Renewal spoke in a loud tone, his gaze filled with nostalgia as he looked up.
"Do you mean the Golden Era has truly begun? Ah… that wasn't in my calculations."
Renewal muttered thoughtfully, holding his chin.
Ah… the Dragon Warrior isn't a simple matter, he said quietly.
"The Dragon Warrior… the one who will inherit the Yang Yong Sphere… the one who will bring the Princess of the Fate Realm back to life."
Huan Xin smiled naturally.
"I didn't expect you to awaken so soon, my friend, Renewal. But we can talk later—I'm here to speak with Yao Ming about the Dragon Warrior."
Renewal gave him a strange look.
"This is the first time we've met. You should feel honored—a legend like me is speaking to you."
He turned around and spoke again.
"Yeah, keep talking. I'll do my own thing."
His expression became stiff as he walked away.
"Dragon Warrior, huh… so you're here."
Huan Xin sighed and summoned two chairs and a table. He sat down and looked up.
"What are you doing here with Renewal?!"
Yao Ming lowered his head in shame before slowly lifting it.
"Master… I thought if I negotiated with Renewal, my chances of surviving would be higher."
"You fool! That could ruin our entire plan!"
"Oh… I thought Renewal would help us enslave Sun Tzu."
Yao Ming already knew Sun Tzu was being preserved and was crucial to their selfish plan.
The Region Continent and Empire Continent had planned for Renewal and Sun Tzu to awaken so they could take over the Immortal Continent. But after Yao Ming killed the Supreme Elder, the plan of enslaving them collapsed, and Renewal regained part of his power.
Their plan had failed… but they still had Sun Tzu.
Yet even he was difficult to control.
Sun Tzu only desired peace and a good life, while Renewal sought destruction. Despite that, the two were friends.
"We tried to enslave them, but failed—because of you and your Fate Building."
Huan Xin sighed.
"This again… such a tiring topic."
"But it's fine. Renewal could still help us."
"We can't trust him—we don't even know his goal."
Yao Ming smiled.
"Renewal and I have become friends. I already know his goal."
"What goal?" Huan Xin asked.
"To become a Peak Artist… an Apex Rank."
Huan Xin sighed, shaking his head.
"I already know. To become a Peak Artist, he has to kill at least one million Peak Artists… isn't that right?"
Yao Ming nodded.
"For that to happen, Renewal must reform his power."
"Soul Span Blood…"
Huan Xin's expression twisted.
"If he kills every Supreme Elder, the world will fall into chaos. But if he awakens them all, he would become unstoppable… and that would trigger a World Tribulation that could kill us all."
"What?!"
Yao Ming was shocked, but Huan Xin didn't dwell on it.
"I'll be going."
He leaned in and whispered:
"When the time comes to kill Renewal… do it. The Immortal Continent is preparing for war."
Huan Xin turned into a shadow, moving across the ground in a zigzag motion—
—and disappeared.
Yao Ming stood silently, thinking.
If Renewal truly becomes the ruler of this world… we won't survive the World Tribulation.
And Sun Tzu… he would stand against us in the battle for the Immortal Continent.
Originally, both Sun Tzu and Renewal were meant to destroy the Immortal Continent.
He looked back.
This world is too dangerous…
Memories of the fall of the Sovereignty Apex Clan resurfaced—blood flooding the ground, a fierce battle, and a figure with white raven-like hair and a glowing gem on his forehead. His face was beautiful, yet cold like a deity.
Yao Ming shook his head.
"Father…"
Huan Xin reappeared in the Immortal Continent and entered a cave, sealing the entrance with a massive shadow door.
Inside, sharp stone formations hung from the ceiling like blades, glowing faintly in the darkness. The ground was covered in black soil.
He walked deeper into a tunnel.
Suddenly, he entered a vast hall. The walls and ceiling shimmered like space itself, dotted with stars.
At the center was a massive circle.
Huan Xin summoned the Ice Mountain. It grew to its full size and crashed onto the ground, shaking the entire hall.
He smiled.
"My ancestor preserved his body in this place."
Suddenly, the surrounding space released torrents of dark energy into the ice.
Sun Tzu, who had appeared lifeless, had sickly green skin—but as the energy covered him, his body slowly returned to normal.
Frost spread deeper around the Ice Mountain, encasing him.
"My ancestor used both space energy and the power of the Ice Mountain. This place serves as his core."
The ground beneath them trembled. Holes opened, and Soul Cores rose into the air, pouring their energy into the Ice Mountain.
Huan Xin sighed.
"To awaken Sun Tzu, my ancestor sacrificed his life and Soul Core energy for three million years… just so Sun Tzu could live for two thousand years without his body decaying."
He spoke solemnly.
Three hours passed.
Nothing happened.
Huan Xin looked down in disappointment.
"Sun Tzu… still hasn't awakened."
"It seems like—"
Crack.
The Ice Mountain suddenly split.
Huan Xin's eyes widened as he rushed forward, grabbing the surface.
More cracks spread.
"Shit! If the Ice Mountain breaks, Sun Tzu will die!"
The cracks grew rapidly.
Fear filled Huan Xin.
Three million years of effort… could be wasted.
The entire mountain began to fracture.
"NO—!"
BOOM.
The Ice Mountain shattered.
Huan Xin was struck by falling shards but pushed them aside quickly.
"Crap… if he died, then this would be—"
He froze.
A figure floated in the air.
A powerful aura radiated from his body.
The man had a bald, shining head, sharp and beautiful eyes, and wore a long yellow robe with silver lining. A purple sash wrapped around his waist, and sandals rested on his feet.
As he opened his eyes—
—a terrifying aura exploded outward.
Huan Xin's mouth went dry.
The figure stepped down.
Huan Xin tried to move—
—but couldn't.
I'm a Supreme Elder, a Fourth-Rank Peak Artist… and I can't even move…
Because Sun Tzu is too powerful!
"Sun Tzu!"
Sun Tzu paused.
Then, after three million years of silence…
He finally spoke.
"Mortal Ruler… where are you?"
His voice was calm, wise, yet filled with deep emotion. His eyes carried the weight of history.
He stood tall—around six foot four, nearly six foot five.
He looked up into the sky.
Tears streamed down his face.
"Mortal Ruler…"