Chapter 174 Zhen Yue's Followers

"Zhen Yue brought so many people?"

Yuan Yuan lowered his voice, but there was a hint of resentment in his tone.

To become an exempt candidate, one naturally had to pass the review of Central City. Each of these seven internally designated "captain"-level powerhouses possessed sufficiently powerful strength.

Because they were strong, they had privileges.

But no one had ever seen anyone like Duke Zhen Yue, who directly internally designated an entire team!

Was there even a need to form teams anymore?

"These are all 'followers' after he was ennobled as Duke, some of whom came from Light City. But since they are willing to join us and contribute to the border fortress… North Continent will not refuse."

Lu Zhe spoke indifferently, "The people he brought are strong enough to meet the requirements of the internally designated candidates. The Central City bunch has no reason to object… For us, the restart mission is extremely dangerous. Who would want to take their old subordinates to risk it?"

On the one hand, they were unwilling to take risks.

On the other hand, the restart mission had very high strength requirements.

In Zhong Yuan's second team, there were only two or three people who met the conditions for internal designation and could be brought over. The overall strength of the first team was slightly stronger, but only slightly.

"That makes sense." Yuan Yuan nodded and murmured, "But that guy's high-profile behavior is really unlikeable… It's a good thing he's not participating in team formation."

He didn't want to meet Zhen Yue again.

"Alright, stop paying attention to him."

Zhong Yuan said calmly, "Although this mission is a joint operation… we will be exploring separately after entering the Disaster Zone. Just do our own thing and don't worry too much."

…

…

On the airship.

"It's been a long time since I've seen such a lively scene."

The burly man with a black cloth covering one eye sat in his chair, relaxed. He watched the scene on the roof of the building through the central control screen. These exempt candidates were choosing their teammates…

The Central City meeting had ended.

The Dukes and Generals finalized the final list of participants for the restart mission. In addition, they also confirmed the commander-in-chief for this mission.

The Eye of the Third Legion, Osmund!

"These young people remind me of the scene thirty years ago…" Osmund's only remaining eye revealed a look of remembrance. He chuckled in a low voice, "That was the first time I went on an expedition to a super-large Disaster Zone. Standing in front of you, my performance was the same as theirs at this moment. Nervous, excited, and eager to try."

The identity of the one who the Eye of the Third Legion respectfully addressed as "You" was self-evident.

On the other side of the central control screen, [Deep Sea] was connected to a network in an unknown location. The signal there was not good, and the picture fluctuated, with only one or two frames appearing every few seconds.

Vaguely visible, the world on that side was swept by wind and snow, and a white cloak fluttered like a flag, dancing wildly.

"…You must be careful with this restart mission."

The White Lizard General's hoarse voice came from the ice and snow spiritual link.

Osmund smiled, "Don't worry."

The White Lizard gave a soft hum.

"Hiss…"

His signal was cut off.

The main control screen did not remain silent for too long. After a few seconds, a new spiritual link request joined.

Osmund sat upright, and after adjusting his posture, he chose to connect.

The screen switched, and a delicate and gentle pretty face appeared.

"Legion Commander."

Osmund greeted warmly.

He felt genuine respect for this "Legion Commander" of the Investigation Legion. Many people on the border had expressed disdain for her behavior of serving His Majesty and staying in the ancient castle… After all, this woman held the power of the entire Investigation Legion. Every subordinate had to go out and perform missions, but she herself stayed in Central City, keeping to herself.

This did not conform to the style of the North Continent's generals, who were hands-on and led by example.

However, the very few high-level officials who knew the general situation on the second floor did not think so.

If there was only one person who could serve by Her Majesty the Queen's side.

Then that person could only be Zi Yu.

"Lord Osmund, we meet again. If I remember correctly… the last time we cooperated was ten years ago."

This Legion Commander had a gentle and pleasant face, and looked peaceful and virtuous.

But that was all a lie!

This woman hid an incredibly blazing fire in her eyes. Once released, it was enough to burn everything in front of her to ashes. Only those who had fought alongside her knew how powerful the energy was actually contained in this seemingly weak body!

Ten years ago, Osmund and Zi Yu had carried out a Disaster Zone mission together.

