Lu Yuan rose to his feet.
Restraining his aura, he walked straight out of the room and into the living room, finding a seat.
Those two extraterrestrial visitors knew he had taken the small cauldron, and they also knew about the Shennong Altar. Regardless of the circumstances, he had to take them seriously. Moreover, in his past life, his entrance into the Mount Li Imperial Mausoleum had also been connected to them.
Naturally, Lu Yuan did not know them personally; he only understood that a connection existed. As for what kind of backing they had, where they came from, their identities, and whether they were friends or foes, none of that was clear to him yet.
Back then, he had simply been too weak, unable to reach higher echelons, not even qualifying as a minor figure. Things were different now, but Lu Yuan still had no intention of letting down his guard.
First and foremost, he needed to ascertain their purpose.
Before long, Elder Yun arrived with the young woman and the elderly man.
Stepping into the hall, Elder Yun spoke directly: "King Lu, I have brought our guests."
He and Lu Yuan had already discussed the matter beforehand, so there was no need for formal greetings.
Lu Yuan stood and looked up. He first glanced at the old man, who radiated a formidable, unfathomable aura. His exact strength was difficult to discern from appearances alone, but he was undeniably powerful. The New Era had arrived less than two years ago; apart from Lu Yuan himself, who had prepared well in advance, it was impossible for anyone else to reach such a level. Clearly, this man was an extraterrestrial being.
Next, he turned his gaze to the young woman.
She possessed an extraordinary temperament, striking beauty, and a tall, slender figure. She was nearly flawless in every respect, and dressed in ancient robes, she seemed as though she had walked straight out of a classical scroll painting. Yet she released no aura whatsoever, appearing no different from an ordinary person.
Seeing this, Elder Yun said nothing and quietly stepped outside. Knowing the three had important matters to discuss, there was no need for him to listen in.
"Greetings, Lu Yuan. My name is Jiang Ningxian. I hail from the Jiang clan of the Desolate Flame Star Domain—that is to say, the descendants of Human Sovereign Shennong from your world." The young woman—Jiang Ningxian—smiled radiantly and extended her right hand, introducing herself without any superfluous pleasantries.
Like her attire, her name carried an ancient air.
"Descendants of Human Sovereign Shennong?"
Surprised, Lu Yuan reached out and shook her hand. Without wasting words, he said directly, "May I ask what brings the two of you here?"
He had previously acquired the Human Sovereign's blood at the Shennong Altar. According to her, that essence blood belonged to her ancestor, and she even knew about the Ancestral Dragon Breathing Method. Thus, his first priority was to understand her intent.
"Before long, the great clans of various star domains will descend, and this world will usher in an unprecedented grand era."
Jiang Ningxian pondered for a moment before continuing, "I wish to establish a partnership with King Lu. Of course, I am not asking you to perform any difficult tasks. I only hope that when my clan descends, we will be granted a place to settle—nothing vast, just a small territory will suffice. To express our gratitude, my clan will offer more than enough sincerity when the time comes. I hope you will agree."
She was direct and offered no convoluted explanations. Moreover, she spoke with great modesty, without the slightest trace of arrogance; rather, she took the posture of someone making a respectful request, even addressing him directly as King Lu.
"I do not possess such authority," Lu Yuan said, shaking his head.
Indeed, he held no official rank or station. Such matters had to be agreed upon by Elder Ji and the leadership.
Jiang Ningxian was taken aback by his response. She immediately asked, "King Lu, aren't you going to ask about the descent of the various star domains first?"
A territory to settle in was a secondary matter that could be negotiated over time. The crux was that he did not even appear curious about extraterrestrial beings. If anyone else in this world learned of this, they would surely be shaken and filled with dread. Yet his reaction suggested he had anticipated it all along.
Lu Yuan merely smiled and said nothing.
To him, this was hardly a grand secret. Or perhaps she realized that he already knew something, which made further explanations on that front unnecessary.
"I see."
Jiang Ningxian looked deeply at Lu Yuan, choosing not to press the issue. Instead, she said, "Regarding the settlement, I hope King Lu will consider it. I am in no hurry, but my sincerity in this matter is absolute, and I will certainly ensure that you—or rather, the authorities of this world—are satisfied. After all, the Jiang clan shares the same roots and origins as you and all of Huaxia."
She had already been here for some time and understood many things, including Lu Yuan's temperament. She also recognized that beyond cooperating with him, the authorities were of paramount importance—and this man held immense influence over all of Huaxia.
"I will pass word along," Lu Yuan nodded. He sensed no hostility from Jiang Ningxian; from the moment she entered, she had shown only goodwill.
More importantly, in his previous life, the Desolate Flame Star Domain had indeed maintained extensive and harmonious cooperation with the authorities. In his memories, it ranked among the top hundred star domains across the cosmos, sitting near the very forefront. However, this was the first time Lu Yuan had learned that the Jiang clan stood behind that star domain.
The Jiang clan was truly a formidable lineage, undeniably profound and unfathomable.
"Thank you." Hearing his response, Jiang Ningxian beamed with a smile and bowed slightly with great courtesy.
"No need for thanks," Lu Yuan said, shaking his head. He continued, "I assume you came to see me today with another purpose in mind?"
