Chapter 174

The omen quickly became reality.

Translation: "The omen quickly became reality."

On the third afternoon of intense disaster preparations at Guangtan Fortress, the already gloomy, ink‑black sky finally could no longer bear the weight of moisture; accompanied by a lightning bolt that tore the heavens and rolling thunder, a torrential downpour poured forth.

Make it concise but keep meaning.

Let's produce: "As Guangtan Fortress frantically prepared for disaster on the third day afternoon, the originally ink‑black sky, as if finally unable to bear the moisture's weight, was split by a lightning flash and rolling thunder, and a torrential rain poured down."

This was no ordinary rain.

Translation: "This was not ordinary rain."

The raindrops were so dense they almost formed a solid wall of water, striking roofs, walls, and ground with a deafening roar, as if the heavenly river had burst its banks.

Translation: "The raindrops were so dense they almost formed a solid water curtain, striking roofs, walls, and ground with a deafening roar, as if the heavenly river had burst its banks."

Visibility shrank dramatically within the rain curtain; beyond fifty meters everything was a blur, and even the mist enveloping the fortress was temporarily suppressed and washed away by the violent storm.

Translation: "Visibility shrank sharply in the rain curtain; beyond fifty meters everything blurred, even the mist shrouding the fortress was temporarily suppressed and washed away by the violent rain."

"Activate the emergency plan! Everyone indoors!" Li Qingxuan's voice came through the rain, calm and forceful.

Translation: "\"Activate the emergency plan! Everyone indoors! \" Li Qingxuan's voice came through the rain, calm and strong."

The keep and main buildings had already been fully prepared beforehand, so for the moment they were safe.

Translation: "The keep and main buildings had already been fully prepared beforehand, so they were temporarily safe."

But the real test had only just begun.

Translation: "But the real test had only just begun."

Guangtan Fortress was built into the mountainside, giving it a natural slope, and Li Qingxuan had previously planned drainage channels.

Translation: "Guangtan Fortress was built into the mountain, itself having a certain slope, and Li Qingxuan had previously planned drainage ditches."

However, faced with this extraordinarily heavy rain, those channels were quickly overwhelmed.

Translation: "However, faced with this downpour far beyond the ordinary, those ditches quickly proved inadequate."

Murky rainwater, laden with soil and leaves, surged across the ground, quickly forming pools in low‑lying areas.

Translation: "The muddy rainwater, carrying soil and fallen leaves, surged across the ground, quickly forming pools in low‑lying areas."

The training field inside the outer wall quickly turned into a small pond, with water rising past the ankles and continuing to climb.

Translation: "The training field inside the outer wall quickly turned into a small pond, the water rising past the ankles and still climbing."

Worse still, some of the drainage outlets at the base of the wall were clogged with mud, allowing rainwater to seep into the fortress's foundations.

Translation: "Worse, part of the drainage outlets at the base of the wall were clogged with soil, and rainwater began to soak the wall's foundations."

"We must clear the drainage outlets!" Li Qingxuan declared, looking at the monitor (projected by Chen Xiulan's ability), and acted immediately.

Translation: "\"We must clear the drainage outlets! \" Li Qingxuan declared, looking at the monitor (projected by Chen Xiulan's ability), and acted decisively."

He and Huang Rong donned rain‑proof leather armor and charged out into the raging storm.

Translation: "He and Huang Rong donned rain‑proof leather armor and charged out into the raging storm."

The rain was icy, stinging their faces. Working together, they used tools and even their bare hands to clear the silt and branches blocking the drains.

Translation: "The rain was icy, stinging their faces. Together they used tools and even bare hands to clear the silt and branches blocking the drains."

Li Jing used 【Void Shift】 to appear near the hard‑to‑reach high drainage holes and quickly cleared them.

Translation: "Li Jing, meanwhile, used the Void Shuttle to appear near the hard‑to‑reach high drainage holes and cleared them quickly."

Their efforts temporarily eased the pressure of water soaking the wall's base, but the rain continued to accumulate.

Translation: "Their effort temporarily eased the pressure of water soaking the wall's base, but the rain kept accumulating."

Jiang Xue'e's greenhouse, the fortress's food lifeline, now faced a severe trial.

Translation: "Jiang Xiu'e's greenhouse, the fortress's food lifeline, now faced a severe test."

Although the frames and covers had been reinforced beforehand, the wind‑driven rain lashed the roof like countless whips, producing a terrifying sound.

Translation: "Although the frame and covering had been reinforced beforehand, the wind‑driven rain lashed the roof like countless whips, producing a hair‑raising sound."

Some joints began to leak.

