Life-or-Death Deadline, Endless Dispute!

Xuan Shiba frowned, dismissing Yang Jian's shameless words with contempt.

"Lord Tianyan, you're being unreasonable. Your decision represents the future of the entire human race. I hope you'll consider it carefully!"

"Heh." Tianyan chuckled. "Though I, Yang Jian, am one of the Lords of the Era of the human race, steering this great ship of humanity ever forward, and though every decision I make can affect humanity's future, that only applies to matters of broad direction. I, Yang Jian, have never considered myself some special existence among the human race!"

"My purpose is to guide humanity toward a better future, but that does not mean I can casually decide whether someone lives or dies!"

"Because among the human race, everyone is like a dragon. Everyone is born free and equal!"

"I decide the direction in which humanity advances, but as for each individual's gains, losses, advances, and retreats, I, Yang Jian, have never had the right to interfere!"

"I said I agreed, but if the young man of our human race whose ID is Kun does not agree, then I, Yang Jian, cannot possibly turn my butcher's blade upon one of my own!"

"So the final decision must still be left in his own hands!"

Xuan Shiba said with some anger, "Then please invite him out, Lord Tianyan, and let us see how he chooses for himself."

Unexpectedly, Yang Jian retorted again, "I don't know where he is either!"

"Are you playing us?" Xuan Shiba's expression darkened. He no longer wished to keep up appearances.

"The human race is not like the Dragon Race or the Black Tortoise Race, with such rigid hierarchies and oppression at every level. Though I am the leader of the entire human race, if someone does not wish to reveal themselves, how could I possibly know where they have gone? Xuan Shiba, don't slander a good man!"

Xuan Shiba ground his teeth in anger. As if I'd believe that nonsense! Back when you displayed your might and predicted every battle with godlike precision, even calculating the enemy camp's underwear, I never saw you play dumb!

Tianyan saw through all beneath the heavens. Compared with Yang Jian's personal combat strength, upper echelons of major races like Xuan Shiba knew even better just how formidable Yang Jian's ability to gather and organize intelligence was.

Nothing could escape his discerning eyes!

"So there's no room for negotiation, then?"

Xuan Shiba was convinced that Yang Jian had been backed into a corner and could only try to muddle through with such a foolish tactic. If that was the case, the Black Tortoise Race would have no choice but to reconsider how it treated the human race in the future!

Yet Yang Jian soothed him, "What are you in such a hurry for? Though I do not know where our human prodigy has gone, I can be certain that he knows everything happening here like the back of his hand!"

"He is still only a child. With such a tremendous responsibility placed on his shoulders, you must at least give him time to think it over!"

"But as I said, I, Yang Jian, will not force any member of the human race to do something against their will. If he is willing to step forward and let you plant the Mystic Spirit Seal, then this matter will be settled!"

"If he is unwilling, there is nothing I can do!"

"If the sky falls, then as the current backbone of the human race, I, Yang Jian, will naturally bear it alone!"

Xuan Shiba and Ao Guang exchanged a glance, both seeing the impatience in the other's eyes.

Ao Guang forced himself to say, "Then by your reasoning, if he does not step forward for a hundred years, are we supposed to wait for him for a hundred years?"

"That won't be necessary. Our human youths do not need that long to consider a matter!"

"Then how long do you want us to wait?"

After a brief moment of thought, the eye in the sky gave its answer. "Three minutes!"

"If he does not step forward within three minutes, then that proves he has rejected the proposal the two of you just made!"

"Fine. We'll wait three minutes!" Xuan Shiba decided.

Then he looked at Ao Guang and transmitted his voice, "Ao Guang, if that person does not step forward within three minutes, immediately use the Forbidden Technique and flood Jiangnan Base City. If Yang Jian dares to stop you, the higher-ups of my Black Tortoise Race will naturally step in!"

Ao Guang froze for a moment before finally nodding lightly.

Then Xuan Shiba bent down and looked over all of Jiangnan Base City, his voice booming. "Kun of the Human Race, listen carefully. My Black Tortoise Race does not wish to see living beings suffer devastation. We have stepped forward today only to mediate the conflict between the human race and the Dragon Race. Sacrificing the small self to fulfill the greater self—has that not been the unwavering creed of your human race for centuries?"

