The Divine Statue First Prince Hua Ye had commissioned for the Old Angel King had long since been installed by the Construction Department in the very center of Tiangong Ship's plaza. Clad in armor and holding the heavens in his hand, it looked vividly lifelike, carrying an air of looking down upon the world.
The statue stood over fifty meters tall, seamlessly joined to the pedestal beneath it. Although an Anti-Gravity System had been installed, the base was still embedded more than half a meter into the alloy floor. Its astonishing weight was easy to imagine. Whenever Hua Zhen saw it, he could not help but stop and admire it for a while, sincerely marveling at the craftsmen's exquisite skill.
"Um... Third Prince, the Angel King is waiting for you in the main hall~" Seeing Hua Zhen standing beneath the statue without moving, the Construction Department steward glanced at the dial on his wrist before approaching him and speaking cautiously.
"Oh, look at me. I was so busy admiring Father's statue that I forgot the important matter..." Hua Zhen smacked his forehead. "Please lead the way!"
For the princes in the heavenly palace, adulthood and childhood were entirely different concepts. Once they came of age, they had to be careful in both speech and conduct. Sometimes, even a trivial matter could be exploited by someone with ulterior motives, magnified without limit, and turned into all kinds of accusations against them.
Take this moment, for instance. Hua Zhen had merely looked at the Old Angel King's Divine Statue a few extra times. If he explained himself well, it was naturally nothing. But if he said the wrong thing, someone might accuse him of slighting the Angel King.
He had no choice but to be so careful. Old Stick controlled all the resources of the heavenly palace. If some gossip-loving fools made Old Stick dissatisfied with him, leading to his resources being withheld, he would have nowhere to seek justice.
That was why the Deep Palace Courtyard was full of trouble, just like a widow's doorstep. He might want to stay out of everything and live peacefully, but he could not stop others from targeting him. It was damn annoying.
The Construction Department steward acknowledged the order and, not daring to delay, led Hua Zhen flying toward the interior of Tiangong Ship...
There were three major palace complexes aboard Tiangong Ship, each serving a different purpose. The first one visible after entering through the gate was the place where the Angel King's millennium birthday banquet had been held. It was specifically used for grand ceremonies, such as an Angel King ascending the throne, the appointment of a Royal Consort, a prince's wedding, or the commissioning of generals for battle.
Beyond it, at the exact center of Tiangong Ship, stood the Main Palace, where the Angel King summoned the palace's high-ranking ministers to discuss affairs. The final palace complex was where the Angel King and his consorts resided.
The place Hua Zhen was headed for was the Main Palace. When the Construction Department steward brought him there, he happened to run into that fool, Fourth Prince Hua Xiong.
The men of Angel Civilization were handsome and the women beautiful, but Hua Xiong was the sole exception. Perhaps his genes had mutated. Eight years later, he still looked like the same damn thing as before—wider than a vat but shorter than one, all waist and ass, greasy hair, powdered face, squinty eyes, and a shoddy layer of fat. If he had been placed in ancient times, he would have been a downright vulgar street thug.
Still, if there was anyone Hua Zhen envied most in the heavenly palace, there was probably no one but this dead fatso.
They both lived in the Palace District, and they had both spent eight years growing up there. Hua Zhen's life consisted of studying, studying, and more studying under Xuan Ji, while Hua Xiong followed Hua Ye every day to work out, work out, and work out.
Hua Xiong got to pick at will from among blooming flowers, while Hua Zhen was buried in a mountain of books and a sea of knowledge, grinding himself to death. Between the two, anyone with eyes could see who was happier.
Cursing his bad luck inwardly, Hua Zhen could not be bothered to deal with the dead fatso and urged the Construction Department steward to pick up the pace.
"Well, well, isn't this Third Brother? Didn't expect Father to summon you too~"
It was a fine thought, but he could not escape. Fourth Prince had clearly spotted him as well. After calling out, Hua Xiong waddled toward him with his huge belly sticking out.
Birds of a feather flocked together. After spending so long with Hua Ye, Hua Xiong had naturally adopted some of his habits. From far away, Hua Zhen could already smell a pungent wave of perfume forcing its way into his nostrils.
Knowing he could not avoid him, Hua Zhen turned his head, obvious impatience on his face. "Tch. So it's Old Fourth~"
A flash of anger passed through Hua Xiong's eyes at Hua Zhen's expression, but he quickly seemed to recall something. Chuckling, he leaned close and said, "Third Brother, do you know why Father summoned us?"
"Don't know!" Hua Zhen continued forward, rolling his eyes.
Hua Xiong hurried two steps to catch up, then leaned closer again. "Hehe, I know~"
He was the youngest prince in the heavenly palace and had always loved competing. He did not dare challenge First Prince or Second Prince, but when it came to Hua Zhen, who was his age, he wanted to compete over everything. He had been like this since childhood.
Unfortunately, falling flowers might have feelings, but flowing water did not. Hua Xiong regarded Hua Zhen as a rival and provoked him at every turn, yet Hua Zhen could never be bothered with him. How could Hua Xiong endure that? Now that he had finally found another opportunity, he naturally intended to seize it.
Thinking this, Hua Xiong raised his head to look at Hua Zhen, but his face soon stiffened. "W-Where... where is he?"
"Fourth Prince, Third Prince has already entered the main hall..." the Construction Department steward assigned to lead him said softly.
"What?!!" Ignored once again, Hua Xiong's face turned the color of pig liver.
Fine, Hua Zhen. You've really angered me! he thought resentfully. Just wait. After the meeting, I'll have Balo take good care of you!
When Hua Zhen entered the council hall, he found that quite a few people had already arrived. There were forty or fifty familiar and unfamiliar faces, divided along the two sides of the hall under the leadership of the Left Wing King and Right Wing King. All wore solemn expressions as they listened to the Angel King speak.
