Chapter 1624: Departure 2

Ten minutes later.

Looking at the 113 third‑level seniors who had gathered for the emergency assembly, Lin An let out a light breath and said nothing more.

"These light balls in my hand are aggregates of rule fragments."

"Each light ball roughly represents a thousand units of rule; there are twelve types in total, enough for at least a thousand third‑level individuals to break through to fourth level."

As he spoke, Lin An released his suppression of the rule fragments.

Instantly, a violent, suffocating mighty pressure burst outward.

Under the impact of over twelve hundred rule fragments, the Long An elites who were only third level turned deathly pale, their eyes filled with shock.

How powerful this force is!

This power is fourth‑level!? Over a thousand units of fourth‑level power!?

Although we knew Lin An was incredibly strong, facing the thousand‑plus units of fourth‑level power he casually produced, everyone's worldview was shaken again, their hearts filled with astonishment.

Especially the meaning behind Lin An's words.

"Captain Lin! What is this!?"

Unlike most people who hadn't reacted yet, at this moment Zhang Tie sucked in a breath of cold air, his eyes filled with doubtful surprise.

"Over a thousand rule fragments!? Holy shit! How many points does this thing cost!? Captain Lin, how many…"

He stopped mid‑sentence, Zhang Tie instantly clamped his mouth shut, realizing his question was too stupid.

What he wanted to ask was how many alien species Lin An had killed and how many system rewards he had earned to exchange for these fragments.

But then he thought, Captain Lin had blown up an alien planet, so naturally he had killed tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands!

It seemed Zhang Tie's reminder had alerted everyone.

Huang Haitao, his face deathly pale, stared at the dense rule fragments in Lin An's hand and felt dizzy for a moment.

He recalled seeing something like this on the exchange list during the competition.

How many points was it again?

Ten thousand or a hundred thousand!?

I can't recall exactly, but I know the exchange price for rule fragments is astronomically high for us—almost a priceless key!

To become fourth level, one either relies on cards or rule fragments; relying on oneself… is just too hard, too hard.

Therefore, for us third‑level individuals, rule fragments are divine artifacts that lead to the fourth level.

If these fragments were released to the outside world, even a single one would drive the entire war zone mad; countless Awakened Ones would fight desperately for them.

Just look at the situation in the Huaxia war zone to know.

Why could those newly emerged fourth‑level individuals absorb so many survivors in such a short time!? Isn't it because they claimed the deities behind them could grant power!?

Not to mention rule fragments of this level; even first‑ or second‑level strengthening potions would drive people mad.

"Lord Lin An?"

"You intend to…"

Not daring to ask, not daring to speak, not daring to think!

Although Huang Haitao sensed Lin An's implication, facing such a divine object he felt his heart tremble.

These days he had frequently sought information from that tree, naturally knowing what fourth level truly meant.

Lin An producing so many rule fragments at once is truly terrifying!

Looking at those dazzling fragments representing supreme power, everyone in the meeting room seemed about to faint from fright.

"Exactly."

Ignoring everyone's various excited, trembling gazes, Lin An chuckled lightly and casually distributed the rule fragments as follows.

"Use these fragments according to your strengths and what you can absorb."

"After this, every third‑level member of Long An, starting from the intermediate stage, can choose their own future rule path."

"With the help of these fragments, you should be able to reach fourth level in a short time."

After speaking, Lin An patiently gave everyone time to digest this information.

There are twelve rules; six are conventional elemental systems, the rest are space, speed, and other rules strongest in combat.

Of course, these are only the strongest rules I have seen in battle.

For easier absorption, I deliberately chose a few rules that are easy to understand.

With the aid of these rules, Long An's fourth‑level power will erupt in a gushing burst.

Previously, Lin An had considered pacing and believed rules were best understood personally.

But now…

There's no time, and it's unnecessary.

The human side's strength is too far behind his; without reaching fourth level, they could hardly help him in the coming apocalypse.

Especially since we no longer need to worry about pacing, Lin An naturally won't be stingy about boosting everyone's strength.

With the points provided by the entire alien civilization, even if we waste them wildly, it's enough to support him hatching nearly ten thousand fourth‑level individuals—and still have plenty left.

If the enhancement attribute weren't limited to self‑use, Lin An would simply think of manufacturing a batch of fourth‑level body systems.

