168: Chapter 168 Supreme Joint Call to Action Across All Channels

After inspecting the gratifying logistics industry, Zhou An strolled back to the central hall on the second floor of the Cloud Top Fortress.

As soon as he entered, he saw Luo Ning wearing her slightly oversized loungewear, biting on a strawberry-flavored popsicle she had just swiped from the back kitchen freezer, shuffling out in her slippers.

"You're back just in time."

Seeing Zhou An, Luo Ning immediately shouted, her voice muffled by the popsicle. She then tapped on the tactical terminal on her wrist, pulled up a massive holographic information panel, and pushed it directly in front of Zhou An. "Take a look at this, it's the pinned message on the regional public channel. The front line has gone completely crazy."

Zhou An sat on the sofa, somewhat puzzled. His fingers swiped across the holographic panel, his gaze quickly sweeping over the highlighted, bolded urgent war reports and joint statements.

In fact, because the Cloud Top Fortress had been pursuing a "development-oriented" strategy of steady progress and resource scavenging, the fleet's current sailing speed and progress were already lagging behind about eighty percent of the main survivor forces in the Cangyun Airspace.

At the very forefront of this endless sea of clouds, in order to compete for more living space and scarce high-level resources, the flames of war had long been ignited, and the entire front-line airspace had turned into a pot of boiling blood.

The most prominent item on the screen was a joint call of the highest level across all channels.

Zhou An's gaze narrowed, and he carefully read the content of the call and the signatories.

This was a rare alliance that transcended racial prejudice. The three leaders who issued this call possessed terrifying prestige throughout the entire Cangyun Airspace:

Human Race, City Lord of Sky City — City Lord Zhao Tianyu.

Elf Race Clan Leader — Elf Clan Leader Rosalind.

Winged Race, Winged King — King Dominic.

The content of this call was tragic and straightforward; its core objective was singular: to call upon all oppressed races, guilds, and individual lords in every star domain to immediately cast aside their prejudices, unite comprehensively, and jointly resist the bloody slaughter and tyranny of the Orc camp.

"The Orcs are planning to dominate everything, forcing everyone into a dead end..."

Watching the tragic war damage videos sent back from the front line, Zhou An couldn't help but frown tightly.

The Human Race, Elf Race, and Winged Race were definitely considered superior races with strong combat power among the myriad races. In particular, the Winged Race's ability to dominate the skies and the Elf Race's elemental magic had always been troublesome existences.

However, even with these three major races joining forces, they were still being beaten back step by step when facing the Orcs, forced to issue this highest-level joint distress call.

There was no other reason; the foundation of the Orc camp's power was simply too vast and terrifying.

Among them were the three top super guilds — [Blood Moon], [Dragonman Guild], and the mysterious [Deep Sea].

These three Orc super guilds, if any one of them was singled out, possessed a foundation and military strength sufficient to contend against the entire combat power of the Human Race or the Elf Race alone!

"No wonder Hila was injured just from encountering a Dragonman Guild scouting squad a few days ago."

Zhou An reached out and pinched the bridge of his nose, his eyes becoming deep and solemn.

This situation, it seemed, was not looking good.

If this great war of the myriad races were won by the Humans, Elves, or Winged Race, then given their social structures, it would at most mean dividing territory and redefining resource distribution rules; Zhou An could at worst move elsewhere and continue to develop in a low-key manner.

But if the Orcs won...

Looking at the bloody scenes of cities being slaughtered in the war reports after being conquered by the Orc army, and the captives of other races being kept as slaves and "high-protein rations," a strong sense of crisis rose in Zhou An's heart.

These Orcs, who retained their primitive bloodthirsty instincts and wild laws, were clearly planning to rule this airspace in the most direct and brutal way. Once they completed unification, all other surviving races would eventually become their rations and slaves, and those days would truly be pitch-black.

Looking at the grim front-line war reports on the holographic panel, Zhou An did not hesitate at all and immediately connected to Grace's encrypted communication channel.

"Did you see the news about the joint call of the myriad races on the front line?"

As soon as the call connected, Zhou An asked straight to the point.

"Lord Zhou An, I was just about to contact you regarding this matter."

On the other end of the communicator, Grace's voice carried a hint of solemnity.

