This was an incomparably vast hall, exuding a solemn and chilling atmosphere. The eerie silence that permeated the space made it feel as though one had stepped into a ghostly realm.

  The ceiling soared over ten meters high, and the scale of the hall was overwhelmingly grand. The floor was covered with a carpet adorned with intricate patterns, while dozens of massive pillars of varying colors stood irregularly throughout the chamber. At a glance, the space seemed utterly empty, with only a single figure present—an elderly man with white hair and a flowing white beard.

  The old man sat cross-legged on the floor, eyes gently closed, his long beard reaching the ground. His face was as still as an ancient well, embodying the demeanor of a true enlightened sage. The aura surrounding him, imbued with an ethereal and dignified presence, only reinforced this impression. Ye Tianxie’s gaze swept over the old man from head to toe, finally settling on his beard, idly wondering just how many years it had taken to grow to such a length.

  The moment they stepped into the hall, the seven Job Change Mentors, who had been brimming with confidence along the way—either bombarding Ye Tianxie with questions or boasting about the prowess of their respective professions—fell completely silent. Even their expressions grew solemn and cautious, like obedient students suddenly finding themselves before a strict teacher.

  "Master, we have come with an important matter," the Mage Job Mentor said respectfully, facing the old man, who remained completely unmoved by their arrival.

  "What is it?" The old man's lips did not move, yet his deep voice resonated through the chamber. His tone carried a dreamlike, distant quality, as if it came from the heavens themselves. If one were to close their eyes, it would be impossible to determine the direction from which the voice originated.

  "Master, for the first time since the nameless one all those years ago, another individual has appeared bearing the Hero’s Emblem… Moreover, he has rejected all seven of our profession blessings. I believe you will find him quite interesting."

  A brief silence followed. Then, in an instant, the quiet old man opened his eyes, locking his gaze onto Ye Tianxie. Yet, contrary to Ye Tianxie’s expectations, he felt nothing unusual from the old man's stare. Meeting his eyes, it was as if he were looking at any ordinary elderly man—there was none of the overwhelming presence that legends claimed powerful figures could exude through a mere glance.

  However, the moment those eyes opened, the already icy air within the hall seemed to freeze over completely. The entire chamber fell into absolute stillness. The seven Job Change Mentors beside Ye Tianxie stood as if paralyzed, not daring to move or even breathe too loudly.

  Judging by their reactions alone, Ye Tianxie could immediately tell—this old man was certainly not one with a gentle temperament.

  Yet, just as that thought formed in his mind, it was instantly shattered.

  "Hehehe… Young man, you must be the one they were talking about," the old man said softly, his voice gentle and warm. He slowly rose to his feet, a serene smile spreading across his face like a spring breeze. "Your Hero’s Emblem does not lie to me. And indeed, from you, I can sense an aura distinct from that of ordinary people. You, come closer."

  Ye Tianxie’s eyes flickered slightly. He glanced at the expressions of the seven mentors beside him before stepping forward, approaching the old man. The seven mentors hesitated momentarily before carefully following behind him.

  The old man studied Ye Tianxie from head to toe, his smile growing even warmer. "This is indeed a Hero’s Emblem. To think that in my lifetime, I would once again see someone capable of earning it, just like Nameless from years past… And you… only level 11, with average attributes. To obtain the Hero’s Emblem should have been an impossible feat. Yet, you succeeded. If you weren’t standing before me right now, I would find it completely unbelievable… You are the first person in many years to make me doubt my own eyes and judgment."

  Ye Tianxie smiled faintly, saying nothing.

  Only level 11, with ordinary attributes… That was true. His success in the Abyss Trial had relied not just on his talent attributes, which were several times greater than the average person’s, but also on the attack items he had purchased from Yuanque at the novice village's apothecary—items that were considered game-breaking at that stage.

  In the end, his triumph in the Abyss Trial had not been solely due to strength. Luck and opportunity had played significant roles as well. Without those attack items, he never would have stood a chance against the final boss, the Amethyst War Tiger.

