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Chapter 411 A New Year is Here!
The words fell.

Just then, a huge golden firework exploded on top of the candle dragon.

Thousands of streams of fire cascaded down like a waterfall.

The light and shadow flickered across her stunning profile.

The sound faded away quietly amidst the booming of fireworks.

Fang Qingyu leaned against the cold stone bridge railing.

silent.

He finally understood.

Why did Zhulong seem a bit dazed starting in the morning?

I understand why she was at the breakfast stall, asking herself that question about human extinction and survival alone.

She must have discovered something, but she couldn't say it.

Rather, what she saw and knew was far beyond Fang Qingyu's imagination in terms of its level and horror.

That creator god whose name cannot be mentioned, whose form cannot be looked at directly, and whose past cannot be explored.

Its very existence may foreshadow a hopeless future.

And the subtext of her asking that question might be...

In that predetermined fate, humanity is destined for extinction.

And does she have the ability to save her own life as the sole believer under the will of the true creator god?

So she asked you, Fang Qingyu.

To live or to die?
Fang Qingyu's lips twitched slightly.

He gave a silent, bitter smile.

An existence that could be called the true creator god began to emerge in my mind.

Pangu, Dijun, Donghuang, Nuwa, Fuxi, Suiren.
Countless beings have been given the titles of creator or progenitor.

Ancient legends are as numerous as stars, with various versions and difficulty in distinguishing truth from falsehood.

Who is God, and who is man?

Who is a person in the guise of a god, or a god with a human name?

Over the long years of distortion and changes in beliefs, it has long been unrecognizable.

There are even several versions of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors.

Who exactly is the one that Zhulong is referring to?

There is a range, but it's very difficult to guess exactly which one it is.

Or rather, it's almost impossible to guess.

However, Fang Qingyu didn't want to guess at the moment.

Because this level of issue is not something I need to think about or worry about for the time being.

This is the thought.

Fang Qingyu took out his phone without hesitation.

Open Hong Qitian's chat window.

Type in a paragraph.

After sending the message, Fang Qingyu promptly put away his phone.

He then took a deep breath and turned to look at Zhulong, who was still quietly gazing at the lights on the river.

That flawless profile looked almost unreal in the flickering fireworks.

"Let's go."

A relaxed smile returned to Fang Qingyu's face. "Tonight, I failed as the tour guide. The fireworks display that follows is the main event."

Upon hearing this, Zhulong's heterochromatic black and white eyes shifted slightly, his gaze moving from the river to Zhulong's face, as if to confirm the change in his emotions.

After a moment, she nodded slightly without saying a word.

Carrying only that small lotus lantern, she followed Fang Qingyu's footsteps and rejoined the flowing, jubilant crowd below.

Brilliant fireworks exploded continuously above their heads.

The shadows of the two people were stretched and shortened.

Submerged in a sea of ​​lights.

Meanwhile, in Kamijō City.

The ancient street outside Longyuan Martial Arts School.

The night was deep, and the ancient moat gleamed dimly under the sparse starlight.

Hong Qitian remained seated on his small, well-worn stool.

A worn-out straw hat was casually placed on his gray hair, covering most of his weathered face.

Holding a simple fishing rod in his hand, the fishing line sank into the calm, waveless river surface.

He was humming a tune he didn't recognize.

It seemed to blend into the tranquil night.

Leisurely and content.

"Ding dong."

A soft cell phone notification sound.

Hong Qitian's hand holding the fishing rod remained motionless, while his other calloused hand slowly reached into the pocket of his faded old cotton-padded jacket and pulled out his cell phone.

The screen lights up.

His gaze slowly swept over the message sent by Fang Qingyu.

A few seconds of silence.

The river remained calm, and the fishing float did not move an inch.

Hong Qitian's wrinkles seemed to have deepened, and the deliberately maintained leisurely demeanor had completely disappeared.

He sighed silently and turned off his phone screen.

Put it back in his pocket.