Even to this day, he would feel palpitations whenever he recalled the terrifying power of this Legion Commander.

"Your Excellency's heroic appearance is still vivid in my mind. Ten years have passed as if it were only yesterday."

Osmund's voice was somewhat emotional. Stationed at the border fortress, ten years had passed in a flash. He only realized at this time that his hair and temples had grown a bit of gray, but this woman did not seem to have aged much.

He smiled self-deprecatingly. Why was he so sentimental today?

"If there is a chance, I would like to drink with you and reminisce, but now is not the time." Zi Yu said a simple greeting, and then got straight to the point, "At this Central City gathering, the generals strongly recommended you as the commander-in-chief of this mission. Looking at the entire North Continent… there is indeed no commander more suitable than Your Excellency to lead this mission."

The last subjugation mission was jointly planned by the White Lizard General and the Legion Commander.

Now, the White Lizard General has gone north alone and has not yet returned.

Zi Yu was wholeheartedly serving the ancient castle and had no time to spare.

The "commander" of the restart mission was only left with one choice… Of course, this was not a helpless move. Osmund's ability and prestige were enough to control this operation!

"His Majesty has appointed a young man to be your adjutant. This matter… was not notified to the Central City meeting." Zi Yu said slowly, "His Majesty believes that the matter of the adjutant should be announced after the mission is over."

"Oh?" Osmund raised his eyebrows.

An adjutant appointed by His Majesty…

"Lord Legion Commander, I respect His Majesty's will." Osmund said in a deep voice, "But I'll say the ugly things first. This mission is of great importance. Being my adjutant is not easy… If this appointed person is not capable enough, I will not spare his face."

Zi Yu smiled.

"Don't worry."

She said calmly, "There is no need to take extra care because of the identity of the 'appointed person'. You can arrange things normally. I hope that through this mission, you can hone him well."

"Oh… His Majesty wants me to hone him?"

Osmund was stunned.

Over on the airship, the cargo hold opened, and the lift slowly rose.

He subconsciously turned his head and looked towards the doorway of the passage. The bright light falling outside the automatic sensor door was a little dazzling, and a straight, familiar young figure came into view.

The young man gave a proper salute and said respectfully, "Lord Osmund, we meet again."

"So it's you… Lin."

Osmund suddenly understood the true meaning of the Legion Commander's words.

He shook his head with a smile.

What a coincidence. Stationed on the North Continent's front-line defense for many years, he had always had a good impression of this young man.

If he were to choose his own adjutant… Lin Lin would be the best choice for this mission!

…

…

These few days were calm.

On the first day, the transcendents who came to this building were attracted by one person. Duke Zhen Yue waited on the roof for the final list to be drawn up, and then he directly took away those "internally designated" people of his, and stated that his team was complete and would not participate in the subsequent team formation ceremony.

Prior to this, everyone had more or less heard the story of this young duke.

Commander Osmund did not express any opinion on this.

Training was normal.

From this matter, it seemed that Zhen Yue also had his own "privileges" in this restart mission.

With privileges, there were missions.

This world was big, and this world was also small.

When the one hundred transcendents on the final list entered the training ground, the originally empty building was not so quiet anymore. In the deserted bar, one could occasionally see figures having a drink or two.

Apart from Duke Zhen Yue, the person who caused the most discussion was Gu Shen… This young S-level from East Continent enjoyed incredible preferential treatment after arriving in North Continent, and also caused a considerable degree of controversy.

Everyone knew that at the ennoblement banquet not long ago, Zhen Yue and Gu Shen had a head-on conflict.

These two were now gathered together again.

Many people expected these two tough guys to spark some fireworks…

Too bad.

Everything was as usual. Day rose and night fell. Gu Shen basically did not leave his floor, except for occasionally going to the battle cabin on the thirty-seventh floor to relax his mind.

These two people simply did not have the opportunity to meet.

Not to mention sparking any fireworks.

…

…

Light filled the room.

Meng Xiao sat cross-legged, with four exquisite porcelain bowls placed in each of the four corners around him.

These four porcelain bowls were engraved with the sun, moon, stars, and clouds respectively.

