Chapter 42: Reaching the Summit? The Target—The Imperial Mausoleum of Mount Li

The man spoke, his tone exceedingly indifferent, laced with a chill. It was clear he took this matter to heart.

“You’re making much ado about nothing, Brother Yi,” Zhou Biqiong said with a faint smile at his demeanor. “That Lu Yuan you mentioned, I’ve noticed him before. He’s a thoroughly ordinary person—no special bloodline, no remarkable qualities. Before the upheaval, he had some money, but he was just another spendthrift scion.”

“And now, with money rendered useless, who knows which corner he’s cowering in to hide from the mutated beasts? He’s hardly worth your attention.” Her words brimmed with disdain as she alluded to Lu Yuan’s past connection to her elder sister. But that was the extent of it—even before the upheaval, he was only a wealthy second-generation worth a cursory glance by the Wu Zhou Consortium.

Now, in this new era where only power mattered, he was not even an ant. They no longer existed on the same plane.

“Is that so?” The man’s face relaxed into a faint smile at her words. He realized he’d let his concern get the better of him, allowing a mere mortal to affect his mood. Still, should they meet one day, he would find a way to put the man in his place. Some chasms could never be bridged, no matter what.

“Brother Yi, news of the Lishan Imperial Mausoleum has leaked, and awakened ones from all over are gathering. Many more are on their way. It seems our plan this time won’t go as smoothly as hoped.” Zhou Biqiong watched the constant stream of people entering Chang’an.

“It’s said that the Northern Emperor, the Southern Sovereign, the Ice Fairy, and the Asura have all set out as well. Feeling any pressure?” she continued, her tone thick with implication, clearly aware of many secrets.

The world of the extraordinary had descended; the new era had begun, and more people were embarking on the path of evolution. The five great supremes, as chosen by those who loved to speculate, were now the most powerful awakened ones—widely acknowledged.

As she spoke their names, even Zhou Biqiong furrowed her brows slightly.

“It’s of no consequence,” the man replied with a shake of his head and a faint smile. “No matter who comes, I shall face them all alone in battle.” His words were soft but radiated absolute confidence; as he spoke, a formidable aura emanated from him.

He was strong, and he had every right to say so.

“Our Zhou family will also send many powerful individuals, and, if necessary, we’ll deploy modern weaponry,” Zhou Biqiong added, determined to take the Lishan Mausoleum at any cost. The Wu Zhou Consortium’s influence was vast; in the early days of the upheaval, their cooperation with the authorities had earned them many boons, allowing them to mobilize advanced weaponry.

Yet she dared not be careless. Longevity Genetics, Divine Technology, and other groups also wielded formidable means, no less potent than the Wu Zhou Consortium.

“With the advent of the new era, modern weaponry will soon be consigned to history,” the man remarked, his bloodline exceptionally powerful, carrying a mysterious legacy. He knew that, in the future, the strongest awakened ones would render such weapons obsolete, capable of feats beyond imagination.

He did not elaborate, simply saying, “Enough—Yunqiong has gone back. We should leave as well.”

“Mm,” Zhou Biqiong nodded, and together, they boarded a helicopter.

Soon, the helicopter took off, ignoring the prescribed flight paths over Chang’an and soaring directly over the steel walls. As one of the four great powers in the nation, the Wu Zhou Consortium naturally possessed privileges beyond the reach of ordinary folk.

Within Chang’an, thanks to the government’s concentrated investment and exhaustive construction efforts, the city was even more prosperous and bustling than most. People thronged the streets—some ordinary, some awakened.

None were local.

Lu Yuan walked among them, overhearing many voices. The ordinary people discussed daily life and marveled at the changing world. The awakened, however, gathered in small groups, speaking in hushed tones about the Lishan Imperial Mausoleum.

“No wonder this is one of the five supercities under construction. It’s leagues apart from the smaller cities along the way.”

“It’s said the Lishan Mausoleum will open in a few days. We’d best make preparations.”

“Indeed. Who knows what fortunes await inside? Perhaps we’ll take another step in evolution.”

It was apparent these people had come with purpose. Just as Lu Yuan had foreseen, rumors of the mausoleum’s mutation had spread far and wide. Many, especially the awakened, were already forming teams, hoping that strength in numbers would help them seize opportunities within.

Some, of course, were pessimistic, believing that with so many participants—and the presence of major powers looking to muddy the waters—the odds of success were slim.

Lu Yuan understood perfectly well: when the Lishan Mausoleum opened, many would die. But that was not his concern. He intended to find a quiet place to rest; where he stayed mattered little, so long as he remained inconspicuous. When it was all over, he would begin implementing his next set of plans.

Armed with a decade’s foresight, Lu Yuan knew precisely where the great events and opportunities would arise, and all of this would become the foundation for his continued evolution and growth in power.

Night fell. The stars shimmered; the moon hung bright and clear.

