Chapter 320: The False Protagonist and a Declaration of War

As a powerful demon cultivator in the Nascent Void Realm, the Blood River Demonlord’s physical body had long been refined to rival that of a neutron star. Every movement he made could unleash destructive force capable of annihilating everything within dozens of kilometers.

Yet before the mysterious Lu Yan, the Demonlord’s thunderous kneeling didn’t stir the slightest ripple in the surrounding environment. Even the marble tiles beneath his feet showed not a single crack.

It was as if his kneeling had been entirely voluntary.

The surrounding Reincarnators, as well as the other Title-level Reincarnators hidden in the shadows, were momentarily stunned by this sudden scene.

They hadn’t heard Lu Yan’s words, and thus didn’t know what had just transpired in that fleeting instant.

Some clueless Reincarnators even whispered in their team channels:

“Tsk tsk, this Blood River Demonlord truly lives up to his reputation. Such composure, such depth. A dignified Title-level Reincarnator kneeling so decisively before a local? That kind of adaptability… we can only dream of it.”

But only the Blood River Demonlord, who had directly faced Lu Yan and borne the weight of that unspeakable pressure, could truly feel the trembling of his own soul from sheer terror.

Only now did he begin to comprehend just how unfathomable this man they had initially dismissed truly was.

As one of the few elite Title-level Reincarnators in the entire Main God Space, the Demonlord had clawed his way to the top from being a mere mortal. He had seen countless powerful beings—Creation Gods worshipped by natives, top-tier Immortals who had attained the Great Dao and achieved indestructible Da Luo Golden Immortal status—but in his eyes, none compared to Lu Yan.

In fact, only when he had stood before the true form of the Main God during a mission that granted him his title, had he sensed an aura even remotely similar to what he felt now from Lu Yan.

And given what Lu Yan had casually stated earlier…

A terrifying thought, one he dared not believe, bloomed in the Demonlord’s mind like a rapidly growing vine.

“Could this man be an existence on the same level… as the Main God?”

What he didn’t realize was that every thought and suspicion churning in his mind had already been laid bare before Lu Yan’s eyes.

The Blood River Demonlord might be a genuine Nascent Void cultivator, far above Lu Yan in cultivation realm—but in terms of actual strength, Lu Yan could crush him with ease.

But Lu Yan had no interest in killing them outright. That would be a waste.

These Reincarnators had descended to this cyberpunk version of the world to initiate a version invasion. Eventually, they would have to clash with the AI God hidden behind the vast Sky Dome.

If so, why not use them to probe the enemy first?

That was why Lu Yan had chosen to reveal his identity as a Level-Six Glorious Councilor—to establish himself as a central native figure, a protagonist blessed by fate.

These Reincarnators had traversed countless worlds and grown accustomed to unraveling storylines. Without absolute power of their own, they often chose to follow the plot and move along the trajectory of the world’s chosen one, the so-called Child of Destiny.

Because doing so usually brought unforeseen benefits while avoiding unnecessary risks.

Under those conditions, a “fated protagonist” role could serve as a guiding and rallying point.

Of course, just holding the title of false protagonist wasn’t enough.

Compared to the powerful systems that the Reincarnators mastered, this world’s psionic system seemed weak and simplistic.

That power disparity could easily make arrogant Reincarnators overlook local strength, resulting in unpredictable problems that could undermine Lu Yan’s plans.

Therefore, Lu Yan needed a more effective solution.

He needed to select someone from the Reincarnators—a powerful, high-ranking figure who commanded the respect and fear of all others—and use him as a medium to manipulate the rest indirectly.

And now, the answer was clear.

The Blood River Demonlord, who had just been forcibly subdued and now knelt in terror, was the perfect candidate.

Earlier, when the Demonlord had tried to provoke and test him under the guise of presenting a head, Lu Yan had silently invoked the divine order of the Celestial Court and Underworld he now commanded.

He had deliberately mentioned the Main God, then used a divine decree to crush the Demonlord’s spirit.

Since the last arc in the Arcane version, the power of Lu Yan’s divine authority had been dramatically elevated. Even Seraph-class beings with fragments of singularity could be suppressed by it.

Let alone an ordinary Nascent Void demon cultivator.

Furthermore, the divine order of his Celestial Court neared the essence of this world’s sole truth.

Against such transcendent pressure, it was inevitable that someone with limited insight—like a Reincarnator from the Main God Space—would mistake him for a being on par with the Main God.

As Lu Yan observed the trembling, sweat-soaked Blood River Demonlord, he casually flicked his hand.

A moment later, the decapitated head of the pitiful Aiwis was discarded like garbage onto the cold marble floor, rolling aside.

Lu Yan strode calmly toward the top of the hall—toward the seat that once belonged to the council president.

Some quick-witted staff had already stepped in, removing the bloodied chair and cleaning up the mess left by Aiwis’s demise.

By the time Lu Yan ascended the dais, the seat symbolizing supreme authority in City 14 had been replaced, pristine and unmarred.

He said nothing, merely taking his place upon the new chair.

His deep, indifferent gaze swept across the massive chamber like a monarch surveying his realm.

Wherever his eyes landed—be it the arrogant councilors or the powerful Reincarnators—everyone instinctively lowered their heads, not daring to meet those eyes that seemed to pierce through all illusion.

A suffocating silence settled over the chamber.

And then, Lu Yan’s calm yet commanding voice rang out, echoing in every ear:

“The AI God seeks to establish the Sky Dome and rule over all!”

“But City 14 was born to resist. It was born for freedom. No one can enslave us—not even a god!”

He paused, his voice rising with righteous fury:

“Starting today, we declare war upon those who dare to seize our fate!”

(End of Chapter)