Under One Person, your rebellious life has reached the heavens?

Now, if he were to launch a preemptive attack on a Xianquan stronghold with a similar number of powerful individuals, he would need to carefully consider the potential consequences.

The headquarters of these awakened forces are often located in the bustling urban areas of megacities. If a real war were to break out, it would be catastrophic, with unimaginable consequences.

If Senior Brother Zhuge were here, Lu Jin would dare to fight without restraint. But without him, there are too many restrictions. Just like the Security Council and the Nine Departments possess more than a hundred Class B mechs. If even one-tenth of them were gathered together, they could uproot this entire Immortal Realm.

However, they cannot take direct action, firstly because the city where the mechs have been removed from its defenses might descend into chaos;

Secondly, the battle between ten mechs and eight Level 4 Awakened individuals is enough to turn the area within a 20-kilometer radius into a hellish battlefield, and the number of ordinary people caught in the crossfire is immeasurable.

"When will we have to wait?" Changqing was not stubborn; on the contrary, he was very calm.

"Three days..."

Lu Jin had an extremely strong premonition, and he firmly believed it:

“When I visited my uncle’s secluded place before, I could sense that he was very close to emerging from seclusion.”

“If he is still in seclusion three days from now, I will go with you to fight this battle, no matter the cost, to personally execute those two bastards.”

"Moreover, we are rushing down the mountain now and have no clues about them, so it won't be easy to hunt them down."

"Instead of using these remaining days to prepare for battle, we can have Vice President Su try to find out where their headquarters is within the limited time. Although the informant has been planted, their location is special and they have unknown methods to conceal their position. Except when they go out on missions, the undercover agent doesn't know where he is."

"Xiao Lu, you're right, we'll listen to you."

Changqing agreed with his idea. The admonition that the master had repeatedly reminded them of to avoid arrogance and impetuosity over the past seventy years was something that even after cultivating to the third level of reversal, the two of them dared not be arrogant or reckless.

Just then, Su Nianlin mentioned something:

"Elder Lu, the final test of the superpower lock has passed. In four days, it will be fully rolled out across the country. At that time, it will definitely provoke fierce resistance from those high-level awakened individuals. You and your senior brother can take this opportunity to join forces with the Celestial Master to fight against the Immortal Realm. At that time, one battle will decide the fate of the world and deter other villains."

"Hmm? Old Zhang, you went to take charge of Xianquan's mission?"

Lu Jin has been extremely busy these past few days, hunting Awakened Ones during the day and waiting for his disciples to return at the sect at night, so he hasn't paid much attention to his old friend's situation.

"Yes, the day before yesterday, two Level 4 Awakened from Xianquan caused trouble in the south and robbed some Awakened who had high potential after we tested them. They then disappeared. The Old Celestial Master is currently searching for their whereabouts and is ready to fight at any time, just like when you confronted the Wugou Palace."

"As for the Bitter Sea, Elder Wei is in charge of it."

Su Nianlin sighed with regret. Only the vice president and president of the Security Council are qualified to directly confront a Level 4 Awakened. Other experts cannot even get involved.

Currently, there are over 100 registered Level 4 Awakened individuals nationwide, and the Security Council only has 10 members to barely keep up, which is undoubtedly a drop in the ocean.

Chapter 354 Immortal Quan's Ambition: Creating a New Era

"I see... It seems there's going to be some big moves in the last few days of the month. I remember that along with the ability lock, there was also a device specifically designed to detect the ability fluctuations of awakened individuals, right?"

Lu Jin vaguely remembered that there had been related topics in previous meetings, but they were only mentioned briefly at the time.

He hadn't paid much attention at first, but now that he thinks about it, if it had been released alongside the Ability Lock, the Awakened in China would probably have faced an unprecedented counterattack.

"Yes, that's the headache. Hopefully things will go smoothly. The academy for superhumans is nearing completion. If we can get through this ordeal, the situation might be able to stabilize as much as possible."

Su Nianlin adjusted her glasses, picked up a cup of tea, took a sip, and then sighed:

"Viewing awakened people as a monstrous flood is one-sided. Blindly killing and blocking will eventually lead to a complete collapse. At the appropriate time, we should dredge and unblock the channels."

"After all, most awakened people are still ordinary people psychologically. They have parents, children, relatives, friends, and various interpersonal relationships that bind them. Their greatest desire is to settle down and use their own abilities to obtain and enjoy a comfortable life, rather than themselves and those around them constantly being in dire straits and being used as cannon fodder."

"Mr. Lu, thank you and the two presidents for your hard work in the coming period. Please allow me to express my deepest respect to you."

Su Nianlin's voice was deep and sincere. He slowly stood up and bowed ninety degrees on the other side of the screen.

The workload of the vice president and the president is vastly different. The former can usually only deal with lone or disruptive Level 4 Awakeners, while the latter has to deal with groups of Awakeners, such as 'Xianquan', 'Kuhai', 'Wugou Palace', etc., which often consist of dozens of Level 3 Awakeners, along with a terrifying lineup of 5 or 6 Level 4 Awakeners.

