All Things Are Contracts

In the conference room, besides Wind Lord, the Academy Town’s lord Mi Tianxiao and Crown Princess Mi Hongchen had already arrived. Mi Tianxiao was the second strongest figure in the Eastern Kingdom, known as ‘Purple Lord’. He was the current emperor’s brother and Mi Hongchen’s uncle. The Mi family was incredibly blessed, producing multiple Spirit God Realm experts and firmly holding the Eastern Kingdom’s throne.

However, these usually confident figures now wore extremely serious expressions.

“Have you found out the reason?” The Moon Reflection Pavilion’s Third Elder stepped forward, still playing with two iron balls in his hand. The unusual speed of their rotation betrayed his inner unease. Behind him were Zhanyue, Holy Maiden Lixi, and Nangong Weilai.

“The Illumination Towers seemed to be covered by something earlier, preventing light from penetrating. But it only lasted for a moment, not even harming the guards outside the towers,” Wind Lord explained to everyone.

“The Strategist said he wouldn’t harm a blade of grass in the Academy Town. It seems he really kept his word,” Zhanyue thought to himself.

“What exactly was it? Nightmares?” Mi Tianxiao, dressed in purple robes befitting his extraordinary status, asked. He had handsome features and an imposing aura even without anger. Zhanyue noticed that his right arm seemed missing, with only an empty sleeve.

“I sensed a large number of Nightmares outside the city earlier, but for some reason, they quickly receded like the tide,” Wind Lord said, his tone full of confusion. “Blocking the Illumination Towers, surrounding the Academy Town – it was like preparing for an attack. Why did they suddenly abandon it?”

“If the Nightmares really have found a way to counter the Illumination Towers, doesn’t that mean there’s no safe place left in the world? Are human civilians just to be slaughtered by Nightmares at will?” Mi Tianxiao voiced everyone’s concerns. If the Illumination Towers failed, humanity would face catastrophe.

Zhanyue felt puzzled and asked the Illumination Goddess, “Sister, before you found the design for the Illumination Towers and recreated them, how did humans resist Nightmares?” Zhanyue asked. People had become accustomed to the Illumination Towers’ existence, but they hadn’t always been there.

“It was ancient formations. Beneath our feet are formations left by some human powerhouses, with effects even surpassing the Illumination Towers. However, the area covered by these formations isn’t large. Over the years, the human population has grown to more than ten times that of my era. Even if all the formations were reactivated, they probably couldn’t protect so many humans,” the Illumination Goddess was equally worried. Because of the Illumination Towers, humans had thrived and multiplied far beyond her time. But now that the towers had lost their protective effect, everyone was exposed to the Nightmares’ claws. Reactivating the old formations simply couldn’t protect so many people. “Those formations also require spirit stones to activate. But after so many years, if they’re not foolish, they should have stored plenty of spirit stones.”

“Spirit stones?” Zhanyue remembered that a spirit stone vein had been discovered in the Rising Sun Kingdom earlier. Humanity’s spirit stone reserves should be considerable, likely enough to reactivate the formations. But as the Goddess said, the formations couldn’t protect that many people.

Soon after, a thunderclap sounded, and a lightning bolt struck the roof of the building where everyone was gathered, opening a hole. Thunder Lord appeared before everyone, dressed in purple robes with short purple hair, a purple beard, and purple eyes, his face like that of a fierce demon.

Wind Lord looked up at the ceiling and sighed helplessly, “Thunder Lord, couldn’t you make a less violent entrance?”

Thunder Lord Ye Mingchao glared at Wind Lord, “Wasn’t it you who crushed the distress jade? I came as quickly and decisively as possible. Now I see, nothing’s wrong with you at all?” Thunder Lord looked around at the shocked faces, appearing confused. There hadn’t been any battle here.

“Thunder Lord, I’m afraid the situation is more serious than any mishap to me,” Wind Lord didn’t waste time and quickly informed Thunder Lord of the earlier events. Thunder Lord’s previously carefree face instantly darkened. In terms of speed, Thunder Lord was the fastest in the current world, so he could arrive quickly after Wind Lord crushed the distress jade. However, faced with this situation, even he couldn’t make a decision alone.

“Sword Lord’s speed isn’t as fast as mine, but he was already nearby. Let’s wait for him to arrive and make a decision together,” Thunder Lord said, then turned his gaze to Zhanyue. Among those present, only Zhanyue was unfamiliar to Thunder Lord.

“You’re the one who broke Hongchen’s record, right? Apart from looking delicate, I can’t see anything special about you,” Thunder Lord laughed.

Zhanyue’s face twitched. How could Thunder Lord still laugh at a time like this?

“Junior pays respects to Thunder Lord,” Zhanyue said politely.

“No need for formalities. You three are perhaps the most important geniuses of our human race. This Nightmare army’s appearance tonight wouldn’t have anything to do with you, would it?” Thunder Lord asked.

