Lu Yuan's voice was exceptionally cold, devoid of any emotional fluctuation.
Yet the words he spoke chilled those who heard them to the bone.
He was too strong.
Acclaimed as the supreme combat power of the era, few would dare dispute it. Everything he had done up to now was proof enough.
And now, his words carried an unmistakable warning.
Everyone present could hear it.
Uncle Zuo could not help but tremble slightly, knowing full well this was no joke. At the same time, his impression of the man before him shifted once again.
Not only was this man terrifyingly strong, but he was also impossible to fool. The slightest misstep would surely bring down his thunderous wrath.
Looking across the world today, who could afford to ignore him? Practically no one.
So before long, Uncle Zuo turned around with a smile on his face and said, "Understood. I will be sure to deliver your words to Eldest Miss."
Having said that, Uncle Zuo had no desire to linger. Without hesitation, he chose to depart.
Deep down, he was genuinely afraid. What if Lu Yuan attacked? He wouldn't last a single exchange and would be killed on the spot.
He was not Winged Celestial. He still knew what had to be done and when.
Lu Yuan remained standing where he was, his aura completely restrained once more.
Not far off, Elder Ji, Elder Yun, and the others finally walked over, slight perplexity on their faces.
Zhu Qingyu could hold back no longer and spoke up: "King Lu, what did your last sentence mean?"
In her eyes, Zhou Yunqiong had sent people to apologize and ease tensions, essentially extending an olive branch. In the end, that Uncle Zuo hadn't even made an issue of Winged Celestial's death. He had humbled himself considerably and shown ample sincerity.
Consequently, she could not understand why Lu Yuan had said what he did.
"Because Zhou Yunqiong is simply too calculating."
Before Lu Yuan could speak, Jiang Ningxian walked over with a smile. "Sending people was indeed an overture of goodwill. But the problem is that this so-called Yi was far too arrogant. He refused to yield in the slightest and even spouted insolent threats. Someone like that is despised wherever he goes.
"On top of that, he already held a grudge against King Lu. Once the conflict escalated, a clash was inevitable."
At these words, both Elder Ji and Elder Yun subtly changed countenance, their gazes turning cold.
"You mean Zhou Yunqiong did it on purpose?" Zhu Qingyu seemed to realize something as well.
"Of course." Jiang Ningxian appeared to have seen through everything long ago, continuing, "Could Zhou Yunqiong truly be ignorant of Yi's temperament? Knowing it, why did she still send him? She had two objectives. First, she genuinely hoped to reconcile with King Lu.
"Second, if reconciliation failed, the two sides would inevitably fight, and Yi would certainly die. That man's background is no simple matter—he hails from the Celestial Clan.
"Even if he wasn't someone of supreme importance, once the Celestial Clan descends in the future, they will definitely investigate and hold someone accountable. And King Lu will be the primary culprit."
She laid out cause and effect, explaining the matter clearly. Put bluntly, it was a ploy to create an enemy for Lu Yuan.
If she could not bring him into her fold, she wouldn't let things rest easily either; she had to do something.
That was why Jiang Ningxian said Zhou Yunqiong was overly calculating.
One had to admit she was exceptionally sharp, cutting straight to the essence of the matter and understanding the reasoning behind Lu Yuan's warning.
Zhu Qingyu caught on as well, anger flashing in her eyes.
As an elite favored by the leadership, she knew a great deal, including the impending descent of extraterrestrial beings—like Jiang Ningxian standing before her.
Even without knowing the full details of the Celestial Clan, it had to be a formidable entity. In other words, before those beings had even descended, King Lu was already entangled with them due to Zhou Yunqiong's machinations. How could Zhu Qingyu not be furious?
"King Lu, should we dispatch people to take all the upper management of the Wuzhou Group into custody?" Elder Ji walked over, coldness in his eyes, feeling that the other side had crossed the line. At this juncture, action was necessary.
"It's useless."
Lu Yuan shook his head and said softly, "Since she dared to do it, she naturally has contingency measures in place. I imagine the Wuzhou Group is already an empty shell by now. You won't find a single executive."
Zhou Yunqiong was both brilliant and shrewd, preparing a fallback for every move. That was precisely how she had risen in the New Era.
Especially after gaining the backing of the Ji clan and the Celestial Clan, her pace of growth would far exceed ordinary imagination. Take the Wuzhou Group back then—Zhou Yunqiong herself possessed an exceedingly potent bloodline, yet she had pushed Winged Celestial to the forefront to divert public attention.
Even now, no one knew which stage she had evolved to, or what level of strength she had attained.
Compared to the other three major factions, she kept a shockingly low profile. If one didn't actively pay attention, she would seem almost nonexistent. Seen in this light, her ambitions were truly immense.
Beside them, Elder Ji and Elder Yun exchanged a glance.
Indeed, the Wuzhou Group's movements had always been too mysterious. Aside from the Mount Li Imperial Mausoleum incident, they had practically stayed out of every subsequent major event.
