The whole nation: You're put to survive on a desolate planet, you'll be running an alien b

Li Haotian held Lin Mo tightly. A golden-red light erupted from his body. He smashed through the alloy ceiling above them, carrying Lin Mo as they rushed out of the collapsing laboratory. Explosions rang out one after another. The entire teaching building shook violently. Glass shattered. Steel bars twisted. Black smoke and flames spewed from the ground. Above Donghai University, a strange purple cloud appeared. They burst from the ground. Around them were the ruins of the collapsed teaching building. The air was thick with the smell of burning dust. Lin Mo buried her face in his chest. Her body trembled slightly.

"Now, things are even more turbulent at the university," Li Haotian said softly. He tightened his embrace around Lin Mo. Lin Mo's gaze drifted into the depths of the purple cloud.

"So many black bugs," Lin Mo said, pointing to the sky. A dozen or so black drones hovered overhead. They were large and emitted a low, buzzing sound.

Higher up, a massive airship hovered. Its hull was black, like a floating fortress. A vast curtain of light projected from its belly, covering the ground directly. A figure appeared within the light curtain, blurry and indistinct. It stood high above, looking down.

"Foolish humans," a voice echoed from the light screen. The voice was deep and resonant. "You shouldn't have destroyed my experiment."

"Do you know who I am?" Li Haotian asked. His voice wasn't loud. "Didn't your boss teach you to state your name before speaking to someone?"

"I am a being beyond your comprehension." The figure's words were barbed. "You may call me a god, if you wish."

"God?" Li Haotian laughed. He raised his eyebrows. "I think you're like a coward hiding in the mud."

"You ruined my plans," the figure said angrily. "You destroyed my life's work. Do you know your crime?"

"Your life's work?" Li Haotian asked, puzzled. "All I see is some rotten flesh. Some glass jars."

"Foolish and inconsiderate." The figure scoffed. "You think you can protect her?"

It pointed its finger at Lin Mo. "She is my creation. Possessing perfect genes. Something you, a coarse creature, cannot compare to."

"Creation?" Lin Mo peeked out from Li Haotian's arms. Her eyes were unfriendly. "You're being very rude."

"Within her flows the power I bestowed," the figure said. "You have merely stolen and defiled. Give her back to me now."

"Give it back to you?" Li Haotian retorted. He curled his lip. "You're dreaming."

"You have no choice." The figure spoke coldly. "My patience is running out."

"My things. It's none of your business to interfere," Li Haotian said firmly. "Who do you think you are?"

"Insolence!" the figure roared. The light screen shook in response.

Li Haotian extended his right hand, pointing it at the light screen, and raised his middle finger. "How dare you!"

He yelled, "Did your boss teach you this? Don't you know how rude you are? You have absolutely no manners!"

"What an ill-mannered wretch." The figure spoke with disdain. "How could a lowly creature like you deserve her?"

"Whether she's a good match or not isn't up to you to decide," Li Haotian said. He patted Lin Mo's head. "She's mine."

Lin Mo nodded. She hugged Li Haotian's neck tightly.

The airship suddenly shuddered. A thick, purple beam of light descended from the sky, shooting directly at Lin Mo. It was incredibly fast, accompanied by a whooshing sound.

Li Haotian stood firm. His body didn't sway. Golden Crow True Blood surged from his body, forming a layer of golden-red light membrane. The light membrane enveloped him and Lin Mo.

The purple beam struck the light membrane. The membrane flickered. The purple beam vanished instantly, as if it had evaporated due to extreme heat. The ground, touched by the beam, was scorched black. The rocks cracked.

"Li Dazhu," Su Wan's voice came through the earpiece. Her tone was urgent. "The airship is charging up. The energy readings are soaring. They're about to launch a 'purification strike'."

"Purification strike?" Li Haotian asked. "What do you mean?"

"Destroy the entire Donghai University," Su Wan said, her voice trembling. "And the surrounding area. Leave no one alive."

"Oh," Li Haotian said. He looked at the airship. "How rude of me."

"Li Dazhu, this is no joke," Su Wan said anxiously. "This attack level is very high. It can wipe out everything."

"I know," Li Haotian replied, his gaze sharp. "How much range?"

"Preliminary assessment. The area is within a ten-kilometer radius," Su Wan said. "It's currently being calibrated."

"Ten kilometers," Li Haotian repeated. He patted Lin Mo's head.

Lin Mo looked up. Her gaze was fixed on the sky, on the airship.

"Does it... want to shatter us all?" Lin Mo asked. Her voice was very soft.

"Dream on," Li Haotian said. His hands gleamed with a golden-red light.

A low rumble emanated from the bottom of the airship. Purple energy points began to gather densely, converging at the bottom to form a massive sphere of light. The sphere grew larger and larger, radiating an aura of destruction.

Li Haotian pulled Lin Mo's hand. He gripped the bronze dagger tightly. The dagger felt hot in his palm.

