Heavenly Ranking

Chapter 400 Machinery
Ten thousand people from Rainbow Sun City left the Eternal Day Secret Realm in a heavy atmosphere and set off for the Misty Forest.

Although many people carried some artifacts that represented civilization, their travel speed was not slow, since even the weakest among them had a third-level cultivation.

After six days, when they arrived at the outskirts of the Misty Forest, the people Fang Qiyun had arranged were already waiting there.

A small town has been built here.

The town was originally an outpost for entering the Misty Forest.

Here, a training camp was intentionally built to specifically train the new generation of martial artists to adapt to the foggy environment.

These places have been equipped with some daily necessities, which is perfect for settling these people.

Tens of thousands of people may sound like a lot, but in the face of national power, they are nothing at all.

Although, due to the special selection mechanism of that "Great One," or perhaps the influence of some unseen rule, people from different civilizations do not experience significant maladjustment when traveling to different worlds, but...

For safety reasons, Ji Fuyou did not allow these 10,000 people to enter the Crimson Star directly.

After all, Rainbow City has not yet been truly destroyed.

Having these 10,000 people live in this small town would not only ensure their safety but also serve as a buffer for the integration of two civilizations.

Everyone needs time to get to know and accept each other.

Just as Ji Fuyou was having Fang Qiyun settle the people of Rainbow Sun City, Zhao Changkong, who had led a team to explore the alien civilization, finally sent an urgent message.

That cyborg civilization...

found it.

but……

This civilization was not as fragile as they had imagined.

……

In the mist, Zhao Changkong, Wu Sheng, and Wu Rendi, a three-person team consisting of a sixth-level Martial Saint and two newly promoted Martial Saints, were running at an extremely fast speed.

Behind them were a dozen or so people clad in heavy armor...

A dozen or so humanoid creatures, whose armor and bodies were completely integrated, were chasing after them at a speed disproportionate to their size.

Judging from their speed, almost every one of them is comparable to a fifth-tier Martial Saint.

The reason it's only comparable to the fifth tier...

It's because they don't possess the vitality unique to the fifth rank.

Even so, with a dozen armored soldiers chasing from behind and dozens more continuously surrounding them from all directions, Zhao Changkong and his group's space for maneuver was getting smaller and smaller.

"Keep stalling! I've already uploaded the coordinates using the Limitless Mystic Crystal; the Chairman will be here shortly!"

Zhao Changkong encouraged the other two.

"This civilization is more advanced than our Red Star. There are satellites in space, patrol drones in the sky, and various patrol robots on the ground... There are monitoring facilities everywhere, and the level of danger is much higher than the civilizations we have explored before."

Wu Sheng's expression was stern.

"The key is these monsters known as Temple Knights... They are not difficult for us to deal with in a one-on-one fight, but the key is that they are almost integrated with their armor, and they fight without fear of death! When three or five of them rush up, even we, as Martial Saints, can hardly match them."

Wu Rendi added.

"In any case, we are the victorious civilization! The fact that we were able to stand out in the Heavenly Ranking War proves our strength! There is no doubt about that!"

Zhao Changkong spoke with absolute certainty.

"I'm afraid this civilization, like us back then, hasn't taken the Heavenly Ranking War seriously, so that those they've sent to the Heavenly Ranking War aren't the elite of the elite..."

A hint of worry appeared in Wu Rendi's eyes.

"call out!"

Just then, several relatively slender figures swept past in front of them.

"Watch out for arrows!"

Zhao Changkong exclaimed in alarm, trying to remind him.

But then they saw several tall, slender figures, each carrying a large bow on their back.

Their large bows are different from regular bows and arrows; they are more like a kind of mechanical crossbow. They use their own bodies as a support frame, draw the crossbow, and the bolts on the back of the crossbow immediately shoot out arrows.

After the arrow was shot out, a powerful spiritual force swept across, guiding the arrow through the air like a flying sword, heading straight for Wu Sheng, who was slightly slower.

Although Wu Sheng activated his life force field immediately, the immense impact of the arrow, combined with its ability to suppress the life force field, still sent him flying backward, crashing into several large trees and breaking them.

Moreover, after blasting Wu Sheng away, the remaining people unleashed a barrage of arrows, all aimed at him simultaneously.

It seems they intend to wipe them all out.

"Damn it!"

Zhao Changkong and Wu Rendi had no choice but to stop and simultaneously block the arrows.

This delay allowed more pursuers to quickly arrive and further tighten the encirclement.

If this trend continues...

They will no longer be able to break out of the encirclement.

"We can't escape back to the Mayan temple. Let's find a place to hold out and wait for the guild leader to arrive."

Zhao Changkong sensed the commotion from all directions and made a decisive decision.

There were too many people on the other side.

"Many ants can kill an elephant"—this is no empty saying.

"Let's go with the cave we passed by not long ago."

Wu Rendi picked up Wu Sheng and said.

Zhao Changkong nodded, and the group turned again, heading straight for the cave several kilometers away.

The cave is not deep, less than two hundred meters.

but……

Because the space is relatively narrow, the opponent's numerical advantage cannot be utilized, and they can actually hold out longer here.

However, hiding in a cave is tantamount to cutting off one's own escape route.

