The flooding raining season had passed, and the sun in Changdao was brighter every day.
In the summer after the storm, the temperature bounced up rapidly. The bright sun shone on every corner of Changdao, and hot, dull, as well as repressed, became the themes of Changdao.
The news of the military maneuver in Changdao had been airing on TV all the time. At nine in the morning, when the news channel brought this news to every city of East Island, the Changdao military maneuver was six days away.
This sounded like notice, but to those who paid attention, this was an obvious countdown.
The big battle was about to come.
In the hot, dull weather, most of the areas in Southwest Changdao had been completely empty. This area was about a hundred square kilometers, mostly mountain areas. It was originally sparsely populated. After East Island turned this area into a maneuver zone, few people and a small village that had been living there were all evacuated. Right now, under the sunny sky, the mountains and rivers in this area still looked the same, but the people here had disappeared completely, like a dead zone with no human traces.
Those who didn’t understand would never understand, but those who did would know that this was the battlefield that East Island officials set in Changdao. It took a hundred square kilometers of space. It was really generous for them to prepare a battlefield of this size.
And this area had become the study subject of all the superpowers.
The map was zoomed in and zoomed out on the screen. The satellite pictures were transmitted in real time, and every corner in Southwest Changdao was showed on the screen by zooming in and out.
The worn curtains in the room stopped the hot, dazzling sunlight from getting into the room. The image on a big LCD screen that nearly covered a whole wall kept flashing; jungles, mountains, rivers, lakes, parks, clubs…
The satellite took pictures of all the terrains within the distance of a hundred miles and sent them to the screen. As the camera moved bit by bit, the terrains of every inch of the land were showed on the screen crystal clear.
Inside the empty room, the light was dim, and only the blurry light on the screen was flashing and lighting up the room.
The LCD screen that covered a whole wall could be considered a piece of very advanced equipment, but it didn’t seem to match the style of the room. Judging from space, it was a pretty big room, or even a big hall. But inside the hall, there wasn’t any luxury decoration. The curtains were dirty, a set of worn sofas that seemed to be abandoned stood in the middle of the room, and there seemed to be some spider webs in the corner. In such a dark space, the wall skins seemed mostly detached from the walls. It was weird to put an advanced, luxury LCD screen that was connected to a satellite in a shabby room like this.
Some tall and short figures were standing quietly in the hall. The hall was pretty big, and the figures didn’t stand close to each other but kept a safe distance with one another. They were defensive and cautious with one another, but none of them showed any hostility.
The images on the screen kept changing in silence.
The figures in the hall were still standing there in silence, as if they were dead.
Time passed by along with the changing images on the screen. The light and shadows mixed up together in the dark hall. The figures were standing still, and the whole scene looked creepy and weird.
This area is the battlefield East Island left for us.
In the stifling silence, a person standing in the hall suddenly spoke, breaking the silence in the room.
He stood closest to the screen, and the screen light shone on his body. His extremely thin body started to look clear in the light. From other people’s perspectives, he looked like a skeleton in a black robe. It was empty underneath the robe, looking indescribably creepy.
It looks really big, including our current position.
Another raspy voice rang out. It was a raspy and weird voice, as if the vocal cord was ripped apart. It sounded vague, horrible and even unsettling.
But I prefer to choose the battlefield on my own. I don’t like this place. Ben, is the Heroes’ Club satisfied with East Island’s arrangement?
Ben.
The Vice President of American Heroes’ Club, and the first Vice President. For the whole Dark World, this was a top-level power figure.
The Heroes’ Club could be considered one of the oldest superpowers in the Dark World; its internal structure was extremely complicated, and its strength was very strong. In decades of peak time, it basically ruled the whole of America. It was the most powerful super group in the whole Dark World.
Now the Heroes’ Club wasn’t as sharp and dazzling as it used to be in peak time, but it never went downhills. In the recent twenty years, the power of the Heroes’ Club kept expanding. It opened up Africa ten years ago and entered Northern Europe five years ago. Its power range kept getting bigger and bigger. And in America when they first made it, whether in North America or South America, the Heroes’ Club had kept its superior position. This battle of Zhongzhou State had startled the whole Dark World. The Heroes’ Club had considered the battle of Changdao as their chance to get into Asia. The fact that Ben, the first Vice President leading the troops to Changdao had shown how cautious and discreet the Heroes’ Club was with this battle of Changdao.
