When this thought surfaced in Jiang Ningxian's mind, she was genuinely startled.
If that was truly the case, it would be terrifying indeed. She had suspected before that Lu Yuan had very likely broken multiple genetic shackles during the Shackle Realm.
That explained why he exhibited such monstrous combat power—not only undefeated in the same realm, but handling battles across realms with absolute clarity and ease.
This was essentially standard for those in the chosen pride sequences, and it was one of the reasons she had valued him so highly from the start.
Now, Jiang Ningxian felt an entirely new sensation: he was likely even more extraordinary than she had imagined.
"A golden age has arrived. Chosen prides clash, powerhouses vie for supremacy, fighting over that sliver of destiny. If he continues to grow, he will become immensely powerful. Establishing the Heavenly Court might truly become reality." At that moment, Jiang Ningxian looked toward Lu Yuan's quarters, murmuring to herself.
For some reason, thinking of this filled her with delight. However, she also knew very well that growing up amidst a golden age was exceptionally difficult.
Especially now, when Lu Yuan was still in seclusion while the situation outside was growing complex. Should she also find a way to lend a helping hand?
Prior to this, Jiang Ningxian had always maintained the perspective of an onlooker, cooperating with the official authorities merely by providing more resources.
Now, she suddenly felt an urge to personally involve herself and share Lu Yuan's burdens. Of course, everything remained under control for the time being.
There was no need to rush. Jiang Ningxian pondered, deciding to assess the situation first. Soon, she took the initiative to seek out Elder Ji to learn the latest news.
According to the information she received, the extraterrestrial beings who had descended already exceeded one hundred thousand—a fairly substantial number. But as Earth had expanded, it was easy for them to conceal themselves.
They were actively consolidating their forces while launching tentative probes against the five super cities, all to gauge the authorities' reaction and determine whether something had happened to Lu Yuan.
Things were progressing according to plan. However, perhaps overly terrified of Lu Yuan's name or simply being cautious, those extraterrestrial beings had only been probing so far.
Seeing this, Jiang Ningxian felt somewhat relieved. At least time was not too tight, giving Lu Yuan enough leeway to complete his seclusion and reach the Saint Realm.
The days passed by like this, one after another. Every day brought new developments outside—such as the descent of prominent figures or sequences from various clans—yet basically none had caused significant disruption to the mortal world.
For the moment, the two sides had surprisingly maintained a delicate balance, though it was fragile and could shatter at any time.
Meanwhile, inside the room, Lu Yuan sat cross-legged. Shrouds of divine light enveloped his body.
His entire person seemed like a deity, radiating an overpowering aura. By now, his injuries were completely healed, as they had not been severe to begin with.
It had been nothing more than an impact on his physique and the loss of some vital essence-blood, requiring little time to mend.
Now, Lu Yuan was already making his push toward the Saint Realm. As his chest rose and fell, wisps of dragon-shaped essence continually drifted between his mouth and nose.
This was the Ancestral Dragon Breathing Method. Thanks to the growth in his strength, the grotto-heavens he had opened had already reached fifty-three.
Though it seemed like many, it was still far from the one hundred and eight thousand grotto-heavens of the breathing method's great completion. In the end, his strength and cultivation realm were not yet high enough.
He knew well that as his realm grew stronger, opening grotto-heavens would become increasingly effortless. Thus, Lu Yuan repeatedly battered against the barrier between the Sovereign King Realm and the Saint Realm, seeking to reach the sixth stage of evolution.
Circulating the complete Daodejing and visualizing the vastness of the universe, he continuously comprehended and absorbed insights. The Saint Realm was fundamentally different from all previous realms.
In earlier stages of evolution, one sought to develop one's innate potential as much as possible. But the Saint Realm took oneself as the center, gradually drawing upon the power of the universe and world.
The gap between the two was immense. Having previously charged into outer space to fight, Lu Yuan possessed brand-new insights into this.
Furthermore, having long fused with the Ancient Bodhi Tree, his comprehension was beyond reproach. He also came to a thorough realization:
Borrowing the power of heaven and earth—why not turn oneself into heaven and earth?
Under this realization, Lu Yuan felt his own power growing stronger and stronger.
The one hundred and eight genetic shackles he had previously shattered erupted with roaring power, surging into every cellular particle, harmonizing with his internal organs, and fusing seamlessly into his bones and blood.
Dazzling, magnificent light enveloped his body. The mighty aura caused cracks to spread across the room's walls and floor.
And this was merely energy inadvertently leaked, less than one percent of the whole.
Lu Yuan had prepared for this long before, using the Yongzhou Cauldron to suppress himself and keep his aura from spilling outward. Otherwise, the moment he achieved full breakthrough, the entire building might not have been able to withstand it.
Rumble!
As time elapsed, just as expected, the power and aura radiating from his body grew ever stronger.
The sounds echoing from within him were like continuous claps of thunder. Fortunately, what suppressed him was the Yongzhou Cauldron, one of the Nine Cauldrons, capable of suppressing even the destiny of the human race.
Otherwise, even an ordinary saint weapon might have shattered on the spot. After all, Lu Yuan had broken one hundred and eight genetic shackles; the power unleashed had reached an extraordinary, terrifying degree—the absolute pinnacle of the Shackle Realm.
Finally, after an unknown amount of time, when all his strength reached its absolute limit, it began compressing under Lu Yuan's control.
Then it was completely absorbed into his body. This process was akin to a stellar body undergoing a cataclysmic transformation—when energy reached its threshold, metamorphosis would occur.
Knowing the final moment had come, he did not allow the slightest distraction, exerting full control. At this point, Lu Yuan discovered that within his mind, an ancient gateway seemed to appear.
It was the Gate of the Saint Realm. As long as he knocked it open and stepped through, he would become a Saint.
Seeing this, Lu Yuan did not hesitate in the slightest and walked forward step by step. With every step, his aura climbed by a degree.
Until finally reaching a frightening zenith, he arrived before the Gate of the Saint Realm.
Boom!
He unleashed a punch.
The Gate of the Saint Realm did not budge in the slightest.
Yet following that came ten punches, a hundred punches, a thousand punches. Lu Yuan seemed tireless, striking again and again, his power growing fiercer and fiercer.
It seemed as though thousands of years had passed, yet also as if only a split second had flown by.
When another fist blasted out—
Dong!
A sound seemed to echo from primordial times. The Gate of the Saint Realm collapsed with a tremendous crash!
Stars and galaxies materialized before Lu Yuan, blazing with incomparably radiant light. Shattering all his constraints, he advanced toward the cosmos and the world, taking hold of boundless, unfathomable might.
Deep within his body, an unprecedented surge of power welled forth.
In the room, Lu Yuan abruptly opened his eyes.
As his eyes opened and closed, divine light surged within them, as if seeing through all things. His aura was entirely different from before, undergoing a fundamental transformation—it belonged to the Saint Realm!
Chapter 213