"This guy..."
As he watched the broadcast on the virtual screen, the leader of the Arcane Cult's eyes darkened.
The core members of a civilization are mostly loyalists. From the perspective of the leaders of the Three Universal Civilizations, the purpose of reviving the core members is naturally to keep them serving. They wish they could have the loyalty of the core members for eternity. However, people's hearts can change, especially after experiencing death. Even the core members are not immune to this.
Having sacrificed his precious life for civilization, Hilbert felt that he was even and no longer wanted to be driven. The three men saw Hilbert's thoughts as simply human nature, but while they understood them, they did not align with their current interests.
In peacetime, the three wouldn't mind Hilbert's idea of retirement; they might even bestow upon him a title of merit to highlight Hilbert's past service to civilization and thus enhance the loyalty of his other loyal followers. However, the situation is different now, and with Black Star's promise of revival as a condition, the three are in a dilemma.
Back on the field, after Hilbert finished speaking, the atmosphere fell silent once again.
Hilbert glanced around, then looked at Han Xiao and asked, "What do you think?"
Han Xiao did not respond immediately, but instead turned to look at Kasuyi, his eyes full of meaning.
Kesu (https://www. hetushu. com. com) was taken aback. "Huh? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"It's nothing, I was just looking."
Han Xiao withdrew his gaze.
Tsk, the Arcane Church is indeed rife with traitors...
While Hilbert's act of expressing personal demands doesn't qualify him as a traitor, it affected the mindset of other Revived, and is probably no different from a traitor in the eyes of the Three Universal Civilizations.
Various thoughts flashed through Han Xiao's mind. He smiled slightly and nodded, saying:
"Your request is reasonable. Indeed, no one stipulates that becoming a member of the civilization's inner circle means working for it forever. Even ordinary people have the opportunity to retire, so a meritorious person like you who died for civilization naturally has the same right."
So you have no objections?
Hilbert raised an eyebrow.
"I personally understand, but this isn't something I can decide. The spots for your Sanctuary Revival were purchased from me by the Three Universal Civilizations, and so far only a deposit has been paid. If the Three Universal Civilizations want to reduce the number of spots, I can take them back."
Han Xiao shrugged and continued, "During wartime, every resource must be used effectively. If you can't demonstrate your worth, I doubt they'll be willing to pay."
"In that case, take my life back."
Hilbert spread his arms wide, his face calm, looking completely at his mercy.
Seeing this, everyone had mixed feelings and frequently glanced at Han Xiao and Hilbert.
Han Xiao narrowed his eyes, knowing exactly what was going on.
Is this guy really willing to give up his hard-won second life? Obviously not. This is just a strategic retreat, a sure thing that the Three Universal Civilizations won't kill him. Otherwise, in the eyes of the other Revived, it would be no different from coercion and threats, which would go against the original intention, make more Beyond Grade A survivors feel sorry for each other, waver, and further damage the loyalty of some of the direct descendants, making them feel like they are forever enslaved.
Just as Han Xiao was about to speak, he suddenly received a message from the leaders of the Three Universal Civilizations. After glancing at it, he couldn't help but shake his head and smile.
"Heh, you can rest assured. The Three Universal Civilizations have just stated that they will still pay the full cost of your recovery and will not take your life."
The Three Universal Civilizations reacted quickly, unwilling to jeopardize the loyalty of more of their direct descendants, and had to express their stance even if they had to hold their noses.
"That's good." Hilbert lowered his arm without changing his expression, as if he had expected it.
Then, he turned and pointed to the group of revived loyalists who had just echoed him, and asked:
"Since they haven't refused our request or forced us to fight, should we be able to leave now?"
Han Xiao smiled and said slowly:
"You've misunderstood. You can't leave on your own; you have to come with us."
Upon hearing this, the expressions of many of the Revived changed slightly.
Hilbert narrowed his eyes. "You mean to put us under house arrest?"
"You can understand it that way too. You've all been dead for a long time and have only recently been resurrected. You don't understand the current interstellar society, and the power structure is quite complex. Because of the current tense war situation, in order to reduce unexpected factors, we will implement unified management. Before you receive permission, you cannot move freely."
Han Xiao's expression remained unchanged, but his tone subtly conveyed an unquestionable authority.
