Then let them offer their loyalty!

This structure was built during King Kang's large-scale expedition to prevent evil gods from attacking the city. It has been out of use for ten years.

The significance of reopening the service now is self-evident.

This series of actions, both precise and powerful, unequivocally demonstrated the determination of Shelter 6 to carry out its "scorched earth" plan.

The "Total Destruction" plan was created when the Third Sanctuary was established in response to a large-scale attack by an evil god. The plan is very simple and direct: mutual destruction.

The shelters had nuclear weapons pre-positioned in central and key cities.

If the evil god descends as a projection, then play dead; but if it dares to descend in its true form, then detonate a nuclear bomb and perish together with it.

This life-for-life tactic immediately intimidated the invading evil god, buying time for the Third Sanctuary and humanity to develop.

Later, this "tactic" was inherited and further developed by Kou Xuan.

When King Kang was defeated and was being pursued by the Yaksha, he was retreating in defeat.

Kou Xuan had planted a nuclear bomb beforehand, then lured the Yaksha into the trap, and finally detonated the bomb, blasting the newly-advanced level 6 Yaksha into the sky.

If it weren't for the powerful treasure protecting Yaksha, she probably wouldn't have survived the nuclear explosion, given her strength as a sixth-tier evil god. (Chapters 510, 534, 538)

Even so, she was still seriously injured for many years and almost did not recover.

Therefore, Kou Xuan was quite adept at handling nuclear weapons. After all, intrigue, scheming, and manipulating people's minds were his specialties.

This time, he went even further.

Nuclear weapons have been transported out, and various cities have been placed under semi-martial law. Military mobilization has also increased significantly.

But... nobody knows where he took the nuclear bomb.

Given the known nuclear arsenal of Shelter 6, it's certainly impossible to have one in every city.

But... nobody knows exactly which city the nuclear bomb is located in.

It could be in the central city, in Wangbei City, or in some other city like Hanshan City, Longchuan City, or Pei City.

This "Schrödinger" nuclear bomb completely stumped the "jackal" that had returned.

He wanted to go back to Wangbei City and shout a few more times, but he also felt that Wangbei City must have been planted with nuclear weapons.

He doesn't have the background or connections of Yaksha; if he were hit by a nuclear bomb, he'd be finished.

He wanted to go to other cities, but he also felt that... Kou Xuan must have calculated that he wouldn't dare to go to Wangbei City, so he probably didn't plant nuclear bombs there.

Thinking of this, "Jackal" felt that... Kou Xuan might have guessed that Wangbei City didn't have nuclear weapons, so he still placed nuclear weapons in Wangbei City.

For a time, he was completely trapped in this logical paradox. It seemed that no matter how he explained it, no matter what level he stopped at, it could be explained...

Meanwhile, in the study of the Kou family's old residence, at the central location of the 6th shelter.

Kou Yu was chatting with Kou Xuan when he asked, "So, brother, which cities did you actually place nuclear bombs in?"

Hearing Kou Yu's words, Kou Xuan casually reviewed the government affairs while saying without looking up, "Nuclear bombs are so dangerous, I haven't deployed them in any city."

Hearing Kou Xuan's words, Kou Yu was stunned. He looked at Kou Xuan in shock and asked, "They didn't release any? Then...then...what if the 'Jackals' really attack the city?"

Kou Xuan looked up at him, then casually asked, "Let me ask you a question."

“If you weren’t from the Kou family, you would just be an ordinary agent in a planned area. You would have an upper-middle social status and a fairly comfortable life. You don’t have any catastrophic talent, nor do you have much ambition.”

"At this time, anti-government forces attack a certain area, and you receive reports from the people. What would you do?"

Hearing his brother's words, Kou Yu was taken aback for a moment, and then he involuntarily said, "I should probably head straight there, right?"

Upon hearing this, Kou Xuan shook his head indifferently, "No."

"Most agents would only report to their department leaders, who would then issue orders to gather agents and wait until their numbers were two to three times that of the enemy before going to attack the area."

"Why?" Kou Yu couldn't help but ask, "If that's the case, the enemy would probably have already escaped."

Kou Xuan glanced at his younger brother indifferently, then said, "What does it have to do with you if he escapes?"

"The attacks by anti-government forces were beyond your scope of responsibility. It was a favor if you helped, and it was your right not to."

"The shelter doesn't belong to you, and the city doesn't belong to you. You're just an ordinary agent."

"But you are your wife's husband, your child's father, and your parents' child."

"Besides, you have neither ambition nor talent to begin with. So, isn't it better to avoid putting yourself in danger?"

"As for the subsequent arrests, the military and security department will take care of that. You just need to handle the aftermath and ensure the daily security of the area."