"The situation is far more complex than what was announced on the regional channel. At two o'clock this afternoon, please come to the conference room of the 'wind chaser'. We need to meet and touch base."

"Alright, see you in the afternoon."

Two o'clock in the afternoon.

The large conference room seemed somewhat empty. Since the vast majority of the White Feather Guild's joint fleet had been sent out to frantically scavenge for supplies and search for core materials, only three or four remaining LV5 captains and vice-captains, along with the newly appointed Great Elder Ivy, were present today.

After everyone took their seats, Grace skipped any small talk and directly projected an electronic letter with complex encryption into the center of the conference table.

"Just this morning, not only me, but the leaders of almost every guild of any significant size in the entire Cangyun Airspace received this private letter sent directly by the highest level of the Myriad Race Resistance Alliance."

Grace's dark blue eyes scanned the crowd, and she explained the situation in a serious tone:

"The content of the letter is much the same as what was announced on the regional channel; it is a call for us guilds scattered in the rear to immediately head to the front line and join the coalition against the Orcs. However... this call letter did not promise to provide us with any substantial material or firepower assistance. The only thing the Alliance can provide us with at the moment is information and intelligence support from the front line."

"Giving intelligence but no money, isn't this just trying to get something for nothing, dragging us to the front line to be cannon fodder to fill the trenches?"

A remaining LV5 captain couldn't help but frown and mutter in a low voice.

Grace raised her hand to signal for silence, then threw out an even more bombshell piece of news:

"In addition, the intelligence network indicates that there may still be room for maneuver in this war that has swept across the entire airspace. In three days, the highest representatives of the Myriad Race Resistance Alliance will hold a final peace talk with the leaders of the three major super guilds of the Orc camp, which will be broadcast live across the entire region at the border between the two sides."

"If the negotiations break down, then a full-scale conflict will be unavoidable, and the flames of war will eventually burn to us."

The conference room fell into an oppressive silence. Facing a super war that could easily result in the total mobilization and destruction of an entire race, their current assets, which had just begun to recover, were simply not enough.

Zhou An tapped his fingers on the table, pondered for a moment, and then gave his decision.

"Stay put for now, and wait until the results of the live conference in three days are out."

Zhou An's gaze was deep as he calmly analyzed the situation.

"If they really break off negotiations and the front line goes into full-scale war, then as part of the Human Race and Winged Race, we must respond to the call and join the coalition to fight."

Luo Ning looked at Zhou An with some concern: "With our current small stature, wouldn't it be too dangerous to get involved in that kind of battlefield where gods are fighting?"

"Dangerous or not, we have to go."

Zhou An shook his head rationally and stated the cruel laws of survival.

"When the lips are gone, the teeth are cold. If we stand idly by just to survive, once the Myriad Race Coalition is truly swept away by that bunch of bloodthirsty lunatics from the Orc race, then with the Orcs' tyranny of treating other races as rations, we won't be able to live at all in the future."

"In this airspace, when different camps are checking and balancing each other and fighting to a stalemate, that is the best time for us individual lords to develop. We must not let any side completely unify."

Zhou An's words were like the final word, instantly clearing the fog in everyone's hearts. Grace and Ivy also nodded solemnly.

"We will do as Lord Zhou An says. For these three days, the fleet will enter the highest state of alert, ready to deal with any emergencies at any time. Meeting adjourned!"

After the meeting ended, the generals dispersed. Grace gave Zhou An a secret look and invited him alone to her private lounge.

As soon as the door closed, the originally cold and majestic expression on Grace's face instantly bloomed into a bright smile.

"Lord Zhou An, I have good news for you."

Grace's wrist flipped with excitement. Accompanied by a blinding golden light and deep, mysterious starlight, a pile of materials emitting terrifying energy was carefully placed on the large coffee table.

"The missing materials you asked me to find... they are finally collected!"

Zhou An's pupils shrank, his gaze nailed to the tabletop.

It was a full 10,000 units of [Cangyun Constant Gold]! This rare high-grade metal had a dark golden, quicksand-like appearance, as if it contained the heavy power of the stars.

And next to the Cangyun Constant Gold, there were two more [Warp Star Core Fragments] neatly placed!

