Chapter 155: Below the Saint Realm, All Are Ants; Bestowing the Method to the Officials, Advancing and Retreating Together
In a month's time, Lu Yuan might engage in a full-scale battle with a Saint-realm entity?
This single sentence caused the expressions of the curious crowd nearby to change drastically in an instant. In truth, they had already guessed that the Celestial clan's sequence had fled upward precisely to seek salvation from a more powerful entity of his own bloodline. Because everyone now knew that extraterrestrial beings were gathering in ever-increasing numbers in outer space, unable to descend simply because Earth was shielded by a mysterious force. It was precisely for this reason that the current situation remained under control and had not deteriorated further. However, no one knew how long this state of affairs would last. A sense of crisis lingered in everyone's heart.
As for the Saint realm, it surpassed the Sovereign King realm. Those who had walked past the sixth stage on the path of evolution were beings of terrifying might. Higher-ups had once deduced that reaching that realm would mark yet another true transformation for an Awakened one. Their physique, soul, and combat prowess would undergo a comprehensive elevation, ascending to an unfathomable and dreadful degree. Only then could they truly bear the title of a Saint—beings of immense capability who could traverse the starry skies, uproot mountains, and boil the seas.
Now, an individual of this caliber was about to descend to fight King Lu?
Although the speaker had not offered much elaboration, those present were all intelligent. The death of the Celestial clan's sequence had incited the wrath of a Saint-realm entity, prompting its impending descent.
"Then... then King Lu, you..."
Zhu Qingyu's face turned pale; she was exceedingly nervous and deeply worried. Although she held immense faith in Lu Yuan's strength, that was a Saint they were talking about. Once a genuine battle broke out, no one knew what the outcome would be.
The Pure Yang Young Celestial Master and the others also furrowed their brows, sensing that this time, a true crisis was at hand.
"It is fine. I have my own plans; let us head back first."
Lu Yuan merely smiled at this, preparing to lead the group back to the Mount Tai Trial Academy. Naturally, he was well aware that the strength of Saint-realm beings was formidable, and at his current level, he could hardly be their match. While cross-realm battles were possible, there was a limit. The gap between the fifth stage and the sixth stage was simply too vast.
Yet this was something that could not be avoided; even if he did not fight now, a confrontation would come eventually. Therefore, Lu Yuan's utmost priority right now was to elevate his own strength.
The mechanism of heaven and earth sealing off the realm was still in effect. For a Saint realm entity to descend was no easy feat; they would inevitably have to pay a certain price.
This was his opportunity to wage a heaven-defying battle!
Hearing his words, the companions around him ultimately said nothing more and chose to depart from Mount Kongtong. Of course, compared to the faint anticipation they felt upon arrival, they were now heavy-hearted with worry.
Over the next few days, the news that Lu Yuan had slain the sequence prodigies of three major stellar races spread across the world in a remarkably short span of time.
When the Awakened ones of Earth heard this, everyone was astonished and overjoyed, for it demonstrated that the powerhouses of Earth were by no means inferior to those extraterrestrial entities. Moreover, strictly speaking, King Lu could still be considered part of the younger generation, which left the general populace extremely excited.
As for the extraterrestrial beings who had descended, they clicked their tongues in astonishment.
The Three-Headed Ghost race, the Primordial Demon race, and the Celestial clan—all of them were masters of the top-hundred stellar regions. Their bloodline, innate talent, and combat prowess were all top-tier. Otherwise, they would never have been able to directly control a grand stellar region and secure a ranking in the top hundred. Those who could become sequence representatives were the absolute elites of the younger generation within their respective clans, yet they had been directly executed and perished at the hands of a declining human race within the Milky Way stellar region.
This incident was profoundly shocking. Many believed that with an existence like Lu Yuan in the Milky Way, he might well become a variable.
Yet very soon, another piece of news arrived, sending shockwaves across the globe:
One month from now, the Saint-realm entities of the three major clans would descend to make the challenger pay in blood.
The Saint realm was regarded as the backbone of power even in the deep cosmos, possessing terrifying might. Now, they were personally descending to take Lu Yuan's life.
This matter stunned both the Awakened ones of Earth and the extraterrestrial entities alike.
"Word has come from our clan in the outer domains that Lei You of the Celestial clan has already begun laying down preparations."
"The two quasi-Saints from the Primordial Demon race and the Three-Headed Ghost race are also making preparations. That means three Saint-realm entities will descend shortly."
"Three of them? This is going to be a good show. That human Lu Yuan certainly possesses formidable combat prowess, but a Saint realm is not something he can rival."
Entities from beyond the realm began to discuss animatedly, while simultaneously inquiring with their clansmen still lingering in outer space. Upon confirming that three Saint-realm entities would indeed descend in a month, they immediately concluded that no matter how impressive Lu Yuan's personal strength might be, this time it was an inescapable death trap.