His cloudy old eyes returned to the dark river surface, his lips moved slightly, and his voice was so low as to be like a dream, only he could hear it:
"That's why I said time is running out, you brat."

Time passes silently.

The following days.

Fang Qingyu seemed to have temporarily put aside the gloom brought by the Creator God.

He was fulfilling his promise as a tour guide.

He carried the Candle Dragon along the Federation's long coastline.

We visited one city after another.

They strolled along the pristine white sandy beach of Crescent Bay in Haiyan City.

Barefoot, I felt the cool seawater washing over me, watching the sunset paint the sea surface with molten gold.

Explore the labyrinthine floating market of Nanzhu City.

Wander through stone bridges and waterways amidst the sound of oars, and savor the most authentic raw fish congee.

Climb up to the ancient lighthouse that stands atop a towering cliff in Lin Yuan City.

Overlooking the crashing waves, one can feel the power of heaven and earth.
Every city has similar high-rise buildings and bustling traffic.

That is the mark of modern civilization.

But Fang Qingyu focused more on bringing Zhulong's experience to life.

They are the souls that lie beneath the steel and concrete, unique to each city.

Or perhaps a bowl of wonton noodles with a rich and flavorful broth from a century-old restaurant.

Or the crisp, clinking sound of a craftsman hammering silverware deep in an alley.

It could be the melodious singing of local operas, or the wisps of incense rising from the temples of Mazu in seaside towns.
These diverse cultural imprints connect the humanistic fabric of the federal coast.

Zhulong remained mostly silent.

Follow quietly.

When she tastes a particular dessert, her eyes will slightly curve into a very subtle arc.

When they see exquisite handicrafts, they will linger for a moment longer.

She would also furrow her brows almost imperceptibly amidst the bustling crowds of the market.

She was like the most patient student.

She is seeing this world, which is both familiar and incredibly strange to her, from a divine perspective.

And during this seemingly leisurely two-month trip.

The Federation is undergoing tremendous changes.

Ever since Hong Qitian's earth-shattering live broadcast tore open the curtain on the extraordinary world.

The federal government then completely abandoned its past cover-ups, and information transparency reached an unprecedented level.

Whether it's the movements of the spirits, the traces of the gods, or the Federation's own strategic adjustments and technological breakthroughs, as long as it doesn't involve core secrets or immediate threats that could trigger widespread panic, it's acceptable.

All will be done through official channels.

We will inform all citizens immediately.

In the eyes of ordinary people, the changes in the world are no longer distant doomsday legends, but have been truly integrated into their daily lives and are developing in an unexpected direction.

The earliest changes occurred in the field of education.

On December 18, the Federal Ministry of Education and the Bureau of Divine Administration jointly issued a "Resolution on the Comprehensive Implementation of Basic Extraordinary Education Reform".

The resolution is announced, effective today.

From the third grade of primary school to high school, compulsory courses on basic martial arts theory and practice will be added in all aspects.

The courses are free, incorporated into the compulsory education system, and are one of the important assessment items in the college entrance examination.

The course content progresses from simple to complex.

From the most basic breathing exercises and stance training to basic fist and foot routines, knowledge of cold weapons, and stress resistance and willpower training designed for different age groups.

The teaching materials were jointly compiled by the Federation's top martial artists and education experts.

The teaching staff was drawn from martial arts schools across the country, retired military personnel, and grassroots staff of the Bureau of Justice to quickly fill the gaps.

In an instant, the playgrounds of primary and secondary schools across the country...

Everywhere you can see children practicing their horse stance and punches meticulously under the guidance of their teachers, their innocent shouts rising and falling.

The federal government's goals are clear.

We must build a foundation for the entire population, discover promising talents, and cultivate a broader base of extraordinary power for the future.

Of course, the resolution also clearly states this.

Students who can formally step into the realm of martial arts before graduating from high school are extremely rare.

Those who fail to meet the requirements can apply through martial arts schools or by joining the military.

