it was time to give Yang Chen a taste of what it meant to be a Grandmaster!

Otherwise, any Tom, Dick, or Harry might start calling themselves Grandmaster.

Yang Chen glanced at Gui Hsing, then cast his gaze over Chen Tianxin and Elder Wang.

Seeing their indifferent expressions, he realized they were challenging him to prove himself!

His previous victory over Wild Wolf didn't necessarily mean he had reached the Grandmaster or even the Half Step Master stage.

But if he could spar with a true Grandmaster, Yang Chen's actual strength would be undeniable.

Meanwhile, Wild Wolf and Wang Teng were rendered speechless by the Grandmasters' imposing auras, fading into the background like shadows.

Yang Chen inhaled deeply, a fierce glint in his eyes reminiscent of a wild wolf. He licked his lips and once more surveyed the Grandmasters, a slight smirk forming at the edge of his mouth.

"If you doubt me, then let's settle it with a battle, shall we?"