399: Countdown to teleportation for all! Five demon gods as bodyguards?

The sky outside was somewhat eerie; it didn't look like dawn, but rather the leaden gray that precedes a torrential storm.

The clouds hung low, and from time to time, blinding arcs of electricity flashed, casting a ghastly white light on the floor-to-ceiling windows of Cloud Top Villa.

Inside the villa's living room, the atmosphere was completely different from the oppression outside.

Su Mo had just finished showing off his Emperor Set and was lounging lazily on the sofa, toying with a crystal-clear grape that Luo Xiaorou had peeled and brought to his lips.

"Boss, there is an urgent communication request from the Dragon Shield Bureau."

Lin Wan walked over in a hurry, holding the black communicator, her high heels clicking rapidly against the floor. "Director Qin called personally, saying that… the time has come."

Su Mo opened his mouth to catch the grape and said indistinctly, "Put it through."

A holographic projection unfolded above the coffee table.

Qin Tian's deeply lined, aged face appeared on the screen, with the background showing a command center that was busy to the point of madness.

Countless uniformed personnel were running about, and a bright red countdown flickered on the giant screen.

[Time remaining until the 12th round of "All-People Survival" begins: 00:58:32]

Less than an hour left.

"Su Mo." Qin Tian's voice was somewhat hoarse, clearly the result of pulling an all-nighter. "In one hour, those ordinary people without player qualifications will be forcibly pulled into the instance dungeon. The scale this time is too massive, over seven billion people… our official manpower is simply insufficient."

The old director paused, looked at Su Mo with complex eyes, and made a helpless request.

"Li Xuan and the people from the major clans have all been sent out, but as you know, we need to protect the foundation of the entire Xia Kingdom. The military, scientific researchers, and those sparks of the future… we need a stronger deterrent."

"And so?" Su Mo shifted into a more comfortable position, feigning ignorance.

"Lend us your people." Qin Tian gritted his teeth. "Lend us those overlord-level summoned creatures of yours. They don't need to kill monsters; they just need to hold the line! As long as they ensure our gathering points in the early stages of the instance dungeon aren't overrun by those high-level wild monsters, that's enough!"

Su Mo smiled. He tapped his fingers lightly against the leather sofa armrest.

Long Xiya, who was sitting nearby, couldn't sit still anymore. She quietly reached out and pinched the soft flesh on Su Mo's waist, her eyes filled with pleading.

Su Mo turned his hand to clasp that restless, slender hand, kneading it in his palm, while his gaze remained fixed on Qin Tian in the projection.

"Old man Qin, you know my appearance fee is very expensive."

The corner of Qin Tian's mouth twitched. "Aren't those few mythical materials from the Long family enough? Don't push your luck, kid! You're talking about money at a time like this?"

"Talking about money is so vulgar." Su Mo grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth. "What I want is… heads."

"Heads?" Qin Tian was stunned.

"I want the… ownership rights of all Xia Kingdom survivors in this instance dungeon."

A sharp glint flashed in Su Mo's eyes. "If they return alive, they are my people, Su Mo's people, and also… the fuel for my nine provinces cauldron."

"You want to monopolize the national destiny?!" Qin Tian was shocked. This kid's appetite was too big!

"Don't put it so harshly; this is called 'resource integration'." Su Mo shrugged. "You've seen it too; in the current world, only the strong can lead them to survive. Who else do you think can protect these over a billion people besides me?"

Qin Tian fell silent. He looked at the man on the other side of the screen—excessively young, yet already possessing the Emperor's divine status. That's right. Besides him, who else had this ability?

"Fine!" Qin Tian slammed the table hard. "As long as you can bring the people back, these billion-plus people… will follow your lead from now on! We will never interfere!"

"Deal." Su Mo snapped his fingers, and the projection closed. He stood up, walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, and looked at the gloomy sky outside.

"Little ones!" Su Mo transmitted his voice into the minds of every subordinate through the soul contract. "Stop sleeping, it's time to work."

"Hum—!" On the lawn outside the villa, five terrifying auras surged into the sky.

Dark Gold Bone Dragon Saphiron, Atomic Dinosaur Godzilla, Interstellar Hunter, Undead Archmage Antonidas… and that Abyssal Witch Elysia, who had just been tamed into submission. The five great overlords were gathered together.

Elysia, wearing that purple robe, floated outside the window and winked at Su Mo through the glass. "Master, are we going to kill people? I like that."

"Not to kill, but to act as bodyguards." Su Mo pushed open the window and pointed to the massive city silhouette in the distance. "Follow the official teams into the instance dungeon. Remember, your task is not slaughter, but 'herding'."

"Herding?" Elysia pouted. "How boring."

"For every ten million people you bring back, I will reward you… with one private 'deep interaction'." Su Mo smirked, casting the bait.

Elysia's eyes clearly flickered a few times, ripples flowing within her purple pupils. "Deal! This is what you said, don't you dare go back on your word!"

After saying this, she waved her staff, transforming into a streak of purple light, and sped off in the direction of the capital.

The other four big guys didn't understand what "deep interaction" meant, but they had received Su Mo's death order—protect the Xia Kingdom human race at all costs!

The national guardian artifact, the nine provinces cauldron, derived its power from national destiny—which meant population. If one person died, the light upon it would dim by a fraction; if one person survived, the light would brighten by a fraction.

If Su Mo wanted to walk sideways in this game filled with deathtraps, this cauldron was his greatest reliance.

Five streaks of light cut through the sky, like five retrograde meteors, rushing toward several of the largest population centers in the Xia Kingdom.

…Meanwhile. All communication devices on Blue Star, whether mobile phones, televisions, or advertising screens on the streets, were forcibly cut off at this moment. The screens went black, and then a bright red national emblem lit up.

The Dragon Shield Bureau's emergency broadcast began. On the screen, Li Xuan was in military uniform, his expression stern, with a giant map of the Xia Kingdom in the background.

"Fellow citizens, I am Li Xuan, Deputy Director of the Dragon Shield Bureau."

"Please keep the following words firmly in mind. This concerns the life and death of every one of you."

"Fifty minutes from now, the 'All-People Survival' instance dungeon of the Gaia System will officially open. All citizens who have not awakened player qualifications will be forcibly teleported."

"Please do not panic and do not run around. Stay at home or head to the nearest official shelter. Our military and Awakened are already assembling there."

"After entering the instance dungeon, remember these three points!" Li Xuan held up three fingers, his tone heavy.

"First, group up! You must group up! In the early stages of the instance dungeon, the number of monsters is massive; being alone means certain death! The authorities will establish safe zones immediately upon entry; please look for camps marked with the red flag!"

"Second, the first seven days are the beginner protection period. Monsters in the instance dungeon are divided into 'active attack' and 'passive attack' types. For those that look fierce but do not actively pounce on you, do not provoke them! Unless you are certain of a kill!"

"Third…" Li Xuan paused, his gaze becoming exceptionally sharp. "In the instance dungeon, you may obtain various strange abilities and equipment. Remember, that is your capital for survival! But it is also… the root of chaos."

"Do not trust any strange 'allies', even if they are of your own kind. In desperate situations, human nature is often more terrifying than monsters."

"Finally…" The screen cut, and the figure of Director Qin Tian appeared. The old director bowed deeply to the camera.

"The country will not abandon anyone. No matter where you are, as long as you see that splash of red… run toward it!"

"Even if there is only a sliver of hope, we will bring you home!"

Countless ordinary people in front of their televisions were moved to tears by these words. In the face of unknown fear, this promise from the country was the most solid stimulant.