Chapter 136: Setting the Death Trap, A Great Earthquake, Target: The Sovereign King!

Beyond the Earth, meteorites lined the cosmos. Massive star-class warships lay anchored, shimmering with a cold, enigmatic luster that mirrored the unchanging, ancient nature of the universe.

In the proximity of Earth, three figures stood suspended in the void, radiating immense power. Lei You of the Celestial Clan, in particular, appeared to have reached the seventh stage of evolution—the Saint Realm. He stood at the center of the celestial expanse, wreathed in lightning. His wings pulsed with a terrifying energy, one that, if fully unleashed, could shatter small stars.

Lei You had just made a decision: regardless of the cost, they would force a large number of their kin to descend. Time was of the essence. Earth was reviving, and its boundless potential made this a fleeting opportunity. Should more great clans from other star sectors arrive, disputes would be inevitable, and securing the spoils would become far more difficult.

"Indeed. The revival of the Milky Way sector is a transformation unseen in ten million years," remarked the Void Saint of the Three-Headed Ghost Clan. He understood the logic but soon added in a grave tone, "But what of that human, Lu Yuan? His cultivation realm is not high, yet his combat power is terrifying. He must have broken through many genetic shackles to be this formidable. We cannot send stronger beings at this stage; if we cross him, we will likely suffer greatly."

He was aware of Lu Yuan’s name through the specialized communication channels used by the entities sent to Earth, and through various reports, he had estimated the human's strength.

"He is indeed a nuisance. Since he dares to strike at us, he must be eliminated," Lei You mused. "The tenth sequence of my clan has already descended and is currently acclimating to Earth’s environment. It will be successful soon. Gentlemen, why not join forces? Let the prodigies of our respective clans act together, set a trap, and execute him."

"If we succeed, even if we cannot descend ourselves, the strongest combatant of that world will be gone, allowing our juniors to sweep through it unchallenged."

Every major clan in the top hundred star sectors possessed exceptional descendants known as 'Sequences.' Lei You’s plan was simple: unleash these prodigies. Each possessed bloodline talents that dwarfed their peers. Combined, they would be an unstoppable force, more than capable of handling a native human like Lu Yuan.

"Agreed, provided the timing is right," the Three-Headed Ghost Clan's Void Saint replied after a moment's hesitation. Lu Yuan’s relentless hunting of his clansmen was a provocation—a death wish—and he had to pay the price. He had been hesitant before, but with the Celestial Clan’s commitment, his concerns vanished.

He was not satisfied with just this, however, and turned to the Void Saint of the Primordial Demon Clan. "Chong Ye, what is your choice? This concerns our grand strategy. You wouldn't choose to stand with that human from the Milky Way, would you?"

Clearly, the Three-Headed Ghost Clan representative wanted to ensure no one remained on the sidelines. Chong Ye fell into deep thought, the mist around his form flickering. "Our goals are aligned. If you sit back and watch the tigers fight, you will end up with nothing."

Lei You also spoke, his expression cold as he outlined the benefits. With few great clans currently present outside Earth, unity was essential to maximize their gains.

"I am well aware of that," Chong Ye nodded. "The Primordial Demon Clan will join your plan. However, it is said that someone from the Heavenly Dragon star sector has arrived as well. Should we not speak with them too?" He believed the four great clans present in this quadrant should act in unison for a higher chance of success. After all, someone capable of reaching such heights during the revival of the Milky Way could not be underestimated, even if they were considered a native in the eyes of higher civilizations.

"The Heavenly Dragon sector has always acted on its own. Ignore them. Besides, only a few of them have arrived," Lei You dismissed the idea. He knew the clan was difficult to negotiate with, and furthermore, the Heavenly Dragon sector was ranked higher than the Leiji sector.

"Very well, let us prepare," Chong Ye said. The Three-Headed Ghost Void Saint and Lei You stepped forward simultaneously, their Saint Realm energies erupting. The immense power caused the surrounding meteorites to tremble and glow.