This was a pre-arranged plan. Even if he didn't force all of these Revived to participate in the battle, he wouldn't let them move freely. Otherwise, he wouldn't have needed to bring so many Beyond Grade A here to keep things under control.
At this moment, Garoze and his group couldn't help but speak up:
"We're the same?"
Han Xiao glanced at them and said expressionlessly, "You died fighting against the World Tree, so you don't need to be treated like this. Come over here."
Actually, he didn't want to let these people go, but he needed to consider the feelings of the association members behind him, so he had to treat them differently.
Sitting in my current position, I have no choice but to mediate and balance the ideas of all parties. It is human nature to seek benefits and avoid harm. Of course, it is unlikely that I can make people with different positions give up their pursuit of their own interests with a mere tug of the fist.
Garoze and the others breathed a sigh of relief. Under the watchful eyes of both sides, they left the group of Revived and joined the group of Beyond Grade A individuals behind Han Xiao. Having obtained the benefits they wanted, they naturally had no intention of continuing to stand on the same side as this group of Revived.
Many Beyond Grade A glanced at Garoze, naturally without any hint of disdain; most felt it was only natural.
Hilbert remained silent, but the neutral Revived were not having it.
"How long is the house arrest period?" a Revived with dark gold skin asked in a deep voice, his aura even more oppressive than Hilbert's.
Everyone looked over, and each of the mechanics felt a jolt in their hearts.
Nifogadi, the first Divine Throne Mechanic in history, and the founder of the Mechanic Faith!
All mechanics with the Mechanic Faith benefit from his protection; for Beyond Grade A mechanics, he is like a founding father.
Han Xiao nodded in acknowledgment and began to explain:
"Your Excellency Nifogadi, there is no fixed term for the house arrest. Everything will be determined on a case-by-case basis. We will conduct a long-term, one-on-one review of each of you, and you will only be allowed to leave if it is confirmed that you will not cause any unforeseen circumstances."
Upon hearing this, another neutral Beyond Grade A player spoke up, giving a cold laugh:
"You set the standards for the review, so you can say whatever you want. I'm curious, if I don't agree to participate in the war, will I be under house arrest indefinitely?"
Han Xiao turned his head and looked over.
The speaker Igor Vanaz, nicknamed "Flowing Flame," Peak Beyond Grade A, a shapeshifter, and a figure from the same era as Dilron. He was also a powerful figure who could command the wind and rain, but died at the Tragedy of the Pinnacle. At this moment, his eyes were filled with undisguised hostility as he looked at Han Xiao and his group.
This time, a bunch of powerful figures have been revived. The crowd is full of strong people and hidden talents, and there are extraordinary individuals everywhere.
Of course not.
Han Xiao gave a casual reply, his mind racing.
The direct descendants of the Three Universal Civilizations, the direct descendants of the supercluster, and the Beyond Grade A individuals whose causes of death were unrelated to the Three Universal Civilizations —even if these people were unwilling to participate in the war, they would not take any extreme actions. However, those who died at the hands of the Three Universal Civilizations or Tragedy of the Pinnacle were completely different; they harbored deep hatred, and these were the troublesome troublemakers.
Igor Vanaz glanced coldly at Hilbert and the other revived loyalists, and said indifferently, "You took a fee to revive these loyalists, but you voluntarily revived us neutral Beyond Grade A, right?"
"You could say that," Han Xiao nodded.
"Hey, I thank you for bringing me back to life, I owe you a favor, but if you think you can use this debt to coerce me into fighting against foreign enemies for the Three Universal Civilizations, no way!"
Igor Vanaz stood with his arms crossed, streaks of crimson light dancing across his body, the temperature in the arena soaring rapidly, his tone resolute:
"Let me make this clear: I will never accept house arrest by the Three Universal Civilizations. This is imprisonment. They will never let us, the victims of the Tragedy of the Pinnacle, go. I'm leaving now. Who wants to leave with me?"
Rumble!
As soon as the words were spoken, many Beyond Grade A who had died at their Tragedy of the Pinnacle erupted with their aura and echoed the sentiment with their actions. Meanwhile, some neutral Beyond Grade A who were unwilling to accept house arrest also stood up, hoping to use the power of the group to leave this place.
A massive energy surge emanated, causing the alloy ground to vibrate and develop numerous dents.
