Chapter 1 Thunder Realm

The Thunder Realm formed, the beast tide collapsed!

Bai Xiu slowly landed on the high wall of District S12, the lightning filling his sleeves gradually dissipating.

Several Cheng Xin Hui transcendents not far from him subconsciously moved away.

Terrifying, too terrifying.

Could this kind of terrifying destructive power really be caused by a fourth-order transcendent?

Previously, Gu Shen used "poisonous miasma" to defeat the beast tide outside the city and used the 【Source Code】 to interfere with the deep-sea signal... Most transcendents did not see the specific scene of Gu Shen poisoning the beast tide. But this time, it was different.

Bai Xiu, alone, repelled all the beast spirits directly attacking District S12!

The shocking scene of the Thunderous Marsh descending had been deeply engraved in everyone's hearts.

"This is the power of an 'S-level'..."

Su Cha, the leader of the Cheng Xin Hui's four adopted sons, had a solemn expression. Standing beside him, with a pale face, Eagle Eye Qi Lu swallowed.

"This guy is simply a monster..."

Qi Lu thought of his previous 【Origin Cannon】 and felt extremely ironic, as if he were a joke.

"Is Gu Shen at the same level as this kind of freak?"

On the other side, Wu Yong muttered, "Why do I feel like Gu Shen is a normal person?"

"Illusion."

Su Cha said calmly, "It must be your illusion, because all the S-level transcendents in the world are perverts, just with different areas of expertise... Repelling the beast tide of a single city district, an S-level fourth-order can do it. The four divine envoys of the Source Tower and the Holy Son of Guang Ming Bi Lei can probably do it too."

"So... the main city districts of the four continents will not fall..."

Wu Yong quickly reacted, his expression solemn, "But this beast tide collapsed because of that 'Thunderous Marsh,' right? I saw that the original determination to die of these beast spirits seemed to have dissipated at the end."

"It's not entirely because of me."

Amidst their conversation, Bai Xiu's voice rang out on the high wall.

He looked in the direction of the Cheng Xin Hui transcendents and explained, "The 'temptation' that summoned this beast tide to continue moving forward has disappeared... These beast spirits didn't have much fighting spirit to begin with, so they were defeated by me. It can be said that this great victory was a bargain I picked up."

"..."

Everyone was silent. In their impression, Bai Xiu was taciturn, like an iceberg.

The two identities of Changye S-level and Bai Family Prodigy were like a chasm, making people instinctively want to retreat and stay away... Come to think of it, this was actually the first time they had a face-to-face conversation with Bai Xiu.

However, these few words had already greatly changed Su Cha and the others' perception.

This iceberg prodigy did not seem as indifferent as they had imagined.

"I see..."

Remaining silent would be impolite. Su Cha replied, asking earnestly, "That last strike... was it the power of a sealed item?"

The Thunderous Marsh of tridents that fell from the sky would probably be remembered by everyone for a lifetime.

It was too shocking, completely subverting their understanding of the fourth order.

"It's a 'domain.'"

Bai Xiu smiled gently, not hiding anything, "After elemental transcendents advance to the fourth order, they will have a 'domain.' As long as they complete the comprehension of 'elementalization,' they can dismantle their own flesh and blood. In a sense, it's a fusion of humans and heaven and earth."

He actually explained the principle of this move.

Several Cheng Xin Hui powerhouses immediately listened attentively.

"Few people do this, but as long as you communicate with the corresponding element and the degree of fusion with this heaven and earth is high enough, there is a chance to carry out the 'extreme expansion' of the domain... The extreme extension range of the domain can be expanded from one to one hundred."

Bai Xiu held up a finger and shook it, "This method can greatly improve the domain's perception ability. The upper limit of extreme expansion depends on the 'thickness of mental power,' but the origin is conserved. If you want to unleash large-scale destructive power, you need the ability user's total origin to be large enough."

Su Cha and the others understood.

There is no perfect thing in this world. To pursue range, you need to reduce the point-to-point destructive power.

The reason why the final Thunderous Marsh was so terrifying, so shocking, able to directly defeat the beast tide... was because Bai Xiu's own killing power was already off the charts. Even if it was spread out in a large-scale Thunder Realm, it could still instantly kill a group of beast spirits!

If it were someone else, even if they comprehended this method of extremely expanding the domain, they would not be able to achieve such a rapid kill.

……

……

After the beast tide dissipated, the city gates of District S12 were wide open.

Armored vehicles drove into the city, and the material transport team from Da Du was finally able to enter the city.

Hu Danian went straight to the high wall.

He didn't know anyone else here, only Bai Xiu, so he naturally ran wildly in the direction of Bai Xiu.

But when he arrived at the top of the wall, he was stunned.

Upon reaching the top, he saw Su Cha of the Cheng Xin Hui, a famous figure in Da Du!