The Awakened ones and ordinary citizens of Earth naturally learned of this news as well. Their initial optimism vanished instantly, replaced by worry and panic.
After all, those entities had reached the sixth stage or even higher. The previous stability of the situation had been predicated on the inability of these entities to descend. Now that they were coming down, what would the outcome be? Furthermore, what should they do if King Lu proved unequal to the task?
Almost everyone felt a sense of panic.
As if in response to their inner anxieties, certain extraterrestrial entities began to grow active once more. Previously, Lu Yuan's terrifying combat prowess had intimidated a vast multitude into hiding, but things were different now. The Saint-realm entities of the three major clans were about to descend, meaning his days were surely numbered, and perhaps he would soon meet his end. Under such circumstances, some extraterrestrial entities lost much of their fear and began showing their faces everywhere. Others openly initiated contact with various consortiums and influential factions.
Naturally, they still did not dare to go too far. After all, Lu Yuan was still alive, and who knew if he might fly into a rage upon being provoked and drag a few people down with him before he died?
Regardless, everyone believed that a major crisis was approaching, one that would fundamentally alter the geopolitical landscape of the world.
***
At the Mount Tai Trial Academy, a military aircraft streaked across the sky, gradually reducing altitude before touching down steadily on the runway.
Not far away, Elder Ji, Elder Yun, and a host of high-ranking government officials stood waiting. Yet every single one of them wore a solemn and anxious expression, for the rumors from the outside world had already reached their ears—the extraterrestrial Saint-realm entities were about to descend to do battle with King Lu. The implications were far too vast for anyone to treat lightly.
At that moment, the cabin door opened, and Lu Yuan stepped out, followed by a large group of people.
"King Lu, this matter between you and the extraterrestrial beings..." Elder Ji hurried forward first, his tone rushed. Although the others remained silent, their eyes clearly betrayed a desire to know his current thoughts.
"I have my own plans. You can rest easy."
Aware of what was on everyone's mind, a smile surfaced on Lu Yuan's face. While the presence of Saint-realm entities did exert a certain degree of pressure upon him, that was all it amounted to. Even if he were given another choice, he would still make the exact same decision.
With this thought, Lu Yuan looked toward the crowd and continued, "Do not dwell too much on this. Just maintain control over the situation."
The news of the three Saints' impending descent had already caused many extraterrestrial entities to grow restless, a fact he was well aware of. Naturally, he also knew that those people would not dare to act rashly just yet, preferring to wait for the ultimate outcome. Nevertheless, to safeguard the safety of ordinary citizens, the official authorities had to take action. At the very least, they could not afford to lose their composure in times like this.
"Understood." Elder Ji was not one to dawdle. He knew that the more critical the moment, the more the only thing he needed to do was trust King Lu.
Too many things had happened since the global mutation. Yet in the end? King Lu had resolved every single one of them. Though Saint-realm entities were exceedingly powerful, they did not necessarily spell absolute despair.
Seeing that they had taken his words to heart, Lu Yuan nodded slightly and made to leave, but he paused after a few steps and turned back. "I possess a supreme visualization technique obtained from the Mount Kongtong Daoist sanctuary. It can lay a solid foundation for Awakened ones below the Saint realm. I will transcribe it, and you can simply send someone to collect it from my quarters. As for how to distribute and use it, I leave that to your discretion."
The Dao Treasury Visualization Technique was exceptionally powerful, especially for Awakened ones just starting out on the evolutionary path. Thus, Lu Yuan reasoned that since he intended to establish the Heavenly Court, why not share this technique to cultivate more capable individuals?
He knew that perhaps one day in the future, he would inevitably leave Earth and venture into the deep cosmos. This world must have a few figures capable of maintaining order, allowing him to traverse the universe with peace of mind. Strengthening the power of his subordinates meant he would not have to look backward with hesitation when carrying out future endeavors.
Having said this, he walked away toward his residence without further elaboration.
"Why do I feel like King Lu is arranging his affairs before a final departure?" The Pure Yang Young Celestial Master suddenly spoke up, a trace of oddity on his face.
His words caused the expressions of those nearby to shift dramatically. Zhu Qingyu stepped forward immediately and rebuked, "What nonsense are you uttering? Even with a Saint descending, King Lu's strength and foundation mean he has nothing to fear!"
Yet, forceful as her words were, they lacked a certain conviction.
No one knew precisely how powerful a Saint truly was, but without a doubt, they were peerless at the present stage.
"Enough of this." Elder Ji waved a hand, contemplating in silence for a moment before saying, "King Lu has rendered monumental service to the people of Huaxia. No matter what transpires hereafter, or how formidable our enemies may be, we shall stand unwaveringly by King Lu's side and face whatever comes together."
