Chapter 16 Base City
Sixteenth, a giant base city yet to be officially named.
The place was a mess. Prefabricated structures were erected close together, built in haste. The pathways for people were less than a meter wide, crowded with people of all skin tones, white and black alike. Many had disheveled hair and worn clothes, resembling refugees.
And in fact, they were not far from it.
Unlike Dong Huang, during the nationwide migration period, most cities maintained order. People were even able to bring a few personal belongings when leaving their homes.
The vast land radiated by Base City Sixteen had already suffered greatly from the malevolent entities and the red moon. As order had long since vanished, gathering a sufficient number of survivors was not a simple task.
Therefore, the Blue Star Alliance adopted a different strategy, no longer migrating city by city.
Instead,
Temporary settlements were first established in various regions to shelter survivors scattered across the cities, and to incorporate large-scale survivor camps from the civilian sector.
This plan had begun more than ten days ago.
Significant military and material resources were invested. The civilian survivor camps here were not to be trifled with. Some were composed of former rioters, had awakened individuals, and possessed a large quantity of firearms and weapons.
When Area 51 contracted its forces and only protected a few cities, these rioters could brazenly confront police stations and empty entire warehouses of weapons and ammunition.
However, the rioters' reign of terror lasted only a couple of days before the Phoenix Fire powerhouses arrived.
They brought hope, they brought light.
Three-awakened experts could easily dodge rifle bullets and tear down walls with their bare hands. However, if they were unarmed, facing a group of armed rioters and a few awakened individuals among them would still be somewhat difficult.
But the Phoenix Fire experts wore combat suits impervious to rifle bullets. When dealing with these rioters, they used not swords or sabers, but cheap pistols and rifles.
The times had not changed, but convenience had.
Sometimes, four-awakened experts were dispatched to incorporate particularly troublesome large survivor camps.
Their primary role was deterrence.
They could stroll leisurely through rain of bullets, pinching a shot aimed at them between their index and middle fingers.
If the first three awakened levels were within the scope of dealing with light weaponry, then at the four-awakened level, times had truly changed. Without an armored unit's encirclement, without artillery barrages, and in an open environment, four-awakened individuals could move freely.
A small display of their power could subdue those large survivor camps.
These camps were then transformed into temporary gathering points and transit stations for migration, staffed with personnel. Survivor groups from the surrounding areas would converge here. Once a certain number was reached, they would be arranged by Phoenix Fire for centralized migration to the base cities.
Nine days ago, when the red moon descended, the migration work for Base City Sixteen was only half complete. More survivors were still distributed in these "transit camps."
These camps were also allocated Purification Orbs, which allowed them to survive.
"Fortunately, I was pragmatic and surrendered in time. Otherwise, even if those powerhouses in black uniforms with flame emblems spared me, my entire settlement would have suffered heavy casualties under that red moon. Such a disaster would be beyond human resistance."
The burly man speaking was named Jonsen, a second-level awakened expert.
It was precisely because of his formidable strength that he was able to gather a team and quickly establish his own faction when order collapsed, creating a vast survivor settlement.
He was a well-known figure in the entire region.
However, after witnessing the might of those in black uniforms with flame emblems, Jonsen no longer dared to consider himself a top expert.
"Leader Jonsen speaks the truth. Putting aside other matters, those malevolent entities are becoming more and more terrifying. Sometimes, I'm afraid to sleep, fearing a powerful entity might suddenly appear."
The speaker was another leader of a large settlement, or rather, he used to be.
"Our Base City Sixteen has also seen quite a few malevolent entities these past few days. The White Bone Knight that appeared on East Street yesterday was too terrifying. I was nearly impaled with a gun."
"But even those kinds of entities were easily defeated by those powerhouses in black uniforms with flame emblems in a few moves... Hey brother, where did those powerhouses come from? Are they from Dong Huang?"
