Chapter 165: Future Crises and the Origin of the World-Defying Sword Fetus!

If people previously acknowledged Lu Yuan's strength and knew that his combat prowess was extraordinary, that perception shifted once they learned of the existence of extraterrestrial beings and far more formidable entities. They no longer believed that Lu Yuan was truly invincible—at least not when facing those entities from the deep cosmos.

Yet, everything was different now. Various figures had descended from beyond the realms, one after another. Up to this point, even entities as lofty as the Saint Realm had come down.

Yet the ultimate outcome remained unchanged. They were directly slain.

The living beings of Earth had always held Lu Yuan in profound reverence. Buoyed by such a glorious feat of arms, they bestowed upon him the ultimate title: the Invincible Under the Starry Sky. Almost everyone agreed that this title was thoroughly well-deserved.

Even those extraterrestrial beings fell completely silent upon hearing the news. After all, the facts lay right before them. While Saints could not unleash their full power in this world, they were ultimately far too mighty to be slain by someone a full realm lower. Yet Lu Yuan had done it, and moreover, he had killed three of them simultaneously.

They knew full well that they would likely have to maintain a low profile for a long time to come. Even if they stumbled upon certain fortuitous legacies or inheritances, they would have to proceed with extreme caution and defer to Lu Yuan.

Without a doubt, in this world—and indeed throughout the entire deep universe—strength reigned supreme.

At this moment, at the Mount Tai Trial Academy, Lu Yuan, Elder Ji, and the others had already returned.

Zhu Qingyu, Fairy Bing, the young Celestial Master of Pure Yang, and many others gathered around, every single one of them wearing expressions of excitement and awe.

Even beings who had advanced to the sixth and seventh stages had been slain by Lu Yuan! The devastation caused by that battle, alongside the terrifying might he displayed, was something they considered completely out of reach. To them, this was the definition of a true powerhouse.

Lu Yuan was well aware of their thoughts and understood their state of mind, but he felt no excessive joy. Instead, he offered them a stern warning.

As time passed, the protective barrier shielding Earth would eventually vanish entirely. When that day came, extraterrestrial beings would be able to descend without a single scruple.

These entities had evolved through countless millennia. The Saint Realm was merely their middle tier, far from the pinnacle.

Factions like the Celestial Clan, the Primeval Demon Clan, and the Three-Headed Ghost Clan were ranked among the top hundred stellar races. Among them, there must exist even more terrifying beings—perhaps even entities genuinely worthy of being called immortals.

Once those beings finally emerged and descended upon this realm, true catastrophe would strike. That would be the most perilous moment for Earth and the entire Milky Way star domain.

His intent was very simple: he hoped everyone would seize the opportunity to grow as strong as possible within the shortest time frame, so they could confront the potential disasters looming ahead.

This was no alarmist talk; it was the wisdom of remaining vigilant in times of peace.

Upon hearing this, the expressions of Zhu Qingyu and the others turned solemn. They realized that greater trials lay ahead and that everything was merely beginning.

After exchanging a few more words with the crowd, Lu Yuan departed directly.

During his final clash with Lei You, he had sustained some injuries. Though not severe, they still required recovery. At the same time, this intense battle had granted him brand-new insights and enlightenment.

He currently stood at the King Sovereign Realm. His next step was to completely deify his five viscera and six bowels before advancing into the Saint Realm. When that day came, it would mark yet another profound transformation.

"Congratulations to King Lu on your triumphant victory! With a single strike, three Saint Realm entities have fallen."

Just as Lu Yuan was about to step back into his dwelling, a crisp voice rang out from behind him.

It was Jiang Ningxian.

Just as before, two charming dimples graced her cheeks, and her smile was radiant. "This battle truly exceeded my expectations, King Lu."

"You flatter me. It was merely a stroke of good luck," Lu Yuan replied with a slight shake of his head. "Had it not been for the suppression of the realm's restrictive laws, given my current state, let alone slaying three Saints, even defeating one would have been extremely difficult."

He possessed a clear sense of self-awareness. Others might not realize it, but Jiang Ningxian, hailing from a prominent extraterrestrial clan, possessed an extraordinary background and saw things with absolute clarity. There was no need for him to let a momentary victory inflate his pride.

"As expected of the friend I chose to acknowledge."

Hearing this, Jiang Ningxian's eyes brightened. Although they had not spent a long time together, a mutual understanding had already formed between them.

In her eyes, Lu Yuan was someone possessed of immense self-confidence, yet entirely devoid of arrogance. He was cautious yet unconstrained by trivialities, skilled at analyzing the grand strategy of any situation. He excelled in every single aspect. Coupled with his innate talent and formidable power, even if he were placed within the Jiang family clan, he would stand out as truly exceptional.

Yet precisely because he was such a person, he would inevitably draw the attention of certain powerful forces in the future.

With this thought, Jiang Ningxian continued, "Now that you have slain three Saints, the situation should remain relatively calm for some time to come, and those people won't dare to act recklessly. However, this battle has also forged an irreconcilable enmity between you and those three major clans. According to the intelligence I've received, even more formidable entities are already on their way and will arrive shortly, including members of the Ji clan. Given your previous conflict with Zhou Qiong, the Ji clan will undoubtedly harbor hostility toward you, meaning your days ahead may prove somewhat difficult. However, if you harbor any concerns, I can have the Jiang family step in to smooth this matter over."

Her subtext was clear: she possessed the ability to resolve this trouble for him.

Yet Lu Yuan's expression remained completely undisturbed. When he made certain decisions, he had already prepared himself to face all ensuing consequences.

Just like this very instance—since his enemies had already come knocking at his door, was he supposed to retreat? Impossible.

The Ji clan traced its lineage back to the ancient Yellow Emperor, Xuanyuan.

So what if they did? Fear?

No. He had no fear whatsoever!

Ultimately, Lu Yuan looked toward her and slowly spoke, "It's fine."

That was all. Just those two words, with nothing more.

To outsiders, it might seem like nothing special, but to Jiang Ningxian, it carried profound weight, representing a supreme and unshakeable self-confidence. She became even more certain that among the children of this great era, Lu Yuan was destined to claim a prominent place. Her initial choice to ally with him—without quibbling over the Ancestral Dragon Breathing Technique or the Human Emperor's Blood Essence—had truly been an exceptional decision.

"Oh, right, Miss Jiang," Lu Yuan suddenly seemed to recall something.

With a slight wave of his hand, the Void Flaming Sky Mirror materialized in his palm, and he continued, "I haven't had cause to use this artifact, so I am returning it to its rightful owner for now."

When Lei You and the other two Saints descended, they had not wielded Saint-grade artifacts. The reason was simple: they did not possess any themselves. The conditions required to forge a Saint-grade weapon were exceedingly harsh; otherwise, those two would not have reacted with such agitation upon laying eyes on the Great Luo Sword Embryo.

Opposite him, Jiang Ningxian shook her head. "You should keep it for now. The reason I sought you out proactively today is actually to discuss another matter entirely—it's about that sword you used to slay the Three-Headed Ghost Clan!"