103: Professional Association Headquarters

When the light dissipated and the sensation of solid ground returned, a grand and technologically advanced hall appeared before Lin Feng's eyes.

The high dome, colossal screens displaying vast amounts of data, and a constant flow of people with varying aura strengths filled the space.

A pure energy aura and the solemnity of a top power center permeated the air.

A gentle yet penetrating electronic synthesized voice echoed through the hall: "Identity confirmed: Welcome back, Councilor Zhao Tieying."

Zhao Tieying strode forward, with Lin Feng following closely behind him.

He could clearly feel countless gazes, like tangible entities, landing on him, filled with undisguised scrutiny...

"Tsk, a new face? Who is it?"

"Councilor Zhao brought him back personally? He looks quite ordinary."

"Silver-level peak? Could he be a talented Summoner brought in to explore the Secluded Valley Abyss?"

"Shh! Keep your voice down! Councilor Zhao is right there!"

A voice nervously lowered itself.

"Just now, I detected fluctuations of the Power of Rules on this young man. Perhaps he is another talented Summoner, just like that other person..."

"Power of Rules, huh? It seems this year's Summoner Talent Battle will be interesting. I just wonder who will get the final spot and represent the Professional Association in the Secluded Valley Abyss."

Lin Feng kept his eyes straight ahead, as if he hadn't heard any of the discussions.

As he walked, he silently observed everything in the Professional Association headquarters.

The environment here was different from the opulent power center he had imagined; it was more like a combination of a highly precise, giant operating factory and a cutting-edge laboratory.

The air was filled with a faint herbal fragrance, the subtle warmth of smelted metal, the ancient scent of ink and parchment, and an indescribable energy field fluctuation.

Staff members in various attire bustled about.

Most of them wore intricate badges representing different auxiliary professions.

Patterns of potion bottles, alchemy arrays, forging hammers, runic pens, precision robotic arms, plant sprouts, and even abacuses and ledgers...

Lin Feng even saw several scholars in white coats, with complex light screens floating before them as they performed data calculations.

Most of these individuals didn't possess strong auras, but their eyes were sharp and focused, exuding the pride and competence of their respective fields.

They hurried about, exchanging professional jargon, and their occasional glances at Lin Feng carried a condescending scrutiny—the natural superiority of "experts" over "outsiders."

In stark contrast to them were the guards positioned at key points in the hall, at corridor entrances, and even on the floating platforms beneath the dome.

They wore battle armor or tight-fitting combat gear of different designs but all exuding a tough, cold quality. Their figures were tall and straight like javelins, and their eyes were as sharp as an eagle's.

The cold gleam of their weapons, either concealed or partially visible, shimmered at their waists, backs, or in their hands.

Lin Feng could clearly feel the palpable pressure emanating from them, an aura of iron and blood forged through countless life-and-death battles.

More importantly, the latent energy fluctuations from these individuals were all Gold-level.

They were the only combat force in this massive "auxiliary factory," silent and powerful, like cold blades embedded in precise machinery.

Zhao Tieying led Lin Feng through the wide main hall and into a relatively quiet passage made of high-strength alloy.

Numerous alloy doors lined both sides of the passage, with light screens displaying numbers and statuses next to them.

Finally, he stopped before a door marked "C-7 Temporary Residence."

"Beep! Authorization confirmed: Councilor Zhao Tieying. Temporary visitor access activated."

The door slid open silently, revealing a simple, empty room.

"You'll stay here for now."

"The headquarters has many rules, don't wander around, especially don't go near the core areas. There are many people there even I can't afford to offend."

His gaze swept over Lin Feng.

"If you have any questions, wait. Everything can be discussed after I report back."

With that, Zhao Tieying turned decisively and strode away, disappearing at the end of the passage.

Lin Feng closed the door, and the room fell silent.

He walked to the bed and sat down.

"There are even people here that Councilor Zhao Tieying can't afford to offend."

This piqued Lin Feng's interest considerably.

Just then... "Bang! Bang! Bang!"

A violent knocking suddenly broke the room's silence.

Lin Feng frowned slightly and got up to walk to the door.

The light screen on the door showed a strange young man outside, handsome but with an arrogant and hostile air. He wore well-tailored casual clothes with a certain family crest, his eyes glaring unkindly at the security camera.

Lin Feng pressed the open button.

As soon as the door slid open a crack, the young man forcefully pushed it, nearly hitting Lin Feng.

He stepped into the room, his gaze raking over Lin Feng like a knife, a look of undisguised mockery on his lips.

"You're Lin Feng?"

The young man's voice rose, full of provocation.

"Hah! Quite the attitude, aren't you! Making this Young Master wait for you in this shabby place for half a day!"

Lin Feng's eyes were calm.

"Do we know each other?"

"Know you?"

The young man scoffed exaggeratedly, as if he had heard the funniest joke.

"What are you, that you're worthy of knowing me? My name is Chen Feng! The Chen family, have you heard of it? Elder Chen, the headquarters' Grandmaster Alchemist, is my grandfather!"

He raised his hand and pointed at Lin Feng's nose, his spittle almost spraying onto Lin Feng's face.

"I just wanted to see what kind of 'genius' could make Councilor Zhao Tieying personally pick him up, and make us talented Summoners wait here! The result? Just this?"

His deliberately loud voice echoed in the quiet corridor, like a stone thrown into calm water.

"Oh, Young Master Chen, what's going on here?"

A teasing voice came from outside the door.

"Is there a show? Is Young Master Chen lecturing a newcomer again?"

"Tsk tsk, which unlucky soul offended Young Master Chen this time?"

Footsteps and murmurs rapidly approached.

In just a dozen seconds, the entrance to Lin Feng's small C-7 Temporary Residence was blocked by over a dozen people.

These individuals, male and female, dressed in various ways, were mostly young, with expressions of schadenfreude or, like Chen Feng, undisguised contempt.

Their gazes, like searchlights, focused on Lin Feng, filled with scrutiny, mockery, and gloating.

What made Lin Feng's heart clench even more was that several gazes in the crowd were exceptionally cold, like tangible icy needles, carrying undisguised malice, and even... a faint, almost imperceptible killing intent quietly locked onto him.

The air seemed to solidify, so oppressive it was hard to breathe.

Seeing the crowd grow, Chen Feng's arrogance intensified, and his chin lifted higher.

"Everyone look! This kind of trash, is he worthy of entering the headquarters? Is he worthy of making us wait? Councilor Zhao must be getting senile! Kid, if you know what's good for you, get lost quickly. Don't embarrass yourself here and dirty the floors of our Professional Association!"

"Exactly, Young Master Chen is right!"

"Get out!"

"How can a good-for-nothing stay in the same place as us?"

Several individuals in the crowd, clearly Chen Feng's cronies, immediately chimed in, stirring up the atmosphere.

Although the others didn't speak, the rejection and disdain in their eyes were almost palpable.

Lin Feng's gaze gradually turned cold, and subtle cracks began to appear in the space around him, seemingly hinting at the faint roars of beasts...

Just as Lin Feng was about to summon an alien to deal with the constantly clamoring person in front of him, a familiar voice from the crowd made Lin Feng instantly calm down.

"Qin Yuyan?!"