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Upon realizing this, the Stone Emperor's eyes suddenly sharpened.

Indeed, advancement in cultivation can change one's temperament, but a complete transformation of one's fundamental aura... is only possible through a transformative rebirth or being usurped by a more powerful being!
The rumors that Zhu Chen once stirred up trouble in the Upper Realm, and now he has suddenly returned to the Lower Realm with a group of terrifying "brothers," make the latter possibility seem more likely!
A "Human Emperor of the Fire Kingdom" whose body was possessed by a powerful being from the upper realm returns with an unknown purpose.

Regardless of the other party's motives, it poses an unpredictable danger to the entire lower realm.

"It seems that this is the only way..."

Shi Huang made a decision immediately after hardening his heart.

Better to misjudge than to be unprepared!
Especially in this important imperial palace.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, he absolutely could not relinquish the initiative!

The Stone Emperor gave a very subtle wink to one of his trusted guards, and with a slight movement of his lips, he silently conveyed an order.

The guard trembled slightly, then subtly retreated into the shadows.

at the same time.

High in the sky, Zhu Chen was greeting Xiao Yan, Lin Dong, and the others who had gathered around him.

His gaze swept over Huo Ling'er below, who was excitedly clutching the hem of her skirt, and he was about to speak.

But that's it.

"—Buzz!!!"

The entire Stone Kingdom... no, to be precise, the entire territory of the Stone Kingdom seemed to tremble slightly at this moment!
Immediately, a vast and ancient power surged into the sky from the depths of the palace!

Countless thick, dragon-like golden rays of light shot out from the palace in all directions, from the earth, mountains, and even the void, intertwining and converging high in the sky, instantly outlining a massive magic array that covered the entire capital!

The array's patterns are complex and profound, and at its core, nine five-clawed golden dragons, formed purely from imperial dragon energy and national fortune, coil and swim, emitting earth-shaking dragon roars.

The terrifying pressure emanating from it was enough to make even a powerful expert in the Divine Fire Realm feel oppressed!

"The Stone Kingdom's Guardian Spirit Array?"

"The Stone Emperor has actually activated the highest-level national protection formation! Is he going to use the nation's destiny and accumulated imperial dragon energy to suppress Zhu Chen?!"

"Heavens! What is the Stone Emperor trying to do? Why is he attacking the Fire Kingdom's Emperor?"

Has humanity fallen apart?

The crowd erupted in uproar.

Everyone was shocked by this sudden change.

No one expected that the Stone Emperor would be so decisive, not hesitating to use the resources that would deplete the nation's fortune to directly attack this human emperor who had just returned to his own race!

The magic array was complete, radiating golden light that enveloped Zhu Chen and the others, including Xiao Yan.

The nine golden dragons representing the nation's destiny locked onto Zhu Chen, their dragon eyes filled with power, spewing out the light of annihilation runes!
The entire space was sealed off and frozen, as if it had been transformed into a golden cage.

The Stone Emperor rose into the air, his feet treading on dragon energy, until he was level with the magic array.

His expression was solemn as he stared directly at Zhu Chen, who was enveloped in golden light. His voice was loud and clear, echoing in all directions: "Fellow Daoist Zhu, it is not that I am being heartless and acting rashly, but your aura is completely different from what it used to be. The change is so great that it is beyond comprehension. The passage between the lower and upper realms is difficult, and your sudden return, along with so many unfamiliar powerful figures... I have to consider the well-being of the billions of people in the Stone Kingdom. If you are truly Zhu Chen, please explain the reasons clearly. If you are no longer the original Zhu Chen... Today, even if it costs me the nation's fortune, I will not allow anyone from the upper realm to wantonly plunder my lands and rivers!"

His words were reasonable and well-founded, bringing his doubts to the forefront while also occupying the noble pretext of "protecting the safety of the human race."

Xiao Yan, Lin Dong, and the others, who were enveloped in the golden light of the magic array, did not panic. Instead, they all showed strange expressions.

However, Zhu Chen showed no panic whatsoever when faced with this national-level divine array that was powerful enough to trap and kill even a cultivator at the Divine Fire Realm.

