In one month, Lu Yuan might have to fight a Saint Realm entity in an all-out battle?
Those words caused the onlookers, who had still been brimming with curiosity moments earlier, to pale in shock.
In truth, they had already guessed that the Celestial Clan's sequence prodigy had fled upward precisely to seek salvation from a stronger being of his clan.
Everyone now knew that extraterrestrial beings were gathering in outer space in ever greater numbers.
It was only because Earth was protected by a mysterious power that they had been unable to descend.
For that very reason, the present situation had remained under control rather than deteriorating further.
Even so, no one knew how long this state of affairs would last.
A sense of impending crisis weighed heavily on every heart.
And the Saint Realm...
It was a realm beyond the Sovereign King Realm.
Entities who had reached the sixth stage of evolution and beyond were unimaginably terrifying.
The authorities had calculated that reaching that stage would mark another genuine metamorphosis for an Awakened.
Physical body, soul, combat prowess—every facet would experience an across-the-board elevation, reaching an incomprehensible, frightening degree. Only then could one truly be worthy of the word "Saint": supreme beings of great capability who roamed the starry cosmos, uprooted mountains and rivers, and burned the heavens to boil the seas.
And now, a figure like that was going to descend just to battle King Lu?
Though Lu Yuan had not offered much of an explanation, everyone present was clever enough to deduce the truth.
The Celestial Clan's sequence prodigy was dead.
His demise had provoked the fury of a Saint Realm entity, who was now preparing to descend.
"Then... then King Lu, what about you..."
Zhu Qingyu's face was pale, tight with tension and deep concern.
While she believed wholeheartedly in Lu Yuan's strength, that was still a Saint Realm entity.
Once a true clash began, no one could predict the outcome.
Little Heavenly Master Chunyang and the others also furrowed their brows tightly, sensing that an unprecedented crisis had arrived.
"No matter. I have my own plans. Let us return first before discussing it further."
Lu Yuan smiled faintly and prepared to lead everyone back to Mount Tai Trial Academy.
Naturally, he understood that entities of the Saint Realm were exceptionally powerful, and that with his current strength, he would be no match for one.
There was a limit to fighting above one's realm; the gap between the fifth stage and the sixth stage was simply too vast.
Yet this conflict was unavoidable. Even if they did not fight now, they would clash eventually.
Therefore, the most critical priority for Lu Yuan right now was raising his own strength.
The barrier from the Severance of Heaven and Earth still held.
If a Saint Realm entity wished to descend, it could never be done with ease; they would inevitably have to pay a price.
And that would be his opportunity to wage a battle against the heavens!
Hearing his words, the others chose not to say anything more and prepared to depart Mount Kongtong.
Naturally, in contrast to the faint anticipation they had felt upon arrival, they were now laden with heavy anxieties.
Over the next few days, news that Lu Yuan had slain sequence prodigies from three major star sector clans spread across the world in no time.
When the Earth's Awakened faction heard of it, everyone was astounded and overjoyed. It proved that Earth's experts were by no means inferior to those extraterrestrial beings.
Moreover, strictly speaking, King Lu could still be considered part of the younger generation, which made the public all the more elated.
As for the extraterrestrial beings who had already descended, they clicked their tongues in disbelief.
The Three-Headed Ghost Clan, the Origin Demon Clan, and the Celestial Clan were all rulers of top hundred star sectors.
Their bloodlines, innate talent, and combat prowess were top-tier in every regard.
Otherwise, they could never have controlled vast star sectors and seized ranks among the top hundred.
Those capable of becoming sequence prodigies were the cream of the crop among their clans' younger generation, yet they had been directly cut down—slain by a human from a declining star sector.
This matter was staggering.
Many began to consider that with an entity like Lu Yuan in the Milky Way Star Sector, he might well become a wild card.
Soon, however, another piece of news arrived, shaking the entire globe.
In one month, Saint Realm entities from the three major clans would descend to make the provocateur pay in blood.
Entities of the Saint Realm were terrifying pillars of power even in the deep cosmos.
Now, they were descending specifically to claim Lu Yuan's life.
The news stunned Earth's Awakened and the extraterrestrial beings alike.
"Word came from my clan beyond the world that Lei You of the Celestial Clan has already begun laying down his arrangements."
"The two Void Saints from the Origin Demon Clan and the Three-Headed Ghost Clan are preparing as well. In other words, three Saint Realm entities will descend together!"
"Three? Now this is a show worth watching. That human Lu Yuan's combat prowess is indeed formidable, but the Saint Realm is not something he can stand against."
The extraterrestrial beings discussed the matter fervently while making inquiries to their clansmen still stationed in outer space.
