Inside the Mount Tai Trial Academy.
"What is it?"
Noticing Jiang Ningxian's gaze, Lu Yuan could not help but smile.
Ever since they had met, this was the first time he had seen such an expression on her face.
"It's nothing."
Snapping back to her senses, Jiang Ningxian spoke, "I merely recalled that in our clan's ancestral records, our ancestor seemed to have spoken words identical to yours."
The ancestor she spoke of was naturally Shennong, one of the three Human Sovereigns and a shared forefather of the Huaxia bloodline.
He was also the figure she revered most in her heart. In the ancient era, he had blazed a path for the human race. Even when facing powerhouses from various star sectors, he remained completely composed, slaying every foe who crossed him.
He was a truly supreme existence, renowned across the universe.
Such was the account recorded in the ancestral chronicles of the Jiang clan.
Precisely for this reason, Jiang Ningxian had momentarily spaced out when Lu Yuan uttered the very same words as that ancestor.
Beside her, Lu Yuan nodded upon hearing this, though he chose not to elaborate.
From the information he had gathered earlier, the Human Sovereign Shennong had also once served as the Heavenly Emperor.
This naturally gave him new thoughts regarding the Ancient Heavenly Emperor Token—particularly the method behind conferring titles upon immortals and gods. How had that knowledge even originated? One had to realize that those worthy of being called "immortals" or "gods" were existences that surpassed the eighth stage of evolution.
Across the entire universe, such beings were world-shaking powerhouses. Yet even figures like that had merely been bestowed their titles by the Heavenly Emperor.
What kind of realm, then, had someone known as the Heavenly Emperor achieved?
No wonder.
Simply by refining a single drop of Human Sovereign's blood, his own bloodline had undergone a complete transformation, ascending to the first-generation tier.
"Very well." At this point, Jiang Ningxian's voice rang out once more. "Moving forward, the power of the Severance of Heaven and Earth will weaken with the passage of time. Greater clans from more star sectors are about to descend, and the situation across the world is shifting. Remember: unless absolutely necessary, do not draw attention to yourself."
This served as a reminder. Even though she knew Lu Yuan was exceedingly strong, extraordinarily gifted, and a native who had grown up in this world, he had not yet evolved to the point of becoming a truly terrifying powerhouse on the cosmic stage. When it was time to bide one's time, one had to bide it.
Only by surviving could one have the chance to walk the path of evolution to the very end.
"Thank you for the warning. I understand," Lu Yuan replied, a faint smile touching his eyes.
Indeed, extraterrestrial beings were formidable without exception, but he harbored no fear. If circumstances truly escalated to that point, he would never choose to hide away; he would strike with overwhelming force.
Jiang Ningxian was exceptionally sharp and naturally sensed the thoughts in his heart. Instead of pressing the matter, she merely sighed and informed him that if he encountered any trouble in the future, he could seek her out at any time. After all, they were partners.
Since they were allies, it went without saying that they should join forces to strike down anyone harboring malicious intent.
Her purpose in coming today had been to inform Lu Yuan of these matters, and now that her goal was largely fulfilled, she chose not to linger, turning to head back to her residence.
With a smile, Lu Yuan also walked back into his room.
According to her, the Ancient Heavenly Emperor Token was a taboo object possessing extraordinary power. With some time on his hands, he could finally study it thoroughly.
Soon, several days passed.
News of the extraterrestrial beings descending upon Mount Tai with intent to cause trouble—only to be slaughtered by Lu Yuan—spread to every ear through the internet and various communication channels.
From ordinary people and Awakened to the heads of major factions, everyone learned of it.
In an instant, the entire world was abuzz. Voices everywhere declared that King Lu was invincible and the strongest human alive, completely cementing his status as the number one combat power among humanity today.
As for the disciples and sect masters of the Three Immortal Islands, the moment they received the news, their very first thought was: *Thank goodness we didn't insist on making an enemy of Lu Yuan back then. Otherwise, with his strength and methods, razing the Three Immortal Islands to the ground wouldn't have posed the slightest challenge.*
Thinking about it now, preserving their lives to instruct students on the mainland seemed like quite a good outcome. At the very least, they hadn't suffered much of a loss, had they?
Even so, the authorities did not let down their guard. They continued ordering the various Zhendan Academies to recruit students while maintaining surveillance over the extraterrestrial beings that had descended upon this world.
Though difficult, the official government had vast resources and countless methods at its disposal. Aided by numerous Awakened across the country, they managed to track down some information.
Aside from the Nether Bull Clan, there were other races. However, without having made rash contact, little was known about them. The authorities merely relayed the instructions Lu Yuan had previously laid down, which served as a form of warning.
Meanwhile, another piece of news stirred countless Awakened throughout the nation.
The authorities made a public announcement: the Heavenly Court organization was officially established, with King Lu serving as the Master of the Heavenly Court. Anyone with both the desire and the strength could register, and upon passing the trials, they would be permitted to join.
To demonstrate their sincerity in cooperating with humanity, the Spirit Monkey, Peacock King, and Nine-Tailed Fox King from Mount Tai had already joined.
It was fair to say that this single announcement triggered a massive earthquake.
Ever since Lu Yuan had displayed his terrifying might, his supporters and admirers had grown beyond count, with countless people yearning for a glimpse of his true face. The details released by the authorities prompted many Awakened to speculate: if they joined the Heavenly Court, might they have the chance to follow at King Lu's side in the future?
Consequently, an immense number of applicants registered immediately.
