450: Chapter 385: Promoted to Brigadier General, in charge of the Guixu Investigation Division

The green grass of the New Universe rustled in the breeze.

Lin Zhou stood before the Light Gate, looking at the gap that had already shrunk to less than three meters high and one meter wide. The light within the gate remained bright, but the edges of the frame were so blurred they were almost invisible. After the anchor on the Old Universe side completely vanished, the Light Gate lost its support and was shrinking at a speed visible to the naked eye. In another day at most, it would close completely.

[Light Gate · Status]

Height: Three meters

Width: One meter

Stability: 15%

Estimated Complete Closure: Approximately twenty-four hours

“Captain, are you going back again?” Qin Qing walked to his side, her eyes filled with worry.

“I must go back,” Lin Zhou said. “The Human Race's evacuation needs coordination. I need to stay in the Old Universe to assist the High Command.”

“But the Light Gate is almost closed...”

“That's why I have to cross before it closes.” Lin Zhou turned and looked at her. “I'm leaving this side of the New Universe to you. Build the camp, expand the Light Gate, and prepare to welcome the arrival of the Human Race.”

Qin Qing was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.

“Alright. I'll wait for you to come back.”

Lin Zhou smiled.

“I will.”

He stepped into the Light Gate.

Inside the passage, light flowed backward, time twisted, and space folded. The Light Gate's stability was only 15%, and the passage was vibrating violently, threatening to collapse at any moment. Lin Zhou deployed his Civilization Projection, shielding himself firmly.

[Reverse Passage · In Transit]

Personnel Passing: 1

Passage Stability: 15%... 12%... 10%...

Estimated Arrival Time: Approximately six hours

Risk: Extremely High (Passage may collapse at any time)

Six hours later.

Lin Zhou stepped out of the Light Gate.

Before his eyes was a void. It wasn't the grayish-white void of the Chaos Star Domain, but the deep starry sky at the edge of the Old Universe. The Light Gate's exit was near the Seventh War Zone fortress.

He turned back to look at the Light Gate.

The gate was closing. From three meters high and one meter wide, it had shrunk to two meters high and half a meter wide. The cyan-gold light flickered in the darkness like a dying firefly.

[Light Gate · Status (Old Universe Side)]

Height: Two meters

Width: Half a meter

Stability: 5%

Estimated Complete Closure: Approximately one hour

Lin Zhou had no time to linger.

He flew toward the Seventh War Zone fortress.

On the fortress walls, soldiers were busy. Defensive Formations were being repaired, rune batteries were being charged, and supplies were being moved. Every face was etched with urgency—they knew the darkness of Guixu was approaching.

Lin Zhou landed on top of the command tower.

General Zhao Wuji was in the command room, holding a video conference with various legion commanders. Seeing him enter, General Zhao Wuji nodded slightly.

“Lin Zhou, you've come at the right time. The appointment from High Command just came down.”

He handed over a document.

Lin Zhou took it and opened it.

[Human Expeditionary Force · Letter of Appointment]

Name: Lin Zhou

Original Rank: Colonel

New Rank: Brigadier General (Exceptional Promotion)

New Position: Director of the Guixu Phenomenon Investigation Bureau

Scope of Authority: Full responsibility for the investigation, research, and response to Guixu erosion

Resource Allocation: Unlimited (Highest Priority)

Direct Superior: High Command

Effective Date: Immediate

[Guixu Phenomenon Investigation Bureau · Organization]

Authorized Personnel: Unlimited (May recruit at own discretion)

Supply Quota: Unlimited (Directly allocated by High Command)

Station: Seventh War Zone Fortress (Temporary), choice of location optional

Authority: May mobilize up to three legions of troops without prior approval

Research Scope: Guixu erosion, Guixu Projection, Guixu energy, Guixu entrances

Lin Zhou looked at the appointment letter and was silent for a moment.

“Brigadier General?”

“An exceptional promotion,” Zhao Wuji said. “You discovered the Guixu crisis, brought back critical information, and found the entrance to the New Universe. These merits are enough for you to jump two Ranks.”

“Furthermore,” he lowered his voice, “High Command needs someone specifically responsible for Guixu. This person must understand Guixu, understand the Way of Civilization, and understand the New Universe. You are the most suitable candidate.”

Lin Zhou nodded.

“I choose the members of the Investigation Bureau myself?”

“Yes,” Zhao Wuji said. “Choose whoever you want. High Command will grant unconditional approval.”

