Lu Yuan understood the situation clearly.
With his current power, once it became public knowledge, it was bound to attract tremendous attention.
Yet he had never intended to hide, nor did he fear anyone.
Now that the authorities had sought him out, it was entirely within his expectations.
In truth, Lu Yuan also wanted to speak with the higher-ups.
First, following the dawn of the New Era, the situation had descended into chaos.
For a very long time in his previous life, the livelihood and very survival of countless citizens had faced dire threats.
Back then, he had been no exception, constantly fleeing and hiding; at times, even supercities were far from safe.
The reason was simple: upon evolving, mutated beasts gained sapience and viewed humanity as their mortal enemy.
Thus, every so often, they would assault human cities.
The authorities back then had made tremendous efforts.
Yet with so little time to prepare, countless people perished, and the government only managed to regain its footing in the later stages.
On this matter, Lu Yuan believed he could offer valuable guidance and advise them on what steps to take.
If doing so could save more lives, why shouldn't he?
Second, the upper leadership controlled the vast majority of resources.
Their intelligence networks were especially extensive.
Certain pieces of information could not be released to the general public and were known only to a select few.
Through these channels, Lu Yuan hoped to grasp the broader strategic landscape of the New Era.
After a moment's consideration, Lu Yuan looked at Commander-in-Chief Zhang before him and nodded. "Very well. I will remain in Shencheng for the time being."
This would also grant him the opportunity to digest his recent gains before undergoing another evolution.
It was simply necessary; since the great upheaval, he had acquired and merged with far too many divine treasures.
Previously, his strength had been insufficient to absorb them completely.
Now, having broken thirty genetic shackles, his physique and faculties had reached a terrifying standard, and even his bloodline had transformed. He finally possessed the ability to refine everything anew.
After all, evolving too quickly was not always a blessing; settling down and thoroughly understanding one's own constitution was of paramount importance.
"Wonderful, wonderful!" Hearing his agreement, Commander-in-Chief Zhang beamed immediately.
"I'll have my subordinates arrange temporary quarters for you at once."
As the Commander-in-Chief of Shencheng's Defense Army, he wielded immense authority.
Yet his current posture was remarkably humble, terrified that Lu Yuan might refuse.
After all, had Lu Yuan declined, Zhang would have had no way to stop him.
Before him stood a true King of Humanity—one who had just achieved a monumental feat.
With Lu Yuan's consent, a heavy weight was lifted from Commander-in-Chief Zhang's shoulders.
Lu Yuan offered no further comment, simply nodding before taking his leave.
As for the Golden-Winged Great Peng, he allowed it to roam freely.
Keeping such a massive beast inside Shencheng—even if it harmed no one—would inevitably cause unrest.
Moreover, since the two shared a Blood Contract, they could sense one another regardless of distance, leaving no cause for concern.
With that, the crisis in Shencheng was brought to an end.
The blaring air-raid sirens fell silent.
The citizens evacuated to safe shelters returned to their homes under the escort of the Defense Army.
It was at this moment that news of Lu Yuan being a King of Humanity spread everywhere.
Where it had previously circulated online, now the general public knew as well.
Two consecutive catastrophes had been averted by his hand.
And by his strength alone.
To ordinary citizens, he was an undeniable hero.
Furthermore, Awakened across the country found a clear goal to strive toward thanks to his appearance.
In the past, when confronting beast tides, the prevailing consensus was to rely on modern firearms and heavy weaponry, with no guarantee of success, believing that mortal strength alone could never stand against such hordes. If the earlier incident in Chang'an had served as a shot in the arm for humanity, then this victory in Shencheng finally convinced them that once humans obtained extraordinary power, they could truly wield strength out of myth and legend.
This was a glorious evolutionary path; as long as they pressed forward, they would inevitably reach toward the stars and the depths of space.
As the first widely recognized King of Humanity in the country, Lu Yuan's fame reached an astonishing height.
Across the internet, he was placed above all other Awakened in the very highest tier, revered as King Lu!
"King," derived from King of Humanity.
This title was embraced by countless people.
At this moment, public interest in Lu Yuan eclipsed anything seen before.
***
Shanghai.
Inside a secluded villa framed by small bridges and flowing streams, decorated in an elegant antique style.
Zhou Yunqiong was dressed in casual attire, her legs long and slender, her skin porcelain and delicate.
Yet she was not lounging idly on the sofa as she usually did. Instead, her expression was grave as she stared at the updates on her phone. "The Shackle Realm... a King of Humanity... To think he really was Lu Yuan."
