Chapter 117. Southward to Shen City, the Fall of Longevity Genetics! (1)

Everyone knew that the battle they had awaited so eagerly was over. It directly ended due to a single man's overwhelming dominance.

There was no suspense; neither were there turning points. The three forces were basically obliterated. And it was especially so for Skygod Technologies as their leader, Liu Changyuan, was dead.

Everyone looked upon Lu Yuan with awe and pure, unfiltered reverence. They could only wonder how strong he was. The might he displayed didn't feel like someone who had just stepped into the Unfettered Realm.

It had to be known that among mutated beasts, those who reached this realm were crowned kings. But among humans, or at least within Huaxia, only one man was ever given that same title.

And that individual was he who had stood beyond the walls of Chang'an and single-handedly slayed eight beast kings.

But more importantly, those watching began to realize what human evolution truly meant and how far mankind could ascend.

Previously, they had only seen such feats through grainy footage. But now, it had unfolded before their very eyes.

As for Lu Yuan himself, he wasn't concerned about the whispers or the awe that followed him. He simply walked toward the massive cross erected at the center of the field.

With one hand, he crushed it to dust. Then he crouched down before Asura.

Asura was barely conscious, his body marred with wounds and his breath faint.

Lu Yuan's gaze softened slightly. He knew that throughout the entire interrogation, Asura had kept silent and never revealed what happened in Shennongjia. In the end, he was discarded by Skygod Technologies.

If Lu Yuan weren't this strong, that silence would have saved his life. It was an act of kindness on Asura's part. For that alone, he deserved respect.

Lu Yuan reached into his robes and drew out a spiritual fruit before placing it gently in Asura's chest pocket. It was something he had found within Shennongjia. It had remarkable effects and was capable of hastening evolution and healing grievous wounds. It was his gesture of gratitude for what Asura had done.

After which, Lu Yuan stood up and turned his gaze toward the crowd.

In an instant, silence blanketed the field. Wherever his eyes fell, bodies stiffened. Even those who had faced death countless times felt their hearts jolt. None dared to meet his gaze directly. The sheer power he displayed had already been carved into their souls.

At last, Lu Yuan's eyes met Dean Zheng's.

"Dean Zheng," he called out. "I must trouble you with something."

Dean Zheng stepped forward without hesitation. He already knew what the man would say.

"Mr. Lu, rest assured. We'll take care of Asura. You don't have to worry. As for Skygod Technologies, we will see to it with the follow up actions."

Even as Dean Zheng spoke, a faint note of respect slipped into his tone. After all, true strength was something that commanded reverence, no matter where it stood.

And in fact, the official authorities were already planning to act today. Their intention had been to crush Skygod Technologies and absorb its foundation under state control. But before they could even make their move, Lu Yuan had done it all alone.

"Alright, thank you." Lu Yuan nodded slightly, then turned and began walking toward the Golden-Winged Great Peng waiting in the distance.

"Mr. Lu, are you leaving already?" Dean Zheng called out. He wanted to have a proper conversation with Lu Yuan. After what had happened today, he knew the higher authorities would certainly value this man beyond measure. So he wanted to try convincing Lu Yuan to stay, at least if not to go to Chang'an, then at least stay in Hu City for a short period of time.

Especially now, a daring thought had begun to take root in Dean Zheng's mind.

Dean Liu of the Academy's Hu City branch also stepped forward, seemingly wanting to persuade him to remain as well.

But Lu Yuan already caught on to their intention. However, he didn't plan to linger any longer.

He said lightly, "I'm heading south to Shen City to annihilate Longevity Genetics."

With that, he leaped off and landed upon the back of the Golden-Winged Great Peng. His eyes gleamed like sharpened blades beneath the sun.

Longevity Genetics had provoked him again and again and every single time with malicious, murderous intent.

Previously, he had tolerated it either out of caution, out of restraint, or out of the need to settle other matters first.

But now, he had the Golden-Winged Great Peng beneath his command. Shen City was no longer distant, and he no longer saw reason to hold back.

