Forge a path to success

The calamity-bringing dragon roared in fury, and the fierce wind shattered all of Lingfeng's beams of light. Ji Huaisu stood on the dragon's back, her voice amplified with the dragon's roar, reaching into Lingfeng's heart.

"You believe that you will enjoy a moment of peace after independence, and that trade will flourish again after the city-state prospers. It sounds like a wonderful vision. But I wonder, after your unilateral actions have killed billions of lives, who in this world will be willing to ally with you, who will be your friend!"

Ji Huaisu said loudly, "Every drink and every bite in this world is clearly remembered by the tides of fate. The deaths and injuries caused by your single city will exceed the bloodshed of the heretics over a hundred years. I wonder who will be considered heretics in the eyes of future generations, and who will ultimately have to pay for this karma!"

"——!!!"

Lingfeng was deeply shocked, and for a moment she didn't know how to respond. She felt even her hand holding the sword trembling. The female knight's gaze was like two clear swords, piercing straight into the darkness she didn't want to look at, striking at those possibilities that she had deliberately ignored.

She gritted her teeth and urged the beam of light to rise again, but no matter what she did, she couldn't break through the wind barrier of the Calamity Dragon. At this moment, Ji Huaisu leaped from the dragon's back and unleashed a fierce kick without mercy. The Calamity Dragon transformed into pure energy that coiled around her armor, causing this attack to directly shatter Ling Feng's light!

The kick struck head-on, and the seal directly stripped her of her elemental transformation ability. Aya, now in human form, fell from the sky like a pale star plummeting into the fields.

Ji Huaisu landed beside her, drew a card, and summoned back the Calamity Dragon. She turned to look at Ling Feng; the fourth captain's helmet was already shattered, and bewildered eyes peeked through the gaps.

"To hold out is certain death, and independence is also a dead end. So what should we do? Should we just die on the battlefield...? Is this the justice you believe in?"

“You, Lingfeng,” Ji Huaisu said, “you have too little faith in your own homeland and too little faith in your allies. You should step out of this city-state and see other battlefields, so that you can understand a simple truth.”

She stepped forward and pulled Lingfeng up. She patted her shoulder forcefully.

"There is never a lone battle; true allies are those who stand together through thick and thin," she said firmly. "True justice means that when you go to the battlefield, we will be together!"

Lingfeng squinted, as if she had seen an excessively bright light.

She suddenly understood why the older generation had guarded this place generation after generation without complaint. Perhaps it was because in the past, both the city-states and the allies were as upright as this knight.

Unwavering, thus never admitting defeat.

Chapter 370 Abundant Harvest (The End)

The battles between the powerful began and ended very quickly, while the people on the ground had no time to pay attention to the lightning and thunder in the sky.

The fourth phase had descended into genuine madness. Widespread psychological suggestion had been shattered by the White Lotus, and the Divine Tree's broadcasts had delivered previously unheard-of truths into everyone's minds. Doubt, panic, confusion, and anger—chaotic emotions rose like steam, causing the demons within the resistance army to tremble.

There were simply too many people involved. It wasn't just a disturbance involving hundreds or thousands of people; it was a conflict of thoughts involving over a hundred million people. If such a vast amount of mental energy were concentrated together, it could even harm high-level powerhouses. Even those who had instinctively tried to maintain their composure, found themselves caught in this collective conflict, gradually losing their own opinions and succumbing to the chaotic tide.

"It was Philid who deceived us!"

“The opposition’s words are not necessarily correct.”

"You betrayed the Allies to save your own lives!"

"A traitor who would abandon the sacred tree at the mere mention of potential losses!"

"They're all liars!" an old farmer shouted hysterically. "They're all lying to us for their own purposes! I don't believe anyone, I fucking don't believe anyone anymore!!"

He swung his pitchfork at the rat-cage chariot beside him, breaking the wheels and releasing the imprisoned small citizens. The freed Gobo tribe and hamsters were enraged, leaping up and indiscriminately pulling the hair of those around them. This simple reactive behavior was misinterpreted as deliberate aggression, and the farmers immediately retaliated.

Pushing, shoving, punching, kicking, and then weapons were used. The words of the leaders had become meaningless; a frenzied emotion dominated the entire Fourth Sequence. An unstoppable, large-scale bloodshed was about to erupt.

At this moment, the fourth captain finally appeared in everyone's sight.

"Currently, ideological conflicts are occurring throughout the Fourth Lineage, threatening the lives of citizens. In the name of Ling Feng, captain of the Fourth Divine Guard of the Jing Sha, we request the pacification of the crowd."

