How I missed this place.

Lu Yuan inhaled the familiar air, yet it felt both known and strangely unfamiliar. Indeed, what changes might five centuries have wrought? Lu Yuan summoned his sword-step, piercing through the super-currents, heading first for the Civilization of the Sword. I must see how the Civilization of the Sword fares now. As Lu Yuan flew, he felt a distinct ripple ahead.

This ripple wasn't overwhelmingly strong; it seemed two parties were engaged in combat.

One party consisted of a single individual.

The other party was a group.

The single combatant possessed strength approaching that of a Deputy Lord of a Civilization, though likely still residing within the Heaven Ranking tier, comparable to the former Heaven Ranking number one, Gu Shi.

The lone figure on the opposing side seemed to possess the strength of a Deputy Lord of a Civilization from a full Epoch, while the others in that group were all at the Heaven Ranking level.

The two parties were locked in fierce conflict, yet the group seemed to be treating their solitary opponent as if playing with a mouse—a mere game of cat and mouse.

Lu Yuan dimly sensed a familiarity in that lone figure's magical aura, so he shifted his sword-step and moved toward the disturbance.

There, a fierce engagement was indeed underway.

On the side of the single fighter was a girl, snow-white and barefoot, resembling an ethereal sprite. From her sleeves, white rhombic ribbons occasionally lashed out, transforming into White Rhombus Swords to strike her enemies. Her swordsmanship was bizarre and unpredictable, impossible to gauge, imbued with a faint, chilling killing aura—quite formidable. This was Wanwan, five centuries later; the current Wanwan had reached an astonishing level of power, no weaker than the ancient Heaven Ranking number one, Gu Shi.

In the current world, the Heaven Ranking had long been re-established.

The Heaven Ranking was famed for boasting three supreme powers.

These were Wanwan, Shi Feixian, and Prince Huang Qing from the Desolate Ancient Dynasty.

The first two hailed from the Civilization of the Sword.

As for the latter, Prince Huang Qing of the Desolate Ancient Dynasty, he was rumored to be born from an immensely powerful figure within that Dynasty, possessing an unbelievably profound background—said to be the son of the Lord of the Desolate Dao Civilization. The Lord of the Desolate Dao Civilization was already a major figure in the cosmos, capable of ranking within the top twenty. After the Lord of the Desolate Ancient Civilization ascended to become the Desolate Ancient Eternal Lord, his status grew even more exalted; his influence and authority now ranked among the top five in the heavens and earth.

Prince Huang Qing, being the beloved youngest son of the Lord of the Desolate Dao Civilization, was naturally exceptional.

Prince Huang Qing’s rate of advancement had always been ridiculously fast. His inherent talent was merely average, but fate had granted him infinite resources; spirit stones were constantly funneled his way. He had received vastly more resources than even the Son of Desolation, or Lu Yuan himself, in their heyday. When it came to breaching the so-called first heavenly barrier—the rank of Deputy Lord of a Civilization—Prince Huang Qing blasted through it with incredible speed, a pace that even the Son of Desolation, Wang Chen, could only dream of achieving.

In truth, the Son of Desolation was far stronger than this Prince Huang Qing, but their statuses were simply worlds apart.

Prince Huang Qing was now a Deputy Lord of a Civilization in the first Epoch.

This Prince Huang Qing was exceptionally handsome, with pale skin and a sharp jawline, though carrying a hint of demonic charm and arrogance: “Wanwan, you should just yield to me, Young Master. Among the Heaven Ranking’s top three, I have already advanced to Deputy Lord of a Civilization. From now on, rising out of the cycle of Epochal birth and death, I will be this sky, I will be this earth—no, I am greater and more powerful than heaven and earth combined. Wanwan and Shi Feixian, you two called the Twin Phoenixes of the Heaven Ranking, will inevitably become my concubines sooner or later, ha ha ha!”

Prince Huang Qing flicked his folding fan, pointing it at Wanwan: “You are merely a person from the shattered Civilization of the Sword. Now, everyone from the Civilization of the Sword is being hunted down by my Desolate Ancient Dynasty. If you submit to me, you won't have to endure the pursuit; instead, you will become a peerlessly noble aristocrat of the supreme Desolate Ancient Dynasty, adored and submitted to by all heavens.”

“Of course, even if you refuse, it’s useless. I will capture you today; there is no one, in heaven or earth, who can save you,” Prince Huang Qing declared with supreme satisfaction.

After Prince Huang Qing finished speaking, his retinue chimed in, shouting: “That’s right, submitting to Prince Huang Qing is the only path! Prince Huang Qing isn’t just some worldly genius. Even the former foremost sons of destiny, Lu Yuan and the Son of Desolation, pale in comparison to the current Prince Huang Qing.”

“Hmph, do they even deserve to be compared to Prince Huang Qing?” another sneered. “The Son of Desolation was merely Lu Yuan’s defeated subordinate, not even matching Lu Yuan.”

“And Lu Yuan himself is nothing special now. Seeing the divine might of the Desolate Ancient Eternal Lord, he has long since vanished, not daring to show his face, like a mole underground. How could such a person possibly compare to Prince Huang Qing?” One by one, they flattered the Prince Huang Qing with extremely sickening devotion.

Prince Huang Qing fanned himself, looking somewhat pleased.

Five hundred years ago, the two strongest prodigies were the Son of Desolation and Lu Yuan.

But now, it seemed they amounted to nothing, both inferior to him.

His future was destined to surpass both of them.