The situation of the Dark World in Asia had been steady and yet weird in the past many years. Continuous wars had been going on in West Asia, and it could be considered the heaven of the Dark World. There were conspiracies and killings for interest everywhere in South Asia. The Dark World was closely related to Politics, complicated and sensitive. In these two places, West Asia meant chaos. This word was the eternal theme for the Dark World, but to the dark superpowers, excessive chaos meant limited interest and possible unpredicted loss.
And South Asia meant trouble. The political factor, the religious factor, the racial hostility in this place mixed up together, making the Dark World of South Asia extremely crazy.
All the superpowers in the Dark World didn’t want to give up on these two areas, but they didn’t really give them a lot of efforts. As for East Asia and North Asia, they were the safest and most peaceful places.
Snow Country had many pieces of land in Northern Asia and Eastern Europe, which were the sphere of influence of the superpower the Polar Ground Alliance in the Dark World. In the whole Northern Asia and Eastern Europe, the Polar Ground Alliance was considered the only big superpower. And because Snow Country had been politically steady in recent years, other power groups couldn’t find a chance to get into Northern Asia. Even if they could, the Polar Ground Alliance, who was originally a fighting nation, would always fight them and keep all the threats outside of their sphere of influence.
And the land of Eastern Asia had always been ignored by all the superpowers in the Dark World.
Because the number one superpower economically and militarily in the whole world, Zhongzhou State was there!
Whether in the past or now, there was only one superpower of Zhongzhou State in the Dark World.
It was the Wang family of Beihai.
Whether is was Xuanyuantai of Kunlun in the past, or the Kunlun City now or Sigh City, they could be considered dark power groups, but in most of the time, people considered them as a part of the Special Warfare System of Zhongzhou State, with more official standpoints.
The Wang family of Beihai in Zhongzhou State, the Special Warfare System of Zhongzhou State.
The two big superpowers were guarding Zhongzhou State, keeping all the superpowers that tried to get into Zhongzhou State out the door.
All the superpowers didn’t fight with Zhongzhou State before, but the contest was still there till now. More than twenty years ago, the Heroes’ Club had united with Fantasy World and the Polar Ground Alliance at its peak time and attacked Zhongzhou State. The old Patriarch of the Wang family of Beihai and Zhongzhou State War God Li Honghe united together and fought some superiors of the Invincible Realm out of boundary line of the country. In that battle, the old Patriarch of the Wang family of Beihai fought hard against three superiors of the Invincible Realm and never retreated. He returned with serious injuries after fighting off two superiors of the Invincible Realm and died from illness a few years later. The Heroes’ Club lost most of its power and fell from its peak.
Fifteen years ago, Night Spirit attacked Zhongzhou State. Zhongzhou State Sword Emperor Wang Tianzong, who just got into the Invincible Realm, held the Human Emperor and shot Divine Spirit, the superior of the Invincible Realm from Night Spirit dead on the border, which shook the whole Dark World.
After a short silence, the Jiang family of South America got into Zhongzhou State again, but couldn’t make a big scene.
Five years ago, Samsara worked with Zhongzhou State, but it was guarded against by Kunlun City and the Wang family of Beihai. There was never any big conflict among the three parties, but they had small secret fights once in a while.
Zhongzhou State was the most powerful dominator in the world right now. It was the center of the Dark World, but it was also the only pure land in the Dark World.
With the powerful influence of Zhongzhou State, the whole Eastern Asia had been peaceful. Gaoshan State had a complicated standpoint, switching between powerful western countries and Zhongzhou State. East Island was pretty powerful, but most of their strength was used for defending Zhongzhou State’s attack. The stable situation had always been controlled by Zhongzhou State. For all the dark superpowers in the world, this wasn’t what they wanted to see.
Because this meant too many interests and doubts.
Zhongzhou State’s dark power was the most aggressive power in the world, and the Wang family of Beihai was the most powerful in it, then there were Sigh City and Kunlun City.
This wasn’t just because the Wang family of Beihai had Zhongzhou State Sword Emperor Wang Tianzong, the number one superior in the Dark World. Most importantly, it was because all the power groups in Zhongzhou State had a big, hard background.
This was the most special phenomenon in the Dark World.
