Necromancer, summoning 055? What the heck?

Chapter 405 Threshold Selection: The Birth of a Large-Scale Relic

The height of summer at Ziyun Mountain seems to carry a carefully crafted gentleness.

Despite the blazing sun high in the sky, it was not fierce at all. As if on someone's orders, the clouds always drew a thin veil at just the right moment, carefully filtering out the overly dazzling light, leaving only tender, soft golden threads that gently spread across the green vegetation covering the mountains and fields.

There's also wind.

A refreshing breeze, carrying the moisture of the mountain forest. It sweeps across the hills, stirs the sea of ​​trees, and ripples with waves of green in varying shades.

The so-called favorable weather for crops can be explained in a hundred or a thousand ways from a scientific perspective, but from a metaphysical perspective, everyone has only one thing in mind.

[Sprout] Awesome!

It's hard to truly understand the profound and irresistible magic of the phrase "favorable weather and abundant harvests" for a nation like Dongxia, which has been an agricultural society for thousands of years and still clings to the red line of arable land even after becoming the world's largest industrial nation.

It's not just about the climate, but about the nation's destiny, the people's hearts, and the inherited memories flowing in the blood of civilization.

Therefore, when faced with various suspicions and inquiries from the outside world, diplomats can offer all sorts of technical and accidental explanations, but there is one ironclad rule: they must never involve "budding" (i.e., early stages of development).

With the invisible protection of the [Budding], Dongxia has objectively become a unique and pure land on the current Blue Star.

Infection cannot be detected, and radiation cannot reach it!

Then, naturally, they will have to face another kind of test.

After serving as waiter, deliveryman, and recorder for several days, Gu Liyang finally returned to his original job of directing and executing orders.

Taking a deep breath, he began to report: "According to the statistics compiled by various departments, in just one day yesterday, the number of formal entry applications submitted to us from all over the world has exceeded 4.7 million."

On the screen, the line graph soared into the sky.

"These are just the online statistics for applications with relatively standardized formats. Offline, paper applications have already filled every corner of embassies and consulates abroad."

"In addition, various political figures and dignitaries from different countries have been making probing inquiries to us through national institutions, private relationships, commercial resources, and even special and secretive channels, all hoping to receive a visit invitation or an invitation to an event."

"The exhibition, originally scheduled for next month, has also received a massive number of applications to participate and to visit..."

He paused, then added, "It is also worth mentioning that several foreign heads of state and high-ranking officials have expressed a strong desire to visit Dongxia in the near future. They have offered very attractive terms for cooperation, including but not limited to the transfer of key technologies, priority supply of strategic resources, and temporary sharing of some overseas military bases, etc."

“These things would have been enough to prompt government departments to hold special communication and seminars at any time in the past.”

"Now, all they need is an invitation!"

After explaining the situation, Gu Liyang unconsciously pursed his lips.

"We'll have to ask the leaders for their advice on how to handle this!"

Clearly, most people who become successful on Earth are not fools.

Although many people do not understand why Dongxia was able to remain unscathed in this global disaster, that does not prevent them from making their most instinctive judgments.

Dongxia is now like a safe house or defensive island on Earth. If you can hide in Dongxia, you might be able to get through this inexplicable undead calamity safely.

Ironically, prior to this, due to escalating external frictions and targeted activities by hostile forces, the Eastern Xia Foreign Affairs Department had repeatedly issued warnings, urging all its citizens overseas to return as soon as possible and reduce unnecessary travel abroad.

However, only a small number of people actually heeded the call. Those who went abroad had their own reasons: business, studies, travel, or even simply because they felt that domestic regulations were too strict.

Now, times have changed.

A plane ticket to Dongxia has been sold on the black market for as much as a small private jet; a legal Dongxia residency permit that allows one to stay for more than six months has become one of the most expensive luxuries on the planet.

The commanders exchanged glances, their faces showing little surprise. They had already simulated this situation countless times.

Seeing the other bigwigs remain silent, the second commander could only shake his head helplessly and take the initiative to speak.

"The door cannot be completely closed, but it certainly cannot be fully opened either."

"My suggestion is to allow limited opening up, but with strict supervision!"

"First, examine the people at the outside window."

