Max's figure flickered once, and in the next instant, he appeared before them. His presence drew their immediate attention. Every member of the guild straightened instinctively, bowing slightly as they greeted him.

The respect in their eyes was unmistakable. To them, he wasn't merely a fellow genius—he was their Guild Master, the one who had given them strength, purpose, and power beyond imagination.

"Daniel," Max said evenly, his gaze settling on the tall young man standing at the forefront. Daniel had sharp features, long silver hair tied neatly behind his head, and an aura that radiated quiet confidence. His presence alone was enough to command the attention of the entire group.

"Guild Master," Daniel said, lowering his head slightly. His voice carried both reverence and discipline.

Max crossed his arms and looked at him calmly. "How is the mission I gave you?" he asked. His tone was unhurried, but his eyes gleamed faintly with curiosity. He had sent Daniel and his team a specific task the moment they entered the secret domain—one that had to be completed before the Divine Platform appeared.

Daniel nodded once, his expression firm. "It's done," he said. "Though we suffered some casualties, we managed to eliminate every single one of the demon race geniuses before they could reach the core region. There is no need to worry about them anymore."

The surrounding guild members nodded in agreement, their faces solemn yet filled with a sense of accomplishment.

Max's eyes narrowed slightly as he studied Daniel's face. "Every single one?" he asked quietly.

"Yes, Guild Master," Daniel confirmed. "We made sure of it. Their bodies were destroyed, and their soul marks have been erased. Not a single one survived."

For a brief moment, silence lingered between them. Then, Max smiled faintly—a rare expression that immediately made every guild member lower their heads in pride.

"Well done," he said finally. "You've done exactly as I expected. The demon race has caused enough trouble for our world. It's time their arrogance was crushed."

Daniel bowed deeply. "We only followed your will, Guild Master. The blood you gave us… the strength you awakened in our bodies—it made all of this possible."

Max looked at the group behind Daniel. There were over fifty of them, each exuding a powerful and stable aura. Even the weakest among them had reached the peak of Mythic Rank, while several were already standing at the Divine Rank's threshold.

As he looked at them, Max realized how much they had changed. These were not the same members he had first gathered. Their auras had become sharper, darker, and more refined. They were bound together not only by loyalty but by their shared bloodline—a power Max had personally awakened in them.

'I underestimated them,' Max thought silently. His gaze softened, though his face remained calm. 'I evolved their bloodlines to make them stronger, but I didn't expect this level of progress. Their bloodline now rivals the purity of the Four God Nations. No—perhaps it has already surpassed it.'

Daniel took a step forward. "We are ready for whatever comes next, Guild Master," he said. "The members are positioned across the arena as you ordered. If anything happens when the Divine Platform descends, we can respond immediately."

Max nodded slowly. "Good. Stay sharp," he said. "The core region will be far more dangerous than any of the previous trials. Even though the demon race geniuses are gone, that doesn't mean other world geniuses won't act against us. The moment the Divine Platform appears, everyone will move for the same thing—power, inheritance, and the seat of supremacy. We cannot afford to be careless."

"Yes, Guild Master," Daniel said in unison with the others.

"I will reward each of you handsomely once we leave the secret domain," Max said with a nod, his tone carrying both satisfaction and authority.

His sharp eyes scanned through the rows of guild members standing before him. Their dark uniforms and crimson markings reflected faintly under the golden light of the descending Divine Platform above, giving them an aura of quiet dominance.

Max's expression softened slightly. He was genuinely pleased. The eradication of the demon race's geniuses before they could enter the core region was a significant achievement—one that would reshape the balance of power in the Middle Domain.

The demons had always been an unpredictable threat, and with their strongest eliminated, his world's chances of survival had risen drastically.

However, Daniel, the representative leader of the Black Lotus Guild, immediately shook his head. His silver hair shimmered faintly under the divine radiance as he stepped forward. "Guild Master, there is no need for any rewards," he said firmly, his expression solemn. "You have already given us more than we could ever ask for. You evolved our bloodlines, granted us power far beyond our limits, and made us stronger than most of the three-star geniuses here. Some among us can even rival the heaven-grade geniuses now. Everything we have, every ounce of our strength, comes from your blessing, Guild Master."

His voice carried reverence, and the other guild members nodded deeply in agreement. Their eyes burned with loyalty and pride, their faith in Max absolute.

Max looked at them silently for a moment. There was no arrogance in his expression, only quiet acknowledgment. He didn't need words to convey his understanding; his calm gaze alone was enough.

"Use the full potential of the Divine Platform that is about to descend," he said slowly. "Once it manifests fully, it will connect directly to the divine essence of this domain. The opportunities it holds will not come again, not in this lifetime. Use it, absorb everything it offers, and increase your strength to the peak of Divine Rank. I want all of you to reach it. No exceptions."

The moment his command ended, the entire guild responded as one.

"Yes, Guild Master!"

Their unified voice echoed through the vast arena like a low thunderclap, shaking the golden mist in the air. Every genius nearby turned to look at them, their eyes filled with surprise and even a bit of apprehension. The unity and discipline of the Black Lotus Guild stood in stark contrast to the loose alliances and rivalries among other worlds' forces.

Max's lips curved faintly, the smallest hint of satisfaction crossing his face. Their synchronization, their loyalty, and their sheer confidence were proof of how far they had come under his leadership.

'If all of them reach the Divine Rank,' Max thought quietly, his gaze sweeping over the guild members, 'then I'll have the largest force of Divine Rank experts in the entire Middle Domain. No empire or sect would be able to stand against such power.'

The thought wasn't born from greed—it was calculation. With Mark and the demons still looming as existential threats, power was no longer optional; it was survival. The war in his world would only escalate further once he left this place, and having an army of Divine Rank experts would change everything.

The Middle Domain itself would bend to his will.

He looked once more at Daniel. "Maintain formation when the Platform descends," Max instructed. "No one is to act rashly. Absorb the energy steadily and prioritize stability over speed. The Divine Platform is not a toy; it is a gift from higher realms. Those who lose control will be destroyed by it."

Daniel bowed deeply. "Understood, Guild Master. We will follow your orders precisely."

Max nodded and turned his gaze upward once again. The golden mist in the heavens was now spiraling rapidly, condensing into enormous streams of light that poured down toward the arena. The hum that had filled the air earlier was growing louder with every passing second, resonating with the rhythm of every genius's heartbeat.

He could feel the pull of divine energy beginning to stir within him as well. The ground beneath his feet vibrated faintly, responding to the ancient power descending from above.

"It's beginning," Daniel murmured under his breath, watching the sky with awe.

Max didn't answer. His expression was calm but his eyes gleamed faintly with anticipation. The Divine Platform—something that could help a cultivator transcend the limits of the Divine Rank—was finally awakening.

The final stage of the Heavenly Lord's Secret Domain had begun.

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