Translation: "Some joints began to leak."

"Quick! Use the spare waterproof sheeting!" Jiang Xue'e led Li Qingge, Li Xinxin, and Wang Hongmei, braving the downpour to work inside and outside the greenhouse.

Translation: "\"Quick! Cover it with the spare waterproof tarp! \" Jiang Xiu'e led Li Qingge, Li Xinxin, and Wang Hongmei, braving the downpour to work inside and outside the greenhouse."

They used their bodies to hold down the corners lifted by the wind, straining to tighten the tarp.

Translation: "They used their bodies to hold down the corners lifted by the wind, straining to pull the tarp tight."

Zhao Ling'er and Zhao Shuang'er also helped indoors, catching the leaking water and mopping up the pools.

Translation: "Zhao Ling'er and Zhao Shuang'er also helped indoors, catching the leaking rainwater and clearing the pooled water."

Everyone was soaked to the skin, shivering from the cold, yet nobody retreated.

Translation: "Everyone was soaked to the skin, shivering from the cold, yet no one retreated."

The relentless downpour had an unexpected effect on the mist formation array.

Translation: "The relentless downpour had an unexpected effect on the mist array disk."

The massive runoff and the extreme activity of water elements in the air severely interfered with the generation and maintenance of the mist.

Translation: "The massive rainwater scouring and the extreme activity of water elements in the air severely interfered with the generation and maintenance of the mist."

The once thick, impenetrable mist had become much thinner, its coverage shrinking to just hug the outer walls, almost losing its shielding and confusing effect.

Translation: "The mist, once thick enough to be impenetrable, had become much thinner, its range shrinking to the area right against the outer wall, almost losing its shielding and confusing effect on the outside."

"The mist's effectiveness has dropped by more than seventy percent." Chen Xiulan reported from the watchtower, her voice worried.

Translation: "\"The mist's effectiveness has dropped by over seventy percent. \" Chen Xiulan reported from the watchtower, her voice worried."

This means that if enemies seize the opportunity to attack, the fortress's concealment will be greatly diminished.

Translation: "This meant that if enemies seized the opportunity to attack, the fortress's concealment would be greatly reduced."

Li Feifei manned the control center, continually receiving reports from all sectors, coordinating personnel and supplies, while closely monitoring the world channel.

Translation: "Li Feifei held the command center, constantly receiving reports from all sides, coordinating manpower and supplies, while closely monitoring the World Channel."

【World Channel·Help! Help! Our camp has been swept away by flood!】

We need to keep the brackets and content? Probably translate inside but keep the format? The instruction: translate lines. So we translate the Chinese inside the brackets. Keep the brackets and the label? Probably keep the same format but translate the Chinese. So: 【World Channel·Help! Help! Our camp has been swept away by the flood!】

【World Channel·Near coordinates (XXX, YYY) a landslide has buried the entire camp!】

Translation: 【World Channel·Near coordinates (XXX, YYY) a landslide occurred, burying the entire camp!】

【World Channel·How long will this rain go on? My shelter is already leaking!】

Translation: 【World Channel·When will this rain stop? My shelter has started leaking!】

【World Channel·Is there any high‑ground camp willing to take us in? We'll give up all our resources!】

Translation: 【World Channel·Is there any high‑ground camp willing to take us in? We're willing to give all our resources!】

【World Channel·Breaking news! The Rivertown camp has been confirmed flooded, with no survivors!】

Translation: 【World Channel·Breaking news! The 'River Valley Town' camp has been confirmed flooded, with no survivors!】

The channel was filled with cries of despair; the torrential rain and floods were wreaking massive destruction and casualties worldwide.

Translation: "Inside the channel, cries of misery spread everywhere; the violent rain and flood were causing massive destruction and casualties worldwide."

"Qingxuan," Li Feifei said anxiously, "many survivors in low‑lying areas are losing their homes and could become a refugee wave. Moreover, this weather is indeed an ideal opportunity for lawless troublemakers to stir up chaos."

Translation: "\"Qingxuan, \" Li Feifei said worriedly, \"many survivors in low‑lying areas are losing their homes, possibly forming a refugee tide. Moreover, this weather is indeed a good opportunity for lawless troublemakers to cause chaos. \"

Li Qingxuan's face grew grave. He walked to the window and gazed at the apocalyptic rain outside; the water hammered the glass relentlessly, as if it would never cease.

Translation: "Li Qingxuan's face grew grave. He walked to the window and looked out at the rain‑scene that resembled the apocalypse. The rain hammered the glass violently, as if it would never end."

