Chinese animation: Starting with Bad Guys

"How could it not work? When Lao Pan demonstrated it to me, it was clearly like this..."

Lena was both anxious and confused.

Just then, a majestic projection appeared above the Yuan Cauldron; it was none other than Pan Zhen, the Regent of the Lieyang Civilization!

"Your Majesty, the Heavenly Dao Project has officially commenced. The Yuan Cauldron has arrived at the core node of Earth."

Pan Zhen's projection spoke expressionlessly:

"This matter concerns the survival of our Blazing Sun civilization and cannot be lost. As the chief god of Blazing Sun, you should fulfill your duty, protect the Yuan Cauldron, and await further instructions."

Lena was stunned and hurriedly said, "Old Pan! You clearly told me before that the Heavenly Dao Project wouldn't be considered for launch for at least ten thousand years! Why suddenly..."

Ten thousand years is a very long time for a god like her, so although she knew this before, she was not too worried, always thinking that things would work themselves out.

Pan Zhen's projection remained indifferent: "Plans can't keep up with changes. Execute the order, Goddess Lena. Stay for one public month. At that time, I will personally lead the guard to meet you and carry out the next step."

Having said that, without giving Lena a chance to ask any further questions, the projection vanished instantly, and the communication was cut off.

Only Lena, pale-faced, and Rose and Su Xiaoli, with solemn expressions, remained on the spot.

"Lena, what exactly is going on?"

Rose asked in a deep voice, her gaze sharp.

Su Xiaoli looked at her with a puzzled expression.

Lena opened her mouth, but felt a bitter feeling that she couldn't explain.

She never expected that the Lieyang civilization would attack Earth so suddenly!

The most reasonable speculation at present is that Pan Zhen wants to take advantage of the fact that Qin Chuan is preoccupied with the supernova and has no time to spare, so he can forcibly take over the Earth!

She glanced nervously at Qin Chuan beside her, expecting to see an angry or cold look in his eyes.

"Don't panic, and don't rush to explain."

However, Qin Chuan's attitude was surprisingly gentle; he even patted Lena on the shoulder, speaking calmly:

"The most urgent thing is for you to return to Lieyang Star immediately and meet with Pan Zhen in person to find out what exactly happened. Fortunately, the new interstellar wormhole system recently developed by Earth has been initially completed and can be tested."

He looked at Lena with sincere eyes: "I will go with you. It's not that I don't trust you, but as a companion, I'll offer you support when you need it."

Upon hearing this, Su Xiaoli and Qiangwei immediately exclaimed, "We'll go too!"

Qin Chuan shook his head: "The Earth will not be peaceful in the near future. If you stay, you will be of greater use."

Rose and Su Xiaoli exchanged a glance. Although they were worried, they understood that what Qin Chuan said was true.

They looked at Lena and said solemnly, "Captain, we believe in you! Come back soon!"

Feeling the trust and support from her fellow Earthlings, Lena felt a surge of warmth and an even stronger resolve.

She nodded emphatically: "Yes! I will definitely get to the bottom of this!"

Carrying this heavy trust and responsibility, Lena, accompanied by Qin Chuan, embarked on her journey back to Lieyang Star through Earth's new wormhole system.

She needed to know what had happened between Pan Zhen and the Lieyang Civilization!

Chapter 34 The Truth

Through a brief jump using Earth's new wormhole system, Lena and Qin Chuan arrived at the half of Lieyang Star, a planet that was still scorching hot but also exuded a faint sense of unease.

They were greeted by Wu Zhao, the only female among the four guardians of the Blazing Sun, who was skilled in archery.

She was dressed in red armor, looking heroic and valiant, but a deep and unyielding solemnity lingered between her brows.

"Your Majesty the Supreme God."

Wu Zhao stepped forward and bowed respectfully to Lena, her tone distant yet formal.

Lena's heart sank.

Wu Zhao was her childhood playmate and closest best friend. In the past, she would affectionately call her "Sister Na" in private, but now she used such an official and cold title.