The Three Universal Civilizations descendants, the supercluster's direct descendants, and some neutral Beyond Grade A who had no intention of taking action immediately stepped aside. They had no intention of helping any side and decided to watch the show and act according to circumstances.
The Super Star Cluster's direct descendants, who had retreated to the side, secretly communicated with each other mentally.
"We're not going to make a move? This is a golden opportunity to break through."
"I just contacted the higher-ups, and they told us not to act rashly and to follow their instructions for now."
Mabro paused, staring at Han Xiao with surprise as he looked him up and down, then added:
"Also, the higher-ups specifically instructed me not to get involved with that guy named Black Star... I'll die."
At the same time, Igor Vanaz and his group's aura rapidly rose, becoming restless and ready to strike, instantly creating a tense atmosphere on the verge of conflict.
Seeing this, Han Xiao's smile gradually faded, and he slowly spoke:
"We don't force you to participate in the war, but confinement is mandatory, there's no room for negotiation. You are all respected seniors, and I don't want to resort to force, but if you put me in a difficult position, I'll have no choice but to make you suffer a bit. Don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit."
After he finished speaking, the numerous Beyond Grade A behind him spontaneously dispersed, forming a semi-encirclement that surrounded Igor Vanaz and the others.
"Hmph, that's more like it." Igor Vanaz's aura surged, and he roared, "You think you can solve problems with words? You're dreaming! Either step back obediently, or use your fists to make me submit. That's the rule between Beyond Grade A. If you want to stop me, just try!"
Bang!
A torrent of blazing flames erupted, fueled by sheer force, seemingly inextinguishable, instantly melting the alloy on the surrounding ground!
Igor Vanaz's body instantly transformed, his size swelled, and he became a bizarre, giant-like creature, as if he had burst out of his skin from the inside out. His appearance resembled a demon emerging from hell as depicted in some religions, and his entire body was wreathed in undying flames.
The next instant, his four long, reverse-jointed legs slammed down, propelling him into outer space like a fiery meteor rising from the ground at incredible speed, attempting to break through the encirclement.
This was a signal. Many of the Revived stood up with him displayed their unique abilities and attacked the surrounding Beyond Grade A beings. A torrent of energy erupted, instantly igniting a chaotic battle. The earth shattered continuously under the collision of Beyond Grade A abilities, creating a crater-like depression in the blink of an eye. From outer space, it looked as if a planet had been slammed by a cone, shattering a section of its outer shell.
"Take it down!"
Han Xiao Stay Where You Are he was, waved his hand, and watched as some of his companions took action.
Although there were a few formidable individuals among the breakout group, Kekezi and Old Manison were no pushovers either, and with the help of Clottey, Oulu, and many other loyal followers, they were more than capable of suppressing Igor Vanaz and his group, so he didn't need to personally take to the field.
As expected, just as Igor Vanaz rushed into outer space, a massive silver Mechanical Deity rapidly materialized, its visual impact almost covering the entire sky. Looking down at the planet from outer space, it slammed down with a powerful blow, instantly slamming Igor Vanaz back to the ground.
Bang!!
The alloy earth caved in with a deafening roar, twisting and shattering, creating a circular valley as Igor Vanaz crashed down like a meteor.
What a powerful move Buddha's Palm!
Han Xiao's eyelids twitched; the feeling of déjà vu was strong.
On the other side, Kasuyi's eyes flashed, and endless psychic power surged forth, filling every inch of space, leaving almost nowhere to hide. The continuous mental explosions distorted the movements of many who tried to break through.
The other Revived did not intervene, retreating to the edge of the battlefield. They only experienced a slight aftershock of the psychic energy, and felt a stinging sensation in their brains, which surprised them.
"This group of future Beyond Grade A cultivators is no ordinary person..."
"With less than a third of our people involved, we were able to stop them. I don't think they'll be able to escape."
"That leader, Black Star, hasn't made a move yet, so his strength shouldn't be too bad."
The many Revived watching the spectacle whispered among themselves, also taking this opportunity to observe the combat power of the Beyond Grade A forces of this era.
They have only just recovered, lost their weapons, and most of them are not at their peak, especially the mechanics. If these Beyond Grade A are truly formidable and they see no chance of breaking out, they will wisely accept house arrest.