Fortunately, less than a minute after the three hid in the cave, before the enemy could launch a full-scale attack, Ji Fuyou's mental fluctuations emanated from the small illusory divine realm that had already been erected. "I've arrived at your location..."

"Chairman Ji!"

Upon hearing this voice, Zhao Changkong and the others couldn't contain their joy.

"We are now..."

"Yes, I have located your position using the Limitless Profound Crystal on your bodies that can emit fluctuations from the Void God Realm. 14 kilometers... estimated arrival in 30 seconds!"

Ji Fuyou's mental fluctuations were quickly transmitted.

30 seconds!
The timing of this event surprised and delighted the three of them.

"Zhao Wusheng, should we cooperate with the guild leader to keep all these monsters here?"

Wu Rendi said excitedly.

"No! Retreat inside! Lead them all into the cave!"

A ruthless glint flashed in Zhao Changkong's eyes: "Didn't they think this cave was a dead end, and wanted to trap us like turtles in a jar? Let them taste what it's like to become prey themselves!"

Upon hearing this, the two did not hesitate any longer and quickly retreated into the cave.

As they retreated, the pursuers outside, who were almost one with the armor, also entered the cave.

The number was no less than fifty or sixty.

Even after fifty or sixty people entered, forty or fifty armored figures remained guarding the area around the cave to ensure that the alien invaders could not escape.

Just as these forty or fifty people were on guard, a distant rumble of thunder seemed to echo from the horizon.

Before they could even wonder why there was thunder on such a sunny day, a black dot suddenly appeared in their field of vision.

"￥%@!"

The tall, slender figure at the head of the group immediately shouted a warning, while the remaining ten or so quickly drew the mechanical crossbows slung across their backs.

but……

Fog naturally obstructs vision.

In addition, that dark shadow in the sky came too fast!

Before they could even aim, the figure, carrying an almost overwhelming force, smashed through the fog and arrived at the scene first.

Do not!
Not almost!

When that figure descended, the terrifying wind pressure emanating from him seemed to truly transform into a towering mountain, crashing heavily onto everyone's hearts.

"Oh!"

As the shockwave exploded, the earth cracked and dust filled the air.

Centered on the spot where that figure fell, more than a dozen figures were directly blown away by the shockwave and scattered in all directions.

Before they could even get a clear look at the figure, several sword beams, as if they were alive, shot out from the same direction, ruthlessly reaping the lives of one temple knight and temple hunter after another.

Amidst a flurry of shouts, the battle outside the cave came to an end in just over ten seconds.

The shouts outside naturally alerted the people inside the cave.

Before they could even leave the cave, the figure had already rushed inside.

A piercing scream quickly spread from the cave entrance inwards, heading straight for the hiding place of Zhao Changkong, Wu Sheng, and Wu Rendi.

When that figure finally reunited with them, the shouts, cries, and screams in the arena completely subsided.

Upon seeing the figure emerging from the mist, Zhao Changkong, Wu Sheng, and Wu Rendi's eyes lit up simultaneously, and they strode forward to respectfully bow: "Martial Saint Ji."

"President Ji."

"President, you've finally arrived."

……

Approaching the outer edge of this mist.

Ji Fuyou used the Eye of His Mind to peer into the distance.

However, a large number of unmanned aerial vehicles were seen rapidly passing through the edge of the fog, carrying out routine patrols.

Any life that emerges from the fog will be met with deadly attacks from drones and long-range firepower.

"so……"

Ji Fuyou looked at yet another drone hurtling past at supersonic speed, his expression somewhat strange: "You mean, this civilization is a theocratic society?"

"Yes."

Zhao Changkong nodded solemnly: "The entire civilization is shrouded in a sect, which, translated into our language, should be called the Cult of the Machine God. The clergy in the cult possess supreme authority, while others... live in steel cities, devoid of human rights, surviving in a way that is almost like consumables."

He added, "And the Church of God enforces the law through extremely strict surveillance, as well as drones, robots, and the Knights Templar! Anyone who dares to disrespect the Church of God or contradict clergy will be sentenced to hard labor at best, and death at worst."

"No one resisted?"

Ji Fuyou was somewhat surprised.

"There's no way to resist."

Zhao Changkong said, "For those in positions of power, technological advancements simply ensure that they can more easily control those in lower positions, especially when much information is no longer shared between the upper and lower levels."

He shook his head: "The upper echelons, even the clergy, probably no longer regard ordinary people as their own kind, but rather call them lambs, livestock that can be slaughtered at will."

Ji Fuyou recalled those temple knights who had been modified with metal...

"So, the difference between clergy and ordinary people lies in whether their bodies have been modified?"

"That kind of modification, where the body and armor become one, is specifically designed for war knights to combat the mist. Most people's modifications aren't that crude; on the contrary..."

Zhao Changkong pondered for a moment and came up with a word: "Exquisitely crafted."

"Exquisite?"

"The entire civilization seems to believe in one idea—flesh and blood are weak, machines are superior! Transforming oneself into a half-machine, half-human being, shedding the various ailments brought by flesh and blood, and embracing machines is the lifelong goal of everyone!"

Zhao Changkong shuddered as he recalled the madness of those "knights": "And they call this transformation a divine gift!"

(End of this chapter)