He realized that debating possibilities was pointless; the crucial task was surviving this major crisis. Though their individual might was limited, they still possessed hot-blooded valor—how could they stand by idly as spectators? Especially in moments of crisis, united resistance was paramount.
Disregarding everything else, simply considering the immense merits Lu Yuan had accumulated for the populace, everyone present knew that the current peace was the hard-won result of Lu Yuan's countless battles. If this crisis could be successfully weathered, it would hold profound significance for Huaxia and indeed the entire Earth. As for the Saint realm? They would fear nothing and fight to the death if necessary!
These words moved everyone present to nod in agreement, their gazes gradually firming with resolve. Whether their efforts would prove useful or not, they had resolved to try!
***
Meanwhile, Lu Yuan had already returned to his dwelling.
Jiang Nengxian was still in secluded cultivation and had yet to emerge. Old Jiang, however, stood outside, tending to some flowers and plants. A terrifying reservoir of power hummed within the old man's body—so profound that even Lu Yuan could not see through it.
Lu Yuan offered a slight nod of acknowledgment without speaking further, and Old Jiang responded with a warm smile.
Upon entering his room, Lu Yuan sat cross-legged to center his breath. Then, drawing upon the memories in his mind, he began to transcribe the Dao Treasury Visualization Technique. He was well aware that the profounder a scripture was, the harder it was to comprehend. Consequently, he incorporated his own insights into the writing, aiming to facilitate smoother cultivation.
Bolstered by the Bodhi ancient tree, he had no need to worry about clarity; he could render the teachings in the most accessible manner to ensure easy comprehension.
Once finished, he left the transcribed manual on the table outside, knowing someone would come to collect it on the morrow as per his instructions.
Following that, Lu Yuan returned to his cultivation chamber and took a deep breath.
With a flick of his right hand, the Heaven-Turning Seal manifested. It remained in its shattered state, devoid of any extraordinary luster on the surface. Yet he did not mind in the slightest; he closed his eyes and let a drop of his blood fall upon it.
His intent was to refine the artifact with all his might.
There were still thirty seals locked within the artifact; if he delayed, the descent of the three Saint-realm entities would make things troublesome. The Heaven-Turning Seal was a legendary supreme treasure; once he could wield it proficiently, it would serve as a crucial trump card in his hands.
Soon, as the blood sank into the artifact, streams of multicolored light radiated from its surface. Lu Yuan could clearly perceive the remaining thirty seals.
"For ordinary people, fully refining this would be quite troublesome. But having fused with the Human Emperor's bloodline, I can accelerate the process without issue," he thought to himself, before plunging his awareness into deep concentration.
Naturally, alongside the refinement of the Heaven-Turning Seal, Lu Yuan also reserved a portion of his mind to practice his breathing and visualization techniques. With a soul as potent as his, multitasking—let alone splitting his focus a hundred ways—was effortless.
As time elapsed, the power of the seals was steadily refined one by one. The glow radiating from the Heaven-Turning Seal grew increasingly brilliant.
Lu Yuan could distinctly feel his control over the artifact deepening. Through this process, he discovered that the power contained within the Heaven-Turning Seal was truly terrifying. It was a genuine weapon of mass destruction; once unleashed, it would yield unexpected and devastating results.
While Lu Yuan remained in secluded cultivation, the extraterrestrial entities abroad began actively disseminating the news that the three Saint-realm entities were about to descend upon Earth.
Previously, it was solely due to Lu Yuan that they had been forced to lurk in the shadows. There was no help for it; the man was simply too formidable, and his combat prowess too monstrous. Those who had managed to descend were simply no match for him.
Yet things were different now.
Having provoked the three major clans, the Saint-realm entities were preparing to act personally. Compared to Earth's Awakened ones, the extraterrestrial beings were intimately aware of the sheer terror of the Saint realm. Even if those entities could not descend at the absolute peak of their power, they remained terrifying.
Throughout the deep cosmos, how many could rival a Saint-realm entity while still lingering in the Sovereign King realm? Virtually none. Every single one who could achieve such a feat was a true prodigy and divine child, crowned with infinite glory.
Lu Yuan was undeniably strong—strong enough to claim a sequence position even within major stellar clans. Yet, in the eyes of the extraterrestrial beings, he still fell significantly short of that true prodigy tier.
Thus, they firmly believed that once the Saints struck, this human of the Milky Way stellar region was bound to die without a burial site.
As for the Awakened ones and ordinary citizens of Earth, under the deliberate dissemination and pessimism-mongering of the extraterrestrial entities, they grew increasingly anxious, with panic beginning to take root in certain regions.
Lu Yuan was globally recognized as the strongest existence. If anything happened to him, what would the future landscape look like?
No one dared to imagine, yet a heavy pessimism weighed upon every heart, casting a shadow over the path ahead.
After all, this time was unlike any previous crisis—it was a catastrophe in the truest sense of the word!