Fang Yuan's eyes glowed with a faint, digital blue as the System interfaced with the Jade Mist Ley-Lines. To the villagers, history was a collection of myths; to Fang Yuan, it was a series of data points revealing the mechanics of oppression.
[System: Deep History Scan Initiated... Accessing Ancient Soul-Remnants...]
The history of the Jade Mist Realm was a tragedy written in green ink. Two thousand years ago, it wasn't a "Rank 2 World," but a rising Rank 3 Galactic Power. They had mastered the art of "Biological Ascendance," creating medicines that could extend life by millennia.
Then, the Azure Sect (The Cloud Sovereigns) arrived.
They didn't invade with armies; they invaded with "Gifts." They offered the Cloud Anchor as a way to stabilize the planet's atmosphere. In reality, the Anchor was a Genetic Shackle. Within three generations, the people of Jade Mist lost their ability to cultivate high-density Qi. They became "Herbalists"—mere farmers whose only purpose was to refine the very air they breathed into pills for their masters.
"So, the Wither-Rot isn't just a harvest," Fang Yuan whispered, watching a holographic projection of the planet's decaying core. "It's a Purge Protocol. Every few centuries, when the population grows too large or someone like Lin Xiao starts showing signs of 'Original Power', the Sect releases the rot to reset the cycle and harvest the condensed soul-energy of the dying."
The Cloud Messenger coming in 24 hours wasn't just a tax collector. He was the "Executioner" who would activate the Anchor's final phase: turning the entire planet into a single, massive Medicinal Pill to be consumed by the Sect Leaders in the Higher Realms.
Fang Yuan looked at his hands. His World Breaker density was still fluctuating at Rank 5. To face a messenger from the Higher Realms, he needed to turn this "Purge" into his own "Ascension."
"System," he commanded. "Cross-reference the Anchor's resonance with my Devouring Refinement. Can I use the Messenger's own arrival portal to jump straight to the Space-Time Weaver realm?"
[Analysis: Possible. But it requires the sacrifice of the 'Life-Seed' and a high-density catalyst. Efficiency: 92% if the 'Saintess' is used as a lightning rod.]