The mysterious Third Ring.

A grand and solemn portal leading to the Spirit Realm stood tall, resonating with booming sounds growing closer, as the iron tracks laid from the Spirit Realm trembled slightly.

As time passed, an ancient steam train emerged from the portal, the roaring noise gradually fading until, with a final puff of steam, the train came to a halt.

A middle-aged man dressed in luxurious attire stepped down from the steam train, surrounded by many attendants. He removed his top hat and smiled at the welcoming party:

"Great City is sealed, and I thought I'd have to turn back mid-journey. I didn't expect your city would still allow me to come."

"Your Grace, how could we refuse such an esteemed visitor?" The host replied cheerfully.

Meng Tu smiled and nodded, his gaze penetrating the misty barrier enveloping the entire Inner Third Ring, observing the massive space-time rift that reached up to the heavens, his expression deep.

By the order of the Master, he had arrived at Great City.

Suddenly, a few crows flew overhead.

"Hmm? When did the Third Ring get crows?" Meng Tu laughed, casually commenting, "I didn't see any last time I came."

"Ah, to be honest, I hadn't noticed. I'll have someone check and report back to Your Grace," came the response.

"Haha, you jest."

Meng Tu politely replied, unable to resist glancing at the crows again.

...

"Where did so many crows come from?"

A slender woman in ceremonial attire with long hair flowing loosely stared at the gathering crows, frowning slightly:

"This is not a good omen."

An old man appeared silently beside her:

"City Lord, he has awakened."

"Who?" she asked.

"That Sixth Prince, the one who survived the fall into subspace."

The woman's expression stiffened:

"Let's return to the First Ring."

Before leaving, she cast a glance at the increasing number of crows and shook her head slightly.

...

"All preparations for the ceremony are complete."

The Principal of the Colossus Academy gently swirled the red wine in his glass.

"The preparations for the divine descent are also ready," the Orphanage Principal smiled, raising his glass to clink with the other elder's.

"As long as tomorrow's ceremony goes smoothly, and there are no unexpected incidents in the next few days, the day of divine descent will soon arrive, and that…"

"Will also be your day of ascension."

The Orphanage Principal winked playfully:

"Congratulations in advance on the birth of a new god."

The Colossus Principal shook his head:

"A false god is still just a god?"

"A false god is still a god."

The two shared a knowing smile.

"Let me share some intelligence with you." The Orphanage Principal drank the wine in his glass leisurely:

"The wooden box you've been searching for at your academy is in Chen Xiang's possession."

"Hmm?"

The Colossus Principal's expression shifted slightly, his eyes flickering. He ultimately chose not to mention the fishing incident, instead saying ambiguously:

"Don't act on the wooden box for now. Wait until after the divine descent to avoid complications…"

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As he spoke, he finished his drink and suddenly felt something, turning to look out the window:

"Is that… a crow?"

"Why are there so many crows?"

The Orphanage Principal followed his gaze, spotting a large flock of dark crows circling and flying toward Great City.

"I have some intelligence to share with you as well."

The Orphanage Principal trembled slightly:

"Those are not just crows; they symbolize… they symbolize something!"

"What do they symbolize?" the Colossus Principal asked in shock.

"The harbinger of terror!"

The Orphanage Principal bowed his head respectfully toward the distant flock of crows:

"It really is Him. He is coming to this city; the crows have appeared, and after sunset, He may arrive… I suggest you initiate the ceremony early and perfect that vessel."

"Very well, I will send someone to the Seventh Ring to summon Chen Xiang back, but…"

The Colossus Principal asked gravely:

"Who exactly is the one you speak of? Why has He come?"

The Orphanage Principal did not directly answer but continued to bow toward the flock of crows.

...

Seventh Ring, Factory.

"Li Dongyun lives up to his reputation!"

Amidst the turbulent air, Zhong Chengfu stepped back a few paces, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. Li Dongyun was also in bad shape, still recovering from his previous injuries, now coughing blood again.

He spat out a mouthful of blood, his expression tightening:

"Old Zhong, this can't end peacefully today?"

Zhong Chengfu removed his black cloak and pointed at Chen Shaoyan:

"I must take her away. Our newly appointed chairman specifically requested her. Li Dongyun, don't make this difficult for me; if you want to negotiate, go talk to our chairman."

Li Dongyun frowned, panting slightly. Chen Shaoyan, who had remained silent, stepped forward:

"I'll go with you."

"Little Shaoyan!" Li Dongyun reprimanded, "Don't be foolish!"

