A globally watched press conference ended quickly. After the World Alliance announced four pieces of news, the broadcast was imdiately cut off. The whole thing lasted only about ten minutes, yet it sent shockwaves across the world.
With the conference over, the previously quiet atmosphere was instantly replaced by all kinds of noise. Car horns blared one after another, as if venting the drivers’ anxiety and frustration.
"It’s the tempo before a great war."
Staring at the slowly fading light curtain, Lin Feng remarked with a hint of emotion.
Looking around, everyone wore a different expression, but none could hide their heavy mood. So were even trembling with fear, faces full of terror and despair. Others had red-rimd eyes and simply broke down in tears.
Despair and grief were spreading rapidly.
New Space Gates kept appearing. Everyone knew this day would co eventually. Even if they’d prepared ntally, when it truly arrived, people still couldn’t help but feel afraid.
"Yeah, we’re officially in warti mode. The great battle is really about to begin,"
Ye Xing said, watching a mother hurriedly leaving with her child, and sighed.
This press conference would have a huge impact. Both Martial Artists and ordinary people were all affected.
It was more than just soaring prices and social unrest.
Just closing two thousand Space Gates globally affected billions of people. No one knew how many would die in the process—the resulting casualties would likely be counted in the hundreds of millions.
As for entering the Land of Fallen Gods, that would be another trial for them.
The Land of Fallen Gods held a special aning for the Alien Race. They absolutely wouldn’t let the Human Race enter it, and would try everything to hunt down anyone attempting to get in—a fight to the death.
The very first mission of the King Becoming plan was already extrely tough. So people who’d managed to earn a trainee spot were even considering giving up.
And this was only the first mission—it didn’t even really count as a mission. There would be others after this, and the dangers went without saying.
"Luckily, we already traded all our cash for resources and Demon Spirits, otherwise we’d be in real trouble." Yu Qiao said with relief.
Prices lately had gone crazy. Everyday necessities weren’t too bad, thanks to governnt controls, the price hikes weren’t major—though it was getting hard to buy them at all.
Cultivation resources, though, had skyrocketed. Compared to before, Demon Spirit prices had almost doubled.
You could imagine, with the entire world mobilizing for war, these cultivation resources would only climb to even more outrageous heights. By then, no matter how much money you had, you might not be able to buy a Demon Spirit at all.
"You guys are sharp—tid it just right."
Zhan Tian’en said with a smile.
Before, Lin Feng’s team had sealed off the major Space Gates and led college students to absorb Soul Skills, making a ton of money—over a hundred billion.
Spending hundreds of billions on everyday goods alone wasn’t easy, and the governnt wouldn’t allow that kind of market disruption. But if you used it to buy Demon Spirits, that was much simpler.
Back when Lin Feng contacted him about trading all the money for Demon Spirits and resources, Zhan Tian’en had been amazed at his boldness. Now, he could only marvel at Lin Feng’s foresight.
He also felt a bit lucky he’d acted even faster—he’d already sold most of his liquid assets, just so real estate remained. With war coming, that real estate would drop in value dozens of tis. Thinking of it that way, the loss didn’t sting so much after all.
"Just lucky." Lin Feng smiled.
Zhan Tian’en didn’t linger. He waved his hand and left.
Zhan Tianyu tried to follow his grandfather, but Zhan Tian’en stopped him. Standing there, Tianyu looked a little lost and shattered.
Yang Ningbing ca up beside Zhan Tianyu. She didn’t try to console him, just patted him on the shoulder.
"Let’s head back."
Lin Feng glanced at Zhan Tianyu and said.
The morial service and the press conference were over. There was no point in staying any longer.
Naturally, they had no intention of giving up on the King Becoming plan. They had just a month to reach the Land of Fallen Gods. There was ti, but it wouldn’t be easy.
As people listed on the Human Race’s most-wanted bounty list, it would be even harder for them to get in than other trainees. They’d have to plan carefully.
Back at the hotel, Zhan Tianyu just locked himself in his room.
"So what now?"
Yu Qiao asked. Though he and Tianyu usually didn’t get along, he was still worried—Zhan Tian’en losing an arm had a lot to do with them.
"Let him cool off by himself," Lin Feng replied.
The group then gathered to discuss their next steps and how they’d get into the Land of Fallen Gods.
...
While Lin Feng and his group were having their eting, in a cramped room stuffed with all kinds of things, three fat hobodies were watching TV.
A boring cartoon was on, but the trio—a person, a beast, and an Elf—were thoroughly engrossed, bursting out in exaggerated laughs from ti to ti. As they watched, they constantly stuffed snacks into their mouths.
Hong Yi, with her dramatic dark circles, lted into the sofa as though to disappear entirely. She was sipping soda and munching on chips. Perched on her head was the Little Elf, Ya Dan. Ya Dan watched TV without blinking, laser-focused. Every now and then, he’d pat Hong Yi on the head with his right hand—Hong Yi would pass him the soda with a straw. If Ya Dan used his left, she’d hand him a chip.
The person and the Elf worked together with amazing tacit understanding.
"Grrr grrr."
The Tummy Bag Beast shot them a sidelong glance, rolled its eyes extravagantly, and then let out a roar.
It couldn’t speak, but its expression was full of discontent.
It was the first one here, after all.
Whether it was Hong Yi or that annoying Duck Egg, both had been brought here by it.
It was the real master of this place.
Before Duck Egg arrived, it and Hong Yi had been best friends. Not anymore.
Jealousy twisted the Tummy Bag Beast’s face as it let out gut-wrenching howls.
"Alright, alright, you’re the best behaved. Any louder and the neighbors are going to hear,"
Hong Yi said, waving her right hand. With a "smack," she slapped the Tummy Bag Beast’s big belly, then stuffed chips into its pouch. After rubbing its head and cuddling for a bit, the beast finally started munching on the chips contentedly.
After just half a month apart, all three fat hobodies had visibly gained another round of weight. If Lin Feng saw it, he’d probably be shocked.
The gym equipnt Lin Feng had bought for them sat right next to the sofa, already covered in dust—obviously almost never used.
It wasn’t just the gym gear gathering dust. The whole room was a ss—no weird sll, but still an eyesore.
Once they’d tired of TV and stuffed themselves with snacks, Hong Yi pulled out her phone. She first logged into her ssaging account to check if her mom, dad, or little brother had posted online. She didn’t dare comnt, but every day she still looked.
"No idea when I’ll be able to go ho..."
Hong Yi muttered as she looked down at her phone.
It had been ages since her parents and brother posted anything. Who knew how they were doing now?
Had that bastard Hong Tao bullied them?
Hong Yi really wanted to tell her family she was fine, had no worries about food or drink, and had even joined the Avengers Alliance. But thinking of the consequences if she was found out, she could only hold it in.
Maybe sensing Hong Yi’s sadness, the Tummy Bag Beast dragged its huge butt over and leaned against her, nearly squashing her.
"You’re so heavy, you need to lose weight,"
Hong Yi adjusted her position and leaned back on the Tummy Bag Beast’s belly. Just as the two of them ssed around, the beast suddenly looked at Ya Dan in surprise and let out a startled roar.
"What is it?"
Hong Yi asked, a bit puzzled. Suddenly, she sensed a surge of energy appearing above her head.
Startled, Hong Yi quickly looked up, only to see the Little Elf Ya Dan floating in mid-air, shrouded in black light. Waves of energy spread out from his body.
Hong Yi blinked in confusion. "Duck Egg, are you awakening?"
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