The Heroes’ Club ruled America, but South America had the Jiang family, and North America had Fantasy World. The three superpowers fought with one another while guarding against other power groups.
Europe could be considered the most crowded place in the Dark World. The surviving members of Night Spirit, Samsara Palace, Dark Knights, Holy Hall, and the Vatican, as well as all the financial groups tangled up together. Even the parties involved couldn’t explain most of the conflicts.
The Polar Ground Alliance was the only superpower in Snow Country, or even in Eastern Europe, but because of many historical reasons, the Polar Ground Alliance was bound to face a lot of problems, political and racial, which all made it hard for the Polar Ground Alliance to grow. Besides, the Dark World of Northern Europe was extremely messy every day, so the Polar Ground Alliance didn’t have the chance to get out.
Only Zhongzhou State.
In the most powerful country in the world, there were only people of their own. Other superpowers had troops in Zhongzhou State, but they didn’t really matter. When they expanded outward, an extremely stable background became the reason why they could do whatever they wanted. And the other superpowers didn’t dare to fight because they didn’t have a stable backyard. Nearly every superpower in the Dark World had experienced this kind of suffering, including Samsara Palace.
And this kind of suffering always meant concessions and compromises, and absolutely great interests, which might be power, money, resources, or whatever the superpowers in the Dark World were looking for.
If things went on like this, if they continued to compromise, Zhongzhou State would get more powerful in all aspects, and this would be hard for the superpowers in the Dark World to accept.
To invade Zhongzhou State, they needed to trap the Wang family of Beihai and Kunlun City in Eastern Asia.
This was the bottom line for everyone.
So for so many years, all the superpowers would lay their eyes on Eastern Asia once they had the chance.
When all the superpowers were hostile toward one another, they wouldn’t mind occasional cooperation when facing Zhongzhou State. They comforted Gaoshan State, befriended East Island, lured the important people from Southern Asia, and even directly invaded Zhongzhou State. They did everything to limit Zhongzhou State’s power in the Dark World.
Twenty years ago, the Heroes’ Club moved to the east side. Fifteen years ago, Night Spirit invaded. Ten years ago, the Jiang family of South America entered Zhongzhou State then quickly got out. All the operations, big ones or small ones, all failed.
And as time passed by, after Samsara had a cooperation relationship with Zhongzhou State, all the superpowers in the Dark World quieted down.
They all thought they had missed the best chance, but it turned out that Zhongzhou State used a final battle and turned East Island into a target for the whole Dark World.
East Island was in great danger, whether in its economy or its Special Warfare System. Now, it was miserable.
But all the superpowers in the Dark World suddenly found out that, when East Island was miserable, Zhongzhou State also gave them a big chance.
An unprecedented chance, and also an unprecedented crisis.
This was the last thing the superpowers wanted to see, but it was also a chance that they had been waiting for so long.
Also, this was why the people from all the dark power groups were here in this worn, broken room now.
How about setting East Island as the boundary. Inside East Island, we will cooperate, outside we will kill each other?
Covered in a black robe and looking like a skeleton, Ben ignored the other voices. He just stared at the screen and suddenly spoke after a long silence.
He turned around. In the dark environment, his face looked blurry, but his eyes were extremely bright, with intense mystery and fraudulence in them.
We have been waiting for this day for too long, haven’t we?
Ben was the first Vice President of the Heroes’ Club, and he must have the strength that matched the title. He could rank in the front of the list of people in the Half-step Invincible Realm. However, his fame didn’t come from his strength but his sinister and sly character.
Ben’s code name in the Dark World was Demon Fox. He was good at lying, pretending, hiding, sneak attacks and running away. In the Dark World, Ben’s legends were rarely about his strength. He also appeared as the brainpower of the Heroes’ Club, playing the role of a schemer. From the decisive battle of Zhongzhou State to the battle of Changdao, the Heroes’ Club didn’t send people to the site, but the Heroes’ Club could be considered the superpower that first got into East Island. It was also Ben who made an appointment with some people here today. This might not mean anything, but it proved how sensitive and acute Ben was in the general trend.
I agree with Crow.
In the dark, a deep voice rang out.
I have reservations about it. I’m not as smart as you guys. All I can see is what’s in front of me. What’s in front of me is that East Island has set this place as the battlefield. As for the cooperation abroad, I don’t care about that, but I’ll report to higher authorities.
