This news shocked countless people.
The citizens across the major super cities were especially stunned.
The Awakened, in fact, had already sensed the signs. They knew that as the era continued to advance, certain things from the past were bound to disappear eventually.
Though the academies held the vast majority of resources, they had become somewhat inadequate when dealing with the evolving situation in this New Era, as demonstrated by many recent events. Especially as time passed, the Heavenly Court's influence had grown stronger and its foundation ever more formidable. In many respects, it had already begun to take over the role of the official government.
The reason the ordinary populace felt uneasy was simple: they feared what would happen once the authorities were gone. Who would govern the super cities, and how would security be guaranteed?
The primary reason Huaxia had not descended into chaos like the world outside was largely due to the protection of the academies. Now that the academies were stepping aside and relinquishing their resources, panic genuinely began to spread.
Soon, however, another piece of news spread.
In the future, the Heavenly Court would gradually step to the forefront, and the defense of every major super city would fall under its purview. In other words, in the near future, the academies would likely integrate with the Heavenly Court.
This brought a measure of relief to many people.
After all, everyone knew that the Lord of the Heavenly Court was King Lu—Earth's foremost combatant, an invincible warrior beneath the starry sky. Even more importantly, he was someone who had protected countless lives time and again.
To many, the Heavenly Court and the official authorities were practically one and the same.
The extraterrestrial beings learned of this as well. Unlike the Awakened and ordinary citizens, they foresaw far deeper implications. The authorities were transitioning power to the Heavenly Court, which would become the dominant force of Earth going forward—a force that would one day be turned against them.
Involuntarily, the extraterrestrial beings thought of a single question:
Could the legendary ancient Heavenly Court truly be rising once more in the present age?
If it were anyone else, it might not have mattered much. The crux of the matter, however, was Lu Yuan.
No one could deny that whether in talent, combat strength, or other aspects, this man stood at the very pinnacle. As long as he continued cultivating and evolving, his future accomplishments would be beyond measure.
In truth, such a figure should have been strangled in the cradle.
Helplessly, though, none could match him. A total of six saints had fallen by his hand. Even when an immortal had cast their projection down, that entity had ultimately retreated.
Such terrifying might filled all those who had descended with dread. Otherwise, none of them would have kept so low a profile.
Lu Yuan hung above the extraterrestrial beings like a majestic mountain range, pressing down relentlessly upon their heads.
In a courtyard on Mount Tai.
Lu Yuan sat across from Elder Ji, Elder Yun, and the others; all seven members of the top leadership council were gathered here.
"King Lu, the personnel for the Heavenly Court have largely been assembled," Elder Ji said slowly. "What comes next is the transition of power. Our task from here on is to help the Heavenly Court fully take control of all factions and regions. This includes the five super cities, as well as the Awakened forces formed previously, which will be integrated into the outer ranks of the Heavenly Court's Four Divisions as subordinate units. From now on, the Heavenly Court presides over Huaxia!"
Elder Ji's words signified not only relinquishing governing power, but handing over command of their military forces as well. This was unconditional, total trust.
Beside him, Elder Yun and the others nodded one after another. They had planned this for some time, merely waiting for the right moment. Now, the time had arrived.
"I understand."
Hearing this, Lu Yuan sighed softly. He knew this day was bound to come sooner or later.
In fact, in his past life, as the era progressed, the authorities had gradually retreated behind the scenes. Everything had been done to better adapt to the New Era; only back then, what replaced them had not been today's Heavenly Court. In chaotic times, authority needed to be highly centralized—especially now, when a single person's might could tear mountains and rivers asunder.
With these thoughts in mind, he looked at them and said, "I understand. However, I will not involve myself in day-to-day affairs, so I will still have to trouble you gentlemen going forward. Strong though I may be, administration is hardly my forte."
Everyone had their strengths. If he poured all his energy into managing the Heavenly Court, his cultivation and evolution would inevitably slow down. And Lu Yuan had always known that the foundation of their current stability rested entirely upon his personal strength.
"Naturally. With us here, King Lu need not worry," Elder Ji said with a smile. He had intended this all along. It was not that he was reluctant to let go of power. Rather, there were things he could not bear to leave unattended—the younger generation, and the common people.
After chatting for a little longer, Elder Ji and the others took their leave.
Left alone in the courtyard, Lu Yuan sat lost in thought. To him, this was not a matter of paramount importance; the follow-up work could simply be entrusted to others. What mattered most to him right now was waiting for news from the Golden-Winged Great Peng and the Peacock King. If he could secure another cauldron of the Nine Cauldrons, the destiny within the Investiture Decree and the Ancient Heavenly Emperor Token would grow even stronger.
When that time came, not only could he confer godhood upon more beings, but he could also bestow even greater destiny upon them. Under those combined conditions, their cultivation and evolution would accelerate even further.
However, there was still one matter Lu Yuan had not yet figured out.
After conferring godhood, every recipient gained various benefits. Moreover, the longer they held their titles, the greater the boons became; beast kings like the Golden-Winged Great Peng were advancing in cultivation at an ever-quickening pace. Yet as the first name inscribed and the master of the Investiture Decree, apart from the two characters "Di Yuan," he did not seem to experience any changes in other respects.
"Could it be that I haven't fully unlocked the power of the Ancient Heavenly Emperor Token?" Lu Yuan pondered, feeling this was likely the case. There were certainly many Ancient Heavenly Emperor Tokens, and he had only acquired three so far. To unlock their full potential, what he possessed now was not enough.
Take it one step at a time.
Shaking his head, Lu Yuan cleared his thoughts and entered the cultivation chamber once more to begin his seclusion.
In the outside world, the transition of power between the authorities and the Heavenly Court proceeded smoothly. After all, the current situation was stable, and the extraterrestrial beings dared not stir up trouble at whim.
Personnel from the Four Divisions gradually began stationing themselves in the five super cities. As for training the Thirty-six Heavenly Generals, with the sect leaders of the Three Immortal Islands overseeing them, there was no problem whatsoever. They had been personally chosen by Lu Yuan, and in resources as well as every other respect, they received far more than ordinary inductees into the Heavenly Court.
Heavenly Generals—their future was bound to be extraordinary.
This was a tranquil interlude. At the same time, it was also the final period of peace Earth would enjoy.
Everyone knew full well that while everything seemed normal on the surface, countless beings beyond Earth still watched greedily like tigers stalking prey. No one knew what the future held, yet all could see that the Heavenly Court and the official authorities were constantly striving to change.
Lu Yuan had also pushed the Void Saint Realm to its peak, his foundations and accumulations reaching their absolute limits. In addition, he meditated anew on the divine abilities in his possession and refined his weapons. Though he had made no breakthrough in cultivation realm, in terms of combat strength, he underwent daily transformations.
On this day, just as Lu Yuan emerged from seclusion, he received word from the Golden-Winged Great Peng. It had sensed the aura of a cauldron from the Nine Cauldrons!
Chapter 232