The law of smoke without damage

The God of the Star Palace opened his arms.

The ground trembled slightly, and a terrifying roar came from the deep well, growing louder as it approached.

In a small town a few hundred meters from Star Worship Square, Kang De witnessed this bizarre scene through real-time camera footage—he had also set up several cameras while planting the bomb, transmitting the images in real time to a storage device, preparing to capture the stupid face of this scoundrel before he was bombed from all angles.

But now, something unexpected has clearly happened.

What does he want to do?

"Father! The Destruction Squadron is interrogating prisoners; the key word is blood sacrifice!"

Horus's voice was urgent. "You must make a decision immediately!"

Kang De reached out and opened the Phase Gate, then shouted sharply, "Make them prepare! Fifteen seconds!"

On the large platform plaza, air raid sirens blared wildly, and Horus's voice filled the air. "Halsey! Prepare for the impact! A high-yield bomb is about to detonate inside the mountain!"

As expected of an elite spellcaster and officer of the Arcane Council, the Son of the Typhoon immediately understood and ordered, "Switch the Magic Core to Mountain Dive Mode! Defend against the impending seismic wave! Intensity reference: Battlefield-level Combined Magic Stars Sink and Earth Quakes! Infuse immediately!"

Deep within the mountain, Kang De and the A Xing disappeared into White Mist World.

With things having come to this point, he gave up any idea of continuing to communicate with the other party.

Because the attitude of this extraterrestrial enemy is already very clear.

He would never surrender, because he understood the Fire Thief knew their power, so he did not want to fall into Kang De's hands.

Therefore, I'd rather choose a less-than-ideal option.

So...

Detonate!

The Phase Gate closed instantly, and the control center of the large platform base issued a detonation command.

The extraterrestrial enemy in Star Worship Square spread its arms, waiting for its fate to arrive. It heard a rumbling sound approaching, until countless black tentacles shot out from the huge well, baring their fangs and claws. At first, they were afraid, but then, as if given permission, they greedily surrounded the enemy with their waving predatory organs.

At that moment, sunlight shone in the corner of his eye.

The two explosions were almost simultaneous, instantly atomizing a massive amount of fuel and spreading in all directions under the shockwave. A second explosion followed immediately, the violent chemical reaction instantly draining all the oxygen from the Star Worship Square area. The intense heat and terrifying shockwave tore apart everything left in the plaza, thick smoke billowing out and creating a violent hurricane in the underground plaza. The overwhelming air currents roared and raged, spreading recklessly outwards along the plaza's several passageways!

The violent tremor centered on the explosion point, shaking the main mountain range of the central island. The raging wind pressure swept across the area, destroying all the buildings and furnishings of this exquisite underground world. Houses, buildings, and stables collapsed and tore apart in the fierce wind and fire. This unparalleled and terrifying force even continued to propagate along the mountain rock layers, eventually causing a horrific earthquake. The mountains shook, roads cracked, and houses collapsed!

"Magic Core Overload Infusion!"

Even after weakening along the way, the terrifying shockwave still shook the large platform base.

At this moment, the spellcasting power of the mage group was highly concentrated. With their rich experience in dealing with earthquake spells of the Earth School, they reinforced the mountain, guided the shock waves, and neutralized the attack. The soldiers lined up close in the open area, supporting each other, and maintained their rationality in the face of this earth-shattering tremor.

They saw plumes of smoke and waves of fire rising from the ruins of the hilltop castle.

Kang De and the A Xing returned to the large platform base through the Phase Gate.

He gazed toward the castle, where flames still raged and smoke billowed. He hadn't calculated the total yield of the bombs planted in Star Worship Square, but judging from the sheer force of the attack, he was grateful that the Broken Isles had spared no expense and used ample materials to build the mountain fortress, which hadn't blown the entire castle grounds to smithereens.

"I'm reminded of a rather unpleasant saying I saw online."

He slowly said, "The 'no harm without smoke' principle."