It remains their primary choice.

On the other hand, the transportation sector has also witnessed revolutionary breakthroughs.

On December 25, DeepBlue Heavy Industry held a global launch event, showcasing their groundbreaking products.

Xuanjia-1 civilian low-altitude aircraft.

This is not a traditional airplane or helicopter; its shape is more like a streamlined car.

The only difference is that there are several sets of high-efficiency propellerless vortex propellers at the bottom and tail.

Its biggest selling point is its materials.

More than 85% of the structural components and outer shell of the entire shuttle are made of high-strength, lightweight Tier 3 Destiny Ghost Armor, and the skeleton is refined and forged using a special bio-metallurgical process.

The stunning video played at the press conference showed...

A Xuanjia-1 was free-falling from a height of 1,000 meters, crashing heavily onto the ground covered with sharp rocks. The outer shell only suffered minor dents and scratches, while the internal structure remained intact, and the real people in the safety cabin were unharmed.

They made a bold announcement under the spotlight.

Xuanjia-1 is just the beginning; Deep Blue Heavy Industry will invest all its resources.

Dedicated to overcoming the technical challenges of short- and medium-distance, low-altitude, and high-speed commuting between cities.

The goal is to make this kind of safe and convenient flying car.

To soon be able to travel on safe routes between the protective force fields of major federal cities.

Reconnect the fragmented transportation network.

This news gave new hope to countless people trapped in isolated cities due to paralyzed ground transportation.

After all, not everyone's relatives live in the same city.

Of course, some of the subtle details of life are also changing quietly.

For example, home appliances developed using the excellent energy conductivity of the "life-ghost" material have begun small-scale trials.

A new type of bio-fertilizer and growth promoter developed based on the secretions of some mild plant species.

The functions of the Shenguanju APP and the Arctic APP are constantly being improved.

Practical features such as real-time city safety index reporting have been added.

It has become an essential app on the mobile phones of every federal citizen.
A new social form, where modern technology and extraordinary power go hand in hand and are integrated, is showing great vitality on the land of the Federation.

Although patrol teams of martial artists can still be seen on the streets.

Occasionally, the figures of ghosts would flit past high in the sky outside the force field shield, causing brief disturbances.

But after a brief period of chaos, the pace of life for ordinary people is gradually returning to stability.

Even before the announcement.

There was an added sense of security from having control over the power.

Of course, the shadows never truly go away.

On January 28, an urgent notice from Loulan City in the Western Desert Province was like a bucket of ice water, instantly extinguishing this hard-won prosperity.

The report stated that a deity suddenly descended upon the outskirts of Rongsheng City.

He seemed extremely dissatisfied with the city's prosperity and disrespect, and directly manifested a divine body that was hundreds of meters tall.

Their intention was to wipe out the entire city in one fell swoop.

The accompanying blurry footage, captured by high-altitude reconnaissance equipment, left everyone who saw it feeling suffocated.

In the dark clouds that blot out the sun.

The outline of a giant made of lightning was clearly visible; he merely raised a hand and pointed.

Outside Rongsheng City, a mountain range collapsed silently like a sandcastle under the blinding light.

This is the first time in human history that this has been done through official channels.

To clearly witness the terrifying power displayed by the true form of a deity, enough to easily wipe out a city!
However, the latter half of the report ignited another kind of passionate emotion.

Just as the force field shield of Rongsheng City was fluctuating violently, and a million residents were plunged into despair.

Three figures, like shooting stars going against the current, crashed into the core of the lightning.

The screen shook violently, revealing only the intense sword light tearing through the sky, the heavy phantom of mountains suppressing all directions, and the pervasive chill of freezing air that seemed to freeze the space.
Those were three fifth-tier powerhouses from the Federation.