The old man picked up his teacup, blew away the tea leaves floating on the surface, took a sip, and continued, "We need to establish strict gates for entry. The foreign affairs department should take the lead, in conjunction with security, intelligence, customs, and border control departments, to immediately establish a dual online and offline verification mechanism. The standards must be strict, and the procedures must be detailed."

"Appropriate preference will be given to professionals in key fields such as scientific research, technology, and engineering."

"As for businessmen and politicians from various countries, let them queue up like ordinary people and enter the quota waiting list."

"In addition, the checks at the border will be more stringent. Machine checks, manual checks, and magic array checks—no step can be omitted!"

"During entry, regardless of the testing mechanism used, if any individuals with complex backgrounds or questionable motives are discovered... they must be arrested and thoroughly investigated."

"By the way, the highest priority is to not let anyone our [Sprout] doesn't like in."

Everyone nodded.

In fact, the fiercest interceptor is the Sprout. The little guy is just a tree, but he has quite a temper.

Having clarified the general direction, the second commander also provided guidance on arrangements after entry.

The old man put down his teacup and gently closed the lid.

"After entering our country, there is a review period. During this period, all inbound personnel must undergo residential surveillance in a designated, completely closed management area."

"The outside environment is so chaotic. For everyone's safety, the review period cannot be too short. We need to allow enough time for observation to eliminate all potential risks!"

"Accommodation fees, meal fees, management fees, security management fees, and basic service fees that should be collected should be charged at the highest standard, clearly marked, and announced in advance."

"Since you're here to seek refuge, you must obediently follow the arrangements. Those who disobey management, attempt to seek special treatment, or secretly collude to cause trouble will be directly deported. In serious cases, they will be placed on a permanent entry ban list."

“Of course!” The commander then changed the subject, “We should also give appropriate opportunities and channels to those who are truly valuable, abide by the rules, and can potentially contribute to us.”

"The specific standards will be determined jointly by the foreign affairs, security, and immigration departments."

“Commander,” Gu Liyang looked up, “regarding the area under surveillance… our existing facilities are probably insufficient to accommodate a large influx of people.”

"Expand," the commander-in-chief of [Cihang] decided directly. "Designate areas outside several major port cities to build temporary resettlement sites. The standards don't need to be too high; just safe, hygienic, and habitable. The costs will be borne by the inbound travelers themselves; we will only provide basic management and services."

"The name can be more neutral, such as 'International Health Community' or 'Blue Star Safety Station.' When promoting it externally, we should emphasize that this is a necessary measure taken out of international humanitarian spirit to ensure the safety of all personnel in Xia."

"What we want to project is the image of a responsible, accountable, orderly, and principled major power!"

After the meeting, Gu Liyang did not leave immediately.

He stood in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling window of the command center, looking at the peaceful and serene scene of the Ziyun Base outside, and then at the dense crowds of people entering the mountain for "tourism and study" at the foot of the mountain. He couldn't help but marvel at the mystery of life.

In the distance, the budding tree crowns gleamed with a warm luster in the sunlight.

"A lot of pressure?" a voice came from behind.

Gu Liyang turned around and saw that the second commander had also come to the window at some point.

"Kind of!"

Gu Liyang thought for a moment and decided to tell the truth: "This is just the beginning. If the global situation continues to deteriorate, this number may become an order of magnitude that we cannot bear!"

"We can't save that many people!"

"Of course we can't save everyone, nor do we need to save everyone."

Although he is over sixty years old, thanks to the special care and nourishment provided by [Sprout], the Second Commander stands even straighter than Gu Liyang. After all, Comrade Gu has been so busy these past few days that he can't even straighten his back.

With a pointed hand, the commander declared in a firm voice: "We are not saviors!"

"Protect your own people, maintain social order, and, without compromising your own safety or exceeding your own capabilities, provide appropriate assistance to others—that's all."

"Given the current turbulent international situation, we shouldn't have let anyone in!"

"But this world is full of villains who are rotten themselves but can't stand seeing others clean."

"In extreme circumstances, the enemy may use every vicious means to attack us, cause destruction, and even, without a doubt, drop nuclear weapons on us, dragging all of humanity on Earth into hell!"

Gu Liyang's eyes widened.

