Yes, the reason why so many "problems" occurred in the Sangzhou Grotto experiment,

and so coincidentally at the same moment, in the same minute, is mainly because...

The Storm Throne is gone!

"The storm departs for the icy sea, and the Southern Continent becomes a chessboard."

Gu Shen whispered.

"Is this the work of Master Bai Shu and the Empress?"

The thought had just surfaced when he rejected it himself.

"No, not quite."

Gu Shen calmed down, "If Master Bai Shu and the Empress were to make a move, it wouldn't just be this little disturbance... The entire Southern Continent revolves around the Storm faith. With the throne gone, problems will naturally arise in the Holy City. A small ripple, affecting the far end, could be a storm."

"So... the Sangzhou Grotto experiment is likely just an accident."

"It's just that this accident was destined to happen."

"As long as the storm leaves, the entire Southern Continent will not be so peaceful."

Chu Ling brought up a new data panel: "Now, the Holy City Research Institute's request for help has been sent to Upper City, Light City, Central City, and Nagano. They hope the Five Continents can separately send outstanding young extraordinary individuals to Sangzhou Grotto for 'reinforcements.'"

"Has that big moth been confirmed to have escaped?"

Gu Shen was a little puzzled, "Does the entire Southern Continent not have the ability to find and kill it?"

"Yes, of course, it does."

Chu Ling slowly said, "The Holy City has three great apostles and five powerful titled experts... Although the Southern Continent is chaotic, the strength of the top experts should not be underestimated. These people serve the storm and take it as their lifelong faith. This time, the 'Sangzhou Grotto experiment' had an accident, and they consider it part of God's will. They won't take action until the storm sends back an edict."

"What does this mean?" Gu Shen was stunned, "If they don't act, are they just going to watch?"

"They don't care."

Chu Ling said calmly, "The Holy City's attitude towards the 'Awakening Act' has never changed. They don't welcome the Act's implementation, but they don't reject it either... The fundamental reason is that they don't care. They don't care what happens to the awakeners in Sangzhou Grotto in the end. At worst, they'll all die. This island is isolated from the mainland of the Southern Continent. The Holy City apostles have established an absolutely safe 'Storm Boundary.' If that Empress Birdwing Butterfly really wants to invade the mainland, it will be strangled."

"..."

Gu Shen was silent after listening.

He had been to the Southern Continent once and currently had two "spiritual seeds" left in Tin Silver City, which could be reawakened at any time.

That place was truly half heaven and half hell.

As long as there was a heavy rain, a puddle would reflect two completely different appearances of the city.

"You don't have to worry. The situation in Tin Silver City won't happen in Sangzhou Grotto." Chu Ling glanced at Gu Shen and knew what he was thinking. She thoughtfully comforted him, "Although the Holy City doesn't care about the 'Act,' they won't actively cede important trade cities. Only refugees live in Sangzhou Grotto. Their lives are in a tragedy of being plundered."

"This kind of monster has appeared... What's the situation with the residents of the island now?"

"Not clear."

Chu Ling shook her head, "The main system has sealed all the data. It's not yet the scheduled date for sending logs to the Five Continents Council... However, the Holy City Research Institute's request for help this time says that if they are willing to provide support, they will provide data support to 'volunteers.' In other words, extraordinary individuals who go to Sangzhou Grotto can see the island report in advance."

"Interesting, is this luring the enemy in?"

Gu Shen said unhappily, "They don't take action themselves and ask other continents to come to their aid. What are these research institute members up to?"

"They may have no choice."

Chu Ling said, "Only 20% of the personnel in the Holy City Research Institute are from the Southern Continent, 50% are from Upper City, and 30% are from Light City in the Western Continent. Although the research institute is named 'Holy City,' in reality, the number of Southern Continent researchers is small, which is why the real Holy City completely ignores this accident."

"It is worth mentioning that not a single member from the Northern and Eastern Continents participated in the experimental research of this Act." Chu Ling slowly said, "Perhaps before you went to Dolu River, the Empress had already begun the layout of the alliance with Bai Shu."

The Awakening Act has always been firmly promoted by the two Thrones of Light and Sky—

If Sangzhou Grotto is really a game,

Then whatever losses occurred last night have nothing to do with the Northern Continent.

...

...

As soon as Gu Shen left the Shrine Mountain, countless messages came.