Zhanyue was taken aback. Thunder Lord had actually guessed correctly. However, at this moment, the Illumination Goddess didn’t plan to reveal her identity. She disliked being troubled by mundane affairs. If she appeared, it would be hard to extricate herself again. In her previous life, she had had enough of days where every decision fell to her.

As they were getting acquainted, Sword Lord arrived shortly after. He was a middle-aged man with white hair and white clothes, sword-like eyes and star-like pupils, also riding a flying sword, appearing as graceful as an immortal. Even riding a flying sword, his speed was far inferior to Thunder Lord’s. As the fastest in the current world, only the Illumination Goddess could surpass Thunder Lord. Only light could match thunder in speed.

“Everyone’s here. Let’s make a decision on how to explain this to the public,” Thunder Lord said.

Sword Lord, usually taciturn, spoke up, “We can’t hide it. The Nightmares will likely make follow-up moves soon. I received secret messages before, saying the Nightmare Clan had been hiding their strength, warning us to be careful. Now it seems that was indeed the case.”

“You received secret messages too?” Thunder Lord had naturally also received warnings from the Illumination Goddess, but those warnings were too vague to be of much practical use.

“We must find out why the Nightmares can block the Illumination Towers. Otherwise, we’ll have to activate the ‘Goddess’s Decree’,” Sword Lord said. The Goddess’s Decree was humanity’s highest order, which all national rulers and human forces must follow unconditionally. The initial holder of the Goddess’s Decree was naturally the Illumination Goddess, who had the highest decision-making power at that time. Now, the Goddess’s Decree was jointly held by Thunder Lord and Sword Lord.

“We must prepare for the worst. If the Illumination Towers truly can’t deter Nightmares, we’ll have to reactivate the ancient formations. That will require massive population relocations, and I fear many, many humans will die,” Sword Lord said calmly, but there was no other choice.

“This isn’t just a matter for our human race. Other races in the Myriad Spirits Realm can’t escape it either. Hongchen, you’re the only one here who can see Dragon Lord. Even Sword Lord and I might not be given face. In terms of strength, Dragon Lord is truly the first in the Myriad Spirits Realm. At this time, we can’t let him hide away. See if he has any ideas,” Thunder Lord said to Mi Hongchen.

Mi Hongchen nodded, “I’ll go right away.” She flipped out the window, and the silhouette of a red dragon appeared. Mi Hongchen stood on the flying dragon, heading towards the distance. Her contract beast was one of Dragon Lord’s descendants, and only she might be able to see Dragon Lord.

“Indeed, the world is full of hidden talents. If all races unite, we might have a fighting chance,” Zhanyue thought to himself. Now that Illumination Towers were spread across the world, even other races were under their light, enjoying the peace and tranquility brought by the Illumination Goddess. Naturally, they all owed humanity a favor.

Everyone discussed for an entire night but couldn’t come up with a good solution. Until an urgent letter was delivered to Thunder Lord’s hand. The usually optimistic Thunder Lord trembled all over upon reading the letter, his face turning pale.

“Snowdrift City in the Northern Border of the Eastern Kingdom, a city of one million people, was slaughtered overnight, with very few survivors. Wheel of Fire City in the Western Border of the Rising Sun Kingdom, destroyed, with only 300 survivors.” Two cities with populations of millions wiped out in one night – this was the Nightmares’ method. The speculation that Illumination Towers could no longer protect humanity had become a fact, with the deaths of millions coming so casually.

Thunder Lord took a deep breath and took out a piece of white jade.

“Transmit my order: The human race enters the highest state of alert. Reactivate the ‘Revering Brightness Great Formations’ in all areas, and have the population migrate within the formations as much as possible,” Thunder Lord commanded. The white jade shot out a mysterious light, and all Illumination Towers simultaneously received Thunder Lord’s order. Soon after, all national rulers and city lords received the news.

“This is… the Goddess’s Decree? The Goddess’s Decree is issued, humanity’s fate hangs by a thread. What exactly happened? I must awaken the ancestor. He said not to disturb him unless the Goddess’s Decree was issued.”

“The Goddess’s Decree? What’s going on? Have Thunder Lord and Sword Lord gone mad? I must get to the bottom of this.”

On this day, as the sun rose, the entire human race plunged into endless panic. The Revering Brightness Ancient Formations, dormant for countless years, were reactivated across various regions. However, these ancient formations could protect a much smaller area.

“The locations of the Illumination Towers were originally based on the ancient formations. But humanity has spread far and wide over the years. Many Illumination Towers are not within the ancient formations, meaning the cities they’re in are not protected,” the Illumination Goddess said. This sudden change would likely result in the deaths of many, many people.

With the Goddess’s Decree issued, hidden experts from all over the world emerged. The fate of humanity was at stake, and none dared to ignore it.

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