Chapter 978 - 338: A Phone Call in the Abyss

Blue Star, Land.

Standing on the ground, looking up at the sky, the overwhelming darkness blotted out the sun, filled entirely with swarms of insects.

Fortunately, under the transformation of the Celestial Net, Blue Star has been forged into a planetary war fortress; otherwise, the situation would have been even more dire.

Retracting his gaze, Zhan Ning tightly gripped the Knight’s Longsword in his hand and looked straight ahead.

There, hordes of insects were rampaging.

"My lord."

"The twelfth defensive line is on the verge of collapse. Lady Yu Lian and the Moonlight Knight Order are trapped inside."

Upon hearing this, Zhan Ning tightened his grip on the reins fiercely.

The insect disaster descended, swarming sky and sea.

Under the strategic calculations of the Celestial Net, Great Xia abandoned most meaningless areas to focus on defending key locations.

They were currently responsible for one of those critical zones.

Behind them lay a deep well tunnel leading to an underground shelter, containing many elderly, pregnant women, and children. It couldn’t afford any mishaps.

For this reason, the Imperial Knights, under Zhan Ning’s leadership, established a total of thirteen defensive lines.

Of these, Yu Lian and his Moonlight Knight Order were tasked with defending the twelfth line, while Zhan Ning stood at the thirteenth.

Clearing his mind of distractions, Zhan Ning exhaled a breath of impure air.

He regained the reins and looked at the knights behind him, their faces solemn and ready for battle.

"Imperial Knights, heed my command."

Swish, swish, swish.

All knights and warhorses entered combat mode, with auras blooming beneath their feet, overlapping in colors of vibrant light.

"For humanity, charge!"

On Zhan Ning’s command, all Imperial Knights at the final thirteenth defensive line, clad in their silver standard armor, transformed into a flowing silver stream,

marching resolutely into the overwhelming shadow of insects.

...

"National Tragedy, unfold."

A crimson Sea of Blood enveloped the surroundings, and in front of Luo Qiuhong, numerous skeletons crawled from the Sea of Blood, battling the insects that invaded this bloodsea.

Like mountains, the white bone general wields two rusty-red blades in an airtight dance.

Large swathes of insect corpses dropped under the blade’s Gang Energy, instantly devoured by the Sea of Blood and converted into nourishment.

With this method, Luo Qiuhong barely maintained control of the situation.

However, at that moment, the sky behind her seemed to be forcibly torn open, billions of reinforcements of the Original Insect Race flooded in.

Seeing them about to pounce onto Luo Qiuhong, focused on controlling the National Tragedy Domain, intending to devour her.

A shadow suddenly appeared beside her.

"Kneel, submit, insect offspring of the class’s bottom tier."

A clear voice echoed, Mass stood behind Luo Qiuhong.

Under her Class Rules, these Original Insect Race were categorized as the lowest tier, facing herself at the "top tier" of rules, they were left with pure reverence.

The insects ahead dropped from the sky, head to ground, crashing into the Sea of Blood like dumplings, stirring dense ripples.

Yet more insects continued advancing.

When their numbers exceed the threshold, the rules started to falter.

"Are we... going to die..."

Behind her, Luo Qiuhong, holding the National Sorrow Sword, opened her eyes, a flash of blood-red in her gaze.

She spoke, her voice slightly hoarse from prolonged combat.

Mass held the spell in her hands in front of her, her complexion pale from the rapid and massive exhaustion of Spiritual Power.

"Regardless of life or death, for Lord Han Zhan, for the future of humanity."

"I am already prepared."

Just as her words fell, the new insect sea completely engulfed this Sea of Blood.

...

Julu Pass.

As Great Xia’s most significant strategic point, a key node, Combat Spirit Contract Masters guard and suppress here.

On the city gate tower, several familiar old faces stood there, gazing into the distance.

Just five seconds ago, a large Intelligent Mechanism Corps was obliterated by the Original Insect Race.

The location was less than a hundred kilometers from Julu Pass.

With the speed of the Original Insect Race, they would soon reach here.

This was the latest report from the Celestial Net.

Li Tugui, Dong Dachui, Chen Zui, Fan Chaohui, along with the Combat Spirit Contract Master army under Shen Zheqi, were all fully prepared.

"Didn’t expect to experience the second insect disaster in our lifetime."

Li Tugui’s tone seemed reminiscent but was not fearful.

"Finally it’s our turn to take action, to defend Blue Star." Dong Dachui twisted his neck; since leaving the City of Extreme Evil, he had been indulged in Artifact Refining, a bit too leisurely.

Fan Chaohui did not speak, Chen Zui silently handed everyone a cup of wine.

"This is my newly brewed liquor; it can enhance combat power by 50% for two hours and hasn’t been named yet."

"But today, it already has the most suitable name."

"Fearless."

Looking up again, countless Original Insect Race dyed the sky black.

Everyone showed a bold smile, reaching out to take it.

They drank the Fearless Wine.

Cup filled with fearlessness, heart filled with fearlessness.

...

Deep Blue City.

After being ravaged by the insect disaster, Deep Blue City truly showcased a scene of complete desolation.

Ruins, debris, insect corpses.

Embers, scorched black, stench.

A pale-faced figure suddenly appeared beside the broken park fountain.

It was, Lin Jingxuan, long disappeared.

He responded as soon as the Primordial True Insect [Extinction] made a move.

Using the Heaven and Earth Array, exerting all his effort, he exiled the Primordial True Insect [Extinction] to other regions of the Cosmic Star Sea.

But ultimately, this was in vain.

With the speed of the Primordial True Insect [Extinction], it only requires an hour, or even less, to return to Blue Star.

And the cost Lin Jingxuan paid for this teleport has entirely deprived him of a second chance.

Lin Jingxuan coughed vigorously a few times.

He was already nearing exhaustion, but for Great Xia, for humanity, he was still searching for the only possibility.

Thus he came to Deep Blue City, here.

The ruined park fountain, now spewed not clear water but turbid blood water.

In the cemetery straight ahead, the statue of Li Shutong, originally standing, had toppled over, shattered into many pieces.

Only at Li Shutong’s feet, a statue kneeling there remained the same.

Kneeling there was Yi Fan’s statue.

Some were eternally revered, while some were eternally despised.

Looking at this scene, Lin Jingxuan waved his hand, Yi Fan’s kneeling statue was moved aside, revealing some objects underground.

There were classified archives belonging to Yi Fan, photos of him, clothing, and a piece of paper that was once gifted to Lord Han Zhan as a ceremonial apprentice gift...

Lin Jingxuan silently dialed the phone number that emerged on the paper.

Beep—beep—beep—

The phone remained unconnected.

Lin Jingxuan watched the distant kneeling Yi Fan statue, speaking coldly:

"Connect it, even if you’re already dead, with intelligence not weaker than mine, you shouldn’t have left no backup."

"Your research on the Primordial True Insect is the most thorough on Blue Star. If you still consider yourself human, then connect this call."

Beep—beep—beep—

The phone still remained unconnected.

Just as Lin Jingxuan turned to leave,

The call, connected!