"Good heavens! This is space rule!? This is what I had guessed before!"

"Holy shit! This is flame compression ability!? No, this is compressed energy rule!"

"Super‑effect acceleration!? Absorbing this rule, I could break through forty times the speed of sound!?"

One after another, exclamations of extreme shock and disbelief rang out in the meeting room.

All the third‑level Awakened Ones present were ecstatic to the point of losing coherence.

There's no way—it's too shocking, too exaggerated.

According to Lin An's meaning, these things are for them! And starting from third level, everyone gets a share!

Such a grand gesture even made them fear they were dreaming.

What does this even amount to!?

This is equivalent to before the apocalypse even broke out, Lin An alone handed them out a hundred—No! a thousand hundred million! Long An's treatment was already excellent, and they felt they didn't even deserve to enjoy these!

Outside, although the current survivors are not like in the early days of the apocalypse, they have hardly even seen any equipment.

But a single Rule Fragment leading to the Fourth Stage is worth as much as an entire set of gear!?

If Lin An were to take these out, let alone a whole batch, even a single one would be enough for countless survivors to give up everything, trading their lives for it.

After all, in that brutal battlefield of the competition, many Third Stage peak fighters, by the time it ended, had not even managed to exchange points for a single fragment.

"Lord Lin An!? Are these for us!?"

"No, it's too precious! This is really...!"

They were excited, frightened to the point of being unable to speak.

Several Third Stage Awakened Ones who had joined Long An only half a year ago stammered, looking at Lin An with both longing and fear.

They didn't want it to be fake.

The problem is, this thing is too precious—so precious that they felt their own lives weren't worth that much.

Although they didn't know why Lord Lin An could produce so many fragments, in their excitement they couldn't help but speculate about his purpose and whether he would demand something from them.

Give their lives? They were already prepared to die loyally for Lin An.

If Lord Lin An didn't mind, they would even be willing to sign a slave contract just to ease their conscience!

However, contrary to everyone's various guesses, Lin An smiled and, as if the fragments he gave were just scrap paper, calmly said:

"Just digest them and quickly increase your strength."

"Future hardships will require us to face them together. Every bit more strength we have is another bit of hope."

After Lin An finished speaking, he gestured for everyone to first distribute these fragments among themselves, sighing slightly inside.

To be honest, he indeed often had to prioritize raising his own strength.

But that is Lin An himself—he can only rely on himself, believing that once he gains strength, he can play a greater role.

But if he didn't have to face these pressures himself, silently bearing the disaster, wouldn't Lin An want to hide in the back and let stronger ones take the front?

Rather than his own strength, Lin An would prefer everyone to be strong.

One person really is too tired, too tired.

That despair and darkness of fighting alone is beyond what most people can imagine.

After countless breakdowns and struggles, Lin An himself doesn't even know how he managed to endure.

"Lord Lin An..."

"Captain Lin..."

Hearing Lin An's somewhat heavy words, which conveyed his hope for them to grow, Huang Haitao instantly stared with his mouth open, somewhat lost in thought.

Many of the Long An Third Stage who weren't familiar with Lin An now felt a mix of emotions, seeing Lin An before them as a great mountain, a shield holding them all up.

How ridiculous—Lord Lin An doesn't even care about Rule Fragments, the very things that can make one reach the Fourth Stage!

Those people even slandered Lin An for hoarding resources, calling him a worm, a demon that deprives them of resources to raise their strength!

So shocking, as they directly realized how many levels Lin An had surpassed global survivors, everyone's pent-up frustration and anger grew heavier.

As if suddenly realizing something, Huang Haitao's eyes flashed with determination, and he pushed away the Rule Fragment in front of him.

"Lord Lin An! Actually, if you gave these things to us, we'd be better off distributing these Rule Fragments!"

"Use the Rule Fragments as rewards! As proof! Tell those deceived people outside! You don't even need to snatch their things!"

"Moreover, the so-called divine-given powers are nothing but a joke compared to these Rule Fragments!"

"I believe that if we take these out, all Awakened Ones worldwide will go crazy wanting to join us! All doubts about us will be readily resolved!"

"How dare they even compare themselves to you!?"

"It's not that you need humanity; humanity needs you!"