Reborn into a new life, Lu Yuan knew many things.
Especially after hearing Chen Song's description, he was certain in his heart that the woman searching for the small tripod cauldron came from beyond their realm.
The reason was simple: in his previous life, he had been able to enter the Mount Li Imperial Mausoleum and navigate its various trials precisely because, by a stroke of luck, he had accompanied this very group of people.
Though he had never seen that woman himself, those who truly breached the imperial mausoleum and reached the final sanctuary were people from beyond the realm.
As for why that group understood the resting place of the Ancestral Dragon so well, Lu Yuan was not entirely clear.
Yet it was plainly evident that a great secret lay hidden within.
Furthermore, while those from beyond the realm hailed from different star fields, none of them were ordinary. Among them, according to what Lu Yuan understood, some had originally belonged to this world, only to have departed for deep space at least a millennium ago for unknown reasons.
He simply hadn't expected them to arrive so swiftly, without the slightest warning.
Or perhaps they had appeared long ago and chosen to lie low, unknown to him.
"It seems that with the upheaval underway, the true heroes and powerhouses are rising all at once," Lu Yuan thought to himself. Everything was merely beginning.
Before long, the grand era would fully descend.
More perils and more adversaries would spring up like bamboo shoots after rain.
Fortunately, unlike his previous life, he was already thoroughly prepared.
A series of plans to grow stronger was already well underway.
At this point, however, Lu Yuan no longer felt inclined to continue meditating on One Sword of Heaven and Earth, turning his attention to how the others were progressing with the sword steles.
After several hours, this session of comprehension drew toward its close. Figures like the Ice Fairy had all obtained their respective fortunes, transcribing a copy to hand over to Zhendan Academy as agreed beforehand.
As for the twenty thousand Awakened, half of them failed entirely, and most remained below the fifth tier. The five deans of Zhendan Academy hadn't expected to gain much from them anyway; they only needed each person to submit a copy of whatever they managed to glean.
And so, after a few more hours, just before dusk, this heritage session of the Ancient Mount Shu sword steles officially concluded.
When the next opening would occur depended on Zhendan Academy. But for this batch of participants, there would be no second chance for at least three years.
Afterward, under Dean Zheng's arrangements, Lu Yuan boarded a plane with Zhu Qingyu, the Northern Emperor, and the others, heading for Chang'an.
Before departure, the Ice Fairy's gaze had lingered on him constantly, filled with astonishment and shock.
She felt that every encounter with this man brought a fresh, distinct shock. His profound strength, overbearing personality, exceptional talent—all of it was something the Ice Fairy had never experienced from anyone else.
In addition, Little Celestial Master Chunyang and Monk Huikong of Mount Jiuhua came over to exchange a few words, their speech imbued with respect. As men who had stepped outside the secular world, they harbored no jealousy, only admiration.
In fact, most people present felt the same way, looking at Lu Yuan with immense awe and deference.
Human nature was just like that.
When someone was only slightly stronger than others, people would feel envious and dissatisfied, believing they were on the same level. If you could do it, then naturally they could too; all they lacked was a stroke of luck.
But when one's authority or power reached an unimaginable height—so vast that others deemed it impossible to catch up—all dissatisfaction vanished.
They would acknowledge that genuine chasms existed between people, only feeling that they themselves had not done enough.
The reason was simple: everyone had an instinct to admire the strong, and at this moment, Lu Yuan was that very powerhouse!
During the journey back, the Northern Emperor, Qin Lan, and several others kept their distance from him. They looked at him as if he were a monster, curious about the supreme divine ability, yet none dared to ask. They were even more cautious than on the way here, hardly daring to steal more than a glance.
Only Zhu Qingyu, having interacted with him more, appeared somewhat more relaxed.
Upon returning to Chang'an, Lu Yuan did not depart immediately. Under Dean Zheng's arrangements, he once again stayed at Zhendan Academy.
Over this period, his gains had been substantial: from the Ancestral Dragon Breathing Method and the Crouching Dragon Scarlet Fruit, to finally the One Sword of Heaven and Earth. Deep as his foundation was, he still needed time to digest his gains and familiarize himself with his physique. Only by understanding himself thoroughly could he unleash his greatest combat strength. Having experienced so much, Lu Yuan naturally understood this well.
It was also during these few days that news of the Ancient Mount Shu sword stele heritages spread far and wide.
When people heard that participants had indeed gleaned fortunes, obtaining breathing methods and divine abilities, everyone grew excited. Heated discussions erupted everywhere. People had been waiting and watching; now that real benefits had materialized without any real danger, Ancient Mount Shu seemed like an excellent destination to many Awakened, who hoped they might acquire a visualization method.
That way, they could advance further along the path of evolution. Consequently, countless people began eagerly anticipating the next opening.
Additionally, there was the matter of Lu Yuan.
Following his domineering slaying of the Southern Sovereign, he had once again become the center of public discussion.