"Enough, the night is deep, thoughts are turning..."

"You've had a tough time too, get some rest, and contact me again if anything comes up."

Lu Jin ignored Su Nianlin's gesture of respect. He was simply doing what he could and was willing to do, and he didn't care whether others would respect, praise, or admire him because of it.

After the conversation ended, Changqing sat quietly in the armchair on the left, remaining silent for a long time, and finally just sighed repeatedly.

Lu Jin knew that her senior brother was mourning the dead.

He and they didn't want anyone else to die because of those two bastards; this matter had to be resolved as soon as possible.

The launch of the Superpower Lock is the perfect opportunity. When Xian Quan loses his composure, that will be the time for them to descend the mountain and eliminate the demon.

..........

At 2 a.m. on May 30, in Shenzhen, one of the most prosperous cities in South China.

Under the cover of night, amidst the towering skyscrapers of the steel forest, a massive shadow lurks, emerging from the void like a spider web, connecting buildings and streets in all directions, firmly rooted like a parasite.

Neither ordinary people nor awakened beings could perceive the illusory crisis perfectly hidden in the desolate city, which would be forcibly linked to everyone's safety in a mere 24 hours.

On the same night, similar anomalies also occurred in four other megacities in China with populations of over ten million.

That eerie, mysterious shadow hung silently upside down in the void above the city, and like a living thing, it kept wriggling towards the most densely populated areas.

Hundreds of kilometers north of the middle reaches of the Yellow River, the border city is quiet and eerie, like an empty ghost town, with howling winds and not a single light on.

Countless awakened beings, like wandering ghosts, are scattered in every corner of the city, an invisible barrier sealing off all exits.

This is the headquarters of Xianquan.

In an abandoned building in the city center, more than 20 powerful individuals guarded the area with strict discipline.

Meanwhile, in the open space on the 12th floor, eight leaders of varying ages and genders gathered. Seven of them sat around a round table, their expressions different, but their eyes were all focused on an elderly woman with her eyes closed.

After a long silence, a weary breath broke the stillness, stirring everyone's hearts.

The next instant, a pair of cloudy, aged eyes quietly opened in the dim night.

The old woman's withered lips moved slowly, and soon brought news that everyone had been eagerly awaiting.

"The wormhole is in place, gentlemen, let's begin."

"Excellent! Brilliant!"

Some people were overjoyed, their faces relaxed, and they immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

"Old witch, how much of the bombardment can your methods absorb?"

A bald, lame old man standing nearby asked in a cold voice, a pipe dangling from his mouth, occasionally exhaling a puff of white smoke.

"I need to maintain their presence at all times, for a maximum of two weeks. We'll take whatever artillery fire they can get our hands on. What happens next is up to you."

Upon hearing this, most of the leaders present already understood the situation.

They are all Level 4 Awakeners, proud and arrogant, with a clear understanding of their own strength, and unafraid of the threat of firearms in the mortal world.

"Brother Ming, Brother Yan, have you resolved it?"

Another burly man at the round table, broad-shouldered and ugly, peered at the two white-haired strangers opposite him.

"Yes, I've cleared away all the clues that needed to be destroyed. The masters in the sect are either not here or in seclusion. As for the remaining two senior uncles, they can't just come over by their own abilities."

Mingxuan spoke softly, holding a feather fan, with a calm smile on his lips.

His appearance and demeanor closely resembled that of a refined and easy-going schoolteacher, but beneath that handsome exterior lay an ambition as turbulent as the ocean.

With his clear answer, everyone's worries lessened a bit.

The young man in the very center, Gu Yinnian, the founder of Xianquan, relaxed his tightly furrowed brows and a faint smile appeared on his lips.

"Brother Ming, please forgive my intrusion, but I don't know how long your teachers usually go into seclusion?"

Gu Yinnian remained wary, for that immortal from the Sanyi Sect was simply too terrifying.

Before the Age of Evolution even arrived, he single-handedly slaughtered over a thousand superhumans, countless armed forces, and even reduced Behemoth's three warships to scrap metal, making him the only myth of his time.

If it weren't for the circumstances that forced him to learn the secret of the impending creation of the Superpower Lock through hypnosis of a member of the Security Council, Gu Yinnian would never have wanted to take this risky step, leading a large number of awakened individuals who were unwilling to be bound to wander here and seek a place to survive.

"It could take as little as two or three years, or as long as five or six years, it's all possible."

“Brother Gu, we still have plenty of time. As long as one of our brothers can break through a new bottleneck within two years, even if the sect’s masters come out of seclusion, they may not be able to make things difficult for us on our territory.”

Mingxuan was fearless. In just two months, he had climbed to the level of a Level 4 Awakener. If given another year, he would definitely be able to break through to Level 5.