The report concluded: "After a fierce battle, the three guardians successfully repelled the deity, forcing it to flee into the depths of the desert. Rongsheng City was preserved, but the force field shield suffered a 37% energy loss, and some peripheral buildings in the city were damaged. One of our fifth-tier guardians was seriously injured but is not in life-threatening condition." That day, all the Federation citizens who witnessed that blurry yet breathtaking battle through the news truly felt the weight of the word "deity."

For the first time, it became crystal clear that the human spine was not broken.

Even in the most critical moments, there are still strong and upright individuals who will hold up the sky for them.

February 8th, the 2th day of the twelfth lunar month.

On the eve of the Spring Festival.

My nearly two-month coastal trip has come to an end.

Fang Qingyu, with Zhulong in tow, returned to Dawn City, located on the edge of the Arctic Circle.

The city gate stands majestically.

But now they are dressed in festive attire.

Rows of festive red lanterns hang down along the crenellations of the city wall and the tall gate tower, swaying gently in the cold wind and casting a warm glow.

Above the city gate, below the four powerful characters "City of Dawn".

They even put up a long banner.

Fang Qingyu pointed to the warm red color and smiled at Zhulong, who was still dressed in plain white with her hair tied in a high ponytail, and said, "You should know about the Spring Festival, right?"

Zhulong's gaze swept over the lanterns, his heterochromatic black and white eyes reflecting the flickering red light, and his cool voice remained calm and undisturbed: "This festival has been held before."

"Correct."

Fang Qingyu's smile remained unchanged.

"You probably haven't celebrated Chinese New Year in a long time, so this is a good opportunity to really enjoy the festive atmosphere."

Upon hearing this, Zhulong shifted his gaze from the lantern to Fang Qingyu's face, nodded very slightly, and uttered a single word: "Good."

Fang Qingyu was already used to her extremely concise response.

Not minding, he gestured for them to proceed: "Let's go, into the city."

After nearly two months of living and working together, Fang Qingyu had gained a fairly good understanding of the ancient deity's temperament.

Her desire threshold is extremely low.

They maintain an indifference towards the vast majority of things in the world.

But she is not without preferences; she shows an almost childlike curiosity towards certain everyday things, especially delicate sweets.

More importantly, she was extremely emotionally stable.

As long as you don't provoke or offend her, she will never easily get angry or show her power because of anything external.

It can be described as divine and Buddhist.

This made Fang Qingyu less hesitant and timid when he was with her.

They maintained a relationship that was somewhere between friends and special collaborators.

A relatively relaxed sense of distance.

The two easily passed through the city gate and entered the city.

The atmosphere in Dawn City at this moment is much better than in other cities.

Because they knew that Dawn City was far safer than the cities outside.

Therefore, they don't need to be anxious about anything.

As a result, the festive atmosphere is even more pure and enthusiastic.

Shops lining both sides of the street were decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and festive paper-cut window decorations and the character "福" (fortune) were pasted on their glass windows.

Children playing in the streets can be seen everywhere.

Fang Qingyu led the Candle Dragon through the streets.

They walked briskly towards the city lord's mansion in the city center.

The door slid open silently, and well-trained staff immediately came to greet us.

Fang Qingyu asked directly, "Have they emerged from seclusion?"

The staff member replied respectfully, "No, everyone's departure time is scheduled for tomorrow."

Upon hearing this, Fang Qingyu's eyes flashed with understanding and relief.

It seems that these guys were really provoked by my last words when I was gone for two months.

They were sprinting with all their might.

He nodded: "I understand, no need to disturb them."

He casually handed the long box containing the mysterious rusty knife that he had been carrying to the staff member.

"Put this in my study and keep it safe."

The staff member accepted the heavy box with both hands and solemnly accepted the order.

Fang Qingyu then turned to look at Zhulong, who was waiting quietly beside him, and smiled gently: "They are all in the critical stage of their seclusion and won't be out until tomorrow. How about we go pick up Xiao Jiang first?"

Zhulong heard Xiao Jiang's voice.

A very subtle ripple flickered across those calm, still eyes.