So, he was determined to make the trip to Longevity Genetics.

𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

With a loud cry, the Golden-Winged Great Peng unfurled its golden wings. In the next heartbeat, its body turned into a streak of blazing light and vanished beyond the clouds.

The echo of its cry lingered, and with it, Lu Yuan's final words.

"I'm heading south to Shen City to annihilate Longevity Genetics."

A collective hiss spread through the crowd. Gasps filled the air as everyone's expression shifted.

Killing Liu Changyuan had already meant the fall of Skygod Technologies. And yet that wasn't the end of it. He was now marching straight toward Shen City to annihilate Longevity Genetics as well?

Such audacity. Such resolve.

The crowd turned to one another, speechless, each seeing the same stunned disbelief reflected in the other's eyes.

Everyone knew of the enmity between Lu Yuan and Longevity Genetics. They had provoked him more than once, and every time, they had paid the price.

Today, they had even joined forces with the Vatican Church and Skygod Technologies, weaving a death trap for Lu Yuan.

Yet the outcome had shattered every expectation. Lu Yuan alone had crushed them all—obliterated every foe, every faction.

And now, he had finally chosen to stop holding back and was heading to his next destination: Longevity Genetics.

Everyone present understood what that meant. If Lu Yuan succeeded, the balance of power across the nation would be rewritten overnight. Two colossal forces could fall within a single day, their foundations erased as if they had never existed.

No one doubted Lu Yuan's capability. How could they? They had all witnessed it with their own eyes.

A true powerhouse had risen among humankind. His light burned as fiercely as the sun and moon as he climbed higher with every breath.

"Dean Zheng, he's heading for Shen City. Why didn't you stop him? We could coordinate with him." Dean Liu approached quickly, his tone edged with concern.

Longevity Genetics had deeper roots than Skygod Technologies, and in Dean Liu's perspective, he believed that the operation would go more smoothly if Lu Yuan had the backing of the Academy and official authorities.

But Dean Zheng merely shook his head. "There's no need. He alone is enough."

"Perhaps we've all underestimated Mr. Lu," Dean Zheng's voice dropped to a quiet murmur, his gaze lingering on the direction Lu Yuan had vanished toward.

As he recalled every moment of the battle, a strange sense of familiarity stirred in his chest.

And then, suddenly, it clicked.

The aura, the battle style—it was the same.

The same as

that

man who once stood beyond the walls of Chang'an and felled eight mutated beast kings by himself.

Even the golden-feathered creature soaring beside Lu Yuan resembled the mythical Golden-Winged Great Peng.

A chill passed through Dean Zheng as the realization took hold.

Perhaps, Lu Yuan really was

that

man.

And so, Dean Zheng turned his head toward his colleague and quietly voiced the thought that had taken root in his heart.

When Dean Liu heard that Lu Yuan might be the King of Humanity, he froze; his mind momentarily went blank. At first, he could barely believe it. The idea was too absurd. But as he recalled every moment of the battle, the pieces began to align.

If Lu Yuan was really

him

, the King of Humanity, then even Longevity Genetics would stand no chance.

Not far away, Northern Emperor spoke, "Junior Sister Zhu, it seems your earlier suspicions were right."

His thoughts mirrored Dean Zheng's. After all, he had been there back then. He had witnessed with his own eyes how that man had slain the beast kings beyond the walls of Chang'an.

The figure, the aura, the overwhelming force—it was all the same.

He had thought himself standing on a similar level as Lu Yuan. But now, he realized how vast the distance truly was.

Zhu Qingyu didn't answer. She simply whispered under her breath, "Chang'an was him. Qingyang was him. And now... it's still him."

Though she had long suspected it, the confirmation still left her trembling with disbelief.

Everyone had underestimated Lu Yuan. Only when he struck did they finally grasp the truth of his power.

"Rourou, let's go," Ji Yuzhen said, her tone sharp with urgency. "Shen City is about to get chaotic. Longevity Genetics might be wiped out in a single night. We must return at once to maintain order and inform the Shen City Commander to stand by and observe the situation."