Li Shutong solemnly said, "This time, I will send messengers to thoroughly investigate the movements in the north and try to find some clues to confirm your conjecture."
Qing Chen nodded: "I will also order the Secret Service to investigate this matter secretly. I hope he is really dead. But if he is not, there may be a bigger conspiracy... Who will benefit the most from the fall of City 10?"
Li Shutong thought for a moment and asked, "You?"
Qingchen was both amused and exasperated: "Master, we're talking about serious matters here."
“I’m very serious. The city’s defenses are currently weak, and soon Qingwu’s father, Qingji, will hand over the city’s defense system to you,” Li Shutong said. “At that time, the entire city will be yours, and the 6 million citizens, who are all workers, will be able to help you maintain the normal operation of the factories. To be honest, if you weren’t my apprentice, I would suspect that you orchestrated this whole thing…”
Qingchen thought about it and realized that it really was true...
"Besides me, who would want the Federation to descend into complete chaos?" Qing Chen asked doubtfully. "Kashima certainly wouldn't want that, because their demigod just died. Chen Yu certainly wouldn't want that either, because he's currently in a vulnerable position. So that leaves the Divine Era, the Li Clan, the Qing Clan... no, there's one more side!"
Li Shutong asked solemnly, "Foreign forces?"
“That’s right,” Qing Chen suddenly said, “We’ve known for a long time that overseas tentacles have begun to extend into the Federation. The Divine Era even opened its doors to them. If anyone wants the Federation to be in chaos right now, it’s undoubtedly the overseas forces. If the disaster caused by the Divine Era’s Chika is related to these overseas forces, then I guess he’s very likely in one of their air force fleets right now. They might have already arrived in the Federation!”
Qingchen was stunned for a long time.
This war is not over, because the main battlefield was never in City 10!
From the very beginning, the disaster in City 10 was merely a catalyst for the overall situation of the Federation.
"Master, what means can we use to notify the Qing family and the Li family?" Qing Chen asked.
Li Shutong raised an eyebrow and looked at the distance behind him: "Qing Ji, you've been hiding there eavesdropping for ages. Come out and let's get down to business."
A middle-aged man dressed in white linen clothes walked out. He wore a mask and showed no shame for eavesdropping, as if it were all perfectly normal. He handed a black hard drive to Qing Chen: "This is the key to the city's defense system. Keep it safe. It should be able to hold off a field brigade. If you play it well, you might even be able to stop a field division. It's just that the Metal Storm needs maintenance, and the bullets need refilling. Qing Ye and Qing Qu will be able to arrive with their men in a few hours... If it weren't for the fact that the Shadow Gate can only allow two people to pass at a time, I could bring them here right now."
Qing Chen said anxiously, "There's no time to take stock of the spoils now. Please inform the Qing and Li families' troops as soon as possible that a fifth force may appear on the battlefield!"
Qing Ji turned and left.
...
...
On the northern battlefield, Qingyu sat in the commander's seat of the Scepter Sky Fortress, quietly looking at the holographic sand table in front of him, surveying the entire battlefield situation.
On the holographic sand table, the blue areas represent their occupied territories, and the red areas represent the occupied territories.
The war has been going on for eight days. As of today, Kashima and Kamishiro, despite initiating the war, have been forced to retreat in defeat.
But as the top-ranked graduate of the Fire Seed Military Academy in 20 years and the front-line commander of the Qing Clan Army Group, Qing Yu always felt that something was wrong: Where did Jindai and Kashima get the confidence to launch a war?
Even if they wanted to rely on the rat swarm in City 10, Qingyu only needed to give the order to drop missiles on City 10 and the rat swarm would be wiped out.
At this moment, the commander of the First Air Force Fleet of the Qing Clan appeared on the holographic channel: "Sir, we have defeated the Kashima Air Force. Should we pursue them to the north? Now is the best time for us to turn our advantage into victory. I can make a pledge to destroy all Kashima Air Force bases within 72 hours. As long as we get within range, their laser canopy will not be able to stop our missiles. There is simply not enough time to calculate."
Qingyu frowned: "We're too far from the forward base. Going deeper will stretch our supply lines. Let's come back. We need to proceed cautiously and not be reckless."
“Received,” the commander replied without objection. The Qing Clan was a force that obeyed orders without question, and Qing Yu was the brain of the entire army group. No one would disobey his orders.
Qingyu lowered his head in deep thought: "Where exactly did things go wrong?"
Just then, a shadow portal opened inside the Scepter, and Qing Ji stepped out, saying, "Retreat to the rear. Be careful of a fifth force appearing."
