Above the sky dome, a dignified and majestic golden phantom overlooked the world between the sea and sky.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the battle is about to begin."

Her voice was vast, carried on the howling winds of the sea, reverberating as though in every ear: "This is the moment concerning humanity's survival, the crossroads that will determine the course of human destiny, the radiant chapter to be inscribed in human history."

"Survival, or extinction."

She paused: "To fade into obscurity among the masses, or to reign supreme over the lands."

With a thunderous roar, the golden-lit sky dome trembled as a mountain resembling the pitch-black Dragon Bone seemed to tear the heavens apart, shrouded entirely in golden mist, magnificent and towering, displaying its rugged majesty.

"The Road to Kingship is right before your eyes."

Her voice gradually dissipated, and the oppressive aura that had enveloped the world between the sea and sky vanished entirely.

Her figure disappeared into the expanse of the heavens and earth.

The Heavenly Person Realm still blanketed the Black Cloud City, with the brilliance of gold burning fiercely.

Gu Jianlin stared at the departed figure above the sky dome, falling into silence.

His evaluation was: majestic and domineering.

But not as impressive as Candle Dragon Venerable.

In the birdcage, the parrot was startled and exclaimed, "I thought my master was already unmatched in the art of showing off, but I didn't expect someone even better at it. Whose subordinate was that?"

Gu Jianlin lowered his head and silently gave it a glance.

Lin Wanqiu cleared her throat and said, "That's the President. Few people ever get to see the President. I suppose the people in Black Cloud City must be overjoyed right now, and the forums are likely exploding."

Dead silence.

Gu Jianlin distinctly noticed the silly bird roll its eyes and faint theatrically.

"What was that mountain just now?"

He suddenly asked out of curiosity.

Because Gu Jianlin noticed that the shape of the mountain closely resembled a pitch-black Dragon Bone.

Similar to those black Chains that had bound him in the Qilin Immortal Palace.

"That's the Ghost Valley Secret Treasure. Every generation of the Omega Sequence unlocks a form of ancient inheritance as a reward for the Kingship Seal, also a unique prize for the Beneficiaries of the Catastrophe Plan."

Seeing Gu Jianlin willing to talk to her, Lin Wanqiu felt there might still be hope for the Guardian's matter, and softly explained, "The ultimate reward of this generation's Catastrophe Plan is precisely the Ghost Valley Secret Treasure, though no one knows what it actually contains."

Gu Jianlin's heart stirred, thinking to himself that this must indeed be the Ghost Valley Secret Treasure.

He knew exactly what the so-called Ghost Valley Secret Treasure was.

It was the secret weapon to deal with Candle Dragon Venerable!

"Got it, thank you."

Gu Jianlin said.

Lin Wanqiu smiled tenderly, "You're welcome. Just don't be shocked later when we enter Black Cloud City; it's completely transformed after a week of renovations, nothing like its former decrepit state."

Gu Jianlin had already heard about it previously, that the Dawn Combat Sequence had entered the Qilin Immortal Palace for preliminary exploration and clearing, and supposedly a significant amount of Advanced Combat Power had gone in, consisting of Vanguard Suicide Squad members.

Meanwhile, the Ether Association's infrastructure department had been rebuilding Black Cloud City, turning it into a military base.

"Hold on, turn right ahead and park."

Gu Jianlin instructed.

Lin Wanqiu was momentarily puzzled, but still pulled over on the roadside.

Gu Jianlin opened the door and got out. This was already at the edge of the Forbidden Zone, an abandoned market that had been desolate for many years. Within the rundown alleys were piled-up miscellanea, including a sewer entrance with a loosely covered manhole.

He walked over to the sewer entrance and retrieved a small metal case hidden there in advance.

This had been placed here by the Scholar's men five minutes ago—ten vials of Fallen Angel Blood in total.

The timing was perfectly calculated, neither too early nor too late.

As soon as Gu Jianlin reached Black Cloud City, he could secure these ten vials of Spiritual Secret Medicine.

This was his resource for advancing to the Third Rank.

"Did you hide something here earlier?"

A moment later, Lin Wanqiu saw him return holding a metal case and asked in suspicion.

Gu Jianlin gave a succinct response and sat in the passenger seat, casually asking, "Do you plan to investigate or report this?"

Lin Wanqiu was taken aback: "Of course not. Everyone has their secrets. In fact, many people in the Association secretly buy some contraband in the Dark World. While this violates the Association's regulations, as long as it's not too excessive, generally no one interferes. Especially for talents like you—it's even more lenient."

She added, "Besides, my relations with the Judgement Court… aren't particularly good."

Gu Jianlin chuckled silently.

Indeed, the faction alignment begins immediately—how interesting.

The red supercar drove into Black Cloud City. The entrance had been transformed into a sprawling parking lot, accommodating countless luxury cars, extravagant business vehicles, military jeeps, and freight trucks.

The desolate and decrepit city had undergone significant renovations over the week, emerging anew; at the very least, the roads had been repaved with asphalt, and the old tubular buildings and single-story houses had been demolished, replaced with military facilities. From afar, training grounds could be seen, as well as newly erected, modern office buildings.

Their glass curtain walls reflected the sunlight, exuding a contemporary vibe.

The entrance also had a guard station, where nano warriors stood under the sun, their expressions solemn and resolute, though their gazes remained fixed upward.

Excitement was hidden in their eyes.

Evidently, they were thrilled and fervent due to the President's appearance.

"Black Cloud City has been remodeled like this, outsiders from the Association probably can't get in now."

Gu Jianlin asked casually, "What happened to the original residents of the city? Did they all flee?"