Zhou Huai continued, "This Mr. Duan is the mastermind behind everything. Even Kujo Hiroharu's resurrection of Kujo Naruya using the Pendulum of Life was manipulated by the Dawn Guild from the beginning."

“He doesn’t care how many people die in Sakura Country, nor does he care whether Kujo Naruya can be resurrected.” Zhou Huai looked at him. “His goal is to collect more life energy through sacrifice in order to complete his grand plan.”

“Although I don’t know the specifics of that grand plan yet, one thing is certain.” Zhou Huai raised his head and looked at Zhao Qingcang, “All of this is related to the ancient races that have recently appeared in large numbers around the world.”

At this point, Zhou Huai raised his earlier question: "Has a large number of ancient awakened individuals already appeared in the Great Xia Kingdom?"

Zhao Qingcang sighed, his face showing even more worry.

“I was just about to tell you this.” Zhao Qingcang rubbed his throbbing temples. “Now, in various regions of Great Xia, there are some professionals with extremely abnormal mental states.”

"Their strength has increased dramatically in a very short period of time. This is especially true for some college students. Just last night, several S-level students from Imperial Capital University, Shanghai University, and Sichuan University suddenly underwent a drastic change in personality."

"They not only wreaked havoc on the campus, but also massacred teachers and students, causing extremely serious chaos and casualties! Several of the experts sent by the military to suppress them were lost."

"I was wondering before, how come so many ancient races suddenly awakened? There was no warning at all, it was as if they had agreed to erupt all at once."

Zhao Qingcang looked at Zhou Huai: "Now that you've said it, it makes sense. So all of this was orchestrated by that Mr. Duan! He wanted to completely disrupt the order of this world!"

"The army has now completed the surrender ceremony and is heading back to Great Xia. Lin Zhu and I can't linger here any longer; we must hurry back and personally deal with these Awakened Ones!"

This was exactly the result Zhou Huai wanted.

With Zhao Qingcang and Lin Zhu, two top experts who have returned to their peak, in charge of the Great Xia Dynasty, it is at least able to quickly suppress these ancient remnants that are just beginning to take shape.

"Marshal Zhao, I have a request." Zhou Huai, controlling Caesar, spoke in an extremely serious tone.

"you say."

“When you encounter these awakened ones, try not to kill them. Make sure to leave them alive.” Zhou Huai looked at him. “After suppressing them, first use the highest-grade anti-magic chains to handcuff them and put them all in a military prison under strict guard. Don’t kill a single one.”

"Stay alive?"

Zhao Qingcang was taken aback. These ancient races were extremely dangerous and hostile towards modern humans. If they were allowed to break free of their restraints, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Given the military's past practices, such extremely dangerous and out-of-control individuals are usually killed on the spot.

"What use are they to you?" Zhao Qingcang asked, puzzled.

“I will be of great use to you.” Zhou Huai skipped over the matter of the alien parasites and experience points, and gave a positive answer. “In short, they will become my bargaining chips in the fight against that Mr. Duan.”

Although Zhao Qingcang did not understand what the other party meant by "great use", he did not delve into it because of his complete trust in this Great Xia War God.

“Alright, I promise you.” Zhao Qingcang nodded heavily. “I will issue a top-secret order to imprison all captured Ancient Awakeners in Underground Prison Zero. You can come and interrogate them at any time!”

Thank you.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the ocean.

Free Federation.

In the heart of the Holy City, inside the massive palace that symbolized the highest power of the Federation, the atmosphere was oppressive.

A blond, middle-aged man strode across the empty corridor.

He wore a deep red robe, his face was stern, and his eyes held a chilling intent. He walked very fast, his leather shoes making a rapid sound on the marble floor.

This person is none other than Archbishop Andrew, the second most powerful figure in the Free Federation, second only to the highest authority, and a Holy SS-level powerhouse.

At the end of the corridor, two gilded gates, each ten meters high, stood tightly closed.

At the gate, two heavily armored guards, each wielding a halberd, stood ramrod straight. Judging from the faint energy fluctuations emanating from them, these two were actually top-tier knights who had reached S-rank.

Seeing Andrew stride towards them, the two guards crossed their halberds, blocking his path.

"Your Excellency, please stop."

The guard on the left spoke expressionlessly, his voice stiff.

Andrew stopped, his face grim, and said in a deep voice, "Get out of the way, I need to see the Holy Lord."

Even when facing Archbishop Andrew, who was at level 83, the two guards remained unfazed and refused to budge an inch.

"The Lord has decreed that no one may enter without his permission." The guard's voice was flat and emotionless. "Even you, Bishop, are not permitted."

Andrew's face darkened.

As Francis's right-hand man, he could usually enter and leave the palace with ease, but today he was stopped at the door.

"I'll say it again, get out of the way." Andrew's tone was cold, and an SS-level divine pressure emanated from his body.

"I have something extremely urgent to report to the Holy Lord. If you delay even for a second, neither of you will have enough heads to lose!"

The two guards groaned under the oppressive force, blood trickling from the corners of their mouths, but their crossed halberds remained firmly in place.

Just when the two sides were deadlocked.

An aged and dignified voice echoed from inside the palace.

"Let him in."

Upon hearing the voice, the two guards relaxed and showed reverence.

"yes."

They nodded respectfully, quickly sheathed their halberds, and retreated to the sides.

With a rumbling sound of machinery, the heavy, gilded gate opened inward.

Andrew snorted coldly, straightened his slightly disheveled robe sleeves, and strode into the palace.

The door closed behind him, completely shutting out the outside light.

The palace's interior was vast, with countless light-elemental magic cores embedded in the dome, illuminating the entire hall. The air was filled with luxurious incense, a single whiff of which sent shivers down one's spine.

Andrew walked straight to the center of the hall without looking to either side.

On the luxurious soft couch in front, which could accommodate more than a dozen people, lay an old ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) man with white hair and a white beard.

The old man was wearing a loose robe, his eyes were slightly closed, and he looked content.

Four or five scantily clad blonde women were kneeling around the bed, massaging the old man with their hands.

This seemingly debauched and dying old man is actually Francis, the strongest being in the entire Free Federation, revered by hundreds of millions of citizens as a walking god and an SSS-level existence!

Faced with such extravagant scenes, Andrew's cold face showed no emotion, as he was already used to it.

He stepped forward, bowed slightly, placed his right hand on his chest, and respectfully performed a deep bow.

“Andrew, greetings to the Lord.”

Francis, lying on the soft couch, let out a comfortable hum, without even lifting his eyelids.

"What happened? Why are you so flustered?" Francis's voice was somewhat languid.

Andrew reported directly.

"Your Majesty, we have just received an urgent secret report from the intelligence bureau."

"Losga and Newt, these two cities... with nearly a million inhabitants, have mysteriously disappeared."