Seeing this System prompt,

Zhou Huai was somewhat surprised at first.

Then, all expression on his face completely vanished, turning unprecedentedly solemn.

This time, he wasn't excited about being able to obtain another guaranteed SSS-Level Avatar.

Through this System prompt, he learned an important piece of information.

Kujo Koji was about to resurrect the true Old Ancestor of the Kujo Family.

Kujo Naruya, SSS-Rank Professional 【Amaterasu】.

The System's quest was either to stop the resurrection or to kill him.

The difficulty of this quest surpassed any previous one.

You must know that the resurrected Kujo Naruya would be at his Peak.

For such a legendary Professional who only existed in historical books and myths, no one knew how strong he truly was during his lifetime.

Even if all of his Avatars were dispatched, he probably wouldn't have the slightest chance of winning.

Therefore, there was only one choice placed before Zhou Huai.

That was to stop Kujo Koji before he could resurrect Kujo Naruya.

Snatch away the Pendulum of Life.

However, the difficulty of this was still despairingly high.

Now Sakura Country had lost Soma Kosuke.

However, the SS-Rank Experts around Kujo Koji were becoming more and more numerous.

Wada Hirayama, Qinze Taichiro, Chong Wenguma, Kujo Masakage, as well as two SS-Levels from the Dawnbreaker Guild.

That was a full six SS-Rank Professionals.

Moreover, according to Zhou Huai's judgment, every single one of them was at least Level 70 or above, and might have even touched the threshold of Level 80.

Yet although Zhou Huai currently had many Avatars, not even a single one of them had reached Level 50.

The massive chasm in Level was difficult for any strategy to bridge.

The time left for him and Great Xia Nation was running out.

He had to take drastic measures.

He immediately looked at Tang Qi beside him.

"Tang Qi, from now on, you and Natsume Rinku stay right here and don't make any moves."

Seeing his solemn expression, Tang Qi instantly realized the seriousness of the matter and hurriedly nodded.

"Understood. Your Excellency, are you planning to...?"

Zhou Huai didn't answer, only saying indifferently:

"I can't tell you too much for now; just wait for my arrangements."

"Before I return, ensure your own safety."

Tang Qi nodded heavily, his gaze resolute.

"Yes!"

Having finished speaking, the newly awakened Ever-changing Star Lord actually closed his eyes once more, his body leaning backward and falling straight back onto the bed.

Leaving a bewildered Tang Qi and Natsume Rinku staring at each other with big eyes.

"This..."

Natsume Rinku looked at the master on the bed who seemed to have instantly fallen into a dead sleep, and then looked at Tang Qi, her little face written all over with helplessness.

She cautiously edged closer to Tang Qi and asked in a voice like a mosquito's buzz:

"Mr. Tang Qi, is Master... is he cultivating?"

"In... in the way of sleeping?"

Tang Qi's mouth twitched slightly.

How could he possibly know what tricks this unfathomable Ever-changing Star Lord was up to.

But he still put on a stern face, lowered his voice, and said seriously to Natsume Rinku:

"Don't ask about things you shouldn't."

"When it's your turn to know, Master will naturally tell you."

"Come out with me, don't disturb him."

"Oh..."

Natsume Rinku had no choice but to obediently shut her mouth. Although her heart was filled with a hundred thousand whys, she still obediently followed Tang Qi and tiptoed out of the room.

At the instant they closed the bedroom door,

Zhou Huai's consciousness had already crossed ten thousand miles, descending into the body of another Avatar.

Great Xia Nation, Imperial Capital Military Department.

Gandalf.

"Boom——"

Accompanied by a violent spatial fluctuation, a portal flashing with dim blue light slowly dissipated.

Covered in blood stains and the scent of gunpowder, Gandalf leaned on his staff and stepped out from within.

Behind him were mountains of corpses of various high-tier strange beasts.

Through these days of running dungeons, grinding monsters, and leveling up day and night,

his Level had already reached Level 47.

Just one final kick away, he would be able to unlock a brand-new Avatar slot once more.

"Lord Gandalf."

As soon as he walked out of the dungeon, a young general who had been waiting here for a long time immediately greeted him and respectfully executed a military salute.

"Marshal Zhao has returned."

"He asks you to go over immediately."

Controlling Gandalf, Zhou Huai smiled slightly upon hearing this, a meaningful expression appearing on his aged face.

"Heh, Marshal Zhao has returned at just the right time."

"Great minds think alike; I happen to have important business with him too."

Soon, led by the young general, Gandalf was brought to Marshal Zhao Qingcang's office.

As soon as he entered the door, Zhou Huai's gaze fell upon the sturdy figure behind the desk.

The Old Marshal was sitting there, seemingly reviewing some documents.

Zhou Huai's line of sight noticed the white gauze wrapped around Zhao Qingcang's wrist at the very first moment.

As well as the blood-red health bar above his head that had quietly decreased by one-tenth.

Zhou Huai's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

"Marshal, you're injured?"

Hearing the voice, Zhao Qingcang raised his head. Seeing it was Gandalf, a trace of a smile appeared on his face as he waved his hand dismissively.

"Heh, I'm old and useless."

"I briefly exchanged a couple of moves with that fellow named Qinze Taichiro at the border."

He shook his wrist wrapped in gauze, his tone relaxed.

"His poison has some tricks to it; it carries a healing-prohibition effect."

"However, it's not a big problem. This old bone can still endure it, and it will be fine in a few days."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Huai's heart sank instead.

Controlling Gandalf, his voice also deepened by a few degrees.

"Even you... are no match for that Qin Ze?"

This remark seemed to poke at the Old Marshal's sore spot.

Zhao Qingcang stared with wide eyes and scolded with displeasure:

"Nonsense!"

"Back then, he was also a top-tier expert among the SS-Levels!"

"Furthermore, he is currently at the Peak of his prime, while this old bone of mine is almost in the grave. Isn't it completely normal to be slightly inferior?"

Having said that, as if unconvinced, he straightened his back, his face carrying an undisguised air of arrogance.

"If I could return to my Peak—no, let this old man be ten years younger!"

"I would also be a match for that Qinze Taichiro on equal terms!"

Seeing this, Zhou Huai hurriedly followed up on his words and flattered him with a compliment.

"The Marshal is as vigorous as ever, and your majestic demeanor is no less than back in the day."

"Alright, stop flattering me here."

Zhao Qingcang waved his hand impatiently, signaling him to sit down.

"Let's chat."

"What on earth is the situation over in Sakura Country right now?"

Zhou Huai sat down on the chair opposite him, his expression turning solemn once more.

Without beating around the bush, he cut straight to the point:

"The situation is very bad."

"Soma Kosuke is dead."

"The Omiya Family is finished as well."

"Right now, the entire Sakura Country has fallen into the hands of the Kujo Family."

Zhou Huai paused for a moment and continued,

"Not only have they resurrected Qinze Taichiro, they've also resurrected the King of a Hundred Ghosts from a hundred years ago, Kujo Masakage."

"Next, they are going to prepare to resurrect that legendary Amaterasu."