Who the hell are you

The barrier instantly opened a gap just wide enough for two people to pass through. The Griffon Knights lined up on both sides, respectfully escorting Kalisia as they flew inside.

But just as Ye Chuan, holding Kalisia, was about to follow them through the barrier, the knight captain immediately stepped forward. Raising a hand to stop him, his face bore an apologetic expression.

Sir, I am very sorry. We are endlessly grateful that you saved the young lady, but according to the rules of the Storm Domain, all outsiders entering the city must undergo an identity verification.

He, he is not a bad person, he is a good man, Kalisia immediately said.

Apologies, my lady.

The knights behind him instantly tightened their grips on their lances. Although they did not point them at Ye Chuan, they assumed a defensive posture.

They could clearly sense that this young man before them had not a single trace of light magic aura. This unfathomable strength meant they had to be on guard.

Kalisia immediately frowned. He is my savior! Not a demon! How can you treat him like this?

My lady, this is an ironclad rule set by the Duke. Even for you, we cannot make an exception. The knight captain bowed with a bitter expression.

We can guarantee that we will absolutely not offend this gentleman. It is merely a verification process. Once we ensure there are no issues, we will immediately let him enter the city. We ask for your understanding, sir.

Ye Chuan did not really mind, especially since these people had a decent attitude.

Had it been slightly worse, Ye Chuan would have been tempted to pull out his own banner.

It is fine. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. We can go by your rules. However, I do not have any identity tokens on me, so how do you plan to verify me?

Ultimately, after some discussion, the knights decided to temporarily place Ye Chuan in an isolation room near the city gate and wait for the Duke to personally make a decision.

They did not slight Ye Chuan in the least, but two knights stood guard at the door the entire time. Their eyes remained vigilantly fixed on him, terrified that he might be a demon spy in disguise.

The isolation room was small and simply furnished, containing only a wooden table and two chairs. Runes capable of detecting magic were carved into the walls.

Ye Chuan sat casually on a chair, looking at the tense young guard at the door, and struck up a conversation with a smile.

Brother, do not be so nervous. I am really not a demon.

The guard paused for a moment, a flash of embarrassment crossing his face, but he still gripped his spear tightly and said in a deep voice.

Sir, I apologize, but this is my duty.

I get it, better safe than sorry. Ye Chuan raised an eyebrow and asked casually.

I saw the wasteland outside; it has been completely ravaged by the demons. Over the past ten years, has there really been no one who could stop the demons? Does the human race not have any top experts holding the line?

Hearing this, the tension on the guard's face instantly faded, replaced by deep exhaustion and helplessness. He looked around to make sure no superiors were present before lowering his voice.

Of course we have experts. His Holiness the Pope is a Tier Nine Saint Realm expert. The Dukes of the major principalities and the Cardinals of the Church are also Tier Seven or Tier Eight Grand Mages and Grand Knights. But... there are just too many demons.

His voice was full of bitterness. At the same tier, a single human expert has to face at least three or four demons of equal strength.

Moreover, they are not afraid of death and feel no pain. We simply cannot win a war of attrition.

Over the past ten years, the human experts have either died or been severely injured. The only reason we have held out until now is by relying on the Holy Mountain's barrier and the defensive fortifications of the various territories to weather the storm.

Ye Chuan nodded thoughtfully. No wonder the demons were able to steamroll across more than half the continent.

What about your Storm Domain? Ye Chuan asked another question.

The guard's face instantly dimmed. His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but he ultimately swallowed his words. He just forced a smile, shook his head, and said.

The Storm Domain has the Duke and the Griffon Knight Order. We will definitely be able to hold it.

After saying this, he shut his mouth and resumed his defensive posture, refusing to say another word.

But in reality, having only a Tier Seven expert standing guard meant they were only safe because they were not in the core zone. At this rate, they would inevitably fall sooner or later.

...

Not long after, the door to the isolation room was pushed open.

Kalisia was the first to rush in. She quickly ran to Ye Chuan's side and said with an apologetic face.

Sir Xi Xi, I am so sorry for subjecting you to this grievance!

Behind her followed a tall, middle-aged man.

The man wore silver-trimmed knight armor. His deep blue eyes were filled with the sharpness and composure of a seasoned veteran.

His gaze fell upon Ye Chuan, looking him up and down, and his brows instantly furrowed slightly.

The young man before him was dressed in strange, unprecedented clothing. It was not noble formal wear, nor was it a mage's robe, much less a knight's armor.

Both the fabric and the style exuded an indescribable sense of unfamiliarity.