Lin Zhou thought for a moment.

“Li Mo. I need his technical and research capabilities.”

“Qin Qing. I need her internal affairs and coordination capabilities.”

“Wang Meng. I need his security and combat capabilities.”

Zhao Wuji nodded.

“Good. I'll issue the transfer Orders immediately.”

He turned and walked toward the communication console.

Lin Zhou watched his back, a surge of warmth in his heart.

Three days later.

Seventh War Zone fortress, a temporarily requisitioned conference room.

Lin Zhou sat in the main seat, with Li Mo, Qin Qing, and Wang Meng opposite him.

Li Mo's projection was more solid than before, almost indistinguishable from a physical body. He had worked at the Universe Civilization Research Institute for over a year and researched many new technologies. After receiving Lin Zhou's transfer Order, he resigned from his position at the institute without hesitation and rushed to the Seventh War Zone.

[Li Mo · Status]

Godhood Level: LV600 (Mid-Tier Divine Power, Intermediate Stage)

Divine Domain: Mechanical God-Kingdom (Evolved)

Core Followers: Celestial Machinists (Level LV70+)

Research Field: Guixu energy, Chaos energy, integration of civilization and technology

Special Ability: [civilization resonator · Improved Version] — Can amplify the resonance effect of the Fire of Civilization

Qin Qing stood by Lin Zhou's side, holding a thick document. She had only stayed in the New Universe for a few days before following Lin Zhou back to the Old Universe. The construction of the New Universe was left to Tie Xiong and Qin Shuang.

[Qin Qing · Status]

Godhood Level: LV550 (Mid-Tier Divine Power, Initial Stage)

Divine Domain: Law God-Kingdom

Core Followers: Law-Enforcement Angels (Level LV65+)

Position: Chief of Internal Affairs, Guixu Investigation Bureau

Special Ability: [Net of Law · Guixu Version] — Can define Guixu energy as 'illegal' to weaken its erosion

Wang Meng sat in the corner, holding a glass of strong liquor. He had been seriously injured in the battle of the Chaos Star Domain but recovered quickly. After receiving Lin Zhou's transfer Order, he immediately came from the Vanguard Battalion.

[Wang Meng · Status]

Godhood Level: LV520 (Mid-Tier Divine Power, Initial Stage)

Divine Domain: Behemoth God-Kingdom

Core Followers: Behemoth Berserker (Level LV60+)

Position: Chief of Security, Guixu Investigation Bureau

Special Ability: [Behemoth Roar · Guixu Version] — When roaring, can temporarily repel Guixu energy

“Brothers,” Lin Zhou began, “from today on, we are members of the Guixu Investigation Bureau.”

“Our mission: study Guixu, combat Guixu, and find a way to resolve Guixu once and for all.”

“Are you willing to join me?”

“We are!” the three replied in unison.

Lin Zhou nodded.

“Good. Li Mo, you are in charge of technology. Research the conversion of Guixu energy, the generation mechanism of Guixu Projections, and how to reinforce the New Universe entrance.”

“Qin Qing, you are in charge of internal affairs. Coordinate resources, liaise with the various legions, and oversee the daily operations of the Investigation Bureau.”

“Wang Meng, you are in charge of security. Protect the safety of the Investigation Bureau, train the soldiers, and respond to attacks from Guixu Projections.”

“Yes, Sir!”

After the Investigation Bureau was established, the first thing Lin Zhou did was expand the New Universe entrance.

The Light Gate had closed, but the entrance was still there—it wasn't a gate, but a spatial node. As long as the Fire of Civilization was used as the key and Guixu energy as the fuel, it could be reopened.

[New Universe Entrance · Data]

Location: Deep within the former Chaos Star Domain (Now at the edge of Guixu)

Status: Closed (But can be reopened)

Opening Method: Fire of Civilization + Guixu Energy

Estimated Opening Time: Approximately thirty days

Estimated Gate Size: Capable of accommodating legion-level units

“Thirty days,” Lin Zhou said. “Is that enough?”

Li Mo calculated quickly: “It is. But we need a large amount of Guixu energy. We currently don't have enough Guixu energy conversion furnaces.”

“Then build them,” Lin Zhou said. “High Command has given us unlimited resources; we'll get whatever we need.”

“Yes, Sir!”

Li Mo led the rune craftsmen of the Research Hall Camp to begin building Guixu energy conversion furnaces around the Seventh War Zone fortress.

[Guixu energy conversion furnace · Construction Array]

Quantity: One hundred units

Construction Progress: 1%... 2%... 3%...