"Moreover, the Dragon Race has already made concessions under the mediation of my Black Tortoise Race. As long as you step forward and allow me to plant the Mystic Spirit Seal, I guarantee you will be unharmed. The Dragon Race merely seeks peace of mind; they do not demand that you die!"

"If even so, you are still willing to be a coward... a craven coward, then do not blame my Black Tortoise Race for being unable to shelter the human race in the future!"

"The lives of several hundred million people in Jiangnan Base City rest on a single thought from you. And this is only the beginning. If the entire human race declines because of your cowardice and weakness alone, there will be no place for you among humanity! You will be the sinner of the entire human race!"

"Humans of Jiangnan Base City, take a good look as well. Your lives and deaths will be held in Kun's hands. Pray—pray that he will not shrink back, that he will bravely step forward and face reality!"

Inside a quiet room, Yang Jian slowly opened his eyes. Qian Manlou had already been waiting beside him for quite some time.

"Is everything ready?"

Qian Manlou shrank his head back. "Everything is ready. Shall we begin now?"

Yang Jian nodded. "Since we're going to build momentum, then build it fiercely. My era has already passed. What comes next will naturally be the era of these young ones. Let the tens of billions of our human compatriots see that the waves behind the Yangtze River drive those before them onward. The rise of humanity is irreversible!"

Qian Manlou licked his dry lips as his hands worked the controls, but he still asked worriedly, "Are you really so certain that the kid will step forward for the sake of the entire human race?"

What Yang Jian had asked him to do was broadcast everything happening in Jiangnan Base City to every base city of the human race!

Let the entire human race see how the young man who had brought enormous benefits to humanity would, under the coercion of the Dragon Race and the Black Tortoise Race, nobly sacrifice himself and devote himself to the entire human race!

Once Kun chose to step forward and face everything head-on, his prestige would rise to unimaginable heights in a very short time!

Yang Jian was choosing to groom him as his successor!

But everything had its advantages and disadvantages. If Kun stepped forward, he would naturally gain the support of all humanity!

But what if he proved cowardly?

What if he disregarded the lives of the several hundred million people in Jiangnan Base City, chose to bury his head like an ostrich, and hid away?

If that happened, the human race would face utter catastrophe!

When the nest was overturned, no egg remained intact. Faced with the assault of one Saint Race and one Royal Race, how long could the human race hold out?

Even if Kun managed to survive by clinging to life, and even if he could achieve greatness after choosing to flee from reality, by then, he would have lost the support of the entire human race. Qian Manlou could imagine what it meant to be abandoned by all of humanity!

Little fellow, what choice would you make?

Qian Manlou could not help recalling that little fellow who had taken out a pile of "great treasures" before him like a money-grubber that day.

His palms were clenched so tightly that they sweated.

He could not help casting a resentful glance at his boss!

Boss, by doing this, you were forcing both the entire human race and that little fellow to the edge of a cliff!

Every decision you had made in the past had been this nerve-racking, yet history had proven that Tianyan, who had always made bold decisions, ultimately achieved the outcome he wanted!

Could things still go as he wished today?

Under the live broadcast, with the tacit approval of certain human higher-ups, the situation in Jiangnan Base City was quickly relayed to humans across the various regions.

Compared to the residents of Jiangnan Base City, who were living in dire straits, the humans of the other base cities were not nearly as pessimistic. Instead, they began a heated debate!

On the War King Forum, one human War King after another voiced their opinions.

"I say, since the Mystic Sky Seal isn't some kind of master-servant contract, Kun should step forward for the sake of the whole human race. The Mystic Spirit Seal won't have any harmful effects on him, and it can even provide decent buffs. Why wouldn't he do it?"

"Is the idiot above brain-dead? You're a dignified War King, yet you can say something this stupid? Since it doesn't concern you, you're acting all high and mighty. Do you know what it means to have a Mystic Spirit Seal implanted? It means the Black Tortoise Race will know perfectly well where you take a dump. Even if it isn't as tyrannical as the Mystic Sky Seal, do you really think the Black Tortoise Race would have trouble killing Kun? Whatever Kun wants to do in the future, he'll be restricted at every turn!"

"But it's still better than the Mystic Sky Seal, isn't it? You genius upstairs, by your logic, Kun should just become a cowardly turtle?"

