228: Chapter 228: Harvest and Return

Black mechanical tentacles slowly extended from the fissure, three sharp claws spreading open as if probing. Shen Xiaochuan remained motionless, the tip of his blade still pointed at the crack, his feet planted on the edge of the scorched earth, his breathing so light it was almost inaudible.

He stared fixedly at that tentacle, not even blinking.

"If you don't come out, I'll blow this place sky-high." His voice was hoarse, yet carried an undeniable firmness.

The ground trembled slightly. That heartbeat-like vibration abruptly paused for two seconds, then resumed—thump, thump, thump.

The tentacle slowly rose, pointing directly at him.

It wasn't an attack, nor was it a defense.

It seemed more like... a response.

Shen Xiaochuan gave a cold laugh, sheathed his blade, and without another glance at the thing, turned and walked towards the center of the battlefield.

"Fall in." He called out, his voice not loud, but carried far by the wind.

Zhang Xiaohu emerged from behind a broken wall, leaning on his warhammer. His face was smeared with blood and ash, the left leg of his trousers torn, revealing scraped flesh. He limped over, panting heavily. "Boss, are we really ignoring the thing down there?"

"Can't deal with it." Shen Xiaochuan wiped his face. "Now's not the time. The mission is to clear the area, collect the bodies, and retreat. Anything else, we'll discuss back in the city."

Zhang Xiaohu grinned. "You're the boss. Anyway, we hit the jackpot this time."

Shen Xiaochuan didn't smile. He looked down at his right hand; his fingers were stiff, the bandage on his right arm already seeping blood. With each step, his ribs throbbed with pain, as if someone was sawing inside him. But he stood ramrod straight.

He pressed the comms button. "All units, attention. Assault Group, split into three teams. There are still mutated beasts in the eastern cavern. Zhang Xiaohu leads the main assault—breach, clear the nest, collect bodies. Evil God Guards remain in the formation area, protect the wounded. All other personnel, follow me to the area where the leader fell. Search for usable Materials."

"Roger!"

"Understood!"

Responses came in one after another over the channel.

Zhang Xiaohu patted his shoulder. "With those injuries, don't push yourself. Leave it to me."

"I'm still standing." Shen Xiaochuan shook his head. "Command is still my job."

Zhang Xiaohu said no more. He hefted his warhammer and headed east. His steps were somewhat unsteady, but his back was straight.

Shen Xiaochuan walked to the Earth Owl's corpse with two logistics team members. The massive head lay in a pool of blood, its fangs blackened. He crouched, pried open its mouth with a dagger, and examined the teeth—significant wear at the roots indicated the creature had lived a long time. He then inspected the wound on its neck, confirming the great desolation blade had severed the primary nerves.

"Photograph and document." He said to the person behind him.

The team member raised a device. A few clicks later, the images were stored in the System.

Next, he approached the fissure. The tentacle from earlier had retracted. The edge of the crack gleamed with a metallic sheen. He took out a detector; the screen lit up and immediately displayed an error message—signal interference too strong.

"Note this down." He carved words onto a metal plate he carried. "Three locations of metal fragments discovered. Surface bears patterns, suspected to be artificially placed. Do not excavate, do not touch. File for record only."

The team member nodded and recorded it.

He circled to the other side and found half of a stone stele base amidst a pile of rubble. It bore faint, ancient symbols, different and more primitive than any he had seen before. He reached out and lightly touched it; the stone was cold and rough.

"Photograph this too." He said. "Take it back to the city and hand it over to the research team. Strictly prohibit private viewing."

After finishing here, he returned to the main battlefield. In less than half an hour, reports came in from the various teams.

"Eastern cavern cleared. Twelve mutated beast corpses recovered, all intact."

"Seventeen crates of small Materials collected from the formation area, already loaded onto vehicles."

"Two energy crystals discovered in the leader's area, suspected to be internal cores. Currently being sealed."

Shen Xiaochuan stood listening to the reports while checking data on his terminal. faith points were steadily increasing, +3 per second. But he didn't open the mall—now was not the time for transactions.

He looked up at the sky. Clouds were thickening, the wind growing stronger.

"Night is falling." He murmured. "We must leave before the nocturnal species awaken."

He gave the order to assemble.

The transport convoy was already waiting at the mouth of the valley: eight modified armored vehicles with open cargo bays. Soldiers carried stretchers onto the medical vehicle, placed bodies into sealed containers, and numbered and sealed the resource crates.

Shen Xiaochuan personally inspected every vehicle. He climbed onto the roof of the lead vehicle and watched as the last Earth Owl corpse was pushed into the refrigerated compartment. The hatch locked shut with a 'clack'.

"All accounted for." He said to Zhang Xiaohu who walked over. "Fifty perfect grade mutated beast corpses, all here."

Zhang Xiaohu grinned. "We can trade for some good stuff now, right?"

Shen Xiaochuan didn't answer, only said, "Move out."

The convoy started up. Treads crushed over scorched earth and rubble as they slowly departed the battlefield. Before leaving, he glanced back at that fissure.

Black smoke still rose. A red light flashed on and off within, like an eye underground silently watching them leave.

He turned around, jumped onto the step beside the driver's seat, grabbed the handrail, and entered the cabin.

The journey back was not smooth.

Just five kilometers out of the valley, an Assault Group soldier suddenly convulsed, his face turning ashen, his breathing rapid. The doctor examined him and shook his head. "Toxin is acting up. Must be treated immediately, or he won't last the night."

"Prepare a stretcher." Shen Xiaochuan ordered immediately. "Stop the nearest vehicle."

