A massive steel monstrosity tore through the raging snowstorm. Three hundred sixty alchemy jet nozzles erupted with blue flames, unleashing a colossal energy capable of moving thousands of tons, charging toward the Sea of Eternal Life.
Ji Zhou stood with hands behind her back, her long coat whipping fiercely in the wind, strands of hair swirling.
Gu Jianlin stood on the deck, feeling the blistering wind rushing against him, nearly swept away: "Is the Strategy Group planning to use this to enter the Sea of Eternal Life? This seems a bit too ostentatious."
Just as he was about to initiate Ghost Transformation, a golden barrier shimmered in front of him, enveloping the surroundings.
The gale dissipated, and the snowstorm crumbled.
Ji Zhou chuckled lightly: "Ostentatious, naturally, but there's a reason for being ostentatious."
Gu Jianlin thought of the Strategy Group's luxurious lineup and couldn't help but agree: "What is this thing anyway?"
"Just a flying machine created by alchemy technology. In truth, this was originally used by the Ancient God Clan for interplanetary travel. We discovered their wreckage in some Ancient Ruins and refurbished them."
Ji Zhou explained indifferently: "There's a movie I quite like called 'Prometheus,' the prequel to the 'Alien' series. Some of the spaceships there resemble this. The thematic exploration of humans and their creators, civilization, and free will is quite intriguing."
Gu Jianlin had also watched that movie, which told the story of humans journeying on spaceships to an alien planet to search for their creator, only for the results to be far from ideal—death and destruction abound.
And in the end, the so-called creator turned out to be merely a higher form of life.
They bore their own fates and curses, unable to escape the cycle of life and death.
His heart stirred slightly, suddenly reminded of humans and the Ancient Gods.
"What are you trying to say?"
Ji Zhou glanced at the young man calmly and asked.
Gu Jianlin slightly organized his thoughts and said, "First, I want to ask you a few questions."
Ji Zhou squinted, casting a glance at the bold young man in surprise.
How utterly audacious.
The matter hadn't even been raised, yet the questions came flying in advance.
No one had ever dared to speak to her this way.
Still, considering her current position, she had no choice but to suppress her anger, though her expression was visibly displeased.
"Can't I ask?"
Gu Jianlin asked curiously.
Ji Zhou responded irritably, "Ask!"
"My teacher told me that the President wasn't unaware of there being issues with the Blood Moon Slaughter Incident."
Gu Jianlin asked softly, "Is that true?"
Ji Zhou was taken aback, staring into his pitch-black eyes, pausing silently for a second.
"In a sense, she certainly knows there's a problem with it, but as for the truth behind it, no one knows for sure yet. Not even you have found any definitive evidence, correct?"
She replied coldly, "But I can tell you clearly, the President doesn't care who is at fault in this matter. What matters to her is reducing the harm this incident brings to the Order to the minimum."
Gu Jianlin had no choice but to admit that for this issue to be resolved, the culprit—the fake Old Gu—must be identified.
"If the true perpetrator lies elsewhere, wouldn't that individual be extremely dangerous?"
He spoke softly.
"Indeed dangerous, but throughout history, it's not uncommon for Ancient Gods to mingle within the Human World."
Ji Zhou remarked dispassionately.
Gu Jianlin fell into silence. The things she said were indisputably true, such as the fact that he himself was a prime example.
"I understand."
After a long while, he raised his eyes, saying earnestly: "Senior Ji, you and the President are old acquaintances, and you're even her Divine General. What is her current condition?"
Ji Zhou raised an eyebrow: "Why are you asking this question?"
"Because the President's situation is extremely precarious."
Gu Jianlin gazed at the endless snowstorm and reached out to catch a snowflake: "I don't know what happened back then, but even today, those in the Dark World are still executing the Red King's plan, including my teacher, the King of Qing. They all want the President dead. And to my knowledge, the President doesn't have much time left."
Ji Zhou blinked slightly, not so much astonished that her two students wanted her dead.
What truly surprised her was that this child would say such things.
"The Red King's plan is designed to use this Sea of Eternal Life incident to kill Minister Lu. This would indirectly drive Commander Lu to turn against the Order World, creating massive turmoil during the crucial power transition."
Gu Jianlin watched the snowflake melt in the palm of his hand, speaking with a blank expression: "Meanwhile, the King of Qing, who had foreseen all this, chose not to intervene and even facilitated the plan to bring it to fruition. Furthermore, hidden behind all this lies the will of The Order of the Hidden, pushing it forward. It's genuinely terrifying."
Even someone as formidable as the President, simultaneously targeted by Qing, Chi, and The Order of the Hidden,
would face extraordinary peril.
Ji Zhou was startled and asked, "Given all this, why are you telling me?"
Gu Jianlin pondered, then answered: "I remember you once said you don't like the President. But judging by your actions, your relationship with her seems quite close. You should inform her to be cautious."
Ji Zhou raised an eyebrow: "But you're the King of Qing's student."
Your teacher wants the President dead.
Why, then, are you delivering this warning?
"I am my teacher's student, but that doesn't mean everything he does is right, nor does it mean I must always act in accordance with his will. My teacher doesn't want a puppet subordinate to him, nor does he need such a puppet."