Upon learning that three Saint Realm entities would descend in a month, they immediately concluded that no matter how remarkable Lu Yuan's strength was, this was an inescapable death trap.
Earth's Awakened and the general populace naturally learned of the news as well.
Their initial optimism vanished, replaced by profound worry and panic.
After all, those entities had reached the sixth stage of evolution, or even higher.
The reason the situation had not deteriorated earlier was that such beings were unable to descend.
Now that they were coming down, what would become of the world?
Moreover, if King Lu proved to be no match for them, what would they do?
Nearly everyone fell into disarray.
As if responding to those fears, some extraterrestrial beings grew active of late.
Earlier, when Lu Yuan took action, his overwhelming combat prowess had cowed a great many of them. But now, circumstances had changed.
With Saint Realm entities from three major clans on the verge of descending, Lu Yuan's own survival hung by a thread; soon, his end would arrive.
Under such circumstances, fear in the hearts of many extraterrestrial beings dwindled, and they began showing their faces across various regions.
Some even openly established contact with corporate consortiums.
Of course, they did not dare cross the line too far.
Lu Yuan was still alive, after all.
Who knew if provoking him might drive him to strike in fury and drag a few down with him as cushions?
Regardless, everyone believed a great crisis was imminent—one that would reshape the world's power dynamics.
At Mount Tai Trial Academy, a military aircraft streaked across the sky, lowered its altitude, and touched down steadily on the runway.
Not far away, Elder Ji, Elder Yun, and a host of official high-ranking figures stood waiting.
Every one of them wore a solemn, worried expression, having already heard the rumors circulating outside.
Extraterrestrial Saints were soon to descend to battle King Lu.
The ramifications were far too vast for anyone to take lightly.
Just then, the cabin door swung open.
Lu Yuan and his companions walked down.
"King Lu, about you and those extraterrestrial beings..." Elder Ji was the first to rush forward, his voice hurried.
Though the others remained silent, every one of them was eager to hear his thoughts.
"I have my own plans. You need not worry."
Knowing what weighed on their minds, Lu Yuan offered a faint smile.
While the Saint Realm entities did exert some pressure on him, that was all it amounted to.
Even if given another chance, he would make the exact same choice.
With that thought, Lu Yuan looked at the crowd and continued, "Don't overthink things in the days ahead. Just keep the general situation under control."
He knew very well that news of the three Saints' descent had already stirred unrest among the extraterrestrial beings.
He also knew they would not dare act recklessly before seeing the final outcome.
Even so, to protect ordinary citizens, the authorities had to take measures.
At the very least, they could not afford to throw their own ranks into chaos at such a critical juncture.
"Understood. We know what to do." Elder Ji was not an indecisive man.
He knew that at times like this, the only thing they needed to do was place their trust in King Lu.
So much had transpired since the global mutation, yet King Lu had resolved every challenge in the end.
Formidable as Saint Realm entities were, they were not necessarily a cause for utter despair.
Seeing that they had taken his words to heart, Lu Yuan nodded and prepared to leave. But he paused a moment later and spoke once more: "I obtained a supreme visualization method from the dao field on Mount Kongtong. It can lay a solid foundation for Awakened below the Saint Realm.
"I will transcribe it from memory. When the time comes, simply send someone to my residence to collect it. How you employ it is up to you."
The Dao Repository Visualization Method was exceptionally powerful, particularly for Awakened who had just embarked on the path of evolution.
Lu Yuan's reasoning was simple: since he intended to establish the Heavenly Court, why not share this technique to foster more capable individuals?
He understood that one day, he would inevitably leave Earth and venture into the deep cosmos.
This world would need figures capable of holding the fort.
Only then could he traverse the universe with peace of mind.
Strengthening the forces under his command would allow him to act without hesitation in the future.
Having said his piece, he spoke no further and walked toward his residence.
"Why do I feel like King Lu is settling his affairs?" Little Heavenly Master Chunyang suddenly spoke up, a peculiar look on his face.
Those words caused everyone around to pale in alarm. Zhu Qingyu stepped forward immediately, snapping, "What nonsense are you talking about? Even if Saints descend, King Lu has the strength and foundation to remain fearless!"
Yet despite her loud voice, she clearly lacked confidence.
No one knew how strong a Saint Realm entity truly was, but without question, they were unmatched at this current stage.
"Enough, say no more."
Elder Ji waved his hand, pondered for a moment, and said, "King Lu has achieved tremendous merit for the people of Huaxia. No matter what comes to pass, no matter how powerful the enemy may be, we will stand by King Lu's side to advance and retreat together."
He felt that words were meaningless now; what mattered was how they would weather this great crisis.
