225: Chapter 225 Returning from Seclusion, Things Have Changed

The golden light gate of the Dragon Clan Ancestral Land slowly closed behind Lin Ye.

He stood in the Void Realm, feeling that familiar yet strange spatial fluctuation.

Familiar, because he had transmigrated through star gates countless times.

Strange, because this time, he had been away for too long.

Ancestral Land time: 210 days.

Real world time: 7 days.

But in-game time, half a year had already passed.

———

[System Notification: You have been away from the game's main world for 210 days in "Ancestral Land Time"]

[Real world time: 7 days]

[Game main world time flow: 1:30 (same as the Ancestral Land)]

[During your absence, in-game time passed: 210 days = 7 months]

[Current in-game time: era calendar Year 1972, Day 471 → era calendar Year 1973, Day 142]

[Time since server launch: 18 months]

[Fusion Countdown: 6 months remaining in reality]

———

Lin Ye stood in the Void Realm.

He looked at the line "18 months since server launch."

3 seconds.

He smiled.

That smile was very light, very faint.

"18 months," he whispered.

"I was in seclusion for 7 months."

———

The silver-white hull of the [Heavenly Court - First Generation] was waiting 17 kilometers ahead.

He floated over.

The hatch opened.

Nine people were all waiting for him.

———

But the first thing he saw wasn't those nine familiar faces.

It was the world on the holographic star map.

It had changed.

———

[Holographic Star Map · Current World Situation]

[Time: era calendar Year 1973, Day 142]

[Human Race Power Distribution:]

[1. Heavenly Court: Controls the entire Yan State in the Big Dipper Star Field + Chaos Valley + 17 National War Resource Zones + Dragon Clan Ancestral Land outskirts + Eternal Star Domain Reception Station Outpost]

[2. Qishi Mansion: Controls the Central Continent Imperial Dynasty + 5 Secret Realms + Allied with Heavenly Court]

[3. Sword Pavilion: Controls Sword Domain + 3 Sword Dao Secret Realms + Neutral]

[4. Loose Cultivator Alliance: Loose organization, subordinate to Heavenly Court]

[Hostile Forces:]

[1. Primordial Royal Court: Controls Purple Mountain + Blood Clan Ancestral Land + Colluding with Forbidden Zones]

[2. God Clan Council: Controls God Spirit Star Field + Hostile to Heavenly Court (after the Michael incident)]

[3. Holy Demon Palace: Controls Abyss Star Field + Neutral toward Heavenly Court (after the Zachariah battle)]

[4. Kingdom of the Undead: Controls the Underworld + Neutral]

[5. Newly risen "Darkness Church": Suspected connection to Forbidden Zone Supremes, currently expanding in secret]

———

Lin Ye looked at the line "Darkness Church."

3 seconds.

He spoke.

"Darkness Church," he said.

"What is that?"

———

Qin Ruoxue's voice came from the communications station.

"It appeared six months ago," she said.

"In the third month after you entered the Ancestral Land."

"The leader calls himself the 'Dark Messenger,' Rank 85 (Saint-Grade)."

"They have about 17,000 members, all players above Rank 70."

"They claim—allegiance to the Forbidden Zone Supremes."

———

Lin Ye's pupils contracted slightly.

Forbidden Zone Supremes.

Those were existences even higher than the Saint-Grade.

———

"Blood Prince," Lin Ye said.

"Where is he?"

———

Qin Ruoxue pulled up another set of data.

[Blood Prince · Leader of the Primordial Royal Court]

[Current Rank: 83 (Saint-Grade)]

[Status: Allied with the Darkness Church]

[Location: Purple Mountain Core Area · ruthless ones inheritance Site]

[Latest Intelligence: He has obtained the first layer of the ruthless ones inheritance; his strength has skyrocketed, and he is currently pushing for Rank 85]

[Threat Rating: ★★★★★ (Lethal)]

———

Lin Ye looked at the line "Rank 83."

Three Ranks higher than him.

———

Shi Potian walked to his side.

He raised his left fist to his chest.

"Rank 83," he said.

"Higher than me."

———

Lin Ye looked at him.

[Shi Potian · Current Status]

[Rank: 70 → 78 (7 months of seclusion + combat)]

[Tyrant Body Awakening: Second Stage → Third Stage]

[Combat Power Assessment: 310,000-350,000]

———

Lin Ye nodded.

"Rank 78," he said.

"Enough."

———

Su Qingyue walked to his side.

She took his hand.

3 seconds.

She let go.

[Su Qingyue · Current Status]

[Rank: 74 → 79 (Vast Cold Immortal Scripture First Layer Major Achievement)]

[Vast Cold Spirit Body Awakening: 70% → 85%]

[Combat Power Assessment: 340,000-380,000]

———

Lin Ye looked at her.