Manison and Kasuyi led a group of association members in a fierce battle against Igor Vanaz and his group, quickly defeating one incomplete Revived another. However, there were quite a few opponents, including some at the Peak Beyond Grade A, and many of the association members also suffered some injuries.
Igor Vanaz, covered in wounds, dodged Manison's Psionic Energy fire and crashed into the Association's "Desolate Beast" Motes. He took several punches in exchange for injuries, then closed in and slammed his clawed hand heavily into Motes's chest. Condensed Explosive Flame were injected into Motes's body through a skill and suddenly exploded.
Boom!
The flames expanded, Motes was shot backward from the smoke, crashing to the ground with undiminished force, tearing a chasm with a whooshing sound. His body was billowing black smoke, as if he were charred from the inside out, and he was badly injured.
But at that moment, Aurora her hand and unleashed a burst of life energy that struck Motes. The charred flesh peeled off one after another, and new flesh grew in its place. The injury disappeared at a speed visible to the naked eye.
"Restore your powers!"
Igor Vanaz abruptly changed direction and charged towards Aurora.
After a fierce battle, he realized that a forceful breakout was unlikely; he couldn't break through the blockade of Manison and Kasuyi, and he was already showing signs of backing down. But when he saw Aurora's abilities, he suddenly had an idea.
Since the Three Universal Civilizations are resisting external enemies, then healing-type ability users must have important strategic significance for advanced combat forces. If we can control a healing-type ability user and use her as a hostage to negotiate with this group, we might be able to escape successfully!
Igor Vanaz made up his mind.
Try one last time!
At the same moment he changed his target, all the Beyond Grade A members on the association's side were enraged.
Aurora is their lifeline in the fight against the World Tree, a strategic weapon for maintaining their superior combat strength. Yet this guy, in order to break through his own encirclement, actually wants to put their only healer in danger?!
Even Clottey and other direct-line Beyond Grade A members who hadn't made a move couldn't hold back any longer. Enraged, they transformed into streaks of light and charged towards Igor Vanaz.
This scene stirred up a hornet's nest. Igor Vanaz was startled, but instead of stopping, he sped up, becoming even more convinced that this trick would work.
Many of the Revived were taken aback and were about to continue watching the show when, at that moment, a powerful wave that moved everyone swept out!
Buzz--
Han Xiao's figure appeared in front of Igor Vanaz as if by teleportation. The next moment, a black Mechanical Deity rose from the ground, its tone chilling:
"I know you have grudges against the Three Universal Civilizations, and I have no problem letting you vent your anger, but you want to target our important strategic figures? You're courting death!"
Without hesitation, Han Xiao spread his hand, and a powerful binding force field acted on Igor Vanaz, briefly fixing him in mid-air. Immediately afterwards, a massive army of warriors, blotting out the sky, separated from the Mechanical Deity and began to fire endlessly at Igor Vanaz.
Round after round of relentless firepower, with no restraint whatsoever, Igor Vanaz was blasted into a panic, and no matter how he dodged and fled, the mechanical troops relentlessly pursued and bombarded him.
"I surrender! Stop fighting!"
Igor Vanaz hurriedly tried to persuade Han Xiao, but Han Xiao ignored him.
The Beyond Grade A reinforcements that were rushing to the scene stopped in their tracks, and the many Revived watching the battle also became agitated, their faces showing shock. It was clear that they were all intent on killing.
Whether Igor Vanaz surrendered or fought back in desperation, Han Xiao Quan, Pursuit for a long time until he finally bombarded him to death, leaving only a mangled shell falling from the sky.
The breakout battle in the arena had already stopped. Everyone watched as Han Xiao ravaged and killed Igor Vanaz, no matter how Igor Vanaz fought back, he couldn't escape Black Star's control. The difference in combat power was a crushing disparity, like an adult bullying a child, easily crushing and shaping him.
As many of the Revived were astonished by Black Star's ruthless killing, Hila grabbed Igor Vanaz's corpse, pulled out a soul from it, and tossed it into the Netherland, immediately drawing everyone's attention.
Seeing everyone's gaze fall on her, Hila didn't care and snorted coldly:
"Black Star can give you new life, but it can also take your lives. If you dare to be so shameless, I'll send you all to the Netherland!"