Chapter 38. The Outside World, Supercities, and the Five Supremes? (1)

Wuzhou Group, Longevity Genetics, Skygod Technologies, and Polaris Biotech.

These four great factions, together with the authorities, jointly issued a series of laws restricting the actions of Awakened. Any who dared violate them would face united sanctions.

At the same time, the government announced that in preparation for the New Era, five supercities were already under construction across the nation.

In the east, Hu City would serve as the hub. In the south, Shen City. In the west, the Snow Region. In the north, Shuntian City. And in the central lands, the ancient capital of Chang'an.

These five supercities would be fully open to the public, allowing anyone to enter. Their purpose was simple—to safeguard as many lives as possible amidst the looming chaos of the future.

Meanwhile, after extensive research and deliberation, the authorities and the major factions also formulated a system to classify the cultivation realms and stages of the Awakened. This system was meant to measure both their strength and their level of threat.

Lu Yuan skimmed over it and found it identical to what he remembered—especially the division of Awakened.

As for the grand declarations of protecting civilians, Lu Yuan could only shake his head. Such things were easier said than done.

After the path of evolution was unsealed, even the government could no longer maintain complete control. Some problems were simply beyond their reach. The changes were too sudden, the time too short. In this New Era, there was only one truth: the only power one could truly rely on was their own.

After closing the official announcements, Lu Yuan opened several forums to see what ordinary people were saying.

As expected, almost every thread was about Awakened; it was the hottest topic of the times. Some who had succeeded in awakening even posted their experiences online. One spoke of venturing into deep mountains in search of ancient trees and their mysterious fruits. Another claimed to keep an eye out for antiques.

The stories were endless, with truth and falsehood hopelessly tangled together.

Lu Yuan shook his head with a faint smile.

To step onto the path of evolution and obtain extraordinary power... how can it possibly be so simple?

For ordinary people, this was seen as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. In his previous life, Lu Yuan himself had endured countless hardships before finally becoming an Awakened.

Just as he was about to close the page, one of the trending posts drew his attention.

Someone had started a poll ranking the strongest Awakened in the world under the current circumstances.

Five names stood far above the rest, each backed by an overwhelming number of votes. Netizens had even bestowed upon them lofty, awe-inspiring titles.

Winged Celestial God, Northern Emperor, Asura, Ice Fairy, and Southern Sovereign.

Together, they were revered as the Five Supremes.

The thread even included images and videos of these figures, showcasing their combat strength and abilities.

A faint smile curved Lu Yuan's lips as he tapped into the first video.

The first video featured the Winged Celestial God. He was a tall, slender young man with silver hair cascading to his waist. From his back sprouted twin wings woven of storm and thunder. He hovered in the skies, his form radiant with arcs of lightning, his aura transcendent and ethereal.

In the footage, he was locked in fierce combat with a mutated beast towering dozens of meters high. With a single sweep of his wings, the power of wind and thunder erupted, ripping through the forest ahead. His entire figure blazed with lightning, like the very incarnation of the legendary Thunder Division celestial enforcer.

Within mere minutes, the mutated beast was struck down, its blood soaking the earth crimson.

The next video featured the Northern Emperor. According to reports, he hailed from the distant north. Standing over two meters tall, his skin gleamed like burnished bronze. His black hair was wild and unkempt, and his upper body bare, yet his flesh radiated a strange, ethereal brilliance.

He was locked in combat with a colossal mammoth, its tusks like spears and its body towering as high as a building. Each punch he threw caused the earth itself to quake.

After him came Asura. Clad in tight black garb with only his eyes exposed, he wielded a blood-red warblade. He charged headlong into a tide of mutated beasts, his very presence brimming with slaughter and bloodlust.

Then there was the Ice Fairy, a woman in flowing white robes. Wherever she passed, the land was engulfed in snow and frost, turning the world into an icy realm.

Last was the Southern Sovereign. Just as his title suggested, he exuded a regal aura, and his entire body shrouded in radiant light. His methods were bizarre; any beast that dared approach him would suddenly explode into fragments without warning.

The Five Supremes each had immense popularity, and their strength matched their fame. Netizens fiercely debated who among them was the strongest. Most votes favored the Winged Celestial God. Many believed he was far too extraordinary, destined to become a True God in the future.

Lu Yuan even noticed that the man had gained a massive following, almost like a celebrity. Most of his fans were women, who not only praised his strength but also gushed over his transcendent aura and handsome looks.

They claimed that every battle he fought was to protect the weak, his heart brimming with righteousness, setting him apart from other Awakened.

Of course, others argued that this was nothing more than a carefully constructed persona, backed by a powerful faction pushing him into the spotlight.

That theory quickly gained traction. Rumors spread that each of the Five Supremes was supported by different factions. The Winged Celestial God, for example, was said to have close ties to the Wuzhou Group. Still, there were those who dismissed it all as baseless speculation, lacking any solid proof.

Regardless, the hype surrounding the Five Supremes was overwhelming. Discussions and debates flooded the net.

People already dared to call themselves gods, emperors, and sovereigns?

Lu Yuan was left speechless.

If this had been his past life, he probably wouldn't have thought much of it. He might even have agreed with the netizens. Back then, like most people, he admired these figures from afar, gazing at them with longing and envy.

But this time was different.

This was only the beginning of the Global Awakening. The true overlords had yet to appear, the real powerhouses yet to be born.

Even through mere videos, Lu Yuan could tell that the Five Supremes had decent potential, yes, but they hadn't even stepped into the true Awakened Realm. To him, they were only slightly stronger than that squad from Longevity Genetics.

So, after watching for a short while longer, he closed the video and kept browsing the forums.

Apart from the Five Supremes, some netizens and even certain authorities were proposing the creation of a Top 100 Awakened Ranking. For now, since they were in the early days of the Global Awakening, the ranking was still in its infancy, with only a dozen or so names recorded.

Among them, one familiar name immediately caught his eye.

The Young Celestial Master of Mount Hulong, Chunyang.

He was ranked within the top five and was already acknowledged by many as someone who could stand on par with the so-called Supreme.

Besides him, there were also other strong competitors, many uploading videos of themselves battling mutated beasts to draw attention and build their reputation.

It could be said that in the three months Lu Yuan had spent in seclusion, the world outside had completely changed.

Strength was now law. Power was truth. People looked up to those figures with reverence and desire.

The worst of times, the best of times... but above all, this is my time.

Lu Yuan locked his phone and exhaled a deep breath. Reading the news stirred his blood and ignited his fighting spirit.

At his core, he was a man who relished combat. In his past life, he had started far too late.

But this life was different. This time, he would walk a brand-new path.

A path that would surpass all others.

Now, it was time to begin the next phase of his plan. With ten years of foresight in his grasp, Lu Yuan knew exactly what to do. He knew how to pay the smallest price for the greatest gain. Every step of his plan was already etched deeply into his heart.

Ring-ring-ring.

Just as he was lost in thought, his phone suddenly rang.

He glanced at the screen; the caller ID displayed: Gramps Ge.

Ever since he had helped the old man settle his granddaughter's school admission, they hadn't been in contact.

Lu Yuan knew Gramps Ge well. He wasn't the type to call for no reason. If he were reaching out now, then something must have happened.

Without hesitation, Lu Yuan answered the call.