In the shade, a strong, bald man stepped forward and said in a cold tone.
So King Bear means?
Ben’s tone didn’t change a bit, and he asked in return softly.
I got the order to invade Samsara Palace and build the branch of the Polar Ground Alliance in East Island.
King Bear’s body moved irritably in the hall. In the shade, he looked like an irritating beast.
Attacking on Zhongzhou State has nothing to do with the order I got, so…
No, Mr. King Bear. I have to tell you, our cooperation doesn’t conflict with the order you got.
Ben laughed. King Bear from the Polar Ground Alliance could be considered one of the most famous strength-typed superiors in the Dark World. He had Thunder Vein, which had improved a lot as his Martial Arts improved. His power could compare to general superiors of the Invincible Realm, but he had an upright character. In his words, he wasn’t very smart. So in the Polar Ground Alliance, he was in a high position, but a top adviser would follow him in operations. Today it seemed strange that King Bear came here alone without his adviser.
I can’t figure out what His Highness the leader of the alliance is thinking about. But I think, no matter what, His Highness will seize the chance to fight Zhongzhou State. Attacking Samsara Palace, or even building the headquarter of the Polar Ground Alliance in East Island, would both tie Zhongzhou State down.
Ben’s skeleton-like thin body moved around in the hall, and his tone got slower and calmer.
I know you and Crow are doubtful about this battlefield. But in the way I see it, this battlefield is the most suitable for us to fight. According to my plan, what East Island has done is absolutely perfect.
Perfect?
Crow let out a raspy cold laugh. He was the leader of Fantasy World’s troops getting into East Island. His status couldn’t compare to Ben from the Heroes’ Club, but the difference was not that big, so they could talk to each other freely.
I’m sorry. I don’t see why is this perfect, I only see how stupid East Island is. I’ll admit that this is their home court. We came to Changdao out of our respect for them, but those stupid guys were still thinking about organizing the battlefield? Who the hell do they think they are? The battle of Changdao is right in front of us. When it will happen, where it will happen, do the authorities of East Island really think they have control over everything?
Can you fly?
Ben suddenly asked.
What?
Crow froze subconsciously.
Yes, you can fly. But how far can you fly? This is East Island’s home court. It won’t be hard for East Island to roughly locate us. Why would you think they can’t arrange a battlefield for us?
Ben said in a cold tone,
Didn’t you see the news? The military spokesman of East Island said this is a military anti-terrorism maneuver. Crow, don’t you understand?
Military anti-terrorism maneuver?
Crow mumbled, and then suddenly, his face changed.
Everybody knew that where there was a military maneuver, there would be the army.
Maybe you should go outside and have a look?
Ben squinted his eyes and said with a smile.
Crow’s face looked gloomy. His shadow flashed, then he already appeared by the window.
Right now they were at an old town in the suburb that was about to be torn down. East Island directly included this place when arranging the battlefield. According to the satellite graph, this old town was on the border of the battlefield.
At this moment, in Crow’s sight, a big amount of military equipment had been delivered here. Soldiers in East Island military uniforms walked over slowly from afar. Armored cars and infantry fighting cars could be seen everywhere. It looked like they were about to encircle this place.
They…
Crow’s face looked serious and cold, showing his obvious killing intent. Ten years ago, his throat was injured, because he was nearly hit in his throat by a sword. The person who did it was Tianhai Wuji, the current number one superior in East Island, who was trapped in Zhongzhou. That was why Crow had a bad impression of people from East Island. Watching the army that got closer and closer, his eyes got madder and wilder, with crazy killing intent in them.
This is a conflict in the Dark World. Did East Island send the army here?
Crow’s laugh was cruel and gloomy.
Have they lost their mind?
This is just their maneuver, and they won’t join the battle so obviously.
Ben shook his head. The superpowers that could become big power groups in the Dark World surely had some real strength. Behind any superpower, there were political factors, more or less.
In Zhongzhou State, the Wang family of Beihai was the head of Southeast Group.
Kunlun City was the highest special warfare agency of Zhongzhou State.
Sigh City could also take over Mount Taibai in the northeast.
The Polar Ground Alliance was in Snow Country. Its secret relations with energy oligarchy of Snow Country and even military and politics were even more complicated.