"You bunch of turtle bastards, what's the use of analyzing this and that? I say, what the hell is there to fear? Why not just be as forceful as before? The Dragon Race and the Black Tortoise Race are nothing but shit. Our human race is invincible in heaven and on earth. Lord Tianyan can simply take a stronger stance and declare war on both races. My greatsword has long been hungry for blood!"

"Fool upstairs, diagnosis complete!"

"Agreed!"

"Same here!"

"You really think the Dragon Race and Black Tortoise Race are made of clay? With the combined efforts of those two races, the human race is nothing more than a fallen leaf on the ocean, ready to be torn to pieces at any moment!"

Another rational War King stepped forward to analyze the matter. "Stop arguing. Lord Tianyan has always been wise and resourceful. Since he did this, he naturally has his reasons. Think about it—if Kun is willing to step forward, then our human race will surely do everything in our power to protect him from the persecution of the Black Tortoise Race and Dragon Race. Handing the decision to a little fellow is also Lord Tianyan respecting his rights! Otherwise, whenever a powerful race threatens us, are we supposed to hand over our geniuses for slaughter?"

"What the person above said makes great sense. For a young man willing to dedicate himself to our human race, how could we not do everything in our power to protect him? Enough said. When the time comes, I'll be the first to apply to become his protector!"

"Cut the crap upstairs. We're only War Kings. If Kun really is at the level of the Lords of the Era, he'll at least need higher-ups at the Heavenly King level to protect him. What the hell are you and I worth? But then again, if he chickens out and hides instead of stepping forward, won't we be screwed?"

The forum immediately fell silent. Many experienced War Kings had also thought of this worst-case scenario.

Kun, you absolutely have to step forward!

This was the thought of everyone at that moment, from the War Kings on the forum to ordinary civilians!

The residents of the other base cities prayed one after another, hoping that Kun would sacrifice himself for the greater good. After all, the lives of hundreds of millions of people were at stake!

The residents of Jiangnan Base City reacted even more intensely.

After learning of the agreement between the two sides, during the remaining three minutes, every minute and every second was torment for the hundreds of millions of people here!

They had already witnessed Ao Guang's earlier attack, gathering the power of the entire Eastern Sea. It had been utterly terrifying. Compared to it, the power they possessed was as insignificant as dust!

Even with that eye hanging high in the sky, the hundreds of millions of residents could not feel the slightest sense of security!

Because they knew that Tianyan could protect them for a while, but not forever!

Ao Guang and Xuan Shiba were not the frightening ones. What was truly frightening were the powers standing behind them!

Tianyan was not invincible. Once the two races joined forces, Jiangnan Base City would be destroyed in an instant!

The entire Jiangnan Base City had become the center of the vortex, placed over the fire by both the Dragon Race and the Black Tortoise Race!

In the first minute, the residents of Jiangnan Base City came out one after another, clasped their hands tightly, and prayed to the heavens.

Standing on the stairs of the apartment building, Xu Kun and Hao Jian could even hear the prayers of countless people.

"Please, Kun, step forward! For the entire human race, for Jiangnan Base City, please step forward!"

Xu Kun's face turned deathly pale at this. Hao Jian, who had originally intended to pray as well, hurriedly asked with concern, "Kun Kun, don't be afraid. You and I are brothers. If we can't escape this today, at least we'll have company on the road to the underworld!"

Having been influenced by Hao Zhong and Chen Gu for many years, Hao Jian had not the slightest favorable impression of the myriad races, nor did he feel the slightest fear. At worst, it was death!

When a man died, that was that; if he did not die, he would live for ten thousand years. Watching Ao Guang and Xuan Shiba take turns coercing them, Hao Jian wished he could chop off their heads one by one with a single slash!

He also swore inwardly that they had better not give him the chance to grow stronger. Otherwise, he would kill every one he encountered in the future!

Once the Haotian Pagoda's cooldown ended, Hao Jian would make use of his current strength to swiftly climb the Haotian Pagoda. His future fate had to be held in his own hands!

A man set his ambitions when he left his homeland; if he failed to make a name for himself, he swore not to return. Why must one's bones be buried in one's native soil? There were green hills everywhere in life!

Listening to Hao Jian's comfort, Xu Kun was like a drowning man clutching at a lifeline!

By the second minute, the residents of Jiangnan Base City had begun to grow restless. The apocalyptic sense of crisis brought by imminent death shrouded every person, and discordant voices began to emerge.

