Looking at the message on his communicator, Lu Yuan furrowed his brows.
He knew it was highly likely that a situation similar to what Jiang Ningxian had described was unfolding. Moreover, the changes had to be drastic; otherwise, Elder Ji would never be this urgent.
"Did they detect conditions beyond Earth?" Jiang Ningxian had been on Earth for some time now and naturally had some understanding of technological means.
Although fundamentally different from transcendent power, technology possessed immense utility. In fact, certain extraterrestrial stellar domains had comparable technological civilizations, varying only in scale and sophistication.
"We'll need to go and confirm the details. In that case, let us head back to Mount Tai first." Lu Yuan nodded. Normal methods would certainly not suffice to grasp the situation in outer space; they had to rely on the authorities. At any rate, there were no urgent matters left here. Returning to Mount Tai Cultivation Academy to make preparations in advance was the best course of action.
"Very well." Jiang Ningxian knew she also had to find a way to contact her clan to gather more intelligence. Having chosen to cooperate with the authorities and Lu Yuan, she felt a duty to protect this world from excessive devastation. Now that it had come to this critical juncture, they could not afford to waste any more time; they needed to understand every movement from beyond the domain. Without delay, everyone began preparing for departure.
Boom—
Just then, a violent roar echoed. Lu Yuan and the others turned around to see the Mount Kunlun Mystic Realm. The radiance radiating from the two stone pillars was slowly dimming, and the landscape within grew indistinct.
The Kunlun Secret Realm was about to close.
Of course, this no longer mattered much to them. Once everything was ready, just as when they had arrived, the Golden-Winged Great Peng and the Peacock King soared into the sky, turning into streaks of light and vanishing into the horizon.
Unlike before, the two Beast Kings flew at full throttle, traveling at their utmost speed. Although this consumed considerably more stamina, it posed no real problem; they could replenish it in due course.
After ascending into the sky, Lu Yuan stood tall, gazing directly at the heavens and the earth.
At first, nothing seemed amiss. But as he opened his Martial Dao Heavenly Eye, he discovered a far more ferocious aura emerging across this world. Heavy, primeval, and brimming with wildness, it felt as though the world were regressing into ancient antiquity.
"The Severance of Heaven and Earth is failing. Every stellar domain is employing their own methods to influence this planet for a smoother descent later. If they succeed, even stronger figures will appear—perhaps even beings akin to Divine Sons and Holy Maidens." Jiang Ningxian walked over, standing shoulder to shoulder with him, explaining what was likely to happen next.
Lu Yuan nodded in response, understanding her meaning. He had lived through it before. However, he still did not fully comprehend why the major clans of the various stellar domains were so intent on descending upon Earth. If it were merely for ancient legacies and fortunes, it seemed like making a mountain out of a molehill.
After all, any stellar domain ranked in the top hundred possessed vast heritage and foundation. The legacies and fortunes here would merely be icing on the cake for them.
Thus, Lu Yuan voiced the question weighing on his mind, hoping for an answer. He had not asked before because the time was not ripe. Now, the moment had arrived.
"What you said is indeed true. What the major stellar domains covet is not the legacies and fortunes of this world, but something else." Jiang Ningxian pondered briefly before replying, "What they care about is the resurgence of this world after countless years of sealing. It will erupt with an unimaginable potential. In the unseen workings of fate, this potential is a kind of karmic destiny. Whoever manages to stand out among the rest will become a Son of the Great Era.
"Naturally, there is an even more crucial point: every single Heavenly Emperor and Human Sovereign born across the entire starry cosmos originated from this very place.
"This was the starting point of an ancient war expedition. For every clan, its allure is simply too great, which is why all of them believe they must descend as early as possible."
Her words laid the matter bare. This world had become the absolute center of the universe, and everyone would choose to come here. More importantly, they hoped to seize the opportunity of Earth's resurgence to embark on the supreme path of evolution. That was the fundamental reason why the major stellar domains were so determined to descend.
Hearing this, Lu Yuan understood at once.
"I see."
"In other words, they view this place as a battlefield?"
He grasped the general picture. In short, the powerhouses of the various stellar domains believed that within this world lay the chance to become a so-called Human Sovereign or Heavenly Emperor—to become true supreme beings. Legacies and fortunes could be overlooked, but ascending the supreme path of evolution was an irresistible temptation.
"You could look at it that way. Therefore, Earth will have to endure a difficult period ahead," Jiang Ningxian answered. She was well aware of how the major stellar domains viewed this place: as a backward civilization that retained none of its ancient glory, with its human race regarded as mere indigenous natives. Once a full-scale descent occurred, it would be anything but fortunate for Earth.
"A difficult period? I wouldn't be so sure about that," Lu Yuan suddenly interjected with a faint smile.
He knew, of course, that a full-scale descent of extraterrestrial clans would be a disaster for this world. He had endured it in his past life. And precisely because he had experienced it, Lu Yuan would never allow history to repeat itself.
Jiang Ningxian shot Lu Yuan a deep, lingering glance, but said nothing. Indeed, Earth had produced an anomaly like him, one who walked far ahead of everyone else in this world. Given enough time, he would grow swiftly, and by then, the various stellar domains would find it impossible to push him around at will.
At the same time, she looked down at the Golden-Winged Great Peng beneath their feet, lost in thought. She sensed that the peng was somewhat different from before, yet she could not pinpoint the exact change. In any case, Jiang Ningxian was certain it had everything to do with Lu Yuan. He must have gained something extraordinary within the Kunlun Secret Realm. Nevertheless, she did not press him, remaining composed and serene.
After that, neither spoke further, simply watching the way ahead.
At the Golden-Winged Great Peng's incredible speed, fierce winds howled around them. But to them, this was trivial; all that remained was to wait until they reached Mount Tai.
During this time, Lu Yuan noticed that the aura permeating heaven and earth was quietly shifting, growing increasingly intense.
In fact, it was not just him; many living beings across the world sensed it. Almost everyone harbored a premonition that a monumental event was on the verge of happening.
Certain mutated beasts grew inexplicably restless, stampeding through the mountains and valleys. The pervasive atmosphere was stifling to the extreme. Even ordinary citizens felt as if a heavy mountain were pressing upon their chests, an unbearable discomfort lingering in the air.
Under such circumstances, days went by one after another.
The extraterrestrial beings on Earth, as if sensing the coming storm, fell completely silent.
A tempest was gathering.
Until twenty days later.
A muffled rumble thundered across both heaven and earth at the exact same moment!
Chapter 192