Then let them offer their loyalty!

Page 709

'There should even be a little time left to check on the battle situation of Yan Yan and Princess Xi....'

After silently making a judgment on this advancement in his mind, Qiu Tu officially began the advancement process!

......

Meanwhile, Qiu Tu was advancing to the seventh rank.

Shelter No. 6. Border State.

Princess Xi's conversation with Yan Yan finally came to an end.

Seeing that Yan Yan was on the verge of collapse but was still gritting her teeth and fighting back, Princess Xi couldn't help but reveal a hint of admiration in her eyes.

However, as a cold-blooded political creature, while I may appreciate it, I still have to do what needs to be done.

So she clapped her hands expressionlessly, and the car slowly came to a stop.

Princess Xi's gaze no longer lingered on Yan Yan. Instead, she sat there, like a queen on a high throne, and said coldly, "Take Miss Yan Yan away to rest."

"No one is allowed to approach or visit her without my order."

Upon hearing Princess Xi's words, the female driver in military uniform who was driving in front quickly responded and then picked up the walkie-talkie to give instructions.

A short while later, a group of female soldiers came forward and took Yan Yan away.

Although Yan Yan was also a Cataclysm, her strength was only at the pitiful early stage of the second tier, and she was no match for those female Cataclysm soldiers at all.

So, he was captured in no time and taken away.

However, her temperament had indeed matured considerably; even at this point, she neither begged for mercy nor made any threats. She simply lowered her head, lost in thought, seemingly pondering something...

After Yan Yan was apprehended, the convoy started moving again. Princess Xi sat alone in the jeep.

She stared blankly ahead, neither pleased nor saddened, then chuckled inwardly, 'Still a child, her methods so naive.'

'However... after this experience, I believe I'll mature quickly...'

......

Meanwhile, at the Sixth Shelter, the central location, was the Kou family's main residence.

As a family with a history spanning thousands of years, the Kou family has experienced ups and downs, but its foundation remains. In addition, having controlled half of the Sixth Shelter for many years, the Kou family's main residence, Yunxiu, is both grand and luxurious.

And in a reception room in the backyard of the Kou family's main residence.

Kou Xuan was also chatting with Kou Yu, as well as Hou Yu, Han Dong, and Gao Changming, two of the ten outstanding members of the Kou family.

The reception room has an old-fashioned layout, with the main seat in the center and the other guest seats arranged on the left and right.

At this moment, Kou Xuan sat upright in the main seat, looking at the key figures of several families below him. The expression on his face did not change in the slightest despite the loss of three states.

On the contrary, his younger brother Kou Yu seemed a bit excited.

Kou Yu narrowed his eyes, his aura surging, and then slammed his hand on the table, saying, "This is outrageous!"

"Who does Lin Xi think she is? Is she her lover Qiu Tu?! How dare she piss and shit on our heads!"

"Brother, what are you so afraid of? You're just handing over the land of three states like that!"

"Giving it away is easy, but getting it back is difficult!"

Kou Xuan held immense prestige within the Kou family, so upon hearing Kou Yu's direct accusation, Hou Yu, Han Dong, and Gao Changming, all three of the Ten Heroes, couldn't help but frown.

The three exchanged glances, and then Hou Yu spoke up, "Brother Yu... I think there must be a reason why Brother Xuan chose to back down."

"It's definitely not because he's afraid of Lin Xi."

"After all, Qiu Tu has already gone to the 'core area' and won't be coming back. He has no way to support Lin Xi."

At this point, Hou Yu paused, glanced at Kou Xuan, and then said, "Moreover... Lin Xi's current backer is not Qiu Tu, but Li Feng."

"Brother Xuan must have his own reasons."

Hearing the two arguing, Kou Xuan picked up his teacup, took a slow sip, and then said, "Lin Xi's current backer... is actually still Qiu Tu."

Hou Yu was taken aback when he heard Kou Xuan's words.

Kou Xuan gently rubbed the rim of his teacup with the lid as he slowly said, "Furthermore... Qiu Tu may not actually have left the 'Northwest Region'."

