The Fifth Epoch, twenty years before the apocalypse began.
Jade Capital, the capital of Sky-Cang Country.
The blazing sun hung overhead beneath a clear, bright sky.
People streamed through the bustling metropolis, its streets a river of traffic.
The city clamored, voices boiling over.
Earth's civilization flourished in those days, and technology advanced a thousand miles a day.
High on a building, a report on Human Civilization's landing on Mars was still playing.
In a deserted corner, several black-clad figures emerged from the void.
Leading them was a hooded girl holding a quantum disc. Her expression was solemn as she spoke in a low voice.
"This point in time is still within the peaceful period of the Fifth Epoch. Divine Element and Demonic Element haven't filled heaven and earth. We need to complete our mission as quickly as possible!"
"Yes, Captain."
The two team members behind her answered promptly.
They left the dark shadows and stepped into the bright bustle.
Autumn leaves fluttered down from the large trees beside the road, scattering across the sidewalk.
Countless pedestrians walked along the street, some laughing and chatting, others looking calm.
They even saw a beautiful girl beside the road, twisting her waist and dancing in front of a stand holding a phone, as though no one else were there.
Sultry and sexy.
"Ah, is this heaven, Captain? It's so peaceful here. You can't tell at all that it'll be destroyed in twenty years!"
A long-haired man marveled, his gaze lingering particularly long on the dancing girl.
"Shut up, Xiao. Let's go. Our target is still up ahead."
The hooded girl snapped in a low voice and walked straight ahead.
Five hundred meters ahead, a tall, elegant ceremonial gateway stood over the street.
Tianhai University!
The Sixth Epoch.
The Age of Myth.
Kunlun Divine Court.
After hearing the researchers' report, Jiang Yang turned into a streak of golden flame and soared away, soon arriving at the Great Snowfield Shelter.
Entering the conference room, he saw that Li Xiaowa, Qing Fengxi, and several other administrators were already seated inside.
Across from them, connections had already been established with the other six great shelters, and all the Divine Courts' God-Kings were present.
Seeing him arrive, Li Xiaowa rolled her eyes and muttered, "You were almost late again, Jiang Yang."
Qing Fengxi gave him a gentle smile and pointed to the seat beside him. Jiang Yang hurriedly plopped down.
Several administrators chuckled softly. "King Jiang is here."
On the video feeds, the representatives of the Divine Courts and shelters nodded to Jiang Yang as he sat down, then grew solemn, waiting for the meeting to begin.
Presiding over the meeting was Aulisel of the Norse Refuge.
Before his death, Chen Ping'an had appointed her director-general of the seven great shelters' research institutes, giving her the authority to convene everyone in an emergency.
"Since everyone is here, let's begin."
She adjusted her black-framed glasses, rose calmly, and switched on the light screen behind her.
A miniature view of the Solar System immediately appeared before everyone.
The eight planets were arrayed in order, revolving ceaselessly around a blazing star.
"Auli, isn't this a star chart of the Solar System?"
Someone asked in puzzlement, unsure why Aulisel was displaying it.
"Everyone, please look here."
Aulisel ignored him, pointing to the edge of the Solar System before enlarging the star chart.
Soon, as the chart expanded, a tiny dot appeared at the edge of the Solar System, moving rapidly.
Everyone could clearly see that, in just a few seconds, it had traveled a great distance.
This was truly astonishing, and the gods rose to their feet.
"What is that, a comet? An asteroid?"
Odin was the first to ask, frowning.
Aulisel's expression remained calm as she spoke evenly.
"As Odin said, this is indeed an asteroid."
"According to the Space-Time calculations of Heimdall, our only satellite in the sky."
"It's traveling faster than light, and its target is Earth!"
"What!"
The gods erupted like a pot boiling over.
If it struck Earth, it would mean another annihilation of life, and none of them would find it easy to escape.
For a moment, everyone was gripped by fear.
Only Jiang Yang and a few others kept their brows tightly furrowed, their eyes fixed on Aulisel.
"Is there any way to prevent this? Destroy it in advance, or divert it!"
"No. It moves faster than light. Perhaps it breaks through space as it flies, or perhaps it travels by jumping through another dimension."
"But with our current technology and strength, we can hardly affect it."
Everyone drew in a sharp breath at this. Could this be the true apocalypse?
Yet at that moment, Aulisel gave a cool laugh.
"There's no need to panic, everyone. Since we can't affect it, we simply won't."
"According to our calculations, this meteorite, which appears to be an asteroid, is actually quite small. Its destructive power is nowhere near enough to destroy heaven and earth, and it will land in the ocean."
"So Earth will experience an unprecedented Great Flood, but it won't have much effect on us. I called everyone here to prepare for this Great Flood."
As soon as Aulisel finished, the gods all breathed out.
"Auli, next time, remember to tell us everything up front. Don't tell us half and hold back the rest."
Li Xiaowa complained with her head propped on her hand, and the gods voiced their agreement.
Jiang Yang had thought Aulisel would smile at this, but there was no trace of happiness on her face.
"Everyone, although this meteorite disaster won't affect us, Earth's living creatures will be plunged into misery and devastation. This generation of Golden Humans will vanish before the light of civilization has even appeared."
The gods reacted differently to her words.
Some dismissed it with contempt:
"Auli, what do mortal lives and deaths have to do with us?"
"It's only a matter of introducing another batch."
Others were sorrowful and compassionate.
"Mortals are living beings too. They also possess intelligence."
"In essence, they are our kin as well."
As they spoke, the two groups began arguing, and the entire conference room soon became unbearably noisy.
Unable to watch any longer, Jiang Yang shouted with a cold expression.
"What are you all arguing about? Listen to Auli's arrangements!"
Seeing Jiang Yang lose his temper, the gods quietly sat down and began listening patiently to Aulisel.
Once the gods had all sat down, Jiang Yang nodded to Aulisel and returned to his seat.
As soon as he sat down, he saw Li Xiaowa wink at him, as though saying, Well done.
Jiang Yang ignored her and concentrated on listening to Aulisel.
Aulisel began arranging shelter measures, asking the Divine Courts and shelters to do everything they could to collect and protect most of Earth's species.
As for the Golden Humans, they were also to do their best to find high ground for each group to take refuge.
At the end of the meeting, Aulisel announced in a cool voice:
"Everyone, we have only three months. In three months, the world-destroying Great Flood will arrive!"
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