For the next two days, everyone kept their nerves stretched to the limit, making tense preparations for battle. But given the current situation, two days seemed far too short. The ultimate battle had finally arrived.
Xiahou Shaoxuan was kneeling on the bed, carefully wiping Qianming. There was a complicated look in his eyes. His hands alternately tightened and loosened, as though he were struggling with something.
Qianming in his hands reflected a cold silver light. Lian Qiguang lightly flicked his finger against the blade, producing a humming vibration.
“I once used this blade to bring an era to an end. Now that I think about it, it looks like I’ll have to do it all over again.”
Xiahou Shaoxuan curled his lips into a smile. “When many years have passed and the two of us are both old and dead, are you still going to have our descendants enshrine this blade?”
“No need.” Lian Qiguang snorted and sheathed the blade with his backhand. “Weapons are meant for battle. No matter how good a blade is, once it leaves the battlefield, it has no use.”
“Let’s go.” Lian Qiguang stood up and walked past Xiahou Shaoxuan toward the door. “Everyone is waiting. We can’t waste even a second on the battlefield.”
Looking at Lian Qiguang’s back, Xiahou Shaoxuan’s eyes darkened. He slowly walked over.
“Wife…”
“Hmm? What is it…?”
Hearing Xiahou Shaoxuan call him, Lian Qiguang turned around to ask. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through his neck, and the world began spinning upside down before his eyes.
Xiahou Shaoxuan reached out and firmly caught Lian Qiguang’s collapsing body. Lian Qiguang’s eyes widened as he stared at Xiahou Shaoxuan in shock and confusion.
“You…”
His vision gradually blurred. Lian Qiguang’s body went limp, and he lost consciousness.
“Wife, I can’t let you become bait. That would hurt me more than dying myself.”
Xiahou Shaoxuan carried Lian Qiguang over and placed him on the bed. His gaze was deep as he looked at the unconscious Lian Qiguang, gently caressing his features.
Xiahou Shaoxuan took a syringe from his pocket. After remaining silent for a long while, he hardened his heart and drove the needle into Lian Qiguang’s fair neck.
Tenderly, Xiahou Shaoxuan smoothed the tightly furrowed brows on Lian Qiguang’s face and slowly injected the liquid from the syringe into his body.
“Wife.”
Xiahou Shaoxuan bent down and placed a light kiss on Lian Qiguang’s lips, whispering softly, “Wait for me to come back. I’ll definitely resolve all this mess. Believe me.”
His optical brain was already emitting urgent beeping sounds. Xiahou Shaoxuan knew there was no more time. After taking one last deep look at Lian Qiguang, he pulled the blanket over him and turned to leave.
His resolute back carried the determination of a promise.
Wife, believe me. I’ll definitely come back…
All the spaceship soldiers within the base were already standing at full readiness. Seeing Xiahou Shaoxuan arrive alone, Xiahou Zhong wore an expression that said he had expected this.
He walked toward Xiahou Shaoxuan and raised his chin slightly, lowering his voice.
“How is he?”
“Prepare a nutrition chamber for him. I estimate he won’t wake up for at least a month.”
Xiahou Zhong suddenly raised his head. Looking at Xiahou Shaoxuan’s hard, cold expression, he opened his mouth, but in the end it became nothing more than a sigh.
“You’ve gone a little too far.”
Xiahou Shaoxuan remained silent.
Xiahou Zhong shook his head, reached out, and patted Xiahou Shaoxuan on the shoulder. His expression was solemn.
“You must come back. This isn’t a Marshal’s order to a Young General. It’s a father’s request to his son.”
Xiahou Shaoxuan lowered his head and looked into Xiahou Zhong’s moist eyes. He nodded slightly.
“Okay.”
Xiahou Zhong smiled, then kicked him and cursed under his breath.
“You damned brat!!”
Xiahou Zhong released Xiahou Shaoxuan and turned toward the neatly assembled troops. Straightening his body, he once again regained his usual imposing authority.
“The ultimate battle is about to begin. Over the past two days, I’m sure you’ve heard enough of those passionate speeches meant to stir your blood. There’s no point in me rambling on any longer. I only want to say one thing to everyone: please come back alive!
“This is the only demand I have of you as your Marshal, and also my only plea!”
“Then…”
Xiahou Zhong stood straight and slowly raised his right hand.
The solemn military salute made countless soldiers’ eyes redden.
“Move out!!!”
“Yes!!!”
The departments that had long been fully prepared quickly began operating. The procedures they had practiced countless times proceeded in an orderly manner at this moment.
A thin layer of coldness colored everyone’s faces. Their expressions were stiff, and the atmosphere was oppressive and heavy.
Outside District One, the sky was filled with mutated birds. Countless zombies crazily slammed themselves against the protective barrier outside District One, piling layer upon layer until they formed a terrifying wall of human flesh.