Not only Su Cha...

After Song Ci left, the four adopted sons of Councilor Chen San could be considered the underground rulers of Da Du. At this moment, the position of the four and Bai Xiu, as well as their conversational postures, were all seen by Hu Danian.

Yes, the hierarchy was clear at a glance.

"Where's the little girl... why can't I see her?"

Hu Danian was an impatient person. He opened his mouth and asked Bai Xiu for the person.

His mission was not to stay in District S12, but to take the target person away as soon as possible. Not only him, but other armored vehicles that entered District S12 also began follow-up missions. No one rested. Qi Mo and Zhuang Su brought out the first batch of pre-selected "neutralists" who were to leave Sangzhou Cave from the mansion.

Hearing this, Bai Xiu subconsciously glanced at the zenith.

The black-shirted little girl was still in the hands of the Thunder Realm Walker, and was now slowly descending from the zenith.

"Your mission has changed."

Bai Xiu was silent for a few seconds before slowly saying, "The target person does not need to be taken away... The missions of others remain unchanged. After they finish packing, you take them away first."

As soon as these words came out, the expressions of Su Cha and the others changed slightly. Chen Li and Chen Mei, who had just climbed onto the city wall, also felt surprised.

"What do you mean?"

Hu Danian frowned. Others were intimidated by Bai Xiu, but he wasn't. For this mission, he could risk everything: "How can the mission change... You have to give me an explanation!"

"You can't take her away. The Source Tower will find out."

Bai Xiu was not good with words. This time he spoke hastily, but it was already too late when he realized that what he said would cause misunderstanding.

"What kind of talk is that?" Hu Danian laughed angrily, "Damn it, do you suspect that I'm a spy?!"

"..."

Bai Xiu sighed lightly in his heart.

"The beast tide is in chaos right now. It's the best time to send people away." Chen Mei realized something was wrong and transmitted his voice, "Little Xiu, what happened? Why did you suddenly cancel the repatriation mission?"

In the Eastern Continent plan, Gu Xiaoman was a temporary variable. How to send her away was a problem that had not yet been solved.

It could only be said that this attempt to send people away during the Great Hunting was an attempt.

If it didn't work, they would look for other methods.

Bai Xiu's answer to acquaintances was much simpler: "It's a long story... Gu Xiaoman, can't be sent away."

Chen Mei sighed upon hearing this. He came to Hu Danian's side and whispered a few words in his ear.

Hu Danian also fell silent after listening.

"I am the leader of the special action team in Da Du District. I have the right not to obey Changye's orders. Now you say the mission is canceled, but I haven't received any notification. Either Madam Nan Zhi will give me orders, or let Little Gu order me. Before I get definite news, I will not leave..."

He stubbornly stated his final attitude.

"Then wait a little longer."

Bai Xiu's expression was slightly apologetic, and he said, "I can't explain it clearly. Let Gu Shen come and explain it himself."

……

……

The rain was getting heavier and heavier. Although the beast tide had retreated, District S12 was still in chaos.

A large number of refugees had come here.

The beast tide attacked from all directions, and several high walls in the Southern Cave had been breached... The neutralists organized in a timely manner and carried out mass evacuation. In this A+ level beast tide attack, only "District S12" was a safe area.

Eastern Continent enforcers formed more than a dozen rescue teams and provided assistance outwards.

Gu Xiaoman was successfully sent to the top of the city wall by the Thunder Realm Walker. She held tightly to a corner of Bai Xiu's sleeve, stood on the city wall, and watched the beast spirit tide disappear into the dark night in the rain, all feeling uneasy in their hearts.

The feeling of uneasiness had not dissipated.

Because the beast tide was not the true source of terror.

The air was filled with mountain ash, the 【Deep Sea】 signal was getting worse and worse, and scarlet, dim light floated over the highest points of the mountains and ridges.

All of this meant...

【Tanyao】 may have awakened.

This was the source of everyone's unease.

Finally, from the far end of the Long Night, a figure draped in wind, snow, and flames swept over.

Gu Shen returned to District S12. He felt the bloody aura and the remnants of the lightning storm at the base of the city wall from afar. After leaving the 【Tanyao】 core area, Chu Ling's mental link resumed communication. He already knew everything that had happened here.

"...Little Gu!"

Hu Danian saw his old friend and greeted him before everyone else.

"Old Hu."

Seeing an old friend again, a smile appeared in Gu Shen's eyes.

But he felt guilty in his heart.

Because this trip to the south was very difficult. How easy would it be to send the "Child of the Divine Scroll" away?

Letting Hu Danian come was with the idea of "taking a gamble." Now it seemed that he hadn't misjudged the person.

Earlier, during the beast tide invasion, Hu Danian stood alone, completing half of the eastern wing origin base station construction alone, all of which was captured by the 【Deep Sea】.