【license】

No longer the cold declaration of the false divine tree, but an aged yet gentle voice resonated in everyone's hearts. A pale green pillar of light descended, enveloping Lingfeng like a verdant veil. With the support of the Thorn Sacred Tree, her power extended to the entire Fourth Order realm, allowing people to see the warm light.

The power of the elements is the power of emotion, and the glimmer is the purest positive emotion, a symbol of protection and healing. The mages of the Spiral Tower once used this light to quell disputes, repeatedly thwarting the schemes of heretics. Now, divine power spreads with the light, like a gentle hand caressing people's confused minds, bringing them back to calm…

This allowed them to temporarily view everything in front of them from an objective perspective.

The democratic politics of the city-state encourages everyone to speak freely... but all disputes remain verbal. All conflicts should be between words and thoughts. We will never harm others because of differing political views... because what the system and laws uphold is trust and love.

Very rarely, the sacred tree of thorns spoke to its people. After uttering this single word, it fell silent, as if it had exhausted all its strength. The people were deeply moved by this, and many devout believers even shed tears.

Before reason could even register what was happening, just seconds later, another deafening sound stole people's attention.

That was the banner of the resistance, the invulnerable giant hardwood vanguard. It indiscriminately used its massive vines to lift up the surrounding crowd, clearing a large open space. Seeing its side in such a favorable position, the giant lay down as if asleep, stirring up a cloud of dust.

Amidst the stunned gazes of the crowd, the cockpit of the Hardwood Vanguard ejected. Gulibo jumped out, waving a small white flag, and exclaimed excitedly, "Everyone is clearly thinking of the city-state, so why do we have to continue fighting? The enemy hasn't even invaded yet, and we're already fighting amongst ourselves?!"

"I don't want to fight my own people!"

It ran out waving a white flag, abandoning the war plants and completely ignoring them. The rest of the resistance fighters dropped their equipment and raised flowers, fruits, and the white flags they had prepared beforehand.

In an instant, the Fourth Line turned into a blanket of white, shocking both the independence advocates and the apolitical citizens. The sheer volume of events left the citizens overwhelmed with mixed emotions. Many laid down their weapons, and someone let out a bewildered sigh.

"What are we doing...?"

Who is it that claims to be righteous yet repeatedly commits acts of violence?

People helped their companions up, filled with guilt and remorse. Apologies, explanations, and arguments all turned into long sighs... and then into low sobs.

·

Inside the Hardwood Pioneer, in the driver's cab.

Vilbert toyed with a specially made Y2K bug, which hopped around like a toad, repeating as it did so, "What are we doing? What are we doing?"

She smiled with satisfaction and put the Millennium Bug away.

The stone seed lying on the ground said, "Little girl, this isn't exactly honorable."

"Unfortunately, it is difficult to win public support by simply expressing genuine feelings."

"Gulibo and the others still think this is a resonance of souls..."

“That’s the most important driving force, isn’t it?” Wilbert said. “So let’s not let them know about these minor tricks, let the reconciliation in the field be a miracle of goodwill.”

After breaking free from the mind controller's influence, everyone saw the truth in Shi Zhong's words and, at the urging of the Divine Tree, turned hostility into friendship, finally achieving a successful reconciliation.

Of course, things didn't go that smoothly.

Most things are influenced by preconceived notions, and political stances are even more difficult to change. Even with the combined influence of Shi Zhong and Jing Sha, the stubborn populace was not so easily swayed.

Therefore, when Shi Zhong broadcast his mental power, he also planted a slight psychological suggestion. It was a verbal mental guidance, like "You'll have good luck this afternoon." The white flag prepared in advance by Gulibo and the others, as well as the theatrical act of Hardwood Vanguard deliberately falling down, all reinforced this impression to a considerable extent.

Afterwards, Lingfeng used a faint light to soothe emotions on a wide scale, creating the objective conditions for the implied outburst, while Jing Sha's voice transmission provided a strong impetus. With the captain of the fourth team defeated, the fourth team, without its commander, was no different from ordinary citizens in the chaos of the entire sequence. With the help of the pre-arranged Y2K voice transmission bug and some spies infiltrated into the independence faction, the reconciliation between the two sides was almost inevitable.

Behind the grand reconciliation of the fourth phase is actually a meticulously planned political show.

“The original plan wouldn’t have gone so smoothly, but the timing of the message from the Thorn Tree was perfect,” Vilbert commented. “I think the God of Unity understands the current state of the city-state better than anyone else.”