  The Hero’s Emblem could only be obtained through the novice village trial… Which led to the question—how had Nameless, who had also been just level 10 back then, overcome such an impossibly difficult trial? If it had been purely based on raw strength… then he truly deserved the title of Lost Continent’s number one expert.

  "Come with me," the old man said, patting Ye Tianxie’s shoulder before leading him toward a half-open stone door to the right.

  After taking a few steps, he suddenly turned around and bellowed so loudly that Ye Tianxie nearly jumped out of his skin, "AND JUST WHAT THE HELL DO YOU SEVEN BASTARDS THINK YOU’RE DOING FOLLOWING US?!"

  The seven mentors froze in place, petrified under the thunderous roar. The Mage Job Mentor swallowed nervously and stammered weakly, "W-We just wanted to see what kind of person this ‘Xie Tian’ really—"

  "SEE YOUR DAMN SISTER! You lot actually left your posts without my permission?! Unbelievable! What have I always taught you?! GET OUT OF HERE BEFORE I DECIDE HOW TO PUNISH YOU!"

  The old man's eyes widened furiously, his beard bristled, and the muscles on his face wrinkled like ancient tree bark.

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  "Ah—y-yes, yes, Master!" The seven mentors paled and immediately backed away, scurrying out of the hall as fast as they could. The moment they crossed the threshold, they turned and bolted like the wind, vanishing without a trace.

  Ye Tianxie’s expression remained frozen for a full five seconds before he managed to regain his composure. This old man, who had seemed as gentle as a kindly old goat just moments ago… was clearly not as mild-tempered as he first appeared.

  Yet, as soon as he turned back to face Ye Tianxie, in the blink of an eye, that kindly old goat expression was back in place. He chuckled warmly. "Come, follow me."

  Ye Tianxie silently bared his teeth but maintained an impassive expression as he followed.

  The heavy marble door creaked open, and a wave of soft, radiant light spilled into the chamber.

  Then—boom—the stone door slammed shut behind them.

  This old man… was the one the Mage Job Mentor had referred to as the strongest magic master of Tianchen City—Kong Xiu.

  The room they had entered was a completely enclosed chamber, devoid of any external light sources. Yet, it was bathed in a soft, glowing white light, making everything clearly visible.

  The source of this illumination was not fire nor lamps, but a colossal gemstone.

  A massive jade stone, emanating a gentle white glow, stood more than a man’s height tall. Upon closer inspection, it was a perfectly symmetrical octahedron, hovering motionlessly in the exact center of the chamber as though held in place by some unseen force.

  All the light in the room emanated from it.

  The elderly man gazed at the pristine octahedral gemstone before him, his voice gentle as he spoke. "Young man, judging by your expression, you must be wondering why you instinctively reject the blessings of the seven primary professions. Given that you possess the Hero’s Emblem, this phenomenon is not surprising. A true hero, when burdened by conventional professions, finds their innate talent and strength stifled—thus, their very being repels such limitations. Just like Nameless did in the past. He, too, rejected the seven fundamental professions."

  If not for his previous bout of furious shouting, his demeanor now would have painted him as nothing short of an enlightened sage, exuding an air of transcendence.

  "What profession did Nameless ultimately acquire?" Ye Tianxie asked, the words "hidden profession" flashing through his mind. Hidden professions—unique roles beyond the seven basic professions—were known for their rarity and distinctiveness. While not necessarily stronger than standard professions, they each carried their own unique attributes. In games like Skybreaker and Godslayer, hidden professions existed as well, with no more than ten players ever gaining access to them. Yet, he had never been among those select few. He had never obtained a hidden profession, instead ascending to an unrivaled peak through conventional means.

  “Lone Wolf.”

  The name left Ye Tianxie momentarily stunned. It sounded more like a creature than a profession.

  "Surprised, aren’t you?" Kong Xiu chuckled knowingly. "Lone Wolf—that was his profession, one that belonged solely to him. This profession did not exist before him; it was born from his own power, and he named it himself. It was I who helped him awaken that power. In other words, the reason Nameless became an invincible legend of the Lost Continent… is because of me."