Ascending to the summit of Ancient Mount Shu's Sword Mountain and comprehending the supreme divine ability from the ninety-ninth sword stele—embellished by various accounts, public attention surged ceaselessly. In particular, after eyewitnesses explained just how difficult reaching the summit was, countless Awakened began to look upon Lu Yuan with deep admiration.
Not only was his strength counted among the top five, but his comprehension vastly exceeded that of the Northern Emperor, the Ice Fairy, and the rest. Some predicted Lu Yuan would stand at the very pinnacle of Awakened in the future, even asserting that the title of Human Sovereign was thoroughly deserved.
Someone even created a forum poll evaluating who was the strongest among the five. Lu Yuan's votes soared past the Winged Celestial's by a wide margin, claiming the first spot.
Everyone knew the two had clashed, and in the end, the Winged Celestial had suffered a silent loss.
Furthermore, students from Zhendan Academy reported that the Northern Emperor had personally admitted his physique was inferior to Lu Yuan's, and that he had entered secluded cultivation upon returning from Ancient Mount Shu, seemingly having suffered a psychological blow. Countless netizens chimed in with comments.
All in all, the renown of Lu Yuan as the Human Sovereign was firmly established, beyond anyone's doubt. Even the Winged Celestial's supporters remained silent.
It was not until news broke that the Winged Celestial's bloodline had awakened, causing his strength to skyrocket—accompanied by a video of him battling a mutated beast—that those supporters finally began voicing rebuttals against Lu Yuan's claim to first place.
Yet it caused little stir. Many believed that who was stronger and who was weaker could only be settled in a fight. Privately, people sensed a clash between these two mighty Awakened was inevitable.
Yet Lu Yuan knew nothing of this, and even if he had, he would not have cared.
On this morning, at Zhendan Academy.
Dean Zheng stood at the main entrance, accompanied by Zhu Qingyu and several others.
"Mr. Lu, are you truly not planning to stay at the academy for a few more days? Many of our students revere you as their idol right now," he said, disappointment etched across his face. In the end, he was still leaving.
"No. I have many matters to handle. Thank you for your hospitality during this period."
Lu Yuan shook his head. He had completely adapted to his physical transformations, and his essential business here was finished. Naturally, he would not linger indefinitely.
"All... all right, then."
Knowing he could not persuade him to stay, Dean Zheng reached out a hand and said solemnly, "There is one thing I hope you remember, Mr. Lu: whenever you visit Zhendan Academy, you will always be an honored guest. If you ever face any difficulties, just say the word, and we will do everything in our power to resolve them."
The implicit meaning was that he treated Lu Yuan as one of their own, one-sided though it might be.
"Thank you. I understand."
Lu Yuan nodded and shook his hand. "Rest assured, we will surely meet again."
Having said that, he said his farewells to Zhu Qingyu and the others, then turned and walked away without looking back, departing straight from Zhendan Academy.
His destination was none other than the Qinling Mountains to the north of Chang'an.
"Dean, Mr. Lu has left," Zhu Qingyu said.
"Mm, we should head back inside as well," Dean Zheng sighed.
Turning to the young woman before him, he added, "From now on, you must work hard. The academy will focus on nurturing you. Your future accomplishments will not be small."
"Mm." Zhu Qingyu smiled brightly, warm and beautiful.
"Dean! Dean!"
Right then, a voice suddenly called out.
It was Zhao Wuji, a teacher from the academy. Looking anxious, he blurted out, "Commander-in-Chief Xu of the Defense Army just arrived! He says an unstable riot among the mutated beasts has been detected toward Qinling. They seem to be gathering! He asked you to hurry to the conference room for a meeting!"
"What? So soon?"
Dean Zheng was startled by the news.
Without hesitation, he instructed, "In the name of Zhendan Academy, issue an announcement to the entire city to summon Awakened. At the same time, relay the news to the other academies warning that mutated beasts might attack the city, and that their cooperation will be vital when the time comes."
Chang'an was now one of the super cities, housing vast numbers of civilians relocated from surrounding areas. If an attack struck while they were unprepared, the casualties would be catastrophic.
This was something he would never permit, nor was it something the authorities wished to see.
"Understood!"
Zhao Wuji nodded.
Dean Zheng then issued several more orders before rushing directly toward the conference room.
At that moment, inside the academy's conference room, nearly all the senior executives had gathered, alongside several individuals in military uniform.
With grim expressions, they stared at the display screen ahead.
Connected to precision instruments that detected powerful lifeforms, the screen showed numerous tiny red dots converging in the same direction—dense and innumerable, virtually impossible to count.
Seeing this, Dean Zheng felt a heavy weight settle on his heart, knowing a major catastrophe was brewing.
For a fleeting moment, the thought crossed his mind to ask Lu Yuan to return.
Yet he dismissed it.
Lu Yuan was not part of Zhendan Academy and bore no such obligation; moreover, he had already departed.
Chang'an would have to resolve this on its own.
Meanwhile, in Shanghai.
