With just a casual strike, Zhang Zheng destroyed a planet.
Guan Kun stared at the shattered asteroid, which exploded like fireworks, his mouth agape. Destroying a planet was something the four great guardians of the Solar Flame civilization could achieve, but it required multiple attacks and constant bombardment using stellar energy. Only Pan Zhen could accomplish such a feat with a single blow. Even this mighty deity needed a long time to charge up before delivering his most powerful attack.
"Are you threatening me? Our Solar Flame civilization is not afraid of threats," Pan Zhen said sternly. He then drew his weapon and pointed it at Zhang Zheng, ready for a fight. Guan Kun followed suit, preparing for battle.
"Don't misunderstand, General Pan. I'm only demonstrating that I have the capability to repair the Solar Flame Star," Zhang Zheng said with a relaxed expression. Ignoring the hostile expressions of Pan Zhen and Guan Kun, Zhang Zheng put on the Infinity Gauntlet and extended his fingers towards the asteroid fragments.
A green light enveloped his left hand, and a green circular pattern with mysterious runes appeared in front of his palm. As Zhang Zheng's hand turned, the intricate symbols on the pattern rotated as well.
Seeing the asteroid gradually recovering as Zhang Zheng's wrist turned, Pan Zhen's jaw dropped. At that moment, he looked nothing like a mighty deity; he seemed like an unsophisticated country bumpkin.
"Is it the power of time?" Pan Zhen asked uncertainly, gazing at the fully restored asteroid. No one in the known universe had ever been reported to control the power of time.
"Exactly, time reversal," Zhang Zheng said lightly.
This, this, this is a miracle, Guan Kun thought, his mouth agape and his eyes wide with shock. He then seemed to recall something and turned to Pan Zhen. "General, the Solar Flame Star is saved," Guan Kun said with tears of joy in his eyes.
The four great guardians of Solar Flame, from the old Solar God to the current goddess Reina, had always guarded the Solar Flame Star. A thousand years ago, the War God of the Nox cut the Solar Flame Star in half with a black blade. The old Solar God sacrificed his life to barely preserve half of the planet. The people of Solar Flame suffered heavy casualties. Every time they thought about it, the four guardians felt deep remorse for failing to protect their planet.
"Please, do help us save the people of Solar Flame from their suffering," Pan Zhen said respectfully, clasping his hands in front of Zhang Zheng.
Although Pan Zhen often said that wherever the gods were, the Solar Flame civilization would be, whether it was a planet or a star, he didn't care. No one wanted to see their homeland destroyed, especially someone like Pan Zhen who held traditional values. The Solar Flame civilization valued "national prosperity and peace," but with only half of the Solar Flame Star remaining, could it really be considered "prosperous and peaceful"? Only the gods themselves knew.
"Don't worry, General Pan. Zhang Zheng keeps his promises. Besides, I'm friends with Reina, so I'll help within my capacity," Zhang Zheng said with a smile.
Pan Zhen felt immensely happy hearing Zhang Zheng's words. For the first time, he felt that his goddess wasn't so terrible. By going to Earth, Reina had made a friend who could help repair the Solar Flame Star.
"Please come to the Solar Flame Star. We must report this good news to our goddess." Pan Zhen gestured for Zhang Zheng to follow.
As soon as they returned to the Solar Flame Star, the other two great guardians arrived.
"General, have you found out what's going on?" Blue Dragon Guardian Lei Yan asked Pan Zhen, clasping his hands.
"Cancel the alarm. The visitor is a friend of our goddess Reina. You should receive our ally with the highest courtesy. I have urgent matters to attend to and must go to the Heavenly Dao Tower." Pan Zhen said, and without waiting for Lei Yan's response, hurriedly left.
Lei Yan and the others were confused by Pan Zhen's words. As guardians of Goddess Reina, they were unaware of such a friend. They looked to Guan Kun for clarification.
Seeing his comrades' puzzled expressions, Guan Kun explained the situation. Hearing Guan Kun's explanation, Lei Yan and Yu Xu were astonished and excited. Lei Yan even shouted to his subordinates, "Prepare a feast."
Zhang Zheng, meanwhile, was enjoying the hospitality at the banquet hall. Seated in the primary position, he felt as if he had traveled back in time, experiencing a royal court banquet. The traditional dances of the Solar Flame Star and the frequent toasts made him feel as if he was in an ancient TV drama.
Seeing that this indulgence was becoming too tedious, Zhang Zheng decided to take action. When he saw Pan Zhen enter the hall, he quickly approached him and said, "General Pan, let's focus on the important matter and restore the Solar Flame Star."
Pan Zhen, seeing Zhang Zheng more anxious than himself, smiled inwardly. It was no wonder he was a friend of Goddess Reina—despite his great power, his personality was quite youthful and childish.
Still, Pan Zhen asked, "Is there anything you need help with?"
Zhang Zheng considered Pan Zhen's question and replied, "I need a copy of how the Solar Flame Star used to look. The planet has been destroyed for over ten thousand years. Reversing time would be too burdensome for me, so I want to recreate the missing half of the Solar Flame Star in a different way."
"Understood. Please prepare to receive the data," Pan Zhen said, and then provided Zhang Zheng with the data of the Solar Flame Star from ten thousand years ago.
With the data in hand, Zhang Zheng said to Pan Zhen, "Good, let's start now." He then led the way out of the banquet hall.
Zhang Zheng and Pan Zhen arrived in space, looking at the damaged Solar Flame Star and the floating fragments.
"I'll begin preparations now. Please, generals, move or destroy the fragments of the broken Solar Flame Star," Zhang Zheng instructed.
As for why Zhang Zheng didn't handle the fragments himself, he simply said it was inconvenient. Even if they were just debris, they belonged to the Solar Flame people, and as an outsider, he felt he had no right to handle them.
Watching as the fragments were reduced to cosmic dust, Zhang Zheng gained a new understanding of the Solar Flame civilization. In terms of destruction, no civilization could compare to Solar Flame. No wonder in the original story, Carl and Morgana were so wary of Pan Zhen and Emperor Reina.