This primeval forest was incredibly terrifying.
Giant beasts often roamed within it.
Roars shook the heavens, as if tearing apart this world.
Ancient trees as thick as celestial pillars trembled, and leaves rustled down.
Between the mountains and valleys, various terrifying exotic beasts ran rampant.
A massive snake-python, with a head like a small hill, slithered through the primeval forest, leaving a shocking and conspicuous trail. That snake-python was hundreds of meters long, and even at its thinnest point, it would take three or four people to encircle it.
When it reared up, its body alone was tens of meters long.
Its fiery red eyes, as large as washbasins, were like two blood moons.
Yorn immediately activated his stealth mode.
He concealed his aura, stood on a giant tree, watched the massive snake, and marveled slightly.
A giant snake like this was comparable in size to a small Titan.
Before he could say anything more...
A terrifying, mountain-like giant beast leaped up and fiercely clamped down on the giant snake's head.
It was an enormous ape, walking upright, astonishingly massive, with a height comparable to a mountain.
Its entire body was covered in black fur.
With each step, a huge footprint appeared on the ground.
Its eyes, set in its face, gleamed with golden light, sharp and intimidating.
Its overall vitality was like a sea, like a terrifying god or daemon. The giant python was seized by the massive ape, its thick tail thrashing desperately in the dense primeval forest. Their fight caused the mountains to shake violently.
Finally, the snake-python was killed with a single punch. The mountain-like giant beast then bit the snake and dragged it deep into the dense forest.
Yorn witnessed the entire process from the side. The struggles between those behemoths were quite similar to those of Titans. They also possessed unimaginable Aetheric power, capable of controlling and releasing various abilities. The mystery of this world was beyond imagination.
"The Aether concentration is beyond imagination; even plants and animals have undergone mutations," Yorn muttered to himself.
A floating display screen, visible only to him, appeared in his sight.
Various data points flickered rapidly within it.
Like other planets in this universe, it was incredibly vast, beyond imagination, almost comparable to a star.
Yet, the gravity hadn't changed much.
Nor had it collapsed.
Clearly, the physical rules maintaining this planet were vastly different from those in other universes. The excessively dense Aetheric power had distorted the original physical rules, allowing it to exist in defiance of common sense.
Yorn couldn't help but sigh; in the vastness of the heavens, there was nothing that didn't exist.
Furthermore, mysterious dimensional spaces clung to the planet's spatial structure like bubbles.
Yorn didn't provoke those giant beasts.
His mission was merely to investigate any potential resistance forces in this world and eliminate them as silently as possible, paving the way for the Imperium's arrival.
Occasionally, he would also hunt down some giant beasts to allow the proton probes and the augur arrays built into his armor to examine them in greater detail. The genetic sequence of every single cell had been infiltrated by the power of the Warp.
By the Imperium's standards, they could all be called monsters corrupted by Chaos energies.
Yet, there were no obvious signs of corruption or mutation on them. The veil between the Warp and reality was also incredibly strong, difficult to breach. This civilization coexisted harmoniously with the Warp through a unique method. They used realm cores to convert Warp energy and, through some special means, spread it to various worlds, allowing these beings to wield extraordinary power and embark on the so-called path of cultivation.
Yorn examined the information panel floating before him, his face beneath the faceplate slightly solemn. The path taken by the Forgotten civilization was different from that of the Imperium. They were a purely extraordinary civilization.
Even these animals had become so terrifying.
It was likely that those sentient beings also possessed immense power.
If the Imperium wished to take them down...
It would likely require a considerable effort.
But Yorn was not overly concerned about the final outcome.
Because such a civilization was inherently at a disadvantage compared to the Imperium.
Beings on the path of cultivation varied in strength, because under any circumstances, only a minority could use Warp energy at will. This was why Psykers, despite their power, were never mainstream.
Compared to the normal population, the proportion of Psykers was very small. This was why on the path of cultivation, they still screened for things like Dao souls, life essences, spirit roots, muggles, and so on.
In fact, what those civilizations were screening for were Psykers.
Psykers' projections in the Warp were stronger than those of other beings; they were born with various incredible superpowers.
