"Helmsman, what should we do next?"
The staff member temporarily serving as Qingzhu's assistant came over to ask. Now that the obstacle in the Xianzhou's path had been removed, should they resume their previous plan and head for the Ayinai System?
Qingzhu looked up at the Ambrosial Arbor outside the Xianzhou. Although it belonged to The Plagues Author, that didn't mean they couldn't use it.
As for the Aeon's anger? Who knows? Isn't this thing unclaimed? I thought nobody wanted it. If there's a problem, take it up with the Arbiter of Life. I'm just a lowly employee.
With that thought, Qingzhu raised a hand and pointed at the Ambrosial Arbor outside the Xianzhou.
"Next, we're taking that Ambrosial Arbor! It might belong to The Plagues Author, but we can't let the enemy have it. Even if we don't use it, we'll keep it safely stored on the Xianzhou."
Garden of Existence
"Hahahaha, hahahaha! I did it! I finally did it!"
Inside a secret chamber, Dong Tian laughed excitedly, his expression gradually twisting with excitement. His right arm had grown thick and massive, hanging down to his knee, making one arm longer than the other. It hadn't merely grown longer; his entire right arm had become bloated, and the bulges on it wriggled from time to time. It was utterly horrifying.
But he felt no disgust whatsoever. He looked at his right arm, his eyes full of admiration and satisfaction. He was very pleased with its current form.
"This is power. This is the power I've been pursuing, hahaha."
Obscure, incomprehensible runes glimmered along his right arm, flashing as though suppressing something.
"As expected of Abundance. It can actually suppress this power. It won't last long, but it's enough! My goddess, you'll see who your most suitable follower truly is."
He laughed, his laughter filled with utter obsession and madness.
After leaving the secret chamber, Dong Tian learned what had happened to the agricultural planet and the steel planet. Even with all his confidence, he couldn't help feeling a surge of anger.
He had only been in seclusion for a few days, and the Garden's two most important planets had fallen just like that?
In a rage, his right hand grew longer and larger, and he seized the person who had brought him the news. Under the man's horrified gaze, it took only two seconds for a living person to turn to ash and scatter.
Dong Tian wore an expression of satisfied enjoyment, then licked his lips as though he hadn't had enough.
"This is life force. Delicious~ I wonder what an Emanator's life force tastes like."
A sinister, eerie chuckle emerged from Dong Tian's throat. He was looking forward to it. He had waited too long for this day-so long that, when the Xianzhou had come knocking, he hadn't even had the courage to resist.
Now he feared nothing. Now he lacked nothing!
"Pass down my orders. All Garden forces are to assemble at the guardian planet on the Garden's outer perimeter. There, we'll fight those so-called Alliance Army troops to the death."
Dong Tian's face was full of scorn as he spoke, his voice dripping with contempt. This time, he would return all the pressure he had previously endured to the Alliance Army.
As soon as Dong Tian's orders were issued, the Garden, that colossal entity, sprang into motion. Countless starships departed from the Garden's planet and surrounded the guardian planet, densely packed around the small world.
Troops were even stationed on the guardian planet itself, poised and ready. Dong Tian sat calmly aboard the largest starship outside the planet, gazing coldly ahead as he waited for the army that wanted to overthrow him.
Word of the Garden's movements quickly reached the Alliance Army.
Xiahou Chan was resting and regrouping on the steel planet at the time. After hearing the communications soldier's report, he gave a disdainful smile.
"Heh, he's been hiding in his shell like a turtle for so long, and now he's willing to come out? Since he wants to fight us to the death, fine. We'll grant his wish and wipe out the traitors for good!
"Pass down my orders. Everyone, prepare your equipment and board the starships. We're going to fight those traitors in the final battle!"
"The final battle!"
"The final battle!"
"The final battle!"
After Xiahou Chan's orders were passed down, excited cries rang out one after another outside the tent. Hearing the soldiers' excitement, Xiahou Chan's lips curled upward. His side now had the advantage in morale, logistics, and combat strength. How could they lose?
Unless an Aeon intervened, Xiahou Chan couldn't imagine any way he could lose this war!
"Amo, Xiaohe, you two will be the most important part of the final battle once it begins."
Amo pointed at himself, his eyes full of disbelief.
"Me?"
"That's right, you. Wanmeng and Tianque will support you, and Elder Ge will join you in fighting that traitor Dong Tian."
Amo nodded blankly. Then Xiaohe spoke up. Amo's mind was having trouble keeping up, so she would ask instead.
"Then... Brother Xiahou, what will you do?"
Xiahou Chan's gaze grew grave. It wasn't that he looked down on Dong Tian. Quite the opposite: he wanted nothing more than to kill the traitor himself, but he couldn't act rashly.
Wanmeng's divination had revealed a great deal. This battle would not be simple, and the Garden was very likely to have an Emanator-level fighter. He needed to remain with the main force to deal with that fighter, who could join the battle at any moment.
"I need to stay with the main force. The enemy is very likely to have an Emanator-level fighter, so I won't take part before he makes his move. I believe in you. Amo stopped being a greenhorn on his first battlefield a long time ago.
"With your help, even though Amo isn't a Pathstrider, he still has no reason to fear anyone below the Emanator level. Besides, with Wanmeng and the others assisting him, killing one traitor shouldn't be a problem.
"Besides, there's someone else who actually wants to see Amo achieve something even more than I do, isn't there?"
Xiahou Chan looked at Elder Ge. Amo and Xiaohe also turned to the old man, who had taken great care of them ever since they completed their first mission.
Elder Ge coughed twice and stepped in front of Amo. The tent flap was pulled open, revealing three hundred fully armed members of the Guard Corps standing outside.
Three hundred warriors stood there in armor and helmets, their iron armor reflecting the light. Their visors were raised, revealing three hundred faces, some young and some weathered, but not one weary or dispirited. Three hundred pairs of eyes were fixed on Amo, and in them he saw an emotion: approval.
They approved of him, a man who acted ruthlessly, remained calm and composed in battle, cared for civilians after battle, was kind but not indiscriminately so, and was ruthless but not cruel.
All of this had earned him their approval, so they would not object to the announcement Elder Ge was about to make.
Elder Ge placed his right hand over his chest and bowed. "In the name of an elder of the Garden of Existence, its grand elder, and the commander of the Guard Corps, I support you as the new head of the Garden of Existence!
"From this moment on, the Guard Corps will be the sharpest sword in your hand. Wherever you point us, we shall march to battle.
"The great void is an illusory dream; all things hold their truth! Uphold the real and reject the false; may our lineage endure forever!"
"The great void is an illusory dream; all things hold their truth! Uphold the real and reject the false; may our lineage endure forever!"
The Guard Corps outside the tent shouted in unison, their voices ringing out as though they had found someone to rally around.