Chapter 68: Approaching

In another world, before the spatial channel.

Groups of Fire-Feathered People constantly gathered, clad in iron armor and wielding curved-blade greatswords.

Like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea, they arranged themselves in perfect order.

Every Fire-Feathered Person's eyes revealed fanaticism, staring tightly at the channel as if some wonderful thing were attracting them.

In the sky, fire-winged birds more than three meters long swept past.

Standing on their backs were Fire-Feathered People each carrying a longbow on their back.

They formed hundreds of bird formations, hovering in mid-air.

Their numbers were so great that the dense mass had no visible end.

Adding to the military ranks on the ground.

Heaven and earth seemed to have turned into a sea of red.

The tall Fire-Feathered Person Lu Xiusi hovered in place, aided by the art of floating.

He inspected the army, silent and speechless.

The spatial channel would open in two hours; that would be the moment to reach the Blue Star.

Originally, according to the Blue Star's strength, it could not withstand the full force of the First-Rank Fire-Feathered People army.

But Lu Xiusi's heart always held unease; as the king of the Fire-Feathered Rayli clan.

Naturally, he was not devout in his faith toward the gods, at most a shallow believer.

To him, the gods were more a tool for ruling the clan.

Secular matters belonged to royal power, faith belonged to the gods; this was precisely the social state of the Fire-Feathered People clan.

Yet the gods were always above all; when the gods wished to launch a holy war, no one dared disobey.

Not even Lu Xiusi, otherwise the legitimacy of his throne would be questioned.

Pushed off the throne by a group of people with ulterior motives.

But this time the gods' command was too outrageous, at least requiring eighty percent of the population to participate in the war.

As if they had not considered the consequences of failure.

Lu Xiusi naturally was not pleased; although he was not a king who cared for the people.

He also understood one principle: if all people died, his position as king would be utterly meaningless.

Considering defeat before victory is the mindset of rulers like Lu Xiusi.

He had also tried to explain the situation to the noble council, attempting to use this opportunity to pressure the divine authority.

The result was naturally of no use whatsoever.

That day, the gods' avatar descended, sweeping the entire scene with a gentle yet solemn gaze.

All who refused to obey lowered their heads.

The flames of judgment burned across the horizon, and the people's cheers echoed through the clouds.

This is the era of the gods; the gods not participating in secular affairs simply means they do not wish to pay attention.

It does not mean they lack control over secular matters.

The churches, deeply embedded in the people's clothing, food, housing, travel, birth, aging, sickness, and death, were originally an embodiment of their power.

When they cast down their gaze, any mortal matter is merely a joke.

Their mighty power is so majestic, their status so great.

Beyond the reach of ordinary things.

If not for Lu Xiusi's capable methods, having sent only a vanguard pawn.

Perhaps the one sitting in this position now would not be himself.

Of course, Lu Xiusi was actually uncertain.

Whether his strategy worked, or whether the gods simply did not care about him.

Perhaps they felt that replacing the king might affect stability.

Unfavorable for the upcoming war.

But in any case, Lu Xiusi dared no longer disobey the gods' command.

"Perhaps I am overthinking; my great army will trample everything."

"From now on, the Rayli clan will depart from the Aetna world."

"And live a peaceful and tranquil life."

Fang Shi sat quietly in the sword-practice room, surrounded by broken dummies.

Today was the nineteenth day, also the day the second breakthrough was about to arrive.

Moreover, only one hour remained until the final arrival.

Fang Shi no longer practiced the sword, quietly recovering his stamina to prepare for the coming fierce battle.

After four days of cultivation, although Fang Shi's White Crane Sword Art had not reached perfection.

It had reached the stage of great mastery.

Additionally, he integrated Longsword Weapon Mastery I, Longsword Weapon Specialization I, Longsword Weapon Proficiency I, and Longsword Attack Lethality I.

Transforming them into a new specialization.

"【Sword Art I】: As the number of battles increases, your use of sword-type weapons becomes more proficient; among one hundred people fighting with sword-type weapons, your ability ranks among the top! You know how to utilize it to inflict maximum damage, and how to strike enemies more easily. (Damage +3, Hit +3, Attack Speed +1, Critical Attack +1)"

The only regret was that Fang Shi's magic power remained at 5 points, with no increase.

Or rather, some magic power hovered within his Lower Dantian, not yet transformed into his own source.

Once this magic power was used, it would be permanently lost.

It cannot recover quickly; it must be slowly refined and accumulated anew.

Only when this magic power is transformed into source essence can Fang Shi's magic power increase by one point.

This is also the moment a Qi Refiner ascends to Level 2.

Ancheng, conference room.

Zhao Wenjun, Director Chen, Professor Wang, and more than a dozen high-ranking officials from the Ancheng gathering place gathered together.

They sat upright, their expressions solemn, eyes unblinking as they stared at the mechanical clock in the center of the conference room.

The time was exactly 11:30 at night.

"One hour remains before the second impact arrives. How prepared is everyone?"

An old man seated at the head of the table was the first to break the silence.

He was once one of the committee members of Ancheng.

After the apocalypse, he survived by sheer luck, climbing from a position retired to the second line to the highest position in Ancheng.

But times have changed; the highest position is no longer a synonym for glory, but a heavy responsibility.

The safety of the remaining two hundred thousand people in Ancheng rests entirely on the old man.

Every decision could carry a heavy price.

Thus, the old man works diligently every day; though exhausted, he dares not relax even the slightest bit.

It is not that he is unwilling to let go of the power in his hands.

Rather, at this critical juncture, a figure who can oversee the entire situation is needed even more.

Those below each have their own ideas.

Their intentions may be good, but their actions differ, and there are even conflicts.

At such times, someone is needed to grasp the direction and command the whole situation.

To avoid internal friction and direct all efforts in one direction.

And now, that person can only be him.

"The military aspect has been fully deployed; combat personnel have been stationed on every floor, ready to deliver the first strike upon arrival."

"The Civil Affairs Department has completed the relocation of the masses, concentrating them all in the residential district by the river."

"The Logistics Department has ample food; we have opened the granaries by the river, enough for two hundred thousand people to eat for a year."

"The Technology Department..."

As report after report was given, a look of relief appeared on the old man's face.

As long as the previous simulations were correct, the chances of Ancheng surviving the second impact are extremely high.

There might even be no loss of life.

The old man smiled: "Very well. It is best if everyone feels there are no problems."

"Then let us await tomorrow."

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The moment the old man finished speaking, the mechanical clock on the wall struck exactly twelve.

Boom!

Light, countless beams of light pierced the dark clouds; the earth seemed plunged into daylight.

Everyone in the conference room rose together, their gazes heavy as they watched the changes outside.

The second impact has arrived!