Without any hesitation, she nodded slightly: "Okay."

"Okay, let's go then."

Fang Qingyu didn't delay either.

The two figures instantly transformed into two streaks of light, soaring into the sky from the city lord's mansion.

It sped off toward the vast and cold depths of the southern ocean.

City of injustice.

The once lawless land has been transformed after integrating into the federal system and undergoing a series of reforms that combine both iron-fisted and appeasement approaches.

The landscape has undergone tremendous changes.

The streets still retain a rugged industrial style.

But it has become much cleaner and more orderly.

Instead, members wearing clothing bearing the insignia of different gangs appeared.

Although their eyes still held a sense of wariness and territorial distance.

But most of them run bars, fighting arenas, and other businesses in their own territories.

The number of gangs fighting each other over petty gains in the city has decreased significantly.

the reason is simple.

The City of Dawn stands like a lighthouse on the icy plains, opening a door to a vast world for this isolated city deep in the sea.

The Federation tacitly approved the icy wilderness beyond the Wall as a lawless zone for the expansion of the City of Injustice.

With a wider world and the ability to conduct limited trade with the Federation through Dawn City and to accept missions, who would want to fight to the death in such a small place?

Let's unite, integrate resources, seek space from the ice fields, exchange resources with the Federation, and grow stronger.

This is the kind of business that these tyrants in the City of Injustice are now more interested in.

The authority of the City Lord's Mansion is underpinned by the Federation's covert support and this profit-driven approach.

It has been consolidated like never before.

At this moment, on the top floor of the city lord's mansion, in a tea room with an excellent view.

Da Lei stood with his hands behind his back in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling viewing window.

His face was expressionless, and his gaze calmly surveyed the orderly city streets below.

Yan Lin, dressed in a neat dark purple combat uniform, stood a step to his side and slightly behind.

He was giving a report in a clear and concise manner:

"This month, the number of security incidents within the city decreased by 72% year-on-year, with zero serious crimes. The number of new Abyss Treasure Hunters registered with the Bauhinia Society increased by 15% month-on-month. The value of Icefield specialties transported to Dawn City for material processing and exchange through our channels increased by 20% compared to last month. In addition, regarding the plan to establish a joint outpost in the third buffer zone of the Great Wall, the Federal Military has given preliminary approval and hopes we will provide it."

Yan Lin's report was well-organized and logical.

This demonstrates the remarkable effectiveness of the Bauhinia Society in assisting the City Lord's Mansion in managing the city after its reconstruction under her leadership.

Da Lei listened quietly, his gaze still fixed on the view outside the window.

However, just as Yan Lin was reporting the recommended list of soldiers stationed at the outpost...

Da Lei's gaze sharpened slightly.

In the corner of his eye
There was another presence inside the tea room.

Right next to the main tea table where he usually sat, in that large, comfortable chair with a backrest.

Suddenly, a person was sitting there leisurely.

The man looked to be about seventeen or eighteen years old.

His face was almost perfectly handsome, and his skin was fair.

She wore a seemingly ordinary yet exceptionally fine moon-white long robe, her black hair was tied up with a simple wooden hairpin, and a few strands of hair fell casually down her forehead.

He leaned back lazily in his chair, one hand supporting his chin, a knowing smile playing on his lips.

He was looking around at the layout of the tea room.

Especially the ancient star map rubbing hanging on the wall, with clear eyes, is harmless to humans and animals.

However, Da Lei's muscles tensed up to their limit in an instant.

Yan Lin continued to read the list attentively.

He was completely unaware that there was someone behind him.

Da Lei abruptly raised his hand, interrupting Yan Lin's report, his voice still calm: "Thank you for your hard work, the report was very good. You can go now."

Yan Lin was taken aback, looked up, and had a hint of doubt in her eyes.

Before he could speak.

Da Lei suddenly raised his hand and waved.

Before Yan Lin could speak, she disappeared from the spot.

Inside the tea room, only Da Lei and the mysterious young man remained.

