Factions Gather: A Conflict? An Apology?

The morning sun rose, spraying brilliant rays across the sky. Morning mist surged and rolled through the mountain forests, adding an air of mystery to the landscape. Mount Li. Historically, it had not been particularly prominent. Yet ever since the Ancestral Dragon chose it as his eternal resting place over two thousand years ago, everything had changed. From that time on, rumors regarding the Mount Li Imperial Mausoleum had never ceased, surfacing every few years. This was especially true after the advent of the New Era. The mountain had grown precipitously taller, with dragon-shaped vital energy swirling in the skies above. Nearly every Awakened, and even ordinary people, knew that an extraordinary fortune was bound to lie inside. Whoever obtained it would inevitably attain greater heights in the future and gain legendary, transcendent power. So even though some knew how weak they were, they still wanted to try their luck. Who knew if they might succeed? They had no choice. This era was unfamiliar, ruled by the law of the jungle where power meant everything. No one didn't yearn to reach the very pinnacle. At that moment, before the Mount Li Imperial Mausoleum. It was a wide stretch of flat ground surrounded by ridges, though none were especially high. Ordinarily, no one ever came here. But today, even with the sky barely turning light, countless presences had already appeared. These were the Awakened who had caught wind of the news and set out to seize the opportunity. With so many people gathered, friction was inevitable. Incidents had also broken out where Awakened encountered mutant beasts and fought them along the way. On his journey to the Mount Li Imperial Mausoleum, Lu Yuan had come across numerous bloodstains and occasional corpses, their clothes rifled through—likely ambushed and slaughtered mid-journey by rivals who had tracked them down. Within Chang'an, people still exercised restraint. But out in the wilderness, it was an entirely different story. The feral nature dormant in human genes had been fully unleashed. Lu Yuan had witnessed far too much of this during those ten years and had long grown numb to it. Still, the closer one drew to Mount Li, the fewer such incidents occurred. Everyone shared the same goal and had no desire to waste time on the road. Soon, Lu Yuan spotted their destination. A dozen li ahead, a colossal mountain stood erect. It was entirely black, as were the trees and vegetation covering its slopes. Heavy with majestic dignity, it loomed like a primeval peak, making anyone standing before it feel utterly minuscule. From the summit, halos of light surged continuously, shifting into a seven-colored glow that ultimately coalesced into dragon-shaped vital energy. The dragon's head rested ten thousand meters in the air, gazing down upon the vast land. This was the Mount Li Imperial Mausoleum as it stood today. At ten thousand meters, it might not rank as the absolute highest peak in the current world, but its sheer grandeur was undeniable. No one could ignore it. Down below, a large crowd had already assembled, preliminarily estimated to be at least several thousand strong. Nearly all of them were Awakened who had rushed in from every direction upon hearing the news. They conversed while staying vigilant against one another. No one knew whether someone beside them might stab them in the back once the mausoleum opened—unless they were true friends who knew each other well. Lu Yuan drew closer and slipped quietly into the crowd, keeping a low profile. Now he could see layers of black energy surging outside the Mount Li Imperial Mausoleum. The energy seemed to seep directly from the mountain itself, gathering until it formed a gateway a hundred meters tall. The gateway was ancient and somewhat indistinct, its double doors firmly shut. With the passage of time, the gigantic portal gradually began to stabilize. It wouldn't be long before it manifested completely. With global mutation and the descent of the supernatural, mythic anomalies like this had become commonplace across famous mountains and great rivers. Thus, although the Awakened staring intently at the mausoleum's gate were amazed, they remained fairly calm. *No wonder the major factions could deduce when the mausoleum would open,* Lu Yuan thought as he observed the scene. In his previous life, he had also entered the Mount Li Imperial Mausoleum, but that was after becoming an Awakened, and even then, only as an insignificant nobody who could do nothing but watch from the sidelines, completely cut off from any share of the spoils. Now, he was still standing among the crowd, but everything was entirely different. *Vroom, vroom, vroom—* Right at that moment, the sudden roar of engines echoed from the sky. Everyone whose eyes had been fixed on the mausoleum's gate turned their heads. In the distance behind them, several helicopters appeared, circling overhead. What shocked the onlookers was that these helicopters were actually equipped with heavy weaponry. "Look at the emblems on those helicopters—they seem to be Wuzhou