Outside the Antarctic Circle, high in the sky, the stealth-enabled Starfall floated lazily.
Inside the mecha's cockpit, it welcomed the most people it ever had.
Nearly everyone Chu Tian knew was there.
Old Yang and the others were very happy about Chu Tian's return.
In over a year, the Blue Star world had undergone tremendous changes.
While the impact on ordinary people was minimal, the world of cultivators had changed drastically.
Listening to their accounts, Chu Tian learned how truly powerful the Divine Sea Palace was.
Some of them were even beyond the ability of Old Yang and Wei Du to contend with.
This included the old man who had pursued them into the Antarctic.
It turned out that for the first six months after Chu Tian's departure, nothing significant had happened.
However, many changes occurred within the Heavenly Dao world.
Numerous guilds joined forces to activate the combined formation of the four main cities.
The spiritual energy system was activated in many urban war zones.
With large amounts of spiritual energy surging, cultivators appeared in large numbers among ordinary people.
Even those who couldn't become cultivators found their bodies strengthened.
The increase in individual human strength led to problems with public order.
As crime rates rose in countries worldwide.
The Ninth Bureau of Dragon Country, along with the eight great families, managed to maintain a semblance of stability.
Other countries fared much worse.
It was at this critical juncture that people from the Divine Sea Palace suddenly appeared.
They began to quell the rioters and maintain order, spreading rapidly across the globe with iron-fisted methods.
Following that, they started constructing the spiritual energy spheres.
They stationed themselves in almost every region worldwide where spiritual energy began to leak into reality due to the activation of the Heavenly Dao world's spiritual energy system.
They would build the spiritual energy spheres once the spiritual energy concentration reached a certain level.
Using their own spiritual energy as a catalyst, they activated the functions of the spiritual energy spheres, spraying vast amounts of spiritual energy outward.
As for where this spiritual energy originated from.
No one knew.
However, the emergence of this spiritual energy benefited everyone.
No force dared to intervene; instead, they began to curry favor with the people of the Divine Sea Palace.
This was because the Divine Sea Palace controlled the release of spiritual energy from the spiritual energy spheres.
The closer one was to a spiritual energy sphere, the greater the intensity of the spiritual energy they obtained.
To acquire prime cultivation resources, one needed to maintain good relations with them.
Therefore, almost all superhumans, mutants, and cultivators globally were now essentially lackeys of the Divine Sea Palace.
This power was so immense that no one could resist it.
"How do you all know so much? Didn't you enter the Wolf Clan a year ago?"
Chu Tian's point was that if they had entered, they couldn't have gotten out, so how could they know these things?
"It was the Merman Clan. The Third Princess came here, brought us the news, and then left."
Chu Tian blinked in surprise. "Princess Xing'er?"
"Yes, the Merman Clan possesses a unique innate skill that allows them to traverse any barrier without restriction, so she could come and go freely."
Gao Kai explained from the side.
"Mm, Luo Luo and the others... weren't they going to the seabed?"
Only now did Chu Tian ask about Luo Luo and the others' whereabouts.
"Yes, but they aren't there anymore. Back then, the Third Princess received a message saying the Nether Jade Ghost Head Coffin was showing signs of movement, and she asked Luo Luo, Yu'er, and Cheng Cheng to go investigate."
Wei Du added from the side.
"Why them? And where are they now?" Chu Tian was confused. Why were those three sent? They weren't the strongest.
"The last time the Third Princess came was half a year ago. She said Luo Luo and the other two had returned to the Luo family."
"What about the Nether Jade Ghost Head Coffin?" Chu Tian pressed.
Hearing that Luo Luo and the others had returned to the Luo family brought him some peace of mind.
He then began to worry if there was any problem with the coffin his father lay in.
"The Third Princess didn't mention it. It should be fine, otherwise, Luo Luo and the others wouldn't have left."
Hearing this, Chu Tian nodded.
"In that case, let's head to the Luo family! Starfall, set the destination, Dragon Country's Taihang Mountains!"
[Beep beep... Destination set!]
Hum...
Swish...
Starfall instantly activated its propulsion system.
A streak of light flashed, its speed so great that even radar satellites couldn't detect it.
It was countless times faster than the speed of sound...
Soon, everyone felt the spatial fluctuations around them gradually cease.
Starfall's speed had actually induced spatial vibrations.
Looking outward, the once white, vast expanse had turned into a verdant green.
Chu Tian directed Starfall to slowly approach the entrance to the Luo family's small world according to his memory.
Soon, Chu Tian discovered something abnormal.
The Taihang Mountains were teeming with life.
Of course, these lives were not birds or beasts.
Instead, they were all sorts of abnormal humans.
Superhumans, cultivators, mutants...
The area they were concentrated in, at its center, was the entrance to the Luo family's small world.