"Li Dazhu, the energy aggregation speed is very fast," Su Wan's voice came again. Her tone was urgent.

"I know," Li Haotian said. He looked at the sky. "It's so big. There's no way to hide it."

"Who does it say its boss is?" Lin Mo asked, pointing to the light screen. "I'd like to know."

"Who cares who the boss is. It's all the same now that they're here," Li Haotian said. He cracked his knuckles. "They'll all get beaten up."

The figure within the light screen scoffed. "How ignorant."

"You don't understand power," it said. "You think your little flame can fight me?"

"You have such a gossipy mouth," Li Haotian replied. "Even more gossipy than my neighbor, Aunt Wang."

"This is your final warning," the figure said coldly. "Hand over the creation. You may live."

"Live my ass," Li Haotian said. He took a step forward. "I don't care."

"Lin Mo, are you scared?" Li Haotian asked. He turned his head to look at Lin Mo.

Lin Mo shook her head. She hugged Li Haotian's arm tightly. "I'm not afraid. You're here."

"Okay," Li Haotian said with a smile on his face.

He said to the screen, "Did you hear that? She said she's not afraid."

The figure's mocking laughter stopped abruptly. It seemed to pause for a moment, stunned.

"You're courting death." The voice grew even colder. The light screen began to distort.

"Li Dazhu," Su Wan reported again. "Energy locked. Strike imminent. Estimated time: ten seconds."

"Ten seconds?" Li Haotian asked. "Is that enough time for it to finish a cup of tea?"

"It's not just about drinking tea," Su Wan said, her voice tense. "It's about the entire Tunghai University. It will all be wiped out."

"I understand," Li Haotian replied. His gaze fell on the ground.

The ground began to tremble slightly due to the energy fluctuations. Tiny cracks spread beneath the feet.

Lin Mo looked up. She stared at the sphere of light at the bottom of the airship. The sphere had reached its maximum size. Its purple light was dazzling.

"It's going to be shot down," Lin Mo said calmly.

"Fine, let's fight then," Li Haotian said. Golden-red flames rose from his hands. "Who's afraid of who?"

The sphere of light at the bottom of the airship erupted with blinding light. A thicker, brighter purple beam of light shot down straight down.

The beam of light tore through the air, emitting a deafening roar. It locked onto Li Haotian, and also onto Lin Mo.

Golden-red flames erupted beneath Li Haotian's feet. He did not retreat. He stood still.

He gripped the bronze dagger tightly in his right hand. The dagger emitted a low hum.

At the tip of the dagger, a golden-red streak of fire shot skyward, meeting the purple beam of light head-on.

The figure within the light screen roared, "How dare you be so arrogant!"

The beam falls.

A golden-red streak of fire collided with a purple beam of light in mid-air. There was no deafening roar. Only silent annihilation.

The air distorted. Space tore apart. A massive shockwave of power spread instantly.

The surrounding dilapidated school buildings had completely collapsed, raising clouds of dust.

The ground beneath Li Haotian's feet was cracked inch by inch. His feet were deeply embedded in the soil.

His expression remained unchanged. His body stood straight. The power of the Golden Crow True Blood flowed continuously.

Lin Mo pressed herself against his back. She covered her ears with her hands, but she didn't close her eyes. She looked up at the sky.

A golden-red line of fire. Like a living dragon. It surges upstream, rushing into the purple beam of light.

The purple beam of light was eroded by the flames. It gradually thinned. Gradually weakened.

The figure on the airship roared. It seemed unable to believe what it was seeing.

"Impossible!" the figure roared. "How could you withstand my purifying attack!"

"Your strikes were too weak," Li Haotian said. His voice was steady.

A golden-red streak of fire pierced through the purple beam. It hurtled straight towards the airship.

The airship trembled violently. It tried to take off. It wanted to escape.

But the fire beam was faster. It crashed into the bottom of the airship.

Boom! A deafening roar. Flames erupted from the bottom of the airship, shooting skyward.

In the firelight, a figure within the light curtain let out a piercing scream.

The airship lost control. It billowed black smoke and plummeted into the distance.

The direction of the fall was in the suburbs of Donghai City.

"It's gone," Lin Mo said. She lowered her hand. Her tone was light.

"A little gadget." Li Haotian clapped his hands. He looked in the direction the airship had crashed.

"Who does it say its boss is?" Lin Mo asked again, her eyes filled with curiosity.

"I don't know," Li Haotian said, his brow furrowing slightly. "But now, I'm a little interested."

He turned his head. He looked at Lin Mo. "Are you hungry?"

Lin Mo's eyes lit up. She nodded.

(Hook left: At the site of the airship crash, thick purple smoke rises from the ground. A man wearing a monocle is directing a team of people in black suits to remove something from the crashed airship. His face is grim as he stares in the direction of Donghai University.)