66: The threat from Kunlun Ruins!

As soon as these words were uttered,

the conference room erupted!

"Hahaha! Good! I knew it! Kraken is tough as nails! Even the King of Hell wouldn't dare take him!"

Lei Zhen slammed the table, making cups and saucers jump. His rough face burst with wild joy, and the previous gloom vanished.

At the head seat,

Qin Zheng's tightly tensed shoulders relaxed almost imperceptibly for a moment, and he let out a long sigh of relief.

On the screen, the terrifying image of the volcanic eruption no longer seemed so despairing.

From the communicator,

the voice of the East Sea Fleet's Chief Engineer came next, speaking very quickly:

"War God! Life signal confirmed! The source is deep beneath Mount Fuji, and the intensity is stable! However, the mountain's structure has undergone an unknown mutation, and its hardness is beyond imagination! Conventional methods are completely ineffective!"

"We must immediately use the reserve star-patterned vibranium to urgently construct an ultra-large thermal drilling platform! Preliminary estimates suggest it will consume at least 50% of our existing vibranium reserves, and drilling through the rock layer to reach the signal source is expected to take... four days!"

"Build it! I will submit an application to the council!"

Qin Zheng did not hesitate, speaking with conviction.

"The Engineering Department will execute immediately! All resources will be prioritized! No matter the cost, we must open a path to life within four days!"

With the order given, many faces in the conference room showed excitement.

However—

"Hmph!"

A cold snort, like a sudden cold current, instantly suppressed the rising warmth.

Venerable Jiang flicked his horsetail whisk, his face full of undisguised displeasure and mockery:

"War God Qin! Four days? Even if that monster Kraken still has a breath left, how long can it last under the torment of magma ten thousand feet underground? To waste such precious strategic resources on an unknown, highly dangerous alien whose fate is uncertain, you are disregarding the safety of Divine Summer's common people!"

Song Qingshu immediately stepped forward, his tone strong, almost pointing at Qin Zheng's nose as he commanded:

"Qin Zheng! Now that our Kunlun Ruins has emerged, all the power of Divine Summer should serve my master! All vibranium must be prioritized for building hunting mechas to acquire evolution resources for the Rock-Armored Spirit Turtle! With this divine turtle, why do we need that Kraken? If you remain stubborn..."

Before he finished speaking,

the formidable aura of a 35th-tier Evolver erupted from him!

Buzz—!

An invisible wave of energy exploded with him at the center, scattering the documents on the conference table.

Several nearby civilian staff members were forced to retreat repeatedly by this pressure, their faces turning pale!

"...then don't blame our Kunlun Ruins for acting on behalf of heaven and taking some 'necessary' measures!"

The threat was nakedly apparent.

Venerable Jiang and Song Qingshu hoped that Divine Summer would fully support the Rock-Armored Spirit Turtle of Kunlun Ruins, and naturally did not want the Kraken to reappear.

Otherwise,

would Divine Summer support the Rock-Armored Spirit Turtle of Kunlun Ruins or the Kraken?

"Presumptuous!!"

Lei Zhen's hair stood on end, like an enraged lion. He stomped forward, causing the alloy steel plate on the ground to slightly dent.

"Are you Kunlun Ruins trying to rebel?! Guards!"

Thump, thump, thump, thump!

The conference room door was violently pushed open again, and more armed guards rushed in.

Their muzzles were all aimed at the Kunlun Ruins members,

the atmosphere was tense!

The disciples of Kunlun Ruins, however, showed no fear, but rather sneered disdainfully.

Energy fluctuations were faintly visible around them, clearly preparing for a fight.

Conventional weapons had long ceased to pose any threat to them.

At this critical moment,

Qin Zheng's calm voice rang out, yet it carried immense weight.

His gaze did not even fall on Venerable Jiang,

but merely swept over the fiery red mecha on the main screen, which was still trying to break through the mountain.

"Venerable Jiang,"

Qin Zheng's voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears.

"That one on the screen is called the 'menshen' mecha prototype. At full power, it can briefly exert... strength comparable to a 50th-tier. There are three more such mechas in the Yanjing Base, ready to be activated at any time."

Venerable Jiang's arrogant expression suddenly stiffened, and his pupils slightly contracted.

He stared intently at the mecha on the screen, then abruptly looked at Qin Zheng's seemingly calm face, a vein seemingly throbbing on his temple.

50th-tier!

Three units!

His own cultivation, just over 40th-tier, was indeed insufficient in the face of such war machines!

"...Hahaha,"

Venerable Jiang's facial muscles twitched a few times, and he forced out a dry smile, his imposing aura instantly diminishing by half.

"War God Qin, you overstate. This old man... this old man also has the public good at heart, considering Divine Summer..."

Just then,

a Kunlun Ruins disciple hurried forward and whispered rapidly into Venerable Jiang's ear.

Venerable Jiang was first stunned,

then his eyes suddenly burst with unbelievable ecstasy. The awkwardness from being intimidated was instantly replaced by a greater, more confident smugness!

He abruptly looked up at Qin Zheng,

his voice raised several octaves due to excitement:

"War God Qin! I advise you, you'd best immediately abandon that unrealistic rescue plan! Obediently concentrate all resources to nurture my Rock-Armored Spirit Turtle! Because now, only our Kunlun Ruins can save Divine Summer!"

He smugly scanned the astonished crowd, his chin slightly raised:

"You'd best immediately ask your Intelligence Director what earth-shattering event... has happened outside!"

Qin Zheng frowned deeply, his gaze turning to Intelligence Director Lin Feng.

Lin Feng's face had already turned incredibly grim, even with a hint of pallor.

Without Qin Zheng needing to ask, he spoke gravely, simultaneously waving for his assistant to switch the main screen display.

"War God... everyone... newly received urgent intelligence."

Lin Feng's voice was dry, "U.S. President Wilson held a global press conference half an hour ago..."

The screen abruptly switched!

It was no longer Mount Fuji, but a secret bay in the United States!

Amidst the raging waves, a terrifying, colossal shadow, suffocating in its size, slowly raised its hideous head from the deep sea!

Its body length definitely exceeded five hundred meters!

Its entire body was covered not in scales, but in countless ghastly white bone spurs, like gigantic maces!

Each bone spur gleamed with a chilling light, capable of tearing everything apart!

The massive serpentine body churned the seawater, emitting a hiss like ten thousand ghosts wailing. The terrifying pressure, even through the screen, made most people in the conference room gasp for breath!

"...The United States announced that they have once again obtained the 'guardian god of freedom and democracy'—the Thorned Giant Serpent, Naglfar!"

Lin Feng's voice trembled with suppressed emotion.

"According to our assessment... its strength has reached at least... 80th-tier!"

The screen switched again!

Several figures dressed in magnificent white robes, exuding powerful energy fluctuations, appeared beside Wilson.

The blonde man leading them had a stern face and held a spear condensed from light; his aura had clearly reached the 50th-tier!

The others were also all around the 30th-tier!

"...At the same time, a mysterious organization called the 'Freemasons' officially emerged, announcing its full support for the United States. ItsPresident (President), Elias, the 'spear of dawn', has a strength of... 50th-tier!"