51: We'll see you through to the end.

Shen Xiaochuan stood on the high platform of the main hall, his fingertips slowly tracing across the sand table. X-07 had just sent news: the energy levels of the four Divine Realms—South Vietnam, the UK, Kimchi Country, and Kangaroo Country—were continuously dropping, and cracks had appeared in their defensive barriers.

He immediately opened the communication channel.

“Chen Yan, take the Azure Dragon Legion and set out. Target: the main city of South Vietnam. You must take it within six hours.”

“Ling Feng, the White Tiger Legion is to immediately attack the UK's border fortress. Stand by on-site after destroying the energy core.”

The two responded almost simultaneously: “Received!”

He quickly pulled up two squad numbers and issued commands: “Group A, head to the eastern altar of Kimchi Country. Group B, blow up the western mining town of Kangaroo Country. Remember, strike only the vitals, leave no survivors, and take no prisoners.”

Less than ten minutes after the orders were sent, four streaks of fire soared into the sky from different directions of Skydome City—the signal for the sortie.

Shen Xiaochuan turned toward the command console and opened the global monitoring feed. The South Vietnam Divine Realm guards were changing shifts, their flags hanging crookedly on the watchtowers; the Kimchi Country altar was deserted, with only a few wild dogs gnawing on skeletal remains; the protection shield of the Kangaroo Country mining town was still charging, its progress stuck at seventy-three percent.

He stared at the screen without saying a word.

Twelve hours later, the first batch of battle reports arrived.

Chen Yan returned escorting the South Vietnam Main God, who was dressed in rags and covered in blood. The guards opened the iron gate of the dungeon and pushed him inside. Soon, Ling Feng also brought back the UK Main God, who had attempted to detonate their godhead for self-destruction but had their power sealed in advance.

The prisoners from Kimchi Country and Kangaroo Country were also all locked into the dungeon before midnight.

Shen Xiaochuan walked to the dungeon entrance, cast a single glance, and then turned to leave.

The Blue Star Channel was already boiling. Gods across the globe were fiercely debating this sudden raid. Some denounced him as a tyrant whose methods were too ruthless; others believed it was only right, as those four countries had long ago defected to NATO and repeatedly plundered Huaxia's Believers.

He did not bother browsing these comments.

Just as he returned to the main hall, his communicator rang again.

A woman appeared on the screen, her gaze cold and her tone firm: “I am Avril. You should have heard of my aunt’s name, right?”

Shen Xiaochuan sat down, placed his hands on the table, and looked at her calmly: “If you have something to say, say it.”

“Those four Main Gods are all my relatives.”

Avril lifted her head slightly. “As long as you release them, I can guarantee that NATO will not start a war. If you refuse to let them go, handing over three resource fields is also acceptable.”

Shen Xiaochuan shook his head: “When they were robbing our people, who came to negotiate terms? When they were insulting us, who came to talk sense?”

Avril’s expression changed abruptly: “Are you refusing?”

“It's not a refusal.”

His voice was low. “It's telling you that these people will not be released. They are war criminals and must stand trial.”

“Do you know the consequences of offending me?”

“I know.”

Shen Xiaochuan looked her straight in the eye. “But I am not afraid.”

Avril gritted her teeth: “You think you’ve won? Tomorrow at noon, Trump will lead a million-strong army to your borders. You won't last a day.”

Shen Xiaochuan stood up and cut the communication directly.

The screen went dark.

He walked out of the main hall and climbed the broadcast tower. The city-wide loudspeakers blared simultaneously, and the soldiers on the walls stopped their tasks one after another, looking up.

He picked up the microphone, and his voice spread clearly throughout the city.

“Everyone.”

He said, “South Vietnam, the UK, Kimchi Country, and Kangaroo Country have been annihilated. Their Main Gods are currently held in our dungeon.”

The crowd fell silent instantly.

“Someone asked me to bow my head.”

He continued, “Avril just came to me, demanding reparations and the release of prisoners. I said no.”

Low growls began to spread from below.

“If you want to talk, the door is open.”

He paused, his tone growing even colder.

“If you want to fight, I'll fight to the end.”

Having finished, he put down the microphone and walked down from the high platform.

There were no extra movements, and not a single redundant word.

Returning to the secret room, he opened the Faith Mall.

The page popped up, and his faith points showed: 682,415.

He entered the summoning category page and typed “Group Suppression” into the search bar.