Zhou Yunqiong's delicate brows furrowed deeply in disbelief, an undercurrent of skepticism still lingering in her eyes.
Although the video footage online was not high-definition, a closer look still revealed a solitary silhouette.
One man, one sword.
Deterring both the South Sea Giant Demon and an army of a hundred thousand mutated beasts.
She had seen that silhouette many times, making it unmistakably familiar.
It was precisely because she recognized it that Zhou Yunqiong was all the more shaken, her complexion turning sour.
The King of Humanity was Lu Yuan.
Why?
Why hadn't she noticed it earlier?
Just how had Lu Yuan evolved to such a level?
"Eldest Miss." Uncle Zuo stepped out from the side and bowed slightly. "The meeting is about to begin. The head of the family requests your presence."
Zhou Yunqiong seemed not to hear him, turning instead to ask, "Tell me, just how strong is Lu Yuan right now?"
She cared deeply about this matter and wanted an outside assessment.
"Based on our current intelligence, the South Sea Giant Demon should be in the Golden Body Realm—the fourth stage of evolution. We have reviewed the battle footage multiple times; Lu Yuan essentially dominated the entire engagement. Had he fought to kill, slaying the beast would not have been difficult."
Uncle Zuo offered his analysis, then could not resist adding, "Eldest Miss, you shouldn't waste your thoughts on him."
Zhou Yunqiong fell silent. Did she really want to dwell on him? The issue was that every move Lu Yuan made brought too great a shock.
Not only had he become an Awakened and gained extraordinary power, but more importantly, he had reached the Shackle Realm and was hailed as a King of Humanity.
Zhou Yunqiong could not help wondering: if she had treated Lu Yuan better in the beginning, or shown him more goodwill, could he have been brought into the service of the Zhou family?
Yet looking at it now, it might not be too late.
She believed that if she extended goodwill going forward, there was a fair chance Lu Yuan would not turn her down.
With that in mind, Zhou Yunqiong looked toward Uncle Zuo and said, "Keep an eye on Yi. Have him rein himself in during this period."
She knew Yi harbored strong murderous intent toward Lu Yuan, but that could not be allowed to ruin her future plans.
"Understood, Eldest Miss," Uncle Zuo agreed at once.
Without another word, Zhou Yunqiong rose and left the room.
This family meeting was crucial to the Zhou family's future growth and expansion, so she had to attend.
***
Shencheng.
Several days had passed since the beast tide.
Because the horde had never breached the defensive perimeter, the daily lives of the citizens were unaffected.
Routines continued as before, though groups of people constantly visited the Defense Army encampment.
Word had gotten out that the King of Humanity who had repelled the beast tide single-handedly was temporarily staying there.
Many wished to thank him in person, though none succeeded.
Commander-in-Chief Zhang knew that Lu Yuan disliked being disturbed or inconvenienced, so he turned the well-wishers away.
Even so, people came by every day. To the residents of Shencheng, that King of Humanity was a true savior.
At this moment, within an isolated building in the Defense Army compound, all was quiet and undisturbed.
Only patrols of armed soldiers marched back and forth around the perimeter.
Inside the room, Lu Yuan sat cross-legged.
The aura around him vibrated continuously as waves of golden vital energy billowed outward.
His entire body was bathed in golden radiance, even his hair tinged with a warm gold.
The power radiating from within him was particularly breathtaking; listening closely, the thrum of his heartbeat sounded like war drums.
As his heart pulsed, a golden Eleven-Tier Pagoda rose and fell in resonance, manifesting an anomalous vision.
Fortunately, the room was constructed from specialized materials; otherwise, it might have collapsed under the strain.
Had an outsider witnessed this, they would surely have worshiped him as a god.
Of course, this was merely the outward manifestation.
Ever since taking up temporary residence at the encampment, Lu Yuan had remained in secluded cultivation, determined to thoroughly assimilate all the gains he had obtained since the upheaval.
The results were remarkable.
In just a few days, he had broken another ten genetic shackles in succession, pushing his physical strength to an even higher level.
Sitting cross-legged in internal reflection, Lu Yuan saw his internal organs glowing with brilliant light.
His golden blood flowed like molten magma, imbued with various formidable energies.
In truth, given his present state, he could have advanced directly to the Golden Body Realm within days to achieve even greater power.
Yet Lu Yuan chose not to, refusing to sever his future potential for the sake of temporary gains.
Only by reaching the pinnacle—breaking all one hundred and eight genetic shackles before entering the Golden Body Realm—would he secure the greatest possible foundation.
After all, his ultimate goal was not mere supremacy in this world.
It was the sea of stars!
