"We found him."
"His genetic match rate is eighty percent. His bloodline is confirmed, and his potential is limitless."
Uncle Zuo nodded and continued, "The Third Miss set out this afternoon. She's going to bring him back in person."
Wuzhou Group had its own genetic research institute. Though it wasn't as advanced as Chang Sheng Gene, there would be no problems with the results.
"Eighty percent?"
At this, Zhou Yunqiong's eyes brightened.
Clearly, she was delighted by the result.
After all, this was no ordinary bloodline. It was hardly any weaker than the Zhou Family ancestors'.
And an eighty percent match rate was unprecedented.
Otherwise,
the Zhou Family's Third Miss wouldn't have gone to fetch him in person.
"There's more. Chang Sheng Gene, Tianshen Technology, and the other factions seem to have discovered remarkable bloodlines of their own. They're making preparations in secret, too. But that's all highly confidential, and we haven't been able to find out anything."
Uncle Zuo thought of something else and continued, "I imagine they're hoping to compete with us on equal footing."
Since the mutations began, the stronger one's bloodline, the greater one's future achievements.
The powerful factions led by Wuzhou Group
were already strong and had been preparing for many years.
But to be safe, they naturally wanted to find people with those bloodlines.
Once cultivated, they would become a formidable fighting force, helping the factions seize the initiative in the conflicts to come.
"I see."
Zhou Yunqiong replied, "The Great Age is coming. I can hardly wait."
Indeed, the current era was far too dull in her eyes.
Everything was always the same.
And she had to endure the misery of growing older day by day. The New Age would be different. Everything would change.
With the Zhou Family's powerful bloodline, she was destined to become a leading figure.
Thus,
Zhou Yunqiong was filled with anticipation for the future.
Mythical abilities, a long life, a powerful body, the power to summon wind and rain, and a place above the masses—that was what she truly wanted.
"Indeed. When that time comes, the Zhou Family won't have to keep hiding anymore. We can step into the open."
Uncle Zuo agreed. The Zhou Family was one of the oldest lineages in China.
But for thousands of years, heaven and earth had lain dormant, and the traces of the divine had hidden themselves.
An era like this
was simply ill-suited to them.
Of course, he also knew that when the time came, the same things would happen not only in China but all over the world. The great civilizations might clash in the most brilliant fashion yet.
"All right. I have a feeling the mutations are drawing closer. Tell the people below us to keep a low profile."
"Now is not the time to stir up trouble. It's best to wait for the final moment to arrive."
Zhou Yunqiong didn't dwell on it. She gave her orders.
After graduating from university,
she had begun taking part in important family and corporate affairs, becoming one of those in control.
Her orders carried considerable weight. Everyone except the family head and a few senior elders had to obey them.
Uncle Zuo nodded at once. "Yes, Miss. Don't worry. I'll take care of it."
With that,
he left.
Zhou Yunqiong was alone now.
Still wearing her haughty expression, she walked to the window and stood beneath the faint moonlight.
From childhood to adulthood, she had always been the undisputed star wherever she went. The arrival of the New Age would be no different.
Then, all at once, Zhou Yunqiong thought of Lu Yuan—the man who had once secretly loved her and confessed to her in front of everyone, only to turn cool and distant at their class reunion.
Before, she might have dwelled on it, wanting to know why.
But things were different now.
The gap between them would only grow wider. In the future, they might never see each other again.
Why trouble herself over someone like that?
"In the end, he's just a frog at the bottom of a well."
Remembering the day outside the hotel, Zhou Yunqiong couldn't help letting a mocking smile curl her lips.
But none of it mattered. She would forget him completely.
Early the next morning,
after driving all night, Lu Yuan finally returned home.
A lot had happened while he was away.
But in the end, everything had been taken care of.
He had obtained the last two divine objects.
In the courtyard, the Bodhi Ancient Tree still stood in quiet stillness, its green leaves stirring in the breeze.
But it was different from before. The ancient tree, steeped in myth, now gave off a far richer, ineffable aura of the Dao.
Even just approaching it made one's thoughts feel clearer and more focused, undisturbed by external distractions.
Its Bodhi leaves had also grown greener, brimming with vitality.
Of course, one had to look closely to notice.
Lu Yuan knew what would happen, so he examined them with greater care.
"It's August twenty-first. Just ten days left." He murmured to himself, knowing that for now, he couldn't go anywhere. All he could do was wait quietly for the mutations to begin.
His preparations were complete, with nothing overlooked.
In three months,
he had managed to collect so many divine objects. That was a fine result.
Once the New Age arrived, he could carry out his new plans based on the memories of his previous life.
Then,
Lu Yuan moved the Great Luo Sword Embryo and the Wordless Stone Tablet into the villa.
However, he didn't head straight for the underground chamber. First, he turned on the television, then went to wash up.
He had been through a major battle the previous night. Though he hadn't been hurt at all, he was still covered in dust.
Once he was done,
Lu Yuan changed into a fresh set of clothes and stepped out of the bathroom.
The news on the television caught his ear.
[At around eight o'clock last night, a meteorite fell in the outskirts of Wuzhou City. Fortunately, there were no casualties. Now, for the rest of the news.]
That was right. The meteorite incident from the previous day had been dismissed in a single sentence on television, without so much as an explanation.
They even claimed there had been no casualties.
"Someone really is choosing to keep the news under wraps. But how long can they keep it hidden?"
Lu Yuan smiled at this, understanding that they were trying to keep people calm.
But how long could they keep it up?
He said nothing more.
He picked up the Great Luo Sword Embryo and the Wordless Stone Tablet and carried them down into the underground chamber.
All the divine objects he had collected before were stored there as well.
But Lu Yuan didn't stay long.
He went straight back to his room to sleep.
With his current physique, he could go several days and nights without sleep and be perfectly fine.
But he wanted to be in the best possible shape when the mutations arrived. That day was simply too important.
Before you continue