Reverse flow of the Yellow Springs

"It seems that alien civilizations are not monolithic after all." Hao Feng, the successor to Wan Feng Qi Guan, frowned as he looked at the battlefield that had ceased fighting in the distance and the approaching army of the Parallel Emperors.

The brief but brutal battle just now has already explained everything. These wanderers, who should have been irrational and blindly destructive, displayed astonishing tactical coordination in the battle. Their flanking maneuvers, decapitation strikes, and infiltrations, combined with overwhelming numbers, allowed them to completely crush the orcish tribe of ten thousand men, renowned for their bravery and skill in battle, in such a short time.

As a warrior of Wanfeng City, Haofeng, who had experienced countless battles, naturally saw through the surgical-like tactical coordination.

Someone is precisely manipulating those who should be irrational and wandering!
“That’s normal,” Xia Ming, standing to the side, replied calmly. He was dressed in an immaculate scholar’s ​​robe and wore a pair of exquisite glasses, making him look more like a researcher engrossed in his study than a hero guarding a region.

“Although orcs are collectively referred to as a ‘civilization,’ in reality, they are mostly scattered tribes that rapidly sprang up and developed in a certain area. They are fierce and warlike, not only fighting against external forces but also frequently engaging in internal wars between different orc tribes. Their power is extremely fragmented and difficult to control effectively.” Xia Ming pushed up his glasses and calmly analyzed, “This destroyed orc tribe is not an isolated case. Those manipulators hidden behind the scenes seem to be systematically eliminating all unstable factors and consolidating their power. In their eyes, orcs may be those uncooperative and destabilizing factors.”

As for the wanderers…

"It seems the Night Demons have gained control of the Wanderers; their tactical style is very similar to the historical data you provided," Xia Ming concluded. "They actually did master the means to control the Wanderers. But the autopsies didn't reveal any control methods, and there was no interference from external psionic energy on the corpses."

"Why?" Xia Ming fell into deep thought. As the leader of White Stone City, he was also a scholar.

He found it unbelievable that multiple alien civilizations could suddenly receive assistance from the Wanderers simultaneously. Their cities had been destroyed by the Wanderers before, yet now they could control so many Wanderers as if they were extensions of their own limbs?
There must be something he hasn't noticed yet. Could it be those 'outsiders'?

Did they use external technology to forcibly control the Wanderers?
Xia Ming fell into thought and calculation.

There must be a direct or indirect relationship with outsiders!

Moreover, the alien army seems to have undergone some changes. Are those forces brought by outsiders?
"Speaking of which," Xia Ming suddenly looked up from his reverie, gazing at the still-calm horizon in the distance, his brow furrowed, "why hasn't the champion arrived yet?"

He has a great passion for studying the abilities of 'outsiders'.

As for suspicions about the outsider's identity? He didn't have much of that.

The virtual realm is vast and boundless; how could human civilization exist in only one world? What he was truly curious about and longed for was that external world, which could give birth to powerful figures like champions—a world that sounded even more exciting.

Giant city, forbidden zone, calamity fog, supreme ruler, monarch! Every word filled him with longing.

What a beautiful yet dangerous world! I really want to see it.

It would be even better if that 'champion' were a learned scholar. They could then discuss the differences between the two worlds.

Maybe it can even unlock the reason why the virtual realm is locked. I heard the champion entered this world as an administrative officer; I'm so excited!
Hmm. If he found out that the champion didn't even finish college, he'd probably faint from anger.

In fact, after learning that the so-called "outsiders" were not a monolithic group, but rather came from different camps with different purposes, Xia Ming had a bold and unsettling conjecture in his mind.

These outsiders, each possessing vastly different methods and knowledge, support, strengthen, and guide different factions, all seemingly to achieve some specific goal.

This model reminded Xia Ming of a role-playing game with multiple opposing sides.

And aren't those beings from outside the world just like "players" participating in this game?
Using the world as a chessboard and all living beings as chess pieces?
"This conjecture is really extremely unsettling," Xia Ming said, pushing up his glasses.

Anyone who discovers that their world and their civilization may simply be being manipulated like a game by external beings would probably not be happy.

