Chapter 276: Enlightenment in Desperate Circumstances

Time seemed to freeze for an instant.

Before the Ministry of War position, Han Tong's falling body, like the collapse of a mountain, heavily struck the hearts of every Chen army soldier who witnessed the scene.

The long sword plunged into the ground still hummed, as if speaking of its master's unfulfilled resentment and loyalty.

"General Han..."

The mournful whisper was immediately replaced by a more violent roar.

"Avenge General Han!"

"Kill all these monsters!"

The Chen army soldiers' eyes turned red, like wounded beasts, erupting with astonishing power, they madly lunged at the enemies before them, whether Northern Han soldiers or crystal ore monsters, even those formidable "Netherbones"!

Hatred and grief transformed into the most primal will to kill, actually temporarily suppressing the Netherbones' offensive.

However, Chen Wen seemed to be in another world.

The surrounding deafening shouts of battle, clashing weapons, and deathbed wails seemed to drift away from him.

His gaze was fixed on the patch of land soaked with blood where Han Tong had fallen.

In his mind, uncontrolled images surged forth.

Outside Jiao Tu Zhen, heavy snow fell; those refugees who had frozen and starved to death lay curled, stiff corpses by the roadside.

When Liu Du Tou's rebel army attacked the city, atop the city walls those familiar neighbors, once companions who had cleared land together, fell one by one into pools of blood, their eyes full of longing for life.

On the Gaoping battlefield, corpses littered the wild; countless fine young men gave their lives for an illusory loyalty or survival, forever leaving them on that foreign soil.

Before Chai Rong's sickbed, that pair of eyes filled with regret and unwillingness finally closed dimly.

Also, along this journey, the countless burned villages, barren fields, and tragedies of cannibalism...

This chaotic age is like a huge, blood-stained millstone, mercilessly grinding down everything beautiful, ordinary, and yearning to live.

He originally only wanted to survive, to protect those around him.

But fate step by step pushed him to this position.

He had gained power, established a dynasty, originally thinking he could end all this and bring order and peace to the land.

But why?

Why, like Han Tong—capable, ambitious, willing to serve to quell the chaos—would he still fall in such a miserable way, deep in the darkest darkness before dawn?

Is this chaotic age truly impossible to end?

What gives the death-bringing Iron Crow Army and these cold, merciless rules the right to dominate the fate of all beings?

A tremendous sense of helplessness, mixed with heart-piercing grief, permeated his limbs like icy water.

He bore the so-called dynasty's Fortune Momentum, possessing power beyond ordinary imagination, yet still could not protect those around him he wished to guard.

Then what use is this power?

Then what meaning does this dynasty have?

In that instant of extreme grief and self-doubt, almost about to consume him—

"Your Majesty! The 'Disturb Crystal Tower'... the Disturb Crystal Tower has been activated!"

Zhao Lao Nian, voice trembling with tears, yet full of excitement and resolve, let out a hoarse shout that exploded beside his ear like a thunderclap!

Chen Wen jerked his head up.

Only seen on the Ministry of War position, the "Wide-area Disturb Crystal Tower" guarded by Han Tong with his life, the huge Fortune Momentum Resonance Stone set at its top, specially cut and inscribed with talismanic patterns, suddenly burst forth with dazzling light, sharing the same source as Chen Wen's surrounding golden radiance yet even more condensed!

A thick, brilliant golden pillar of light shot up to the heavens!

Not an attack, but upon reaching its peak, like a canopy it radiated outward, forming countless fine, nearly invisible energy ripples at a specific frequency targeting nether energy, swiftly sweeping across the entire battlefield!

"Zi-la——!!!"

Like a red-hot branding iron plunged into ice water!

When that invisible energy ripple swept over the three crystal stone arrays, the stable flowing azure light, like a stone tossed into a lake surface, violently and turbulently undulated!

The light bands connecting them instantly became thin and dim, as if they might snap at any moment!