Chen Shaoyan clenched her fists:

"Master, I ask you to save Chen Xin. In the future, Little Xin and Little Xiang will need your care…"

She knew well that today wouldn't end peacefully; things had escalated far beyond expectations. The Seventh Ring Construction Group was behaving unusually, choosing to confront the Master head-on.

While the Master was formidable, he wouldn't be able to match the Seventh Ring Construction Group.

Li Dongyun's expression darkened, staring coldly at the grinning Zhong Chengfu:

"Where is your newly appointed chairman? I want to speak with him!"

Zhong Chengfu's eyes flickered, his smile widening as he put the black cloak back on:

"Are you really going? Given our old acquaintance, I must remind you, the new chairman isn't easy to talk to; he might even take action against you…"

Li Dongyun lifted his eyelids and spoke in a low voice:

"Oh? Then I truly want to meet him…"

As they spoke, the roar of engines from dozens of hovering vehicles filled the sky. Zhong Chengfu looked up, somewhat surprised, then smiled brightly:

"No need; it seems the chairman… has arrived."

"Old Li, I suggest you run—just run."

Li Dongyun said nothing, his hairs standing on end. Beside him, Chen Shaoyan's heart raced violently, her gaze fixed on the dozens of hovering vehicles above.

She felt a sense of despair; the response from the Construction Group was simply too extreme. The top brass had chosen to intervene!

The owner of this colossal entity, dominating the entire Seventh Ring, was about to arrive...

Chen Shaoyan closed her eyes and sighed softly, having already prepared herself for death.

Or rather, she had been ready since the day she joined the Fire Gate years ago.

As the group of hovering vehicles descended, their engines roaring, the noise was deafening...

A group of men in black stepped down from the vehicles, bowing their heads toward the slowly descending hovering car.

Chen Shaoyan felt sweat forming in her palms, her heart racing even more intensely.

"What's with such a grand entrance?"

Zhong Chengfu murmured, sensing something was off but dismissing it, thinking the powers that be had successfully provoked that airborne figure into coming down personally.

If, if he could further provoke Li Dongyun, causing him to kill the new chairman...

Zhong Chengfu's smile widened, concluding:

"Since Master Li hasn't left, he can't escape now. Perhaps if he kneels and crawls, he might have a chance at survival."

"Kneel and crawl..."

Li Dongyun smiled instead of getting angry, straightening his robust frame, terrifying power coiling around him, and the true divine particles around him began to stir.

The door of the hovering vehicle opened slowly, all eyes fixated on it.

In the next instant,

A figure leapt from within, crashing down like a meteor, creating a massive shockwave!

"Greetings... huh?"

Zhong Chengfu realized something was wrong; the meteor was falling... toward him??

He belatedly attempted to dodge, but a strong, terrifying force locked onto him. In an instant, the meteor was upon him!

Zhong Chengfu felt the crushing weight land on his back, his spine shattered in an instant.

Amidst the immense dust cloud kicked up by the falling figure, he was smashed into the ground, the force exploding at that moment, his organs ruptured, leaving him gasping for breath!

The shockwave sent a violent wind scattering in all directions, and Chen Shaoyan couldn't help but close her eyes.

Everything happened too quickly for anyone to see clearly; all they perceived was a blurred figure falling like a meteor, followed by a cloud of dust and the ground cracking!

In the thick cloud of dust, everyone coughed except for Li Dongyun.

He stared intently at the source of the dust, his expression dazed.

Li Dongyun was the only one who saw everything clearly.

Yet he felt he must have been mistaken.

As the dust began to settle, a young man stepped on the barely breathing Zhong Chengfu, slightly raising his head.

"Chairman!!"

A chorus of voices erupted simultaneously, deafening.

Chen Shaoyan fixated on the familiar figure before her, confusion, shock, and disbelief flooding her heart.

"Li..."

"Li Brother?"

She murmured, rubbing her eyes.

The cawing of crows rang harshly overhead.

...

The Orphanage Principal was bowing down toward the flock of crows, which seemed to be directed toward the Seventh Ring, possibly from the Governance Office of the Seventh Ring.

He finally responded:

"He is terror, he is legend, he is taboo."

"He embodies the deepest fear in reality."

"He is the watcher over the fields, and also the overseer from the mountains."

The Colossus Principal felt goosebumps, a tingling sensation at the back of his head, speaking in a near-dreamlike voice:

"Are you saying..."

"The Scarecrow?"

"Yes, it is He, and He is about to descend!"

In the distance, the flock of crows above the Governance Office of the Seventh Ring suddenly swooped down as if spotting prey.

Though it was still noon, the sky grew darker.