This was what a mountain of corpses and sea of blood truly looked like.
This was true hell.
Ten machines flew out from District One and spread through the high altitude with District One at the center, waiting only for the command to be given.
Xiahou Zhong stood in the command room with a group of military officers and government officials, anxiously watching the battle outside.
Standing at the commander’s position, Xiahou Zhong stared intently at the battle situation displayed on the floating screen.
Once everything was ready, Xiahou Zhong immediately issued a stern command.
“Activate!!”
The ten machines quickly powered up. A row of openings resembling cannon barrels appeared.
One cluster of white light after another exploded in the sky. A wave of freezing air descended, forming a gigantic net that spread toward the ground.
The countless mutated birds were enveloped by the freezing air. Their wings, which had been flapping continuously, suddenly stiffened. They rose and fell in the air, struggling desperately.
“Activate intelligent rainfall!”
The system was integrated.
After reaching one hundred percent fusion, patterns resembling an eggshell suddenly appeared across the sky. Torrential rain suddenly poured down, washing away the bloodstained color that had dyed the world.
As the rain fell and the freezing air swept through the area, frost gradually formed.
The frozen mutated birds began dropping rapidly from the sky, pattering onto the ground. From a distance, they looked like hailstones.
The zombies that had originally been attacking frenziedly also began to slow down, their strength weakening considerably.
The torrential rain continued for nearly half an hour.
The zombies completely lost their ability to attack and turned into crystal-clear ice sculptures. Looking out across the landscape, they resembled towering, magnificent ice mountains, stretching endlessly into the distance.
“We succeeded!!”
Someone suddenly shouted.
The entire District One immediately erupted into screams and cheers.
Xiahou Zhong curled his lips into a smile and established contact with Xiahou Shaoxuan.
“Move out!”
“Yes!!”
The deep voice was filled with determination.
Ten spaceships loaded with special weapons took off from the base. They passed through the dangerous zone without obstruction and left Safe District One.
Unlike the discussions and cheers coming from all around him, Xiahou Zhong looked in the direction Xiahou Shaoxuan had departed.
For some reason, he felt a heaviness in his heart, as though he had overlooked something extremely important.
Wu Ma Yan stood before the window, looking at the heavy snow filling the sky. He toyed with an ice-blue crystal core in his hand, a cold smile curling at the corners of his lips.
“A method this clever naturally isn’t something those idiots could come up with. Teacher is an intelligent man, but his intelligence shouldn’t have been used against me.”
His hand suddenly tightened, crushing the crystal core between his fingers.
“Teacher is mine. Anyone who touches him besides me dies.”
Qi Yin curled his lips into a smile and looked up at Wu Ma Yan.
“So? What are you saying?”
“Since they’ve come out, then let’s keep them all here.”
“I understand.”
Qi Yin nodded and turned to leave.
“Everyone’s gone. Aren’t you coming out?”
Wu Ma Yan tossed aside the shattered crystal core in his hand and calmly looked toward the door behind him.
With a soft sound, the door slowly opened.
Qiu Limò walked out.
Looking at Wu Ma Yan’s back, Qiu Limò tightened his hands and spoke coldly.
“Do you really have to fight Lian Qiguang to determine victory or death?”
“Only victory or defeat will be decided. There will be no death.”
Wu Ma Yan narrowed his eyes as he looked at the world shrouded in white and spoke coolly.
“I’m not as heartless as Teacher. How could I kill him? How could I bear to?”
“But he’ll kill you!!”
Qiu Limò’s voice suddenly rose, his anger barely restrained.
“He won’t show you any mercy. He has already issued a life-or-death challenge to you!!”
“If he can defeat me, then he can take this life of mine. What is there for me to fear now?”
Wu Ma Yan sneered.
“But I’m afraid!”
Qiu Limò took two steps forward and grabbed Wu Ma Yan’s arm. He looked almost hysterical.
“I don’t want you to die! I want you to live. I want you to keep living!”
Seeing Qiu Limò’s agitated appearance, the smile disappeared from Wu Ma Yan’s lips. He remained silent.
After a long while, Wu Ma Yan pulled his arm free, turned away, and left behind a cold, indifferent back.
“Go back inside.”
Qiu Limò clenched both fists, suppressing the trembling of his body.
“Don’t make me repeat myself.”
Qiu Limò closed his eyes and turned to leave.
Just as he was closing the door, Qiu Limò stopped his hand and spoke softly.
“I won’t let you die. At least, I won’t let you die before me.”
Hearing the sound of the door closing behind him, Wu Ma Yan slowly turned around.
He stared at the tightly closed door and moved his lips slightly, only feeling as though something had become lodged in his throat.
BOOM!!
A special bomb exploded.
Although a Super Intelligent Being managed to dodge in time, half of its body was still blown away.
Xiahou Shaoxuan glanced at the aircraft circling overhead and walked toward the Super Intelligent Being.
