Chapter 382 - 171: "A Miracle Like a Bolt From the Blue.

Chapter 382: Chapter 171: "A Miracle Like a Bolt From the Blue.

Uncle Liu pursed his lips and tapped the stump of his only remaining thigh with his pipe. "The rules of the No. 7 Defense Line: the disabled get to eat first. It’s a privilege I’m entitled to. A waste not to use it."

"Leaving again?"

"Yeah."

"I won’t ask what faction you’re from. I’ll just ask one thing: is it safe where you are?"

"..."

Shao Qiu thought for a moment, then shook his head. "I can’t say."

’He didn’t know if what he said would reveal the existence of the Mortal Realm, but it was best to say nothing at all.’

"It’s probably not safe then."

Uncle Liu muttered to himself, "Where in the Eternal Night Continent is safe anymore? Anyway, you make sure to be careful."

"Go on."

"I won’t see you off. It’s tiring to get up."

"Go on, go on."

Like shooing away a fly, Uncle Liu waved his pipe impatiently without looking at Shao Qiu.

Shao Qiu stood up and, after a slight hesitation, spoke. "Uncle Liu, do you want to come with me? I can guarantee you’ll live a few more years than you would at the No. 7 Defense Line."

"Not going."

Uncle Liu scoffed. "My father didn’t leave. My son didn’t leave. You think I’m going to be the one to leave now?"

"Besides, I’ve lost my legs. Where could I possibly go?"

"I’m leaving then."

"Go on."

After a moment’s pause, Shao Qiu left without looking back. He walked out of the cafeteria, met up with the members of the Dark Pavilion, and strode toward the Soul-Devouring Sculpture stationed a kilometer away.

Uncle Liu didn’t look back either.

He just stared blankly at the untouched bowl of noodle soup before him. The broth was gradually congealing, the noodles now looking half-dry. After a long while, he let out a dazed, long sigh.

In the end, he couldn’t resist turning to look behind him.

All he saw was the High-speed Rail, long as a dragon, already speeding toward the Guandong Plain.

He slowly used his crutch to push himself up, watching the High-speed Rail gradually disappear on the horizon as he murmured in a low voice.

"Shao Qiu, Shao Qiu..."

"In youth, one knows not the autumn wind’s intent; looking back, one feels the chill of passing years."

The arrival of Shao Qiu had made him feel much younger, breathing life into the otherwise stagnant No. 7 Defense Line.

The spirit of youth is something that cannot be revived.

A long time ago, he too had wanted to see the entire Eternal Night Continent, even wanting to go to the Eternal Night Frontline.

But now, he couldn’t go anywhere.

The No. 7 Defense Line housed many homeless failures.

For a half-crippled man like him who had lost his legs, where could he go if he left? Dying at the No. 7 Defense Line was their only destination. They were not Night Watchers, but they were strikingly similar.

...

Dawn broke.

Eternal Night Calendar, Year 380, July 8th.

「Mortal Realm.」

Within Nameless Mountain, Chen Fan woke up early as usual. After washing up, he took the High-speed Rail to the Jiangbei Defense Line. Standing on the City Wall, he gazed out at the sea and stretched lazily.

Today, he would continue building the Jiangbei Defense Line.

The Jiangbei Defense Line was almost officially complete. However, it was much newer than the No. 7 Defense Line he had seen. It was all freshly built, having never been through the baptism of a Ghost Tide, and lacked that same profound, weighty feeling.

’The temperature is getting higher.’

He looked up at the glaring sun and muttered. Summer was here. After summer came autumn, and the end of autumn would be immediately followed by the rainy season.

After the rainy season came winter.

Winter was just winter, nothing special about it. Unlike the rainy season, it wouldn’t be plagued by raging Ghost Tides—it would just be a simple, cold winter with some snow.

Without another word, he got to work.

Just like yesterday, he boarded the Flying Ship and stood on the Flying Ship Deck.

The City Wall beneath him began to move slowly, and he once again began to construct buildings one after another.

When dusk fell...

After several consecutive days of hard work, the Jiangbei Defense Line was finally, completely finished!

...

"..."

Chen Fan stood on the City Wall of the Jiangbei Defense Line, his eyes filled with satisfaction as he looked from one end to the other. He had been in this world for almost two years, and in that time, he had built the Jiangbei Defense Line.

kilometers long.

Composed entirely of Level 5 City Walls, equipped with Anti-Air defenses and Ghost Blood Patterns.

Every twenty meters, a Max Level Godslaying Cannon.

Every hundred meters, a Max Level Anti-Aircraft Cannon and a Soul-Devouring Sculpture.

Behind the City Wall, unlit Ghost Fires were connected by Copper Pipes, ready to be activated at any moment.

This was a perfect defense line.

Total Max Level Godslaying Cannons: 8,500, at a cost of 320 million Ghost Stones.

Max Level Anti-Aircraft Cannons: 1,700, at a cost of 64 million Ghost Stones.

Max Level Soul-Devouring Sculptures: 1,700, at a cost of 4.4 million Ghost Stones.

kilometers of Level 5 City Wall, at a cost of around 400 million Ghost Stones.

Plus the miscellaneous arrangements of Copper Pipes, altars, Ghost Fires, and so on.

This Jiangbei Defense Line, standing like a natural chasm in Jiangbei, spanning a total of 170 kilometers.

Total cost—

Around 800 million Ghost Stones.

A year and a half ago.

He had set a goal for himself.

’Four years. Three hundred million. Defend Jiangbei.’

Now, he had exceeded that goal.

’Two years. Eight hundred million. The Jiangbei Defense Line.’

"..."

With no one accompanying him, Chen Fan walked alone. Leaning on his cane, he followed the Jiangbei Defense Line, walking along the top of the City Wall into the distance.

One step at a time.

He walked extremely slowly.

He had no destination.

He just wanted to measure it with his own feet, to feel the Jiangbei Defense Line he had built. Every single blue brick seemed to radiate warmth, as if celebrating with him the final completion of his work.

kilometers.

If he were to rely on his own two feet, it would take him a very long time to walk from here to the end of the defense line.

A project that would have been considered impossible for the him of a year and a half ago was now completed ahead of schedule.