  The first part of his explanation carried a solemn, authoritative air, but by the time he reached the end, his wrinkled face had transformed into one of unabashed pride, his self-satisfaction nearly tangible. Ye Tianxie silently deducted five more points from his impression of this so-called "Grand Magus" and "enlightened sage."

  With this kind of mindset, he’s supposed to be some wise and transcendent master? More like an overgrown child with a superiority complex.

  Though these thoughts swirled in his mind, his expression remained composed. Instead, he turned toward Kong Xiu, eyes burning with admiration and eager anticipation. This look of reverence greatly pleased the old man, who smiled even more kindly.

  "You have obtained the Hero’s Emblem despite your current level and attributes, and you naturally reject the seven primary professions—this proves that, like Nameless, you harbor immense, latent power within you, a power even you have yet to realize. Tell me, young man, am I correct?"

  Ye Tianxie nodded. Immense, hidden power… Could it be that his own extraordinary, innate abilities had somehow influenced his existence in this world? Or was it something else entirely?

  Kong Xiu chuckled. "No matter. The truth is, I have long been waiting for someone like you—a true hero. Only those who obtain the Hero’s Emblem are genuine heroes. And among them, those who reject conventional professions are the rarest of the rare. When I first saw you, I nearly lost my composure… Because, perhaps, another Nameless is about to be born!"

  Ye Tianxie: "…"

  "This gemstone is called the ‘God-Summoning Stone.’ It is the most precious and mystical artifact in all of the Lost Continent—there exists only one. Long ago, the supreme deity of the Lost Continent, the Goddess Xiyao, bestowed it upon Tianchen City, and the esteemed Lord of the City granted it to me, so that I might use it to guide true heroes. It was with the aid of this very stone that Nameless became who he was."

  As he spoke, Kong Xiu led Ye Tianxie closer to the mysterious gemstone. The nearer they got, the more he could feel an inexplicable warmth emanating from it. Now up close, he could see that the "white glow" it emitted was, in fact, radiating from a transparent crystalline structure. It was an eerie and otherworldly sight.

  "This ‘God-Summoning Stone’ is remarkable," Kong Xiu continued. "When one channels their energy into it, the stone reveals the true extent of their power—including any latent potential. With my magical guidance, I can further awaken this dormant strength. That was how Nameless’ true power was drawn out. From the moment his abilities awakened to the day he fully mastered them, he took less than three years. He was a true prodigy."

  By now, Ye Tianxie had heard the name "Nameless" more times than he could count. Yet every time Kong Xiu uttered it, his expression wasn’t one of reverence, but unmistakable self-congratulation—as if Nameless’ greatness was merely a testament to his own achievements.

  Ye Tianxie sighed internally.

  "Are you saying…"

  "That’s right!" Kong Xiu nodded emphatically. "There is no doubt that you possess extraordinary, hidden power. Now, let’s see just how strong it truly is… Could it be that your potential rivals that of Nameless?!"

  Ye Tianxie’s eye twitched. Can you shut up about Nameless already? You might as well rename yourself ‘Nameless' at this point.

  "What do I need to do?"

  "Simple. Place your hand on the God-Summoning Stone, close your eyes, clear your mind, and remain perfectly still."

  Ye Tianxie nodded, stepping forward and pressing his right palm against the gemstone. A smooth, cool sensation greeted his touch—nothing more. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and quickly calmed his mind.

  “The God-Summoning Stone has eight facets because it is composed of eight different energy crystals. When a person connects with it, the strength of their power determines the stone’s reaction. An ordinary person might not trigger any response at all, whereas a skilled warrior could light up the lowest-tier crystal. As for the strongest of the strong… someone like me, for instance, can illuminate two crystals.”

  Ye Tianxie: "…"

  Keeping his eyes closed and his mind serene, he felt his energy subtly flowing through his palm, as though seeping into the ancient stone before him.

  "Now, do you know how many crystals were activated when Nameless touched the God-Summoning Stone?"

  Ye Tianxie: "…"

  He remained silent, suppressing the urge to roll his eyes as he focused on the task at hand.