Facing the increasingly agitated residents below, the eye in the sky offered neither comfort nor reassurance, allowing them to become ever more anxious.

As time entered the third minute, the residents of Jiangnan Base City, who already felt that all hope of survival was lost, began to curse loudly!

Two minutes had already passed. Since Kun still had not chosen to step forward, there was probably no hope left!

Even from far away, all kinds of insulting curses could be heard.

Among them, the most common were ugly remarks like, "Kun, you're nothing but a coward," "Our human race has no need for a timid troublemaker like you," "Kun, I'm begging you, step forward! I don't want to die!" and "I ****, are all of us supposed to be buried with you just because of one person?"

In those final three minutes, humanity's worst instincts erupted completely. In their eyes, Kun was disregarding the lives of hundreds of millions of people for his own safety. He was practically a beast!

All kinds of vicious insults rose and fell, with none of the celebrations and praise from when Kun had earned an SSSS-level rating and brought enormous benefits to the entire human race!

Ao Guang and Xuan Shiba watched the scene mockingly, then looked at the calm eye in the sky. Was this the human race you wanted to protect?

This time, even if Kun did not step forward, he would completely lose the people's support from now on. Someone without the people's support would achieve nothing, even if he recreated that person's former glory. All they needed to do was fan the flames a little further, and the decline of the human race would become inevitable!

The two schemers even found themselves hoping that Kun would not step forward!

As the person involved, Xu Kun saw everything.

"Does it hurt?" Mu Qingxuan still wore that calm expression. As someone who knew Xu Kun's identity—and as Xu Kun's mother—this was the first thing she had said during the final three minutes.

There was no comfort, much less persuasion. She spoke as calmly as if they were having an ordinary conversation, rather than discussing what would become of her son!

Of course, the calmness in her words could not conceal the tenderness in her gaze, a mother's warmth etched to the bone. As a mother, she did not care what decision her son made, nor would she blame him if he made a mistake!

After all, her son had grown up and had opinions of his own!

Hearing Mu Qingxuan's words, Xu Kun smiled. "I'm alright."

No one knew a son better than his mother. As Xu Kun's mother, Mu Qingxuan had already seen something in her son's eyes.

Looking at the faint smile on his mother's face, Xu Kun swore that he had never seen her smile as much in his life as he had today!

"Mom, you smiled. You look so beautiful when you smile. You should smile more from now on!"

Mu Qingxuan nodded. "Alright. Mom will listen to you!"

Then, Xu Kun reluctantly tore his gaze away from his mother's smile and looked at the eye in the sky. "How do I get over there?"

"Sky Eye sees all things in the world. The moment you made your decision, he already knew!"

"But I made my decision a minute ago!"

"That's because he wanted to compress the spring even tighter!"

Xu Kun froze, then gave a bitter smile. Compressing the spring tighter meant making him hear even more of the helpless roars of the people, the curses hurled in the face of death, and the all-around, no-dead-angle attacks against him?

Wasn't he afraid that hearing such discordant voices would make Xu Kun hesitate?

"Human nature is inherently evil. When disaster strikes, no one can remain untouched. He wants you to see that if you cannot protect an entire race, the abuse you face in the future will far exceed what you heard today!"

"As the future backbone of the human race, your vision must encompass the bigger picture. You cannot be like ordinary people, who can only see romance and peaceful prosperity. Where there is light, there will naturally be darkness!"

Xu Kun nodded. Through his mother's explanation, he understood the reasoning.

He could already feel that gaze locking onto him. There was only a little time left before the three minutes were up.

It had to be said that Sky Eye was truly patient!

At the final moment, Xu Kun looked toward his good brother.

Hao Jian met Xu Kun's gaze. Shock was written all over his face, but he still did not dare to be certain. "Auntie, Kun Kun, what are you talking about?"

Xu Kun smiled. "Jian Jian, keep your eyes wide open for what comes next!"

"Huh?"

"Because I'm going to look very handsome next!"

With that, Xu Kun spread his hands.

At the same time, the three minutes ended. Ao Guang leaped into the air, just about to make his move.

The eye in the sky shifted, making his dragon body tremble in fright. But he was surprised to find that it was not locked onto him.

"The result you wanted... has arrived!"