Chapter 1 The Northern Continent

The Gu Fortified Stronghold.

It was the Great Cold, with wind and snow swirling. From afar, a steel-cast barrier, stretching for thousands of meters, rose abruptly from the ground, guarding the towering northern border like a giant. Above the massive fortress, a sky-shielding barrier was erected, with hexagonal prism-shaped transparent floating panels densely pieced together to form a hat on the giant's head.

To describe it as a "hat" might not be accurate...it was more like a "giant umbrella."

Beneath the umbrella, hundreds of airships hovered. Due to some mysterious "energy effect," they hung silently nine thousand meters above the Gu Fortified Stronghold. The turbines seemed to be in hibernation, not running, yet the streamlined, sword-like airships miraculously maintained their stillness, their tails emitting not a single plume of gas or heatwave, like old-fashioned shuttles placed on a loom, waiting for their master to give the command.

The Gu Fortified Stronghold was the most forward point in the northern continent's trench arc, the highest point of that curve. Beyond the giant umbrella lay the desolate and broken "black spots."

No one but the soldiers of the northern fortress would ever reach this place.

This was the border between the "Five Continents" and the "World," the last bastion of humanity's hope.

And unless one was stationed at the fortress...one would not know the immense pressure the Gu Fortified Stronghold faced. The black collapse points expanded into black holes outside the umbrella, and there was a vague tendency for them to connect. In the collapsing order of the "outside world," there were often uncontrolled creatures and transcendent beings corrupted by the "black spots."

It was the end of another year.

The Gu Fortified Stronghold was unusually calm, because the expansion rate of the black spots outside the umbrella had slowed down, making the whole year peaceful...so this year, the fortress felt a long-lost warmth.

A not-so-tall figure stood inside the fortress walls, on top of a tower that had been built many years ago. It was arguably the highest point with the best view. Snowflakes fell on his military uniform's shoulder insignia.

From the back, the figure looked weathered.

But in fact...he was not old. Underneath the peaked cap was a young face. He quietly enjoyed the snow, clutching a rope, and a low, flattering whimper came from beside him.

It was an energy rope with no physical form, crackling with purple lightning. At the end of the rope was a good-natured Labrador "vicious dog," with ferocious fangs but its tongue lolling out, rubbing its head against the young man's leg, its face full of flattery.

The quiet snow-watching did not last long.

"Hiss—"

Behind the young man came the fiery sound of steam ejection, followed by the descent of two figures. They were two young "sentinels" of standard build, one male and one female, their voices respectful.

"Under Brigadier General’s command."

The two were clad in dark red armor that looked like a set of precise bones attached to the contours of the human body, except for obvious gas vents at the tailbone, forearms, and hips.

The technology of external armor had long been developed in the fortress...evolving from clumsy beginnings to a practical combat technology. Wearing this armor not only amplified strength but also enabled short-distance "trekking," "soaring," and "diving."

This thin layer of armor was a powerful fortress worn on the fragile human body.

Of course...the strong enough did not need this armor.

"Duke Zhuxue hopes you will return to Advance City. Your three-year term at Gu Fortified Stronghold has ended...the Inner Cabinet will send a new garrison commander to guard Gu Fortified Stronghold on behalf of Her Majesty."

After the deep-sea link to the Five Continents, the Federation was more united than ever. However...due to the separate independence of the Five Continents, each continent had a relatively unique cultural influence.

Due to the unique geographical environment and the heavy responsibility, the northern continent had the most unique "power system"...so words like "Empress" and "Duke," which were buried in dictionaries, could only be heard in the northern fortress.

The sentinel's voice suddenly froze.

Because the young man holding the dog raised his hand.

He released the energy rope with no physical form. The crackling of electricity exploded softly in the air. At the moment the dog leash was released, the two young sentinels' eyes showed obvious panic. They knew very well what kind of ruthless character they were reporting to and requesting from at the Gu Fortified Stronghold. The order to return to "Advance City" had arrived more than once, and the results of all previous reporters had been fruitless.

Of course...they vaguely refused to elaborate on the details in between.

The moment the dog leash was released—

The harmless-looking Labrador suddenly lunged forward, its ferocity exposed in an instant.

"Bang! Bang!"

The gas vents of the external armor exploded two deep, scorched holes in the snow on the tower roof. The two sentinels quickly hovered into the air. They were not hurt...because the young brigadier general released the rope and then quickly grabbed it again, firmly holding the rope in the air. After the lightning flashed, the vicious dog lunged for a distance and was pulled back again, thrown to the ground, its head drooping, and it sheepishly returned to its master's side.