The pale azure nether energy field enveloping the battlefield, like a punctured bubble, emitted a series of unbearable wails, suddenly becoming thin and chaotic!

Those crystal ore monsters and medicine persons strengthened by nether energy, as if their power source had been drained, saw the blue light in their eyes quickly fade, their movements grew sluggish, and their howls took on pain and bewilderment.

Even those ferocious "Netherbones," their surrounding nether-energy protection visibly fluctuated, the soul fire in their eyes flickering uncertainly, like a candle in the wind!

Their power was greatly weakened!

"Effective! The Disturb Crystal Tower works!"

"Kill! Their turtle shells won't hold!"

The Chen army soldiers keenly detected the enemy's change, morale surged again, and the assault grew even more fierce!

At the same time.

Chen Wen clearly felt that within him, the Fortune Momentum vortex that had violently churned and nearly lost control due to Han Tong's death, upon resonating with the same-source frequency emitted by the Disturb Crystal Tower, suddenly became extraordinarily docile and solid!

That brilliant golden light, no longer bearing the bloody frenzy, settled into something deeper, heavier, as if bearing the weight of the land and state!

A sudden realization, like lightning splitting darkness, instantly illuminated his heart.

He was wrong.

His previous power relied more on the system, on multipliers, on personal martial prowess.

The protection he understood also relied more on his own strength, to shelter, to rescue.

But personal power ultimately has its limits.

Even as strong as thirty-two times a normal person, he could not protect every individual he wished to shield amidst tens of thousands of troops.

Han Tong's death, like a heavy hammer, shattered his subconscious overreliance on personal martial strength.

True power does not come solely from oneself.

It comes from the land beneath his feet, which longs for peace.

The source comes from the billions of common folk behind him who long for peace.

The source comes from people like Han Tong, Shi Dun, Zhang Cheng, Wang Ru, Qian Gui, Zhao Lao Nian… and the countless soldiers and civilians who follow him, trust him, and are willing to give everything for this fledgling dynasty!

They are the true source of this "Fortune Momentum"!

He, Chen Wen, is not a lone savior.

He is a guide, a focal point, a core representing order and hope.

His mission is not to rely on personal strength to sweep away all obstacles.

Rather, it is to gather these scattered, weak forces, twist them into a rope, forming an unbreakable whole called a "dynasty"!

Protection does not mean personally handling everything.

Rather, it is to establish order, unite hearts, letting this "Fortune Momentum" grow strong enough to protect its people on its own, allowing every loyal and brave soul like Han Tong to fully display their ambitions within the framework of order, rather than pointlessly sacrificing themselves!

Ending the chaotic age is not merely slaughtering all enemies.

Rather, it is to use this gathered, magnificent trend called "Civilization" and "Order" to crush, assimilate, and utterly destroy those cold rules that create chaos and bring destruction!

At this moment, Chen Wen's confusion and sorrow vanished.

In their place came a clear-sighted understanding of the essence, and a firmer, grander resolve.

His gaze swept over the battlefield once again.

Watching those enemies thrown into chaos under the influence of the "Disturbing Crystal Tower".

Watching those soldiers who turned grief and anger into strength after Han Tong's death.

Watching the vast, sea-like force of Fortune Momentum within him, seemingly connected to the entire dynasty's territory and the thoughts of countless citizens.

He understood what he must do next.

Not to blindly vent power for revenge.

But to use this comprehended true "momentum" to win this battle, lay the foundation for the new dynasty, and comfort Han Tong, as well as all the heroic spirits who gave their lives for this land!

He slowly closed his eyes, no longer deliberately controlling the power within, but instead immersing his mind completely into the vortex of Fortune Momentum that resonates with the dynasty and the myriad people.

To feel, to guide, to become part of this magnificent trend.

The Growth Progress Bar, under the light of complete enlightenment, finally touched that final, impregnable barrier.

One hundred percent.

The threshold has been reached.