Day 4 Before the Golden Heir Tournament.

The atmosphere inside Nine Lotus Academy became heavier with every passing hour.

More warships arrived continuously from different nations.

More hidden sect geniuses appeared publicly.

More Peak Grandmaster auras filled the academy grounds.

Even ordinary disciples had stopped speaking loudly now.

Because everyone could feel it clearly.

The Golden Heir Tournament was no longer some distant event.

It was approaching rapidly.

Meanwhile...

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

[Current Registered Participants: 7,421]

The growth speed itself shocked many people.

Particularly because registration had only been open for one full day.

The martial world had truly become restless because of the World Tree Blessing.

Meanwhile...

Inside the martial networks, countless discussions flooded continuously.

"More than seven thousand Peak Grandmasters already?!"

"This generation is insane!"

"Several hidden clans finally came out!"

"I heard even isolated island sects are participating!"

"The first round qualification might become harder than the finals!"

Countless prediction lists also began appearing online.

Some ranked famous heirs.

Some ranked hidden sect geniuses.

Some focused purely on combat potential.

And surprisingly...

Tony Clark’s name continued appearing increasingly often now.

Particularly after many martial analysts replayed the Academy Arena battle repeatedly.

Several experts finally concluded something terrifying.

Tony never used full strength during that fight.

That realization alone caused countless people to become wary.

***

Meanwhile...

Inside Nine Lotus Academy...

Tony calmly sat inside his residence while studying the movement pathways of the Heavenly Mirage Steps once more.

The Heaven Rank technique still required stabilization.

Especially the energy control during rapid directional changes.

At that moment—

RINGGGGG!!!

Tony’s communication device suddenly vibrated loudly.

He frowned slightly afterward before answering casually.

"What?"

The moment the connection opened—

An angry roar exploded from the other side immediately.

"YOU STILL REMEMBER YOU HAVE A HOME?!"

Tony instantly moved the device slightly away from his ear.

His father’s furious voice continued blasting through the communicator.

"World Tree Blessing appeared!"

"Golden Heir Tournament opened!"

"Every important heir already returned to their families for preparation!"

"And where the hell are you?!"

Tony lazily leaned backward afterward.

"Inside the academy."

"Cultivating."

His father almost exploded afterward.

"Cultivating my ass!!!"

"You disappear for days!"

"You fight everywhere!"

"You offend people everywhere!"

"And now the entire martial world is gathering while you still roam around like a street dog?!"

Tony calmly rubbed his forehead afterward.

"Are you done?"

"DONE?!"

His father became even angrier afterward.

"Come back home immediately!"

"The elders are already preparing for Golden Heir support meetings!"

"Even your ancestor asked about you yesterday!"

Tony’s expression finally changed slightly afterward.

"Ancestor asked?"

His father snorted coldly.

"You think your recent actions stayed hidden?"

"The Academy Arena battle already spread everywhere."

"Now stop wasting time and return immediately."

Then the call disconnected directly.

Tony stared at the silent communicator briefly afterward before sighing softly.

"That old man really loves shouting..."

Still...

Tony slowly stood up afterward.

Returning home actually matched his own plans anyway.

Particularly because he needed to contact one specific person now.

Supreme Ancestor Lucy Clark.

Unlike the other old monsters of the Clark Family, Lucy rarely involved herself openly in politics.

But her influence across the oceans and international martial routes was terrifying.

Particularly among hidden sea organizations.

Tony quietly stored several items inside his storage ring afterward:

Sea Breathing Talismans, Aura Concealment Powder, Shadow Recovery Pills.

The preparations for the future World Tree infiltration had already begun silently inside his mind.

Of course...

Tony didn’t intend to reveal the full details to anyone yet.

Not even family.

Soon afterward, Tony left the academy grounds quietly.

The moment he exited Nine Lotus Academy, he immediately noticed something different.

The roads surrounding the academy had become overcrowded.

Martial vehicles.

Flying transports.

Luxury warships.

Participants and sect representatives filled the entire region.

Temporary camps even began appearing outside the academy boundaries.

The entire area around Nine Lotus Academy slowly transformed into the center of the martial world itself.

***

Meanwhile...

Far away inside the Clark Family main residence...

The atmosphere remained equally tense.

Dozens of elders gathered continuously inside meeting halls discussing tournament preparation.

Young geniuses moved between cultivation grounds nonstop.

Servants carried cultivation resources everywhere nervously.

The entire family had entered war preparation mode.

Soon afterward—

A flying vehicle descended above the Clark residence slowly.

Tony stepped out calmly afterward.

The moment nearby servants noticed him—

Whispers immediately spread.

"That’s Tony Clark... The Monster has arrived..."

"Quick, inform everyone!"

Tony ignored everything completely while walking toward the inner residence.

But before he could even enter fully—

BOOOOOOM!!!

A furious aura exploded from inside the residence instantly.

"YOU FINALLY CAME BACK?!"

Tony’s father directly appeared at the courtyard entrance while glaring angrily.

Several younger disciples immediately lowered their heads nervously afterward.

Tony calmly replied afterward.

"You shouted enough through the communicator already."

His father almost exploded again.

"You little bastard..."

"You still dare talk back?!"

Tony simply walked past him casually afterward.

"I came back already. What more do you want?"

His father stared at him speechlessly afterward.

Honestly...

Sometimes he genuinely wondered whether Tony feared anything at all.

***

Meanwhile...

Inside the deeper family grounds...

Tony quietly moved toward an isolated courtyard hidden behind ancient silver trees.

Unlike the noisy outer residence, this place remained peaceful and silent.

No guards.

No servants.

No disciples.

Only a single old woman calmly sat beside a pond feeding spirit fish silently.

Her silver hair flowed gently behind her while faint Supreme aura distorted the surrounding air itself.

Supreme Ancestor Lucy Clark... One of the oldest monsters of the Clark Family.

The moment Tony approached—

Lucy calmly spoke without turning around.

"You finally remembered this old lady exists?"

Tony smiled faintly afterward.

"You still look younger than half the elders outside."

Lucy immediately laughed softly afterward.

"You came asking for help."

Not a question.

A statement.

Tony calmly sat opposite her afterward.

"You really know everything."

Lucy slowly glanced toward him afterward.

Her eyes immediately narrowed slightly.

"Interesting..."

She sensed something unusual about Tony’s movement rhythm now.

Still... She didn’t ask directly. Instead, she calmly continued feeding the spirit fish afterward.

"So... What trouble are you planning this time, Tony?"