Great Capital, Nagano, Central City...

Finally, he connected to Elder Gu's message.

"You brat, you can seclude yourself even better than Bai Xiu!"

"If you don't come out of the Shrine Mountain, I'll go in myself," the old man said unhappily, then said in a deep voice, "Alright, let's talk business. Do you already know about the Southern Continent?"

Now, the deep-water area is full of discussions about the Holy City Research Institute's request for help.

It can be seen that the research personnel in Sangzhou Grotto really need help. They didn't even set permissions. Now all extraordinary individuals know about the Southern Continent's extraordinary creatures breaking free from control...

"I just found out."

Gu Shen said, "It's all over the place now. It's hard not to know."

"Very good."

Gu Qilin said, "Sangzhou Grotto hopes that the Five Continents Council can provide assistance... Of course, we must lend a hand. The direction of this matter will probably be that each continent sends young leaders to Sangzhou Grotto for 'rescue.'"

"But more important than 'rescue' is to personally 'take a look' at the experimental situation inside Sangzhou Grotto."

The old man paused and said, "[Deep Sea] sends reports every year, but these reports are really uninformative and have no reference value at all. The Eastern Continent has always wanted to conduct an on-the-spot investigation, but [Deep Sea] has refused."

"Rescue?"

Gu Shen stood still and said, "What form of rescue? The Frozen Lake mission just passed..."

"Don't worry."

Elder Gu said calmly, "No one is a fool and will use their bullets to sweep away obstacles for the Southern Continent. The World Conference is still being held, and the attitudes of the four continents are basically unified. Everyone said they can 'reinforce,' but the main force needs to be provided by the Holy City, and they need to give up 'command authority' to the young leaders stationed by the continents."

As soon as he heard this, Gu Shen laughed.

The Holy City's plan was to fleece the other four continents.

But now, the situation is reversed.

The other four continents have united to fleece the Holy City.

Providing the main force is equivalent to carrying out "extermination" on the spot. If they give up authority, the young leaders from other continents will take it without hesitation. Gu Shen doesn't know whether the 'extraordinary creatures' around Sangzhou Grotto will be completely eliminated after this wave of support missions ends, but he knows... the extraordinary troops from the Holy City will probably "sacrifice" themselves.

"I predict that the final negotiation result will be a compromise from both sides."

Gu Qilin said, "They will never accept the transfer of authority... So, they will probably provide some reinforcements, but they will never give up command. As for the southerners from other continents, they need to bring their own teams."

"Um... I also think this will be the final result."

Gu Shen realized something was wrong when he said this.

He frowned and said, "Wait a minute, old man... what do you mean by telling me this?"

"While Nagano doesn't have any tasks recently, pick one."

Gu Qilin said calmly, "This task will be entrusted to you. The Northern Continent, the Western Continent, and the Central Continent... will all send people. Remember, the real enemy in this mission is not the 'extraordinary creatures' of Sangzhou Grotto."

"..."

The phone hung up.

Gu Shen didn't even have time to say another word.

He lowered his eyebrows and smiled, and said helplessly, "Okay, he even saved the trouble of asking if I was willing."

"The old man still understands you. He knows you will definitely be willing." Chu Ling said lightly, "Even if he doesn't look for you, you will take the initiative to find him."

Gu Shen sighed softly.

Yes.

He left the Shrine to go to the Gu family to talk to the old man in person.

Now it's good.

It was delivered directly to his door.

"Regardless of whether the Sangzhou Grotto incident is being planned by those two... I can't miss it."

Gu Shen asked with a smile, "Who would refuse a sixty-meter-long fluttering moth?"

Of course, this is just a joke.

Now, the cultivation of the Fire of Vitality is approaching fullness.

Although the next advancement is only a matter of time, if he can spar with talented extraordinary individuals of the same age, it will definitely help the next breakthrough...

Gu Shen remembered very clearly.

The "Vermilion Bird Divine Envoy" he met in Rhine City in the Central Continent.

If this southern mission is jointly undertaken by the Five Continents, then the four divine envoys of the Source Tower will probably hear about it.

Perhaps, it will be that "Vermilion Bird" who will carry out the mission?

"I need to speed up and quickly select manpower."

Gu Shen glanced at the time, "The World Conference will soon have results. According to the old man, the other continents should already be preparing."

