Forge a path to success

"Don't take it too seriously!" Chongming said lazily. "The Allied Forces aren't an organization in the traditional sense. They don't have a specific structure. Just think of them as a school club. Join if you want to fight, and quit anytime you don't want to fight anymore."

Silar smiled wryly: "Commander Chongming, at least be more serious in front of the newcomers..."

"Huh? What's with this newbie I personally trained acting like a seasoned veteran, you bastard?!" Chongming slurred, "Nobody knows the Allies better than me!"

Slar shook his head and sighed, "Sigh, my image is beyond saving."

"What the hell did you say? You want to fight, old rabbit?!"

Ji Huaisu and Fan De chuckled, it seemed that Commander Chongming's way of interacting with each new recruit was pretty much the same. Chu Hengkong touched the rough wine cup and said, "Old sir, aren't you the Man in the Mist?"

None of the people in the fog could provide any information about the past. Silar, however, explained the settlement's history in just a few words, something Chongming and the others could not do.

"Decades ago at this time, I was the 28th batch of newcomers. My batch had no achievements to speak of... I survived the war by sheer luck and have remained in the settlement ever since." Silar smiled. "As you can see, I am a forest dweller. How is my homeland, the city-state of Thorn Robe, doing now?"

Having worked as a detective in Huilong City for several months, Chu Hengkong already knew how to distinguish the races of the Submerged Realm. The old man was short, with two rabbit ears on his head and large eyes; this kind of race either came from the Divine Tree City-State or the Land of Seeking Joy. Ji Huaisu answered for him, "They are still thriving. This time, some 'Thorn Robe' forest people have come with us."

"Oh!" The old man was pleasantly surprised. "Not to brag, but the throwing skills of our Senmin people are no less than those of Longquan Township. To be traveling with such strong individuals as you, is he a master of blowguns or a skilled archer?"

Ji Huaisu recalled the smug boast of a certain furry little animal and chuckled, "A second-level professional gardener and a first-level plant cultivator..."

Grandpa Silar jumped three feet high, his eyes almost popping out of their sockets.

"That's amazing?!?"

"Huh? No, is this something really amazing?"

"You just found out? Guli Bobo's professional skills are top-notch." Vande said while eating, "The professional titles in the Divine Tree City-State are divided into four levels: Special Level 1, Special Level 2, Special Level 3, and Special Level 4. Level 2 Gardeners can make anything grow incredibly fast; they can even cultivate a garden in the desert. Level 1 Plant Cultivators are qualified to water the Thorn Sacred Tree and can handle the transformation of low-level divine trees all by themselves. In the Ancient Dragon Totem System... that's equivalent to your Huilong City's Chief High Priest."

Everyone's faces turned ashen, as if they'd discovered their pet rat of ten years was actually a professor from the prestigious university next door, supervising postdoctoral fellows. Slar excitedly rubbed his short paws together: "This is wonderful! Could this Gulibobo be the city-state's new councilor?"

"As far as I know, it's currently doing odd jobs in small bookstores," Van der said.

Why?

Van Der added mercilessly, "Moreover, its fighting strength is weaker than that of an adult chicken. If it hadn't been helped by a noble person, it would probably be resting peacefully under the white sand."

"No! Please, please save it!!!"

Grandpa Silar clutched his cheek and let out a shrill scream, resembling a large, distraught guinea pig. Qingxia patted its head and comforted it, "Grandpa, calm down. Let's try to reincarnate it as the White Bone Demon."

"Fool, don't talk about it based on the premise that it's dead!" The old man waved his short paws. "Seriously, it absolutely has to live! It's too important for us!"

Chu Hengkong's heart stirred. Silar had always been quite calm, but when this topic came up, his excitement was palpable, showing that it was not just about helping his fellow villager.

"Is the settlement currently in dire need of plant cultivation nurses?"

“More than that…” Slar rubbed his head in exasperation, “This concerns the very survival of the settlement.”

"Actually, we had already planned to hold the banquet before you all arrived. Because another good thing happened recently..."

He drew a small tree-like symbol on the ground with his cane and poked it. The enormous tree of light standing beside the picnic area instantly became ethereal. Only then could everyone see clearly that the entire tree of light was not a solid entity, but a projection formed from condensed light elements. At the center of the projection was a golden altar, upon which was enshrined something round and plump…

"During the last counterattack, our sacred pillar lost its power due to some accident." The old man sighed. "The safe zone where the settlement is located could not be maintained after the war. But Qingxia brought back a noble life, and its arrival has given the settlement a new lease on life!"

