The world inside the high walls wasn't as cold as the outside.

Long-obsolete first-generation inferior drones, with small lanterns hanging from their bottoms, wobbled through the s3 residential area, scattering warm mental radiance.

Those transcendents who survived the disaster huddled behind the walls.

For the past three years, they had basically given up the idea of leaving the residential area to seek help. There were too many beasts lurking in the dense forests, and... who could they turn to for help?

The Church? The Five Continents Government? If asking for help was useful, the Sangzhou Abyss wouldn't be what it was today.

They knew they had been abandoned.

Thanks to the notification from the mental-type transcendent, "reinforcements" quickly arrived... but the misunderstanding had been resolved. After a round of handover by the high wall patrols, Patil led Gu Shen and his group towards the new residential area.

Although it was simple and dilapidated, it had everything it needed.

Residences, training grounds, equipment repair shops...

"These were all built with 'Mr. Zhuang' leading us." Patil's voice was hoarse. "The survivors built a new home here, erected high walls... not long after, he passed away."

Gu Shen's expression was complicated.

[Deep Sea] had launched a purge against the Guwen Society. If they were to choose a suitable "hiding place"...

Then the Sangzhou Abyss was indeed very suitable.

It was far from the inland, close to the edge of the world. The Storm Church allowed various sects to compete for believers here, leading to chaotic order. In this chaos, the Guwen Society members could just get the "peace" they wanted.

"Mr. Zhuang should be one of the 'lost ones' from the Southern Continent."

Chu Ling analyzed, "In the purge twenty years ago, there were many lost ones in the Southern Continent... If they really came to the Sangzhou Abyss, then there must be more than one member. I think there may also be a secret base built by the 'Guwen Society' here."

"Mr. Zhuang's tombstone is here."

In the most remote corner of the new home inside the s3 wall, stood scattered tombstones.

Patil led everyone here.

"Some of the 'corpses' outside haven't been dealt with... because they are 'extremists' who believe in the Church. If we deal with their corpses, there might be trouble."

Patil paused and said, "The Sangzhou Abyss is very chaotic now. 's3 Residential Area' isn't the only place with high walls. Many high walls have been erected in the four major areas. There isn't much we can do, just protect ourselves."

"Trouble?" Shen Li asked, "What kind of trouble can these corpses cause?"

"The Church has many methods, and they are very scary."

Patil said seriously, "Before Mr. Zhuang died, he warned us that the transcendent power in the hands of the Church is not something we can fight against. Don't easily touch anyone related to the Church."

"The Storm God Seat will leave 'mental traces'."

Adam said, "Dealing with these corpses may allow the Storm Church to find you along the 'mental traces'... That Mr. Zhuang gave you the right warning, but he overestimated Storm's concern for its people. Those in the Church don't care about the death of these transcendents."

"You just mentioned 'extremists'."

Gu Shen said calmly, "When you shot at me earlier... were you worried that I was an 'extremist'?"

"...Yes."

Patil nodded, "Although the transcendents of the sects have withdrawn, there are also local fanatics who have been converted in the Sangzhou Abyss. Those currently living in the s3 Residential Area are all 'neutrals'. We don't want to participate in the 'Church's' struggles, so we also reject the preaching of 'extremists'... If they come in, the residential area will become a mess."

"...At a time like this, they are still thinking about preaching?"

Shen Li couldn't understand.

"Reality is often so cruel..."

Gu Shen paused and said, "The more miserable you live, the more you need faith to support you."

Transcendent awakening can be understood as part of the "miracle" descending.

Then this sudden awakening experiment, in the eyes of fanatic believers, is like the "Storm God Seat" bestowing a test upon this small island... They must survive and prove the meaning of their existence to the great existence above the storm!

……

……

Just as they turned around to leave the cemetery.

"Beep—"

In Gu Shen's mind, a cold female voice sounded.

"Gu Shen, it's me."

It was Mu Wanqiu's voice.

Through Netherfire, the two could now achieve long-distance "communication." Jin Suihua could also do this. Gu Shen's Pure Land was an extremely huge mental transfer station. Unless he entered a disaster realm completely isolated from the outside world, the [Apostles] could contact him.

"Northern Continent transcendents have arrived at the Holy City Research Institute base."

Mu Wanqiu said, "Although there were some conflicts outside the base... the forces from the Four Continents are now preparing to enter the 'Sangzhou Abyss'."

"Conflicts?"

Gu Shen smiled and said in his heart, "I guess it was caused by the Vermillion Bird Divine Envoy from the Upper City."