Only Psykers could embark on the so-called path of cultivation. The role of others was abandoned. They were considered useless resources, their only value being farming and procreating the next generation. The strength of a civilization lay in its efficiency in utilizing resources. The more thoroughly resources were utilized, the higher the civilization's level. The Imperium's Psykers were trained within the firewall established by the Emperor, and only after they could independently handle the dangers of the Warp would they leave the Emperor's protection and roam the Aetheric Ocean.
Ordinary people, through learning and training, participated and were invested as usable resources into various fields of the Imperium, becoming small cogs in this massive machine, contributing their value. The value of an individual ordinary person was very small.
But as long as the numbers were large enough, incredible changes would occur. Through the efforts of these ordinary people, the Imperium accumulated vast wealth. This wealth could be used for various grand projects.
Allowing the Imperium to invest unimaginable talent into research and development in various fields.
A speedboat, capable of carrying only one person, can always far outpace an aircraft carrier at the start.
But once it enters the open ocean, the speedboat will find itself in a dilemma: continuing forward is unsustainable, while retreating means all previous efforts are wasted.
An aircraft carrier, however, can face strong winds and huge waves, steadily advancing until it reaches the other shore. The power possessed by this civilization was no less than that of the Imperium, and its population size might also be comparable.
After all, they possessed territory on the scale of a supercluster, nearly 150 million light-years across.
However, their extraordinary system was destined to be incomparable to the Imperium's. The various parts of the Imperium were tightly united by the Emperor.
Yet, the many cultivators in this world fought among themselves, killing each other for so-called spirit medicines and cultivation techniques, lacking a spirit of cooperation and mutual benefit, and with little pioneering spirit.
Even if such a civilization existed for a long time, it would be meaningless. They were merely constantly treading water.
If war were to break out, victory would inevitably belong to the Imperium.
It was merely a matter of how long it would take.
Savage Village, a small human settlement, was located on the edge of the wilderness mountains.
Ancient runes were carved onto the giant stones scattered around the village. These runes could conceal human aura and instill aversion and fear in the many fierce beasts in the mountains and forests. The principle was like smearing oneself with beast dung when walking in the mountains and forests to avoid being harassed by other wild beasts.
As morning arrived, the brilliant dawn light scattered like shattered gold onto the lush green forest sea and the perilous peaks and ravines. The people in the village also woke up one after another. This village lived by hunting and was in a very primitive state.
Many tools used were made from polished stone and bone.
Not even iron or bronze tools were seen.
It was basically equivalent to the tribal era.
If they didn't know how to build houses with stone, Yorn would have directly classified it as the primitive tribal era. The men in the village were all strong-bodied, moving as powerfully and agilely as tigers and leopards.
"This world is one where the strong prey on the weak; to survive, you must be strong enough. Otherwise, your fate will be to become blood-food or slaves," said a middle-aged man dressed in animal skins, with bronzed skin, disheveled black hair, and eyes as sharp as an eagle's.
He stood at the entrance of the village, instructing his tribesmen. The tribesmen nodded in agreement.
After a while, they all headed to various open spaces to train their bodies and practice combat techniques.
Yorn stood not far from the village, merged into the shadows. There was an elderly Psyker in the village.
He was the village chief, white-haired and frail, needing a cane to walk. The old man's sixth sense felt that something was amiss.
However, he released his spiritual sense several times, sweeping around the village to check for enemies, but found nothing.
He simply couldn't detect the Raven Guard standing right at the village entrance, constantly observing them.
**Nourished by the Aetheric Wind, they have gained a certain enhancement; even ordinary people can easily move giant stones weighing several hundred pounds and throw them several hundred meters away.**
**No obvious signs of corruption found; souls remain pure.**
Yorn assessed the people in the village.
He could tell at a glance that many of them had gained enhanced physiques simply by living in the dense Aetheric Wind. They were not Psykers; their projections in the Warp were not strong.
No matter how they cultivated, they couldn't become stronger.
Unless there were special medicines or items that could enhance their projections in the Warp, they couldn't embark on the path of cultivation.
Psykers don't necessarily have to be born; they can also be created later.
