Chapter 61: The Golden-Horned Behemoth Appears!

“This is the Golden-Horned Beast!”
Staring at the image captured by the satellite on the screen, Babata couldn’t help but cry out in shock, “How could a Golden-Horned Beast appear on Earth?!”

“Golden-Horned Beast? Babata, you know this monster?!” Luo Feng asked urgently.

When Luo Feng saw the Golden-Horned Beast attacking the North American war base, the first thought that flashed through his mind was that the ‘apocalypse crisis’ Jiang Chen had mentioned a year ago had truly arrived.

Then, Luo Feng quickly realized that since Babata recognized the monster, it might know something about it. Faced with a beast that could swallow an enormous base in one gulp, Luo Feng had no confidence in confronting it. Any information would tip the odds in his favor.

“This is a monster known as a ‘Starry Sky Beast’…” Babata hurriedly began to share what it knew.

Yet before it could finish, Luo Feng received an emergency call summoning him to a meeting at the Temple of War Gods.

——

Inside the Temple of War Gods, all the war gods, councilors, and high-ranking leaders from every major force on Earth had gathered.

The president of the United States was presenting footage, explaining the crisis to all the powerful figures of Earth.

“Allow me,” Jiang Chen interrupted the president, “I happen to know something about this monster.”

Hearing this, many couldn’t help but turn their eyes to Jiang Chen.

“In the universe, there is an extremely unique monster race called ‘Starry Sky Beasts.’ This creature is one of them—a metallic devourer known as the Golden-Horned Beast. Within a year of its birth, it can reach star-level strength. This particular Golden-Horned Beast is at the star-level.”

Jiang Chen shared his knowledge of the Golden-Horned Beast.

“Star-level? What does that mean?”

“A councilor is a planetary-level powerhouse; above the ninth rank of planetary level is star-level.”

Some were unfamiliar with the classifications—planetary-level, star-level, universal-level—but the elite of Earth were not entirely ignorant of cosmic information.

Those who understood immediately explained the hierarchy of these levels to those around them.

—

Even within the HR Alliance, some high-ranking members knew of the ‘Starry Sky Beasts’ and promptly confirmed Jiang Chen’s words.

“I possess a special mecha. Under my direct control, it can achieve star-level combat power. But Starry Sky Beasts are unrivaled among their peers—I’m not certain I can defeat it,” Jiang Chen said, sweeping his gaze over the crowd. “I need helpers—helpers with enough strength. At least planetary-level rank five, or who can, through special means, unleash power at or above planetary rank five. Anyone weaker would just be throwing their lives away.”

“Mecha?” A councilor wanted to ask more, but was immediately interrupted.

The interjector was ‘Hong,’ the strongest man on Earth.

“Are you confident you can defeat the Golden-Horned Beast?” Hong looked at Jiang Chen.

“No, but we have to try,” Jiang Chen shook his head.

A bald man stood up, his demeanor wild and unrestrained, and declared loudly, “Well said! If we can’t stop the Golden-Horned Beast, humanity is doomed sooner or later. Even if we’re not certain, we have to fight!”

The speaker was none other than Earth’s second strongest, the founder of the Thunder Martial Hall, ‘Thunder God.’ “Mr. Jiang, you’re a scientist. Let us handle the fighting. That mecha you mentioned—why not let me pilot it? Maybe it’ll be more powerful.”

“That mecha is specially designed and only my spiritual force can unlock its full potential,” Jiang Chen shook his head. “Besides, Thunder God, your strength lies in your mastery of the blade. Piloting a mecha would only hinder your abilities.”

“You know me well,” Thunder God said, not arguing further. “Anyway, count me in for this fight. Brother, you’ll join too, won’t you?” he said, turning to Hong.

Hong nodded, “Of course. This concerns the fate of all mankind—I won’t turn away.”

“I’m in as well,” Luo Feng declared.

Among those present, besides Jiang Chen, only Luo Feng had long been aware of the coming crisis and had spent a year preparing for it.

Now was the time to step forward, and Luo Feng, by nature, would never shrink from the task.

“Luo Feng, just rely on your own strength—don’t use the ‘Hexagram’ secret skill,” Jiang Chen reminded.

The ‘Hexagram’ secret skill was the technique in the original story where Luo Feng burned his soul in a desperate attack.

Luo Feng blinked, seeming to want to ask more, but the occasion was inappropriate. He could only suppress his doubts.

—

“I obtained a treasure from ‘Ruins No. 17’ that can temporarily boost my spiritual force by three levels. Count me in for this battle as well,” said a councilor named ‘East.’

Before Luo Feng’s rise, ‘East’ was Earth’s strongest spiritual master, though only at planetary rank two.

Even relying on the treasure’s temporary boost, he barely met the minimum requirement of planetary rank five.

“I also have a weapon that can unleash power above my level. Supporting you in battle won’t be a problem.”

“And me—I acquired a unique secret technique from the ruins. It’s only good for one attack, but it can unleash destructive force far beyond my own rank.”

One after another, formidable figures stood up, eager to join the fight.

With the destiny of humanity at stake, few would retreat.

Some war god-level powerhouses even volunteered to be cannon fodder—willing to pay the price of death if it meant distracting the Golden-Horned Beast for a moment and giving others a chance.

Jiang Chen had to emphasize again, “All right, let me repeat: Only those with planetary rank five or higher should go—anyone else would only slow us down.”

After repeatedly stressing the strength requirements and conducting another round of selection, the list for the campaign against the Golden-Horned Beast was finally set.

Jiang Chen, Hong, Thunder God, Luo Feng.

These were the only four on Earth who, without relying on external help, could reach planetary rank five or higher.

Additionally, the genius spiritual master ‘East,’ the top fighter from Russia ‘Sokolov,’ the Chinese military’s ‘Jia Yi,’ and the ‘Emperor of Ice and Snow’ Mohanderson—all gained unique fortuitous encounters in the ruins, enabling them to unleash planetary rank five power as support.

Jiang Chen swept his gaze across the group and said gravely, “After destroying the American base, the Golden-Horned Beast has retreated to the ocean depths. You have half a day to prepare. After that, rendezvous above the Pacific.”

Pausing slightly, Jiang Chen turned to the leaders of each nation and spoke again, “Just in case, when you return, immediately select elite warriors, top scholars, and other key talents and compile a list. I’ll send spacecraft to your continent. If we fail, those on the list will be sent to Mars for refuge, ensuring humanity’s survival.”