Chapter 7: The Shadow Unveiled (1)
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Even though the 3D projection hovering among the four was only about two meters long and one meter wide, when the waves—about ten centimeters high—rolled from east to west across the continent’s surface, there was still a hint of awe in the air.
As the tremors and tsunamis finally died down into a serene calm, aside from a few higher mountain ranges that managed to dodge the deluge, the rest of the land was submerged under dozens of meters of water.
“Wait a second!”
This guy, “Duowen Heavenly King,” who the other three called their boss, slowly waved his hand over the 3D projection.
“Why are there still 30% of living beings left on this continent?”
The other three gasped, all exclaimed, “How is that even possible?”
“Yeah, this is the boss’s ultimate trick! Even if they sprouted wings, they wouldn’t be able to break through the tsunami’s blockade.”
“There has to be some mistake.”
At first, the three were skeptical, but upon seeing Duowen Heavenly King’s serious face, they stepped forward. After a thorough investigation, they arrived at the same conclusion as him.
“The water is almost seventy meters above the horizon—how on earth are those scoundrels surviving?”
“Sure, a few of the monster race are aquatic and unaffected by the flood, but the virus I released into the rain should have done something! Why does it seem like this 30% of living beings are completely immune to these external factors, maintaining a fairly constant number?”
“Could it be that before the punishment fell, they secretly built some life-saving facilities that resist floods?”
The three fell silent as their gazes turned to their boss, Duowen Heavenly King.
He nodded. “I’m afraid that’s the truth. We’ve been occupied with other matters and haven’t spied on the continent, thinking our methods were foolproof. But in reality, we underestimated their determination to escape punishment.”
The youngest among them, a young boy, stood up and patted his chest.
“If that’s the case, I’ll head down to the continent! I guarantee I’ll sacrifice the rest of those living beings to you brothers in no time!”
The four knew each other well; even though “Broad-eyed Heavenly King” seemed slightly weaker than the others, dealing with the ants on the continent was still a piece of cake—no effort required.
Since Broad-eyed Heavenly King stepped forward, the other three smiled and agreed.
“Broad-eyed, make it quick! The Divine Realm isn’t too peaceful right now, and we brothers need to work together to face our enemies.”
The boy grinned, “Don’t worry, elder brothers! I won’t dawdle!”
After Broad-eyed left, Duowen Heavenly King looked at his two other brothers, who were “Holding Kingdom Heavenly King” and “Growth Heavenly King.”
“Big brother, do you think the fourth brother can handle it? Should I sneak after him with the third brother to keep an eye?”
Said the Holding Kingdom Heavenly King.
Growth Heavenly King added, “Right! Even though the fourth brother has become a god, he still has the heart of a young boy…”
“It’s fine. Right now, with the war flaring up again in the Divine Realm and the gods clashing, we four brothers can’t risk being absent down here.
Those on the continent aren’t any powerful figures; they’ve only managed to survive because they prepared in advance. Have you all forgotten how they used the bl**d of All Spirits Formation to exchange for a delay on the Divine Punishment two years ago?”
Holding Kingdom Heavenly King said, “You’re right, big brother. Those little beings in a minor realm, if we all went down there, the other gods would surely snicker behind our backs and we’d end up with some funny stories!”
Growth Heavenly King added, “Let’s give the remaining 30% of living beings’ energy to the fourth brother. That way, the four of us can power up quickly.”
“Both of you make a good point. With Di Shitian and Zizaitian gods pressing us closer, we can’t just sit idly by.
At the very least, we need to maintain our territory until the fourth brother returns.”
“Got it, boss!” Holding Kingdom Heavenly King and Growth Heavenly King replied in unison.
……
The rampant flood finally showed signs of retreat on the third day after the tsunami.
The ice layer covering the fortress revealed the water’s surface, and sunlight filtering through the crystal-clear ice cast dreamlike colors into everyone’s eyes.
Was everything about to return to normal?
Hope surged within the hearts of the people.
Since the Divine Punishment began, they felt like they had been stuck in a nightmare. Sure, there had been fear and dread during this ordeal, but just as long as they woke up, everything would revert to its original state.
Cold Moon had already begun energetically organizing preparations for the new emperor’s coronation.
In response, the representatives of the three races expressed strong support.
After such a disaster, they indeed needed a strong outlet to release the anxiety and confusion that had built up in their hearts while hiding underground to dodge calamity for so long.
Indeed, even if the flood receded, would their homeland still be the same homeland?
To restore things back to what they were before the Divine Punishment, it would likely take at least a generation’s effort.
Of course, everything was uncertain.
After all, many people had witnessed firsthand the tremendous changes technology had brought to life.
They never thought that plants could grow without sunlight; aside from the food stored away, most of the vegetables they consumed daily came from here.
Some even entertained the idea of staying beneath the Sky Tower.
Yes, compared to this vibrant life continuously pushing forward, their previous days were mind-numbingly dull.
And just when people thought the Divine Punishment was nearing its end and they could relax,
An ear-piercing alarm blared from within the fortress.
Those wandering and chatting in the alleyways instantly bolted back to their rooms like startled rabbits, while the personnel responsible for security and military matters got their act together, their expressions turning more serious.
As soon as that alarm rang out, it meant the fortress must have detected the enemy’s presence.
Yep, you could guess with your behind that when the gods realized the number of souls harvested was far below expectations, they would definitely send someone to investigate the cause.
Just as they predicted,
In the skies about several kilometers from the fortress, a group of around twenty celestial soldiers clad in pale gold armor appeared.
Each weapon in their hands seemed to possess remarkable functions; with a mere wave, they created ripples across the air.
“Why does it feel a bit chilly here?”
“Yeah, I feel it too.”
“What’s that over there!”
The celestial soldiers soon spotted the ice cap floating on the flood like an island.
Clearly, the appearance of a massive ice sheet resembling a glacier was definitely not normal; they needed to investigate further.
Broad-eyed Heavenly King had given them little time, but thankfully they had discovered some clues.
If there really was something beneath that floating ice, wouldn’t they be able to take the lead?
