Amid a mountain forest, vegetation flourished in abundance. Mist rose from all sides, creating a magnificent view.
Deep within, buildings rose and fell like an ancient landscaped garden. At this moment, inside one of the rooms, the head of the Zhou family, Zhou Xingquan, stood gazing at a square black cauldron before him.
Above the cauldron, Zhou Yunqiong's phantom soul had fully solidified, lacking only a physical body.
"Daughter, we have confirmed that the news of Lu Yuan's injury is true. Though the authorities deny it, they cannot hide it from me. The major clans across various star sectors have begun to take action. Someone from the Nether Bull Clan has also come to our Zhou family, inviting us to join forces and eliminate Lu Yuan once and for all.
"Rest assured, with the clans united this time, there might even be Saint Realm powerhouses descending in secret. Your vengeance will be had." His expression was agitated, laced with dense killing intent, and his words revealed crucial intelligence.
The plan orchestrated by the clans to slay Lu Yuan was meticulously arranged. Even Saints would descend once more to ensure nothing went awry.
"Father, you must exercise extreme caution. Lu Yuan is meticulous, and his combat power is terrifyingly formidable. He possesses many powerful divine treasures as well; even if he is gravely injured, killing him entirely will still take immense effort," Zhou Yunqiong's voice echoed from within the black cauldron. Her soul remained nearly translucent, and that was already after a period of recovery.
When she was slain before, even though she had the Death Immunity Talisman bestowed by the Ji clan lineage, she had nonetheless died once after all. Now, she could only exist in this state. Thus, her hatred toward Lu Yuan was boundless, yet even so, she still maintained her calm.
"I will not personally intervene this time. I am sending out several clan elders carrying secret treasures bestowed by the Ji clan.
"Coupled with the experts from every clan, nothing can possibly go wrong. Lu Yuan's audacity knows no bounds, daring to strike against the proud daughter of my Zhou family! He must pay a price in blood!" Zhou Xingquan declared. Following the global mutation, he had wagered nearly everything the family possessed on this daughter.
He had not cared in the slightest even when his other daughters died, because Zhou Yunqiong was the Zhou family's true hope.
She possessed tremendous talent and a terrifying bloodline comparable to the sequence prodigies of the Ji clan. According to their original plans, barring unforeseen circumstances, once his daughter matured, she would surely lead the Zhou family to glory, perhaps even becoming the paramount family of the Milky Way Star Sector. Coupled with being a uniquely endowed chosen pride of Earth and having the Ji clan's support, joining the ranks of the major clans of the top hundred star sectors in the future would be well within reach.
Yet Lu Yuan had intervened, nearly destroying everything. Had they not prepared a contingency, the Zhou family would have been finished completely. How could he not harbor venomous hatred in his heart?
"That is well. For certain matters, it is best not to act personally," Zhou Yunqiong's soul spoke again, feeling somewhat relieved.
"Right, daughter." Just then, Zhou Xingquan seemed to recall something and added, "Word has come from that eminent figure. He said he is preparing to help reshape your physical body, so before long, we are to secretly send your soul into outer space, where someone will receive you." That distinguished figure from the Ji clan placed immense importance on Zhou Yunqiong. Sharing the same bloodline was one reason, but another was that he valued her talent and was willing to expend the effort to nurture her. And this was also the true source of the Zhou family's confidence.
"A pity I won't be able to hear of Lu Yuan's death with my own ears," Zhou Yunqiong said, her words laden with regret knowing she would soon depart.
During that time, Lu Yuan might very well meet his end, which left her disappointed. After all, this was an enmity of life and death; unable to witness her foe's demise firsthand, she naturally felt unreconciled.
"Daughter, you need not dwell on such trifles. Once your physical body is remade with the Ji clan's help, you will surely take another step forward. Lu Yuan is not worthy of being your rival. He will perish along the path of evolution and cannot reach the end. Your goal is the Saint Realm—is immortality!" Zhou Xingquan dismissed it. He acknowledged Lu Yuan's strength, yet believed the man was grossly overestimating himself by directly opposing the Ranked Immortals.
"Father is right. In the end, we are not the same kind of people." Zhou Yunqiong agreed. The supreme path was not about who was temporarily stronger, but who could endure to the very end and achieve supremacy. On reflection, Lu Yuan was merely a bit of wind and frost along her journey.
The father and daughter spoke for a while longer. Zhou Yunqiong sank back into slumber to nurture her soul, while the head of the Zhou family walked straight to the front hall.
Five elders had already gathered there, the Zhou family's core clan elders, every one of them astonishingly at the peak of the Golden Body Realm.
In their hands, they held deadly swords, bronze mirrors, and other formidable secret treasures bestowed by the Ji clan, all reaching the caliber of Saint weapons.
Their mission this time was straightforward: unite with the major clans of the various star sectors to utterly slaughter Lu Yuan and avenge Zhou Yunqiong. Every elder felt the task was simple and bound to succeed, as far too many people wanted Lu Yuan dead; there was simply no way out for him.
After Zhou Xingquan gave a few instructions, the Five Great Elders set out directly, departing the Zhou family's secret hideout.
What they did not know was that just as they walked out of the mountain forest, a squad was observing them from nearby.
Seeing the Zhou family's five elders, the squad leader's eyes lit up, and he immediately ordered, "Quick, report upward. Say that we have confirmed the approximate location of the Zhou family's hideout."
"Yes, Captain," the squad members behind him replied. They did not advance rashly, choosing to retreat temporarily and wait for instructions from above.
As for these people, they were naturally an elite squad dispatched by the authorities to track down the Zhou family. After searching for so long, having finally found them, they were naturally thrilled.
Meanwhile, after departing, the Five Great Elders of the Zhou family quickly rendezvoused with the Nether Bull Clan. Soon, they joined forces with the Three-Headed Ghost Clan, the Origin Demon Clan, the Yin Sparrow Clan, and several others.
All had received orders from their clan elders to slay Lu Yuan and were now fully prepared. Furthermore, more than several dozen races shared the same goal, forming an overwhelmingly powerful force.
However, none of the clans chose to act rashly, opting instead to verify the situation further. First, they had the Nether Bull Clan, the Three-Headed Ghost Clan, and the Origin Demon Clan step forward. All three harbored blood feuds with Lu Yuan, having lost clansmen and Demi-Saint elders to his hands.
Thus, they began to press the authorities directly, claiming they had harbored no ill intent upon descending to Earth, yet had been innocently slain, and demanding that the authorities provide an explanation on Lu Yuan's behalf.
This message spread instantaneously, setting the internet ablaze.
Everyone knew that the extraterrestrial beings could finally hold back no longer and were stepping forward. The so-called blood feud was merely a pretext to confirm Lu Yuan's condition. If he were uninjured, given his temperament, he would never tolerate such provocation; he would definitely emerge to deliver a fierce counterattack and strike. But if the rumors were true, he would not appear.
So at this moment, Awakened and ordinary citizens alike, as well as the extraterrestrial beings, were all waiting for the authorities' response, eager to confirm the true state of Earth's foremost powerhouse.
Chapter 216