"Increase vigilance, especially against refugees or bandits who might try to take advantage of the chaos to approach the fortress. Xiulan, keep your eyes sharp—no matter how heavy the rain, don't let down your guard. Rong'er, even though the outer city's traps are partially disabled, you must still patrol them regularly."

Translation: "\"Increase vigilance, especially against refugees or bandits who might take advantage of the chaos to approach the fortress. Xiulan, keep your eyes sharp; even if the rain grows heavier, do not relax. Ronger, although the outer wall's traps have partially failed, you must still patrol them regularly. \"

He paused, then continued: "Also, inform everyone to pay attention to personal hygiene, avoid prolonged exposure to rain to prevent illness. Qingge, have your healing abilities ready, just in case."

Translation: "He paused, then continued: \"Also, notify everyone to pay attention to personal hygiene, avoid prolonged exposure to rain, and prevent illness. Qingge, have your healing ability ready, just in case. \"

The orders were swiftly carried out. Chen Xiulan hardly left the watchtower, straining her eyes through the rain to scout. Huang Rong's figure appeared intermittently in the shadows of the outer wall, inspecting traps and defenses. Li Jing remained mobile, ready to respond to any sudden developments.

Translation: "The orders were swiftly carried out. Chen Xiulan hardly left the watchtower, her eyes straining through the rain to search. Huang Rong's figure appeared intermittently in the shadows of the outer wall, inspecting the traps and defensive facilities. Li Jing remained mobile, ready to respond to any sudden situation."

Guangtan Fortress, thanks to its terrain and prior preparations, had temporarily held its ground, but the situation remained grim.

Translation: "Guangtan Fortress, thanks to its terrain and prior preparations, had temporarily held its line, but the situation was equally grim."

As the rain continued, water pooled deeper in the fortress's low‑lying areas, beginning to seep into the keep's lower levels.

Translation: "As the rain continued, water pooled deeper in the fortress's low spots, already beginning to seep into the keep's lower levels."

Although Li Qingxuan and others worked hard to clear the drains, the rainfall was simply too great; drainage could not keep pace with the accumulating water.

Translation: "Although Li Qingxuan and others worked hard to clear the drains, the rainfall was simply too great; the drainage speed could not keep up with the accumulation."

Even more worrying, Li Xinxin issued another warning: "Qingxuan brother, soil erosion on the rear mountain is severe… there's a risk of landslide!"

Translation: "Even more worrying, Li Xinxin issued another warning: \"Qingxuan brother, soil erosion on the back mountain is severe…… there may be a landslide danger! \"

The rear mountain abuts a section of the fortress's outer wall; if a landslide occurs, the consequences would be unthinkable!

Translation: "The back mountain abuts a section of the outer wall; if a landslide occurred, the consequences would be unthinkable!"

"Xiulan, focus on monitoring the rear mountain area! Rong'er, Jing, come with me to inspect and reinforce the rear mountain!" Li Qingxuan said without hesitation, leading the team back into the rain.

Translation: "\"Xiulan, focus monitoring on the back‑mountain area! Ronger, Jing, follow me to inspect and reinforce the back mountain! \" Li Qingxuan hesitated not, again leading the team into the rain."

Conditions on the rear mountain were worse than expected.

Translation: "The situation on the back mountain was worse than expected."

The soil had become saturated with rain, and fine cracks and signs of slippage began to appear in places.

Translation: "The rain had saturated the soil, and in some places fine cracks and signs of slippage began to appear."

The three braved the danger, using available timber and stone to urgently reinforce the most vulnerable slopes.

Translation: "The three braved the danger, using available wood and stone to urgently reinforce the most fragile slopes."

Rain and mud left them soaked, their footing treacherous, each step a struggle.

Translation: "Rain and mud left them soaked, the ground underfoot a quagmire, each step extremely difficult."

This battle against the natural disaster was not a test of martial strength, but of endurance, preparation, and the ability to respond to sudden developments.

Translation: "This battle against natural disaster was not a contest of strength, but of endurance, preparation, and the ability to respond to sudden situations."

Every person in Guangtan Fortress was giving their all to defend their home.

Translation: "Every person in Guangtan Fortress was giving their all, defending their home."

The violent rain continued to pour down without any sign of abating.

Translation: "The violent rain continued to pour down wildly, showing no sign of weakening."

Water inside the fortress kept rising, the outside faced landslide threats, the mist was nearly ineffective… the challenge posed by this natural fury was far more severe than anticipated.

Translation: "Water inside the fortress kept rising, outside loomed landslide danger, the mist was nearly ineffective…… the trial brought by this natural fury was far more severe than anticipated."

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