"What business is it of a lowly detective like you if it's other matters?"

Upon hearing this, Kou Yu paused for a moment, as if he vaguely sensed that his brother was hinting at something.

Sure enough, Kou Xuan gave Kou Yu a deep look before speaking, "That's the mentality of a 'jackal'."

"He was a self-taught evil god, with mediocre talent and background, and no ambition to climb the ranks. The 'Hidden Mist Society' was simply a backer for him, a job that guaranteed his safety."

Why would he put himself in danger for this?

"So... I don't need to actually transport the nuclear bomb. Just making a show of it will make him give up the attack."

"In a way, this is actually just us putting on a show for the 'Nine-Headed Lion.'"

After hearing Kou Xuan's words, Kou Yu's face immediately showed a knowing expression.

As expected... In the following days, although the "jackal" occasionally projected itself in several cities, roaring and searching for Qiu Tu, it never dared to cross the line and never appeared in its true form.

And just like that, five days passed in the blink of an eye.

On the morning of the sixth day of Qiu Tu's seclusion, a golden light suddenly shot out from Zhao Ji's underground palace, piercing through the thick layers and soaring straight into the sky!

The next second, a multicolored glow appeared in the sky. This glow wasn't as warm as sunlight; instead, it carried an indescribable solemnity and magnificence...

---------

Sorry, I only have one chapter left today, it's too late to write any more. I feel like I'm getting more and more exhausted... I'm just too tired.

And I feel like I'm really going to burn out if I keep going like this... I might really need to adjust my update schedule. Maybe I'll try starting with 7000 words a day, and then periodically increasing to 1 words. I'll see how it goes. TT

I'm so sorry, everyone...

Chapter 588 Advancement to Rank 6! (7k views, please vote!)

As the rosy light appeared, the vast land of the entire "Dongye Region" trembled slightly!

The tremor spread gradually from afar, bringing new life to the desert, wilderness, and forest!

The already turbulent river became even clearer, the already vibrant trees became even more lush, and the already energetic mosquitoes became even more lively.

But that's not all. As the entire region changed, the high concentration of cataclysmic power accumulated in the "Eastern City Region" began to spread rapidly to other areas controlled by Qiu Tu.

Actually, even before today, the high concentration of catastrophic power in the "Eastern City Area" had already begun to gradually affect other areas. However... the speed was incredibly slow, almost like a snail's pace.

But this time it was completely different.

With the power of advancing to the 6th rank, the dense cataclysmic power of the "Eastern City Region" began to spread rapidly to the other 8 regions.

In just a few breaths, Qiu Tu completely connected the nine areas under his control into a single entity!

Immediately following, as the nine areas were connected, a huge and deep crack suddenly appeared in the sky above the "East City Area"!

The next second, a torrent of cataclysmic power surged out of the crack like a flood!

The torrent, like a waterfall hanging upside down from the sky, poured down with overwhelming force, instantly enveloping Qiu Tu's body completely!

As the massive cataclysmic power converged, Qiu Tu, with his eyes tightly closed, felt as if some kind of mysterious change was taking place in his body!

He felt as if his soul was undergoing a sublimation, a qualitative change. If his original soul was formless and intangible, then now it began to shine brightly, like crystal!

As his soul ascended, Qiu Tu felt, in the darkness, that he had formed a connection with the "origin of the world".

He felt as if his soul had left its own unique mark and aura in the "origin of the world".

Immediately afterwards, the mark sank down and condensed with the massive torrent of catastrophic power, slowly forming a small square seal the size of a thumb in front of Qiu Tu.

As Qiu Tu sensed the condensation of the seal, a sense of enlightenment arose within him.

'This is... the bestowal of divine mandate?'

'From now on... I'll be a god of this world, or rather... an "official"?'

As Qiu Tu thought, the massive amount of cataclysmic power poured into Qiu Tu's crystal-like soul, body, and the small seal in his hand.

Qiu Tu's aura connected with the small seal, and then began to rise steadily!

Early stage of Tier 6! Mid stage of Tier 6! Late stage of Tier 6! Peak stage of Tier 6!

Only when Qiu Tu's aura reached its peak, his soul began to shine brightly, and the small seal in his hand emitted a dazzling light, did the cracks in the sky slowly close, and the massive cataclysmic power gradually cease.

As the torrent of catastrophic power disappeared, Qiu Tu, who had just experienced a rapid increase in strength, couldn't help but feel a little lost.

After all, the feeling of rapidly increasing strength is simply wonderful.

It was even more delightful than when Qiu Tu fed his two lychees to Princess Xi.