This was a complete set of sealing artifacts used to suppress the spirit.

The four corners were connected, suppressing the bright spiritual light within a one-meter radius, and also stably suppressing Meng Xiao's spiritual power at the tenth level…

This time, he was not naked, but wore a black robe.

This robe was also a sealing artifact.

The seven followers were in the room, quietly watching from a distance of several meters… This scene looked a little strange, because it was too quiet, as if a certain ritual was being held.

In fact, this was a more serious "sacrifice" than a "ritual."

The bright aura in the room came from the distant West Continent.

These lights constantly diffused from Meng Xiao's scars, constantly diffused, turning into billowing heat… He looked like a blazing copper furnace, burning fiercely, with strong internal fire. And the boiling of these spiritual lights became more and more terrifying amidst the constant burning.

It seemed majestic.

But the truth was not so.

This was not his voluntary "outward diffusion of power."

But rather, it was uncontrolled.

The "Blazing Light Bracelet" on Meng Xiao's wrist… began to recover under such intense spiritual burning. The robe on his body began to burn, and the spiritual power and light aura seemed to be guided by some force, flying towards the bracelet.

In this world, it was not only darkness that could turn into a black hole.

If it was pure enough.

Light… could also.

The bracelet turned into a blazing light wrapped around the wrist, swallowing all the boiling spirit and light fragments.

Meng Xiao, with his eyes tightly closed, was immersed in the dream guided by the bracelet.

He saw one broken picture after another flashing quickly.

This was the "sacrifice" that Meng Xiao was holding.

This bracelet on his wrist was a relic left by his father. Meng Xiao originally thought it was just an ordinary accessory among many relics… But when he really figured it out, he realized that this was a forbidden sacred object that could "divine fate."

As long as he could pay enough price.

He could see his own "calamitous future"——

What terrifying power was this?

As long as he fed the bracelet, those pictures that would have an adverse effect on his future, even if they were thousands of miles away, even if they were in the [Old World]… this bracelet could accurately capture them and send them into his spiritual sea.

All living beings in the world were pulled by invisible threads of fate.

And he was the "spectator" who had the right to watch his own destiny. He could see all the divination of disasters in advance and respond!

And this time, he wanted to see more…

The speed of spiritual power burning was extremely fast.

He saw a corridor filled with flames.

He saw a pavilion with ice and snow flying.

He saw the empress sitting high on the throne, overlooking the "spiritual crystal ball" suspended in front of her.

The blazing light surged, and the robe on Meng Xiao's body burned to ashes, sticking to his body, and after a few seconds, it was also swallowed by the bracelet… His expression became a little pale.

He did not expect that this time the bracelet would take him to the empress's residence.

What did this mean?

Was his fate related to the empress?

He manipulated his spirit and wanted to see more pictures. His vision gradually approached, immersing himself in the world in the "spiritual crystal ball."

Because he was far away from that forbidden pavilion, his spiritual consumption was no longer so drastic.

Meng Xiao subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief. The scene of the empress's pavilion was just a passing scene, which should be a good thing…

He saw the scene of the empress gazing down.

Boundless, turbulent river water, black and viscous.

Doru River?

The next moment… Meng Xiao's relaxed face became stiff.

He saw a familiar figure.

Above the river, black clothes fluttered.

Ever since the news of the "Gu Fort" maze mission reached his ears, every time he used the bracelet, he would see this guy named Gu Shen… Every time, every time!

This time was no exception.

But this time was different…

This time, in the "future divination" picture, the young man surnamed Gu looked back at "him."

As if across the distant time and space, he had sensed his peeping!

Meng Xiao's breathing stagnated.

He knew that this was all his illusion… This bracelet only provided future "pictures", and this method of fate divination had not even been discovered by the empress in the pavilion, so why would this young man be aware of it?

What really shocked Meng Xiao was.

The time flow rate of the picture given by the bracelet became very slow… He seemed to see that at the end of the dark river, a grand and long light burst out, mighty and vast, soaring into the sky, as if it was about to devour the entire world.

This seemed to be what the bracelet was trying to remind him of…

His own future fate would be affected by "that thing."

That was a… big explosion?