"In the past month, the nine reclamation fleets have almost turned the surrounding floating islands upside down, and even went to the very front line. We finally managed to collect this critical 10,000 units of Cangyun Constant Gold before the situation deteriorated completely." Grace pointed to the materials on the table, her eyes full of relief, but then added with some apology, "However... the drop rate of Cangyun Constant Gold is really too low. The amount found so far is only enough for your own fortress to complete its LV6 evolution. As for the portions for Ms. Muzi and Luo Ning, it will take time to continue collecting slowly."

"No matter, it's enough!"

Zhou An waved his hand in satisfaction and collected all these priceless top-level strategic materials into his system space.

A bright light shone in his eyes. In just over a month, to be able to gather all the core components for the LV6 upgrade in this vast airspace like finding a needle in a haystack—the White Feather Guild's execution and that 180 million resource "money power" truly did not disappoint him.

"No rush for the rest, just keep looking slowly."

After finishing the business, Grace did not let Zhou An leave immediately. She seemed hesitant, her fair fingers twisting together, and finally, as if she had made up her mind, she looked at Zhou An again.

"Lord Zhou An, regarding those clansmen working in the factory... I have a private request."

Grace took a deep breath.

"Over the past month, due to the high-intensity reclamation exploration, although our troop casualties have been decreasing, it is not a long-term solution. Most importantly, because the factory production lines have been established and everyone's lives have stabilized, many clansmen have expressed to me... the desire to have offspring."

Speaking of this, Grace seemed a bit embarrassed; after all, this was a luxury in the precarious airspace.

"They want reproductive rights?"

Zhou An raised his eyebrows.

"Yes. But I am worried that once they enter the reproductive period, the factory production lines will be affected. After all, that is the labor of over a hundred people."

Grace added quickly.

"However, the female warriors of our Winged Race have extremely strong physiques. Even if they conceive, the impact on labor in the early stages will not be too great. We only need to provide a period of leave in the later stages and after childbirth..."

"I thought it was something difficult."

Zhou An laughed, waving his hand.

"No problem. Reproduction is a major event for the continuation of the race, and I support it with both hands. As for the gap left in the production line, just have Luo Ning allocate a few more robots to fill in. You can't make people carry bricks while they're pregnant, right?"

"Really?"

Grace's beautiful eyes brightened. Originally, she thought that a lord like Zhou An, who valued efficiency, would refuse such "wasteful" behavior.

"Of course, population is also a long-term investment."

Zhou An stood up to say goodbye, "Since they decided to follow me, I have to give them a decent future. You can arrange this as you see fit. I will go and tell Old Zhang and Muzi."

"Lord Zhou An, you really are a benevolent lord." Grace watched Zhou An leave, her eyes filled with gratitude and a touch of indescribable admiration.

...

And just as Zhou An returned to the fortress hall via teleportation, he found the atmosphere strange.

Usually at this time, everyone would either be busy with their own things or chatting in the rest area. But now, Old Zhang, Li Muzi, Luo Ning, Shen Xingyue, and even Hila, who had just returned and hadn't had time to change her clothes, were all gathered around the marble table in the center of the living room, craning their necks to look inside, occasionally exclaiming things like "Oh" and "So cute."

"What are you doing? Having a tea party?"

Zhou An curiously leaned over, taking advantage of his height to peer into the crowd.

He saw that the "Myriad Spirit Beast" egg, which had been in the incubation chamber for a long time without any movement, was now completely broken into two halves. And in the center of the table, a palm-sized little beast, pure white with emerald green patterns, was hopping around.

This little guy was adorable, looking somewhat like a Labrador puppy, round and covered in silky, smooth long hair. The most strange thing was its ears, with a hint of tender green at the tips, its vitality so strong it almost overflowed, and every hop emitted a faint fragrance of grass and trees.

"Ah! The Boss is back!"

Hila had sharp eyes and waved at Zhou An immediately.

"Look, our 'egg' has finally turned into a living thing!"

Zhou An looked at the spiritual little beast on the table, his eyes moved slightly. This pure life fluctuation made him involuntarily think of the two little dragons that had once accompanied him. Unfortunately, for the sake of the fortress's evolution, they had completely disappeared in that blood sacrifice.

He had originally thought he would have psychological trauma regarding such battle pets, but looking at this energetic little guy in front of him, his heart softened.