The System listed several options: the first was the “Thunder Griffin Summoning Scroll,” which could summon flying units, but the duration was only five minutes;

The second was the “Lava Golem Summoning Scroll,” which had high defense but moved slowly, suitable for city defense;

The third was the “Shadow Peacock Summoning Scroll,” a rare exotic beast with mental interference, feather blade storm, and temporary blinding abilities, suitable for chaotic battles.

“Choose the third one.”

He clicked to exchange.

【Consumed faith points: 180,000】

【Exchange Successful】

The scroll appeared in his inventory.

He took it out and placed it on the table. The scroll was pitch black, with a purple glow at the edges and a slightly cool touch.

At that moment, the communicator rang again.

It was Trump.

He was wearing a suit, with a model of the ruins of Capitol Hill in the background, creating an oppressive atmosphere. His eyes were fierce and his voice icy: “Shen Xiaochuan, your actions today are a blatant act of aggression! On behalf of the thirty-seven nations of NATO, I officially declare war on you!”

Shen Xiaochuan stood still, his gaze like a blade: “I knew you would come.”

“Tomorrow at noon, a million-strong coalition army will be at your gates!”

Trump enunciated every word, “Your Skydome City will be reduced to rubble within three hours!”

“This is your last chance to surrender, otherwise you will bear the consequences!”

Shen Xiaochuan stared at him: “If you're done talking, then get lost.”

As soon as the words fell, he cut the signal.

He sat back in his chair, his eyes falling on the scroll on the table.

Footsteps came from outside the door.

Anna walked in: “The prisoners have all been properly settled, and the mental monitoring System has been activated. Chen Yan is leading his team for rest, and Ling Feng has already set up camp outside the city.”

“Good.”

Shen Xiaochuan nodded, “Notify the military industry group to speed up the production of electromagnetic pulse cannons. All Artisans get an extra meal tonight, double the standard.”

Anna noted the command and turned to leave.

He stood up, walked to the wall, and pressed a mechanism.

A hidden compartment opened, revealing a row of shelves.

He listed the remaining wind wolf meat, Black Rock Giant Bear skins, town expansion maps, and other items one by one on the Faith Mall, with prices settled in faith points.

Transaction requests flooded in instantly.

He processed them quickly, exchanging for two acceleration blueprints and a batch of alloy Materials, putting them all into the production line.

The building queue refreshed, and the construction speeds of houses, barracks, and the Blacksmith Shop were significantly increased.

He opened the skill book section again and found that the Heavenly Wrath Thunder Judgment was only thirty thousand points away from being exchangeable.

As for the 【Qin Shi Huang Ying Zheng Summoning Scroll】, it required nine hundred and ninety-nine thousand points, still far out of reach.

He closed the interface.

It was now late at night.

Skydome City remained brightly lit. The fires of the Artifact Refining furnaces were not extinguished, and the machinery of the munitions factory roared. Soldiers patrolling the walls walked with steady steps, and new recruits practiced their blade work on the training grounds.

The faith points grew slowly: 682,416 → 682,417 → 682,418... He stood at the table, holding the Shadow Peacock scroll, his fingertips gently stroking the edges.

Suddenly, the scroll vibrated slightly, and he frowned. Then, a second vibration was even more obvious, as if something inside was trying to break free.

He quickly pressed both ends of the scroll with his hands, trying to suppress it. However, the scroll flipped open a corner on its own, and a purple light shot out, reflecting on the wall.

A line of words quickly appeared on the wall: “Warning: This scroll has been marked. Using it will expose the Divine Kingdom coordinates.”

Shen Xiaochuan's gaze turned cold instantly.

He immediately closed the scroll and reapplied the Seal.

He then opened his communicator and entered an encrypted code.

Ten seconds later, X-07 responded.

“Abnormal data stream detected.”

“Source: South Alliance Technical Group.”

“Confirmed: The Shadow Peacock Summoning Scroll is a trap. Once activated, it will expose your location.”

Shen Xiaochuan stared at the screen.

“Is there an alternative?”

“The mall limit is one purchase; it cannot be purchased again.”

“Suggestion: Find a substitute with similar functions, or attempt to modify the scroll's program.”

He remained silent for three seconds.

He locked the scroll into a safe.

He turned and opened the Faith Mall once more.

In the search box, he typed: “Summoned beast scroll capable of cracking tracking programs.”