They stopped on a wind-sheltered slope. Zhang Xiaohu swung his warhammer, smashed open a derelict armored vehicle, and dismantled steel plates and supports. Within minutes, he assembled a makeshift sled. The injured soldier was securely strapped on, and two men took turns dragging it.

"I'll carry the supplies." Shen Xiaochuan took off his backpack and shouldered the heaviest equipment case. His right arm screamed in pain, but his movements didn't slow.

"Take it easy." Zhang Xiaohu frowned.

"I'm fine." He said. "I can walk."

The convoy continued. The road conditions worsened. A steep slope had collapsed due to an earthquake, leaving only half the roadbed. The transport vehicle lacked the power and got stuck halfway up.

"Push!" Shen Xiaochuan jumped down and stood at the rear of the vehicle. "Team One pull from the front! Team Two push from the back! Rotate!"

Zhang Xiaohu was the first to rush forward. He braced his hands against the vehicle's hull, muscles bulging, and roared, "One, two, three—push!"

With everyone's combined effort, the wheels slowly turned, and they finally crested the slope.

Before they could catch their breath, dust clouds rose in the distance—a sandstorm was rapidly approaching.

"Light the torches!" Shen Xiaochuan pulled out a flare and fired it into the air.

Red flame exploded in the dusky yellow sky.

He stood at the front of the column, one hand holding a torch aloft, the other resting on the great desolation blade. He shouted loudly, "Maintain distance! Pairs of two! Follow the light! Don't fall behind!"

Wind and sand lashed their faces, stinging like knife cuts.

The line trudged forward through the dust storm. Someone fell; the person beside them immediately helped them up. No one spoke, only the sound of footsteps and heavy panting intertwined.

Three hours later, the sandstorm finally passed.

The outline ahead gradually became clear—the outer defensive wall of Skydome City.

Sentinels on the wall spotted them first.

"It's Captain Shen's team! They're back!" Someone shouted.

An alarm sounded—not for an enemy attack, but a signal of triumphant return.

The city gates slowly opened. Residents poured in from all directions. News spread rapidly: "Decapitation successful! Valley cleared! They brought back fifty perfect grade mutated beast corpses!"

Cheers erupted one after another.

Shen Xiaochuan walked at the front. His work clothes were in tatters, the copper gear pendant smeared with blood, his face covered in ash and dried bloodstains. His steps were slightly unsteady, but his back was straight.

Zhang Xiaohu walked to his right, bandages wrapped around his body, his warhammer in hand.

"Look!" Someone pointed at the transport vehicles and shouted. "All corpses! A whole truckload!"

"I heard the Earth Owl was beheaded!"

"God Shen is too fierce! Took down the leader solo!"

The crowd grew excited, pressing forward, trying to get a clear look at the mutated beast corpses. A few young people reached out to touch the refrigerated compartment doors.

"Step back!" Zhang Xiaohu stepped forward, spreading his arms to block them. "Materials not sterilized! May carry pathogens! Ten meters back!"

The people paused, then stepped back.

Shen Xiaochuan contacted the city defense officer. "Activate the purification barrier. Channel A."

In less than a minute, a pale blue light shield rose, enveloping the convoy. A humming sound began as scanning and disinfection commenced.

"Medical Team, take the injured." Shen Xiaochuan pointed at the stretchers. "Priority treatment."

Medical personnel came forward and took the wounded away.

Only then did he raise his head and look at the people on the city wall.

Men and women, old and young, all looking at him. Some waved, some had tears in their eyes, children riding on their fathers' shoulders waving frantically.

He was silent for a moment, then raised his hand and gave a light wave.

The entire area erupted in shouts.

"God Shen!"

"Victorious return!"

"Huaxia will prevail!"

Wave after wave of sound.

He stood on the vehicle roof. The wind tousled his hair, his work clothes flapping loudly. He didn't utter a word, simply waved again, then jumped down from the vehicle and headed towards his personal divine domain.

Zhang Xiaohu called out to him. "Aren't you going to say something? Everyone's waiting."

"Say what?" He glanced back at the crowd. "I already said it—the leader is dead, the valley is cleared."

With that, he continued on.

Behind him were cheers, applause, and the constant flashing of cameras.

Only when he entered the entrance to his divine domain did his steps gradually slow.

The room was quiet. A glass of water sat on the table. The mirror reflected his weary face. He unwrapped the bandage; the wound on his right arm had reopened, flesh torn and edges turning purple. His ribs hurt at the slightest touch; they were probably truly broken.

He took a vial of repair fluid from the cabinet, gritted his teeth, and injected himself. The moment the liquid entered his bloodstream, his entire body jolted as if electrocuted.

He leaned against the wall, eyes closed, recovering for a long time.

Outside, the clamor continued.

He knew that place had problems, and he was clear that the existence beneath the fissure was no natural product. But none of that mattered now.

The mission was completed.

The Materials were brought back.

He survived.

That was enough.

He opened his eyes, walked to the table, picked up the terminal, and opened the resource list.

Fifty perfect grade mutated beast corpses, all registered.

Tomorrow they could be sent to the Forging Workshop.

He put down the terminal, took off his work clothes, revealing a body covered in scars. He removed the copper gear pendant and gently placed it on the table.

Outside the window, fireworks rose into the sky.

The city was still celebrating.

He sat on the edge of the bed, silent, his fingers lightly tracing the old scar on his right arm.

In the distance, a bell tolled, striking seven times.

He didn't move.

In the room, there was only the sound of breathing, steady and heavy.

He looked down at his own hands.

These hands had just severed the head of a ten-meter-tall monster.

Now, they were trembling slightly.