Qingyu asked doubtfully, "Is this the patriarch's order? Give me the electronic password, and I'll retreat immediately after verifying it."
“There was no secret order,” Qing Ji shook his head. “This was Qing Chen’s decision, not the patriarch’s. He believes that a fleet of foreign forces will appear in the northern sky, and that it is a long-planned operation.”
“Wait, even if he has risen to a higher position, he is only the head of the Secret Service now. I am the commander-in-chief of the front line. What right does he have to order me around? We are equals!” Qingyu said, “So far, I only accept orders from the head of the family.”
It's not that Qingyu can't understand the situation, nor that Qingyu doesn't approve of Qingchen.
Rather, conglomerates and armies are not child's play. Even if you are the crown prince, you cannot command all the troops.
Right now, there's not even a glimpse of the Qing family.
People may pledge their allegiance to each other, but that's just to show their stance; it doesn't mean they've lowered their status.
Until the head of the family abdicates, the crown prince will always just be the crown prince, nothing more.
It's not that Qingyu is disloyal, but that's the rule; otherwise, everything would be in chaos.
Qing Ji thought for a moment and said, "Just take this as a sincere suggestion. You are the frontline commander, so you should make the decision."
Qingyu sat in the command seat, staring intently at the holographic sand table.
After a few dozen breaths, he suddenly said in a cold voice: "Inform the Li family that we suspect there are still ambushes beyond the radar range. We plan to retreat to the forward base for a short rest and send out long-range drones to scout the enemy situation."
After saying that, he looked at Qing Ji and said, "This is a decision I made after analyzing the situation as the frontline commander, and it has nothing to do with Qing Chen."
"Understood," Qing Ji said, opening the Shadow Gate and leaving.
However, just three hours after Qing Ji left, news came from the Qing Clan fleet that was retreating in the north: "Sir, we have encountered a large air force fleet in the north, which is completely different from the standard airships of the Federation Army Group. It is suspected that they are participating in overseas operations... We have discovered two air fortresses! We are trying to break free from their radar lock. According to the evacuation plan, 60% of the troops should be able to evacuate safely!"
A booming sound came through the communications; a new war had broken out on the front lines!
Qingyu was stunned. Two aerial fortresses had arrived in the Federation without a sound? But now, the Qing family and the Li family combined only had one Scepter!
Fortunately, he ordered a retreat, otherwise the First Air Force Fleet would have been completely wiped out today!
...
...
In City 10, the battle to eradicate the rat swarm is nearing its end.
Members of the Secret Service, parent associations, and community groups began to maintain city security and order.
Keep in mind that nearly six million people have returned to this city, only to find themselves in an empty city with countless empty shops and banks. Some people are bound to have ulterior motives.
At times like these, someone must use strong measures to restore order.
Qingchen and Li Shutong sat on the rooftop of a high-rise building.
“We have no chance to get involved in the Northern War, and there’s nothing we can do no matter how much we think about it, so let’s not think about it,” Li Shutong said. “What we need to do now is just our duty. You have done enough in the disaster in City 10. You may feel that it is not good enough, but in my opinion, you are only 17 years old. At least in my knowledge, no 17-year-old boy can be like you.”
“I’ll be 18 in two months,” Qingchen sighed.
“It’s still very young,” Li Shutong said with a smile.
“Master, wouldn’t planting that Divine Era Cloud Azure in Forbidden Land No. 002 create new rules? Wouldn’t it be a bit risky to do that?” Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, “It is said that Forbidden Land No. 127 is the Kashima Group’s private land, which contains some abundant resources. Why don’t we plant it in Forbidden Land No. 127?”
This is exactly the same as when the Knights wreaked havoc on Forbidden Land #10.
Li Shutong said with a smile, "Forbidden Lands No. 001 and No. 002 are different. Whether new rules are created there depends on a vote by the old guys. Otherwise, Forbidden Land No. 002 would already have hundreds of rules."
Qing Chen was taken aback. It seemed to be true. There were hundreds of tombstones under the World Tree's canopy, but there were only a dozen or so rules there.
"These old folks can decide the rules themselves? Is it really that hasty?" Qing Chen wondered.
“The same goes for No. 001,” Li Shutong said. “This matter may be related to a forbidden object, or it may be related to a divine permission. In any case, these two forbidden places are very special. So, if a knight kills a relatively important person, he will take the body and run away before the Forbidden Tribunal arrives. Anyway, they don’t dare to enter the No. 002 forbidden place to contain it. They don’t have enough lives to play with the old guys.”