Slar excitedly raised his hand, completely exposing the altar to everyone. The round, oval-shaped object, about the size of a rugby ball, was as hard as stone—it was—

The type of stone that people throw around in Kinyo City.

"Hello everyone, we meet again," Shi Zhong wrote on the ground. "I've been meaning to say hello, but haven't found the right moment. Could someone please get me a glass of water?"

"Okay." Qingye jogged over and poured some fruit wine on it, the translucent liquid flowing down the altar.

[Such a high prescription...!]

"No, this is a beverage."

Grandpa Slar jumped up again: "You know Lord Stone Seed?!"

"Ah, how should I put it?" Ji Huaisu's expression was subtle. "Qingxia snatched the stone from us."

Qingxia finished the roasted bird wing in two bites, then tore off a large piece of bird meat and stood up quite naturally: "Well then, I'll go patrol outside the settlement now~"

"Stop right there, you bastard! Tell me honestly what you've been doing outside?! You dare laugh?! Don't run away!!" The old man shouted hoarsely.

Silar got up and tried his best to catch up with Qingxia, but he couldn't catch up because his legs were too short. Chu Heng took a sip of fruit wine and said to Shi Zhong, "We're back to this kind of atmosphere."

"It's rare these days; I've been so nervous I can barely breathe. Even though I don't need to breathe," Shi Zhong replied. "But seriously, I still need to ask everyone to save Guli. If he were here, I could level up."

"So what if your seed gets promoted?" Van der scoffed.

"We can contact Huilong City now," Shi Zhong said.

Chapter 183 Seize the Moments of Joy

"Grandpa, you can't catch me~" "Stop right there, you idiot!" "Xiaoye, isn't it impolite of you to pour wine on the altar?" "Huh? But I see it like that in the manga..." "That's for worship, you idiot."

The banquet hall was in complete chaos, filled with noise and confusion. Amidst the commotion, someone noticed writing on the ground and stopped, stunned. Then everyone quieted down, all eyes fixed on Shi Zhong's speech.

Chu Hengkong, Ji Huaisu, and Fan De suddenly pounced on him: "What did you say?!" x3

Shi Zhong's tone softened slightly: "If everything goes smoothly, perhaps, we should be able to make contact in a short time..."

"You said you can contact Huilong City?!" Ji Huaisu exclaimed excitedly. "Really?!"

"Is there any material support?" Chu Hengkong pondered more deeply.

Vande's eyes widened, bloodshot: "What principle is this! This is impossible! How could you possibly communicate across Dust Island!"

It seems you don't know much about the settlement's sacred pillars (laughs)

Vande slammed his fist on the table and stood up: "Nonsense! How could I not understand such a standard wartime fortress three-in-one structure? The Discipline Seal of the Glimmering Core creates a protective barrier, the Order Energy of the Ancient Dragon Totem assists in power supply, and the Divine Tree Network provides communication and material supply for each sub-battlefield... Oh oh oh oh! The Divine Tree Network!"

"Exactly," Shi Zhong wrote. "After ascending to point mass 2, I can try to enter the network. The route through Dragon City is essentially a result of post-war optimization of network technology, making it possible to establish contact with the local area."

This description reminded Chu Hengkong of the towering tree that ran through the three levels of Huilong City. He grabbed Fan De and asked, "What is the Net Dao?"

“It’s the root of the Divine Tree Clan,” Vande said. “The Senluo Divine Tree Clan is rooted in the Shallow Realm. Their physical roots solidify the Dust Island, forming the earth, while their ghostly roots are interconnected like blood vessels and nerves, becoming a ‘network’ that spreads throughout the world. Your Huilong City should have had a Divine Tree back then, but it probably died during the great war…”

It pondered to itself, then began speaking in a language no one could understand: "So, Youyou used the network and eddies to construct its flight path... cleverly utilizing the driving force of the currents of fate for power, creating flowing beads to scatter in order to avoid the gifts of fate, and using interaction to generate divine power in reverse... So the purpose of this plan is..."

