Tie Zhenshan and the other two walked in silence for a while, and only when the invisible pressure emanating from the four ancient trees was completely unfelt did their taut nerves relax slightly.
Tie Zhenshan wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, looking back with lingering fear in the direction of the base, which was no longer visible.
“Hoo…” He let out a long breath, his voice carrying a barely perceptible tremor.
“It was too terrifying; just getting close felt like my soul was being crushed. Those guards… those ‘Azure Heaven Guards,’ what level of existence are they?”
Mao Wudi’s face was still somewhat pale, and he nodded in agreement.
“When my subordinates reported it, I thought they were exaggerating. I never expected… Firefly’s foundation is truly immeasurable. Left Leader Zuo, how did he manage to subdue such beings?”
His tone was filled with shock and confusion, as well as a hint of barely concealed reverence.
Rou Moyu was relatively calmer, but her beautiful eyes also flickered with complex light, containing both a craving for power and awe of the unknown.
“That Professor Yan is truly… incredibly bold.”
She recalled the scene from earlier, a wry smile involuntarily appearing at the corner of her lips.
“An a-grade metal needle, it bent just like that.
In his eyes, those extraordinary life forms seemed to be merely excellent research materials.
This fearless mindset, focused solely on science, might be one of the reasons Firefly can create Super Individuals.”
“Indeed,” Tie Zhenshan chimed in, his tone still full of deep envy and emotion.
“It’s good to have a powerful backer. They can research and develop as they please, without worrying about resources or safety. Just with those four ancient trees and those guards, Firefly can stand as firm as a mountain in this apocalypse. As for us…”
He shook his head, not continuing, but the envy and disappointment in his words were obvious.
Mao Wudi patted Tie Zhenshan’s shoulder, both comforting and admonishing him.
“Don’t think about it. Firefly is Firefly, and we are us. At least for now, we are allies, not enemies. Having witnessed such power, when we go back, we must better restrain our subordinates and absolutely not allow any actions that might offend Firefly. Otherwise…”
He paused, and although he didn’t say it explicitly, the three of them understood the unspoken meaning—it would be a path to self-destruction.
Rou Moyu also calmed her emotions and said solemnly, “That’s right.
Left Leader Zuo seems easygoing, but to be able to control such power, he is definitely not a simple person.
We should just manage ourselves for now. The crisis of the pathogen outbreak is upon us, and maintaining this rare cooperative relationship is a blessing.
As for anything else… improper thoughts will only bring disaster.”
The three reached a consensus, ceased talking, and simply quickened their pace in silence, heading towards their stronghold.
The recent experience weighed on their hearts like a heavy stone, making them more clearly aware of the insurmountable gap in strength between themselves and Firefly.
The sunlight spilled over the desolate land, but it could not dispel the deep shock and awe in their hearts.
The path forward, at this moment, seemed clearer and more cautious.
At the same time, in City E, high-level executives from the two dominant forces, Mo Tianya and Junlin Tianxia, held an extremely secret and tense meeting at the border between their territories.
The news that the edge of the Void Land could help people light the Seventh Lotus Seed and that Six-Slash Zombies were as strong as Eight-Horizontal-Bar Zombies was not deliberately concealed by City H, and City E naturally learned of both pieces of information.
For Mo Tianya and Junlin Tianxia, if their strong individuals who had lit the Sixth Lotus Seed could use the power of the Void Land to attempt to light the Seventh Lotus Seed, it would undoubtedly greatly enhance their own strength.
Moreover, they themselves were eager to light the Seventh Lotus Seed; they did not want to miss such an opportunity, hence this secret meeting.
The atmosphere in the meeting room was solemn. Representatives from both sides sat at opposite ends of the long table. Jun Moce’s gaze swept over Mo Tianya, Pan Yeluo, and Wen Wudao, and he said in a deep voice, “I believe you are all aware of the news regarding the Void Land. City E absolutely cannot miss this opportunity. Chief Mo, Deputy Leader Pan, Vice Leader Wen, what are your thoughts on this?”
Mo Tianya’s gaze was steady as he slowly said, “My scouts have already obtained confirmed intelligence and personally witnessed the process of a strong individual from City H, who had lit the Sixth Lotus Seed, attempting to light the Seventh Lotus Seed at the edge of the Void Land.
The information is very reliable and completely trustworthy.
Moreover, although the Void Land is near Firefly’s territory, Firefly has completely opened access to the Void Land. As long as one does not interfere with or offend Firefly’s territory, people from any force can go to the edge of the Void Land to attempt a breakthrough. I don’t think there’s anything to discuss; just send people over to try to break through.”
Pan Yeluo, however, gently shook his head, saying with a hint of mockery, “Just send people over? Our Chief Mo is truly bold, but also a bit too reckless. Do you know that although the Void Land is open, it is ultimately under Firefly’s watchful eye. A slight mistake could lead to misunderstandings, or even be seen as a provocation.
What’s more, we are not going individually, but as a collective. If Firefly considers us a threat, does Chief Mo intend to go directly to war with Firefly?
Others opening it is their business; if we want to take our subordinates to the edge of the Void Land to make a breakthrough, we still need to inform Firefly’s high-level executives first. This is the minimum respect.”
Although Pan Yeluo was only a Deputy Leader, his power was in no way inferior to Chief Mo Tianya, especially after he learned that the pathogen outbreak would result in Six-Slash Zombies with strength comparable to Eight-Horizontal-Bar Zombies. Pan Yeluo became even more unrestrained, his words carrying a hint of probing and disdain.
He had already purchased the manufacturing method for the pathogen agent from Wan Youyu, and after research by Ye Wenwen’s Laboratory, it was essentially the same as the agent they had developed, with the only difference from City H being that they had added controlling components.
In particular, he had also purchased Wan Youyu’s method for accelerating the pathogen outbreak at a high price, meaning that in a short while, his subordinates would gain a new batch of controllable Six-Slash Zombies, which further inflated his ambition.
Wen Wudao, who had been silent, now slowly raised his head, looking deeply at Pan Yeluo, then at Mo Tianya, and finally said in a deep voice, “Deputy Leader Pan’s concerns indeed have some merit, but Chief Mo’s decision is not without basis.
However, this operation is extraordinary; if the commotion is too great, it is very likely to attract unnecessary trouble, not only involving Firefly. Don’t forget that City H’s dominant forces are also making breakthroughs in that area.
If not handled properly, it could easily fall into a multi-party struggle. It’s better to communicate first; even City H’s high-level executives need to be informed in advance.”
