The Extinguished City

"99 squads, all captains and vice-captains, must record the routes in front of the sand table every day for the rest of the time, and each of them must choose one member as their substitute. If the captain dies, the vice-captain will take over; if the vice-captain dies, the substitute will take over," Qing Chen's cold voice echoed in the midnight square of Whale Island.

Qing Chen: "Remember, from the moment you transmigrated, your lives no longer belong to yourselves. Your only task is to lead your teammates to purchase the supplies I've assigned, and then survive to leave City No. 10, or perhaps reach the Lower Three Districts. Got it?"

"Got it!" the Time Walker replied.

Qing Chen nodded. "Once this catastrophe is over, you will have truly grown up. I hope that when I return next time... I can still see you standing here."

To be honest, Qing Chen felt a pang of pain when he said those words, as he knew very well what would happen in the week he would be traveling through time.

If things are really as bad as he thinks, there probably won't be many people who will be able to return alive.

Before leaving the square, Chen Zhuoqu suddenly addressed the many Time Walker in the crowd. "There should be quite a few people in the square who, like me, have challenged the cliffs, but you all gave up. Now, although the 48 hours for the second stage have passed, and you can only challenge the third and fourth cliffs, what I want to say is that it's never too late to start trying in life."

Chen Zhuoqu: "This matter may not be able to repay you right now, but after experiencing the helplessness of life and death, you must understand that the crisis we encountered this time will definitely be encountered again in the future. The challenge that you couldn't complete this time may be possible next time you return, and if not next time, then the time after that, and if not the time after that, then the time after that."

Hu Jingyi chimed in, "Yeah, even someone like me is still persevering. You guys can't be any worse than me, right? Instead of waiting here for the time to come, why not give it a try? At least it'll be good exercise."

Xiao Qi chuckled and said, "Well said."

Qing Chen watched this scene silently. The speed at which Chen Zhuoqu was growing up was even faster than he had imagined.

In the future, he may become a key player for the Knights.

The Agricultural Academy was bustling with activity.

Sun Chuci and others were busy planting the Longevity Sky Fruit, while Little Yu was back to her old job, wearing an apron and stir-frying tea.

Originally, Qing Chen did not plan to continue planting Longevity Sky, since the academy's Time Walker would eventually reach their limit, and then no one would care about this thing anymore.

But now the situation has changed drastically, and he has no choice but to plant them.

In the limited time available, the best outcome would be for each of the 1,358 children under the age of 12 to receive two tokens before the time travel, followed by the girls in the junior high Time Walker receiving one token each.

This is already the limit for the Agricultural Academy.

Another unexpected thing happened: more than a hundred Time Walker had given up before were once again seen in front of the nine cliffs.

They were oppressed by the crisis and infected by the atmosphere. Everyone wanted to survive. Everyone realized the importance of strength at the Life and Death Trial, and also realized that if they did not change their lives, they might not have the chance to change them again.

However, they consciously avoided using the third cliff face where the challengers had successfully completed the challenge, and instead went directly to train on the fourth and fifth cliff faces.

These returning challengers no longer expect to receive the rewards for each level; their goal is the final cliff.

Qing Chen underestimated some cowardly people.

It turns out that in the face of a great crisis, some former cowards can become brave again.

When the Time Walker, he asked Qing Chen if there was a time limit for the final cliff.

Qing Chen told them that there was no time limit for the final cliff. You could work hard for a year or for a lifetime. As long as you got over that mountain, you would definitely have a new life.

As he watched the challengers train again and again, he suddenly realized that the numbers he had given the old guys were still too conservative.

The morning of the third day after the return.

The Time Walker in the academy who are not from City No. 10 have finally been released from lockdown.

They already knew what had happened and were running around encouraging the Time Walker in City No. 10.

On the college forum app, countless people posted messages to cheer them on.