"Something really did happen..."

Lena's inner alarm bells were ringing, but on the surface she maintained the composure and majesty of the Sun's Light.

She suppressed her unease and introduced him casually, "Wu Zhao, no need for formalities. This is Qin Chuan, my friend."

Wu Zhao turned her gaze to Qin Chuan, her eyes flashing with extremely complex emotions: awe, fear, and a hint of undisguised hostility.

Of course she knew Qin Chuan. Not long ago, Xuan Tianji, who was one of the four Heavenly Protectors along with her, was killed by this Earth God with a single finger, his body and soul destroyed!

"I have met...I have met Mr. Qin Chuan."

Wu Zhao's voice was slightly hoarse, and her bowing movements appeared somewhat stiff.

Lena noticed her unease and patted her on the shoulder, trying to ease the tension: "Relax, Qin Chuan is actually very easy to get along with. Where is Pan Zhen now? I need to talk to him about something important."

Wu Zhao took a deep breath, stepped aside to make way, and pointed to the magnificent palace behind her, towering high and seemingly connected to the molten core of the planet Lieyang:

"Pan Shuai is in the Cloud Palace."

Lena nodded and, leading Qin Chuan, strode towards the palace that symbolized the highest power of the blazing sun.

The interior design of the Cloud Palace blends classical grandeur with technological austerity, with a massive flow of energy silently flowing between the carved beams and painted rafters.

At this moment, Pan Zhen sat at a table below the imperial steps, listening with his eyes closed to the ancient melodies played by the musicians below the stage. His fingers tapped lightly on the table to keep the rhythm, and he appeared quite relaxed.

Lena entered the main hall and, seeing this scene, couldn't help but sneer: "General Pan Zhen, you're really in high spirits."

Pan Zhen slowly opened his eyes, his gaze first falling on Lena, then sweeping over Qin Chuan beside her. His face showed no emotion, he simply said:

"His Majesty the Supreme God has returned. And with outsiders? It seems he's come back to interrogate this old minister?"

Lena retorted without backing down: "Qin Chuan is my friend, not an outsider! I'm not here to interrogate you. I just want to know why you started the Heavenly Dao Project without my permission? And why my Tiger Talisman can't shut down the Yuan Cauldron?"

Pan Zhen picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said in a calm tone, "The Heavenly Dao Plan concerns the survival of the Blazing Sun. Whether His Majesty agrees or not, it must be launched. Therefore, there is no need to seek consent, so we can skip it."

He put down his teacup and continued, "As for the Tiger Tally, the Yuan Ding is a pair of cauldrons, mother and child. The one placed on Earth is the child cauldron. The mother cauldron is in Lieyang. To close it, I need the other Tiger Tally in my possession. The one in His Majesty's possession alone is naturally ineffective."

His explanation sounded reasonable, but Lena keenly sensed that Pan Zhen's seemingly indifferent gaze was actually constantly and subtly fixed on Qin Chuan, filled with deep apprehension and scrutiny.

Lena was very dissatisfied with this perfunctory explanation and pressed, "I need to know the specific reason! Why now? What exactly happened?"

Pan Zhen finally stood up, straightened his robes, and looked at Lena: "For the specific reasons, Your Majesty, please come with me to the Heavenly Dao Tower. You will then understand and make the right choice."

Lena was startled.

That is the core energy control hub of the Lieyang Civilization, the key to maintaining the stability of the entire half of Lieyang Star, and its importance even surpasses that of the Heavenly Court in the Clouds!

Pan Zhen actually offered to take her there? And he didn't even ask Qin Chuan, this "outsider," to leave?

What exactly is he trying to do?

Lena's unease grew stronger.

Filled with doubt, Lena and Qin Chuan followed Pan Zhen, passing through layers of extremely tight guards, and entered the towering Heavenly Dao Tower, which constantly radiated immense energy.

However, once she entered the core area of ​​the tower, Lena was stunned!

