Chapter 636 - 629: Respective Awakenings
Beisha Country, Beisha Security Department Headquarters.
The lion-like Li Zhu sat in his office chair reading the latest intelligence reports, a look of amazement on his face.
’Donghua... It’s not just Zhou Yuanjue who’s a genius there. What an incredible country. To think a mere Martial Artist who just reached the Celestial Level could achieve so much...’
Li Zhu muttered to himself, his eyes shining with a peculiar light.
That country always seemed to produce people who create miracles, as if blessed by the heavens themselves. It was enough to make one envious.
"The Martial Artists of Donghua have already set an example. We can’t just remain idle like this any longer..."
Li Zhu’s expression grew heavy as he recalled the recent battle.
The Four Pillars had confronted the Ancestral Incarnation, and the result was a crushing defeat. If the Central Pillar hadn’t sacrificed himself, burning away his very essence to stall the enemy for a precious moment, they would have all been killed. His sacrifice bought them just enough time to activate their portable micro-thrusters, developed with Beisha’s latest technology, and make their escape.
The terrifying, space-bending speed and the unstoppable, all-destroying power had left an indelible scar on his mind. For a time, it even made him question the very reason for his existence.
But Dong Wanming’s heroic feat had a profound impact on him.
’The Celestial Demons... they aren’t unbeatable. They’re not Gods. They have weaknesses, and they can be wounded. If Dong Wanming could accomplish that much just after reaching the Celestial Level, then we must have a chance, too!’
Moreover, he held a great secret.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!
Just then, there was a knock on his office door. A moment later, his tall assistant entered.
"Sir, based on the data left behind by Mr. Zhou, we’ve completed the initial construction of the atlas model. The experimental department is tentatively calling it the ’Sacred Lotus’."
The tall assistant reported to Gleb in a low voice.
"So, it’s finally complete?"
Gleb slowly rose from his chair. As his towering figure straightened, it blotted out most of the light in the office.
"Let’s go. It’s time we found out if the path this ’Sacred Lotus’ offers is truly a viable one for humanity."
Gleb said slowly.
This "Sacred Lotus" atlas model was something the Beisha experimental department had created through simulation. Using supercomputers to perform an immense number of calculations, they had built it from the detailed data and insights Zhou Yuanjue had left behind after witnessing the white Square Box buried ten thousand meters underground.
According to Zhou Yuanjue, this Atlas, despite its hidden and unknown risks, was without a doubt of immense value to the process of Life Evolution and transcendence. It could even truly guide the very path of life’s advancement.
"But... Sir, the reliability of this Atlas hasn’t been properly verified. And Mr. Zhou himself said that it likely contains some kind of unknown risk..."
the assistant gently reminded him.
"I’m well aware of that. But we’re out of time for such concerns, aren’t we?"
"If someone with such meager strength dared to walk into the lion’s den and wreak havoc, do you think I lack the courage to test this path for the sake of humanity?"
Gleb said calmly, his tall frame slowly moving out of the office.
...
...
Meanwhile, the Spirit Guardians had also received the news. The Master of Nightmares’s frenzied actions had provoked the will of the world. As a result, even though Zhou Yuanjue had broken through the biosphere’s limitations, the world’s will still provided a significant response.
Varying degrees of Ancestral Power returned to the Spirit Guardian clans throughout Donghua. This caused the number of King Level individuals among the Donghua Spirit Guardians to surge into the double digits within a very short time.
However, even after breaking through to the King Level, the amount of returning Ancestral Power was limited. Their true strength only hovered somewhere between that of an ordinary King Level and an Ancient True King Level, leaving them still a considerable distance from the power of an Ancestral Incarnation.
By leveraging the advantage of their Ancestral Land, they could indeed contend with the Ancestral Incarnations, and even briefly suppress them. This was the very reason the Ancestral Incarnations had yet to launch a direct assault on the Spirit Guardians’ Ancestral Land.
But if they were to leave the Ancestral Land, a single Spirit Guardian would be no match for an Ancestral Incarnation in a one-on-one fight.
This time, it had taken three King Level Spirit Guardians, including the Great Clan Elder of the Xuan Clan, wielding Ancestral Artifacts to temporarily halt Rainbow’s advance.
At that moment, the three King Level Spirit Guardians who had been standing guard on the outskirts of Shanghai Prefecture understood the turmoil within the city better than anyone. In fact, it was their timely intervention that had allowed more civilians to escape Shanghai safely.
After Zhou Yuanjue, they once again came to a profound understanding of the formidable power of Martial Artists.
A city that even the three of them hesitated to enter had been thrown into utter chaos by a single "little fellow" at the Celestial Level.
"Gentlemen, not long ago, Yu Qiansui of the Moon Race discussed a plan with me—a concept, really. I was vehemently opposed to it at the time, but now... I’ve had a change of heart."
Hong Xiang, the Great Clan Elder of the Xuan Clan, said slowly as he stood upon a high vantage point, gazing in the direction of Shanghai Prefecture.
"What plan and concept was that?"
The other two—Ge Yuan, Great Clan Elder of the Qi Clan, and Luo Qiong, Great Clan Elder of the Rock Clan—asked in confusion.
"Our power is finite; it relies entirely on the feedback from the Ancestral Power. And it has now become clear that the concentration of this power can never return to what it was in ancient times. We can no longer suppress the Primordial Ancestors and Celestial Demons as the Ancient Heroes once did."
"In a way, we no longer possess the power or the hope needed to save this world."
"The true hope, now, lies with humanity’s Martial Artists."
"It is a pity that the one with the greatest hope of shouldering the banner for humanity is no longer with us. And now, as we all know, while we may be able to hold back the Celestial Demons for a time, they will eventually break through our defenses and stand above us once more."
"When that time comes, we will ’refine’ all our Ancestral Power. We will use our very lives to forge ’Holy Artifacts’ for humanity’s true hope and place that power and authority into their hands."
"At that time, perhaps a true ’hero’ can finally emerge in this world."
"I opposed this plan before. After Zhou Yuanjue’s fall, I believed that no human Martial Artist was worthy of such a sacrifice from us. But now, I see things differently."
"Gentlemen, what are your thoughts on this?"
Hong Xiang said with a smile.
The other two fell silent.
’Refining their Ancestral Power... giving up their lives just to empower others...’
Ge Yuan and Luo Qiong remained silent. Their minds drifted back to what they had witnessed the previous night: a powerful current transcending the heavens, shattering the blazing sun high above. They recalled that tiny figure, transforming into a beam of light that tore across the night sky.
"Protecting this world from the corruption of the Celestial Demons has always been our mission."
"Today, an ordinary human dared to risk everything without a second thought. How could we, who bear this bloodline and this responsibility, possibly shrink from our duty?"
"If it truly comes to that, we are also willing to sacrifice everything."
the two said, smiling.
At that very moment, all across the world, the spark ignited by Dong Wanming had kindled a new resolve in the hearts of countless powerful individuals.