In the confined space, numerous air-fuel bombs and high-explosive bombs awaited. Whether it was the explosive treatment from the atomic bomb, the high-temperature burning, the oxygen suffocation, or the repeated superposition of shock waves within the confined space, it was enough to give this extraterrestrial enemy a hard time. Since he could be beaten to the point of vomiting blood by A Xing's righteous sneak attack, he could not possibly remain unscathed under such an artistic attack.

But... he still felt uneasy.

It's not just because of the other party's background and identity.

As the greatest enemy of Fire Thief throughout history, this being who dwells high in the heavens and manipulates the Mortal World sees the well in the square as his only chance of survival in this desperate situation...

A Xing noticed his worry. "Shall we go take a look?"

Kang De assessed the situation and said helplessly, "The reference points attached to the spatial beacon are all ruined, so the imprints left on them have been washed away. Besides, it's impossible to see inside now."

The seawater that Kang De poured in still remains there, but it was instantly vaporized by the high-temperature explosion. The underground world must now be filled with toxic gases and high-temperature steam, and there is a possibility of collapse.

For safety reasons, it is not advisable to get involved at this time.

"However, we have other sources of information."

Kang De turned his head, and surrounded by a group of Doom Warriors, the de facto ruler and supreme monarch of the Broken Isles avoided eye contact and shrank back.

The Fire Thief stepped forward, grabbed him by the hair, and slammed him to the ground.

"No! No!"

The old but not decaying island lord lay on the ground, his body curled up, emitting a pitiful but not shrill cry, and then repeatedly said, "I'll tell you everything! I'll tell you everything!"

He raised his head, looking at Kang De. His once neatly styled, smooth white hair was now disheveled and plastered to his face. The super-rich man, who controlled countless fortunes and had the world at his beck and call, revealed a fawning expression. "Your Highness Kang De, Your Majesty the Great Kang De, I have countless riches and countless resources, all of which I offer to you..."

Kang De said coldly, "Stop acting, get to the point."

Horus nearby, had already started recording. Several drones buzzed around him, and the naval officers and soldiers from the three countries also gathered around. The two giant dragons transformed into humans and landed.

"He is the god of the Star Palace... oh no, a false god!"

The island lord answered without hesitation, "Many years ago, our ancestors came here, established the Broken Isles, absorbed power, and accumulated wealth, all with the secret support and assistance of the Star Palace!"

"They commanded us to become thorns in the side of the Broken Isles, to exert influence and compete with Goth for control of the western seas' trade hub. Their aim was to sever Goth's Grand Line to Cathay and cut off all communication between the eastern and western continents! We are a crucial link in this grand plan!"

Upon hearing this, the naval officers and soldiers from various countries were stunned, and then began to whisper among themselves. Mei Xizhu showed an expression of disbelief, but the one with the strongest reaction was actually the elven captain, Quilion.

"Bullshit!" he shouted angrily, "Blocking Goth and interrupting the sea route to Cathay are clearly..."

The island lord knew what he was going to say and retorted directly, "Twilight Moon is another part of the plan! How could a mere Goth enter the Eye of the Star Palace? Their goal is to sever the connection between the two continents! Do you think the Dusk Moon Dynasty doesn't have its spies or even servants within its ranks?"

The elves all paled.

"This is a massive conspiracy! You so-called soldiers of the world's strongest nations, proud of your countries, loyal to your monarchs or your own beliefs, wanting to achieve great things and expand your territories, but you could never have imagined that there are arrogant eyes looking down on the Mortal World from above. Six or seven out of ten times, the conflicts, wars, and even tragedies of this world are inextricably linked to them!"

The island owner shouted himself hoarse, waving his arms and dropping bombshell after bombshell.

Then he turned to Kang De and prostrated himself in deep worship, kowtowing repeatedly according to the customs of Cathay, shouting, "Your Highness, I want to expose to you the grand conspiracy of the false god of the Star Palace! That false god's descent to the Mortal World this time is not just to deal with you! He has another terrible plan!"

He straightened up and pointed to the sea beyond the large platform. "Those are the terrifying monsters in the sea! They're closely related to us! If I'm not mistaken, he wants to awaken the centipede behemoths that have guarded the deep sea for generations on the Broken Isles, and spread countless sea monsters all over the world!"

