45: Gather in Kunlun, on the eve of the storm!

Inside Dragon Perch Residence, Lin Tian concluded his year and a half long deep seclusion.

He officially reported his next course of action to the Family's higher-ups, confirming his goal: to venture into the most mysterious and dangerous S-class Forbidden Ground in China, the Kunlun Restricted Zone, to explore the War Emperor's Mausoleum, which only existed in the oldest secret scrolls, and complete the System's new check-in mission.

This decision caused a minor stir among the Long Family's higher-ups.

Ultimately, after an emergency discussion between the three Old Ancestors and the elders, they made a decision that surprised everyone yet was entirely reasonable.

"Granted."

"However, you cannot go alone."

"This trip to Kunlun will be exceptionally perilous, not only due to the unknown dangers of the Forbidden Ground itself but also the covetous gaze of external forces. You are currently our Long Family's only Alpha Heir, with a noble status that must not be compromised."

"After a unanimous decision by the Elder Council, this War Emperor's Mausoleum exploration will be led and guarded by number one heir Long Qingtian."

"Seventh heir Dragon Snow Phoenix, number three heir Long Ao, and several other top ten ranked heirs will accompany you."

"Nominally, it is to assist you in completing the mission and to use this opportunity for the most rigorous practical training."

"In reality..."

Clan Chief Long Zhanye did not explicitly state the rest, but everyone understood.

In reality, this was also an observation and a check on Lin Tian, the newly promoted "Alpha."

Long Qingtian, this side branch Prodigy who clawed his way up from a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, was he truly convinced by Lin Tian, or merely paying lip service?

Dragon Snow Phoenix, this aloof ice beauty, after being "heroically saved" by Lin Tian, where did her heart truly lie?

Long Ao, this Prodigy who once had his backbone broken, was he truly submissive now, or was he biding his time?

A seemingly simple Legacy exploration, under the wise and balanced arrangement of the Family's higher-ups, instantly transformed into an internal trial full of unknown variables and hidden currents.

Lin Tian, naturally, saw through this, but he did not refuse.

Because he knew that to truly make these arrogant Prodigies of his generation genuinely submit to him, mere suppression by status was far from enough.

Only in the most brutal practical combat, filled with death and crisis, could he use his unrivaled, all-crushing absolute strength to completely shatter the last vestiges of their pride and unwillingness!

...

At the same time, in a hidden valley in the Chaotic Delta.

After successfully staging a textbook "hero saves the beauty" scenario, Ye Fan finally ushered in the first major turning point since his Rebirth.

His powerful strength, unyielding character, and the simple care filled with "human warmth" successfully captured the heart of the mysterious and stunning young woman, Qin Yubing.

And after learning of his tragic story—carefully packaged with "half-truths"—of being "humiliated by a bully, having his cultivation crippled, and his fiancée stolen," Qin Yubing was even more filled with sympathy and admiration for him.

At this moment, in the valley, a bonfire flickered.

Under the guidance of the remnant soul of the human emperor, Ye Fan finally made his next decision.

"Master, I feel that my Foundation is still too unstable. To truly possess the strength to contend with Lin Tian in a short period, relying solely on arduous cultivation is probably far from enough."

"Hmm, you're right," the remnant soul of the human emperor's voice was filled with satisfaction, "Not arrogant or impatient, very good. I, your Master, had the same thought."

"That War Emperor's Mausoleum located in the Kunlun Restricted Zone is the resting place of my dear friend, the War Emperor, from the ancient era. Within his tomb, there is not only his lifelong Legacy, but more importantly, a wisp of 'Earth Dragon Vein Qi' that he extracted from the depths of the earth's core back then!"

"This Qi is the Origin of all things! If you can obtain it, not only will your crippled Foundation be completely reshaped in the shortest time, it will even be stronger than before! It will also allow your Human Emperor Suppressing World Art to ascend to the heavens in one step, directly Breakthrough to the Major Achievement Realm!"

"War Emperor's Mausoleum... Earth Dragon Vein Qi..." Ye Fan murmured to himself, his eyes burning with a raging fire!

He looked at Qin Yubing beside him, who was quietly watching him with a pair of beautiful eyes full of concern and worry, and his heart was filled with ambition.

After learning of his decision, Qin Yubing pondered for a moment, then spoke in a solemn tone:

"The Kunlun Restricted Zone is fraught with danger, and the Long Family's people are eyeing it covetously. If I openly accompany you, it might expose my identity and attract unnecessary trouble."

