After a thousand years of cultivation, he returns at the pinnacle!

Soon, Jiang Chen met Chu Tianxiong, the legendary deputy director, in front of the Awakened Ones Administration Bureau.

The two walked side by side down the red carpet, across the square, and toward the main entrance of the building. The Awakened Ones lined up on either side saluted in unison, their movements perfectly synchronized, yet their expressions varied. Some were curious, some awestruck, some nervous, and some expressionless.

As Jiang Chen walked past them, his gaze swept calmly over each person without pausing or responding, as if he were walking past a row of lifeless statues.

The main entrance of the building consists of two massive bronze doors, engraved with images of swords and gavels, with the national emblem of the Dragon Kingdom hanging above the lintel. The bronze doors open inward, revealing a spacious and bright hall inside.

The hall's floor was made of light gray marble, polished smooth as a mirror, reflecting one's image. In the center hung a massive crystal chandelier, cascading from the four-story-high ceiling, casting a soft glow. On the wall opposite the entrance hung a huge map of the Dragon Kingdom, its surface marked with different colored dots indicating the distribution of Awakened forces across the country.

As Chu Tianxiong and Jiang Chen entered, the staff coming and going in the lobby stopped and stepped aside to make way for them. Some bowed, some peeked curiously, and some whispered among themselves.

Jiang Chen ignored those stares and followed Chu Tianxiong through the lobby and into the elevator.

The elevator doors closed, blocking the view from the outside.

The elevator was spacious, with mirrored stainless steel walls and soft LED strips embedded in the ceiling. Chu Tianxiong pressed the "18" button, and the elevator ascended smoothly.

"The headquarters' offices are on floors 15 to 20," Chu Tianxiong explained. "Floor 15 is the administrative office area, floor 16 is the intelligence analysis center, floor 17 is the tactical command center, floor 18 has the VIP reception room and my personal office, floor 19 is the research center, and floor 20 is—"

He paused for a moment.

"The 20th floor is Mr. Chen's private area and is not open to the public."

Jiang Chen nodded without asking any further questions.

The elevator stopped on the 18th floor, and the doors opened to reveal a corridor covered with a dark gray carpet. Along the corridor hung photographs and certificates, mostly records of major events and honors since the establishment of the Bureau of Management. At the end of the corridor was a dark wooden door with a bronze plaque inscribed with the words "Premium Reception Room."

Chu Tianxiong pushed open the door and stepped aside to let Jiang Chen go in first.

The reception room was larger than I had imagined. It was about 70 or 80 square meters in size and decorated in a Chinese style, with mahogany furniture, ink-wash screens, and blue and white porcelain, exuding understated luxury. In the center was a rectangular mahogany conference table, on which sat two cups of freshly brewed tea, their aroma wafting through the air.

A girl was standing by the window.

Shen Qingxue wore a white dress, her long hair cascading over her shoulders, and light makeup on her face. Her left arm was still wrapped in bandages—an injury she sustained the night the apostles descended. Although it had been treated and was no longer a serious problem, the wound had not yet fully healed.

When she saw Jiang Chen come in, her body stiffened visibly for a moment, and then she quickly walked up to him.

"Jiang Chen." Her voice was a little tense, but she tried to remain calm. "You've come."

Jiang Chen glanced at her, his gaze lingering for a moment on the bandage on her left arm.

"Your injury hasn't healed yet?"

Shen Qingxue subconsciously hid her left arm behind her back: "It'll be fine soon, it's nothing."

Jiang Chen didn't say anything more. He walked to the conference table, pulled out a chair, and sat down.

Chu Tianxiong sat down opposite him, and Shen Qingxue hesitated for a moment before sitting down on the same side of Jiang Chen, one seat away.

The three people remained silent for about three seconds.

Chu Tianxiong spoke first. He picked up his teacup, took a sip, put it down, and then looked at Jiang Chen. The smile on his face faded slightly, replaced by a more formal and sincere expression.

"Jiang Chen, first of all, on behalf of the Dragon Kingdom Awakened Affairs Management Bureau, I would like to express my gratitude to you."

His voice wasn't loud, but he pronounced every word clearly.