"Can't love and kindness alone save Jing Sha...?" Shi Zhong sighed. "The citizens are all so innocent, while we 'upright' people use underhanded methods. It's truly disheartening."

"You didn't hesitate when you gave the hint."

"Leaders can't be as naive as ordinary people."

The screen in the driver's cab displayed the outside scene. A pre-prepared "Re-signing the Bill" banner fluttered in the sunlight, and farmers, led by the resistance group, lined up to sign the petition. Some farmers who were originally apolitical joined the petitioners, as a blond knight was loudly appealing in the crowd.

"The difficulties faced by Jing Sha are well understood within the allied forces. I want you all to know that Lord Canxin is very concerned about the city-state, and his personal disciple is currently fighting within the city. This matter clearly demonstrates Lord Canxin's attitude!"

Before the main reinforcements from the various major powers arrive at the city-state, the current fighting force of Shura Island will not easily leave the front lines. In a few days, the first batch of warriors will arrive.

"We must trust our allies, and even more so, trust our own country. Jing Sha will never fight alone; let us together protect the glory of the sacred tree!"

This publicity campaign was a shot in the arm for the anti-bill faction. The subsequent appearance of Captain Ling Feng, who confirmed the truth of her statement, was even more inspiring.

The Fourth Meridian was instantly abuzz with activity, and the spirit of unity and struggle once again dominated public opinion. Meanwhile, Ji Huaisu, having completed his mission, slipped back into the driver's seat and, having somehow acquired a bottle of juice, happily sipped it.

Vilbert smiled enigmatically: "I had no idea that the Lord of the Broken Heart had sent a disciple to carry out his mission."

"Ah Kong is the one, a 100% direct disciple! Not a single word is false!"

“So Akong had such an extraordinary encounter.” Vilbert nodded. “Then how did you know I had contacted reinforcements from other Dust Islands?”

Ji Huaisu blinked: "I don't know, I guessed."

Vilbert laughed: "Oh!"

"Having been around here for so long, I think I understand what city-state politics is all about," Ji Huaisu said confidently. "City-state politics is about making grand promises first, and then making them come true. If you succeed, you're a wise ruler; if you fail, you're a mediocre one."

"You are very good at finding the essence of a problem, and I think you have the potential to become a politician."

“Then I must be a great politician, and whatever I say must be done.” Ji Huaisu took a big gulp of juice. “This afternoon I’ll go and pull strings with Xiao Ye. This city-state problem needs to be addressed from both inside and outside. I must bring in reinforcements.”

“I think she became smarter after her transformation,” Shi Zhong said.

Vilbert commented, "Perhaps sealing away some of the power would be more helpful for thinking."

She donned a suit jacket, manipulated the information projection, and walked through the crowd, finding the down-on-his-luck Philfield under a large tree. This farmer and senator was now largely ignored; his supporters had abandoned him, and many denounced him as a predatory capitalist who had deceived the public.

“I knew it,” it said dejectedly to Vilbert. “My farm will be the first to go bankrupt after independence. I knew that from the beginning of the plan… But I am not afraid of poverty. For the sake of the city of Thorns, I can give up these possessions! I have been hungry for ten years, and I am not afraid of being hungry for another ten years, or even twenty years!”

"They keep saying they love the city-state, but why are they unwilling to give up their own interests for the city-state?"

Vilbert felt like she was talking to a child. She thought this was probably the reality for a significant portion of the citizens of Jingsha: they had morality and a sense of responsibility, but they were too naive about certain things.

“Loving the thorns and loving oneself are never contradictory,” she said. “Everyone has selfish desires, and the prosperity of the city-state in the past was due to the combination of selfishness and justice. A united collective makes the divine power strong, and production and trade themselves are meaningful.”

"The devastating blow 20 years ago was the direct cause of Jing Sha's decline, but the persistent depression is the core of its decline. Your willingness to abandon wealth and happiness to stay away from the battlefield shows that you no longer trust the sacred tree you love and respect, even from the bottom of your heart."

Phifide was startled by these words; Violet's projection had already departed. Her words of advice came from the crowd.

"Before blaming the masses, perhaps you should first think about yourselves. Does the divine tree truly want to see the happiness of the entire city-state, or a future where citizens starve to death in their own lives?"

·

And so, the chaos of the fourth pulse sequence came to an end.