Stepping over the bloodstained ground and discarded metal, Xiahou Shaoxuan stopped before it.
Bright red blood dripped from Xiahou Shaoxuan’s arm, falling onto the remaining half of its body and blooming into little blood-red flowers.
The Super Intelligent Being, with only half its body remaining, lay on its back on the ground. Looking at Xiahou Shaoxuan’s cold face, it grinned, only to spit out even more black blood.
“Where is Wu Ma Yan?”
The metal-type ability transformed into a blade in Xiahou Shaoxuan’s hand and pressed against the Super Intelligent Being’s head. His voice was cold enough to freeze the air.
“Heh… Why are you looking for him? To go die?”
The Super Intelligent Being gave a mocking smile and joked, “You’re very powerful, but you’re not his match.”
The blade in Xiahou Shaoxuan’s hand stabbed in a little deeper. The Super Intelligent Being let out a muffled groan, its face twisting slightly.
“The Commander has already issued a kill order against you. You won’t be able to escape.”
The Super Intelligent Being sighed.
“This place is already completely surrounded by countless Super Intelligent Beings. Every one of them is battle-hardened. They’ve all crawled out of mountains of corpses. In front of them, you’re nothing more than an inexperienced junior who isn’t worth mentioning.”
“You shouldn’t have done this.”
“There are many things we have no choice in. You little brats who grew up in jars of honey—how could you possibly understand?”
“Where is Wu Ma Yan!”
Xiahou Shaoxuan repeated coldly, having no time to waste talking with it.
“I don’t know. Ever since he left District Seven, I haven’t seen the Commander again.”
The Super Intelligent Being sighed, looking somewhat helpless.
“It’s been three thousand years. Everything should come to an end. I know you’re very important to my lord. My lord has shown kindness to all of us. If you’re willing to abandon your subordinates and escape, perhaps they’ll deliberately let you go.
“With your ability, even if we failed, we could still give the Commander an explanation.”
“Impossible!”
“Heh… Then there’s nothing I can do.”
The Super Intelligent Being closed its eyes.
Its calm face showed no fear of death. Instead, there was a trace of relief, as though it were finally about to be liberated.
“Kill me. Give me an end. If you’re lucky enough to survive, tell my lord that I’m sorry. I disappointed him.”
Looking at the Super Intelligent Being on the ground, Xiahou Shaoxuan remained silent for a long time.
Then his hand suddenly tightened, piercing through its head.
A crystal core was pulled out, bringing an end to the life that should have ended three thousand years ago.
“BOOM!!”
A spaceship exploded in the sky, sending fire raining down from above in a breathtaking and terrifying display.
Xuan Lang and the others gathered around. Every one of them had suffered injuries to some extent.
“Boss, those Super Intelligent Beings are surrounding us.”
Xiahou Shaoxuan glanced at the four remaining spaceships in the sky, his brows slightly furrowing.
“Still unable to establish contact with the base?”
“We’ve been continuously interfered with by some strange force. There’s no way.”
An Yi’s voice came through the communicator.
“Give me some time. Perhaps I can break through this force.”
Yuan Ling looked up at the white spaceship in the sky, obvious worry in his eyes.
“Exactly how long do you need?”
“By my preliminary estimate, at least five hours. I need to completely analyze this force and then find a way to break through it.”
“Then five hours it is.”
Xiahou Shaoxuan made the decision without hesitation. He withdrew his ability and took out the modified special firearm.
“Everyone, concentrate your firepower now. Do everything you can to suppress those Super Intelligent Beings and stop them from approaching. Buy An Yi five hours.”
“Yes!”
(Safe Zone Base)
“It’s already been seven days. Still no news?”
Xiahou Zhong hurried into the command room, angrily slamming the documents in his hand onto the table.
“The Young General lost contact with the base less than three days after leaving. Now seven days have passed. Given the situation outside, anything could have happened during these seven days. The Young General, he…”
The adjutant hesitated as he followed beside Xiahou Zhong.
“Get the hell out!”
Xiahou Zhong kicked him, roaring in fury.
“That’s my son! Anyone who wants his life had better weigh carefully who the hell they think they are!”
Seeing that Xiahou Zhong was furious, the adjutant did not dare say another word and quietly stood to the side.
Xiahou Zhong slammed his fist heavily onto the table.
Both hands braced against his body as his face turned iron-blue. His chest rose and fell violently as he struggled to suppress his anger.
After a long while, Xiahou Zhong stood up.
His eyes locked tightly onto the floating screen, as though he had made some kind of decision.
“Marshal…”
“Have Old Yuan wake Xiaoguang up. I want to see him.”
“But isn’t the Young General…”
“What the hell are you waiting for?!”
Xiahou Zhong exploded in anger.
“Right now, the only person who can save Shaoxuan is Xiaoguang! Go, now!!”
“Yes!!”