Group, Beidou Biology, Tianshen Technology, and Longevity Genetics!" "I heard long ago that early on in the mutation, the authorities struck deals with them to maintain stability, allowing them control over a certain amount of conventional firearms. Looks like it's true!" "There's no helping it. Given their influence and the current situation, they could probably buy weapons from abroad too." "Could... could those weapons be used against us?" Awakened whispered among themselves, recognizing the factions behind the aircraft. They were stunned that these major powers possessed conventional heavy weapons. For a moment, the crowd grew restless, fearful they might be targeted at a crucial juncture. After all, aside from a small minority who possessed special techniques, most Awakened were not yet powerful enough to withstand heavy modern firepower. Lu Yuan noticed as well, but thought nothing of it. Factions like the Wuzhou Group possessed immense reserves of heritage. The Zhou family was an ancient lineage with its own visualization methods and breathing methods, which they merely kept concealed under normal circumstances. Even without cooperating with the government, they could easily acquire plenty of heavy weaponry, especially in times like these. The authorities also had to rely on certain compromises to keep things running. He didn't pay it any further heed, continuing to gaze ahead as he waited for the mausoleum gate to open. Meanwhile, the helicopters landed on the ground one after another. Figures began stepping out—men and women alike. Without exception, every one of them was an Awakened, and extraordinarily formidable at that. Having stepped into an era tailor-made for them, these ancient clans were finally unveiling their formidable foundations. "Didn't they say Wuzhou Group is tied to Winged Celestial? Why haven't we seen him?" "Yeah, and there's no sign of the Southern Sovereign over by Longevity Genetics either." "Could they be keeping out of sight?" People discussed amongst themselves. By now, many had come to realize that the Five Great Sovereigns each represented a major power, having been pushed to the forefront by them. Longevity Genetics had the Southern Sovereign; Wuzhou Group had Winged Celestial; Tianshen Technology had Asura; and Beidou Biology had the Ice Fairy. As for the Northern Emperor, he naturally belonged to Zhendan Academy. It made sense when one thought about it. Only factions of this caliber could produce the Five Great Sovereigns who stood at the absolute apex of the current Awakened pyramid. "Sister, there are so many people," Zhou Biqiong remarked with a frown as she stepped off the helicopter and looked toward the grounds outside the mausoleum. "It looks like a massive battle is unavoidable today." Before her stood the breathtaking Zhou Yunqiong, maintaining her usual cool, composed, and effortless demeanor. Behind the sisters trailed an entourage of young men and elders alike. Judging by their auras, none of them were ordinary. "These people won't affect anything. The real concern is the Southern Sovereign and the others," replied the man known as Yi as he stepped down, glancing toward the area where Longevity Genetics had gathered. Finding no sign of his target, he drew back his gaze. His status was extremely high; nearby personnel from the Wuzhou Group bowed their heads slightly in deference upon seeing him. "Of course! With Brother Yi here, they're nothing more than a rabble. Even I could deal with them," Zhou Biqiong chimed in admiringly. She was usually quite arrogant, being a young lady of the Zhou family and possessing ancestral bloodline power of her own. Though not as rich as her sister's, it was still more than enough to look down on most Awakened. "Yunqiong, what are you looking at?" Just then, Yi noticed that Zhou Yunqiong's attention was wandering. Her eyes were constantly scanning the crowd, as if searching for someone. "I just want to confirm something," Zhou Yunqiong replied flatly, continuing to sweep her gaze across the multitude. Ever since entering Chang'an that day, she had repeatedly recalled that familiar silhouette. At first, she had thought she was mistaken, but upon closer recollection, she felt certain she was right, even if his build had changed somewhat. Her bloodline was the most potent in the Zhou family, and her strength far exceeded that of ordinary people; she rarely made visual errors. Thus, she was convinced that the man had also arrived in Chang'an. Since there was still time before the mausoleum officially opened, it would be best if she could find him. That class reunion had been deeply unusual for her. It was the first time she had ever been ignored, something her prideful nature found difficult to stomach. "Is that so?" The man's gaze took on a peculiar shade upon hearing this. Beside them, Zhou Biqiong also looked slightly displeased. Whatever Yi disliked, she disliked as well. Not far from the Wuzhou Group's landing site, several other helicopters were stationed. Leading the group was none other than the son of Longevity Genetics' Second Madam, Wang Tao. "Second