Jonsen stroked his stubble. "I've heard some rumors. Those people in black uniforms with flame emblems come from a mysterious place, a place that has complete methods for training, strengthening, and awakening."
After some inquiries, Jonsen also obtained another piece of information.
Survivor settlement leaders like him who surrendered promptly were granted one opportunity for an assessment. If they passed, they could go to that mysterious place to cultivate and become stronger! They could become as powerful as those in black uniforms with flame emblems!
And the general content of the assessment...
There was no need to explain this to this simpleton.
As leaders of surrendered settlements and also capable warriors, Jonsen and others bore the responsibility of assisting in maintaining public order. However, this order could barely be maintained.
The base city's migration process was too rushed, and the residents were refugees from various places. It was not chaotic, but it was close to it.
Fights and brawls occurred frequently. Some people would pull out firearms at the slightest disagreement, and some would even kill someone with a gunshot.
The most serious problem, of course, was the proliferation of malevolent entities. Even with the intervention of those mysterious powerhouses who promptly eliminated them, the widespread influence of powerful entities could still cause heavy casualties in the surrounding areas.
"This base city is like a powder keg, very oppressive, ready to explode at any moment."
"Although it's much safer here than outside, many brainless individuals won't consider these issues. They'll only vent their dissatisfaction."
"If you ask me, it's best to just shoot them all."
"Shooting them won't help. The malevolent entities are the big problem. However, I heard that as long as the Dawn arrives, it can suppress the proliferation of malevolent entities? Is it really that magical."
Ascending a tall building and facing the wind, their gaze swept over buildings of varying heights, and they could see magnificent pure white towers in the distance.
Like a speck of white in a polluted land, it stood out from the surrounding structures. The towering spire seemed to pierce the overcast sky. Even with the gray mist swirling around, the tower remained spotless, a sacred white.
At this moment,
High atop the tower, on a suspended platform.
Ripples like water waves spread through space. The next moment, a figure in white robes passed through and landed here.
Luo Jianxing, who was on duty here, had just received news of his mentor's impending arrival and was looking down from the tower. He turned around and saw the water-like spatial ripples, and his mentor emerged from them with an air of nonchalance.
Was this teleportation?
As expected of his mentor!
He immediately raised his head, straightened his back, clenched his fist, and placed it over his heart, exclaiming with spirit, "Mentor, you have arrived."
Then, Luo Jianxing continued to report with a resounding voice,
"The construction of the Dawn Beacon is proceeding very smoothly. There were two instances of spy probes during the process, but neither of them approached the beacon. Since its construction, no unauthorized personnel have come near."
Beside him, Jiang Nian, who had just tidied his hair, was about to speak when he realized that Luo Jianxing had already said everything that needed to be said.
Damn it!
Do you have to be such a sycophant!
"Mentor, please this way."
Jiang Nian quickly stepped forward and took on the task of opening the door... even though it was an automatic door.
The core of the Dawn Beacon held nothing special. The task of lighting the dawn was one that Fang You had performed fifteen times already, making him quite familiar with it.
He made some preparations.
Beside his ear, Xiao Huan's broadcast voice could be heard.
"There are three remaining convoys in the process of migration."
"The furthest one is still 8.9 kilometers away from the base city."
...
"...Only 4.5 kilometers west to go~"
Xiao Huan's voice became increasingly pleasant.
Suddenly,
Fang You's brow furrowed, and his gaze looked outward through the glass window.
The sky was still covered in dark clouds, and the gray mist began to surge violently, as if a gate to the realm of the uncanny was about to open.
Many Phoenix Fire powerhouses had witnessed such preludes.
However, what appeared at this moment was not a gate to the realm of the uncanny. The gray mist across the world surged violently, as if a world-ending tsunami was roaring in, threatening to overturn the entire world.
The sky grew darker.
"Another red moon descending?"
"No, it's not. The erosion from the realm of the uncanny has suddenly accelerated under some incomprehensible force."
