Full health is the kill threshold, no matter if you're a god or a demon!

Hector's voice was filled with excitement, but also deep worry: "This means you theoretically possess the potential to become the ruler of the sixth major faction! But it also means you will become a thorn in the side of all vested interests and all those who fear change! Before you truly grow up, you will face ten times, a hundred times, more dangerous open and covert attacks than in the previous secret realms!"

The sheer volume of information overwhelmed Liu Nian.

Five masters?

The potential of the sixth faction?

What follows is an unprecedented opportunity, and a potentially fatal crisis!

He took a deep breath, suppressing his turbulent emotions, but his eyes grew even sharper.

The One Who Surpasses?

Is this what you call a cheater?

Okay, since I've been recognized as a "superior," then I'll surpass them and show them!

He suddenly remembered something and took out the [Unstable Psionic Core] from his storage space, which was still emitting an unstable, eerie blue light.

"Your Majesty Hector, you are a man of great knowledge. Could you please take a look at this? This is a perpetual-level energy core that I obtained, but it is not very stable."

Hector's attention was drawn to it.

He carefully "sensed" the psionic core, and after a long while said, "It is indeed different from the 'Heart of Terra.' The 'Heart of Terra' is more inclined towards stable, substantial energy that resonates with the earth, making it suitable for powering fortress cities like Ascalon that rely on anti-magic rocks and physical defenses. This 'psionic core,' on the other hand, has a more... 'active' and 'profound' energy nature, with a strong tendency towards spatial and mental attributes, making it more suitable for powering floating cities, large teleportation networks, or certain psionic energy arrays."

He pondered for a moment, then said, "Repairing it, stabilizing it, and getting it to its full potential requires extremely advanced energy manipulation techniques and specific rare materials. Our 'Star Energy Allocation Center' and 'Rune Reforging Forge' might be able to do it. But right now..." He shook his head helplessly, "Those advanced workshops are located in the deeper core area of ​​the city, currently occupied by powerful seals and... at least level 200 or higher Abyssal Aberrations or out-of-control Ancient War Constructs. With our current strength, we cannot reach them."

Just then, a flash of silver light appeared on Liu Nian's shoulder, and Arachne transformed into a goddess, gracefully hovering beside him.

She nodded slightly to Hector, her demeanor composed, exuding the transcendence characteristic of an eternal being.

Hector was taken aback at first, then sensed from Arachne a unique aura that was different from that of ordinary strongmen, a blend of vast arcane knowledge and faint divinity.

"And who is this?" Hector asked, his tone carrying a hint of respect.

Any being that possesses this aura, regardless of its form, is by no means ordinary.

"Arachne, my partner, the former master of the floating city of Anaxim," Liu Nian introduced.

Arachne also glanced at Hector's soul briefly, his cold voice ringing out: "An ancient king's soul, guardian bearing the embers of civilization... I salute you. Regarding the stabilization and repair of the psionic core, I possess some ancient arcane techniques of energy solidification and rune weaving, which might offer some insights. However, as you said, it requires specific high-purity energy conduits and spatial stabilization anchors, materials that are probably not easily obtained."

Two beings, spanning tens of thousands of years and both having stood at the pinnacle of a certain civilization, began a brief exchange about energy cores, ancient technologies, and even some historical fragments.

Hector discovered Arachne much later than the height of Ascalon, where he lived. Many technological paths had diverged and evolved, but some fundamental principles were still mutually applicable.

Watching the two talking, Liu Nian's vision of the future became clearer.

The road ahead is fraught with danger and surrounded by powerful enemies, but the resources, partners, and his identity as a "transcendent" are the strongest levers to influence the future.

The ruins of Ascalon, the remains of the floating city, the psionic core in hand, the eternal-class companions... and the five factions hidden in the shadows of history and the mists of the future.

"The five factions have been running rampant for so long... Hmm, looks like I should probably increase your strength."

Hector and Arachne are having an in-depth conversation.

Liu Nian stood aside, listening to those obscure and difficult-to-understand terms—such as "the underlying logic of the rune resistance matrix of the anti-magic rock," "the entropy reduction stability paradox of the seventh generation energy core of Ascalon," and "an alternative soul loop scheme to maintain the basic intelligence of the construct in an absolute anti-magic environment"... He recognized each word, but when put together, it was like a book written in heaven.

He was not impatient with this at all; on the contrary, he was happy to see it happen.

The knowledge Arachne possesses, and the ultimate understanding of the technology of their own civilization by Hector, the last emperor of Ascalon, can be mutually verified and complemented. This would have immeasurable value for the future repair of the floating city and for Arachne to understand higher levels of power rules.

However, he has more pressing matters to attend to right now.

After their discussion on "how to reverse-engineer more efficient physical energy conversion runes using a magic-free environment" came to an end, Liu Nian spoke up at the opportune moment: "Your Majesty Hector."

Both parties in the conversation looked at Liu Nian at the same time.

Liu Nian asked directly, "I'm preparing to clear out the monsters entrenched in these ruins to pave the way for possible city-building. With my current strength, how difficult is it to complete the initial phase of the cleanup?"

Hector's illusory body, formed from ghostly blue soulfire, swayed slightly, as if emitting a silent chuckle, as he gazed at Liu Nian:

"Young warrior, the torrent of power surging within you is fiery and boundless. Even though I am now reduced to a flickering ember in the wind, I can still clearly sense its terrifying potential. For you personally, cleaning up these corrupted creations, distorted by the magic-suppressing environment and left with only primal physical destructive desires, is merely a matter of course."

He abruptly changed the subject, his soul fire flickering as if surveying this vast and desolate territory: "The only problem might be the sheer number of monsters, and without the ability to use skills, clearing them out won't be very efficient. However, given your strength, you should be able to clear the initial area of ​​monsters in half a day."

Liu Nian nodded, and the last trace of uncertainty in his heart dissipated.

He needed a place like this where he could safely grind his stats.

As his level climbed to 98, ordinary leveling areas could no longer meet his needs for "grinding attributes".

As for players, whether they are goblins, ratmen, or pigmen, according to the rules, only enemies whose level is at least 3 levels lower than their own (i.e., at least level 95) can provide benefits for growth skills such as [Heart Steel] and [Soul Drain].

Enemy players level 95 and above are mostly located deep within the enemy camp, making them virtually impossible to catch.

More importantly, his "ultimate weapon" for rapidly accumulating attributes—[The Netherworld]—has, after being used multiple times, inevitably spread its terrifying "kidnapping" and "domestication" characteristics among the high-ranking members of the chaotic faction, such as the Pigmen.

The enemy isn't stupid. It's no longer so easy to drag a large number of high-quality enemies into the underworld and slowly "harvest" them as easily as before.

Therefore, the ruins of Ascalon in front of us are a good alternative.