The Deputy Head of the Seventh Epoch, Fengshang, was not here to attend the Seventeenth Layer Project; in fact, he was entirely unqualified for this Epoch's undertaking. Those from the Seventh Epoch simply lacked the necessary power level. The Deputy Head of the Fengshang Civilization was present for an entirely different, crucial matter: to oversee the Intelligence System.

Within the entire organizational structure, the Operations Room held the highest rank, and the Intelligence System operated under its jurisdiction.

Lu Yuan inwardly mused that this Seventeenth Layer Project was certainly operating at an unusually high caliber.

As it happened, these two seniors were also heading to the Fagu Civilization, so Lu Yuan traveled with them. During the journey, Lu Yuan took the opportunity to ask them several questions, benefiting greatly from their guidance. Lu Yuan was already growing at a blistering pace, his trajectory of advancement showing no signs of halting.

Finally arriving in the Fagu World, Lu Yuan did not immediately report to the Operations Room. First, he sought out Yun Xiuxue before making his way toward the Operations Room.

The Operations Room was established in the very heart of the Fagu World.

Entering the Operations Room was no easy feat. Before Lu Yuan even approached the entrance, he was screened once. Merely presenting his identification was insufficient; he also had to display his Mana Seal and Index—a measure against impersonation—and even undergo blood checks before passing the initial barrier. Lu Yuan assumed that was the end of it.

He was immediately proven wrong, as a second round of inspections instantly appeared.

Then a third.

A fourth.

...

A twentieth inspection. Yes, there were twenty layers of checks in total. This demonstrated just how paramount the Operations Room was. However, considering this was the supreme Operations Room of the Fa-Wu Alliance, such rigorous security was to be expected. After clearing the twentieth line of defense, Lu Yuan beheld a structure of absolute, profound blackness. It was unadorned, simple, yet it exuded an overwhelming sense of impregnable solidity, with various magical formations faintly visible on its surface, seemingly poised to activate.

Lu Yuan stepped inside the Operations Room. Inside, he saw countless, truly countless masters! He rarely employed such repetition, but the sheer density of powerful figures present was staggering.

For instance, there was one he recognized: the Deputy Head of the Qin Civilization, possessing Eighth Epoch mana.

Beside him stood the Deputy Head of the Feng Civilization, who had reported slightly earlier than Lu Yuan, also wielding Eighth Epoch mana.

Then there was a figure whose mana surged, overwhelming and ready to shatter the heavens. His entire body was a tapestry of defined muscle—perhaps tens of thousands of individual muscle groups. This one likely possessed mana nearing the Ninth Epoch: the Deputy Head of the Fu Civilization. The Fu Civilization’s Deputy Head carried an utterly unique aura of annihilation about him.

And then there was the one with white hair and the bearing of a white crane, possessing the air of an immortal sage, faintly smelling of medicinal herbs—the Deputy Head of the Yao Civilization, whom Lu Yuan had met once before.

Standing there was a stunningly graceful and elegant noblewoman, the Deputy Head of the Tianmu Civilization. This one was no mere Ninth Epoch powerhouse; precisely speaking, the Tianmu Deputy Head commanded nine and a half Epochs of mana, putting her slightly above standard Ninth Epoch experts, just a hair's breadth away from the Civilization Lord realm. This explained why she held the designation of a Special Civilization Deputy Head.

Over there stood a middle-aged man dressed entirely in white, his expression solemn and sanctified—the Deputy Head of the Shengguang Civilization. His entire being seemed enveloped in white light. His mana was formidable, likely reaching the Ninth Epoch. The Shengguang Deputy Head was no ordinary figure; he often styled himself as 'God' and commanded numerous angels under him. While most of these angels possessed mediocre combat strength, he had the terrifying ability to create them infinitely.

To the east stood a woman holding an umbrella, amidst a spray that resembled rain and mist. This was another extraordinary figure: the Deputy Head of the San Civilization. Her weapon was the umbrella. Her features and true strength were obscured, but she certainly possessed Eighth or Ninth Epoch power. Lu Yuan suddenly realized her intrinsic attribute was Rain. Every individual possessed an attribute; Lu Yuan's was Cloud, and this woman's was Rain.

Beside this woman, who stood amidst the mist with a violet bamboo umbrella, was a middle-aged man in purple robes. He radiated inherent nobility, and Lu Yuan faintly detected a sound like a dragon's roar. This was the Deputy Head of the Long Civilization, another Ninth Epoch entity, whose cultivation manifested dragon-like phenomena across heaven and earth. Lu Yuan sensed that his core technique subtly resonated with his own Wuxiang Devouring Art. The Long Civilization was ancient, supposedly founded by the Ancestral Dragon. Though the Ancestral Dragon had been missing for ages and the Long Civilization had lost its former glory, the Long Civilization's Deputy Head still carried himself with a sense of superior nobility.