Upon hearing Kou Xuan's second sentence, Hou Yu, Han Dong, and Gao Changming were all stunned.

Kou Xuan then continued, "Finally... even if Qiu Tu has left the 'Northwest Region,' it doesn't mean he can't come back."

Upon hearing Kou Xuan's third sentence, even Kou Yu was stunned.

The scene was quiet as everyone was processing the meaning behind Kou Xuan's three sentences.

After a moment, Kou Yu rubbed his hair violently, then said impatiently, "Brother, you'd better explain yourself! How come Qiu Tu wasn't the only one who didn't leave? And how come he was able to come back?"

Is the "Isolated Mountain Range" vegetarian?

Kou Xuan said slowly and deliberately, "What if the 'Isolation Mountain Range' collapses?"

Upon hearing Kou Xuan's words, Kou Yu froze in shock. The other three heroes were the same, standing motionless in their chairs.

After a moment, Gao Changming spoke first. He was a man with delicate features but a full beard.

He looked at Kou Xuan, then asked, "Patriarch, will the 'Isolation Mountain Range' collapse?"

Kou Xuan placed the teacup in his hand on the table and then sighed softly.

He said, "Actually... I had this guess before."

"The reason is simple. Qiu Tu's behavior is a bit off, not like his usual style."

"Later, his sword cleaved a section of the 'Isolation Mountain Range,' which further confirmed my conjecture."

He glanced around at the four people present, then said, "Back then, we fought alongside King Kang all the way to the 'Isolated Mountains.'"

"Everyone should have an impression of how solid the 'isolation mountain range' is."

"Back then, neither nuclear weapons nor the battle between King Kang and the Little Yaksha could harm the 'Isolated Mountains' in the slightest. How come it's become so fragile now?"

"Even if Qiu Tu is indeed very strong, shouldn't he be this strong?"

Kou Xuan said calmly, "So... I suspected back then that the 'Isolated Mountains' might have problems."

At this point, Kou Xuan changed the subject, "What really confirmed my suspicions was... that someone contacted me these past two days."

"Someone found you?" Hou Yu asked curiously upon hearing Kou Xuan's words. "Who?"

Kou Xuan uttered five words calmly, "Second Shelter."

Upon hearing Kou Xuan's words, the pupils of all four people present contracted slightly.

As high-ranking members of the Kou family, the four were very well aware of the information regarding the various shelters.

The Second Shelter, as one of the oldest shelters for humankind, has been located in the "Boundless Heart Sea - Core Area" since its inception.

At that time, countless human elites went through hardships and humiliation to build that shelter.

Because it is one of humanity's oldest sanctuaries, and the only one built within the "Boundless Heart Sea - Core Area," the Second Sanctuary has always been the strongest among the human faction.

This can be seen from the fact that the second shelter can easily support the third, fourth, and fifth shelters.

It is said that there are three Tier 2 Cataclysms in the Second Sanctuary, each a formidable figure. They are known as the Three Heavenly Kings.

Li Feng's mother was one of the Heavenly Kings.

This is also why she is so powerful, so arrogant, and able to spend a huge amount of resources to build the 4th shelter.

After all, the power that Li Feng's mother wielded was stronger than that of the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th shelters.

Although all the shelters are of equal status, it must be said that Shelter 2 is the true core of humanity.

Moreover... most of the experts and geniuses from the various shelters, after reaching the peak of Tier 5 and heading to the "core area," will choose to join the 2nd Shelter.

This has led to the Second Shelter's strength steadily increasing over the years.

It is precisely because of this superior status that the Second Shelter usually only pays attention to Li Feng's Fourth Shelter, in addition to keeping an eye on the group of madmen in the Third Shelter.

As for other shelters, they generally don't care.

Therefore, it was indeed somewhat unexpected that such a behemoth would suddenly visit Kou Xuan.

Thinking this, Kou Yu couldn't help but ask, "What does the Second Shelter want with us?"