Vande muttered to himself, lost in his own world. The others showed little interest in the Eye Demon's whimsical ideas, preferring instead the feasibility of making contact. If they could indeed reach the city lord and Youyou, the people in the wilderness would have a greater chance of escape.

Chongming loudly banged on his bowl: "Alright, everyone, whether you've finished eating or not, look over here. Now, I'll announce the next phase of the battle plan."

As you all know, the Holy Pillars will become stronger after the Stone Seed is upgraded, and there's also the possibility of needing reinforcements. Therefore, our primary objective now is to find that Guli Bobo and upgrade the Stone Seed to Point 2.

“And you newcomers are all too weak! Your basic skills are so weak!” He pointed at the faces of the three outsiders one by one, and poked Chu Hengkong’s forehead hard. “Especially you, kid, you have as many hidden dangers as there are pores on your body. You’d fall apart even without the enemy attacking you.”

"Waklo's lucky battle won't happen again. Once you get to the settlement, use the time to recover and cultivate. Until the situation improves further, absolutely no one is allowed to go out and seek death! Understand?"

"Yes, Commander Chongming..." the newcomers replied listlessly.

"Very good, we'll dismiss everyone after dinner!" Chongming waved his hand. "Silar, find a room for the newlyweds."

Everyone focused intently on finishing the sumptuous meal, not wasting a single bone—they all knew that such a good meal was hard to come by again. Afterwards, Silar, leaning on his cane, led the group to the settlement to rest. The previously lively meeting place quieted down.

Chongming stayed behind, sitting in front of the empty bowl and chopsticks, leaning on his sword, lost in thought. Without permission, no warrior dared to disturb him. This was because High Priest Slar was his protégé, and the warriors' grandfathers, great-grandfathers, and ancestors from hundreds of years ago were also his protégés.

Chongming was an Allied member as early as the Great War. He was the most senior member of the Desperate Wilderness, and he was a true "commander".

"What's wrong?" Shi Zhong asked.

"Nothing..." Chongming said, chewing on a stalk of grass, "I'm just curious. What's it like to speak with words?"

[It's similar to ordinary 'speaking,' but different from telepathy. I'm still breathing... still speaking... but in a completely different form, a very unique feeling.] Shi Zhong wrote, [You should try it if you have the chance. No matter what level of matter you reach, this innate feeling of life cannot be imitated.]

"No thanks, I have no interest in such refined things." Chongming sneered, "I can't help but laugh at your nonsense. Divine Tree Network Dao."

[If I really had to borrow the Divine Tree's web, you could see how badly I'm doing right now. Without the little ones' help along the way, I would have died in the sea long ago. (Sigh)] Stone Seed attempted to sigh in words, [Let's talk about Vande. What are your thoughts?]

“It’s harmless for now,” Chongming said. “Without it, those idiots would have died countless times. I don’t intend to interfere.”

I'm very surprised, Chongming. Your temper has improved so much.

"If all you have to say is nonsense, I'm going to sleep." Chongming got up, leaning on his sword.

Tell me the truth before you leave. Do we... still have any hope?

Chongming raised his hand and pointed to the sky, his flame-like cloak billowing behind him.

"There is always hope ahead," the man said lazily. "As long as love and courage remain in your heart!"

He carried his katana and left the venue with a flourish. Shi Zhong watched the man's retreating figure and for a moment felt as if he had returned to those days.

Back then, everyone talked about hope and the future. Everyone still firmly believed in victory.

·

“We’re here.” Slar stopped in front of a three-story building. “If you want a room by yourself, that’s fine, but I think you’ll be more used to living together.”

"That makes me feel more at ease." Chu Hengkong took the keys. "Thank you."

The old man returned a kind smile. Although he was the previous warrior captain and a highly respected high priest in the settlement, there was no trace of authority in his face. His large, rabbit-like appearance and the forest dwellers' youthful demeanor made him seem more like a cunning scout or a small vendor who set up his stall early in the morning.

Ji Huaisu and Qingye entered first, while Chu Heng remained standing still. He took out a green leaf—a fallen leaf from the desolate wilderness—and handed it to the old man.

Do you recognize this?

“My weapon from back then?!” Slar exclaimed in surprise. “How did it end up in your hands… Did you find it in the tide?”

Chu Hengkong nodded: "He saved me more than once, but unfortunately he's broken."