"Three days ago, the apostles descended upon the capital. Without you, this city might not exist anymore. Millions of lives might already be—"

He didn't continue.

"Everyone in the General Administration, including myself, including Elder Chen, and including all the Awakened Ones who participated in that battle, owes you a life. This is not a polite remark, it is the truth."

He stood up and bowed deeply to Jiang Chen.

This bow was deep. It wasn't a perfunctory, showy bow, but a genuine, heartfelt bow filled with gratitude and respect.

Jiang Chen looked at him without saying anything or stopping him.

Chu Tianxiong straightened up and sat down again.

"I know you may not need our thanks. You may think that killing those apostles was just a piece of cake for you, nothing to brag about. But for the millions of ordinary people in the capital, for those who survived the ruins, for those who lost loved ones but at least survived—you are a hero."

His voice was a little hoarse.

"A true hero."

Jiang Chen picked up his teacup and took a slow, deliberate sip.

The tea is excellent; the fragrance of Longjing tea spreads across the tongue, carrying a subtle sweetness.

"Director Chu," he put down his teacup, his tone still calm, "are you saying all this to make me feel indebted to you, so I'll agree to your next demands?"

Chu Tianxiong was stunned for a moment, then gave a wry smile.

"No. I'm saying this because it's all true. As for the demands—" He paused, "I made no demands. Headquarters has made no demands of you."

Jiang Chen looked at him, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

"No requirements?"

"No." Chu Tianxiong shook his head. "You helped the capital, you helped the General Administration, and you saved millions of lives. If we were to make any more demands of you, that wouldn't be gratitude, that would be extortion."

He leaned back in his chair, his hands clasped on the table.

"What the General Administration wants to do is establish a relationship with you. Not a superior-subordinate relationship, not a partner relationship, not a trading counterparty relationship. Just—a relationship. We welcome you to visit the General Administration if you'd like. We're all ears if you'd like to have a chat with us. If there's anything the General Administration needs our help with, we'll do our best. As for the rest, feel free to ask."

Jiang Chen remained silent for a moment.

"Interesting," he said, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Your Awakened Ones Administration is smarter than I thought."

Chu Tianxiong wasn't sure whether he should take it as a compliment, but he smiled nonetheless.

"You can't be unintelligent in front of you."

The atmosphere in the reception room relaxed a bit.

Shen Qingxue sat beside him without saying a word. Her gaze would occasionally fall on Jiang Chen, then quickly shift away, as if to confirm that he was really sitting next to her, or as if to hide something.

Chu Tianxiong noticed it, but didn't point it out.

"Jiang Chen," he spoke again, his tone becoming more formal, "there's some intelligence from headquarters that you might find interesting."

Jiang Chen looked up at him.

"About the Apostles, about the Demon Gods, about all the knowledge humanity has gained over the past three hundred years through bloodshed," Chu Tianxiong lowered his voice, "you said you were interested in these things. The General Administration is willing to open up all the intelligence accumulated over the years to you. Without reservation, without concealment."

Jiang Chen picked up his teacup and took another sip.

"What are the conditions?" he asked.

"No conditions," Chu Tianxiong said. "Just consider it as—making friends."

Jiang Chen put down his teacup and looked into Chu Tianxiong's eyes.

Those eyes were old, having seen and held too much. But at this moment, there was no calculation, no probing, only a pure, almost earnest sincerity in them.

At least that's how it appears.

"Okay," Jiang Chen said.

Chu Tianxiong paused for a moment, then slowly exhaled.

"Okay." His voice trembled slightly, but he quickly regained his composure. "That's great."

Shen Qingxue, standing beside her, couldn't help but smile.

Jiang Chen leaned back in his chair, his gaze shifting from Chu Tianxiong to the ink-wash screen on the wall. The screen depicted the sea of ​​clouds over Huangshan Mountain, the brushstrokes vigorous and the artistic conception profound.

"Director Chu," he said.

"exist."

"I have a question."

"Please speak."

Jiang Chen turned his gaze away from the screen and back to Chu Tianxiong's face.

Where are those people who are frequently mentioned in the news—'Sword Saint' Ye Wuhen, 'Thunder Emperor' Zhou Tianze, and 'Ice Queen' Luo Qinghe—now?