Going south to Sangzhou Grotto requires speed.

If it is really a gathering of the Five Continents, then the sooner you arrive at the Research Institute, the sooner you will know the information.

...

...

Snow Forbidden City, Fourth Judgment Dojo.

On the arena.

A total of five figures stirred up layers of wind and waves.

Flames and ice flew together, and storms and thunder roared together... Upon closer inspection, it turned out that four extraordinary individuals were jointly attacking a young man, who was still closing his eyes.

Although the true "eyes" of extraordinary individuals are mental power,

But in such a narrow space, fighting with closed eyes still tests the body's coordination ability.

Under the sweep of the elemental frenzy mixed together, the closed-eyed youth moved instantly. He came behind the fire controller in an instant, and with a hand knife, the [Iron-Eating Disciple] instantly covered the entire arm.

The fire controller's expression was shocked. At the last moment, he turned around and spewed out rolling fire waves with both hands.

However, this iron palm actually withstood the heat wave and pressed it on his head—

"Bang!"

A fierce and rough blow.

The fire controller's head was slammed into the ground of the dojo.

Then, repeat the process—

Whether it was frost, wind blades, or thunder, they couldn't stop this iron arm.

Just like that, he shot three times in a row.

The closed-eyed youth cleanly and neatly ended the battle within ten seconds. He "pressed" the heads of these four extraordinary individuals into the ground of the dojo... The delighted cheers of the distant audience surrounding the dojo erupted.

"Senior Brother Shen, that was satisfying!!"

"Senior Brother Shen!!"

On the other side of the arena, there was silence. A total of more than a dozen people, except for one fourth-order extraordinary individual with a livid face, all looked at each other, obviously frightened by Shen Li's horrifying outburst.

Nagano encourages duels.

Inside the prison, there is even more of a "dragon fight".

Today was a dojo storming competition. The extraordinary individuals under the Third Judge, led by their senior brothers, came to "ask for advice".

These four have all been promoted to the third order.

Although it's only the seventh level,

Who would have thought that this mighty four-on-one didn't even last ten seconds.

Shen Li slowly opened his eyes, clasped his fists and bowed to the stage, and said lightly: "Senior Brother Gong, you let me win. I was planning to ask you for advice in a few days, but I didn't expect you to come today, which saves me the trouble."

The expression on the face of Senior Brother Gong sitting under the stage was not very good.

"Junior Brother Shen Li, this is just a discussion..."

He stood up and said coldly, "You attacked so hard, isn't it inappropriate?"

The heads of his four junior brothers were all pressed into the arena... Now there is still one struggling to pull it out but failed. This scene looks very ridiculous and extremely embarrassing.

"Dojo storming is a good tradition. If you come, you must have the awareness of being beaten."

"When I went out to perform a mission, I heard that you also attacked my junior brother like this. You didn't hold back. My junior brother is still lying in the hospital."

This time's sparring,

Although the scene was ugly, with all four heads stuck upside down,

But Shen Li controlled his strength. These people can lie down for at most two or three days and then they can be jumping around again.

"Alright."

Shen Li glanced at the fire controller who was pulling out his head. He lightly kicked his butt, causing the latter to fall heavily forward, but fortunately, he pulled his head out by the way. A burst of dirt and dust choked him coughing.

"...Now it's all settled."

Seeing this scene,

"Shen Li... do you think your cultivation speed is very fast, and it's great that you have become the ninth level of the Deep Sea? Have you forgotten how to write the words 'superiority and inferiority' in Nagano?"

Senior Brother Gong took a deep breath.

He lowered his sleeves with one hand, and thousands of strands of silver light gathered into a battle knife. This fourth-order person said coldly, "If you have forgotten, I will teach you well today and guarantee that you will never forget it!"

Shen Li sneered.

He was about to open his mouth,

A voice suddenly sounded.

"What great prestige."

The voice came from outside the dojo, but the owner of the voice came to the dojo the next moment.

The temperature of the entire dojo dropped instantly. The temperature control system seemed to be broken, and it instantly entered winter.

Green frost covered the ground.

Gu Shen said calmly, "Gong Yun, I remember you, the eldest senior brother under the Third Judge, with a very high seniority. Why don't you teach me how to write the words 'superiority and inferiority' in Nagano?"