Yes, it's not possible, but if the situation continues to deteriorate, it's almost inevitable.

As some national leaders have said, if our country no longer exists, what is the point of having Earth?
In this world, there are ruthless enemies who, for their own selfish gain, can take the lives of thousands without hesitation.

If the undead get close to their doorstep, who knows what crazy things they might do.

"Therefore, the purpose of setting up these 'healthy communities' is to provide a way out for the powerful, military leaders, and ruling classes of other countries, so that they will not hastily drag us down with them."

“Even if there are a few complete lunatics among them, the others will consider that their relatives are with us, and will try to stop us or warn us.” “We are their safe haven, they are our protective wall, nothing more.”

Gu Liyang took a deep breath: "Understood!"

There were some things the commander could only hint at, but Gu Liyang had already fully understood their meaning.

This is not a humanitarian aid effort, but a basic consideration of survival.

At this very moment, the commander of [Compassionate Voyage] was already prioritizing in his mind: who needed to be arranged first, who needed to be negotiated with conditions, who required sufficient leverage, who could be included as a sideline due to available positions, and who could be completely ignored...

Yes, international friends who hold state gifts and their relatives, and "old friends of the Xia people" who provided assistance to Dongxia at critical historical moments, are the cornerstone of trust and should be given top priority.

Next, we'll talk about national treasure-level scientists and engineers in key fields.

Gu Liyang took out a miniature notebook and started scribbling.

The key areas of focus are high-energy physics, quantum computing, life sciences, aerospace, information engineering, new materials, and oh yes, agricultural technology...

This is a necessity for development; we should move forward in the rankings.

Then come powerful figures and influential politicians from friendly countries…

These people may need to stay in their home countries for some time to maintain their power, so it is likely that their families will be the ones accepted.

These people are the core materials of the "retaining wall".

Next, we should be ranked the decision-making bodies of those countries that are not very friendly, or are simply old rivals, but have the ability to pose a certain threat to the overall environment of Dongxia or Blue Star.

These people can be released, but they must first produce a substantial "pledge of allegiance" and demonstrate their stance.

Gu Liyang was very familiar with the styles of the commanders in his family. Although Dongxia would try its best to avoid a situation where everyone would perish, it would never accept blackmail.

As he was lining up the papers, Gu Liyang stopped writing, a complex expression on his face.

He thought of another group of people.

Many of those who once enjoyed great fame in China, whether as wealthy businessmen, renowned scholars, or opinion leaders, transferred their assets and families abroad long ago.

Now, with disaster looming, they too are crowding into the surging crowd of applicants, hoping to return to this land they once alienated or even loathed.

However, it seems that no matter how they try to get a spot, they can't get a spot.

In terms of emotions, they are the betrayers!
In terms of value, most of them are businessmen or humanities experts, and their value is extremely limited!
In terms of strength, they are somewhat wealthy, but that's all they have. They basically don't wield any military or political power abroad.

Their priority was far lower than that of foreigners of similar wealth who had never clashed with Dongxia.

It's like divorced couples or estranged partners; their relationship is probably not even as good as that of strangers passing by.

Basically, they're not coming back.

Gu Liyang took off his hat, observed a moment of silence for them, and then strode towards his office.

Even their steps became lighter.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

While the Ziyun Summit was being held, Dongxia continued its bombing of the Four-Clawed Sea Serpent.

Before the Four-Clawed Sea Serpent released the defenses of the three core urban areas, although the outside world looked like an apocalyptic scene, the overall situation was still relatively controllable. Faced with a sufficient amount of firepower, even mid-level and above undead creatures that had undergone mutation and evolution could not resist.

However, Kenichiro Kishi, in his depravity, abandoned the defenses of the capital region, leaving hundreds of millions of people completely unprotected before the tide of the dead.

This has led to the current near-avalanche situation.

Even so, only 20% of the population has been lost so far. The efficiency of killing with cold weapons is ultimately somewhat low.

The entire territory of the Four-Clawed Sea Serpent is currently only slowly but steadily progressing towards undead transformation.

Meanwhile, in Dongxia, the "undead cleansing" and "order maintenance" operations are ongoing.

One by one, the "fire lotuses" burned the armies of the dead to ashes, turning graveyards of corpses into scorched earth.

