Jiang Ningxian indeed possessed keen discernment. Furthermore, she already knew that Lu Yuan was not far from breaking into the Saint Realm. This time, charging beyond Earth, facing a great crisis without backing down, and clashing with the wills of the Ranked Immortals was equivalent to fighting a major battle of his own. Under such circumstances, he was bound to have reaped rewards. Now, he surely met the conditions required to attain sainthood.
That was precisely why this was also a great fortune for him. The Saint Realm was a watershed on the path of evolution; even across the entire deep space, it was not something easily crossed. It was common for people to languish at this stage for decades or even centuries. Being able to break through thanks to a single event or a fortuitous opportunity could truly be called good fortune.
When Jiang Ningxian finished speaking, everyone present was stunned.
The Saint Realm? Those two words completely shocked them. That was the sixth stage on the path of evolution! How much time had even passed since Earth's revival began? Most people were still at the second or third stage; no one had yet reached the fourth stage, the Golden Body Realm. Perhaps someone would before long, but certainly not right now. Yet here was King Lu, about to step straight into the sixth stage.
He surpassed every Awakened of the current era by an immense margin. This far exceeded their expectations. It was truly too fast.
In an instant, everyone turned to look at Lu Yuan, gulping as they waited for confirmation. After all, though no one on Earth had reached the Saint Realm yet, there was no doubt that it was extraordinarily powerful. Were it not so, figures of that level from beyond the realm would not have been barred from descending up to this point; it was precisely because they were too strong.
"That's right. During this period of seclusion, once my injuries are healed, I should be able to break through," Lu Yuan directly nodded, not denying it.
There was no need to hide it anyway. At the same time, he needed this to give Elder Ji and the others some confidence. The threat from beyond Earth still lingered and had not been completely resolved. The stronger he became, the greater Earth's ability to weather future crises, which would inspire everyone. Lu Yuan never believed he could solve every problem relying solely on his own strength.
Otherwise, there would have been no need to establish the Heavenly Court. In ancient times, the Milky Way Star Sector had been exceedingly glorious. Now that the world had revived, why couldn't he recreate that glory? Only in this way could they stand shoulder-to-shoulder with those great extraterrestrial clans. What was more, Lu Yuan knew full well that even more formidable foes might appear in the future.
Thus, it was all the more necessary to forge an immensely powerful faction. Though Zhu Qingyu and the others were still weak at present, they enjoyed unique advantages that allowed the beings of this world to cultivate and evolve at an astonishing speed. Given sufficient time and resources, they would undoubtedly grow into truly formidable figures in the future.
"Wonderful, simply wonderful!" Upon receiving confirmation, Elder Ji and the others grew thoroughly thrilled.
The gloom brought on by his injuries was instantly swept away. They knew that once King Lu attained sainthood, his strength would surge drastically, followed by Demi-Saint, Great Saint, and eventually... Immortal.
"King Lu, after you heal your injuries and finish your seclusion, will it be time to truly deal with the extraterrestrial beings that have descended?" Elder Yun spoke up at this moment, his eyes filled with immense excitement.
At the same time, he thought of how some of the actions of the extraterrestrial beings who had recently descended were truly crossing the line. They spread all kinds of rumors, plunging the world into chaos. If the authorities had not done their utmost to maintain order, all rules would have broken down. That was not a good thing; it would cost countless people their lives. As someone responsible for maintaining stability and commanding military affairs, Elder Yun had been monitoring the situation continuously.
His thought was simple: Lu Yuan was already the strongest person at present. If he successfully stepped into the Saint Realm, no one would be his match. By then, he would be able to suppress everything and thoroughly deter those extraterrestrial beings. The others shared this thought as well; Earth ultimately belonged to them, and outsiders could not be allowed to run amok.
However, upon hearing this, Lu Yuan smiled and shook his head. "No need. If they want to make trouble, let them continue. If they don't stir things up thoroughly enough, how will I have a pretext to wipe them all out in one sweep?"
Hearing these words, everyone was somewhat bewildered.
Jiang Ningxian, however, seemed to realize something.
"It is best not to spread the news that I am about to break into the Saint Realm for now," Lu Yuan continued. "At the same time, put out word to the outside world that I was severely injured beyond Earth and do not have long to live."
"You mean... you want to use this opportunity to draw out all those who have been making trouble and harboring treacherous thoughts, and strike them down once and for all?" As one of the highest authorities, Elder Ji immediately grasped the intention.
It was essentially setting a trap to make all outsiders believe Lu Yuan was gravely wounded. That way, those who had previously held back out of fear would cast aside their scruples and leap out into the open. Moreover, there were also people native to Earth, such as certain conglomerates and financiers. In fact, some of the recent turmoil had been incited by these very figures, secretly making trouble and muddling the waters. The authorities no longer possessed the absolute control they had before the cataclysm, leaving them powerless against such factions, especially since some remained hidden in the deepest shadows.
But once the news spread that Lu Yuan was gravely injured and on the brink of death, then...
"Correct," Lu Yuan nodded. "After tolerating them for so long, it's time to clean out the scum." For example, the Zhou family, who had yet to be found, as well as the factions that had defected to the extraterrestrial beings. He intended to seize this opportunity to resolve everything and unite all the living beings of Earth.
"I understand. As soon as you enter seclusion, I will see to it immediately." Elder Ji also thought this plan was excellent. It was equivalent to lancing the boil once and for all—luring the snakes out of their holes. That way, when facing extraterrestrial beings in the future, they would have no worries about threats from behind. The others had no objections either.
Indeed, resolving it all in one go was far better than facing unending trouble later.
"All right," Lu Yuan spoke again. "I will be in seclusion for a while. During this time, besides what I've mentioned, there is another very important matter you need to prepare for: pour all the resources collected in the past into nurturing the Awakened.
"Although I temporarily resolved the crisis of the extraterrestrial invasion this time, doing so consumed a portion of the Severance of Heaven and Earth's power.
"The future shifts will only grow more turbulent. Perhaps the next to descend will be beings of the Saint Realm."
The general trend of history would inevitably march forward; all Lu Yuan could do was postpone it. He had succeeded for now, averting the catastrophe of an early full-scale invasion that had occurred in his previous life. Yet they could not afford to slacken. The protection left by the ancient sages could not shield future generations forever.
For instance, he already knew that many great clans had entered the Milky Way Star Sector. Though a full-scale invasion was currently impossible, the descent of outsiders would continue unabated. Perhaps before long, the invaders would outnumber the native beings of this world. That would be when the true crisis arrived.
Still, it did not matter. As long as he was strong enough, none of it would be a problem.
Chapter 210