"Alright, you should all head back," Lu Yuan said directly. "The world's landscape is about to shift once again. There may be a brief lull, which will allow you to gather strength, but time is short. You must make the most of it."
His meaning was plain. Although domestic and foreign factions had quieted down for now, it was only temporary. Future upheavals would bring the true test.
Everyone nodded and took their leave without further ado.
Jiang Ningxian, however, remained where she was, smiling at Lu Yuan with a look of pure curiosity.
The latter said nothing, meeting her gaze, knowing she still had things to say.
"It seems King Lu knows far more than I imagined." Seeing the others depart, Jiang Ningxian spoke as she found a chair in the courtyard, sitting down and crossing her smooth legs with an easy, relaxed air.
She was truly an extraordinary woman, whether in personality or bearing.
Lu Yuan knew her status within the Jiang clan was likely far from ordinary as well. Still, he offered no explanation in response to her remark.
"I heard you plan to establish a new organization called the Heavenly Court?" Jiang Ningxian cut straight to the chase.
"Yes. Is there a problem?" Lu Yuan sat beside her, his expression as calm as ever.
"The two words 'Heavenly Court' are hardly ordinary. They carry immense significance.
"I must say, King Lu, you are quite bold." Jiang Ningxian maintained her smile.
"Is that so?"
Lu Yuan gave a noncommittal response.
He had spent much time studying the Ancient Heavenly Emperor Token and knew it held many secrets, including the mythological Heavenly Court.
Yet what of it?
The Heavenly Court... As he continued to grow and evolve, could he not establish a new one?
Seeming to discern his thoughts, Jiang Ningxian continued, "During ancient times, supreme beings once founded a faction named the Heavenly Court in this very world. It was extraordinarily powerful and gloriously supreme—even in the deep expanse of the universe, it ranked among the top ten as an exalted heritage.
"Our clan's ancestor, Fuxi, and Suiren—the Three Sovereigns recorded in your texts—all served as Lords of the Heavenly Court.
"You have no idea how formidable the Heavenly Court was back then, deterring the deep cosmos with reaches extending across major star domains."
She revealed an ancient secret regarding the Heavenly Court, particularly how the Earth's Heavenly Court had once shaken the universe.
It sounded utterly incredible—to outsiders, it would seem no different from pure fabrication. It was too shocking, completely upending ordinary imagination.
Yet Lu Yuan did not dismiss it. Frowning, he asked, "The ancient era had a Heavenly Court, and it was connected to the Three Sovereigns? Why do we have no records of this?"
"This world holds far too many secrets. No one can fathom the ultimate truth, not even my clan," Jiang Ningxian said, her tone growing solemn. "For example, in your records, the Three Sovereigns lived merely three to five thousand years ago, but can you be certain of that?
"A vast stretch of history was erased. The events you are familiar with are merely the tip of the iceberg; no one can explain it fully.
"Of course, if one reaches the level of our ancestors, perhaps it would be different."
Hearing this, Lu Yuan nodded slightly in agreement.
With so much time having passed since the New Era began, nothing was beyond belief anymore. In particular, it now appeared that this world's civilization spanned far more than a few thousand years.
Then again, it made sense.
Even ordinary Awakened in the Initial Realm enjoyed lifespans exceeding a century. A Shackle Realm powerhouse like him could easily live for several hundred years. A mere three to five thousand years of history simply could not contain it all.
"What matters now isn't the legends, but the present that is about to arrive. The power of the Severance of Heaven and Earth is steadily waning, and the second comprehensive revival is imminent. Many heritages will emerge in this world, including ancient ruins and peerless fortunes. Folded spaces like the three islands will appear all across the globe."
Jiang Ningxian continued, "The major clans of various star domains have come largely for this. They name these spaces..."
"Mythological secret realms, right?" Lu Yuan interjected before she could finish.
Having experienced it before, he naturally knew. He understood that this marked the true beginning of a grand era.
Mythological secret realms, supreme fortunes, and evolutionary opportunities—these three factors drew the gaze of the entire universe to Earth.
The second upheaval, also known as the comprehensive revival, was the true inception of universal strife.
Jiang Ningxian stared at Lu Yuan, filled with curiosity and bewilderment, unable to grasp how he knew so much. Yet possessing a keen sense of propriety, she did not pry. Instead, she nodded and said, "In any case, rest assured, King Lu. The Jiang clan will stand with you."
Her purpose in initiating this conversation was twofold: to provide a reminder, and to reaffirm their alliance.
Though he seemed detached from worldly affairs, she knew he held the power to sway the overall situation. In hindsight, her earlier choice to extend goodwill had been entirely correct.
Moreover, even the Jiang clan could not hope to control everything in this turbulent era; having a formidable ally was the best course.
And perhaps, through the time they had spent together, she had simply grown more curious about Lu Yuan himself.
"I understand." Lu Yuan nodded, recognizing her good intentions.
Afterward, the two chatted briefly about certain matters regarding the future before parting ways.
Lu Yuan did not immediately return to his room. Instead, he raised his head, looking toward the boundless depths of space. A furrow formed between his brows.
"A grand era, indeed."
Chapter 122