To the west stood an elder whose robes were completely covered in intricate patterns. The content of these designs was impossible to discern clearly; some resembled moons, some suns, and others were complex, undecipherable motifs. These patterns faintly coalesced into one massive design that seemed utterly meaningless yet simultaneously contained the universe. This was the Deputy Head of the Tu Civilization, the leader of its faction. When facing enemies, the Tu Civilization employed all manner of divine charts, each with its own bizarre and unpredictable function.

This Tu Civilization Deputy Head was profoundly mysterious; judging by his mana, he was surely Eighth or Ninth Epoch.

Further away stood an unbearably cold and beautiful man with silver hair, a long saber hanging at his hip—the Deputy Head of the Bing Civilization. The Bing Deputy Head was a legendary figure, a transcendent genius born in the previous Epoch, now a Ninth Epoch master, and considered among the Deputy Heads the most likely to challenge the realm of the Civilization Lord.

In the southern shadows, one could vaguely perceive a regal figure seated as if on a throne—an emperor of the dark night, wearing an ornate, supremely noble crown. This was the Night Emperor, leader of the Ye Civilization. He commanded Ninth Epoch mana and specialized in the Way of Assassination. He was the night; wherever he appeared, darkness reigned, allowing only the noble silhouette in the gloom to be perceived.

There was one more: a little girl with golden hair, dressed in pristine white court robes, with her lower legs bare save for white stockings, and her hair tied in two golden pigtails, bearing a distinct air of arrogance. All manner of birds flitted around her, though she seemed quite vexed by them.

Lu Yuan couldn't help but quietly inquire of the Feng Civilization Deputy Head beside him, "Who is that?"

The Feng Deputy Head replied, "That is Tianyuji, the Deputy Head of the Niao Civilization. She is also a Ninth Epoch figure."

Good heavens, Lu Yuan thought. In this era, the Civilization Lord Chang'e reincarnated as a silver-haired little girl, and now the Ninth Epoch master, the Niao Deputy Head Tianyuji, was a girl with golden pigtails. Were powerful women in this age simply fond of appearing as young girls? Lu Yuan pondered internally.

Simultaneously, Lu Yuan was utterly shaken. The Seventeenth Layer Project this time was indisputably—unconventionally—high-level.

Look at who had assembled here: the Deputy Heads of Fu, Qin, Yao, Feng, Tianmu, Shengguang, San, Long, Tu, Bing, the Night Emperor, and Tianyuji. All were Eighth or Ninth Epoch masters, essentially the leaders of their respective civilizations. It made perfect sense why the Seventh Epoch Fengshang Deputy Head was unqualified to attend; he truly lacked the standing. Lu Yuan realized his own presence must have been the result of a special exception. Perhaps Elder Li Taishi had seen his immense potential and granted the special entry, otherwise, he could never have made it.

As Lu Yuan scrutinized these dozen or so individuals, they were just as closely observing him.

The Bing Deputy Head let out a cold sound. "This is Lu Yuan? The specially recruited one? His strength is somewhat lacking. I hope your special recruitment does not lead to embarrassment." This was characteristic of the Bing Deputy Head’s personality; he was a stunningly cold figure with utterly icy silver hair.

The Fu Deputy Head looked at Lu Yuan. "Too thin. How can a man be without muscle? Muscle is the romance of manhood. You must train those muscles well in the future."

The Tu Deputy Head remarked, "Too young. To enter the highest Operations Room at this age." He let out a cold snort, clearly displeased.

The Qin Deputy Head stood impassively. The Yao, Feng, and Tianmu Deputy Heads, however, showed goodwill. The Tianmu Deputy Head looked at Lu Yuan. "I had intended to make you the Epoch Stud, but your power increased too quickly. It seems there's no chance for that role now. A pity, a real pity." Lu Yuan wiped his brow; another mention of the 'Epoch Stud' role.

Tianyuji completely ignored Lu Yuan, the proud girl with twin golden pigtails focused entirely on tending to her birds, not sparing him a single glance.

Fayi Dizi offered a slight smile. "Lu Yuan has arrived. It seems another one is reporting in."

Another day passed, bringing two pieces of news. The first was the arrival of Li Taishi's rejection letter. Li Taishi had refused to join the highest Operations Room—though Lu Yuan was the author of that refusal, Fayi Dizi's hearing of it caused him a moment of genuine shock.

The second piece of news came from the Intelligence System: the Fire Civilization had betrayed them!

The Fire Civilization, much like the Fabao Civilization, had been relatively neutral, recently leaning slightly toward the Fa-Wu Alliance. Now, the Fire Civilization had defected, defecting to the Huangxianfo Civilization. This was decidedly bad news for the Fa-Wu Alliance, but as it had occurred, there was nothing to be done but accept it.

With that, nearly all those scheduled for the Seventeenth Layer Project had arrived.

(First chapter delivered. This scene should represent a major gathering within the Civilization Realm, filled with experts and talents! Absolutely brilliant.)