Though their individual strength was limited, they still possessed boiling blood. How could they simply stand by and watch?
When facing a crisis, standing united was imperative.
If for nothing else, they had to do it for all that Lu Yuan had done for the people.
Everyone present knew the current peace had been won through Lu Yuan's bloody battles. If they could successfully endure this crisis, it would hold immense significance for Huaxia and the entire Earth. What if they were Saints? They would fight to the death without fear!
His words made everyone nod, their gazes hardening with resolve.
Whether their efforts would make a difference or not, they were determined to give it their all!
***
Meanwhile, Lu Yuan had returned to his residence.
Nearby, Jiang Ningxian was still in secluded cultivation and had not emerged.
Elder Jiang, however, stood outside tending to various plants and flowers.
A terrifying power resided within his body, one that even Lu Yuan could not see through.
Lu Yuan offered a slight nod in greeting without saying much, and Elder Jiang smiled in response.
Entering his room, Lu Yuan first sat cross-legged to regulate his breath.
Then, drawing from his memory, he transcribed the entire Dao Repository Visualization Method.
He knew well that the more formidable a method was, the harder it was to comprehend.
Thus, he added his own insights to the text, aiming to make cultivation easier for others.
With the aid of the Ancient Bodhi Tree, he had no trouble articulating the concepts in the most accessible manner, ensuring it would be much simpler to grasp.
Once finished, he set the transcribed Dao Repository Visualization Method on the table outside. He had already given instructions, and someone would come to collect it tomorrow.
Shortly after, Lu Yuan returned to the cultivation chamber and took a deep breath.
With a wave of his right hand, the Fantian Seal appeared.
It remained battered and broken, devoid of any extraordinary appearance.
Yet he paid it no heed. Closing his eyes, he let a drop of fresh blood fall onto it.
His intention this time was to refine it with everything he had.
Thirty restrictions remained inside. If he progressed too slowly, facing three Saint Realm entities upon their descent would prove exceedingly troublesome.
The Fantian Seal was a legendary supreme treasure. Once mastered, it would serve as an ace up his sleeve.
Before long, as the blood sank into the artifact, strands of radiant glow surged from its surface.
Lu Yuan could now clearly sense the remaining thirty restrictions.
*For ordinary cultivators, fully refining them would likely be an arduous task. But having integrated the Human Sovereign's blood, accelerating the process will pose no issue,* he mused, then sank his consciousness completely into the seal.
Naturally, alongside refining the Fantian Seal, Lu Yuan diverted a portion of his focus toward cultivating his breathing method and visualization method.
His soul was simply too powerful; doing two things at once was effortless, and dividing his mind into a hundred tasks would hardly strain him.
As time passed, the power of the restrictions was steadily refined one after another.
The light emanating from the Fantian Seal grew increasingly intense.
Lu Yuan could clearly perceive his mastery over it deepening with every moment.
Through this process, he discovered that the power contained within the Fantian Seal was truly terrifying.
It was a genuine weapon of slaughter; once unleashed, its effects would be beyond imagination.
***
After Lu Yuan entered seclusion, the extraterrestrial beings began spreading word of the three Saints' impending descent upon Earth.
Earlier, it was precisely because of Lu Yuan that they had been forced to lurk in the shadows.
There was no helping it—he was simply too strong, possessing terrifying combat prowess.
Those capable of descending were no match for him whatsoever.
Now, however, the situation had changed.
He had provoked three major clans, and Saint Realm entities were about to take action personally.
Compared to Earth's Awakened, extraterrestrial beings understood far better just how formidable the Saint Realm was.
Even if constraints prevented them from striking at peak strength upon descent, they would remain utterly terrifying.
Across the vast cosmic deep, very few could ever challenge a Saint Realm entity from the Sovereign King Realm.
Every individual who achieved such a feat was a true prodigy and divine son, bathed in myriad glories.
Lu Yuan was undoubtedly strong—enough to be ranked among the sequence prodigies in certain major clans.
Yet in the eyes of the extraterrestrial beings, a massive gulf still separated him from a genuine, supreme prodigy.
Thus, they all believed that once the Saints struck, this human from the Milky Way Star Sector would surely perish.
As for Earth's Awakened and common citizens, after the deliberate propaganda and pessimism spread by the extraterrestrials, they grew burdened with sorrow and anxiety. In some places, panic even broke out.
Lu Yuan was universally recognized as the strongest being on the globe. If something happened to him, what would become of the world?
No one dared to imagine it, yet gloom weighed heavily in every heart.
No one knew what lay ahead.
After all, this time was unlike any trial before—it was an unprecedented crisis in the truest sense!
Chapter 155