Within a derelict building in Chang’an, Lu Yuan scrolled through various reports on the awakened and the movements regarding the Lishan Mausoleum.

“At least ten thousand awakened have arrived in Chang’an. High-level members of major powers such as Shendan Academy and the Wu Zhou Consortium entered the city today,” read one forum post, its popularity surging and drawing the attention of countless awakened.

Some had even registered accounts to comment, predicting that the rivalry among these giants would erupt into massive battles and casualties.

Many agreed, stating that the Lishan Mausoleum was the resting place of the Ancestral Dragon and must contain world-shaking fortunes. Whoever obtained them could soar like a dragon overnight. Footage and photos were attached.

Lu Yuan clicked to view.

In the video, a towering mountain—ten thousand meters high—pierced the clouds. Streams of light shone from its slopes, rising skyward before coalescing into the form of a dragon—a sight of extraordinary grandeur. This was the Lishan Mausoleum. Formerly only a few hundred meters tall, the upheaval had wrenched it from the earth, raising it above neighboring mountains, its slopes aglow day and night, illuminating the surrounding area for hundreds of meters.

Because the phenomenon was so breathtaking, no major power could possibly keep it a secret—everyone noticed.

Another news item quickly drew attention.

“In three days, the Lishan Mausoleum—cradle of dragon veins, land of fortune—will see awakened ones vie for supremacy. Who will claim the summit?”

This was issued by a major faction, clearly relishing the spectacle and stirring up excitement. It prompted widespread speculation as to who would seize the mausoleum’s treasures, and even revealed an approximate opening date, deliberately pushing the matter to a fever pitch.

Unsurprisingly, the ensuing discussions centered almost entirely on the five great supremes, widely believed to be the strongest awakened of the era, standing atop the pyramid and perhaps even destined to clash directly.

Some claimed that the God of Wings, the Northern Emperor, and the Southern Sovereign had already arrived and were lying in wait within Chang’an, ready to make their move as soon as the mausoleum opened.

“The God of Wings is coming? I think he’s the strongest of the five. He’ll surely claim the fortune.”

“Says who? The Southern Sovereign is here, too. He’s the eldest son of the Longevity Genetics clan, with a powerful bloodline and terrifying combat strength—not inferior to the God of Wings.”

“The Northern Emperor has the backing of Shendan Academy. His physique is monstrous—like a Vajra of legend. I say he’s the strongest, stronger than either of the others.”

“The God of Wings also has the support of the Wu Zhou Consortium. He’s not fighting alone.”

“If the five great supremes are here, what chance do the rest of us have?”

The comments section was flooded with awakened individuals, some still en route, others already in Chang’an, all eager to voice their opinions and debate who was the mightiest.

The God of Wings drew the most attention, favored by many women who saw him as a flawless, divine being descended to earth. Yet many awakened were disheartened, convinced that with the five supremes present, the rest stood no chance at all.

Lu Yuan shook his head and paid the matter no more mind. It all aligned with his memories from his previous life. The opening of the Lishan Mausoleum had drawn the gaze of the world and sparked the first great battle among the awakened, with far-reaching consequences.

But none of this held any real meaning for him; he only wanted to confirm a few details—for instance, that the mausoleum would indeed open in three days.

“Three days, is it?” Lu Yuan felt a surge of anticipation. The things hidden within were crucial to his future.

He remained in that abandoned building, never venturing out. The distance from Chang’an to Lishan was short; after the upheaval, the two places were practically joined, so there was no need to set out early.

During these days, much happened.

Most notably, a video of a mountain duel between the Southern Sovereign and the Northern Emperor went viral. The footage showed two figures unleashing tremendous power, their attacks ferocious, leveling trees and gouging craters into the earth—leaving viewers stunned at the gulf between themselves and such monsters.

The consensus was clear: they were utterly outmatched.

Rumors abounded that all five supremes had clashed with one another in recent days, though the outcome remained unknown. Many clamored for footage or photos, but none surfaced.

In any case, as the opening of the Lishan Mausoleum drew near, tension mounted. Brawls even broke out within the city, only quelled when the head of Shendan Academy’s Chang’an branch intervened, restoring a semblance of order.

Although not all could be controlled, within the five supercities, Shendan Academy’s influence was vast—backed by official authority, it commanded universal respect. Even the other four great powers had to restrain themselves and act with discretion.

But once the mausoleum opened, conflict would be inevitable. In the new era, ordinary means could no longer restrain the awakened.

Lu Yuan observed it all, even watching the much-discussed duel between the Northern Emperor and Southern Sovereign. To him, it was like watching children play-fight. After three months of preparation, his starting point was already far beyond that of ordinary awakened ones.

Thus, time flowed swiftly by.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

On this night, before dawn had broken, Lu Yuan opened his eyes at just the right moment and slowly stood, gazing into the distance. His eyes glinted with determination.

His destination: the Lishan Imperial Mausoleum.

(End of chapter)