Some psychotropic drugs, strong emotional stimulation, and so on.
Ya'en participated in several battles in this universe.
He knew that some cultivators could embark on the path of cultivation with the help of so-called spiritual medicine, elixirs, or ancient artifacts. The Imperium also had some auxiliary equipment that could help an ordinary person become a psyker. The principles of both were the same, leading to the same destination: enhancing the projection into the warp, allowing them to utilize the power of the warp. The morning sun slowly rose, reaching its zenith. The air also became muggy.
Ya'en observed for a while, carefully examining their souls and brains to confirm there was no corruption.
He wrote in his observation diary.
**Can be considered a potential target for recruitment. Perhaps by persuading them, a native army can be formed to alleviate the problem of troop shortage.**
Infiltration and sabotage, and instigating uprisings behind enemy lines, have always been the specialty of the Raven Guard.
In this field, during the Great Crusade led by the Emperor, there were also competitors.
Namely, the Alpha Legion and the Night Lords Legion.
Unfortunately, these two Legions have been branded as traitors, and their records can only be viewed by those with authorization.
In the Imperium's records, only the Raven Guard and their successor chapters were skilled in this art.
Ya'en prepared to visit other places to see how to mobilize the humans of this world. The disparity between rich and poor, the weak being oppressed by the strong, acts of tyranny, and so on.
As long as there was a crack, he could continuously widen it to achieve his goal.
Ya'en was about to leave when he saw a child, about five or six years old, wearing animal skins, attracted by a butterfly. He toddled out of the village.
Chasing the vividly colored butterfly in the wilderness, he ran out of the protection range of the megalithic array.
Approaching the primitive dense forest. The primitive dense forest was full of fierce beasts; even hunting on the periphery required traveling in groups to ensure safety. The village was able to survive peacefully because of the concealment and protection of the runes on the megaliths.
A small child running out like that was bound to meet with misfortune.
A deafening lion's roar came.
A golden-bodied, fire-snorting beast leaped out of the forest.
Seeing the child, it pounced directly.
Its gaping maw contained thick fangs; a small child would likely be chewed to pieces in two bites. The child, only five or six years old, was completely terrified upon seeing the giant beast.
He even forgot how to cry.
He just stared blankly as the giant beast pounced.
Just as he was about to lose his life to the beast's mouth.
A black figure shot out of the air, knocking the giant beast away.
Before the beast could understand what had happened, a short sword pierced its throat and sliced violently, opening it up.
Crimson blood spurted out directly. The blade turned, and the sharp edge plunged into the beast's brain, killing it before it could even let out a final whimper. The entire process was extremely fast, less than a breath's time. The beast was killed. The child, wearing animal skins, stared blankly at all of this, his small head not yet comprehending what had just happened.
He watched as an iron-clad giant effortlessly hunted down a terrifying savage beast that had been troublesome for the village's hunting party.
Ya'en looked at the bewildered child and couldn't help but shake his head.
He walked up to the child. The hand that had been tightly clenched slowly opened, revealing the vividly colored butterfly that the child had been trying to catch.
It was hard to imagine how he could use this hand, capable of easily crushing a savage beast, to catch a butterfly without killing it.
"Take this. Be careful next time, don't run around." Ya'en's voice, slightly hoarse, came from the vox-grille behind the faceplate.
Although the child hadn't yet understood what had happened, seeing the butterfly he liked, he still Foolishly accepted it.
Ya'en heard footsteps approaching from a distance.
He turned and vanished into the air.
By the time the strong adults arrived, all they saw was the corpse of the beast on the ground and the child holding the butterfly.
Besides that, they found nothing else. There were no footprints or scent.
It was as if the child himself had killed the beast. The child, having recovered, told them that a very tall, large man in black armor had killed the beast and given him the butterfly.
"What did that man in black armor look like, child?" The elderly village chief asked gently and kindly. The child shook his head.
"I didn't see his face. I only remember he had a very large, golden, two-headed eagle on his chest."