Estimated Completion: Approximately twenty days

Daily Output: 1,000 Divine Power per unit, totaling 100,000 Divine Power

Twenty days later.

One hundred Guixu energy conversion furnaces were completed.

They were arranged around the fortress like giant bronze tripods. The Fire of Civilization burned at the top of the furnaces, converting Guixu energy into Divine Power.

[Guixu energy conversion furnace · Array]

Quantity: One hundred units

Total Conversion Efficiency: 100,000 Guixu energy per hour → 1,000,000 Divine Power

Daily Output: 24,000,000 Divine Power

Current Divine Power Reserves: 50,000,000 (Full)

“That's enough,” Lin Zhou said. “Open the New Universe entrance.”

He walked to the location of the original Light Gate, raised his hand, and condensed the transparent Fire of Civilization in his palm.

“Fire of Civilization—Open!”

The flame shot into the void, igniting the spatial node.

[New Universe Entrance · Opening]

Opening Method: Fire of Civilization Key + Guixu Energy Fuel

Opening Progress: 1%... 2%... 3%...

Estimated Completion: Approximately thirty days

Estimated Gate Size: One kilometer in diameter

Thirty days later.

The New Universe entrance reopened.

A massive Light Gate suspended in the void. The gate was a thousand meters high and five hundred meters wide, showing the green grass and blue sky of the New Universe within.

[New Universe Entrance · Status]

Height: One thousand meters

Width: Five hundred meters

Stability: 90%

Passable: Legion-level units

“We can evacuate now,” Lin Zhou said.

He turned and looked at Zhao Wuji.

“Marshal, you can notify High Command.”

Zhao Wuji nodded and activated the highest-level emergency communication.

[High Command · Evacuation Order]

Sender: General Zhao Wuji (Commander of the Seventh War Zone)

Recipient: All Human Race Forces

Content: Full force evacuation, target: New Universe

Timeframe: Within three months

Priority: SSS+

Once the Order was issued, the entire Human Race was shaken.

Legions from various Star Domains began to assemble, and civilians from all star systems began to evacuate. Warships, transport vessels, God-Kingdom projections... countless units converged toward the Seventh War Zone.

[Evacuation · Data]

Participating Legions: Approximately three hundred

Participating Civilians: Approximately one hundred billion

Estimated Evacuation Time: Approximately three months

Light Gate Throughput: One legion per hour

However, the erosion of Guixu would not wait.

It was accelerating.

[Guixu Erosion · Latest Data]

Erosion Speed: Twenty kilometers per hour (formerly fifteen kilometers)

Distance to Seventh War Zone: Approximately five hundred kilometers

Estimated Arrival: Approximately twenty-five days

Light Gate Opening Time: Already open, passable

“Only twenty-five days,” Lin Zhou said. “We need to speed up the evacuation.”

“How do we speed it up?” Zhao Wuji asked.

“Expand the Light Gate,” Lin Zhou said. “Make the gate large enough for multiple legions to pass through simultaneously.”

“Can it be done?”

Lin Zhou looked at Li Mo.

Li Mo nodded: “Yes. But we need more Guixu energy. At least ten times the number of conversion furnaces.”

“Build them.”

Li Mo led the rune craftsmen of the Research Hall Camp to continue building Guixu energy conversion furnaces around the fortress.

[Guixu energy conversion furnace · Expansion]

Additional Quantity: Nine hundred units (Totaling one thousand units)

Construction Progress: 1%... 2%... 3%...

Estimated Completion: Approximately thirty days

Daily Output: 1,000 Divine Power per unit, totaling 1,000,000 Divine Power

Thirty days later.

One thousand Guixu energy conversion furnaces were completed.

The Light Gate was expanded from one kilometer in diameter to ten kilometers in diameter.

[New Universe Entrance · Post-Expansion]

Height: Ten kilometers

Width: Five kilometers

Stability: 85%

Passable: Ten legions simultaneously

The evacuation began.

The first batch consisted of the wounded and logistics personnel from the Seventh War Zone.

The second batch consisted of the combat units from the Seventh War Zone.

The third batch consisted of legions from other war zones.

[Evacuation · Progress (One Month Later)]

Legions Evacuated: Approximately fifty

Civilians Evacuated: Approximately ten billion

Light Gate Stability: 80%

Guixu Distance: Approximately three hundred kilometers

“Too slow,” Lin Zhou frowned. “At this rate, we'll only evacuate a third in three months.”

