Chapter 200: All Races under the Heavens are Equal!

Within the small world, Flame Demon sat cross-legged in the fire crater, wiping cold sweat from his forehead. "Red Fox, don't speak recklessly. The Lord of Rituals is not someone we can discuss..."

He had just broken through a minor cultivation stage. As his mind brushed against the laws of the outside world, he heard Red Fox nearly reveal Blindman Lu's secret. Seizing the brief surge of power from his breakthrough, he forcibly channeled spirit qi to the outside world to suppress her.

Red Fox curled into a ball with her eyes closed, feigning indifference to Lu Chen's conversation. Through voice transmission, she pressed Flame Demon. "Flame Demon, tell me the truth! Has the Lord of Rituals returned? I just sensed two forces. One was yours, but the other definitely wasn't from the small world. That killing intent... it could only belong to the Lord of Rituals."

"It doesn't matter whether he has returned or not. Remember this: in the future, you must never speak recklessly while you're outside." Flame Demon did not answer her question directly. Instead, he warned her with a grave tone. "You must understand, the King is important to everyone. Matters concerning his cultivation cannot be trifled with."

Listening to Flame Demon's warning, Red Fox felt the stark contrast to his usual demeanor. Her kind was naturally clever, and as a Nine-Tailed Red Fox, she was especially so. Slowly, she grasped the meaning behind his words. "I see... I understand now."

She tried sending another voice transmission, but Flame Demon gave no reply. At the same time, the oppressive streams of spirit qi pressing on her had vanished. Taking advantage of Wind Dragon and the others' distraction, she bowed her head and silently knelt toward the sky.

Meanwhile, Lu Chen and the others were still deep in conversation, unaware of her actions.

Nantian Yijian cradled Wind Dragon in his arms. Curiosity gleamed in his eyes as he asked, "Boss, now that you're only one step away from the Qi Condensation Realm, you must know the true essence of ants' cultivation, right? Hurry and tell me! Maybe I can use it to improve my innate talent and become the unrivaled King of Ten Thousand Arts."

"No. Even after nine years of enduring the Heavenly Pool's baptism tests, I only grasped my own versions of cultivation truths each year. In the end, I never truly understood the essence of ants' cultivation.

"I only managed to step into the Qi Absorption Realm because Grandpa gave me the single chance for someone in our clan to cultivate. But because of my selfishness, that chance led to the massacre of our entire village at the hands of bandits."

A sorrowful expression crossed Lu Chen's face. Nantian Wan'er gently grabbed his hand, soothing his heart.

"I'm fine, Wan'er..." Lu Chen softly patted her small hand. "I promised Grandpa that pursuing the true essence of cultivation would be my lifelong purpose. How could I let such a minor inner demon hold me back before I uncover its truth?"

He held her hand tighter as he went on, "I don't yet know when I will truly comprehend the ants' cultivation Grandpa spoke of. But I feel I've already touched a sliver of its truth.

"It is the same truth I spoke of beneath the ancient parasol tree, after failing the second Heavenly Pool baptism. I want to try again now. Even if I know I might fail again, I still want to try."

Jun Laoye and the others stared at Lu Chen, puzzled. Nevertheless, they all chose to remain silent.

Lu Chen turned and glanced at the ordinary cultivators behind him, chattering about the surging mist. Taking a deep breath, he released his spirit qi and shattered the illusion realm, roaring to the sky, "I am Lu Chen of Greenheaven Village. I failed the Heavenly Pool baptism ten times. I only managed to seize a sliver of hope to cultivate by relying on my ancestors' blessing and sacrificing the lives of my entire clan. Only then did I finally grasp the truth of survival and take my first step into the path of cultivation!"

The commotion drew every gaze at the valley's entrance. The expressions were mixed—some filled with ridicule and mockery, some with nostalgia, but most with sorrow. Many of them had once been as impassioned as Lu Chen, striving to correct the world's injustices through their own efforts when they first began cultivating. Yet, without exception, reality got the better of them, forcing their pride into silence and leaving them to live out their days as ordinary cultivators.

"I promised my Grandpa, and my clan, that in pursuing the true essence of cultivation, I would strive to comprehend the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth and walk the Dao that truly belongs to me."

Lu Chen's black robe billowed in the still air, his presence radiating immense pressure as he rose into the sky. His voice rang out, fierce and impassioned: "And now... at this very moment, I have comprehended my first purpose of cultivation—to cultivate for the justice of the world, to cultivate for the last justice within my heart!"

Those who had sneered before now stared in shock. It started with two of the cultivators gasping aloud, until all the others stood frozen in disbelief.