Young Master," an elder in a long robe stepped forward and reported. "Second Madam just sent word. That man named Lu hasn't been found. He's an Awakened, so it's presumed he may have come to the Mount Li Imperial Mausoleum as well." "Understood," Wang Tao said immediately. "You all have his photo. Keep an eye out. "If that bastard Lu really shows up at Mount Li, inform me at once. "I want to take care of him personally." Over this period, he and Second Madam had been searching for Lu Yuan, but to no avail. Since the Mount Li Imperial Mausoleum drew numerous Awakened from across the nation, it wouldn't be surprising if he turned up here. "This..." The elder furrowed his brow slightly and hesitated. "The Eldest Young Master instructed that our primary objective today is the Mount Li Imperial Mausoleum. Shouldn't we set this matter aside for now?" "I know you're my elder brother's man, but my surname is Wang too. Besides, I'm not asking you to lift a finger," Wang Tao countered. "Understood," the elder nodded helplessly. For the opening of the Mount Li Imperial Mausoleum, the various factions had entrusted their younger generation with managing matters to hone their capabilities. He felt the Second Young Master was failing to distinguish priorities, but fortunately, the Eldest Young Master was nearby as well. Meanwhile, in an inconspicuous corner, another group arrived. At their head was an elderly man with snow-white hair and a white beard, his countenance exceptionally kindly. Yet upon seeing the throngs of Awakened and major factions gathered below, he couldn't help but sigh. "Dean, is a fight really inevitable later?" a young woman in green spoke up. She looked toward Zhou Yunqiong, Longevity Genetics, and the other factions with a trace of worry on her face. She was Zhu Qingyu, who had previously defended Qingyang City against the beast tide before being rescued by Lu Yuan. Qin Lan and several others stood beside her. "No one knows what lies inside the Mount Li Imperial Mausoleum, but one thing is certain: whoever claims it will reap immense benefits," the elderly man said. His name was Zheng Wenyuan, dean of the Chang'an branch of Zhendan Academy. He was also a tremendously powerful Awakened. Otherwise, he would never have been able to oversee Chang'an. Behind him stood students and instructors from the branch. "Then should we contest it?" Zhu Qingyu asked, then hesitated. "Yet if we fight for it, a great clash will be unavoidable, which goes against our academy's founding principles." Zhendan Academy was backed by the authorities, and its primary duty was maintaining stability across the nation and preventing chaos. Their purpose in coming was to avert massive casualties. However, that was all they could manage. The world had changed. She felt rather frustrated. Clearly, humanity's greatest threat was the mutant beasts, yet infighting persisted. "Silly child. With the New Era upon us, maintaining stability requires formidable strength as well. "In the past, conventional heavy weaponry could deter everything, but that's no longer the case. What's more, mutant beasts are growing restless everywhere, and the West is watching us like a tiger eyeing its prey. We must increase our strength in short order. We have to contest it, without question." Dean Zheng smiled. "It's simply that it would be best if we can claim it while minimizing casualties." "But... people from Longevity Genetics and the Wuzhou Group are all here. Do we stand a chance?" Zhu Qingyu couldn't help asking, knowing just how unfathomably deep these factions' foundations were. "Rest assured, that senior of yours will be coming too. "And if all else fails, don't you still have these old bones of mine? I can still hold up the sky for a bit," Dean Zheng said. Zhendan Academy had also prepared extensively for the Mount Li Imperial Mausoleum. "You mean the Northern Emperor, one of the Five Great Sovereigns? If he can make it, that would certainly shift the scales." Zhu Qingyu's eyes lit up, though her thoughts quickly drifted back to that thunderous arrow in Qingyang City. "It's a pity we haven't found that mysterious archer yet. If we had his help, our chances would be even greater." That arrow that day had left an indelible impression on her. In Zhu Qingyu's eyes, the mysterious figure who had fired that lightning arrow was every bit the equal of the Five Great Sovereigns. "What Five Great Sovereigns? Just an idle title cooked up by troublemakers. They aren't worthy of that name yet." Zheng Wenyuan shook his head and looked at the girl with a warm, grandfatherly gaze. "Besides, your talent isn't necessarily inferior to theirs. After this, the academy will focus on nurturing you. As for that mysterious person, let nature take its course. If he is unwilling to show himself, there is nothing we can do." Following the Qingyang City beast tide, the person who had fired that lightning arrow had become a subject of great interest to Zhendan Academy. Yet after investigating for so long, they had found no trace of him, as if he had been nothing more than a fleeting apparition. "Huh?" Just