He shook his head and smiled, "Your Majesty the Stone Emperor is overthinking it. I am indeed no longer the Zhu Chen I was when I descended to the mortal realm, but I was not possessed by someone else either. I underwent a transformation in the upper realm due to a series of fortuitous events, and both my physical body and soul have been reborn. My cultivation has also improved, hence my aura is different from before!" "My return this time is for two reasons, firstly to witness the duel between my brother Shi Hao and Shi Yi, and secondly..."

Zhu Chen's gaze swept over every cultivator in the room, and his tone suddenly became serious:

"Secondly, it is to bring you, the Stone Kingdom, the Fire Kingdom, and all living beings in the eight regions of the lower realm a message concerning life and death."

"information?"

Shi Huang frowned, his vigilance undiminished: "What news?"

Zhu Chen looked up at the golden array that enveloped the heavens and earth and announced to everyone: "The so-called 'immortal lineages' and those 'supreme sects' of the upper realm are about to start harvesting the lower realm again. I hope you can prepare in advance to avoid the devastation and becoming food for others."

The word "harvest" was like ancient ice, instantly freezing the minds of everyone present!
The once bustling training ground instantly became deathly silent.

The solemnity on Shi Huang's face turned into astonishment, and then into disbelief and shock.

Those from various sects, ancient families, and some renowned independent cultivators were struck dumb, completely stunned on the spot.

In the eight realms below, every long period of time, a terrifying event known as the "Great Calamity" occurs.

At that time, the laws of heaven and earth will change drastically, and chains of order will appear in the sky. All top cultivators who have reached the Venerable Realm will be inexplicably taken away by the chains of law, no matter where they are, and will disappear without a trace, as if they have been taken away by "Heaven".

For countless years, beings in the lower realms have been filled with fear and bewilderment about this.

They speculated that it was because the Venerable One had violated some taboo, that it was "ascension" after reaching the pinnacle of cultivation, or perhaps some irresistible cycle of the heavens...

But no one has ever so bluntly and cruelly linked it to "harvesting from the upper realm"!
"Harvest... what does that mean?"

Shi Huang looked at Zhu Chen and asked, he had a vague idea but was unwilling to believe it.

Zhu Chen's gaze was like lightning as he stared directly at the Stone Emperor and said, "So what you call the 'Great Calamity' is not a natural disaster, but a periodic 'resource collection' of the lower realm by those high and mighty lineages in the upper realm in order to preserve their own foundation!"

"To them, the Venerables who stand at the pinnacle in the lower realm are nothing more than 'great medicines' containing the Dao principles and the essence of life. The eight regions and their rivers and mountains are nothing more than 'medicine fields' that they cultivate. Every 'great calamity' is a bloody 'harvest'. The fate of all the Venerables who are taken away... is unimaginable."

--boom!

Zhu Chen's words completely shattered everyone's perception!
Fear, anger, despair, and unprecedented disbelief... all sorts of emotions intertwined on everyone's faces.

The upper realm, which they had always revered and longed for, and even regarded as the ultimate goal of cultivation, had its glorious and sacred image shattered completely by Zhu Chen's few words at this moment.

It turns out that they had been living in a cage kept by others all along. The Venerable Realm that they pursued as if it were a god was, in the eyes of others, just medicinal herbs waiting to be harvested!
The Stone Emperor swayed, his face turning deathly pale.

He stared intently at Zhu Chen and asked, "You... are you telling the truth? What evidence do you have?"

"Credentials?"

Zhu Chen smiled faintly, not answering directly, but instead glancing at the still-glowing divine array around him: "Your Majesty the Stone Emperor, do you think this array can trap me?"

Before he finished speaking, and without making any visible movement, he simply raised his right hand and gently pressed it against the divine array that was formed from the vast national fortune and imperial dragon energy, and whose power was enough to trap and kill a Divine Fire Realm expert.

"——Crack!"

A soft cracking sound followed.

The enormous golden magic array that enveloped the heavens and the earth was instantly covered with countless cracks, just like glass being struck by a giant hammer!

Then, to the utter horror of the Stone Emperor, it shattered with a deafening roar, turning into countless specks of light that eventually dissipated into the air.

Everyone was stunned.

With a mere gesture, one can shatter the foundation of a nation's grand formation; what terrifying cultivation level is that?
...(End of chapter)