Many Time Walker would go to the academy and say that they were gene warriors or cultivators. Although they were not in City No. 10, they could go to City No. 10 immediately to help.

The Red Leaf Organization's Jiu Ran also contacted the Academy, saying that the Red Leaf Organization's Time Walker were closest to City No. 10 and could rush there to provide support and meet them outside the city.

But Zheng Yuandong refused them all.

Because any extreme or group behavior could lead the corporation to discover the Time Walker's identity, which would have even worse consequences.

I appreciate your kind gesture.

Zheng Yuandong said to Lu Yuan, "That's how the Chinese nation is. We may seem loose in ordinary times, but when we encounter difficulties and disasters, we always join hands to overcome them together. This was true a thousand years ago, and it will be true a thousand years from now. Unity is a gene and spirit engraved in the bones of everyone."

Amidst the clamor of the Time Walker.

Luo Wanyai landed on the island.

132 family members also came with them.

They strode through the academy, and Xiao San exclaimed in admiration as she looked at the academy on Whale Island, "Wow, this place is so beautiful! If I had been able to study in a place like this, I wouldn't have needed to end up in the real world!"

Someone joked, "What does your academic performance have to do with your environment? You'd be a terrible student even if you were placed here."

Everyone was chatting and laughing, but Luo Wanyai's face was solemn, and it was unclear what he was thinking.

Time Walker watched over a hundred family members walk past, they involuntarily made way for them.

These 132 family members are quite different from the students of the academy from head to toe. They have traveled to various cities, leaving behind a body full of scars and an extremely fierce temperament.

The students watched them walk towards the Agricultural Academy, and then they realized... these were once again the fierce generals under the command of that 'little dean'.

"Little Dean" is the respectful title that the Time Walker in the academy use to address Qing Chen.

The reason for adding the word "little" is simply because Qing Chen is so young; adding "little" makes him seem more approachable.

As their family members walked by, Chen Sui watched silently from the square, as did Jiu Ran.

The leaders of various clubs were also watching.

Then everyone clearly realized the true gap between their organization and daytime.

Arriving at the entrance of the Agricultural Academy, Luo Wanyai knocked on the door.

The small iron gate opened, and he and his family filed in.

"Parents," Luo Wanyai said, looking at Qing Chen.

No sooner had he finished speaking than Xiao San and his entourage stood behind Luo Wanyai, shouting in a grand manner, "Greetings, parents!"

However, in that instant, it was as if Qing Chen had been suddenly transported to the entrance of the Axe Gang on the Bund in Haicheng in the early 20th century.

And he himself was the leader of the Axe Gang...

"Stop with that," Qing Chen waved his hand and said, "Go help with the work. Work during the day and cultivate at night. Don't stop for a moment."

Qing Chen left Luo Wanyai alone, and the two walked to the city model in the square, looking at the energetic students.

Qing Chen said softly, "Many people will die this time."

"I understand," Luo Wanyai nodded. "I gave them a heads-up on the way here, but you don't need to worry, boss. They are the best fighters in the Parent's Association."

"How many families are there in City No. 10?" Qing Chen asked.

"There are 12,003 people, but most of them are not Time Walker. There are only 812 Time Walker. A total of 1,281 people have practiced the Zhunti Method. Among them, the majority are at E-Class, 211 are at D-Class, and 7 are at C-Class, including Xiao San."

Luo Wanyai's thorough knowledge of the personnel configuration of the entire City No. 10 indicates that this Black Family had put in a lot of hard work.

A manager who can only vaguely report "more than 10,000" the number of his subordinates is definitely a failure.

Those who don't pay attention to details are not qualified to expand their territory.

Luo Wanyai continued, "Each city's Parent's Association has liaison officers. This position was set up to prevent communication base stations from being monitored. 120 liaison officers can travel all over the city by motorcycle within an hour, bringing all 12,003 family members together and uniting them as one. Now, it comes in handy."