then, Qin Lan, standing beside them, suddenly spoke up: "Dean, Instructor, Qingyu, look! What is Zhou Yunqiong doing?" She pointed downward, noticing that Zhou Yunqiong, who had been standing still, had suddenly begun walking into the crowd. As a prominent figure of the Zhou family, few Awakened didn't know her. After all, during the three months following the mutation, she had frequently represented the Wuzhou Group in online broadcasts. "Strange. What could make her move?" Zhu Qingyu wondered aloud. She had never met Zhou Yunqiong in person, but she knew of her reputation as aloof and proud. Combined with her potent bloodline, it was exceedingly rare for her to show strong emotion toward anything. "She seems to be walking toward someone... Wait, that silhouette from the back looks familiar," Qin Lan murmured. "Don't pay too much mind to that. Focus on the situation at hand. The gates of the Mount Li Imperial Mausoleum could open at any moment," Dean Zheng interjected, reminding the students not to be distracted by individuals and to keep their eyes on the big picture. "Yes, sir," Zhu Qingyu and the others responded, obediently turning their attention away. Meanwhile, Lu Yuan stood in the crowd, gazing at the distant Mount Li Imperial Mausoleum. Suddenly, his brow furrowed slightly. Someone was approaching. And an acquaintance at that. "Lu Yuan, it really is you?" Zhou Yunqiong walked up to him, tall and slender with long legs, her demeanor cold and noble, though currently tinged with curiosity. The nearby Awakened parted of their own accord, then exchanged bewildered looks. They all recognized this prominent Zhou family figure of lofty status. Recently, her fame had only grown, serving as the Wuzhou Group's public representative—practically half in control of the organization. Yet to everyone's astonishment, such a figure had actually walked into the crowd specifically to strike up a conversation with an unfamiliar stranger. Hearing her voice, Lu Yuan turned around and frowned. "What, I'm not allowed to be here?" His expression was stern; he had no desire to have any dealings with her. At these words, the surrounding crowd was struck dumb with shock. Who was this guy? How dared he take such a tone with the Eldest Miss of the Zhou family? "That's not what I meant." Zhou Yunqiong seemed prepared for this. She gave a faint smile and asked, "You've become an Awakened?" Observing the shift in Lu Yuan's physique and aura, she felt surprised. She hadn't anticipated this, given that the Wuzhou Group had previously examined his genetic data and found nothing extraordinary. "Don't you already know the answer to that?" Lu Yuan said, sounding somewhat impatient, unwilling to waste words. Hearing this, Zhou Yunqiong felt another stir of emotion. It was precisely this attitude that had left such a deep impression on her, making her wonder what gave him the right. Whether in status or any other regard, a vast gulf clearly separated them. Particularly in this New Era, that gap was utterly insurmountable. Why did he still act this way? Taking a deep breath, Zhou Yunqiong quickly regained her composure. After a brief hesitation, she continued, "Of course I know the answer. Since you've become an Awakened, you should also understand the current state of affairs. If you need it, you can join the Wuzhou Group. I'll arrange a position for you." She was proud at heart. Being treated so coldly, she wanted to use her identity and the Wuzhou Group to humble Lu Yuan. After all, who in the country didn't know of this powerful Awakened faction nowadays? "Sorry, I'm not interested." Lu Yuan turned to walk away and find a quiet spot. This left the surrounding Awakened completely dazed. *Brother, do you have any idea who you're talking to?* "Friend, that attitude of yours isn't very pleasant." Right then, the man named Yi stepped forward, his eyes chillingly aloof. "Yunqiong kindly invited you into the Wuzhou Group so you'd have backing and shelter in this New Era. Far from being grateful, you treat her with cold indifference. That is truly, deeply improper!" He emphasized his disapproval, radiating an overpowering, haughty aura. Combined with those golden pupils of his, an instinctive dread welled up in people, making them want to bow their heads in submission. "And?" Lu Yuan stepped forward instead of back, staring at the man. He had naturally felt the hostility, but so what? "You should apologize!" Yi felt provoked by Lu Yuan's posture, but restrained himself from striking out because Zhou Yunqiong was right beside them, choosing instead to issue a command. He knew this was the very Lu Yuan he had heard about upon entering Chang'an, so his tone carried absolute authority. "Laughable. Aren't you feeling a bit too good about yourself?" Lu Yuan chuckled, then added, "Besides, you have neither the standing nor the ability to make me apologize." "Insolence! Do you have any idea who you're talking to?" A voice filled with rage rang out abruptly. It was Zhou Biqiong, stepping up beside Yi with a sharp glare. "Don't think we won't lay a hand on you just because my sister is here!"