She paused, then took out a communication jade pendant carved with an ancient Phoenix totem from her embrace and handed it to Ye Fan.

"But, don't worry. I will secretly mobilize my Family's most elite Phoenix Shadow Guards to rendezvous with you on the outskirts of the Forbidden Ground."

"If you encounter any danger you cannot resolve, simply... crush this jade."

"My Qin Family will spare no effort to ensure your safety!"

...

North America, "Holy Mountain" organization headquarters temple.

A top-level emergency meeting regarding the "War Emperor's Mausoleum" was also being held.

"According to the latest intelligence we just deciphered from an ancient medieval European document," a high-ranking official responsible for intelligence analysis reported with a grave expression, "The owner of the so-called 'War Emperor's Mausoleum,' the War Emperor, is very likely the founder of the mysterious 'Pangu Dynasty' that once unified the entire globe in ancient times!"

"And according to scattered records in the document, the 'Pangu Dynasty' seems to have possessed a terrifying genetic weapon capable of completely restraining, or even... decomposing the Pangu Body at the genetic level!"

"What?!"

This news caused all the "Holy Mountain" higher-ups present to stand up abruptly, their eyes filled with shock and fanaticism!

A genetic weapon that restrains the Pangu Body!

For them, who had always regarded the Long Family and Lin Tian as a major threat, this was undoubtedly incredibly good news!

"How accurate is this intelligence?" The majestic voice from the divine throne slowly echoed.

"Over seventy percent!"

"Good!" The being on the divine throne made a decisive decision, "Deliver my divine decree! Immediately dispatch our strongest ace—Adam—to lead an elite Seraphim squad composed of the most top-tier genetic warriors to secretly infiltrate China!"

"They have only one mission!"

"Infiltrate the War Emperor's Mausoleum at all costs, find the prototype of that genetic weapon, and... bring it back!"

The protagonist's faction, the main opposing faction, and the newly added third hostile force... three top-tier lineups, each harboring their own distinct yet equally determined goals, like three converging torrents, surged from different corners of the world towards the same ultimate destination—the Kunlun Restricted Zone—a place full of unknowns and dangers!

An unavoidable, multi-party free-for-all "grand battle" was about to begin in that ancient, Forbidden Ground steeped in myths and legends!

However, amidst this tense atmosphere, where the storm was brewing, a deeper mystery, one that no one had ever anticipated and capable of overturning all future power dynamics, had quietly emerged.

In the depths of a Forbidden Ground belonging to the "Qin Family"—an ancient, mysterious clan hidden from the mundane world, shrouded by an endless sea of clouds, and seemingly not belonging to this era—on the Eastern Continent.

A Qin Family Old Ancestor, with white hair and beard, yet whose aura was as vast as an abyss, as if he had long since merged with heaven and earth, was quietly watching a holographic image transmitted back by a Shadow Guard at the cost of his life. It depicted Ye Fan battling the Blood Wolf mercenary group in the Chaotic Delta, displaying the Human Emperor Suppressing World Art.

His turbid eyes, which seemed capable of discerning all ages and seeing through all Karma, suddenly constricted when he saw the golden Internal Energy on Ye Fan, filled with imperial dominance!

He slowly rose from his prayer mat.

He walked to the image, extended his withered hand, resembling an eagle's claw, and repeatedly, carefully, caressed Ye Fan's resolute face, his gaze becoming unprecedentedly complex.

There was shock, excitement, reminiscence, bewilderment, and even... a hint of... awe.

He murmured to himself, his voice so soft that it seemed even he couldn't hear it, yet it seemed to contain a world-shattering secret capable of overturning history.

"This aura... this Cultivation Technique... there's no mistake... absolutely no mistake..."

"This is... the direct Legacy of the 'Azure Dragon Emperor' who, at the end of ancient times, single-handedly dominated all ages, but ultimately went against the Heavenly Dao, causing his entire Imperial Dynasty to crumble overnight, and all his direct Bloodline to be cursed and wiped out by the Heavenly Dao..."

"—The direct Legacy of the 'Azure Dragon Emperor'!"

"Could it be... could this young man be the only trace of direct Bloodline that the Great Emperor managed to preserve through supreme Divine Ability, deceiving the heavens, and luckily surviving in the world back then?"

"If that's truly the case..."

The Qin Family Old Ancestor's gaze became incredibly profound, as if it pierced through endless time and space, seeing an ancient pact, long sealed and filled with blood and tears.

"Then... was Yu Bing's encounter with him... not a coincidence?"

"But rather... the guidance of fate, transcending all ages, from the depths of their Bloodline?"