The two sentinels from Advance City were still in shock.

In the instant the rope was released, immense pressure surged like a tide. The external armor seemed to groan under the weight, almost failing to take off and hover.

It was hard to imagine that the source of all the pressure was just a...dog.

Was that really a dog?

"Lin Lin, under your command...we did not mean to offend..." The sentinel apologized with a stiff face, not daring to land back on the ground.

Lin Lin held the dog, looked up at the two figures in the air, smiled softly, and waved, saying, "You two are lucky, do you know why?"

"Such 'visits' happen four or five times a year, but those guys all visit me in the阁楼 (ge lou) inside the fortress. The 阁楼 (ge lou) is always quiet, with the good custom of closing the door, so after closing the door, I release the dog, and they have nowhere to escape. I'm curious what they will say to you after they return to Advance City?"

Lin Lin looked at the two sentinels' strange expressions and said calmly, "Or...say nothing at all?"

It seemed so.

"Do you know why your beloved Duke Zhuxue has never personally come to the Gu Fortified Stronghold to find me?" Lin Lin said calmly, "Because he doesn't dare, because he himself knows...calling me back to Advance City is just for a few things, either to go to the central continent for further study, to befriend the City of Light in the western continent, or to meet future cooperative allies in Changye City. As the heavenly chosen one of the northern royal blood, as long as I return to Advance City, I will become the glory of the northern fortress, so he believes...that doing these things is more meaningful than personally garrisoning the Gu Fortified Stronghold."

The two young sentinels listened carefully, and their expressions gradually became serious.

"So...what do you think?"

The sudden question stunned both of them, and they looked at each other...not expecting the brigadier general to suddenly ask such a question.

They came with the Duke Zhuxue's orders.

They should have unconditionally supported it.

But the words were on the tip of their tongues...but they could not speak them.

Even though they were born in Advance City and received systematic education from childhood, they also yearned to go to the fortress front line. Those "soldiers" who signed confidentiality agreements in the north and knew the truth of the world, even if they had not awakened transcendent abilities, wanted to fill their flesh and blood into that constantly expanding black hole. If this could slightly ease the pressure on the border fortress, they would do so without hesitation.

Like moths to a flame.

So what?

The warriors of the fortress had always been like this.

"Under your command...I respect you."

The female sentinel slowly landed on the tower roof. She carefully stared at the rope in Lin Lin's hand, and then sincerely gave her answer: "The Gu Fortified Stronghold is indeed fortunate to have you."

The male sentinel also sighed, "If you refuse...we will return to Advance City the way we came. The Duke will definitely be disappointed."

"If Advance City needs me, my sister will speak."

Lin Lin said, "At that time, Mr. Zhuxue will personally come here. I will choose to leave with him."

After saying this, a piece of broken snow that fell on his shoulder suddenly shattered.

It was an irregular fragmentation.

If someone could freeze time, they would find that...this small, shattered snowflake, after exploding, spread into countless fine snow particles, as if forming a circular arc, delineating a layer of boundary in the sky above the tower.

The two sentinels' pupils contracted.

They sensed something was wrong, and then tried to use their external armor to ascend, but this time a muffled sound came from the gas vents...not because of insufficient energy, but because a powerful will enveloped the tower.

Prohibited flight, ascent, hovering.

Starting from that piece of broken snow.

Countless snowflakes falling into the domain accelerated their fall. There was no external force, nor was there any strong pressure. It was just that after this command quietly took effect, this domain no longer had any "living beings" or "dead objects" capable of ascending.

"Then...please return the way you came," Lin Lin said softly. "Before leaving, you two still have the traditional project for Advance City messengers to experience. This can also be regarded as my greetings to Duke Zhuxue through you."

"Just say...Niu Niu misses him very much."

Niu Niu...was a name that sounded very simple and honest.

Just like this squatting "obedient Labrador dog."

Lin Lin released the rope in his hand.

The next moment.

A purple lightning bolt streaked past—

The two sentinels desperately tried to drive the gas device of their external armor, but under the powerful anti-air will, the armor spewed out bursts of black smoke, obviously completely broken. The next moment, the two were knocked down by the purple lightning.

The Labrador vicious dog opened its mouth wide with its ferocious fangs—

Lin Lin could not bear to look back. He jumped lightly and fell from the tower, splashing a pool of broken snow.

More and more people in the Five Continents were awakening transcendent abilities...but very few creatures were awakening transcendent abilities. This Labrador "vicious dog" was one of the rare exceptions.

Without the rope restraint...Niu Niu had a quirk.