In truth, what she had just raised could easily have been discussed directly with Elder Ji and Elder Yun. There had been no need to meet him in person, so there had to be something else. Perhaps it was about the small cauldron, or perhaps the Human Sovereign's blood from the Shennong Altar.
"Naturally." Jiang Ningxian smiled. "I know that King Lu obtained the Ancestral Dragon Breathing Method at the Mount Li Imperial Mausoleum, and my ancestor's blood at the Shennong Altar. Forgive my bluntness, but those were originally the objectives of my Jiang clan. However, fortuitous encounters have always belonged to those fated to receive them. Since you have claimed them, I will say no more about it. Not only that, but I hope to foster good relations with you on behalf of the Jiang clan. To that end, I have prepared a gift—one with no strings attached."
With that, she retrieved a small bronze furnace from her sleeve. It had three legs and measured only a few inches across, yet it radiated streaks of mystical light, looking profoundly miraculous. The moment it appeared, the temperature in the entire room surged.
At first glance, Lu Yuan felt the Blood-Qi Pagoda fused within his body stir, as if drawn by an inexplicable attraction.
"I watched King Lu's previous battle. Your blood-qi was surging and astonishing, yet it always felt as though something was missing." Holding the small bronze furnace, Jiang Ningxian spoke with utter sincerity. "This is the Great Sun Flame God Furnace. Even within my clan, it is considered a supreme treasure. It can help you retemper your internal organs and physical body, awakening your latent potential."
"Such an item is far too valuable. Miss Jiang should take it back," Lu Yuan said with a wave of his hand, declining the offer.
There was no such thing as a free lunch in this world. Even though he knew this treasure would be of immense help to him, he would not accept another's kindness so readily—even if she had claimed there were no conditions attached.
"Very well." Jiang Ningxian did not press him, simply nodding. "Then once our cooperation is finalized, I will present it to you as a gift."
Evidently, she attached great importance to this partnership; it was her primary objective today. She knew that negotiating directly through someone with Lu Yuan's current influence would streamline the process and eliminate countless troubles. More crucially, from her observations and understanding over this period, Lu Yuan's weight in her eyes went far beyond that.
Without lingering on the topic, Jiang Ningxian took out a slip of paper. "This is my contact information. If there is any progress, feel free to reach out at any time. I hope to hear good news from King Lu."
With that, she nodded slightly, preparing to depart with the old man.
"Wait."
Lu Yuan spoke up, looking at the young woman before him. "Miss Jiang, you mentioned earlier that you are a descendant of Human Sovereign Shennong. I want to know: what kind of era was that really? And why did Shennong's descendants cross the starry expanse into outer space? Finally, what truly happened in that ancient age?"
These were questions that had lingered in his mind across two lifetimes, never answered. Now that she had revealed her identity, his confusion only deepened.
Shennong's descendants were not in this world, but in another star domain. Why had that happened? And what did the 'great calamity' mentioned on that stone tablet at the Shennong Altar truly signify?
Hearing his questions, Jiang Ningxian paused and knitted her brows in thought before finally speaking: "King Lu, have you ever heard of the Severance of Heaven and Earth?"
"I have. Ancient texts record that Emperor Zhuanxu, one of the Five Emperors of antiquity, severed heaven and earth, reclaiming sacrificial authority and separating humans from the divine, so that they no longer communicated," Lu Yuan replied. He was well aware of such matters, having studied ancient myths extensively. Still, what he mentioned was merely a broad overview; there were many different interpretations when examined closely.
"Yes, that is roughly the idea," Jiang Ningxian said. "This world was not always like this. In ancient times, beings of great power emerged endlessly. But amidst various calamities and endless wars, the sages of old severed the connection between heaven and earth to protect humanity, wiping away a period of history. 'Heaven' refers to the cosmos, and 'earth' refers to this world. Severing heaven and earth protected the human race, but it also caused this world to undergo drastic changes. Legends faded, and the extraordinary receded. Yet in this present era, the constraints of that method have gradually begun to lose their power."
Listening across from her, Lu Yuan fell into deep thought.
This explanation sounded fantastical, yet it made sense; otherwise, how could all those myths and legends be explained? Still, it diverged so sharply from conventional knowledge that it upended one's worldview. Anyone else listening would surely dismiss it as the ravings of a madman.
"As for why my clan crossed the cosmos into outer space, it was to fight in a war. In truth, many other great clans went as well," Jiang Ningxian continued. "It is fair to say that this matter is immensely complicated and cannot be explained in a few words. Even I know very little; it is shrouded in mist and requires careful exploration. In short, this world will become the center of the entire cosmos. A grand era is about to descend—it brings great opportunity, but also great calamity."
She had explained in earnest, but as she said, her own knowledge was limited. Thus, she could only share what little she knew with Lu Yuan.
"Is that so?"
Lu Yuan sank into thought. Combining her words with the memories of his past life, many ideas flashed through his mind, but they were chaotic and difficult to piece together, requiring more information to verify.
"Oh, right, there is one more thing."
Suddenly, as if remembering something, Jiang Ningxian added, "It concerns the Wuzhou Group—or more precisely, that Zhou Yunqiong."
Chapter 107