Qing Chen said, "I need them to gather their families and inform all the residents along the route that a disaster is about to occur... Lao Luo, do you know what they're going to face?"

"They will be recorded by cameras along the way and then labeled as Parent's Association members. Regardless of the outcome in City No. 10, they will no longer be able to live in the Federation," Luo Wanyai said.

"But even so, I still asked them to do it," Qing Chen looked at Luo Wanyai: "Old Luo, will you question my decision? Sacrificing your family to save those innocent residents, even if those residents won't understand you, or even thank you."

Luo Wanyai remained silent for a long time. "I will not question any of your decisions."

Qing Chen nodded. "After the family members gathered together, I ordered them to hold the Lower Three Districts at all costs, and no one was allowed to evacuate."

Qing Chen pointed to the sand table. "Only if the Time Walker from the Academy prove that the immigration gates are passable can they lead the residents of the Lower Three Districts to evacuate. Otherwise, even if they die, they must help me guard the passage from other districts into the Lower Three Districts, which is everyone's lifeline. At that time, you must lead the residents to guard that place together and wait for the Federation Group Army's rescue."

Qing Chen: "But City No. 10 is the political center. To avoid suspicion, all the Federation Group Army are stationed more than 600 kilometers away. In the previous battle at Forbidden Zone No. 002, when the various conglomerates were preparing for military exercises, they also transferred their troops away. This means that reinforcements will not arrive too quickly."

Qing Chen: "Moreover, what's coming might not be reinforcements, but war. You need to block all the sewers in the Lower Three Districts immediately, and then guard the three main roads leading to the District 7, Eighth District, and District 9: Dragon Scale Road, Alliance Road, and Riverside Road."

"Many people will die," Luo Wanyai said gravely.

Qing Chen stood in the vast square, looking at the sand table before him. "But this is the meaning of the Parent's Association's existence, Lao Luo. Only when the Parent's Association sincerely helps this world will the world be willing to help us. If the world and fate require us to sacrifice ourselves in this catastrophe to prove our sincerity in changing the world, then I don't mind becoming one of those sacrifices. My family members may not understand my decision, but they must carry it out. Lao Luo, have them guard the Lower Three Districts for me. This is an order."

Luo Wanyai fell silent again, and after a long while he suddenly asked, "Boss, making the decision to send everyone to their deaths must be hard to swallow, right?"

Qing Chen smiled and said, "Go ahead and get busy."

Luo Wanyai walked toward the War Fortress. At one point, he turned back to look at the figure who was staring intently at the sand table and suddenly felt that the other person must be very lonely right now.

Actually, up to now.

Qing Chen has planned the route for 4,811 Time Walker.

He devised crude tactics for the Kunlun members and their families.

However, he has not yet planned a way out for the nearly ten million residents of City No. 10.

He himself wanted to kill Qing Wen.

He was going to find the neurotoxin expert, Yuan Yang's widow, who was mentioned in the clues provided by He Jinqiu.

He needed to rescue Qing Yi, contact the Secret Intelligence Department, and help Old Shen move.

He had so much to do, but only so much time.

Qing Chen... hasn't even planned his route yet.

Countdown 01:00:00.

4,811 Time Walker, more than 600 Kunlun members, and more than 100 Parent's Association members all gathered in the square.

Qing Chen stood calmly in front of them, Lu Yuan solemnly took out five True Sight Eye and handed them to Xiao San: "I've taught you how to use them. We can't be sure where the end of the Key Gate will be, but as long as it's not a particularly dangerous place, we can take the citizens away from City No. 10 first... There's only one thing: the Key Gate can only be opened by a few True Sight Eye, and each time only two people can pass through, so it will be very slow."

There are five million residents in the Lower Three Districts alone. Even if only two residents pass through every second on average, there is absolutely not enough time to evacuate them.

And most importantly, residents won't easily follow their Parent's Association the meeting.

The Xiao San said with a smile, "Let's send away as many as we can."