Gu Shen had already seen it in the database... This guy came here, really risking his life.

"You don't need to say more... I already know about the matters here."

Gu Shen saw the bewildered and wronged look on Hu Danian's face. Before the other party could speak, he softly transmitted his voice, "The mission has indeed changed, but don't overthink it. Your mission has become even more important. I need you to expand the escort team by ten times... Originally, we were going to send ten people away, now it's one hundred people."

Hu Danian was completely stunned.

"You've also seen it, the 【Tanyao】 of Sangzhou Cave is about to erupt."

Gu Shen put his arm around Hu Danian's shoulder, pointed to the scarlet sky in the distance, and said softly, "The World Conference will soon have results... We need to send as many people away as possible. Don't worry about 'checkpoint interception.' You only need to protect the transport targets during the departure process. Someone will take care of the rest of the trouble."

"This..."

Hu Danian's expression became solemn, and he asked hesitantly, "Really sending one hundred people?"

"Yes." Gu Shen said calmly, "Can't fit them?"

"Can fit them... If they are willing to squeeze, we can even double it again." Hu Danian scratched his head and said, "I just didn't expect the mission to really change. I thought that guy Bai was deliberately going against you... Then what about the little girl I was originally responsible for?"

Hu Danian subconsciously looked in the direction of Gu Xiaoman.

Xiaoman was tugging on Bai Xiu's sleeve, carefully looking at this bearded man.

"Her..."

Gu Shen's voice was a little hoarse, "I will send her away."

"Since you are in charge... then I have nothing to worry about." Hu Danian revealed a sincere smile, and his white teeth: "Madam and Little Cui told me thousands of times that this little girl is very, very important, and there can be no slightest negligence... I have prepared myself to leave my life here for this."

Now, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Having Gu Shen take over was better than anyone else!

Confirming the mission change, Hu Danian hurried towards the mansion below. He needed to communicate with the so-called "neutralist" leaders. This temporary expansion was obviously outside the plan... Both sides needed to re-formulate the departure plan.

"Everyone disperse, go do what you need to do."

Chen Mei also led the Cheng Xin Hui subordinates away.

The task of receiving the victims of the beast tide still required a lot of manpower... The previous impact was very fierce, and many people were separated during the beast tide attack. Now was the golden period for rescue, and many lives could be saved.

The high wall of District S12 became quiet.

Chen Li originally wanted to say something, but he noticed in time that the atmosphere was not right... Thinking of what Bai Xiu had said earlier, the little iron man realized that something bad was about to happen.

He left the city very tactfully.

Bai Xiu also left with him.

Little Xiu allowed Gu Xiaoman to hold his sleeve for a long time. Now he stretched out a palm, gently rubbed the little girl's head, and then gently pushed the ignorant black-shirted girl forward a few steps.

"You guys talk."

After saying this, the thunder light flashed, and he had disappeared without a trace.

It became empty and desolate here, leaving only two people.

Gu Xiaoman, Gu Shen.

"Shua—"

Gu Shen used his fingertips to stain the Pure Land with wind and snow, and wrote and arranged the ancient texts of the Qingzhong Cemetery in the void.

Although the mountain ash was severe.

But the 【Tidal】authority and the 【Cloud Mirror】authority could still peep here.

He habitually made thorough preparations—

A hazy cyan light enveloped the top of the S12 District wall.

A strong wind blew past, and Gu Shen's blazing fire spirit spread out. Then, the large red lanterns specially made by the "neutralists" slowly floated up.

In the long night, the night scene of this flat city head watchtower became like a dream, and the pattering rain fell in the red light reflected by the lanterns, splashing out the faces of thousands of men and girls facing each other in the puddles on the city wall.

Gu Shen squatted in front of the little girl. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end he stopped.

Thousands of words, at this moment, not a single word could be uttered.

"Brother Gu Shen, are we going to separate?"

Gu Xiaoman spoke first, never expecting that their conversation would be initiated by her.

Gu Shen: "...Yes."

After receiving this answer, Gu Xiaoman was not sad at all, but instead squeezed out a smile: "These words are so hard to say, I guess the place I'm going next must be a very bad place... The Source Tower?"

Gu Shen knew that Gu Xiaoman was very smart.

But he didn't expect Xiaoman to be so smart.

He just silently looked at this girl who had only known him for a dozen days, but had already become as close as family.

"Don't worry, I don't blame you."

Xiaoman babbled to herself: "I still understand some truths. I always remember the words you taught me, and I will remember them for a long, long time. I will remember them for a lifetime."

Gu Shen was stunned.

"If you are not sure of winning a battle... then you can try to do some things within your power to gradually make it winnable."

The black-shirted little girl showed an innocent smile.

She said seriously, word by word: "As long as you can get to the end..."

"Then no matter how tortuous the middle process is, it doesn't matter."