"Hiss, what is wrong with you two? Father summoned you, yet you still delayed for so long!" Hua Ye had the sharpest eyes. Seeing Hua Zhen and Hua Xiong enter the hall one after the other, he reprimanded them in the tone of an elder brother.
"No matter!"
Before either of them could say anything, Hua Que, seated upon the throne, waved his hand and signaled for them to take their places. Then he continued, "Now that Old Third and Old Fourth are here, Miller, tell us in detail about that newly risen civilization!"
Hua Ye clicked his tongue, clearly dissatisfied with his old man's favoritism.
See that? That accusation he just pinned on us... Hua Zhen rolled his eyes. He knew Hua Ye was mainly targeting him, since many people believed he stood on Second Prince Hua Tuo's side.
With an indifferent smile, Hua Zhen performed a hand-to-chest salute toward the Old Angel King. Ignoring Hua Xiong's cold snort, he walked toward the right side of the hall. Just as he had eight years ago at the birthday banquet, he took his place behind Second Prince.
Hua Tuo lightly twitched his nose, the corners of his mouth lifting. "Don't tell me you just finished eating grilled meat skewers?"
"Tch, sharp nose!" Hua Zhen said with a curl of his lip.
"Have you thought it over?" Second Prince asked quietly without turning around.
"Keep dreaming~"
Second Prince chuckled. "Heh~ I'm telling you, Old Third, in the heavenly palace, nothing I want has ever escaped my grasp. I won't give up!"
"You say that like you've already secured the heir's position!" Hua Zhen struck straight at the heart of the matter.
"Heh, you little brat..."
In this "Deep Palace Courtyard," no one besides one's parents would treat someone well for no reason.
Hua Zhen had understood this the moment he received Second Prince's meeting gift eight years ago. He had thought Second Prince wanted him to become an ally against Hua Ye once he grew up. Later, however, Hua Zhen realized that Second Prince's real target had been Xuan Ji.
After his intentions were exposed, Second Prince showed not the slightest embarrassment. On the contrary, he openly tried to poach Xuan Ji in front of Hua Zhen, saying irritating things like, "Xuan Ji, you're talented. You shouldn't be buried like this. Following that little brat Old Third, you'll never have a chance to rise. Pledge loyalty to me, and your future will have limitless possibilities."
He believed that with his uniquely charismatic personality, he could surely make Xuan Ji "see the light." Yet he had never expected Xuan Ji to be as stubborn as a turtle swallowing a weight, utterly unmoved despite all this time. Left with no choice, he could only find another path and turn his efforts toward Hua Zhen, offering resources and precious materials to tempt him. That was how the previous scene had come about.
"So, stop wasting your effort already~" Seeing him about to speak again, Hua Zhen quickly cut him off. "Shh, the Left Wing King is about to speak..."
Hua Tuo shook his head with a light laugh and said nothing more...
Under everyone's gaze, Miller stepped forward with a Storage Device in hand. Only after reaching the center of the hall did he slowly begin, "According to my investigation, this newly risen civilization is called Lieyang Civilization. It has a history spanning thirty thousand years. It remained low-profile in the past, only entering the competition for resources among the major powers a year ago!"
He paused, activating the Storage Device's Light Energy Projection. Once the image materialized, he continued, "Everyone, please look. This civilization's Super Warriors possess a very unusual ability. They can absorb stellar energy to unleash high-temperature attacks. Many of our warriors were killed because they did not understand this technique!"
The image showed a young man with sword-like brows, bright eyes, and a stern face. He held a dark-gold spear and wore silver Energy Inlaid Armor. The white plume on his helmet billowed flamboyantly behind his head, giving him an exceptionally upright air.
Five Angel Warriors surrounded and attacked him together, yet he showed no sign of defeat. His spear moved like blooming pear blossoms, its momentum like an arrow released from a bowstring. Every thrust erupted with a blinding flash of fire. After the violent explosion, the five Angels fell trailing black smoke, their fates unknown.
"This... this is..." Hua Zhen had looked utterly uninterested, but the instant his gaze landed on the Light Energy Projection, his eyes widened. It was not because of the Lieyang Civilization Super Warrior's strange attacks, but because of his appearance.
That armor...
It was no wonder Hua Zhen reacted this way. The Lieyang Civilization Super Warrior's attire was practically identical to the image of ancient generals Hua Zhen knew from his previous life.
"What's wrong, Old Third?" Hua Tuo was closest to him and noticed something was off immediately. Seeing that no one else in the hall was paying attention, he asked quietly.
"Huff... huff..." Hua Zhen tried desperately to steady his emotions, only to realize that he could not.
What was going on with this Lieyang Civilization? Why were they dressed like this? What did they have to do with Earth...? Countless questions flashed through his mind. Right now, he wished he could find that man at once and demand answers face-to-face.
"Old Third!!"
?!!
Hua Zhen suddenly snapped awake. Looking at Hua Tuo beside him, he finally realized he had lost his composure. He gently shook his head to indicate that he was fine.
"What exactly is going on with you? Do you know of this Lieyang Civilization the instructor mentioned?" Hua Tuo asked in a low voice.
"Oh, it's nothing..." Hua Zhen slowly exhaled a breath of stale air and lied, "I was just surprised by that guy's ability! Turning Dark Energy into a high-temperature attack method—I've never seen that before..."
Hua Tuo did not believe his nonsense, but he did not press further. Looking at Hua Zhen's clenched fists, an unreadable light flickered in his eyes.
Lieyang Civilization... Hua Zhen narrowed his eyes. I think I may have found a clue to getting home...
Before you continue