Xia Ming was no exception.

But unlike others who might fall into anger or despair as a result, this scholar-turned-hero thought more deeply and pragmatically.

What if all of this is true?

If there truly exists an external world capable of producing champions, possessing a more complete power system.

So, is it possible for them to enter that world from the opposite direction?

Is it possible to establish a fast and stable communication channel, or even a shuttle channel, between the two worlds?

Once the thought arose, it spread like wildfire in his heart!
If this can be achieved, it will be a revolutionary hope for human warriors who have been stuck at the peak of the sixth sense for many years, whose path is blocked because the virtual realm of this world is locked and they cannot obtain the recognition of wonders!

They will have the opportunity to access the complete promotion path and hopefully break through the barriers of hegemony in another world!

Once a large number of new overlords emerge in the human camp in a short period of time.
Heh heh, fucking show you what real firepower coverage is!

Will the curse of the last civilization disappear?
What will happen then is a battle royale of civilizations! Aliens will flee, and humans will kill!

Almost all the crises facing the world today—alien races, wanderers, chaotic forces—seem to be on the verge of being completely resolved!
The value of knowledge lies in its application, and what Xia Ming is thinking about at this moment is how to transform the potential threats and opportunities brought by 'outsiders' into the most crucial bargaining chip for the survival and rise of human civilization.

This is what scholars should be considering. In fact, if it weren't for his exceptional talent, he would have loved to stay in the research institute in Whitestone City forever, uncovering the truth of this world!
However, the next moment, his glasses flickered.

In the distance, a black tide surged, as if an unfamiliar force was spreading outwards.

Xia Ming narrowed his eyes, his gaze instantly sweeping across the entire bloody battlefield, precisely locking onto the source of the power.

That was an area deep within the Night Demon Clan's army formation. There, an indescribable, eerie power, seemingly capable of accelerating the passage of time, was permeating the air. Some orc warriors who had miraculously survived the rout and were struggling to escape were touched by that invisible force and aged rapidly at a visible pace!
Their muscles atrophied, their skin became wrinkled and covered in lividity, and their once strong bodies hunched over. Finally, with a few desperate cries, they were completely reduced to piles of gray-white bones, scattered on the ground!

And this is just the beginning!
Almost simultaneously, on that land, several bizarre, twisted creations, somewhere between plants and flesh, were growing wildly at an unprecedented rate!

Within a few breaths, they went through the entire process of sprouting, branching, and leafing! However, what they grew were not ordinary branches and leaves, but wriggling flesh and blood tissue covered with viscous liquid and pitch-black vines covered with sharp thorns!
These terrifying biomass proliferated, intertwined, and shaped rapidly as if they possessed life, eventually transforming into humanoid monsters covered in biological armor!

One by one, humanoid monsters exuding the stench of blood and decay rose from the ground on the battlefield under Xia Ming's watchful gaze and joined the Night Demon's army!
Xia Ming's pupils suddenly contracted, and for the first time, an incredulous shock appeared on his usually calm face!
"This is...accelerated growth? No...a fusion of time manipulation and biotransformation?" He gasped. "How could Night Demon possibly possess such a level of technology? This is definitely not a product of this world!"

It's those 'outsiders'!
They brought with them terrifying technology from another world, technology powerful enough to overturn the existing rules of warfare!
Damn, I really want to study this!
Xia Ming stood up, and Hao Feng also looked serious.

They actually sensed a trace of divinity from those twelve thorn giants? Great supernatural power? No, but there was divinity!
That's no longer something the other soldiers can fight against!

Meanwhile, on the other side, the Night Demon King watched as the giants grew in an instant, each reaching a height of around ten meters. Their entire bodies were covered in armor formed from thorns and vines, and they wielded golden thorn weapons.

And each giant made him feel a sense of danger, because they possessed divinity!
This divinity did not come from a wonder, but from a power bestowed by a terrifying being within the Void Realm!
This terrified the Night Demon King, who instinctively glanced at Zephyr and Zell beside him. Ever since his personal guards were taken over by these two 'outsiders,' the world seemed to have changed.

