Those who reincarnate must die.

Zhang Lang's mind raced, and he looked at Ning Zhong before him, continuing without changing his expression, "I learned from a member of the Chen clan that the Divine Wrath Iron Jaw found an infinite crystal of metal attribute many years ago, but failed to absorb it..."

Have you heard about this?

Ning Zhong thought for a moment: "I have indeed heard about this, but not from the Chen Clan."

"Zeus once said that the last time a metallic crystal appeared in the world was twenty-eight years ago... It was in a world of the Shen people. Legend has it that an infinite metallic crystal would grant immortality. However, a metallic crystal without any other matching attributes is at most just a piece of rotten flesh that can't die. It wouldn't be difficult to subdue the host and extract the crystal."

"In order to seize the crystal, the Wrathful Ironjaw projected itself into that world. To stop it, Zeus led all the experts of the Shen Clan to intercept it. At that time, the Wrathful Ironjaw's projection technology was not yet perfect, and the projection's strength was not strong. The Shen Clan invested a huge amount of power and managed to barely hold it off. However, at the last moment, the Chen Clan decided to fight to the death and destroy that world directly."

"At the critical moment, the host of the metallic crystal stepped forward and took the power to destroy the world, but he himself was also reduced to ashes, and the whereabouts of the metallic crystal are unknown."

Twenty-eight years ago… Zhang Lang’s pupils trembled slightly. He was twenty-seven years old this year, and twenty-eight years ago was shortly before he was born!

"What's the name of the host of that metallic crystal?"

"Zeus mentioned his name..." Ning Zhong recalled for a few seconds, "I remember Zeus saying he was a slovenly Taoist priest, surnamed Lu, and his given name was... Zizhen? Or Ziyi..."

As Ning Zhong reminisced, Zhang Lang heard a faint sigh escape his lips.

Understanding immediately, Zhang Lang blurted out, "Is his name... Lu Zixu?"

Ning Zhong's eyes lit up, and he nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes, that's it, Lu Zixu, call him Lu Zixu!"

Although he had a premonition, the moment he actually heard the name, Zhang Lang still felt as if his heart had been struck by a sledgehammer.

"What happened to that world? The world that Lu Zixu sacrificed himself to protect?"

Zhang Lang asked this question on behalf of the sigh in his heart.

"Destroyed," Ning Zhong said. "For the Chen Clan, destroying a world is not difficult. If it doesn't work the first time, they can just try again..."

"Damn it!" Zhang Lang's face twitched, and the invisible pressure caused the displays in the hall to tremble and crack slightly. Ning Zhong was so frightened that he trembled all over, not knowing why.

"Next, one last question." Zhang Lang calmed himself and looked into Ning Zhong's eyes. "Since you hid it so well, why did you deceive Le Xinyi and trap me in the mission world?"

"This..." Ning Zhong hesitated for a moment, then Zhang Lang's oppressive aura surged over him, completely crushing his mental defenses, leaving him with no choice but to answer honestly.

"Because... you're going to have contact with Ao Yan Jin Tong..." Ning Zhong twitched repeatedly. "Not many people know my true identity, and Ao Yan Jin Tong is one of them... You seem to be very interested in him. I feel like you might be investigating me. Zeus gave you the opportunity to contact Ao Yan Jin Tong, and I'm terrified, but I'm powerless to stop it, so I can only... try to find a way to keep you out."

"So, what you said about the collapse of the Shen clan's control was also completely unfounded?"

"Regarding this, it's not exactly..." Ning Zhong's body went limp. "Although it hasn't collapsed yet, it's definitely on the verge of collapse... I mean, it's not just idle talk..."

"Your appearance has aroused the suspicion of many alien races. Zeus previously predicted that the Shen race's control over the population is very likely to collapse within three months..."

"Three months..." Zhang Lang pondered for a moment.

Ning Zhong glanced at Zhang Lang and added, "However, I suspect that after contacting you, the Divine Wrath Iron Jaw might accelerate this process..."

accelerate……

Zhang Lang sighed in disappointment, said no more, and with a wave of his hand, Ning Zhong's thin body suddenly exploded into a cloud of blood mist.

By this point, all the enemies he remembered had been killed, but his mood did not lighten; instead, it became even heavier.

"Xu..." Zhang Lang called out to his old friend in his heart, "Or should I call you Lu Zixu?"

"Hehehe..." Xu's voice was somewhat tired, but also somewhat open-minded: "You finally found out."

"So, you really were the previous owner of the metallic crystal?" Zhang Lang frowned slightly. "Then what are you now? Have you merged with the crystal?"

"I don't even know what I am now." Xu sighed. "I'm not Lu Zixu, nor am I a crystal of metal... If I had to say, I'm a remnant of Lu Zixu's soul, a fusion of the Infinite Crystal..."

"The metal element, which breaks through the limits, can not only heal physical wounds but also heal the soul and spirit. It can achieve true immortality from the soul to the body."

"However, the Ironjaw of God's Wrath has mastered the method of stripping away the crystals. Once the crystals are stripped away, the corresponding power is naturally lost, and the immortality collapses. But because Zeus interfered with everything back then, the crystals were not obtained by the Ironjaw of God's Wrath, but were left in the space-time rift."

"Perhaps it's because of the strong resilience of metal. Although Lu Zixu died, a wisp of his remnant soul was revived within the crystal and became me, the Xu you know."

"And then you found me?" Zhang Lang asked. "Why me?"

"What do you mean by 'why'?" Xu chuckled. "Back then, I had just recovered and was drifting aimlessly in the chaotic currents of time and space. I was accidentally drawn to your hometown and happened to land inside your mother's womb..."

"Is it all just a coincidence?"

"Not really..." Xu's tone held a hint of nostalgia: "I was drawn to your world because it was full of superhumans and brimming with life energy. I was drawn to you because of Anning Town."

"The town where Lu Zixu lived back then is very similar to Anning Town. It was quiet, peaceful, and picturesque... I was probably influenced by Lu Zixu's memories and was instinctively drawn there."

"And then?" Zhang Lang continued to press, "You lurked inside me for over twenty years without ever showing yourself."

"Why would I show my face?" Xu laughed. "Although your life is tough, it's full of hope and something to strive for. I can sense that you enjoy that kind of life. With the metallic crystals, you're not in any danger, and your lifespan is endless. You don't need me to interfere with that kind of life."

"Of course, during the more than twenty years I lay dormant within you, I wasn't idle either. I used the energy of the crystals to secretly communicate with the altar... The Infinite Crystals are the supreme power within the altar, and your world has a considerable number of reincarnators. I easily found a loophole and began to steal the altar's authority."

"I don't know why I did it. Maybe it's because I still feel resentful, or maybe it's because I lack a sense of security after my hometown was destroyed. Instinctively, I wanted to gain more power..."

"Until that day, when the world was also tainted and destroyed by those guys, the hatred that had been buried deep in my heart was reignited. Coincidentally, at that time, I also obtained enough altar permissions..."

…………