"Alright, Brother Ming, I'm relieved to hear that."

Gu Yinnian suddenly breathed a sigh of relief. Without the suppression of that old relic, this was the best time for these awakened ones to grow wildly.

"What Mingxuan and Yanzhi did has now been exposed. Now, what if we attract the attention of two elders from their sects, given what we're about to do?"

The female leader sitting to Gu Yinnian's right asked meaningfully.

"No need for you to worry, my brother and I can handle it ourselves. Of course, if you are willing to lend a hand, we will welcome you."

Mingxuan formally stated his position: if those two old bastards dared to provoke him here, he would kill them without hesitation.

"What a ruthless and vicious person! No wonder he's someone who plots great things."

An elderly leader, blind in both eyes, stroked his beard and laughed, saying, "The success of one general is built on the bones of ten thousand; this is only natural."

"You flatter me. It's nothing but trivial matters, hardly worthy of mention," Mingxuan replied modestly.

Gu Yinnian looked around and felt that the opportunity was about right. He snapped his fingers, and immediately a man who was tied up was dragged in by his confidants.

The man's face was bruised and swollen, his ten fingers were covered in blood, he was tortured to the point of near death, and his eyes were flashing with fear.

"The mole we caught today."

Gu Yinnian's eyes gleamed with a fierce light as he looked down at the listless and weak man, and said mockingly:

"Wow, people from the Security Council have even infiltrated. Are they trying to expose all our secrets?"

"What did he reveal?" The old man smoking had a sinister look in his eyes, as if he wanted to devour someone.

"..."

The man stood silently, accepting his fate with equanimity, determined never to utter a word.

Seeing his reaction, Gu Yinnian gently waved his hand, granting his request.

The dream unfolded like an abyss, instantly engulfing the man and causing him to disappear. Before losing consciousness, he could feel a severe sense of weightlessness, constantly falling into the deepest part of the dream.

In the eternally frozen time, he will relive all sorts of nightmares again and again, until the end of death and decay.

"What was leaked is not important; what is important is what we are about to do."

A fanatical glint appeared in Gu Yinnian's eyes. He placed his hand on his chest, as if a believer were making an oath to a god.

"Gentlemen, there is no way out. We are clearly the darlings of the heavens, the perfect beings standing at the forefront of evolution. Are we going to compromise with those monkeys and go back to living a life where we are leashed and controlled by others?"

"No, I absolutely will not, never!"

Gu Yinnian's words were melodious and forceful, and the crowd looked on with approval. What he said was exactly what they were thinking.

Those who deeply admire the law of the jungle, the survival of the fittest, are essentially beasts in human skin, destined to be untamed by the moral teachings of modern civilization.

"We will be true to ourselves, achieve our goals, and cherish ourselves."

"Gentlemen, let us join me in inviting heroes and outstanding figures from all over the world to this place to witness the arrival of our era and create a new glorious age!"

This night.

When Xian Quan released the news that the Security Council was preparing to use the superpower lock to restrict every awakened one, the entire land of Kyushu was shaken.

They claim to welcome every awakened individual who yearns for freedom, to stand together and shatter the shackles of worldly conventions.

Chapter 355 To Walk with You is My Desire

In the morning, the news spread throughout the country, causing countless people to tremble. Were those madmen about to start the first large-scale war of awakened people in the country?

Xianquan occupies an excellent position on the northern border. It can advance southward and expand rapidly like a python swallowing an elephant, or retreat and rely on the vast deserts and plains to escape and hide.

They harbored ambitions of being granted fiefdoms and becoming kings, ready to rival the very mountains, rivers, and the state.

Most of the awakened individuals who were unwilling to be bound and who still wanted to be above the masses and exploit ordinary people were shaken when they saw the grand words of the eight leaders on the screen.

Some, blinded by ambition, immediately set off to seek out the fame, while others remained hesitant, afraid of being caught in a trap and not even qualifying to be cannon fodder.

Xianquan's actions are a direct confrontation with the Security Council. They intend to gather a large number of awakened individuals within their territory, establish a city belonging to the new humans, reshape the order, and be free from their jurisdiction, preparing to meet all challenges.

At 8:30, the emerging force 'Bitter Sea', with nearly 20,000 members, unexpectedly gathered in a remote border town in the southwest, raised their arms and shouted, stirring up turmoil. They also extended an invitation to awakened people from all over the world, planning to create a new city.

As if by prior arrangement, within a few hours, seven forces successively occupied border towns, thousands of kilometers away from the Central Plains. They were arrogant and wanted to emulate the deeds of the awakened ones overseas, and establish their own independent regimes through force and war.

In their descriptions, the ability lock is a scourge that cuts off the limits of evolution. They use every possible word to slander and spread rumors, planting feelings of resistance in the hearts of more than 20 million awakened individuals.

The Security Council leadership was caught off guard by this sudden turn of events. Just one night later, the previously stable order was disrupted again, and the conflict reached its climax.