At the entrance to the small world, by the iron chains on the mountaintop, a large number of such people were gathered.
They had even established camps...
"What's going on? Are these people here on vacation?"
Zhao Lei looked down, his eyes wide. There was nothing in this wilderness.
The presence of these people here was already abnormal.
"Could they be personnel sent by the Luo family for guard duty?" Ma Deju said.
"Old Ma, are you going out without your brain? Would guard personnel not guard the outside but the inside?"
Zhao Lei scoffed at Ma Deju.
Ma Deju's face flushed red. He also realized that the people on the mountaintop were all vigilant in the direction of the iron chains leading to the Luo family's small world entrance.
There were also patrol personnel moving back and forth, their direction also towards that area.
"It seems these guys are likely lackeys of the Divine Sea Palace!"
Gao Kai finally concluded, and the others nodded in agreement.
Chu Tian narrowed his eyes. Even if they weren't from the Divine Sea Palace, their hostility towards the Luo family's small world made them enemies.
"Kill them all..."
Crack crack crack...
As Chu Tian spoke, the high-tech watch on his wrist dissolved into fluid, and a humanoid mecha appeared, instantly covering his entire body.
Chu Tian could already fly after this trip to the forbidden zone at the South Pole.
However, he didn't want too many people to know he had returned.
Although the Divine Sea Palace might already know.
But they still didn't know he had returned from the Antarctic to the mainland.
There were still some things he needed to clarify.
As he spoke, the hatch of Starfall opened wide, and Chu Tian leaped out.
Bang...
He landed like a massive rock directly in the center of the camp established on the mountaintop.
With a loud bang, dust billowed, and countless rocks were sent flying.
"Enemy attack!" Immediately, the hundreds of abnormal humans on the mountaintop entered combat readiness.
They charged towards the camp.
However, the next moment, they were met with human bombs.
Bang...
Bang, bang...
A dozen metallic mechas, like bombs, fell freely, crashing into their midst.
"Eat my grandpa Ma's blade... Whirlwind Slash!"
Ma Deju, clad in a blood-red mecha, swung his two massive long blades.
"Whirlwind Slash is useless! Look at me, Lightning Leap Slash... Blade Storm!"
The Lin brothers charged into the crowd.
Their mechas were custom-made by Chu Tian for them, based on their professions in the Heavenly Dao world.
The skills they used matched the system, allowing them to slaughter their way through.
With robust mechas and sharp blades.
These petty pests on the mountain were no match for their might.
Without needing to worry about defense, they cut through like vegetables, in five minutes...
In just five minutes, and that was without Old Yang, Wei Du, Xiao Hei, and the others making a move, all were eliminated.
"Old Yang, Old City Lord Wei, please clear out the stragglers within a hundred-mile radius, leave none behind!"
Chu Tian had barely made a move before the battle ended.
As he turned to enter the Luo family's small world, he spoke to Old Yang and the others.
This was because Old Yang and Wei Du had the strongest individual combat capabilities and the fastest flight speeds.
"I'll go too!" Old Li, the drunkard, volunteered.
"Me too!" Xiao Long Nü, who had been silent, also stepped forward.
After arguing with Chu Tian and having her contract severed, she had become like an invisible person.
She was no longer talkative and had become silent.
If she hadn't stepped forward, Chu Tian wouldn't have even noticed her.
"Be careful!"
Chu Tian glanced at her.
Xiao Long Nü, who was about to fly off, suddenly trembled.
But it was only for a moment. She set her sights northward and streaked away like a beam of light.
"Heh heh, she doesn't appreciate it."
Old Li took a swig of wine and headed west.
Old Yang patted Chu Tian's shoulder and left as well.
Wei Du, however, looked at Chu Tian with deep meaning and smiled.
Chu Tian awkwardly touched his nose.
However, inside his mecha, touching his nose with a metallic hand looked incredibly strange.
The others chuckled on their communicators.
"Cough... We..."
Chu Tian was about to suggest entering the small world when a group of people rushed out from within.
As these people emerged, they adopted a ready stance towards Chu Tian and the others.
Their hostility was very clear.
"Who are you people?"
These people numbered over a hundred, spilling out in a chaotic manner.
An old man led them.
If Chu Tian had participated in the Luo family's small world's previous meeting.
He would have definitely recognized this old man.
This old fellow was none other than Sect Master Li, who had stepped forward as a ringleader last time.
He was once one of the powerful sects below the eight great families.
The Xuan Tian Sect.
The name itself sounded imposing.
Worried about him stepping out as a ringleader last time.
After that meeting ended.
Their sect was assigned the duty of guarding and patrolling the entrance to the small world.
When they landed yesterday and began to fight, Sect Master Li and the others had been watching from inside.