However, the situation has not been fundamentally brought under control.

Or rather, Dongxia never intended to take fundamental control over it.

To disperse the zombie hordes gathered in the eastern and southern parts of the Four-Clawed Sea Serpent, preventing even a one in a thousand or one in ten thousand chance that they might cross the sea and threaten the coast of Dongxia or the Liuqiu Islands under our control.

By the way, it's also a good opportunity for the boys in the family to practice.

Let the older officers find some solace in their feelings.

To give this land, once ravaged by sea serpents, a long-awaited explanation.

As for the ultimate fate of the sea serpents, isn't it in their own hands?

Based on these considerations, Dongxia has been paying close attention to the ghost temple that is shrouded in black mist and grows larger every day.

According to the information provided by Starry World, with this scale and level of absorption, the Ghost Temple of Summoning Souls is about to grow into a large-scale ruin.

This moment arrived several days earlier than Dongxia had predicted.

On a moonless, dark night, the black fog that had been covering a large part of the capital region, centered around the Ghost Temple, began to churn and surge.

The ghost temple seemed to suddenly have a heartbeat, a deep, slow, yet incredibly heavy pulse, coming from the depths of the earth, perfectly synchronized with the undulations of the sea of ​​fog.

Amidst this pulsation, the color of the black mist gradually shifted from a murky inky black to a deep, dark crimson, as if countless invisible blood vessels were forming within it, pumping indescribable energy.

The temple's outline, originally constructed from bones, resentment, and the memorial tablets of sinners, gradually twisted and expanded, swallowing more bones into it. The temple's base was rapidly rising, and thick, deformed bone pillars broke through the ground, on which countless, ferocious faces, like reliefs, began to emerge.

The moment the Wailing Wall appeared, this massive ruin was officially completed.

This is a historical moment worth remembering.

The emergence of a large-scale relic means one thing: within its lair, intelligent relic creatures will continuously emerge and can detach from the lair in physical form, spreading to surrounding areas.

The report provided by the first basic theoretical research institute of the [Eastern Xia Undead Biological Research and Control Center] has clearly outlined the possible changes that may occur after the birth of large-scale ruins.

Compared to medium-sized ruins or nests, the most distinctive feature of large ruins is the collective "intelligence" and "freedom" of the organisms inside.

Whether it's the restoration plant in the vast ocean or the silver nest in the eastern Xia, these medium-sized nests have only one intelligent nest core. The creatures spawned by other nests are just mechanically obedient tool monsters.

At the same time, neither the nest core nor the tool monster can leave the nest's support range.

However, large undead ruins are entirely different.

It can not only give rise to a large number of mid-to-high-level undead creatures with self-awareness and a certain level of intelligence, but these intelligent undead can also leave the ruins and act autonomously in physical form.

What impact will this have on Earth?

From this moment forward, the undead may master coordinated attacks and pincer maneuvers; they may be able to control vehicles, ships, and flying vehicles; they may be able to disguise themselves and lurk in human society, waiting for their opportunity; or they may take up firearms under the command of intelligent undead and launch more efficient killings.

An army commanded by intelligent undead is like a summoned creature controlled by a necromancer.

This is roughly equivalent to evolving from artificial stupidity to artificial intelligence.

From this perspective, neither land nor sea will soon be an obstacle for them.

Having foreseen this scene, Dongxia immediately tensed up, deployed a full set of defenses from the Blue Star system and the Starry World, and entered a state of full alert.

Then, something completely unexpected happened to Dongxia.

Given sufficient intelligence and the absence of a lord to enforce orders, what kind of opponents would undead creatures choose?
Of course, they are an easy opponent to deal with.

Even with their empty or rotting brains, they could figure out who is hard and who is soft on this planet.

Dongxia is one they absolutely do not want to provoke.

On that land, there seems to be something extraordinary, a boundless life force that can be smelled even across the sea.

As for the historical grudges between the sea serpents and the Eastern Xia...

That was the story of that lowly race in their lifetime. What does it have to do with us, the dead? We merely inherited the death energy of this land!

We called the brothers to board the boat, and then we headed east, north, and south...

Don't go west, those guys are too fierce...

(End of this chapter)