At this time, other Time Walker from the dormitory area also arrived at the square.

They rushed to hug the 4,811 Time Walker, offering encouragement and blessings.

The Time Walker in City No. 10 are like soldiers about to go to war, while the others are like their loved ones seeing them off on a train to a distant place.

One of the Time Walker said, "If you come back alive, we'll pool our money to treat you to special meals and beer at the canteen."

The Time Walker said, "If you manage to come back alive, you can have all the best points-earning projects from the academy."

Chen Zhuoqu looked at them expressionlessly. "No need, it's already very easy to take, thank you."

Xiao Qi: "..."

The words of this "Queen of Scrolls" are always too blunt and inappropriate, but no one blames her.

Qing Chen glanced at the time, then looked at everyone. "We have done everything we could in the limited time we have. Next, everyone will face the darkest seven days. I am also in City No. 10, with you all. I hope that at midnight seven days from now, we will all still be standing here alive."

The next second.

The countdown has reached zero.

The world fell into darkness, and then light returned.

The dazzling City No. 10 is still right before my eyes.

Qing Chen, holding Zhang Mengqian's hand, said, "Be careful, we're going to be in danger."

"Boss, I'm not afraid," Zhang Mengqian shook her head.

But at that moment, an explosion suddenly came from the north of the city, and a huge flame shot into the sky, illuminating the entire night sky.

Immediately afterwards, Qing Chen watched as the buildings in the city began to lose power and go out.

The city was plunged into darkness.

The power plant has vanished into thin air, rendering Qing Chen's first strategy, which he had painstakingly devised, meaningless.

If this had happened yesterday, Qing Chen could have easily changed his strategy and devised other plans for the Kunlun members.

If it had been a few days later, the rat infestation in the city would have been discovered by more people and might even have been reported in the news.

It turned out that Shen Daichihachi's preparations were more thorough and faster than they had imagined.

The other party timed the Time Walker's journey and return perfectly, not wanting to wait even a minute longer.

At the same time, inside the border gate, a border control officer suddenly walked quickly toward the office area inside the gate as midnight approached.

He swiped his magnetic card to open the door to the office area, went inside, released the safety on his automatic rifle, and opened fire on all the staff inside with a magazine of bullets.

The crisp sound of gunfire echoed in the night as soldiers, dragging a corpse, calmly continued their infiltration deeper into the office area.

Other soldiers outside reacted and rushed into the house.

But as soon as they stepped into the office area, the soldier who had invaded the gate suddenly vanished like a ghost before everyone's eyes. A small shikigami darted around the room like a shadow, and in just a second, the throats of the three soldiers who rushed in were slit.

After killing the victim, the shikigami quietly rested on the corpse, sucking its blood. Its claws and teeth were sharp, and its back was covered with a thick layer of iron armor.

Shikigami ATS-048, Iron Rat.

The soldier who invaded the gate was actually an Onmyoji!

The soldier dragged a corpse quickly to the innermost control room, easily lifted the body, and put his eyes on the iris scanner outside the control room.

The body was that of the head of the border management agency.

With a ding, the door to the central control room opened, and the city's physically isolated defense network system was so easily taken into the hands of the Onmyoji.

He took a Black Box out of his shirt pocket and plugged it into the interface on the control panel in the central control room.

Load data.

1%...

7%...

29%...

100%...

The Onmyoji wiped the bloodstains from his face, his eyes remaining calm and composed.

This was once one of the most skilled Onmyoji units under the command of Shen Daichihachi, one of the few elite Onmyoji factions, and now it is beginning to show its claws.

The next moment.

The steel gates on the city's edge began to slowly descend, and the metal storm atop the city walls went into standby alert mode, ready to shoot down any unauthorized approachers.

The so-called unauthorized approachers are all residents of City No. 10, except for this Onmyoji.

Two chapters, 11,500 words in total. Requesting monthly votes and subscriptions.