Qingchen had heard from his brother that the Forbidden Tribunal wanted to take over the tea plantation, but he had never dared to go.
When he first transmigrated, he thought the Forbidden Tribunal was like the rules, able to take in whomever it wanted. But now it seems that the subjects it takes in are selective.
Let's not accept anything too difficult...
At this moment, hundreds of crows had gathered outside City 10, waiting to contain the rat carcasses and superhumans in the city, but the city's defense system was activated, and they couldn't get in at all.
The crows had left because of the demigod war in the south, and now they want to go home but can't. Perhaps Chiaki Kamishiro had foreseen this and found the perfect opportunity.
“We did manage to acquire a forbidden item this time,” Qing Chen said. “We haven’t finished searching the entire city yet. Once we do, we’ll be able to find the Rat King’s location. That forbidden item, ACE-022, the Queen Ant, seems to be quite useful… Wait, the forbidden item ACE-039, the Three Realms Beyond, should still be in this city, right?”
Qing Chen's eyes lit up. This thing should be right under the Flying Bird Building where the Rat King first appeared!
Chapter 697, Forbidden Item ACE-022, the Queen Ant!
If I'm not mistaken, the forbidden item ACE-039, which is outside the Three Realms, was always carried on the corpse of Kamishiro Chika to conceal the judgment of the Forbidden Tribunal.
This taboo is so important, and there are so many taboos that can be exempted from it.
With this thing, thankfully, it's impossible to bring him any more misfortune.
With this thing, he could wield a psychologist's scalpel and cut others without leaving wounds on himself.
With this thing, he can sing in front of the 'Hunter of the Singer', glare at the 'Kill the Witness', hey, it's just for fun.
But most importantly, there are countless mysterious and forbidden items in North America.
With a major battle about to erupt between the two sides, Qing Chen, without knowing what forbidden items the other side possessed, carried the forbidden item ACE-039 from the Three Realms, which could save his life in a critical moment!
Li Shutong looked at Qing Chen: "What were the conditions for containing this forbidden object from beyond the Three Realms?"
Qing Chen said, "According to the information from the Hu Clan's intelligence agency, the condition for containing it outside the Three Realms is that you cannot kill any living beings while carrying it. Once you kill any living beings, you will lose the right to be exempt from the taboo.
“This might not be suitable for you,” Li Shutong said.
After thinking for a moment, Qingchen said, "Hu said that you can't kill animals while wearing it, so just take it off when you need to kill animals."
Li Shutong: "..."
He suddenly imagined the scene: his disciple usually wore a string of Buddhist beads on his wrist, and looked harmless and kind. Everyone thought that this young man was a vegetarian and a kind-hearted Buddhist.
Until one day, this kind person suddenly took off the Buddhist prayer beads from their wrist right in front of you...
One second this kid is chanting Amitabha Buddha to you, the next second he's going to twist your head off and use it as a football...
"Master, what are your plans next?" Qingchen asked.
“I will take the body of Shindai Uncang back to Forbidden Land 002. Previously, the old guys sent Suzaku to the north to find me and deliver a message, saying that they had something urgent to discuss,” Li Shutong said, then added, “I don’t know what the urgent matter is.”
Qing Chen pondered for only two seconds before tentatively asking, "Did those old guys ask you to discuss how to get more forbidden items?"
"Um?"
Li Shutong, the number one demigod of his time, looked somewhat uneasy.
He didn't mention why the old guys were looking for him in order to avoid mentioning taboos; he didn't even bring up the fact that there were so many promising knights on Whale Island.
When Zhuque mentioned the promising knight to Li Shutong, the demigod was beaming with joy. Every night, he wanted to ask Qingchen in person about his progress.
However, upon seeing Qing Chen, the demigod restrained the urge to ask questions, pretending that he was unaware of the knight prodigy's situation, fearing that Qing Chen would bring up the taboo item again.
"Ahem, it seems like you're talking about taboo items...right?" Li Shutong said ambiguously, "but I'm not entirely sure yet."
Qing Chen suddenly said, "If nothing unexpected happens, the best group of people will start challenging the Green Mountain Cliff after this return. I have observed their progress and even think that at least a hundred people will be able to succeed."
"Really?" Li Shutong's eyes lit up.
“Master, you’re becoming more and more like those old folks. You’re very calm when talking about other things, but when it comes to the knightly tradition, you’re always beaming with joy,” Qingchen said with emotion. “Don’t worry, I will make a point of watching them challenge after I return this time. Success makes them knights, failure makes them messengers.”