What made him even more vigilant was that he could not sense any magic fluctuations from this young man at all. His entire being was like a pool of bottomless, still water; he was clearly sitting right there, yet it felt as if he could vanish into thin air at any moment.

The Duke of Storms' eyes grew increasingly solemn. He gave Ye Chuan a slight nod, his tone utterly devoid of warmth.

Sir, thank you for saving my daughter. I am Duke Samuel of the Storms, Kalisia's father.

It was nothing, just on my way. Ye Chuan waved his hand casually, leaning back in his chair and looking at him calmly.

The Duke of Storms took a step forward and said in a deep voice.

Just on your way? I am afraid your strength is far from as simple as it appears on the surface, is it not?

Being a bit stronger is never a bad thing. At the very least, it allowed me to bring your daughter back safely. Ye Chuan smiled.

But all of this is a bit too coincidental. The Duke of Storms' gaze locked onto Ye Chuan.

My daughter was abducted less than half a day ago, and you just happened to encounter her, just happened to save her, and just happened to accurately find the location of the Storm Domain to bring her back.

Sir, do you not think all these coincidences make it seem like a meticulously orchestrated scam?

Kalisia immediately grew anxious. She pulled on the Duke of Storms' arm and cried out.

Father! What nonsense are you saying! Sir Xi Xi is truly my savior! If it were not for him, I would have been taken away by the demons long ago! How can you suspect him like this!

Kalisia, you cannot read a person's heart from their face, especially right now when the demons are so adept at disguise and infiltration! The Duke of Storms sternly interrupted his daughter, his gaze still fixed on Ye Chuan.

Sir, I have to suspect that you are a spy sent by the demons. Under the guise of saving my daughter, you infiltrated the Storm Domain to scout the city's defensive layouts, or perhaps even to dismantle the Storm Domain's barriers from the inside.

Hearing this, Ye Chuan did not get angry at all; instead, he could not help but laugh out loud.

How interesting. If converted into cultivation terms, this would be like a Heavenly Immortal Realm expert trying to scout the layout of a Dao Comprehension Realm cultivator, would it not?

He said slowly.

Lord Duke, your suspicions are perfectly reasonable. So tell me, how am I supposed to prove that I am not a demon?

It is very simple, the Duke of Storms said in a deep voice.

I know the Church of Light's True Eye magic, which can probe your memories and the origin of your soul.

"As long as you are willing to accept my magical probe, I can confirm whether you are a demon or not. As long as you are innocent, I, the Duke of Storms, will definitely apologize for my suspicion today and do everything in my power to repay you for saving my daughter."

Hearing this, Ye Chuan raised an eyebrow, finding it quite novel.

Having lived for so long, he had always been the one searching others' souls. This was the first time someone dared to say to his face that they wanted to probe his memory and soul.

He wasn't angry, though. After all, the Duke of Storms was just a father desperate to protect his daughter. In this apocalyptic environment, being a bit cautious was completely understandable.

But to let someone else search his soul—that was absolutely impossible.

"I'm sorry, Lord Duke, but I refuse." Ye Chuan shook his head, his tone flat but leaving no room for argument.

"My memories and soul are not something just anyone can look at."

"You refuse?" The Duke of Storms' eyes instantly turned freezing cold.

"Father! Don't be impulsive!" Kalisia immediately stood in front of Ye Chuan, spreading her arms to protect him as she shouted at the Duke of Storms.

"Lord Xi Xi is not a demon! If he wanted to harm us, there would be no need for him to bring me back! You can't treat him like this!"

Just as the father and daughter were at a stalemate, Ye Chuan smiled and patted Kalisia on the shoulder, motioning for her to step aside.

He looked up at the wary Duke of Storms and said slowly,

"Lord Duke, don't be so agitated. Let's forget about the soul search. I have a better way to prove that I am not a demon."

The Duke of Storms narrowed his deep blue eyes and asked coldly, "Oh? What way?"

Ye Chuan didn't speak; he merely raised his hand slowly.

The next second, a dazzling light burst from his fingertips!

Ten perfect magic circuits, like golden divine rings, slowly emerged around him. One ring nested within another, overlapping layer by layer to form a flawless interlocking structure.

Magic circuits were the symbol of a mage.

One ring represented one tier.

The light radiating from the magic circuits instantly illuminated the entire quarantine room.

The Duke of Storms' hand, which had been gripping the hilt of his sword, instantly let go.

He froze in place, staring at the ten interlocking magic circuits surrounding Ye Chuan. The wariness on his face was instantly replaced by overwhelming shock and disbelief.

"A... Tenth-Tier Mage?"

"You..."

"Who... exactly are you?"