Steel perimeter walls were under construction. Within them stood towering skyscrapers, and people bustled along the streets. Even after the great upheaval, it still radiated the charm of the pre-cataclysm metropolis.
However, being adjacent to the sea, the steel walls in that direction were the thickest and most heavily reinforced.
Further off in the distance, mountains thrust up from the earth, exuding a primordial aura.
Atop one such mountain stood a solitary figure: a woman whose long black hair fell to her waist. Her figure was graceful, her face exquisitely beautiful, and her temperament indescribably ethereal. Her eyes shone as bright as stars, like a goddess descending from the heavens.
Whether in looks or elegance, she thoroughly overshadowed Zhou Yunqiong. Yet she wore a traditional ancient-style gown with an ornamental hairpin gracing her hair, appearing just like someone from antiquity.
"Holy Maiden, that person named Chen Song was clearly lying. Why didn't you interrogate him further?"
Out of nowhere, a raspy voice rang out, yet no speaker could be seen.
It was as though the air itself were speaking.
Had an outsider witnessed this in broad daylight, they would have feared they had encountered a ghost.
"I checked; the cauldron is indeed no longer there. Questioning him or not amounts to the same thing."
The Holy Maiden shook her head. Her voice was elegant and unhurried, refreshing as an orchid blooming in an empty valley.
"Then it must be in someone's hands. Tracking it down shouldn't be too difficult for us."
The voice sounded advanced in age, yet the speaker remained unseen.
"It's futile. There are two keys in total, and both have disappeared now. Finding just one serves no purpose."
The Holy Maiden continued, "With our methods, entering the Ancestral Dragon's imperial mausoleum may be somewhat difficult, but given time, it is not impossible. Let it be."
"Yet that small tripod cauldron is most unusual; it concerns a great secret..." The voice sounded puzzled. Even if they breached the mausoleum by force, surely that cauldron was indispensable?
"All in good time. By the way, has any news arrived from the Ancestral Star recently?"
"None. The distance is too vast; it takes time."
"It truly is difficult." The Holy Maiden sighed softly in resignation, then asked again, "How much longer until your condition recovers? We need to visit the imperial mausoleum as soon as possible to retrieve that breathing method. My power is suppressed, so I will need your assistance."
"One or two months will suffice," the voice answered.
"Then... let us wander this world for a while. After so many years, it differs vastly from the records on the Ancestral Star."
The Holy Maiden turned her gaze toward Shanghai, her eyes glinting with curious fascination.
"Understood, Holy Maiden."
As the voice faded, ripples stirred in the space around her, and the woman's figure vanished abruptly into thin air.
Several days later.
A majestic, colossal mountain range stretched endlessly, its undulating peaks forming a grand expanse that reached beyond sight.
Massive trees stood hundreds of meters tall, their trunks so thick that dozens of people could scarcely encircle them.
The terrain was precipitous, the foliage lush and dense, resembling a primeval wilderness.
Further off, clouds and mist roiled.
Within the mountain forests, ancient trees pierced the sky and thick vines wound through the branches. The cries of apes and roars of tigers echoed, shaking showers of fallen leaves from above.
Overhead, a ferocious raptor soared. Its wings spanned a full hundred meters, blotting out the sky when spread. It plunged into the forest like a streak of lightning, emerging a moment later with prey clutched in its talons—a massive beast even sturdier than a giant boar or elephant.
Yet immediately afterward, an immense serpent over ten meters in diameter suddenly surged forth, leaping into the air to clamp its jaws around the raptor.
Such a spectacle laid bare the brutal reality of the strong preying on the weak, the true law of the jungle.
Just beyond this mountain range, a young figure slowly emerged, taking in the scene before him with spirited eyes.
"Currently, human evolution remains largely in its rudimentary stages. In combat, I can't let loose at all. Mutated beasts are different; adhering to nature, they evolve much faster and grow far more powerful. This makes for a fine training ground."
The young man was naturally Lu Yuan, and before him lay the renowned Qinling Mountains.
Before the great upheaval, this mountain range had stretched over a thousand kilometers; now, it was even vaster.
The mutated beasts dwelling within were countless, beyond any tally.
Lu Yuan had come here with two objectives. First, to find the things he needed to evolve once more. Second, he knew the mutated beasts here were numerous and exceptionally potent, likely including creatures that had reached the Shackle Realm. Battling them would temper his strength.
However, traveling on foot for the past few days had sparked an entirely new thought in Lu Yuan's mind.
Previously, traveling anywhere required him to journey on foot, which was truly tedious.
As it happened, the Qinling Mountains bred an extraordinarily powerful flying mutated beast. With his current strength, he could undoubtedly tame it.
Using it as a mount would make traveling much more effortless.
He also noticed that according to his senses, the mutated beasts within Qinling seemed unusually irritable and fraught with feral ferocity.
Irritable? Excellent!
Let's see who proves more ferocious!
With those thoughts in mind, Lu Yuan grew impatient to begin and plunged straight into the Qinling Mountains.
Chapter 61