The child's description made the tribesmen look at each other in confusion. The elderly village chief racked his memory but couldn't recall any tribe or town in this area that used a two-headed eagle as their emblem. The setting sun was brilliant, illuminating the sky filled with clouds. The crimson, blood-like sunset glow shone on the once glorious ancient city, as if flooding this ancient human city with blood.
Pingyan City was one of the top human cities, but now countless tragedies were unfolding.
Among the myriad realms, various races contended.
Humans had always been in a disadvantaged position, casually slaughtered or enslaved by other races.
Pingyan City had a female Saintess presiding over it, which was why it remained safe and became a habitat for humans in this world.
But as time passed, this female Saintess' vitality gradually withered, and her peak was no more.
Some ancient races who had long coveted Pingyan City seized the opportunity to launch an attack. They prepared to take Pingyan City, enslave all the humans here, use them as blood sacrifices, or as trading goods.
Pingyan City was protected by a giant array.
In the sky, dark clouds rolled, and war drums thundered.
Countless banners fluttered, and chariots carved with ancient divine beasts rumbled.
A terrifying aura permeated the air, as if crushing the sky.
Sharp swords gleamed with cold light, and precious armor shimmered; countless powerful individuals had arrived.
On the city walls of Pingyan City, many human powerhouses clad in armor all looked terrified.
With so many powerful enemies, Pingyan City was facing a disaster of annihilation today.
A middle-aged man, clad in armor, sat on a strange beast, holding a long spear. He walked out of the array and stood before the many enemies.
Even though he was alone, he was fearless.
Standing alone before the battle lines, he glared at the opposing side.
"You are going too far! Do you really think our human race is weak and powerless? That we can be bullied at will?"
In the air, a gigantic silver warship, covered with complex runes and flowing with mysterious radiance, hovered.
On the ship, a powerful individual of the Fish-Dragon race, with horns on his head, a strange appearance, and covered in scales, stood with his hands behind his back, his expression cold.
"A bunch of uncivilized ants, too lazy to waste words with you. Today is your doomsday. Today, we will break Pingyan City, and all the humans in this world will become our cattle and horses, our blood sacrifices."
After speaking, he clenched both fists, and array patterns appeared on his fists.
His blood energy and power surged, boundless and domineering, divine radiance piercing the world.
A majestic mountain emerged behind him, accompanied by world-destroying power. The sky rumbled, and his fists manifested infinite power. The middle-aged man only had time to raise his long spear for defense. The powerful Fish-Dragon expert struck with boundless fist intent. The long spear was broken by a single punch, and the middle-aged man was directly blasted apart, his blood staining the sky and falling towards the ancient town below.
Crimson blood splattered across the sky.
Cries of grief and angry curses came from the city.
"Great Commander!"
"Beasts! Fish-Dragon race! Taking advantage of our human Saintess being severely injured and in seclusion, utterly shameless!"
"Do you take us for pigs and dogs, to be bullied at will?"
"Even if we die today, we will make you pay the price!"
Many human cultivators' eyes were bloodshot, and they clenched their fists.
Several whose blood energy was particularly vigorous clenched their fists tightly, their hair flying, enraged to the extreme.
"A bunch of trash, good for nothing but becoming blood sacrifices for stronger races. You who stand out, I will kill every single one." The powerful Fish-Dragon expert said coldly, his killing intent undisguised.
"Kill!"
"Kill!"
"Kill!"
Numerous foreign race powerhouses roared, their momentum astonishing.
Killing intent materialized, terrifying and absolute, stirring the cosmic energy between heaven and earth.
Dark clouds enveloped them, obscuring the last ray of blood-like sunset.
"Break the city! After today, the humans of this world will be our blood sacrifice slaves!" The powerful Fish-Dragon expert issued the command.
Numerous warships simultaneously erupted with light, dazzling and brilliant. Lines of terrifying energy manifested, and countless killing intents burst forth at the same time. Thousands of rays of light erupted simultaneously, bombarding the array protecting Pingyan City, stirring up ripples.
Moments later, several top powerhouses joined forces, activating a supreme treasure, and using its might to shatter the array.
"Kill all these ants!" The powerful Fish-Dragon expert's voice was icy. "Such a weak race is not fit to live on this land."