Fantasy World had a deep root in North America, and it also got big power supporting it in the back.
In this situation, if they used the army to solve the conflict in the Dark World, it would be suicide for East Island, which was not that powerful militarily.
Once things like these happened for real, that would be a war, and there was no turning back.
So these soldiers were basically unable to join the war. They couldn’t join the war, but they could lock the battlefield. In the East Island’s land, East Island could start the final battle wherever they wanted, and everyone had to listen to its decision; this was the home advantage of a country.
Look, what a magnificent sight.
Ben came near to Crow and said with a smile,
It matches one hundred percent with my plan. Everyone, I think now we can talk about my plan, yes, blockade plan.
Blockade?
Crow twitched the corner of his mouth. In the dim light in the hall, his expression didn’t look clear, but the mockery in his tone was very obvious.
Ben, your plan, does it include blocking us all off?
You can say that.
Ben said blandly,
At least in this battlefield, we can’t get out, but people from Zhongzhou State can’t get out, either.
Crow and King Bear froze at the same time.
Zhongzhou’s power is too scattered, and they are overly confident. They have their people in East Island, Northern Europe, North America, and their stronghold. They are indeed very powerful, but it doesn’t mean that they can abuse their power. If, I mean if, East Island’s people trap Zhongzhou State’s elites here, if Knights Templars and Fantasy World start to fight back against the forces of the Snowdance Corps in North America and Northern Europe, what will Zhongzhou State do?
Ben asked with a smile.
They will definitely send help.
King Bear said without hesitation. Everybody understood this. As the super elite troop newly established by Zhongzhou State, the luxury lineup in the Snowdance Corps was totally impressive. Just according to the information they got, there were three young Heavenly Sons from Zhongzhou State, two superiors of the Invincible Realm, a lot of young geniuses, and the backbone power of Special Service, even including super assassins like Tribulation.
This force could be considered the most reliable power of Zhongzhou State. It was really ambitious for Zhongzhou State to use them to fight East Island this time. But however ambitious they were, Zhongzhou would never watch them fall into a desperate situation.
Once the elites of Zhongzhou State were trapped in East Island, Fantasy World and Knights Templars switched battlefields and rushed to Situ Cangyue and Gu Qianchuan, Zhongzhou State would definitely send help, without any hesitation.
Oh, send help.
Ben nodded.
But what if they have the reason not to send help?
What does it mean?
Crow’s tone was cold, but his eyes slowly lit up.
For example, here.
Ben straightened up his body and switched the screen.
A map of Zhongzhou State appeared on the screen. The mountains and rivers were vast and beautiful.
Ben pointed his finger on the border and said calmly,
You tell me, Snowdance Corps and Border Control Corps, which one is more important for Zhongzhou State?
The Border Control Corps?!
Crow and King Bear suddenly changed their faces.
We are enemies, but enemies can be after the joint interest. On Zhongzhou State, we hold the same standpoint. So maybe we can have real cooperation for once. If Zhongzhou State and Samsara can decentralize their power, then why can’t us five power groups?
Crow’s eyes looked bright yet hesitant. He seemed to have something to fear.
This is the best chance, and maybe the last chance. After the Li family of Zhongzhou State fell down, Gu Xingyun became the War God of Zhongzhou State, but he had been busy consolidating his status. In the beginning, he had to face other people’s doubt, on the secondary stage, his attention had been stolen by Sword Emperor Wang Tianzong who shot Divine Spirit dead. After years of peace, Samsara appeared again. Kunlun City seemed nice on the surface, but in fact, it had been struggling for years. Or else why would Gu Xingyun make so many deals with us?
But this time is different. Now it seems that Gu Xingyun has almost consolidated his status. This time Zhongzhou State invades East Island, Samsara is the leader, but Gu Xingyun is the promoter.
Obviously, Gu Xingyun needs a big victory to completely get on the altar. If Zhongzhou State wins this time, Zhongzhou State will not only open up East Island but also make us suffer. Now we have such a nice chance to give Zhongzhou State a deadly hit. I don’t understand, what are you hesitant about?
Ben took a deep breath, took out a cigarette and lit it up, then said blandly,
As long as we five power groups stick together, Zhongzhou State will never win no matter what they do.
Without a doubt.