The core energy pillar, which should have been operating stably and with its light flowing in an orderly manner, was now covered with spiderweb-like cracks!

Countless tiny sparks of energy burst forth from it, and the entire tower was filled with an extremely unstable, violent energy aura that seemed ready to collapse at any moment!

"What's going on?!"

Lena gasped in shock.

Looking at the core on the verge of collapse, Pan Zhen finally revealed an undisguised weariness and heaviness on his face:

"This is why I had to initiate the Heavenly Path Plan ahead of schedule."

He turned around and spoke in a low voice:

"Not long ago, a mysterious thief launched a surprise attack on the Heavenly Dao Tower. He was equipped with some kind of void engine that we cannot understand. All of Lieyang's defense systems and technological barriers were rendered useless in front of it! By the time the old minister noticed the anomaly and arrived, the core of the Heavenly Dao Tower had already suffered irreversible damage."

Pan Zhen's fingers trembled slightly as he pointed to the cracks: "The Heavenly Dao Tower is the key to maintaining the stability of the Lieyang Star's core. Once it completely collapses, the remaining half of Lieyang Star will be completely annihilated in a very short time. We have no time left."

His gaze fell on Qin Chuan again, with a hint of complexity: "Originally, this old minister was indeed wary of Mr. Qin Chuan's existence and dared not easily launch the Heavenly Dao Plan. But that scoundrel, for some unknown purpose, actually told this old minister before leaving that Mr. Qin Chuan was unable to attend to some matters due to certain unforeseen circumstances."

“And now,” Pan Zhen took a deep breath, a resolute glint in his eyes, “through the analysis of Mr. Qin Chuan’s current state by the Heavenly Dao Tower, this old minister has finally confirmed that the man before us is indeed not his true form. This may be the only hope for our Lieyang Civilization.”

Lena's expression changed constantly after hearing this.

She understood Pan Zhen's predicament, but she still couldn't accept the idea of ​​exchanging Earth's core energy for Lieyang's survival, as this would lead to Earth's destruction.

“I understand, but General Pan Zhen, please stop the Heavenly Dao Project immediately! We can work together to find a solution! Qin Chuan must have a way…”

Lena tried to persuade her.

Pan Zhen shook his head in disappointment, interrupting her: "Your Majesty, how long have you been on Earth? Have you already forgotten the ancestral precept of 'peace and prosperity for the nation' of Lieyang? For the survival of Lieyang, some sacrifices are necessary!"

Before he could finish speaking, Pan Zhen suddenly raised his hand and activated the highest authority of the Heavenly Dao Tower!

An invisible, powerful energy instantly enveloped Lena, forcibly severing her connection with the Sunlight Super Gene and completely sealing off her divine power!

At the same time, another, even more powerful force of restraint enveloped Qin Chuan, attempting to restrict his movements.

However, to Pan Zhen's surprise, Qin Chuan simply looked at him calmly, without any intention of resisting, allowing the binding energy to be applied to him.

"He didn't even put up a fight?"

Pan Zhen felt a chill run down his spine. He had prepared a series of backup plans to deal with Qin Chuan's sudden attack, but now they were all in vain.

This unusual compliance made him feel a strange unease.

But now that the arrow is on the bowstring and the Heavenly Dao Tower is about to collapse, he has no way back and can no longer ponder this subtle strangeness.

"Dragon Soars, Heaven Protects, Abyss Departs!"

Pan Zhen shouted in a deep voice.

A burly, imposing general immediately appeared: "Your subordinate is here!"

"Take Her Majesty the Supreme God and her 'friends' back to their palace to rest. No one is to disturb them without my order!"

Pan Zhen gave the order, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Yuan Li bowed and accepted the order, then gestured "please" to Lena and Qin Chuan, his attitude respectful yet firm and unyielding.

Pan Zhen watched Lena's retreating figure and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, once everything has settled down, this old minister will apologize to you for my insubordination and acting on my own initiative today, and will accept your punishment."

But now, for the sake of the blazing sun, he must go his own way.