"Yes, I heard you kidnapped their researchers..." Mu Wanqiu reminded, "This guy will probably try to settle the score with you as soon as he gets in. You must be careful."

"It's nothing."

Gu Shen said lightly, "Has he entered the 'Sangzhou Abyss'? Alone?"

"Red Dragon held him back. The Four Divine Envoys are all gathered."

Mu Wanqiu said calmly, "The Upper City transcendents will set off together... If you need help, tell me at any time. Lu Zhe is also here for this mission."

Squad Leader Lu Zhe of Squad One!

A fourth-tier transcendent... the best of the best!

"...Okay."

Of course, Gu Shen wouldn't refuse this obvious goodwill.

Changye and Central City had confirmed their alliance.

Then, the opportunity to join forces with the top powerhouses of the Investigation Corps to take down the opponent must not be missed!

"In addition... the World Conference has divided the Sangzhou Abyss region. The four major areas, a total of seventy-nine medium-sized residential areas, have also been roughly divided. Since 'Holy City' has not expressed its position on this operation, the four major areas will basically be divided equally by the transcendents of the Four Continents."

Mu Wanqiu said, "Only the Four Divine Envoys and the New Blessed One have protested..."

"New Blessed One?"

Gu Shen raised his eyebrows, "The speed at which Light City is choosing 'Children of Blessing' is a bit fast. Didn't you get any news over there?"

He didn't even know this news...

This kind of blockbuster news had been kept secret by the temples of the Western Continent. It was only released during this Sangzhou Abyss operation... Was the Northern Continent's countermeasures against Light City discovered?

"This 'New Child of Blessing' should have just been chosen. His strength is average, and he's probably not your match."

Mu Wanqiu added, "The Northern Continent's 'countermeasures' against Light City are currently very safe. The spies have been pulled out, and they are all being dealt with by the 'Attic'... However, Light City is very clever in dealing with these spies. They always have single-line contact, and they never say anything other than the mission. So, they don't know the news of the 'New Blessing' either."

"I see."

Gu Shen returned to the topic and frowned, asking, "The Divine Envoys and the Blessed One are protesting. What are they protesting?"

"Uneven distribution."

Mu Wanqiu said concisely, "They don't want an equal division. According to the results of the World Conference, there are a total of seventy-nine residential areas. Central Continent, Northern Continent, and Western Continent each have twenty, and Eastern Continent... will take nineteen, one of which is larger."

"Heh."

Gu Shen glanced at the mental projection and said, "Is that so? Distribute nineteen to the Eastern Continent, one less than them?"

He set off first and came to the Sangzhou Abyss.

He didn't have time to pay attention to the results of the World Conference discussion.

"The Upper City requests to hold a 'spiritual conference' before entering the Sangzhou Abyss." Mu Wanqiu said, "They hope to redraw the boundaries... [Deep Sea] should contact you about the specific matters of the conference."

……

……

The mental connection ended, and Gu Shen's expression was obviously not good.

Shen Li and Bai Xiu both noticed it.

He simply passed on the information from just now.

"The Upper City requested to hold a spiritual conference?"

Shen Li sneered, "They think it's unfair. We also think it's unfair... Why should we have one less piece of land than the other three continents?"

Bai Xiu reminded, "The Sangzhou Abyss mission... is currently to help the research institute clear the possible threats of 'transcendent beings'."

Except for the Empress Birdwing Butterfly.

There are still many unknown transcendent species on this volcanic island—

Obtaining more residential area territory meant clearing more transcendent species... but the Four Divine Envoys probably didn't care about this. Their strength was enough to rampage across the entire Sangzhou Abyss.

Sweeping away transcendent species and taking away some samples was probably the test mission given to them by Mr. Tian Shui...

In essence, their extermination of transcendent beings was not for the sake of the local people.

What did the people inside the walls have to do with the Upper City?

"The larger the territory, the more resources..."

Shen Li's voice contained hidden anger, "What are they doing? Dividing up the territory and harvesting crops? In the eyes of the Upper City, is this place just a vegetable garden?"

"Yes. Perhaps even worse."

Gu Shen calmly asked, "Imagine if the Eastern Continent had agreed to the experimental application of the 'Awakening Law' at the beginning, then what would the situation be like now...?"

"The strong become chess players."

"The weak... naturally can only become the chessboard."

In the minds of the three, they all received the announcement issued by [Deep Sea] on behalf of the Five Continents Council.

The application from the Upper City was approved.