The mandatory labor law ceased to be enforced after this day, and Wilbert took full control of the underground base of the Pfeiffer Farm. The once rampant "false sacred tree" gradually ceased to exert its control over the fields.

Within a week, members of underground resistance groups and wavering neutrals contributed 1800 million votes to revive the bill. This number continues to rise over time, raising hopes for a revival vote.

The shift in the situation was most directly reflected in Fort Mansa.

"oh oh……"

Where the grass and trees swayed, Old Jingsha let out a hoarse sigh. His frail body, however, seemed to possess a sliver of strength. He moved his shoulders very slowly, smiling as he murmured to himself, "It seems... we still have hope!"

The face behind his head spoke: "No need to struggle, the outcome is already decided."

"Hey," Old Jing Sha chuckled, "Old friend, we'll see!"

Chapter 371 War and Turmoil (1)

The cicadas chirped listlessly, their calls drowned out by the rain. These small citizens, who used to play music in the streets, now glared angrily at each other in the trees, their music replaced by commotion and restless pushing and shoving among themselves.

Raindrops fell beside the insects, bounced off the thorns, and merged into the muddy water of the street. The murky puddles reflected gloomy faces, and as military boots trod, mud splattered onto the trousers of passersby.

The passersby's gazes met, their expressions mirroring the same restlessness and frustration, both brimming with anger waiting to be unleashed. One man patted his trouser leg. "Such heavy footsteps, yet he has the weak face of an independent." The pedestrian stopped. "Trying to stir up trouble, you conservative."

"Ugh, I want to crush your useless balls." "All you've got left is a mouth."

The rain intensified, making it impossible to see who threw the first punch—it was a heavy blow that slammed another man against the bar window. He quickly rose and retaliated, the rainy night murky with blood. The citizens were naturally drawn in, eagerly joining in as if they had finally found their chance. And so another mass brawl began, a harbinger of future misfortune.

The patrons in the bar didn't react much; this was the daily routine for the Second Phase during this period. They discussed secretive news of unknown origin. A red-haired woman in the corner pricked up her pointed ears, listening with keen interest.

"Another batch of weapons has arrived in the fields..." "Their mass-produced soldiers are indeed very useful." "They can all serve in my place now!"

"Who will these weapons be used on?" "The heretics, of course." "Wouldn't it be better to send them to the front lines?" "I haven't received any information about it."

"So it's for civil war?" the red-haired woman said casually.

These words shattered the unspoken understanding among everyone, instantly replacing the barely maintained peace with tense, angry glares. The people in the bar gradually split into two distinct factions; even the bartender was prepared, except for the red-haired woman, who continued drinking alone as if blind to the danger. Someone strode forward aggressively: "Which faction are you on?!"

"Stop! Don't embarrass yourself in front of strangers!"

He was met with a harsh, aged rebuke. The short, thin old man pushed the man's fist away and sat down in the seat next to him with a stern face.

"Mr. Slaine..."

People seemed to recognize him, intimidated by his imposing presence, and silently left the bar. A short while later, a commotion arose outside, and a redhead looked out at the rain through a muddy window.

Silian ordered a glass of fruit wine and said to her, "It's not a good choice to travel to Thorns at this time of year."

The old man had long ears and enormous, almost scathing eyes, which made the redhead feel a sense of familiarity. She smiled and said, "Lots of people are fighting."

“That’s the tradition here; warriors settle disputes with their fists.” Slayne shook her head. “There’s a special law called the Duel Law… whoever wins gets to decide, that’s about it. So eloquent people don’t get any attention here; only the strong have the final say.”

"Are there really so many conflicts? They're all comrades-in-arms in the same army, aren't they?"

“In the past, our citizens of the Second Order were invincible soldiers… just like the name Ironcrown, as hard as steel and as tenacious as thorns,” the old man said. “But this army suffered too much damage 20 years ago.”

"Did you lose?"

"We won. But it was a devastating victory," Silan said calmly. "After ten years of holding out, we failed in the final battle. Less than half of those who left returned. The survivors began to question the meaning of such a war... A grueling campaign every 30 years, dwindling reinforcements, and an ever-growing enemy. Casualties, hunger, fleeting moments of happiness—it all repeats itself endlessly. Sooner or later, we'll break down and become a second Netherworld Kingdom."

He stared at the pale red liquor: "There are no gains in war, only ever-increasing losses. That's why everyone wants to get away from war... to put aside responsibilities, obligations, justice, and all such things, to get away from the heart of the war, to go far away..."

“Grandpa, he’s running away,” the red-haired woman said with a smile.