"Young people these days are still too impatient. Life and cultivation must be taken slowly…"

Ethan's voice was calm, even gentle, yet every word carried an invisible weight.

"Young man, I'll give you a chance to reorganize your language," he continued, his gaze steady.

"You'd better think it through before speaking."

As his words fell, the demonic power within Ethan quietly surged.

It did not explode violently, nor did it roar arrogantly. Instead, it spread like a deep tide beneath still waters—heavy, ancient, and suppressive.

"Hey… you little roe deer, what are you trying to—"

The tall guard froze mid-sentence.

His pupils dilated abruptly. His throat tightened. The words that followed never made it out.

Because he felt it.

That aura.

Cold. Vast. Overwhelming.

At first, he thought it was fifth level.

Then his expression changed.

No… seventh level.

Not only seventh—there was something wrong. Something deeper, thicker, more terrifying than ordinary seventh-level demonic power.

The seemingly harmless roe deer standing before him had instantly transformed, in his perception, into a towering shadow.

A great demon.

One who had already stepped into the seventh level—or far beyond it.

"Have you thought clearly?" Ethan asked softly.

"…"

The guard forced himself to breathe.

Calm down.

It's only seventh level.

He himself wasn't weak. He was a city guard of Blue-Wave City, affiliated with the Palace of the Four Cycles. His backing was solid, his authority unquestionable.

In Blue-Wave City, even eighth-level great demons had to behave. Even ninth-level demons couldn't act recklessly.

Even Demon Lords showed restraint before the Senior officials of the Palace of the Four Cycles.

There was nothing to fear.

"Ahem… cough, cough."

The guard cleared his throat, regaining some composure.

"Since you have such strength, why pretend to be an ordinary person?"

His tone softened, tinged with complaint rather than anger.

"This is the city-defense token."

He took out a white jade token engraved with the emblem of Blue-Wave City and handed it over.

"With this token, go to Blue-Wave Tower in the city center. Report there. Someone will arrange your residence, cultivation environment, and other matters."

Ethan accepted the token, weighing it lightly in his palm.

Then—

He vanished.

The guard's heart skipped.

In the next instant, Ethan appeared behind him as if he had always been there.

A gentle hand landed on the guard's shoulder.

Ethan leaned close and whispered near his ear, his voice low and calm:

"Next time, see clearly before speaking."

The guard's face turned pale.

His body stiffened.

Too fast.

He hadn't seen any movement at all.

No fluctuation. No warning. No trace.

It was as if Ethan had simply arrived.

The last time he felt this kind of pressure… was when he stood before a ninth-level great demon.

Equivalent to a Mahayana peak powerhouse among humans.

"Seventh level… no…" the guard thought in horror.

"This roe deer is definitely not just seventh level."

"He hid his strength."

"He's at least ninth level."

The realization sent a chill from the soles of his feet straight to his scalp.

"Do you understand?" Ethan's voice sounded again.

"Gulu—"

The guard swallowed hard.

Sweat beaded on his forehead.

He turned around stiffly, cupped his hands deeply, and lowered his head.

"I was clumsy. If I offended you, please forgive me."

All previous arrogance vanished.

Only respect remained.

Ethan gave his shoulder a light pat.

"I'm in a good mood today," he said indifferently.

"I won't argue with you."

With that, he stepped forward and walked through the city gate.

The surrounding crowd fell silent.

No one had expected it.

A seemingly ordinary roe deer—quiet, low-key, unremarkable—was actually a terrifying great demon.

Even those who couldn't discern Ethan's exact realm could clearly feel that oppressive surge of demonic power just moments ago.

That was no ordinary cultivator.

"Ahem… cough, cough!"

The guard straightened and barked loudly, masking his lingering fear.

"What are you all looking at?! Line up properly!"

The queue resumed, but whispers spread like wildfire.

Meanwhile, inside the carriage of the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce, Jason sat frozen.

His head was still poking out, his mouth slightly open, disbelief written all over his face.

He stared at Ethan's disappearing back, his mind blank.

"M-monster…"

"That kid is actually a big monster."

"Why the hell are you pretending to be a pig and eating a tiger?!"

Regret flooded his chest like a tidal wave.

If he had known…

If he had seen through it…

He would have done everything possible to befriend him. To curry favor. To leave a good impression.

"Heavens," Jason sighed inwardly, his heart aching.

"I missed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

At least… at least that big boss seemed calm.

Hopefully, he hadn't offended him too badly.

But just as Jason was trying to comfort himself, he felt it.

A gaze.

Cold.

Jason stiffened and looked up.

Ethan had turned his head.

Their eyes met.

A faint smile curved Ethan's lips.

Kind.

Gentle.

Yet chilling to the bone.

"It's over," Jason thought despairingly.

"It's really over."

That smile meant only one thing.

The boss remembered him.

"Director."

A soft voice came from inside the carriage.

It belonged to a young roe deer woman with graceful curves and a sweet, delicate appearance. Her eyes were clear, her aura calm yet sharp.

Laura.

His personal guard.

A sixth-level demon.

"What is it?" Jason asked hoarsely.

"That person just now…" Laura hesitated. "His aura was at least seventh level."

"I know," Jason replied bitterly.

The Four Seas Chamber of Commerce had standing in Blue-Wave City, but only to a certain extent.

Their strongest expert was merely a ninth-level demon. There was no Demon Lord overseeing them.

They were, at best, a mid-tier force.

If that great demon came knocking…

The chamber of commerce would abandon him without hesitation to appease such a powerhouse.

Years of effort—gone.

"No," Jason clenched his fists. "I must find a way to appease him."

His gaze slowly shifted toward Laura.

A thought took shape.

Laura had been with him for many years.

He had taken her in as a child, trained her personally, nurtured her talent.

She was beautiful, talented, loyal.

Many great demons had offered high prices to buy her away.

But he never agreed to it.

A/N:

Extra chapters

100 power stones - 1 Extra chapters

200 power stones - 2 Extra chapters

Massage Chair - 1 Extra chapters

Luxury Car - 2 Extra Chapters

Dragon - 5 Extra Chapters

Magic Castle - 15 Extra Chapters

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