Before stepping into the Sangzhou Abyss, all leader-level transcendents whose identities had been "certified" would have the opportunity to enter the "conference room"... The Four Divine Envoys and the New Child of Blessing hoped to renegotiate the regional division of the "Sangzhou Abyss mission".

Gu Shen looked back at Vias and Patil.

The two hadn't seen each other for many years. At this moment, they were leaning on a piece of reinforced concrete on the wasteland, chatting. In the dilapidated streets of the s3 residential area, there were still many survivors. Under the leadership of "Mr. Zhuang," they had formed an organization. Hearing that outsiders had entered the high walls, they had gathered together, keeping a distance and cautiously looking at Gu Shen and the others.

They didn't know.

The "home" where they had lived for many years didn't belong to them.

Even if they built higher walls, they couldn't be higher than the control of [Deep Sea].

The Sangzhou Abyss was an isolated island wandering on the edge of the Southern Continent, but it was also a chessboard firmly held in the palm of the Five Continents Council.

And they... even if they awakened transcendent abilities, they were still just pawns to be sacrificed. No matter which step they died on, it wouldn't attract real attention.

Life, sometimes, was just so insignificant.

……

……

Deep Water Area.

Countless arcs of light streaked across, rapidly "building" in the spiritual ocean current.

As the computing power of the virtual spiritual network became stronger and stronger, the functions within the Deep Water Area also became more and more numerous.

The application submitted to the Five Continents Council by the Four Divine Envoys was approved. This was not actually the privilege of the "Upper City." The Highest Seat was not the Highest Seat of the Sky God Seat alone... The unreasonable division of the seventy-nine areas was the common opinion of the Four Continent God Seats.

Light, Fighting, Empress all approved the construction of the "conference room."

After the Highest Seat nodded—

A spiritual conference room large enough to accommodate twenty people was "built" in a very short period of time.

[Deep Sea] turned the qualifications for joining the conference into "spiritual invitations" and sent them into the minds of influential representatives in each continent. It invited these people to join the upcoming meeting.

Gu Shen and Bai Xiu both received invitations.

And Shen Li... although he was a core member of the Sangzhou Abyss mission personally invited by Gu Shen, his strength and status were a bit lacking, so he didn't receive an invitation.

Little Iron Man was a little depressed.

But thinking about the fierce struggle in the "spiritual conference room" next, he felt that not attending the conference might also be a good thing.

Under Gu Shen's "privilege" request, [Deep Sea] selectively gifted Shen Li with "spectator permission" for this conference... The specific content of this conference would not actually be made public. With "spectator permission," he could enter the Deep Water Area and watch the progress of the meeting.

The meeting began, and Gu Shen and Bai Xiu found a relatively quiet place.

Their minds connected with [Deep Sea].

……

……

Their minds were immersed in the Deep Sea, their consciousness gradually sinking, and finally they arrived at an endlessly dark conference room.

This scene was somewhat familiar.

However, when Gu Shen opened his eyes, what he saw was not a series of faces covered in mist, but real faces that had been somewhat virtualized in the Deep Water Area, shrouded in a faint spiritual glow.

This was not the online meeting of the Guwen Society...

"Gu Shen."

"Little Gu."

Familiar voices greeted him.

Gu Shen nodded and saw that the long table was divided into four directions. The one greeting him from the Northern Continent was "Wild Dog," the garrison of Falling Silver City whom he had met in the Little Barren Mountain in the capital, as well as Squad Leader Lu Zhe.

Mu Wanqiu only glanced at him before withdrawing her gaze.

The two had already established a close connection between "God Seat" and "Apostle," so there was no need to communicate too much here.

On the other side, the virtual shadows of the Four Divine Envoys of Central Continent slowly emerged.

Red Dragon, Cloud Tiger, Vermillion Bird, Black Tortoise... these four full-star Divine Officials were all young, and their spiritual auras were powerful. Even in the "weapon-free" conference room of the Deep Water Area, one could feel the pressure from these four top fourth-tier transcendents.

The Light City had the fewest participants in this conference.

The New Child of Blessing was gentle and quiet, looking like the opposite of Meng Xiao.

Only two people from the Western Continent attended, him and Jia Wei.

And on the Eastern Continent... there were three people.

"Gu Shen, long time no see."

A lazy male voice, slightly hoarse, sounded next to Gu Shen.

Gu Shen turned his head and saw a young face that was both unfamiliar and familiar.

Curly hair, black eyes.

It had been three years since he had last seen him. Gu Shen really hadn't expected that there would be a third person from the Eastern Continent at this conference.

He smiled and said, "Chen Mo?"