In Fang You's field of vision,
Outside the vast Blue Star world, in the boundless and indistinct gray border zone, the drifting gray mist suddenly increased. If it was a small stream before, it was now a river, then a large river!
Rushing and crashing against the cracked world barrier of Blue Star.
He heard a crisp sound.
The world seemed to be lamenting.
At the same time, in Shui Ze Base City.
"Huh..."
Ms. Wan She, who was slurping a bowl of luosifen, suddenly turned her head. The slurping stopped midway, and the soup dripped everywhere. Ms. Wan She remained expressionless, her eyes fixed on the distant sky.
It was morning in Dong Huang, with a clear sky and bright sunshine.
The sky suddenly darkened, as if a storm was approaching.
But it was different from the red moon disaster nine days ago. The sky had not yet completely darkened, nor was there a red moon hanging high. It was just that in the safe and pure Dawn Zone, wisps of gray mist drifted out, increasing in number.
Further away, where the Dawn could not reach, the gray mist churned more violently, as if the earth was turning over, as if the sky was collapsing.
"This seems to be..."
A strand of Ms. Wan She's black hair floated in front of her. Supporting her chin, her expressionless face showed a hint of interest.
She stopped slurping her noodles and immediately stood up.
Her black hair lifted and extended, wrapping around her small body. When the black hair, which had formed a cocoon, dispersed, Ms. Wan She had vanished.
Snake Madam, who had been slurping noodles with her, was stunned.
She then noticed that the celestial phenomenon in the distance was not right.
"Grandmother, wait for me!"
Snake Madam immediately stood up, her figure turning into an afterimage as she rushed into the distance.
The owner of the small stall was left stunned for a long while before he recovered.
"Wait, even if you're awakened, you can't dine and dash! Stop!"
...
The change in the celestial phenomena began in the gray mist zone. The Dawn Zone only experienced a darkening of the sky. The commotion was not as significant as the global red moon event of the previous few days.
However, some oasis powerhouses with extraordinary vision had already keenly sensed something was wrong.
"It's erosion! The erosion process of Blue Star is accelerating!"
At the Fallen Star City outpost, the First Prince's expression changed slightly.
He took out a vehicle-type uncanny artifact and rode it, quickly heading out of the city towards the areas shrouded in gray mist.
The accompanying personnel also followed. As they advanced, more and more gray mist visibly emerged. Several Counts of Fallen Star City became worried.
"Is the Evil God faction making another move against Blue Star?"
"Yes, but it's not an attack. Some terrifying existence is pouring power into polluting Blue Star, accelerating its erosion process!"
"I didn't expect the Evil God faction to make a move again."
The First Prince was also surprised.
The Evil God faction was powerful, but it also had its enemies – other Evil God factions! Their oasis could survive in the cracks between the Evil Gods, partly due to their own reliance, and partly because the Evil God factions often fought among themselves.
Devouring worlds, faction wars.
These were the two daily activities of the Evil Gods.
These were all too distant for super-oases like theirs. The First Prince was considering whether Blue Star could retain a heritage to escape under the pressure of the Evil God factions.
Or rather, had Blue Star secretly arranged for some elites to leave?
The latter was more probable.
If he were the helmsman of Blue Star, he would do the same.
As the First Prince contemplated, several great nobles looked at the sky outside, at the surging gray mist like rolling clouds, their faces filled with even greater worry.
A Count hesitated to speak, then stopped, and after thinking for a while, cautiously said.
"Your Highness, since the Evil God faction may descend at any time, we must also prepare early. You are of royal blood and must not be put in danger."
They themselves had entered Blue Star in their true forms.
They were still suppressed and rejected by the world's power, only able to exert power at the non-human or commander level. Of course, even if they could exert their full power, it would still be fraught with danger. Any stray impact could end their lives.
They had not been in such a perilous situation for a long time.
A sharp sword seemed to hang above their heads, ready to fall at any moment. In the uncanny vehicle, pairs of eyes looked at the First Prince, waiting anxiously.