Da Lei slowly turned around and walked towards the tea table.

Facing Da Lei, the boy showed no fear whatsoever, but instead smiled and said, "This place is really hard to find."

Da Lei ignored him upon hearing this.

However, the young man didn't care and immediately asked, "By the way, which generation of Da Hong are you? Your cultivation is not bad, you have barely reached the Ancestral Spirit level."

Da Lei ignored him as if he didn't exist, and went straight to the guest seat opposite the boy.

Looking at the young man, he said softly, "No one above the third level is allowed to enter here."

The boy waved his hand dismissively.

"I know, I know, don't worry, just hand over Nannan and I'll leave right away."

Da Lei listened without saying a word.
He simply reached out and picked up the simple and unadorned purple clay teapot with a handle on the tea table.

Then I took a clean teacup.

He began to slowly pour clear, hot tea into the cup.

The cup was quickly filled with tea, the clear tea liquor almost level with the rim.

However, Da Lei's hand remained steady, the spout still hovering above the cup's rim, and tea continued to pour into the cup, overflowing the rim and flowing down the sides.

A small puddle quickly formed on the smooth surface of the tea table.

He seemed not to see it and continued to fall.

The young man watched the tea continuously overflowing and flowing, his handsome face still bearing the same smile.

Then suddenly, two slender, fair fingers extended and casually pinched the air beside them.

He then withdrew his finger, his smile remaining harmless, and his clear voice rang out: "Keep falling. I want to see how many people in this city I can kill."

Da Lei finally stopped pouring tea.

The spout of the purple clay teapot hovered above the rim of the cup as the last drop of tea fell.

A barely perceptible ripple was stirred in the overflowing glass.

Da Lei slowly raised his head and looked directly at the boy opposite him for the first time.

His expression was more solemn and serious than ever before.

He put down the teapot, letting the water stains spread on the tea table, and asked in a deep voice:
"Lady Nüba, you've practically watched me grow up."

He stared into the boy's clear yet unfathomable eyes, speaking slowly and deliberately:
"Are you really going to kill them all?"

The boy's smile faltered slightly, then he waved his hand.

As if she had heard the funniest joke, her tone was exaggeratedly aggrieved: "No, no, no, you mustn't talk nonsense! Making false accusations will bring retribution!"

He leaned forward slightly, getting closer.

Replace your face with sincerity:

"How could I possibly want to kill Nannan? I love her too much."

He pointed to his heart.

"I want to help her move that treasure that could kill her, understand?! Otherwise, she'll be living in constant fear, wouldn't that be exhausting? I'm doing this for her own good."

His words were sincere and his eyes were incredibly earnest.

Da Lei listened to these utterly hypocritical and distorted statements.

A sarcastic smile slowly curved his lips, and a contemptuous sneer escaped from between his teeth:

"Transferring treasures?"

He looked directly into the boy's sincere eyes, his voice resolute:
"What's the difference between that and killing her?"

The sincerity on the boy's face faded like the tide.

Instead, there was a kind of impatience stemming from being disobeyed.

He furrowed his handsome brows, leaned back in his chair, and his tone became cold and firm:
"That's enough. My patience is running out."

He waved his hand casually:

"You know you can't stop me."

"Hand over the girl, and that's it. Hurry up."

The tone was commanding, leaving no room for negotiation.

However, the instant his words fell...
hum!
The boy's impatient expression suddenly froze.

He turned his head sharply, his gaze shooting like lightning towards the space behind Da Lei.

The air there was like water with a pebble thrown in, silently rippling out in circles of transparent waves.

The two figures quickly solidified from their illusory appearance.

Fang Qingyu's gaze passed over Da Lei.

It landed directly on the handsome, almost otherworldly young man opposite the tea table.

His face showed no fear or anger, only a profound and serene calm.

Fang Qingyu looked into the boy's astonished eyes and asked softly:

What if we say no?

(End of this chapter)