Nobody would doubt this. Once they united together and attacked Zhongzhou State again, Zhongzhou State would definitely flurry in panic, sending help to the Border Control Corps. The Snowdance Corps was about to be given up.
Sending help to the Snowdance Corps?
Once the Border Control Corps was pressured, then this was more than a problem of being invaded in shame.
Zhongzhou State couldn’t afford to lose the Border Control Corps, the strongest combat force of Zhongzhou State.
Right now the Snowdance Corps was taking actions respectively in North America, Northern Europe, and East Island. The scattered troops were in contact with Zhongzhou State, but as long as Zhongzhou State was choked to death, then people outside Zhongzhou State couldn’t get back, and people inside Zhongzhou State couldn’t get out, either.
This was the real blockade.
Just that…
Wang Tianzong…
Crow opened his mouth and spat out a name.
This name brought so much pressure on people that Crow’s tone became arduous and slow.
The number one superior on the Divine List.
Sword Emperor of Zhongzhou State was holding Human Emperor, the number one murderous weapon in the Dark World.
This didn’t sound like a name. It had become a mountain that pressed on everyone’s hearts.
Zhongzhou State was plotting against East Island in the general trend.
While all the superpowers were plotting against Zhongzhou State in the general trend.
But Wang Tianzong…
What should they do with him?
If Wang Tianzong launches an attack, someone will stop him by then.
A calm, soft voice suddenly rang out at a corner of the hall.
Holy Light, the Vice Commander of Knights Templars!
Crow was suddenly speechless.
Thinking about the religious monster with a small piece of territory behind Knights Templars, Crow seemed to figure out something.
We can’t give up on East Island.
Holy Light’s eyes looked determined and persistent. He said,
We still keep a cooperation relationship with East Island, and we have given a lot…
Of course.
Ben laughed out loud and said,
We will all stay in East Island. As for the people who go to Zhongzhou State, that will be decided by the leaders behind us.
Holy Light nodded. His white robe seemed to be a misfit in the dim hall, with a kind of divine glory.
All the superpowers in the Dark World were fighting over the interests.
But Knights Templars was spreading faith in intense methods from beginning to end.
Knights Templars’ future was a holy war.
There was no end.
Holy Light suddenly frowned. He seemed to be thinking about something and then said,
And, if we have to make it this time, I need a person.
Of course.
Crow stated his stand first.
If this works, you guys contribute the most. Fantasy World will give you whoever you want.
Our Jiang family agrees. But we can give you anyone but Li Tianlan. He is related to the destiny of our family for hundreds of years. If you guys from Knights Templars want him, then sorry about that.
In the dark hall, void seemed to pass through the eave and spread around secretly in the hall.
A faint, vague shadow walked into the room and said with a smile,
Excuse me for being late.
Evil?!
Crow said with a higher pitch subconsciously.
We have met before.
In the hall, the only assassin of the Invincible Realm in the Dark World seemed to let out a soft laugh.
But we didn’t know each other well. To show my sincerity, I want to introduce myself again: I’m Jiang Qianhua from the Jiang family of South America, and my code name is Evil.
Fantasy World.
The Heroes’ Club.
The Polar Ground Alliance.
Knights Templars.
The Jiang family of South America.
Five superpowers in the same room.
It was strangely silent for a second in the hall.
Then Holy Light broke the silence again.
I’m sorry.
He said with a soft but determined tone,
Li Tianlan is exactly who we want.
Oh?
Jiang Qianhua sounded complicated.
This is an order from Chaos the Highness?
Holy Light squinted his eyes and stared at the faint shadow in front of him. Then he said calmly,
No, it’s a prediction from His Majesty.
Everyone changed their faces.
Evil’s face also turned extremely pale.
His Majesty!
In the Dark World, this was an extremely special title.
And only two people were worthy of being called this title and being respected.
One was Sword Emperor of Zhongzhou State, Wang Tianzong.
In the misty dark of the Wang family of Beihai, Sword Emperor’s sword was powerful enough to make people feel desperate.
And the other one.
He wasn’t in the Dark World and wasn’t a superior of the Invincible Realm, either.
He was in charge of the most extreme, craziest dark power in the Dark World, but he always lived in the brightest glory, in people’s praises and respect.
He walked from bright to brighter.
His Majesty the Pope!