However, Qiu Tu also knew that he would experience the wonderful feeling of rapid power expansion again in the future. This was because it was a "new privilege" possessed by those who became Tier 6 Cataclysmic Beings.

Thinking this, Qiu Tu, who was sitting cross-legged, couldn't help but go through the changes he had undergone after advancing to the 6th rank and all the "privileges" he had gained.

First of all, after advancing to the 6th rank, the most important thing is "bestowing the Heavenly Seal"!

After receiving the "Heavenly Conferment of Titles," Qiu Tu officially became an "official" recognized by the "Origin of the World," thus becoming the "ruling class" that replaced the "Origin of the World" in ruling the world.

And the area he rules over is, of course, his current nine "Boundless Heart Sea Regions".

That condensed mark is proof of the power bestowed upon Qiu Tu by the origin of the world.

It can be said that in these nine regions, Qiu Tu is the will of the world, he is the heaven. His every word and action represents the will of the "origin of the world".

Secondly, being in these nine areas greatly enhances Qiu Tu's strength. For example, the "peak 6th tier" he mentioned earlier represents his enhanced strength.

According to the information Qiu Tu obtained from the "Origin of the World":

A Tier 6 Cataclysm will directly reach the upper limit of their corresponding realm in the area under their jurisdiction.

In other words, Qiu Tu is at the 6th rank, so as long as he is in one of the nine regions, he can directly unleash the peak strength of the 6th rank.

Qiu Tu is at the 7th rank, so he can unleash the peak strength of the 7th rank within his 9 major regions.

Qiu Tu is at the 8th rank, so he can directly unleash the peak strength of the 8th rank in the 9 major regions!

Of course, to achieve such a powerful increase, the "regional level" must also keep up.

Fortunately, with all nine regions now upgraded to "Tier 9 Regions", Qiu Tu doesn't need to worry about "Regional Level" until he upgrades to Tier 8.

However, this boost is not exclusive to Qiu Tu; all Tier 6 Cataclysmics receive this bonus.

This is also why Qiu Tu felt a bit scared after advancing to the 6th rank: it was because "Yaksha" and "Beauty Wind" had been too arrogant. They came to the 8th Sanctuary alone, intending to deal with Qiu Tu and Zhao Ji.

If they hadn't been so overconfident and had chosen to lure Qiu Tu and Zhao Ji to the disaster zone surrounding the 7th Sanctuary, allowing Meiren Feng to unleash her peak 6th-tier strength directly...

Qiu Tu thought that even Zhao Ji wouldn't win so easily... right?

In addition to the surge in strength, the soul of the 6th-tier Cataclysm has already left its mark on the origin of the world.

Therefore, once a Cataclysm of Tier 6 or higher falls, the non-Tier 6 beings that caused its fall will be "hated" by the world's origin and then suffer a series of negative buffs.

The strength of a negative buff depends on the Cataclysm's rank, power, and the size of the controlled area.

After learning this information, Qiu Tu felt a wave of fear wash over him.

Fortunately, only Zehime was involved in the rampage against Yasha and Muya. He just stood by and grumbled. Otherwise, he might have been directly marked by the "Origin of the World" and wouldn't have recovered for many days.

In addition to privileges such as "Heavenly Conferment of Ordination", "Peak of Realm", and "Curse of Fall", after advancing to the 6th rank, the 6th rank Cataclysmic Individuals also possess special talents such as "Faith Absorption", "Blessing of Believers", and "Descent of Gods".

"Faith Absorption" allows Tier 6 Cataclysmic Beings to not only absorb Cataclysmic Power to improve themselves, but also to convert the "thoughts" of other beings toward them into pure Cataclysmic Power for absorption, thus accelerating their strength increase.

"Blessing of the Believer" allows a Tier 6 Cataclysmic Being to choose another being to become its "Divine Messenger," granting them power or allowing them to borrow its power.

"Divine descent" refers to the methods used by the evil gods before. They can summon, project, possess, or create clones to descend upon a certain area.

This method of descent allows for communication with believers over long distances, projection of consciousness onto a specific area at medium distance, and the ability to allocate a portion of one's power to create an avatar for multitasking; it is incredibly convenient.

In general, only after advancing to the 6th rank can ordinary catastrophic beings truly step into the realm of gods.

This also made Qiu Tu realize that the so-called "evil gods" that the 8th Shelter had previously referred to were not actually evil gods.

They were merely ordinary catastrophic beings who possessed a trace of divine bloodline or were exceptionally gifted, having acquired one or two tier-6 special talents ahead of time.

'The difference between the sixth and fifth orders is truly earth-shattering.'

Thinking this through, Qiu Tu, having analyzed the changes in the sixth-order Cataclysm, silently sighed in his heart before slowly opening his eyes.