Prince Huang Qing held this self-assurance.

Prince Huang Qing snapped his fan shut: “Wanwan, I will capture you first, and then I will seize Shi Feixian. Neither of you will escape. Mere remnants of the Civilization of the Sword.” With a spin of his long fan, Prince Huang Qing struck directly at Wanwan. Wanwan was inwardly groaning. She could clearly see the flaws in Prince Huang Qing’s moves and knew he was a resource-fueled fighter with little actual combat experience. If the magical power gap hadn't been so enormous, she could have easily killed him. But the disparity between the Heaven Ranking and a Deputy Lord of a Civilization was simply too vast, unbelievably so. Thus, she remained no match for Prince Huang Qing; her strongest attacks only managed to scratch his skin.

After fleeing for so many years, was she destined to fall here?

Wanwan, always clever and spirited, possessed many methods for evasion, having devised nineteen contingency escape plans.

However, throughout this long pursuit, Prince Huang Qing had forced her to exhaust eighteen of those plans, leaving only the last one. The main troubles were twofold: Prince Huang Qing’s immense strength, and the fact that the current Central Heavenly Dynasty was riddled with spies from the Desolate Ancient Kingdom, making escape agonizingly difficult.

No choice remained but to activate the nineteenth escape strategy, then contemplate where to flee next. Next step: escape.

Wanwan’s eyes darted, just as she was about to activate her escape maneuver.

Prince Huang Qing’s tone grew increasingly arrogant: “Wanwan, never mind you. Even the Lord of the Civilization of the Sword from your time would fall under my hands,” he dismissed scornfully.

“Is that so? Are the younger generation so accomplished these days that they dare suggest making me fall?” A clear, bright voice rang out.

“Who?” Prince Huang Qing coldly demanded. He knew no fear; from childhood, no one had dared to make him afraid.

A young man, appearing to be nearly thirty, holding a bottle of wine, walked into the void. This young man had some stubble on his chin, lending him an air of weathered experience. He casually stood in the empty space: “Oh, my apologies. It was me.”

“And who are you?” Prince Huang Qing scoffed. “Daring to interrupt my business—you must be tired of living. Retreat immediately, or I will annihilate your entire civilization.” Prince Huang Qing obviously lacked such personal power, but as a supreme noble of the Desolate Ancient Dynasty, he could certainly wield his authority to erase a civilization.

“Oh, my name is Lu Yuan, Lord of the Civilization of the Sword,” the slightly bearded man, nearly thirty years old, said after taking a swig of wine. It had been five hundred years since he last drank; the feeling of drinking again was wonderful.

“You are Lu Yuan!” Prince Huang Qing was momentarily stunned.

“Yes, I am Lu Yuan.” Lu Yuan took another sip.

Wanwan was simultaneously shocked and overjoyed, bowing gracefully: “Greetings, Lord of the Civilization.” Five hundred years had passed since she last saw Lu Yuan, without even a whisper of news. Now, she had finally heard from him; these five centuries had been unbearable. Prince Huang Qing’s lackeys all scrambled backward several paces. Lu Yuan.

They had just mocked Lu Yuan as inferior to Prince Huang Qing, but that had only been flattery for the Prince. Anyone with common sense knew Lu Yuan must be stronger than Prince Huang Qing.

Lu Yuan wasn't built up by the gifting of resources; he was forged in battle.

Although Lu Yuan had vanished, before his disappearance, he had slain major figures from fourteen Epochs.

Prince Huang Qing was still far too immature to compare with Lu Yuan.

The name Lu Yuan carried immense, glorious renown across countless worlds.

Moreover, a very old prophecy was now circulating.

“The Desolate will gradually yield to the Lu.” (Huang Jian Yu Lu)

This prophecy, allegedly originating from the Civilization of Artifacts, foretold that the Desolate Ancient would eventually be destroyed by Lu Yuan’s hand.

Of course, most people didn't believe it now. After all, the Desolate Ancient Eternal Lord was a being who had surpassed countless Epochs and countless masters. The Lord's power was unfathomably deep, far exceeding that of anyone from the nineteenth Epoch. The Desolate Ancient Eternal Lord could crush anyone with ease; Lu Yuan could not possibly be his opponent.

However, the underground resistance movements fighting the Desolate Ancient Dynasty frequently used this prophecy to comfort themselves.

Huang Jian Yu Lu, Huang Jian Yu Lu.

As long as Lu Yuan had not been truly defeated by the Desolate Ancient Eternal Lord, as long as Lu Yuan lived, they still held hope.

Though that hope was infinitesimally small.

Shifting back to the immediate scene, Lu Yuan stood suspended in the void, carrying his sword.

Prince Huang Qing looked at Lu Yuan, first with disbelief, then burst into booming laughter: “So you are Lu Yuan! I’ve heard you were quite formidable, but nearly everyone says I have already surpassed you. Excellent. I shall capture you today. You are ranked second on the current Most Wanted List.”

The Desolate Ancient Dynasty maintained a list of wanted individuals.

On this list, the first name was the Ancestral Dragon.

The second was Lu Yuan.

Only then came the Lord of the Fagu Civilization.

Fourth was the Lord of the Wugu Civilization.

Fifth was the Lord of the Fenggu Civilization.

Sixth, the Lord of the Divine Dragon Civilization.

...

Tenth was Yan Cangtian.

Every single person in the top ten of this wanted list was a figure of legendary fame, possessing world-shattering divine abilities.

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