Zhou Huai continued, "This Mr. Duan is the mastermind behind all the events. Even Kujo Koji relying on the Pendulum of Life to resurrect Kujo Naruya was manipulated by the Dawnbreaker Guild from start to finish."

"He doesn't care at all how many people die in Sakura Country, nor does he care whether Kujo Naruya can be resurrected." Zhou Huai looked at him, "His purpose is to collect more life energy through sacrifices to complete his grand plan."

"Although I am still unclear about the specific details of that grand plan, one thing is certain." Zhou Huai raised his head and looked at Zhao Qingcang, "All of this is related to the Ancient Remnant Clan members that have been appearing in large numbers all over the world recently."

Speaking of this, Zhou Huai raised his previous doubt: "Has a large number of Ancient Awakened Ones already appeared within Great Xia Nation?"

Zhao Qingcang sighed, the worry on his face deepening.

"I was just about to talk to you about this matter." Zhao Qingcang rubbed his throbbing glabella: "Now, Classer with extremely abnormal mental states have appeared in various regions of Great Xia."

"Their strength has experienced an extremely bizarre surge in a short period of time. Especially some college students. Just last night, in the Imperial Capital Academy, Modu Academy, and Chuan Capital Academy, several students who were originally S-Level suddenly underwent drastic personality changes."

"Not only did they wantonly vandalize the campus, but they even brutally murdered mentors and classmates, causing extremely vicious chaos and casualties! Several high-level experts sent by the military to suppress them were even lost."

"I was still wondering before, how did so many Ancient Remnant Clan members suddenly awaken all at once? There was no sign at all, as if they had agreed to outbreak together."

Zhao Qingcang looked at Zhou Huai: "Now hearing you say this, there is some clue. It turns out that all of this is the trickery behind the scenes by that Mr. Duan! He wants to completely disrupt the order of this world!"

"Now the army has completed the surrender ceremony and set off to return to Great Xia. Lin Zhu and I cannot continue to delay here; we must hurry back and personally deal with these Awakened Ones!"

This was precisely the result Zhou Huai wanted.

With Zhao Qingcang and Lin Zhu, two top experts who had returned to their Peak, holding down the fort in Great Xia, they could at least quickly suppress these embryonic Ancient Remnant Clan members.

"Marshal Zhao, I have a request." Controlling Caesar, Zhou Huai's tone became extremely solemn.

"Speak."

"When encountering these Awakened Ones, try not to deal fatal blows, and make sure to leave them alive." Zhou Huai looked at him, "After suppressing them, first cuff them with the highest-specification demon-forbidding chain, and lock them all up in military prisons for strict custody. Do not kill a single one."

"Leave them alive?"

Zhao Qingcang was stunned for a moment. These Ancient Remnant Clan members were extremely dangerous and full of hostility towards modern humans. Once they broke free from their constraints, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Based on the military's past style of action, such extremely dangerous out-of-control elements were often killed on the spot.

"What's the use of keeping them alive?" Zhao Qingcang asked doubtfully.

"I have great use for them." Skipping over the matters of the Alien Parasite and experience points, Zhou Huai gave a positive answer, "In short, they will become my bargaining chips to counter that Mr. Duan."

Although Zhao Qingcang did not understand what the other party meant by "great use", out of unreserved trust in this God of War of Great Xia, he did not delve deeper.

"Alright, I promise you." Zhao Qingcang nodded heavily, "I will issue a supreme secret order to imprison all captured Ancient Awakened Ones into the No. 0 Underground Prison. Waiting for you to interrogate them at any time!"

"Many thanks."

Meanwhile, across the ocean.

The Freedom Federation.

In the center of the Holy City, inside that huge palace symbolizing the supreme power of the federation, the atmosphere was oppressive.

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

He was draped in a deep red robe with a stern face and coldness hidden in his eyes. His pace was extremely fast, and his leather shoes stepped on the marble floor, making rapid sounds.

This person was none other than the second-in-command in the Freedom Federation whose status was second only to the supreme ruler, the Holy-type SS-Rank Expert Archbishop Andrew.

At the end of the corridor, two ten-meter-tall gilded doors were tightly closed.

In front of the doors, two guards clad in heavy armor and holding long halberds stood straight. Judging from the energy fluctuations faintly emanating from their bodies, these two people were actually top-tier knights who had reached the S-Level.

Seeing Andrew walking over quickly, the two guards crossed the long halberds in their hands, their halberd blades blocking the way.

"Lord Archbishop, please stop."

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

Andrew stopped, his expression ugly, and he said in a deep voice: "Move aside, I want to see the Holy Lord."

Even facing Archbishop Andrew, whose Level was as high as 83, the two guards still did not change their expressions and refused to yield an inch.

"The Holy Lord has an order; without his instructions, no one is allowed to enter under any circumstances." The guard's voice had no fluctuations, "Even you, Lord Archbishop, will not do."

Andrew's complexion turned gloomy.

As Francis's right-hand man, he usually entered and left the temporary palace as if walking on flat ground, yet today he was actually blocked outside the door?

"I'll say it again, move aside." Andrew's tone turned cold, and SS-Level Holy-type coercion overflowed from his body.

"I have extremely urgent matters to report to the Holy Lord. If even a second is delayed, the heads of both of you won't be enough to chop off!"

The two guards groaned under the coercion, blood spilling from the corners of their mouths, but the crossed halberds still did not loosen.

Just as both sides were at a stalemate.

An old and majestic voice came from inside the temporary palace.

"Let him in."

Hearing this voice, the tense bodies of the two guards relaxed, showing awe on their faces.

"Yes."

They respectfully nodded, quickly put away their long halberds, and retreated to both sides.

Accompanied by the rumbling sound of machinery, the heavy gilded doors opened inward.

Andrew snorted coldly, tidied up his somewhat disheveled robe sleeves, and strode into the temporary palace.

The door closed behind him, completely cutting off the external light.

The interior space of the temporary palace was extremely large. Innumerable light-type magic cores emitting a soft glow were embedded on the dome, illuminating the entire grand hall. The air was filled with extravagant incense, and taking a single breath made one feel their blood qi surging.

Andrew looked straight ahead, walking directly to the center of the grand hall.

On the luxury couch ahead that was large enough to accommodate a dozen people, lay an old man with white hair and a white beard.

The old man wore loose robes, his eyes slightly closed, and his expression was cozy.

Four or five scantily clad blonde beauties were half-kneeling around the couch, massaging the old man with their hands.

This old man, who looked debauched and on the verge of death, was the strongest person in the entire Freedom Federation, the SSS-Level existence honored by hundreds of millions of citizens as the walking deity—Francis!

Facing such an extravagant and unbearable scene, no emotional ripples arose on Andrew's stern face; he had long since been used to it.

He stepped forward, lowered his head slightly, stroked his chest with his right hand, and respectfully performed a grand salute.

"Andrew pays respects to the Holy Lord."

Francis on the couch made a comfortable humming sound in his throat, not even lifting his eyelids.

"What's the matter? Making you so rash." Francis's voice was somewhat lazy.

Andrew reported directly.

"Holy Lord, we just received an urgent classified report from the intelligence agency."

"Losga City and Newt City, these two cities... nearly one million population, mysteriously disappeared."