The once-dangerous wanderer became the most loyal warrior, obeying the commands of the Night Demon officer.

Within the illusory realm, powerful beings personally bestowed blessings, allowing this inconceivable power to manifest!

"What exactly is this?" The Night Demon King's gaze toward Zere and Zefi grew increasingly solemn, even fearful.

"Royal Guards, the Royal Guards of the First King. The great First King created these embryonic Royal Guards to commemorate his former guards." Zell replied with a smile, "Under the First King's gaze, they are invincible!"

Everything went exactly as planned. Through generations of refinement, their ancestral bloodline, reverting to its original state, unsurprisingly created the 'First King' in this world!
With the arrival of the First King in the Void Realm, those royal guard embryos that had been dormant for many years finally had a chance to be used!
As the Sands of Time catalyze the passage of time, the embryos instantly grew into royal guards, and under the gaze of the First King, they gained an additional trace of divinity.

Although they are extremely basic compared to psionicists, their divinity makes them resilient and capable of fighting! They are the most useful weapons of war!
At the same time, due to the reappearance of the First King, the bloodline of Ze'er and Zefi, which originated from the First King, was also reactivated and boiled. The long-sealed power surged out like a thawing river, allowing their strength to be significantly enhanced again in a short period of time!

Even if they were to leave this world right now, their trip would already be a guaranteed profit.

But that's not enough. Their desires go far beyond that!

"The greatest victory is yet to be achieved! Destroy human civilization and fulfill this 'world's' mandate. Then we will reap the richest reward!" Zell laughed. "The first battle will be the decisive one! We'll fight our way into their heartland!"

"King's Guards, charge! Charge under the watchful eye of the First King!"

As he gave the order, the First King's guards roared with earth-shattering force!

The next moment, they took off with their giant legs, which were like stone pillars, and began to charge forward! Their heavy footsteps made the earth tremble, like a series of moving, terrifying fortresses!
They even ignored the densely packed legions of wanderers ahead, brutally crashing into and crushing through them! Anything that stood in their way, whether enemy or ally, was mercilessly trampled!

Their speed increased rapidly, like an unstoppable torrent of steel, launching a devastating charge towards Wanfeng City's crumbling first line of defense!

At the forefront, atop the defensive fortresses, the warriors of Wanfeng City and Baishi City wore solemn expressions, gripped their weapons tightly, and sweat dripped down their faces.

The moment Wang Wei rushed into firing range, countless cannons roared, and shells whistled through the night sky, exploding into fireballs in the darkness.

However, before the roar of the cannons had subsided, the billowing smoke and flames were suddenly torn apart by a brute force!

Those royal guard giants, treading on burning flames and billowing smoke, approached the defensive line once again with an unstoppable and terrifying momentum!

Xia Ming and Hao Feng had already appeared at the forefront of the battlefield, standing tall on the defensive line.

"They've deployed such powerful abilities right from the start, this is really troublesome." Hao Feng watched the approaching Wang Wei, clashing his battle axe and shield together, letting out a battle roar!
Xia Ming calmly replied, "This is a war of life and death; there's no such thing as insidious or not. However, I hope we can capture one to study."

"Let's talk about survival first. One or two Lord Shiraishi are one thing, but twelve of them are another."

All the elite warriors were on high alert, with Wanfeng City right behind them!

However, at a certain moment, their expressions suddenly changed.

Because a sound suddenly came from afar, which sounded like an ancient war song sung by countless people in unison, and also seemed to resonate in one's heart, like a waving battle flag.

It flutters and dances wildly in the wind!
At that moment, an intense fighting spirit soared into the sky, and the tension and fear of the human warriors transformed into a hymn of courage!

At that moment, all the Night Demons and Wanderers, even the Royal Guards, experienced a fleeting moment of disorientation. Humanity's fighting spirit surged forth like a mountain crashing down!

At the same time, the most stirring war song of mankind resounded, its whistling sound filling the battlefield.

A golden meteor crashed into the battlefield!
A golden Dharma image rose from the ground, its long halberd swung horizontally, and the charging royal guards were instantly cut in half!

The human champions have arrived on the battlefield! (End of Chapter)