Kou Xuan sat upright in the main seat, his gaze neither joyful nor sorrowful. "Win them over."

"Win them over?" Kou Yu frowned.

Even with his pride, he knew that compared to the Second Sanctuary, the Kou family was utterly insignificant.

So he couldn't help but ask, "How can we help them?"

Kou Xuan said with a half-smile, "That's the problem."

"For the past twenty or thirty years, Shelter No. 2 has never tried to win us over, but suddenly recently it has started to do so. Don't you find that strange?"

"Moreover... their goal is clear: to prevent Sanctuary 3 from establishing an 'overseas enclave' within Sanctuary 6's territory. Or... even if they do, to treat Sanctuary 4 the same way."

Hearing Kou Xuan's words, Gao Changming asked in confusion, "As a sanctuary within the 'core area,' why is the Second Sanctuary so sensitive about 'overseas enclaves'?"

Kou Xuan smiled. "That's the problem."

He said, "Considering Qiu Tu and the anomalies of the 'Isolated Mountains,' I think the only explanation is that the 'Isolated Mountains' are about to collapse, and the 'Edge Area' will be incorporated into the 'Core Area.'"

Upon hearing Kou Xuan's words, the four people present were stunned into silence.

It must be said that this conjecture is indeed very bold, but also quite reasonable.

However... this raises a question: What will become of the Kou family...?

Thinking of this, Kou Yu raised his head, his face no longer showing the irritability and arrogance he had just displayed.

He asked, "Brother, so...we chose Shelter 2?"

"After all... you did deliberately let Sanzhou go today, and then forced Shen Yuzhou to leave."

At this point, he seemed to recall Li Feng's congratulations to Princess Xi earlier that day. His eyes lit up, and he said with a hint of realization, "So, that woman Lin Xi also chose the Second Shelter?"

Hearing his younger brother's words, Kou Xuan shook his head slightly.

He said, "No. I did not choose Shelter 2. Lin Xi did not choose Shelter 2 either."

Kou Yu was completely bewildered. Hou Yu and the other two looked up, equally puzzled.

Kou Xuan said calmly, "We all chose Qiu Tu."

"And everything that happened today was just a show."

Kou Yu, Hou Yu, and the others were completely bewildered, feeling as if their CPUs had overheated.

Upon seeing this, Kou Xuan couldn't help but smile.

He said sharply, "All of this was actually a plan by me, Lin Xi, and Yan Chen..."

.....

Time flies like an arrow; before you know it, five days have passed by as easily as if an invisible hand had gently touched them.

Five days later. Boundless Heart Sea - East City Area - Zhao Ji's Underground Palace.

In that pitch-black room, Qiu Tu sat there quietly, cross-legged, like a shining star.

The cataclysmic power, almost condensed into liquid, surrounded him, causing layers of water mist to permeate his body.

With each breath, the misty, catastrophic power contracted and expanded continuously. The terrifying fluctuations spread outwards like ripples.

I don't know how much time passed; it might have been only a minute, or it might have been four or five hours.

With a crisp "Zheng—" sound, the next second, the center of the dense clouds in the sky over the eastern city area suddenly sank in, forming a huge, bottomless vortex.

Within the clouds, flashes of lightning flickered, initially as faint as fireflies, but in an instant transforming into thick, dragon-like purple bolts of lightning. These bolts intertwined and entwined, emitting deafening roars, each seemingly capable of cleaving the sky in two.

Accompanied by that terrifying celestial phenomenon, a gaping hole appeared in the sky, unleashing boundless catastrophic power that rained down upon Qiu Tu!

Qiu Tu closed his eyes tightly, and a small seal emerged from between his eyebrows, descended to the top of his head, and together with him, endured the baptism of that powerful cataclysmic force!

With that baptism, Qiu Tu's aura also rose steadily, and soon reached the level he had when he killed "Dongliu"!

The next second, Qiu Tu's eyes snapped open!

His eyes were golden, seemingly containing the entire world, exuding boundless majesty!

Seventh rank!

...