Although they saw Chu Tian and the others, who were wearing mechas, as quite formidable.
They had wiped out over a hundred people outside in just a few minutes.
However, he didn't take them seriously.
The hundred-plus people on the mountain outside.
Were all considered mere雜魚 (záyú - small fry) in Sect Master Li's eyes.
Even he himself could have pulverized them in an instant with a single palm strike.
However.
The Luo family had forbidden any of them from coming out to engage.
As long as the enemy did not enter the small world, they were not allowed to go out and kill.
Therefore, after watching the show.
The old fellow came out to show off.
While they weren't allowed to kill, it didn't mean they couldn't come out for some fresh air.
It had been a long time since new people had arrived at the Luo family.
And these wearable armors, they looked like good items.
With the intention of "fishing for benefits," this old fellow.
Led everyone remaining in the Xuan Tian Sect.
And charged out to intercept Chu Tian and the others.
After the old fellow asked his question.
Chu Tian instructed Ma Deju through the communicator to go and interact with them.
Ma Deju, being a descendant of the Ma family, was naturally the best choice.
Because Chu Tian realized that these people were not from the Luo family.
He mentally speculated if something had happened to the Luo family.
He quickly went to inform him.
He recognized this old fellow.
He was the Sect Master of the Xuan Tian Sect.
He had seen him from afar before.
Now at the Luo family, it was likely because their Xuan Tian Sect had been destroyed.
That's why they had come to the Luo family for refuge.
Chu Tian hoped that was the case.
Crack crack crack...
Ma Deju's mecha opened.
He emerged from within the mecha.
"Are you from the Xuan Tian Sect? Why are you at the Luo family?"
Ma Deju, originally from one of the eight great families.
Naturally, he didn't hold the Xuan Tian Sect in high regard.
His tone of voice was like a superior questioning them.
"I asked who you are! What business is it of yours that we, the Xuan Tian Sect, are here?
Are you not also seeking refuge?
According to Luo family regulations, anyone entering the small world must first surrender all their belongings.
However... I see that none of you are martial artists, and you are wearing mechas to fight.
Who sent you?
Speak the truth quickly, or this old man will crush you with a single palm."
Sect Master Li looked at Chu Tian and the others.
They were indeed all wearing mechas.
Except for Ma Deju, he couldn't sense any aura from the others.
However, Ma Deju's aura was not strong, not entering his sights at all.
Therefore, he judged that those inside the mechas must be of similar caliber to him.
Even though four people had flown away earlier.
But flying was a simple matter.
He had been able to fly centuries ago.
And the aura of those four people was not particularly outstanding.
How could he possibly know that Old Yang, Wei Du, Old Li, and Xiao Long Nü had already reached a certain level.
They had achieved 'unity of heaven and man.'
At this stage, they actually appeared more like ordinary people.
However, Chu Tian had asked them to disguise their auras upon arrival.
He didn't want them to expose too much of their strength.
Currently, besides Chu Tian and the few wearing mechas.
Only Xiao Hei remained standing at a distance.
Sect Master Li's gaze kept drifting towards Xiao Hei.
The reason was simple: his gaze was fixed on Xiao Hei's waist.
Chu Tian didn't know why, but Xiao Hei had seven or eight space bags hanging from his waist.
Every movement he made.
Was under Chu Tian's observation.
With his vast divine sense, any action of the opponent.
Could not escape his notice.
Upon hearing his words.
Chu Tian smiled. He knew what this old fellow was here for.
It seemed the Luo family's small world had become a haven for martial artists.
He really didn't know how Luo Luo had managed this.
Could the Luo family have hidden experts?
Because Chu Tian knew that within the Divine Sea Palace, there were powerful individuals whom even Old Yang and the others couldn't defeat.
For this Luo family to have persisted and become a sanctuary.
There must surely be some unknown powerful figures guarding it.
And just as he was about to tell Ma Deju to stop wasting words.
To just fight their way in and see Luo Luo, which would resolve everything.
As long as they didn't harm them.
He saw Ma Deju's body tremble.
Roar...
A golden light rose from behind him.
A massive golden dragon head bowed and looked down.
"You old fossil, Sect Master Li, is it? You dare to take my grandpa Ma's things?"
The golden dragon appeared. Although its aura wasn't very strong.
But the opponent, including Sect Master Li, all took a step back.
"You are from the Ma family?"
Sect Master Li's eyes narrowed!
"You recognize your grandpa Ma, then get out of the way?"
Ma Deju, regardless of the opponent's cultivation level.
His status as a member of the Ma family was undeniable.
Who dared to touch him?
Sect Master Li's eyes flickered.
However, just as he was about to make a decision.
Someone behind him whispered a few words into his ear.
After hearing them, Sect Master Li's eyes flickered even more frequently.