323: Tensions and changes in people's hearts

Outside the Great Xia Starry Sky, terrifying energy fluctuations surged like tides, shattering space.

A dreadful blade light swept across Jupiter's rings, leaving an unhealable crack.

Several spatial whirlpools gradually closed, and the extraterrestrial fiends roared unwillingly as they retreated into the Abyss.

This turmoil finally subsided for now.

The old monk's Dharma Form dissipated, his drooping eyelids slightly lifted, and he swept his gaze over the other two King-ranked existences. Their hearts trembled slightly, feeling an intense pressure, full of deterrence.

The old monk said nothing and his figure vanished.

The hip-hop-style black King wiped away non-existent cold sweat from his forehead, letting out a sigh of relief.

“That scared me to death, yo.”

The King-ranked woman, enveloped in golden light, was puzzled, “What exactly happened in this country, Great Xia? Why did it cause such a large-scale Abyss Invasion?”

Before her words could fall, she received a message, her expression changed slightly, and she immediately changed direction, transforming into a comet-like golden light flying towards Earth.

The same was true for various countries; the top echelons were all discussing today's events.

It was the same within Great Xia.

The three Demigods gathered, standing atop Kunlun Mountain.

They were Elder Feng, the old monk, and a Divine Deer completely enveloped in green light.

The Divine Deer spoke in human tongue, in a pleasant and alluring female voice.

“Feng Xuan, why is there the Aura of an Abyss Monarch in Emperor Capital?”

Elder Feng was furious and said gloomily, “I'd like to know too!”

The old monk closed his eyes and said, “It seems to be an ancient existence, whose name is related to 'Fertility,' 'Life,' and 'Creation.' She has never appeared on the battlefields of Blue Star and the Abyss. I speculate that she has probably been on Earth for a very, very long time. That's how she managed to evade our sight.”

“Regardless,”

the Divine Deer said.

“To make the Abyss go to such great lengths, even alarming an Abyss Monarch hidden so deeply… it seems that young man named Jiang indeed possesses incredible potential.”

The old monk said, “The extraterrestrial situation cannot be underestimated; it has reached its peak in a hundred years. Chaos is approaching.”

“This day would come sooner or later; it just came twenty years earlier. Since they were the ones who first tore up the treaty, we no longer need to abide by it,” Feng Xuan said, full of Killing Intent.

“Without peace in the Abyss, there will be no tranquility. It's nothing more than starting a war; at worst, we'll sink the mountains and rivers.”

The old monk and the Divine Deer fell silent, finally turning into a sigh.

“Let those guarding the Abyss return.”

...Within the mysterious Cloud-Hidden Secret Realm, the Ten Ministers Association had a rare full attendance.

Jiang Yuan's two acquaintances,

Bai Huang and Bei Mingxue, were also present.

After listening to Bei Mingxue's report, everyone was silent for a full five minutes.

Although they had anticipated a major incident, they never expected something like this to happen.

Whether it was the Abyss Monarch hidden within Emperor Capital, the arrival of the Abyss stars, the battle in outer space, or the Abyss collapse in the Machine Emperor Burial Ground… all of it felt like heavy hammers striking everyone's hearts.

“Hoo…”

The burly general Yu Tao took a deep breath, breaking the silence, “What did the three elders say?”

Bei Mingxue said, “Recall the Great Xia Kings stationed in the various Abysses to guard the homeland and prepare for battle.”

The others had not yet recovered, finding it difficult to accept the reality that peace was about to end and war was coming.

Yuan Ling said, “I suggest relocating suburban residents to large Cities, increasing military defense spending. Since the Abyss has torn up the contract, we don't need to be polite either. We can gather manpower to clear out those Abysses located within Great Xia's borders.”

Bei Mingxue turned to look at her in surprise, not expecting that Yuan Ling, who seemed the most detached from worldly affairs, would be the most decisive, calm, and resolute.

“I'm still somewhat unable to accept this.” Feng Qi, one of the Ten Sovereigns, said with some indignation, “There are clearly still twenty years left until the contract's expiration, but now it's been brought forward because of one person. All our preparations and plans have been disrupted. Shouldn't this be held accountable?! What if he's a purple dragon medal holder? He affects the entire Great Xia! A slight misstep could lead to eternal damnation!”

“I agree with Feng Qi's point. Now that the National War is imminent, with such an incident occurring, how will the countries friendly with our Great Xia view us? The whole world will attribute the responsibility to Great Xia. How much pressure will our Great Xia Face?!”

“That's right.”

“Was our previous judgment truly correct? We gave him such great privileges, yet he repeatedly stirred up trouble. Can he truly bear the future of Great Xia?”

Disputes erupted among the Ten Sovereigns, showing that this matter indeed caused them considerable pressure.

Some blamed Jiang Yuan, believing that his existence led to the premature tearing up of the treaty.

Several of them shared the same surnames as the Ten Great Families of Emperor Capital, representing the privileged class.

Yuan Ling sneered in rebuttal, “If he can't bear it, can those few descendants of your Families, who are called Prodigies, bear it? Do you want to try a match?”

“Yuan Ling, that's enough.”

“What? You want to compete with me too? Alright!”

“You!”

This scene was observed by Bei Mingxue, who couldn't help but feel a little worried.

Decades of peace had eroded much of the Battle Intent and fighting spirit in people's hearts, leading to conflicts of interest and mutual suspicion.

Great Xia, after all, was not a monolithic entity.

With the Summer Emperor old and the Imperial Daughter young, could such a Great Xia truly withstand the Abyss Invasion?

Involuntarily,

Bei Mingxue recalled that black-clad figure standing beneath the strange starry sky, head held high, unyielding, and straight as a spear.

If it were him, he probably wouldn't have the slightest confusion… Machine Emperor Burial Ground.

“Boom!”

Zheng Huangtong's judgment strike was the first to blast apart a Gatekeeper, and in the next instant, another Gatekeeper was split in two by Jiang Yuan's slash.

“Haha, I won!”

Zheng Huangtong smiled brightly, very happy.

Jiang Yuan smiled and admitted defeat, honoring his bet by owing her a request.

As for whether he went easy on her out of friendship… only heaven knew.

Soon, the group broke through the first checkpoint.

The second checkpoint was somewhat difficult for the Bow Phoenix Guild to handle.

Facing a horde of mechanical monsters with an average Rank of LV75, Shingu Yu and Ye's attacks, stuck at the Sixth Rank, had little effect. They could only stand behind Jiang Yuan and watch.

Jiang Yuan suppressed the entire field with his Mechanical Overlord talent, his figure transforming into a golden light that charged into the enemy formation. Terrifying fist light roared, each punch and kick carrying the might to sink mountains and rivers. Wherever he passed, the indestructible mechanical bodies shattered into pieces, extremely terrifying!

All the members of the Bow Phoenix Guild were dumbfounded, standing still with wide-open mouths, staring blankly as the golden light swept through everything, enduring countless destructive light waves and self-destructing attacks, pushing forward relentlessly.

He seemed tireless, even enjoying it, and his Aura continued to climb.

The others gradually stopped their actions, only needing to collect the dropped equipment, Materials, and items from the rear.

“Boom!!”

Accompanied by a huge explosion, a mushroom cloud slowly rose, and the entire ruin trembled.

The boss of the second stage—[Prison Gatekeeper of Time]—was shattered by Jiang Yuan's God-Slaying Blast Fist, brimming with accumulated rage, as his Aura reached its peak.