In the distance, other star-sector races seemed to sense the shift. Beings emerged, capable of surviving briefly in the vacuum of space, clad in armor or wielding long spears. They were a bizarre, diverse collection of humanoids and beasts, seeking out large meteorites. They knew the Saint-level entities of the three great clans were about to use their power to forcibly send a wave of warriors down. This was their chance to descend early.

Countless meteorites began to drift slowly, their target the vibrant, life-filled Earth below.

At the Mount Tai Trial Academy, Lu Yuan had already returned. He instructed the Golden-Winged Peng to gather spiritual fruits and rare herbs to heal his wounds, while he retreated to his room to stabilize his Golden Body Realm and prepare for the ascent to the Sovereign Realm.

The Sovereign Realm was the mark of a true king among awakened ones. In the context of the various star sectors, it was a stage of true transformation—a level that allowed one to breach the atmosphere and survive briefly in the cosmos, serving as a gateway to the Saint Realm.

Since the global mutation, many awakened ones had been born, though most remained at the Initial or Awakening stages. Only a few had reached the Shackle stage. Yet, considering how little time had passed, this was extraordinary. In other star sectors, reaching the Shackle stage took ages. But Earth’s unique conditions—having been sealed for eons—meant that its sudden eruption of energy was terrifying. Without external interference, the world would have soared into the top hundred star sectors within centuries. This was exactly why the great clans were desperate to descend.

Lu Yuan aimed to increase his strength as quickly as possible. He sought the ability to traverse the cosmos. His immediate goal was the Sovereign Realm, though it required vast amounts of energy. While ordinary practitioners needed long periods of accumulation, Lu Yuan’s foundation was so immense that he could bypass that stage. Others were like water jars; he was a vast lake. He simply needed to fill it.

With the full support of the authorities, the rare herbs brought from the West, and the refining capabilities of the Meridian-Noon Heaven-Mending Furnace, he had no worries. He spent the following days refining a supreme pill. In his spare time, he accepted the invitations of Elder Ji and Elder Yun to provide guidance to the likes of the Ice Fairy, Zhu Qingyu, and other members of the Heavenly Court.

The organization had grown significantly, now including the Peacock King, the Nine-Tailed Fox King, and many other beast kings at the Golden Body stage. Both humans and beasts were now part of the fold.

During this time, the sky underwent another change. For a month, meteorites fell continuously. While some were blocked by the "Severed Heaven and Earth" barrier, many still made it through. Unlike before, these extraterrestrial beings remained dormant upon arrival, refraining from causing trouble. Many believed this was the result of Lu Yuan’s earlier slaughter of two great clans—the outsiders had been thoroughly intimidated.

Lu Yuan was aware of this but remained silent. He knew this day would come. He told the authorities not to interfere; as long as the outsiders did not attack, it was fine. After all, not all were enemies; some, like Jiang Ningxian, could be allies. In this chaotic era, allies were indispensable.

Several days later, having gathered enough materials, Lu Yuan officially began refining the supreme pill. It would be a potent creation, though it would take time. That same day, Elder Ji and Elder Yun arrived with news: important figures from domestic financial conglomerates—similar to the former Heaven God Technology and Longevity Gene—had vanished. Investigations revealed that some were keeping close company with the extraterrestrial beings.

"To each their own choice," Lu Yuan said, unconcerned. "It is only natural that those from the old era of corporate dominance would seek to avoid being trampled in the new one."

The Elders agreed, though they continued to monitor the situation to prevent surprises.

As time passed, the month-long meteorite shower finally ceased. Countless extraterrestrial beings had arrived, but given Earth’s vastness, they were scattered and difficult to track. The authorities decided to stop wasting resources on searching for them and focused on securing the five super-cities.

Then, one day, a massive earthquake struck the eastern coast, felt even in Shanghai. The epicenter was determined to be deep within the East China Sea. Before the public could react, another shocking piece of news broke: the Ying Dragon from Mount Kunlun had emerged once more, soaring into the sky and heading toward the East.