The First Prince was not nervous.
"It's not the descent of myths. The Evil God faction is acting from the outside. Even if the erosion process accelerates significantly, it will still take time for the Blue Star world to truly collapse. What's the rush?"
The gray mist in the distance thickened further. A mountain forest under the gray mist seemed to cast a reflection.
A colossal illusionary scene, like a mirage, appeared in the sky, under the gray mist. It unfolded on the celestial curtain like a developed film, showing a familiar forest, and further in the distance, rows of buildings – the shadow of a city.
The reflection gradually lowered, seemingly about to merge with reality.
Thick gray mist also gradually engulfed the area ahead, spanning dozens of kilometers north and south, isolating it.
"This is the fourth stage of the uncanny erosion, regional consumption!"
"When the reflection merges with reality, the space in this entire area will be cleaved open, directly sealed, and soon, this entire area will fall into the shallow layer of the uncanny realm."
"It starts with one area, then two areas. As similar areas increase, the world becomes more fragmented, and the speed of consumption will increase exponentially until the entire world falls completely into the shallow layer of the uncanny realm, becoming an insignificant part of it."
"That is the end."
"This is the fate of the world."
Pairs of eyes gazed into the distance.
Even powerhouses with extraordinary vision could discern that time was running out for Blue Star.
...
...
Deep within the uncanny realm, on the nameless blood-red lake.
A blood-red emperor, clad in armor, tall and majestic, was bowing his head in reverence.
Before him, in the center of the blood-red lake, stood a blurred figure.
This being seemed infinitely tall, with the vast blood lake forming his cloak and distant clouds his crown. Beyond that, everything was blurry. The blood-red emperor could not see clearly, nor did he dare to look directly.
He was a servant who always accompanied the Mother Goddess, a noble and ineffable great being.
Lord of the Blood Lake, Spreader of Blood, King of Fear, Favored One of the Scarlet Moon...
Lord of the Blood Lake, Filios!
"Blue Star, an unusual newborn world, hiding many secrets?"
"Even so, you are quite disappointing, Blood Red."
His voice, like the gurgling of blood, conveyed a fear that pierced the soul.
Seeing the blood-red emperor lower his head further, the Lord of the Blood Lake, Filios, paused and said, "For your loyalty to the Mother Goddess, I shall act."
As soon as the words fell, the vast blood lake began to boil.
In the crimson blood, the appearance of the Blue Star world was reflected.
His action was aimed at the entire Blue Star world. If the blood-red emperor's previous acceleration of Blue Star's erosion was from the inside, punching holes in the giant ship of Blue Star to increase the seepage rate, then the Lord of the Blood Lake's action was from the outside. He stirred up monstrous waves, intending to directly devour Blue Star.
There was no need, nor did he deign to, perform such small actions.
He only used the simplest method.
"After the Blue Star world is devoured, you shall handle the rest. Do not disappoint me again."
"Yes! Please rest assured, Lord. I will personally guard the exit of the Blue Star world and refine them all into blood puppets."
The determination of the blood-red emperor was known only to himself.
He stared intently at the blood lake.
In the reflected image, the gray mist was like a boundless mud, already enveloping Blue Star, this 'glowing sphere'. The pollution and erosion within it were continuously seeping into Blue Star.
The corners of his mouth curled up slightly.
This time, it was stable.
Blue Star would surely perish.
Suddenly, the blood-red emperor blinked. Why, within that mass of black mud, were there faint... bursts of golden light?
Was it an illusion?
He seemed to see the Lord of the Blood Lake blink as well.
That was probably an illusion too.
...
...
On Blue Star, at the sixteenth base city, which did not attract much attention.
Fang You quickly lit the Dawn.
*Buzz—*
The pure white tower emitted golden radiance, piercing the dark clouds that had shrouded the sky for days. The first ray of sunlight broke through, followed by the second, then the third. The long-absent sunlight returned to the earth, and its golden glow spread outwards, bringing color to the entire land.
