Chapter 124: Departure for the Eastern Federation

“If that theory is correct, then the peak-level powerhouses of the Xianxia Version and the Apocalypse Version must be just like the Intelligent God—locked into a specific version, unable to exist elsewhere.

If that’s truly the case, then my plan to slay enemies across versions might end in disappointment.

I’ll even have to be cautious when acting in lower-energy versions, lest I inadvertently provoke one of those ‘only ones of this world’ and create a hidden danger for a future version.”

“But looking at it another way, this could actually be a good thing. At the very least, I won’t have to worry about getting ambushed by the Intelligent God the moment the next version loads.”

Lu Yan frowned slightly, weighing the pros and cons in his mind.

While he flipped through Treatise on the Heavenly Dao, people around him had begun casting surprised glances his way.

They weren’t looking at the book—but at the personal terminal in Lu Yan’s hand.

Its sleek, sci-fi design and the virtual projection interface drew murmurs of admiration. Some even took out their phones to record.

Seeing this, Lu Yan promptly shut off the holographic screen, stowed away the Treatise on the Heavenly Dao, and quickly left the street.

As he walked, he considered another matter.

Thanks to his recent experience in the Cyber Version, Lu Yan now held the identity of a Phoenix City councilman. Within the Western system, this counted as a rather prestigious position.

It was a title he had earned through blood and grit. Even if the version changed, this identity would remain valid. The simplest path forward was to stay in the Union and strengthen his influence here, maybe even expand the Kowloon Fitness Club.

Who knew? If he ever landed in a high-energy Western version, he might be able to ride that identity all the way to the top.

But the problem was, for Lu Yan, the Western versions were ultimately just stepping stones. His primary cultivation path still lay in the Xianxia Version.

The Red Lotus Karma Flame Scripture, the Xuanhuang Merit Flame, the Soul Banner—these were all critical to his power.

That meant whether he was seeking status or personal strength, returning to the Eastern Federation would always be his best option.

After a brief pause, Lu Yan made his decision.

He opened his personal terminal, traced down Shark’s phone number, and made the call.

Ten minutes later, a red sports car pulled up to the curb. A massively built muscleman stepped out, his exaggerated physique drawing stares from passersby.

The moment he got out, Shark flashed a wide, almost fawning smile.

“Boss, you called?”

Lu Yan’s spiritual eyes swept over Shark’s body in an instant, fully analyzing his physical state.

Back in the Cyber Version, Shark had already undergone a second wave of soul-energy enhancement after becoming a city councilman. The most advanced enhancement tech in City 14 had turned him into an elite soul user.

Given time to acclimate, he would’ve been able to undergo an advanced enhancement procedure and ascend to a level comparable to the Foundation Establishment stage.

But after just a single version update, Shark’s physical condition had regressed to that of a normal human—perhaps slightly stronger than average, but with no trace of soul energy or modification remaining.

It was as if the version update had replaced his entire body.

Seeing this transformation firsthand for the first time, Lu Yan couldn’t help but marvel inwardly.

Meanwhile, Shark shivered. He felt as though Lu Yan’s sharp gaze was peeling back the flesh from his bones. His secret of injecting three doses of Kowloon Power daily had nowhere to hide.

Lu Yan didn’t bother with Shark’s petty fears and spoke directly:

“Prepare an identity document for me. Also, get the fastest ticket to the Eastern Federation.”

Shark immediately pulled out his phone and made a call.

After issuing several commands, he turned back respectfully.

“Boss, the fastest flight to the Eastern Federation departs in two hours. Your identification will be delivered to the airport in advance.

Do you want to rest for a while first, or should I drive you straight there?”

“Let’s go now,” Lu Yan replied without hesitation.

He didn’t want to waste time.

The version update had just completed, and no one knew how long the Urban Version would last. There were many things he needed to handle back in the Eastern Federation.

After settling into the passenger seat of the sports car, Lu Yan noticed a box beside him.

He opened it to find a collection of brightly colored syringes.

Before the Cyber Version ended, Lu Yan had shut down the underground drug factory and prepared a stash of three hundred thousand doses of Kowloon Power for Shark. It seemed these had successfully carried over during the version update.

Lu Yan casually picked up one syringe and examined its contents. Just as he suspected, there wasn’t a trace of spiritual energy.

It appeared the original spiritual properties had been replaced with some kind of synthetic compound. Lu Yan had no expertise in this field and couldn’t determine the specifics.

The car was quiet.

Shark drove while occasionally casting cautious glances at Lu Yan.

To him, Lu Yan had always been shrouded in mystery.

From the creation of the Kowloon Power serum to the way he manipulated political battles, everything about him reeked of the extraordinary. Shark feared Lu Yan more than he respected him.

Swallowing discreetly, Shark decided to strike up a conversation.

“Boss, do you know what Quentin’s up to now?”

Lu Yan raised an eyebrow with mild curiosity. After deciding to shut down the Cyber Version’s underground plant, Quentin had also left Bunker 71.

“Go on.”

Seeing Lu Yan’s interest piqued, Shark grinned and said:

“I told him a few times that with his physique, he basically has a natural-born holy body for bodybuilding—at least that’s what the Eastern Federation would call it. I said if he joined the Kowloon Fitness Club, he’d get all the resources he wanted.

But he insisted on going to a tech company to study biotechnical surgery and prosthetic enhancements. Now, he’s joined a company called Mother Tree of Life.”

“Mother Tree of Life?” Lu Yan’s brow furrowed slightly. That name didn’t seem to fit the style of the Urban Version.

Still, since he was about to leave the Union, he didn’t look into it further.

Quentin had once taught himself compiler theory and soul-code tattoos, proving he had real talent. If he could continue down that path, all the better.

As the sports car sped toward the airport, it passed a commercial plaza. A large electronic billboard suddenly caught Lu Yan’s eye.

On the screen, a green twin-tailed girl piloted a helicopter. From off-screen, a missile came soaring in. The chopper and the girl were instantly engulfed in flames.

But in the next scene, the girl fused with the helicopter, becoming a massive transforming robot that launched into an intense battle against various enemies.

It was a short clip—apparently a movie trailer—but judging from the crowd’s reactions, the promo was being well-received.

Lu Yan was momentarily stunned.

He recognized her—that green twin-tailed girl had been Green Vine, his guide in the Cyber Version.

After settling in Bunker 71, he hadn’t interacted with her much. But her identity as a “female combat helicopter” had left a lasting impression.

When chaos erupted in the lower districts, Green Vine had apparently retreated into the deeper bunkers along with the masses. He’d heard nothing of her since.

He never imagined she’d become a movie star in the Urban Version—and in such a roundabout way, realize her dream of becoming a real combat helicopter.

A small smile tugged at Lu Yan’s lips.

Once again, he thought of that line:

“This is the best of times.”

(End of Chapter)