"Ah—"

The male sentinel, knocked to the ground by the big dog, burst out a desperate cry. He felt a huge tongue scraping back and forth on his face. The dog's aura was extremely frightening, and its actions after knocking him down were even more ferocious, as if it wanted to swallow him whole.

The slippery, large tongue retracted its barbs...obviously, this big dog had no malice.

It just wanted to lick him.

But the strength of this "lick"...was too great!

His head was about to be licked off!

The female sentinel sat slumped on the ground, her pretty face turning pale when she saw this scene.

After licking one, wouldn't it be her turn next...?

...

...

Lin Lin, who had fallen from the tower, had just stood up when he suddenly frowned...

He felt a strong sense of impact in his brow.

"Is it time for another emergency meeting?"

No.

This feeling was completely different from holding an emergency meeting.

It was an unparalleled...attractive force, instantly erupting in his spiritual sea.

Ordinary emergency meetings...were summons.

But at this moment.

It was a conscription.

Lin Lin's expression was a little pale. He quickly walked towards the quiet pavilion where he rested, while blowing an extremely loud whistle. The Labrador in the distance heard the sound and rushed towards the sound without hesitation, diving down the vertical stone wall of the tower and returning to its master in three to five seconds.

The anti-air domain on top of the tower was instantly lifted.

The female sentinel who was slumped on the ground was still in a state of shock.

Today, she finally witnessed...what the painful experiences that the predecessors who returned to Advance City were unwilling to talk about were.

She was likely the only "survivor."

The male sentinel, covered in saliva and mucus, struggled to sit up. He rubbed the mucus on his face with force and hissed with difficulty: "Before I set off, a senior reminded me that when Duke Zhuxue sent this vicious dog to Brigadier General...it hadn't been tamed yet..."

So, Brigadier General was so concerned about "Duke Zhuxue's" personal invitation...

The female sentinel's expression was stunned, as if she understood something.

"No! The mission is not yet completed. If we return to Advance City like this, what will others think of us?" He clenched his fists with force, unwilling to give up. "We've already come this far. How can we give up?"

After speaking, he looked at his companion.

The female sentinel gritted her teeth and said, "The Brigadier General has returned to the 阁楼 (ge lou)...are you sure you want to do it again?"

The painful memories of being pressed down by that vicious dog instantly flooded his mind. The one who made the suggestion only felt a sour taste in his nose and mouth. He couldn't help gagging for a while, and finally squeezed out a tear full of unwillingness, pain, and regret, gritting his teeth and saying, "It's likely to be useless if we do it again. We can only endure humiliation and return to report to the Duke."

"...I agree."

...

...

Outside the 阁楼 (ge lou).

A Labrador vicious dog was lying prone. It knew better than to follow its master back indoors, but guarded the door. At this moment, its drooping ears perked up slightly, and its dog face was a little strange.

"Boom—"

An invisible sonic boom sounded in the room.

The moment he returned to the 阁楼 (ge lou), Lin Lin clenched his fists, and an invisible restraint spread out with a bang.

A small domain spread out, completely and independently enveloping this quiet room. After ensuring safety...he tried his best to resist the sign of conscription in his mind.

Past emergency meetings were like reminders in the sea of ​​spirit.

If you could attend, then attend.

If you couldn't attend...then that was it.

But this time, it was different.

The powerful pressure was constantly forcing himself to establish a spiritual link...faster, faster!

He desperately wanted to refuse.

But...in the end, he still failed!

With a "boom,"

It was as if a bomb had exploded in his mind. Lin Lin did not feel pain, but felt an unprecedented sense of liberation. He opened his eyes and found himself sitting on one side of a long table, his eyes filled with the dim, scarlet light of the conference room.

This time...almost all the seats were filled, but each face was still dark, and everyone was still hiding their identities from each other. No one knew who was sitting across the long table from them.

It wasn't just him.

Everyone's will was forcibly conscripted at this moment, regardless of whether their time zone was day or night, regardless of how far their consciousness was from this sea area.

It was like an ancient emperor summoning his ministers.

Thousands of miles away.

They must also appear before the emperor.

"This is..."

Lin Lin subconsciously looked towards the head seat of this closed spiritual conference room—

Everyone's eyes looked in one direction.

At the head of the empty long table, at the end position, there was originally a tight, seamless wall...but at this moment, a door slowly appeared on the wall, and countless ancient talismans and characters appeared, transformed, and intertwined on the edge of the door.

And at this moment.

The sound of a key opening the door rang out.

A ray of light appeared in this closed, locked "conference room."

It was a teenager.

A teenager who was not tall and looked a little thin.

...

...

(Requesting monthly tickets~)