“Then what do we do?” Zhao Wuji asked.

Lin Zhou thought for a moment.

“We'll split into two routes,” he said. “One route will evacuate through the Light Gate, and the other... directly from the edge of Guixu.”

“From the edge of Guixu?” Zhao Wuji's eyes widened. “That's too dangerous!”

“That's why someone needs to lead the way,” Lin Zhou said. “Me.”

He turned and looked at Wang Meng.

“Wang Meng, lead the Vanguard Battalion and come with me to the edge of Guixu.”

“Yes, Sir!”

Without a second word, Wang Meng picked up his battle-axe.

Lin Zhou then looked at Li Mo.

“Li Mo, research whether there are any stable spatial passages at the edge of Guixu. If there are, we can evacuate directly from there without crowding the Light Gate.”

Li Mo calculated rapidly: “There is. At the edge of Guixu, there's a spatial node connecting to the other side of the New Universe. If we can stabilize it, we can open a second passage.”

“How long will it take?”

“One month.”

“Build it.”

Li Mo led the rune craftsmen of the Research Hall Camp to the edge of Guixu to begin researching the spatial node.

[Spatial Node · Research Progress]

Location: Edge of Guixu, approximately two hundred kilometers from the Seventh War Zone

Type: Natural spatial folding

Stability: 10%

Estimated Stabilization Time: Approximately thirty days

Thirty days later.

The spatial node was stabilized.

The second passage was opened.

[New Universe · Second Entrance]

Location: Edge of Guixu

Type: Spatial folding passage

Stability: 70%

Passable: Five legions simultaneously

The evacuation speed doubled.

[Evacuation · Progress (Two Months Later)]

Legions Evacuated: Approximately one hundred and fifty

Civilians Evacuated: Approximately thirty billion

Light Gate Stability: 75%

Second Passage Stability: 65%

Guixu Distance: Approximately one hundred kilometers

“There's one month left,” Lin Zhou said. “It's enough.”

He stood on the fortress walls, looking at the darkness in the distance.

In the darkness, Guixu roared, devouring and erasing everything.

But he was not afraid.

Because behind him was the Light Gate.

The second passage.

And one hundred billion humans waiting to be evacuated.

“Captain, what are you thinking about?” Qin Qing walked over.

“I'm wondering what's at the end of Guixu,” Lin Zhou said.

“The end?”

“Yes.” Lin Zhou turned and looked at her. “Guixu devours everything, but where does the things it devours go?”

Qin Qing was silent.

“Maybe they go to the New Universe,” Lin Zhou said. “Maybe to another dimension. Or maybe they just become nothingness.”

“No matter where they go, we must find the answer.”

He looked toward the darkness in the distance.

“Because only by finding the answer can we truly combat Guixu.”

Qin Qing nodded.

“Alright. I'll be with you.”

Lin Zhou smiled.

“Thank you.”

He turned and walked down the wall.

“Let's go, there's still much to be done.”

One month later.

The evacuation was complete.

One hundred billion humans had all entered the New Universe.

Guixu had devoured the Seventh War Zone, half of the Human Race's Star Domains, and the edge of the Old Universe.

But it had not devoured the Human Race.

Because the Human Race was already in the New Universe.

Lin Zhou stood before the Light Gate, watching it close.

This time, the gate would not open again.

Because there was nothing left in the Old Universe worth returning for.

“Captain, let's go,” Qin Qing said.

Lin Zhou nodded.

He stepped into the Light Gate.

Behind him, the darkness swallowed the last ray of light.

[Old Universe · Status]

Guixu Erosion Ratio: Approximately 50%

Remaining Humans: 0 (All evacuated)

Remaining Myriad Races: Approximately 30% (Some evacuated, some devoured)

Estimated Complete Devouring: Approximately half a year

New Universe, green grass, blue sky.

Lin Zhou stood at the Light Gate exit, looking at this new world.

Five thousand soldiers stood in Formation, and one thousand one hundred Stone Statue Guardians stood silently on both sides.

Their faces showed exhaustion and sadness, but more than that—hope.

“Brothers,” Lin Zhou began, “we did it.”

“We have brought the Human Race to the New Universe.”

“From today on, this is our home.”

“We will build a new civilization here.”

“No Guixu, no Chaos, only Order.”

“Are you willing to join me?”

“We are!” five thousand people replied in unison.

Lin Zhou nodded.

“Good.”

He walked into the depths of the New Universe.