Chapter 350 - 167: Jiangbei Defense Line: Prototype Complete

Chapter 350: Chapter 167: Jiangbei Defense Line: Prototype Complete

"..."

After recording this information, Shao Qiu frowned and stared at the two Ghost Objects in the cage. They were covered in wounds, clearly without reason, and snarling ceaselessly.

"Did they use some kind of Exotic Treasure?"

There were countless Exotic Treasures in the world, each with a different effect.

It wasn’t impossible that a certain Exotic Treasure could allow a few Ghost Objects to appear during the day. Although he had never seen one in the Mortal Realm, the Eternal Night Continent was vast, so it was perfectly normal for such an item to exist.

"Of course not."

Xiao Er chuckled, making no attempt to hide the truth. He revealed it directly, "Our inn is right next to the ruins of Zhen Ghost Pass. These Ghost Objects can only survive in the daylight outside the pass, in the Guandong Plain."

"If you bring them inside the pass."

"Even just a few steps."

"They’ll drop dead instantly."

"It used to be impossible, but after this rainy season, some scattered Ghost Objects that could survive the day were discovered in the Guandong Plain. So, they started holding ghost fights here at Zhen Ghost Pass. A lot of people from the Guanxi Plain come just for this. It’s really lively. Why don’t you gentlemen try a few rounds?"

"..."

Shao Qiu’s brow furrowed tightly, and he remained silent. This whole thing felt wrong no matter how he looked at it. ’I don’t understand how these people have the nerve to hold ghost fights,’ he thought. ’If Ghost Objects can survive in the daylight, that’s disastrous news for the entire continent.’

"Do you know if there’s a defense line along the coastal area of the Guandong Plain?"

"Of course there is. It’s called the No. 7 Defense Line. But I don’t know the specifics. I just overheard some passing merchant guilds mention it a few times. I’ve never had the chance to go that far to see it for myself. But they say it’s very safe. For all these years, it’s been that defense line that has held back most of the Ghost Tides."

"You gentlemen don’t look like you came here just for the ghost fights. It seems you’re just resting on your way to the Guandong Plain."

"If I may be so bold as to say something I shouldn’t..."

"I may not be anyone important, but even us small folk have our ways. Lately, ever since the rainy season ended, there have been a lot fewer merchant guilds coming from the Guandong Plain to the Guanxi Plain. That’s enough to show that something might be wrong in the Guandong Plain. If it’s not for some exceptionally large business deal, it’s best to avoid going there."

"It’s easy to get in."

"But getting out might be a different story."

Xiao Er’s voice carried a slightly strange accent. It was unique to the people from the southern part of the Guanxi Plain and was quite distinctive.

"..."

Shao Qiu stood still for a long moment before turning and walking back toward the main hall.

"We won’t be watching the ghost fights."

"Bring us some meat. We’ll eat and get back on the road."

"Right away, gentlemen! Coming right up!"

Xiao Er didn’t try to dissuade them further, instead politely leading the group back to the front hall.

Sitting at the wooden table, Shao Qiu uneasily touched the dagger tucked in his clothes. It had been a month since he left the Mortal Realm.

’How could Ghost Objects possibly survive in the daylight?’

’Unless...’

’Unless half of the Guandong Plain has already fallen. That would explain a loophole like this. But since the Ghost Objects haven’t completely overrun the Guandong Plain, it must mean the breach in the defense line was sealed with great difficulty, or maybe only partially sealed.’

’In short—’

’The situation in the Guandong Plain probably isn’t good.’

’The No. 7 Defense Line could collapse at any moment.’

’Once the No. 7 Defense Line collapses, countless Ghost Tides will pour through unimpeded. They’ll head straight north and reach the gates of Jiangbei in no time. All life in their path will be wiped out.’

’I have to investigate the No. 7 Defense Line in the Guandong Plain as soon as possible and find out its exact condition.’

’How much longer can it hold?’

’Are there reinforcements?’

’This is crucial for the Jiangbei Mortal Realm.’

...

「Early February, Year 380 of the Eternal Night Calendar.」

A month had passed since the rainy season. During this time, the Mortal Realm’s reputation had grown throughout the Guanxi Plain, but the Mortal Realm itself made no moves, content to hold its position in Jiangbei.

’Develop in peace.’

His goal wasn’t to get bogged down in a drawn-out war with the Guanxi Plain. Instead, he planned to crush its strongest factions with lightning speed and then extend his High-speed Rail lines, Signal Towers, and Silk Road across the entire plain.

That way,

the Guanxi Plain could be absorbed into the Mortal Realm’s territory, and a steady stream of Ghost Stones would flow from this new network.

"..."

Chen Fan sat alone on the City Wall of the Rainy Season Defense Line, calculating the Mortal Realm’s current Ghost Stone reserves. Over the past month, mining operations on the New Continent had proceeded without delay. Massive quantities of Ghost Stones and Ghost Bones were continuously transported to the Mortal Realm through the Undersea Tunnel.

The Mortal Realm’s Ghost Stone reserves had now reached a substantial figure.

million Ghost Stones.

On the New Continent, nearly ten million Ghost Stones were being mined every day. Since he hadn’t had any major Ghost Stone expenditures this month, he had naturally accumulated a huge sum.

As for costs like the monthly salary for Mortal Realm Members, maintenance for the High-speed Rail lines, and the natural consumption of Ghost Fire, they were almost negligible in comparison.

’Four years, three hundred million, the Jiangbei Defense Line.’

He had now achieved that goal.

’Now, it’s time to start spending.’

’First, I’ll build the framework for the Jiangbei Defense Line, then perfect it over time.’

The Jiangbei Coastline.

Total length: 170 kilometers.

His Rainy Season Defense Line: 14.8 kilometers.

That left 155.2 kilometers.

Or 155,200 meters—roughly 150,000 meters.

The next moment—

The Rainy Season Defense Line, a 14.8-kilometer-long defensive wall composed entirely of Level 5 City Walls that encircled the whole of the Mortal Realm, suddenly began to emit a deafening rumble, right before the eyes of the merchant guilds in Mortal City.