Lu Chen was only at the Qi Regulation Realm, yet the pressure he released already surpassed that of high-level Qi Condensation Realm cultivators. What's more, it was still rising in intensity and spreading ever farther.

𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"You claim that mortals and noble clans can never stand as equals! You claim that only the powerful can uphold the justice in their hearts! You claim that no one can change the order of the world! If that is the case, then I, Lu Chen, will break this cycle! Even if it costs my entire lifetime, even if I must start cultivating from the beginning—I will try!

"All races under the heavens are equal! This is the goal I strive for! This is the justice I believe in! And this is the last justice within my heart!"

As each word thundered out, the energy around him surged violently.

"We cultivate for survival! Ants, too, cultivate for survival. We are all cultivators beneath the heavens, of the same lineage, the same kind! This is the justice I must pursue in my heart!"

Lu Chen swept his gaze across the valley, then slowly closed his eyes. In that instant, an even greater power awakened within him.

At that moment, an endless surge of spirit qi flowed into him. From his Heavenly Pool, the twin fish, the unnamed planet, the Hunyuan Greatsword, the Acquired Green Sovereign Divine Tree, and the half-formed Acquired Bagua Diagram contributed spirit qi; from his small world, Eggy, the Fire Phoenix, the hundred thousand beasts, the Innate Green Sovereign Divine Tree, the incomplete Innate Bagua Diagram at the core, and even the Thirty-Three Mountains, the Tower of Time, and the Eternal Twilight Imperial City, along with every flower, herb, and spirit plant did the same.

Torrents of energy, brimming with countless elemental attributes, erupted from the Heavenly Pool, shaking the surrounding space.

The oppressive aura surged higher and spread outward, pressing toward the Scripture Hall.

The sudden outburst drew the attention of every cultivator within the hall, as well as the venerables and Men of Heaven still fighting against the mist. All turned their eyes to Lu Chen, murmuring in confusion over which noble clan he belonged to.

From the valley's entrance, the mountainsides, and the front yard of the Scripture Hall, cultivators rushed toward him, eager to glimpse the youth whose cultivation shook the heavens and whose words stirred the heart.

Jun Laoye clenched his fists and grinned. "Let's go, Little Jun. Time for the Lu Hype Squad to make our entrance."

Noticing all eyes on them, Nantian Yijian could not contain his excitement. He summoned the Thirty-Six Cosmic Sword Guqin and dragged Jun Laoye to an open spot directly beneath Lu Chen. With a fierce shout, he struck the strings, sending the guqin's wild notes erupting into the air.

Everyone's attention remained fixed on Lu Chen, waiting to see what would unfold. For now, no one criticized the harsh guqin tones, which gave Nantian Yijian a rare sense of majesty and spurred him to intensify his playing.

"For all of you here, let me dedicate this piece of music—The Heavenly King's Descent!

"Rejoice, commoners, before you stand Lu Chen of Greenheaven Village, the Heavenly King's heir of this era. He will dominate this era. He will lead it. He will forge a new path!" The guqin's piercing notes, mingled with Nantian Yijian's passionate roar, struck the ears of everyone present. "He will fight for your interests. He will fight to bring you justice. He is Lu Chen of Greenheaven Village, a cultivator in pursuit of the true essence of cultivation!"

At the side, Jun Laoye watched them steal the spotlight. Gritting his teeth, he unleashed the Heavenly Dao Command.

I've already found Ancestor Suitian. Even if the clan techniques expose my true identity, the worst that can happen is Elder Brother discovering my whereabouts. With Ancestor Suitian here, he won't dare act.

Endless primordial lightning qi burst from his Heavenly Pool, condensing into a divine lightning giant that lifted him from the ground.

The cultivators at the valley's entrance broke into chatter. Some disciples familiar with the trio recognized Lu Chen and his companions. They quickly recounted their bold exploits—from storming the mountain gates to leading just a hundred men against tens of thousands at the Serene Void Academy.

Even those who had glared at Jun Laoye with hostility now shrank back into the crowd, shaken by Lu Chen's display of strength.

Jun Laoye roared in midair, venting his rage: "Split! The Dao of the Spear is the Dao I seek in my cultivation!"

Lightning exploded around him. Dense violet bolts surged from his Heavenly Pool and enveloped him like a cocoon.

"Lightning Returns! Heavenly Lightning Eye!"

Following his shout, the Heavenly Lightning Eye activated. The Heavenly Dao Spear hovered behind him, black armor clung tightly to his frame, and a pure white cloak of light shimmered in the calm, windless air. Combined with his tall, heroic figure, he appeared like a divine king descending from the heavens.