"Rank 79," he said.

"One Rank lower than me."

———

Su Qingyue didn't speak.

But she smiled.

That smile was very light, very faint.

———

Chen Hao's voice came from the pilot's seat.

"Boss."

"We've reached Chaos Valley."

———

Lin Ye turned around.

He looked at the blue star on the holographic star map that was drawing closer and closer.

Chaos Valley.

His home.

He hadn't seen it in 7 months.

———

Minute 17.

The [Heavenly Court - First Generation] landed in front of the main hall of Chaos Valley.

The hatch opened.

Lin Ye stepped out.

———

He was stunned.

Chaos Valley had changed.

It hadn't gotten smaller.

It had "grown."

The original 17-mu territory had now expanded to 1,700 mu.

The original 3 defensive lines had now become 7.

The original 1 Mecha Workshop had now become 17.

The original 100 students had now become 1,700.

———

In front of the main hall stood a person.

Chen Hao.

No, it was another Chen Hao.

———

[Chen Hao · Current Status]

[Rank: 70 → 77]

[Mecha Master Rank: Great Master → Grandmaster]

[chaos unit no. 1: Evolved to Type III, Rank 80]

[Mecha Units under Command: Chaos Mass Production Type × 470 units, Garrison Type IV × 1,700 units]

———

He walked up to Lin Ye.

3 seconds.

He smiled.

That smile was the same as it was 7 months ago.

Very light.

Very faint.

Carrying a hint of... pride.

"Boss," he said.

"You're back."

———

Lin Ye looked at him.

3 seconds.

He reached out.

He patted his shoulder.

———

Minute 31.

Main Hall Third Floor · Tactical Briefing Room.

Ten people sat around the holographic star map.

———

Lin Ye looked at the star map.

7 months.

The world had changed.

The Heavenly Court had changed.

The enemies had also changed.

———

He spoke.

"6 months," he said.

"Fusion Countdown."

"I need to undergo the Saint Tribulation within these 6 months."

———

No one spoke.

But nine pairs of eyes were looking at him.

———

"Saint Tribulation," Lin Ye continued.

"Requires nine types of Saint-Grade Materials."

"I have 4 types."

"I'm still missing 5."

———

He projected the list onto the star map.

[Required Saint-Grade Materials:]

[1. Chaos Raw Stone × 1 — Already Obtained]

[2. Five Elements Essence × 5 — Already Obtained]

[3. time-space fragment × 1 — Needs to be retrieved (Void Rift)]

[4. karma thread × 1 — Needs to be found (Karma Law Major Achievement Expert)]

[5. karmic fire red lotus × 1 — Needs to be braved (Karmic Fire Purgatory)]

[6. reincarnation stone × 1 — Needs to be passed (Reincarnation Secret Realm)]

[7. Saint-Grade Dragon Blood × 1 — Already Promised (Five Dragons)]

[8. Saint-Grade Phoenix Feather × 1 — Needs to be traded (Phoenix Clan)]

[9. Saint-Grade Tortoise Shell × 1 — Needs to be traded (Black Tortoise Clan)]

———

Shi Potian looked at the list.

3 seconds.

He spoke.

"I'll go get them," he said.

———

Lin Ye shook his head.

"You can't go," he said.

"Those places have a minimum entry Rank of 80."

———

Shi Potian didn't speak.

But his left fist tightened.

———

Su Qingyue stood up.

"I'll go with you," she said.

———

Lin Ye looked at her.

"Rank 79," he said.

"One Rank short."

———

Su Qingyue didn't speak.

But she walked to his side.

She took his hand.

———

Chen Hao stood up.

"The Mecha Units," he said.

"Are on standby at any time."

———

Zhou Tieshan stood up.

"Black Tortoise Hall," he said.

"1,700 people, all above Rank 80."

———

Chu Yunxi stood up.

"Vermilion Bird Hall," she said.

"1,700 people, all above Rank 79."

———

Zhao Wuji stood up.

"Supplies," he said.

"Enough to support 3 months of high-intensity expedition."

———

Qin Ruoxue stood up.

"Intelligence," she said.

"Heavenly Secret Pavilion has already penetrated 17 hostile forces."

———

Yun Qianxue stood up.

"Healing," she said.

"170 healers, all above Rank 75."

———

Lu Xinghe stood up.

"Formations," he said.

"The 7-layer defense Formation can block any attack below Rank 85."

———

Ten people.

Ten pairs of eyes.

All were looking at him.

———

Lin Ye looked at them.

3 seconds.

He smiled.

That smile was the same as when he left 7 months ago.

Very faint.

Very cold.

Carrying a hint of... determination.

"Good," he said.

"6 months."

"Together, we will overcome the Saint Tribulation."

———

[Chapter 225 · End]