The island lord yelled at the top of his lungs, "The Star Palace wants to cut off all maritime trade and shipping in the Mortal World!"

Upon hearing this, the officers and soldiers were immediately in an uproar. Their experience and wisdom varied, but they were all seasoned seafarers. Before the beach landing, they had racked their brains and exhausted every means to fend off these countless sea monsters. Even the advanced warships of the world's three greatest powers had struggled so much; what chance did ordinary merchant ships have? If these creatures truly spread across the seas...

The maritime trade that underpins the prosperity and development of the world today is indeed about to be interrupted!

Business activity plummeted, prices soared, countless people lost their livelihoods, and famines broke out in various places... Such a catastrophe is simply unimaginable, too evil!

"Your Highness Kang De!"

They stared in shock at the Fire Thief, momentarily panicked.

The enemy was from the sky, an enemy never before imagined.

The opponent's plans and schemes seemed to penetrate deep into the Mortal World, sending chills down one's spine.

Their plan was even more vicious.

This was clearly not information that these rank-and-file soldiers needed to know. The soldiers instinctively looked at Kang De, who was now their highest-ranking officer.

Kang De remained calm, showing little surprise, mainly because he was already mentally prepared. He had previously heard Dairian mention the extraterrestrial enemy, and the idea of an evil force manipulating the world from behind the scenes was something he had seen a thousand times on Earth, so there was nothing to be surprised about.

He pondered for a moment and asked, "A giant beast from the deep sea? Sealed in the Broken Isles?"

"Yes, yes, yes."

The island owner nodded vigorously. "This is also our generation's mission, but according to our ancestors, it shouldn't be a seal, but rather an order to stay in the deep sea."

"From the false god's fragmented words, I gleaned some inside information. That behemoth was probably placed here by the Star Palace many years ago to deal with their enemies. Their prediction was that in another ten years or so, their enemies would be completely devoured by the behemoth, and at that time, they would release this monster to execute a new plan: to sever maritime trade and shipping in the Mortal World..."

At this point, he glanced furtively at Kang De: "But it seems some unexpected event occurred, forcing them to execute the plan ahead of schedule and release the deep-sea behemoth..."

Kang De said coldly, "So you're considered released now?"

"Not yet..."

The island lord looked up at Kang De, his gaze unwavering, striving to appear utterly sincere and humble. He cautiously said, "They seem to loathe coming to the Mortal World, so their calculations are very precise. That deep-sea behemoth is in a deep sleep, like hibernation, like some hibernating creatures that store food. It also has stored food—the deep-sea races suppressed and sealed by the Star Palace. Only after it has devoured all of the Star Palace's enemies will it regain its strength and fully awaken, which should be more than ten years from now..."

Kang De seemed to understand something, and his eyes turned cold and sharp.

"If we want that thing to wake up now..."

The island owner gritted his teeth, lowered his head, and said, "We need to feed him enough food right now..."

The Fire Thief coldly asked, "The beings of the entire Broken Isles?"

The island owner shrank his neck and slowly nodded.

"--brute!"

Angry curses erupted from the side. Mei Xizhu's eyes were bloodshot as he raised his hand to summon flames, only to have them extinguished by Ailike beside him. Eric, holding his friend, shouted angrily, "Are you out of your mind?!"

He used offensive magic in front of Kang De, and even after the island lord revealed his secret.

This behavior is extremely taboo.

The spellcasters on the island, saved by Kang De, were also filled with rage, which slowly spread throughout the entire navy. Everyone's gaze was infinitely cold. Regardless of Civilization or culture, sacrificing countless lives to a brutal monster was an intolerable evil.

If Kang De gave the order, this once-wealthy man would be torn to pieces.

The island lord cried out, "Your Highness Kang De! Please spare my life! I was forced into this; if I don't obey his orders, I will be executed in the most cruel way! I know this is not a valid excuse, but..."

