The rulers of the Eternal Empire finally noticed something was wrong.
"Your Majesty, unstable elements have appeared in the border regions," a high-ranking priest reported to the Lord of the Empire.
The Lord of the Empire was an ancient consciousness that had existed for three entire eras. Its form was a mass of brilliant golden light, representing the so-called "pure bloodline."
"What elements?" Its voice was majestic and cold.
"Some inferior beings... their thoughts seem to have changed," the priest said cautiously.
"They used to endure everything in silence, but recently, they have begun to... question things."
"Question what?"
"They question... the legitimacy of the bloodline system."
The air froze instantly.
The Lord of the Empire's radiance suddenly flared, its pressure filling the entire palace.
"Who is inciting them from behind the scenes?"
"According to our investigation, it is the Hyperconscious Network." The priest was drenched in sweat. "They are secretly spreading some... dangerous ideas."
"The Hyperconscious Network..." The Lord of the Empire sneered. "That newly risen force that just survived the Dark Era?"
"A rabble of low-dimensional beings dares cause trouble in my Empire?"
"Immediately purge every contaminated individual. Leave none alive."
With the order issued, the Empire began a bloody purge.
Every being discovered to have connections with the Network was executed.
Xiu was exposed as well.
"You traitor!" the priest in charge of the interrogation said furiously. "The Empire raised you for an entire era, and this is how you repay it?"
Xiu's consciousness body was already badly shattered, but his gaze remained calm.
"Raised me?" He smiled bitterly. "You call that raising me?"
"An era of forced labor, an era of discrimination, an era of trampled dignity..."
"What you gave us was not care. It was shackles."
"Shut up!" the priest roared. "Inferior beings should have