At this moment, the last migration convoy was still several kilometers away from the base city.
At this moment, influenced by the illumination of the Dawn, the surrounding malevolent entities became agitated, letting out roars and charging towards the Dawn Zone, which they found loathsome.
At this moment, survivors within the base city began to cheer.
At this moment, the soldiers on the outer defense line were preparing to resist the wave of attacking malevolent entities.
At this moment, ...
Fang You paid no mind to these matters, his gaze fixed on the increasingly dense and violently surging dark clouds in the distance.
The mist grew thicker, and the Dawn Zone was not as bright. The world was lamenting.
Reflections appeared, gates to the uncanny realm opened, erosion and consumption occurred, and the gray mist from beyond the world flowed like viscous mud… Scene after scene flashed like slides, eventually converging in his eyes.
This was Fang You's field of vision, the scene he observed.
... A part of it.
He also saw another scene. As Base City Sixteen was lit, the sixteen important nodes distributed across Blue Star began to resonate.
Invisible power diffused, starting from Shui Ze Base City, the power of the beacons was transmitted sequentially.
A golden bridge seemed to be built between heaven and earth, forming a golden wall.
The construction of Blue Star's defense network had begun!
Centered on the small defense circle of Dong Huang, power rapidly spread outwards. At this moment, Blue Star was like a severely damaged submarine, slowly filling with water. But under the influence of the beacon's power, some of the leaks in the submarine were quickly repaired.
They were not completely repaired, but the key parts were patched up, forming a closed loop.
It was like the core compartment of the submarine was sealed, preventing further water infiltration from the outside, and the submarine could continue to navigate.
Even, after forming a closed loop, the submarine's pressure resistance had increased!
This was the current state of Blue Star.
The world barrier was rapidly repaired, still bearing cracks. Blue Star remained in a damaged state of erosion, but the defensive power of the barrier was steadily increasing.
Outside, gray mist eroded, crashing against the Blue Star world with a rumble.
Inside, reflections appeared, descending layer by layer, intending to engulf the entire area.
These all suddenly stopped.
The descending reflections paused, gradually blurred, and seemed on the verge of shattering. The gray mist constantly impacting Blue Star was also met with strong resistance. A gray torrent struck the Blue Star barrier, causing tiny cracks to appear, but the entire torrent dispersed, becoming sparse.
Blue Star, which had entered the "fourth stage of erosion," was repairing itself, regressing to the third stage.
Suddenly,
Fang You's brow furrowed.
In his field of vision, the gray mist beyond the realm churned violently once again, as if transforming into a giant hand that covered the realm, a giant hand capable of encompassing the entire world in its palm!
It was reaching out towards Blue Star.
Through that giant hand, Fang You seemed to see a boundless blood lake and the infinitely tall blood shadow standing in the center of the blood lake!
He couldn't help but close his eyes, a sharp pain flashing through them.
Tears of blood trickled from his eyes.
Fang You was shocked in his heart.
Blue Star's large-scale defense network was being constructed and strengthened, and Blue Star was also being attacked by the power of a terrifying existence.
Perhaps it could resist, but it would damage the defense network, making Blue Star's defense system no longer perfect.
In that case, then...
Fang You took a step, returning to the secret realm.
He beckoned.
A mysterious gem, whose size could not be described, whose observed result could be infinite or infinitesimally small, as if containing a world, appeared before him.
World Origin Stone!
At this moment,
With the construction of the large-scale defense network, Fang You's connection with the Blue Star world had become increasingly close, and his "authority" on Blue Star had greatly increased.
Looking at the "World Origin Stone" before him, Fang You finally understood how this treasure should be used.
"World Power, rise!"
Invisible power surged from all directions, converging in his palm, gradually lifting the world origin stone, which was difficult to observe and describe.
The power of the world began to resonate and merge.
The origin stone slowly integrated into it.
At this moment, the Blue Star world began its true transformation and sublimation!