Chapter 928: Four God Nation Conference

Max shrugged lightly, his expression casual. “I heard the sounds of battle and came to check inside.” His gaze shifted to the five ice cubes still orbiting the serpent’s corpse, faintly glowing with residual energy.

The technique intrigued him; its precision and destructive power were remarkable. ‘If only I dabbled in ice… this would have been worth experimenting with,’ he thought inwardly.

“What about the ice serpent outside the cave?” Sophia asked, her eyes narrowing slightly.

“Taken care of,” Max said calmly, his tone casual as if dealing with a peak Legend Rank beast was routine for him.

Sophia’s expression sharpened. “Taken care of? You don’t mean… you killed it?” she asked, a hint of disbelief in her voice.

Max turned his head toward her, flashing a faint smile. “I did kill it.”

For a moment, Sophia stared at him in silence, her mind trying to process what she had just heard. The ice serpent outside was at the peak of Legend Rank, a guardian beast whose strength she had personally acknowledged as being near Mythic level within the icy terrain.

For her, even holding it back for long was difficult. Yet Max, an expert at the peak of Master Rank, not only held it back but killed it outright. That wasn’t just impressive—it was absurd, bordering on impossible.

Her eyes softened slightly as she whispered, almost to herself, “You… must be a Star Grade genius…”

Max blinked, taken aback by the unfamiliar term. “A Star Grade genius?” he repeated, curious.

Sophia nodded, her expression regaining its usual calm but her voice carrying a trace of respect. “Yes. Above Heaven Grade geniuses, there exists a classification known only to the highest echelons of the Middle Domain—the Star Grade geniuses. This grade is rarely used and only recognized by the top leaders of the strongest forces. So far, only two people have ever been officially confirmed as Star Grade geniuses. And now…”

She looked at Max, studying him from head to toe as if reassessing everything she thought she knew about him. “…I’m starting to think you may be the third.”

“Only two?” Max narrowed his eyes, already guessing who they might be, though he still asked out loud, “Who are these two?”

“Lucien and Freya,” Sophia replied without hesitation. “Their rise to the top of Acaris was far too fast, too extraordinary, making them the first officially recognized Star Grade geniuses. They were simply unmatched in their respective eras, and even now, no one else has reached that standard… at least until I met you.”

Her gaze lingered on Max, her eyes gleaming as if she had just discovered a priceless treasure. “If I’m not wrong, you might also be a Star Grade genius. To possess such overwhelming combat power while still only at the peak of Master Rank… your potential isn’t far behind Lucien and Freya.”

“Oh?” Max raised a brow, interest flickering in his eyes at this so-called classification. “And how exactly is someone determined to be a Star Grade genius?”

Sophia smiled faintly. “There are no fixed conditions for this grade. It’s a classification reserved for the rare few who stand so far above even Heaven Grade geniuses that they can’t be measured by the usual standards. Lucien and Freya were the perfect examples—geniuses whose talent and growth far eclipsed everyone else. Even Heaven Grade geniuses can, at best, display combat power equivalent to five levels above their realm. But you? You’re already displaying twenty levels of combat power. There’s simply no comparison between you and Heaven Grade geniuses.”

Max nodded, understanding the concept now. He didn’t particularly care about such titles or rankings, but there was a quiet satisfaction in knowing his potential was acknowledged to be on the same level as his sister’s. Freya… we’re on the same path after all, he thought, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

Then his expression turned serious as he said, “Can you not tell anyone about this?” He had no desire to suddenly become a spectacle or a target because of some genius classification he hadn’t even asked for.

Sophia tilted her head and smiled slightly. “I can keep your secret, but you’ll have to come with me to the Four God Nation.”

Max frowned slightly. “And for what exactly?”

Sophia stepped closer, her tone calm but persuasive. “Don’t you want to know what’s going on with Alice? Don’t you want to see her again? If you come with me to the Four God Nation, I promise you’ll not only see Alice but also learn about her situation in full detail.”

Max crossed his arms, his eyes narrowing as he stared at her. “If you tell me specifically what it is you truly want from me, then I might consider following you. Otherwise, forget it. I have other ways to get into the Four God Nation.”

Sophia sighed, glancing away for a moment as though weighing her options, before finally speaking honestly. “Every five years, there’s a conference held for the geniuses of the Four God Nation. I want you to represent the White Tiger Nation at this conference.”

“It’s that simple?” Max asked, his tone carrying clear suspicion as he narrowed his eyes at Sophia.

Sophia only smiled, her expression calm and confident. “It’s that simple. You just have to represent my White Tiger Nation alongside its other geniuses in the conference. That’s all. So…” her gaze fixed on him, sharp yet expectant, “…what do you think?”

Max fell silent for a moment, weighing her words carefully. The offer itself seemed harmless, but he knew nothing in this world was truly simple. Still, the benefits were clear. He would get a chance to enter the Four God Nation openly, meet Alice, and perhaps learn more about her situation.

Finally, he nodded and said, “Alright, I’ll go to the Four God Nation with you.” There was no hesitation in his tone anymore. The opportunity to meet Alice alone was worth it, and representing the White Tiger Nation would only add to his growing experience.

Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!