Naturally, joining required passing rigorous trials.
The very first barrier mandated that applicants be at least in the Shackle Realm, which instantly eliminated the vast majority. Nevertheless, following the second revival and transformation of heaven and earth, many Awakened had reaped significant benefits and entered this realm.
Zhu Qingyu, the Ice Fairy, Little Heavenly Master Chunyang, Monk Huikong, and others like them all passed the trials and entered the Heavenly Court organization. In addition, there was Asura, who had slipped from corporate control after Lu Yuan wiped out Tianshen Technology and had subsequently evolved at a blistering pace.
There were even a few civilian Awakened who had never previously shown their faces, yet demonstrated formidable strength and cleared the trials with ease.
All told, beyond its master Lu Yuan, the Heavenly Court had finally gathered a multitude of members—totaling over a hundred people, each a standout among the Awakened.
They would receive a generous share of official resources.
Furthermore, there were the extraterrestrial spirit fruits and rare herbs gifted by Jiang Ningxian.
Under such favorable conditions, the embryo of the Heavenly Court was established. So long as it was granted sufficient time, it was bound to become the world's most formidable and terrifying faction in the future.
At this moment, within a certain forested mountain range in Huaxia.
While this place could hardly be counted among the famous mountains or grand rivers, it had undergone tremendous changes since the upheaval. Dense mist blanketed the surroundings, thoroughly blocking the scans of modern instruments. Even mutated beasts had never set foot here.
In truth, such uninhabited, isolated places were exceedingly common across the world today. But this location was different. Nestled within the mountain forest lay a cluster of ancient-style buildings featuring pavilions, towers, rockeries, and flowing streams. Anyone stumbling upon it by chance would feel as though they had walked into ancient times.
"The Heavenly Court?"
"This native human from the Milky Way Star Sector is truly brazen beyond measure."
In one of the courtyards, a tall man dressed in black spoke in a measured tone.
He was strikingly handsome, with pale skin and sharp, piercing eyes. His entire being radiated an exceedingly potent and intimidating aura. His every movement seemed accompanied by the rumble of wind and thunder, making it impossible for ordinary people to draw near.
"Indeed. I never anticipated that Lu Yuan would talk so big, either," a woman's voice sounded from behind him. It was Zhou Yunqiong, who had vanished long before.
This cluster of classical buildings was precisely the new refuge found by the Wuzhou Group after abandoning their original base. The feud between Lu Yuan and the Zhou family was known to nearly everyone, giving the Zhou family's upper echelon an immense headache. The man was simply too strong; if a conflict broke out, their foundation would never be enough to withstand him. In the end, they had chosen to lie low and conceal themselves completely.
"This is no longer a matter of talking big—he is actively courting death!" the black-robed man declared arrogantly, devoid of any fear toward Lu Yuan.
"What? Are you planning to take action?" Zhou Yunqiong frowned, adding, "Your clansman Yi died at his hands, after all."
"He does not yet possess the qualifications to draw my hand. As for that useless Yi, death is no great loss," the man said, shaking his head. "However, one cannot offend the Celestial Clan without paying a price. I will have the Nether Bull Clan take action and stir up some trouble for him."
Hearing this, Zhou Yunqiong remained silent and merely nodded, seemingly understanding his intent. Soon, however, doubt surfaced on her face as she asked, "And if it yields no results?"
"No matter," the man waved a hand dismissively. "Once the suppression of this world lifts completely and I recover my full power, I will personally claim his life."
"If the tenth sequence of the Celestial Clan's younger generation takes action, there will naturally be no problem whatsoever." A middle-aged man appeared; it was Zhou Yunqiong's father, speaking with a touch of deference.
Among the top hundred star sectors, any youth of exceptional talent was ranked across ten sequences, representing the absolute pinnacle in bloodline and strength. The young man in black before them was precisely such a formidable entity—a genius prodigy even across the star sectors.
"Right. Before I departed, an important figure from the Ji clan instructed me to bestow this upon you."
Ignoring the Zhou family patriarch, the man turned his gaze to Zhou Yunqiong. Producing a jade box, he spoke, "This item can fully awaken the bloodline buried deepest within your body and even purify it further. That esteemed figure thinks very highly of you; make sure you do not disappoint him."
"Rest assured, I understand." Zhou Yunqiong's eyes brightened as she looked at the jade box, filled with pleasant surprise.
Had she not spent all this time plotting precisely for this? Now, her efforts had finally yielded a return.
Beside her, the Zhou family patriarch was likewise brimming with excitement, harboring not the slightest anger over being ignored. He knew that once his daughter refined this item, the Zhou family would inevitably rise, perhaps even growing into an independent major clan in the future.
"You must seize the time. The world's transformation is proceeding faster than anticipated, and many figures are about to descend. The strongest sequences from various star sectors—and even Divine Sons and Holy Maidens—will arrive before long."
The young man from the Celestial Clan offered this parting warning. Yet even with all his pride, his brow furrowed tightly as he spoke these words. The reason was simple: the so-called Divine Sons and Holy Maidens were the absolute strongest of the sequences, with each major clan possessing only one or two. Even if he were to cross paths with them, he would have to step aside.
Moreover, he had received word that a Holy Maiden from the Jiang clan had already descended long ago. Her whereabouts remained completely unknown, which caused him some concern.
Even so, this world was unique. At the dawn of its grand revival, boundless fortune awaited—and it was his own opportunity to rise!
Chapter 132