"This weapon was made when the Holy Pillar still existed. After Qingxia took over from me, I sent it into the sea." The old man took the leaf, his eyes filled with nostalgia. "I never thought I'd see it again... That's what fate is, isn't it?"

"You can see the sea even in the wilderness?" Van der asked.

"The whole world is adrift at sea, let alone this mere battlefield," Sillar laughed. "If you're interested, I can teach you the art of leaf throwing. I'm not bad at it either!"

"I know," Chu Hengkong nodded. He had witnessed Qingxia's skill in throwing hidden weapons and knew that even a genius like her couldn't have mastered it without a teacher; she was most likely taught by the old man himself. As for why the old man had retired, he knew it at a glance without even asking.

His legs were severely injured, and he could only move around by using stilt-like wooden prosthetic legs. A concealed weapon expert who was no longer agile could not lead from the front as a "commander-in-chief".

Silar put away the leaves and turned to leave. Chu Hengkong hesitated for a moment and called out to him.

"Sir."

"how?"

"The settlement is in poor condition. Why bother to hold a banquet for us?"

“It is precisely in dire circumstances that we must seize every opportunity to celebrate,” Slar said with a smile. “The wilderness of despair has existed for a long time. Defeat, regret, and tears fill everyone’s heart. The failure of the 34th counterattack has utterly devastated us… But must we spend our days in tears, wallowing in past setbacks?”

There has been enough fear and tears here. We warriors must always laugh!

Therefore, we must celebrate, we must make a great fuss, we must proclaim our newly established victories. We must use this new hope to make those around us smile. Even without strength, we must resist with smiles.”

Silar walked away, leaning on his cane. Chu Hengkong turned and entered the small building. The building had three floors; the second and third floors were bedrooms, and the first floor was the living room. Qingye lay sprawled on a long wooden bench, rolling around listlessly. Ji Huaisu rested her hands behind her head, staring blankly at the ceiling.

"They all seem a bit listless," Van der said.

“Unlike you, who just wakes up, eats, and goes back to sleep.” Ji Huaisu yawned. “What are your plans for tonight?”

"Let's go on a date." Chu Hengkong shrugged.

"Hey~" Ji Huaisu exclaimed.

Qingye raised her hand: "If you see any clothes, please get me one, thank you."

"well."

Chu Heng chuckled, closed the door, and went outside. He walked alone through the settlement at night, seeing fires lit in the bone houses around him. In this last remaining safe zone, people could at least have some light at night.

Many families are only now starting to eat, and their diet is very simple: half a semi-liquid "pancake" per person, plus some pickled vegetables. The food seems to be supplied uniformly by the settlement, without any distinction. And there are not many people eating together; the houses are mostly filled with the elderly and children, with few young adults.

Occasionally, a child living alone would bring his own food and knock on the doors of the neighboring houses. The elderly or women next door would silently welcome him in and add an extra stool to the table. The house abandoned by the child would soon be extinguished by the cold wind. From then on, it would be an uninhabited house, an empty house that could be lent to strangers.

Outside the house, some people lingered for a long time. They were ragged, distraught, and dressed in a style quite different from the people in the settlement. When they saw Chu Hengkong, this new face, they all gathered around him, scrutinizing him with their murky eyes.

"A newcomer?" one of them said. "Brought by Qingxia?"

Chu Hengkong nodded.

"—" the man kept saying, "—"

They seemed to want to offer some kind of advice, but the natural barriers that existed within the Fog People rendered them speechless. After a brief effort, the group dispersed dejectedly, slumping down under the eaves. Unlike the optimistic researchers, the Fog People within the settlement seemed to have lost their will, like walking corpses.

“Don’t you think it’s a little creepy?” Van der said. “Like those guys from Ying Shi Town.”

“There are even more familiar ones,” Chu Hengkong chuckled.

Chu Hengkong led Fan De to the outskirts of the settlement. Qingxia had instructed him to visit the house beforehand, but his primary target for the night was not there. Before the banquet, when Qingxia was chatting with him about various things, he caught a glimpse of a building that seemed out of place with the rest of the settlement.

The building was situated on a low staircase, with a soaring Gothic spire and long windows adorned with black and white stained glass. It was a church that looked very familiar.

"No way, buddy," Vande muttered.