143: Do not worry about having no friends on the road ahead, for who in the world does not know you!

Geneva, Switzerland.

At the security summit, Ignis sat with her legs crossed, her flame demon tattoos glowing with a dangerous red light under the gaze of representatives from various countries.

The electronic nameplate in front of her flashed "CEO of Flame Tower Energy Group," and leaning against her leg was the scorched and warped flame demon greatsword.

Ignis had been forced to attend this meeting.

It was entirely because the old men at home insisted she show up.

And also because of Lu Chen's request!

In truth, she would have preferred to stay at Kunlun Academy in her terminal state of laziness, playing around with Lu Chen and her group of sisters.

"Ladies and gentlemen," she said irritably as she cracked open the neck of a chilled champagne bottle, "while you are still bickering over some 'limitation treaty,' our company's probes discovered this on Mars—"

—A holographic projection exploded with footage of a Martian dust storm. A rusted bronze broken halberd was thrust into the foot of Olympus Mons, its shaft engraved with a star map identical to the one on the Antarctic ice monument.

The water glasses in front of the representatives from Japan's Yin and Yang Bureau suddenly froze!

"It's magic!"

"A Seventh-Rank Ice Mage?"

The Japanese representatives immediately became tense.

Ignis looked at them and mocked,

"Quiet down, it's one of ours!"

Ignis connected to Shelley's communication, and Shelley's projection appeared.

"Ignis? Our Arctic Realm scientific expedition team has confirmed that the radiation values on the artifact are completely consistent with the fragments from China's Magic City Bronze City... Lu Chen already intends to come over."

Behind Shelley was an antimatter-powered icebreaker being loaded and unloaded; the deck was piled with liquid nitrogen tanks covered in strange runes.

"Good." Ignis yawned and then connected to the next video call.

Morning Dew's holographic projection instantly appeared.

In the Holy See's section, the Cardinals collectively made the sign of the cross.

The Church of the Holy Mother had different doctrines than theirs.

But Morning Dew was indeed a Holy See-certified—Cleric!

Moreover, she was the only person enlightened by the Sacred Light Codex.

As much as the Holy See found it disgusting, they had to give her Face.

The little nun was using Holy Light to heal the frostbite of the Antarctic expedition members who had arrived early.

The Sacred Light Codex floated in the air beside her.

This made the old men in red robes from the Holy See salivate with envy!

Morning Dew ignored everyone. Through the communication device, her gaze fell upon Ignis, who was dressed quite formally, and she said:

"According to the records in the restoration chapters of the ancient text 'Dead Sea Scrolls' that I've consulted... this type of bronze ware should have spread here from China's ancient civilization period. I just don't know how it was brought over."

"Then Lu..."

Just as Ignis was about to ask something else!

"Stop—!"

Suddenly, a voice interrupted Ignis.

The representative from the United States suddenly slapped the table. "We are more concerned with the biggest issue regarding China's current strength, and the fact that you small countries and minor factions are all standing with Lu Chen, which means standing with China. This does not conform to international rules! Furthermore, why are there more and more Awakened in China?"

The 'Awakened' the US representative spoke of were people who could Cultivate.

Distinguished from ordinary people.

"Not convinced? Go find China then! You're crazy! We've spoiled you." Ignis looked displeased. She shouldered her greatsword and stood up. "Alright, this lady is leaving. If you have something to say, talk to the Chinese representative. Our Flame Tower Group's person in charge is also here. Over there, that old man, my uncle!"

...In the Medical Department of Kunlun Academy, Lu Chen was undergoing a final physical examination.

Sun Feifei was beside him, saying:

"The latest deductions show that 137 people globally have awakened Holy Light talents... China has fifty-seven people who can Cultivate ancient immortal arts... um, and..."

The little girl reported on the recent situation.

Ning Xiwei was helping him put on his clothes. "Shelley and the others have sent word; the Carbon-14 testing results for the Antarctic ice monument are out."

With a light tap of her fingertip, a magical projection emerged. "It dates back 100,500 years, with a margin of error not exceeding ten years."

Lu Chen said coldly:

"Notify the military as well as the contacts sent by Shelley and Ignis. We can initiate the 'Tianyong Project'."

The Tianyong Project was something Lu Chen had discussed with several Chinese big shots after finishing his seclusion a few days ago.

They couldn't remain passive forever.

They had to take the initiative—to find trouble with the Heavenly Dao!

At this moment, on the helipad outside the Medical Department, a space shuttle integrated with a rune engine was being fueled.

An ancient divine Dragon was painted on the fuselage!

Three days later.

Japan.

In a cram school in Shibuya, Tokyo, high school students were wearing VR headsets to practice sword-kinesis.

Suddenly, a student pointed at the screen in the classroom and screamed!

"Look at the news!"

The classroom projection automatically switched to the NASA channel. On the screen, a Mars probe was using a laser to cut the bronze halberd, and the sparks that flew out condensed into oracle bone script in the vacuum.

"Students, pay attention!" The Onmyoji on the podium tapped his pointer. "This is the content of this week's practical class—analyzing the correlation between bronze inscriptions and modern cultivation Formations."

The students' tablets automatically downloaded the Mars video data, and some were already using AR functions to simulate rune Formations on their desks.

United Kingdom.

Inside the astronomical tower of the London Academy of Magic, an Astrology professor waved a wand, turning the dome into a 3D projection of Orion. "Note the position of Betelgeuse. According to the data we stole from Kunlun Academy—no! *Cough, cough*—the data they 'shared'..."

The students' quills automatically recorded the star map coordinates, and the parchment glowed with a red warning light.

In Shanghai, China's Magic City, at the launch center of the Cultivation Technology Group.

Ignis, wearing a safety helmet, kicked open the door to the control room and asked furiously:

"Why hasn't the antimatter fuel tank been filled yet?"

The technicians tremblingly cleared a path, revealing Lu Chen, who was currently using a Formation to empower the engine.

"Oh... Little Skeleton is here! Then it's fine."

"Eldest Young Miss, this is precision equipment..." A chief engineer said gloomily, wiping sweat as he stepped forward. "Mr. Lu is personally helping us empower the Formations!"

Before he finished speaking, magic power had already covered the fuel lines.

Even in an absolute zero environment, the efficiency of the rune etching machine could be increased by 300%.

Testing instruments swept over all quality control areas; every crack at the molecular scale had nowhere to hide.

Several employees carried the packed bronze fragments into the lab.

Ning Xiwei followed behind. Seeing everyone there, she got straight to the point:

"The isotope ratios of the Mars samples show they are higher. The source of the heavenly dao contamination might be right there."

At this moment, the rust on these fragments had formed blood-colored vertical pupils.

Meanwhile, the heads of state of various countries were crowded in their respective command centers.

Lu Chen turned to Face the spacecraft on the launch pad, summoned the golden compass, and unfolded a detailed star map.

In an instant, all the scientists and staff members there.

All turned their attention to Lu Chen.

Lu Chen looked at everyone with a determined expression!

He looked around at the crowd and said: "In the past, there was the will of Yu Gong to move mountains; today, we carry the sparks of stars to illuminate the firmament. Do not say there are no confidants on the road ahead, for let us see that all in this mortal world are heroes! Everyone, wait for my good news!"