It was the vast expanse of outer space.
Otherwise, he would not have spent so much effort preparing everything beforehand.
"Whew..."
Before long, the radiance enveloping Lu Yuan gradually receded, and he exhaled a long breath of turbid air.
The breath took the shape of a lifelike dragon, coiling vividly in the air.
Behind him, the eighth grotto-heaven manifested, enshrining a true divinity within.
"It seems that for the near future, I don't need to search for additional divine treasures. My existing foundation is more than enough to sustain my continuous evolution, breaking genetic shackles while opening more grotto-heavens."
Lu Yuan opened his eyes and murmured to himself, an involuntary smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
Once past the first twelve genetic shackles, the subsequent ones became somewhat easier to break, especially for someone with his level of talent.
With the Ancient Bodhi Tree granting him a hundred-million-fold enhancement to his aptitude, his potential was beyond ordinary comprehension.
Furthermore, he had absorbed numerous divine items and the Human Sovereign's essence blood left behind by Shennong.
These were virtually peerless treasures of immense value.
Cultivating the Ancestral Dragon Breathing Method demanded substantial energy, which his immense reserves readily supplied.
In other words, even if Lu Yuan coasted on what he had already accumulated without lifting a finger, his future achievements would remain extraordinary.
His foundation was simply too profound, unmatched by virtually anyone in the world.
"For the time being, my focus should remain on thoroughly absorbing my past gains."
After some reflection, Lu Yuan decided to postpone his other plans and dedicate his attention to the treasures he had already consumed.
He knew very well that he was currently like someone who had eaten his fill; although he could still force down more, continuing to do so would cause indigestion, making a steady, deliberate pace far wiser.
And that was only possible because his foundation was so formidable. Anyone else would have burst long ago.
Setting aside his thoughts, Lu Yuan stood up and stretched.
Instantly, his bones and sinews crackled in harmony.
Even with his aura fully restrained, he exuded an overwhelming sense of pressure.
With a casual wave of his hand, arcs of lightning crackled across his palm.
From his left hand, strands of Buddhist light shimmered into existence.
Thanks to the Ancient Bodhi Tree, he had already mastered both the Daoist and Buddhist divine techniques; all that remained was to elevate his cultivation base.
Only the One Sword of Heaven and Earth from Ancient Mount Shu remained somewhat elusive and profound.
Evidently, that sword technique surpassed the other two in depth.
Yet Lu Yuan was in no rush; time was on his side.
"A few days have passed. The representatives from the upper echelons should be arriving soon."
After stretching his limbs, Lu Yuan noted the date. The leadership mentioned by Commander-in-Chief Zhang ought to be reaching Shencheng right about now.
Sure enough, as the thought crossed his mind, a figure appeared outside the room.
It was Commander-in-Chief Zhang of the Shencheng Defense Army. Upon seeing Lu Yuan, he wasted no time and said directly, "King Lu, the representatives from above have arrived. I'll escort you over."
"King Lu?"
Lu Yuan was caught off guard by the title.
Zhang smiled and explained that it was an honorific bestowed by citizens nationwide in recognition of his great contributions, acclaiming him as a king.
Hearing this, Lu Yuan felt somewhat amused. He did not care for such titles, but seeing no reason to dispute a minor detail, he nodded. "Lead the way."
Commander-in-Chief Zhang led the way forward.
The Defense Army encampment was a restricted military zone barred to ordinary civilians.
Inside were mostly soldiers, modern armaments, and a handful of training grounds for Awakened.
Before long, the two arrived before a conference room in the central building.
A large gathering had already formed outside.
Among them were several individuals Lu Yuan recognized.
The deans of Zhendan Academy's five branches, led by Dean Zheng.
Commander-in-Chief Xu from Chang'an, alongside the commanders-in-chief of the Defense Armies from the other three supercities.
More notably, Ji Yuzhen of Beidou Biology was also present.
Even Lu Yuan was surprised by the lineup.
Apart from the supreme leadership itself, the figures gathered here were arguably the most powerful and influential people in the country.
Yet all of them were waiting outside.
*A display of sincerity?*
Lu Yuan understood immediately.
To dispel any doubts or mistrust during this meeting, the authorities had assembled these prominent figures to demonstrate their seriousness and good faith.
"King Lu, the elders from above are waiting inside. You may enter whenever you are ready," Dean Zheng said. Having the closest acquaintance with Lu Yuan among those present, he spoke without undue formality.
*A few elders?*
*They truly are the ones at the very top.*
Hearing this, a faint smile appeared on Lu Yuan's face, and he stepped directly inside.
Chapter 86