He said urgently, "But the Star Palace's threat to the Mortal World is becoming increasingly overt. Even if this operation is stopped, more brutal methods will follow. This is a threat to the entire world, and the whole world should unite to fight against it. Your Highness, please spare my life so that my testimony can convince the kings of all nations!"

"I still have a lot of information I haven't revealed!"

"The wealth and resources I possess can be put to tremendous use!"

"Your Highness Kang De! Killing me now would only avenge the dead and bring you some peace of mind; it would serve no other purpose!"

"When I die, all my remaining wealth, intelligence, accumulations, and private army will vanish silently, never to be known by the world again. Why not use them to fight against the Star Palace and make them what they are meant to be? I am already so old, what difference does it make whether I die today or some time from now?"

"Therefore, please spare my life! I beg for your mercy and reason!"

On his journey to the Earth's surface with the God of the Star Palace, he had already planned out his current way of survival.

As a businessman, you must be prepared for the worst.

And things did indeed turn out exactly as he had feared worst. The so-called God of the Star Palace was utterly defeated and fled in terror under Kang De's scheme. He had served and pledged allegiance to the false god not because of his father's instructions, but because he wanted to live longer. Now that this false god had been defeated and he had been captured alive by Kang De, forget about immortality; he was likely to be torn to pieces right now. So the priority now was to desperately save himself!

He quickly adjusted his mindset, truly showing he could take things in stride. He fawned over the Lord of the Star Palace before, and now he fawned over Kang De just the same way. As for face and dignity, what did they matter if he lost his life?

Having been the island's owner for so many years, he has witnessed countless people driven by desire, corrupted by money, and bowing down to women, their values distorted and their morality indifferent. He believes that humans are just animals, and morality is nothing but a hypocritical facade; how could they possibly care about so-called dignity?

So he knelt down as quickly as possible, without any wasted words, pushing out stacks of his highest-priced chips without the slightest hesitation or heartache; after all, he was a businessman.

Moreover, he is one of the most successful businessmen in the world.

Kang De's expression was somber, almost as if he were about to burst into tears.

All of the island lord's efforts and maneuvering had come to nothing, and Kang De truly no longer cared about his life or death... This matter was of very low priority.

He felt that something even more troublesome had happened.

"Before I caught up with him, he said something about how he couldn't defy fate, and then I saw him open his arms to the deep well—at that point, I had driven him to the brink."

Kang De gazed at the island owner and slowly asked, "What do you think he wants to do?"

The other person was surprised for a moment, then their pupils suddenly contracted.

The island owner murmured, "He fed himself to... that monster?"

At this point, he couldn't help but shudder.

Because he had previously witnessed the terrifying scene of countless tentacles flying and tearing apart and devouring living beings, he could make the connection, imagining that amidst the violent explosions and the desperate flames, tentacles were waving and swirling at an extremely fast speed, engulfing the gods of the Star Palace.

They wrapped their arms around the other person's body, enveloping them, and the other person even had a smile on their face.

A deep-sea behemoth that is still asleep and will only awaken when it has eaten its fill.

They ate a supernatural being who called himself a god and resided in the Star Palace.

"If it's just suicide, there should be many ways to do it."

Kang De turned and left. "Horus, make him a suit of iron armor. You personally guard and protect him. No one is allowed to approach or spy on him. Anyone who disobeys will be killed without mercy!"

--Success!

A surge of immense joy overwhelmed the island lord, yet he gritted his teeth, daring not even to cheer, nor to express gratitude or praise for Prince Kang De's benevolence—he knew perfectly well that anything he uttered now would only provoke the other's resentment and displeasure.

From this moment on, he made up his mind that he would not say a word unless asked.

I have a bad feeling.

The officers followed behind Kang De, listening as His Highness said, "We must prepare for the worst, that the explosion might not have killed him, or that even if it did, his body might still be devoured by that deep-sea monster..."

He gazed out to sea, where the monsters seemed endless. Even with mountains of corpses, they continued to surge forth from the deep ocean. Heaven knows how many there were.

"I feel like something amazing is going to happen."

"We need to develop an evacuation plan... a grand plan."

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PS1: I felt absolutely nothing...