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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 1: Total War
If the newcomers were indeed the Pursuers from the village, Ji Zichen was unwilling to let the villagers clash with the Guzhao Clan. Taking a risk, Ji Zichen interrupted, "Can your beetles see each other? Or can you describe what they look like?"
A Gu Diao replied, "Yes, the beetles can see each other." Producing a strange sound, a beetle flew into the palm of the Gu Diao. The Gu Diao opened its hand, and the beetle emitted a bright light from its center. Within that light, an image began to form—a shaky picture of people breathing, occasionally becoming blurry but still revealing their appearances little by little.
Ji Zichen watched the image projected by the beetle and recognized the Flying Wolf Militia among them, with Xia Lian also present.
Ji Zichen frowned. "It's really them!"
The Gu Diao asked, "Are they chasing you?"
Zang Da glared fiercely at the image of the Flying Wolf. "It's them," Zang Da pointed at the Flying Wolf. "That person wants to kill me!"
"Does he want to kill you, Zang Da?" Black Thunder grinned, revealing his sharp teeth. "We'll take care of him." Black Thunder then commanded the Gu Diao controlling the beetle, "Is there anything else?"
The Gu Diao nodded and quickly showed everyone what the beetle had seen. The image revealed several corpses of Azure Blaze Lizards.
Black Thunder exclaimed in surprise, "Azure Blaze Lizards hunting alongside humans? That's quite a strange combination."
Zang Da nodded. "That village has many Azure Blaze Lizards. The villagers are training these lizards to unleash their potential."
Disgust flickered in Black Thunder's eyes. "I despise humans who train monsters; they are truly despicable!"
Ji Zichen did not argue. "Don't harm them. Where are they now?"
The Gu Diao closed the image as the beetle flew away from its palm. "They are in the Living Forest; they haven't arrived yet, but if they take a detour, they could reach here in two or three hours at most."
Black Thunder ignored Ji Zichen's words and said, "Zang Da, your chance for revenge is coming. The terrain here is complex; it will be easy to kill them."
Gu Diao glanced at Ji Zichen, then looked over at Black Thunder. Although Ji Zichen had urged them not to harm these people, Black Thunder seemed to think otherwise. Naturally, Gu Diao would heed Black Thunder's words, as Ji Zichen was still an outsider.
"We can encircle them from the southeast valley; that way, they won't escape," Gu Diao suggested.
"They won't escape!" Black Thunder seemed to relish those three words, casting a look toward Ji Zichen that was both dismissive and piercing.
Ignoring Ji Zichen's words only fueled her anger, but now was not the time to worsen their relationship.
Ji Zichen looked at Zang Da, seemingly hoping it would persuade Black Thunder, but Zang Da lowered its head. With a sigh in her heart, Ji Zichen did not press Zang Da for words. "Zang Da, let's go," she said.
As Ji Zichen and Zang Da took a few steps away from Black Thunder and Yu Ren, Black Thunder deliberately raised his voice. "The Gu Diao Mountain Valley will return to tranquility! No one can make the Gu Diao warriors afraid!" He glanced at Gu Diao, who had previously controlled the insects. "I entrust this mission to you!"
Gu Diao appeared to be filled with immense honor, bowing before Black Thunder for a moment before retreating respectfully.
---
Yang Guizhi returned to the village, but Yuanming did not enter; he headed back to Spring Valley. Yang Guizhi informed the villagers of the purpose of the law enforcement team. The militia members were greatly pleased, as having a formation to protect the village was far safer than high walls. Yang Guizhi instructed the militia familiar with the terrain to lead the law enforcement team in setting up the formation and then returned indoors to meet Kai Zhou Shen.
"Am I doing the right thing?" Yang Guizhi asked Kai Zhou Shen.
Kai Zhou Shen did not respond immediately. He turned his gaze toward Yang Guizhi and said, "I am the Prophet God; I can show you glimpses of the future, but I cannot intervene. I have also told you that the future is ever-changing. What you see may not necessarily become reality."
"If you believe what you are doing is right and that you are shaping your people's future, then that is enough."
Yang Guizhi pondered Kai Zhou Shen's words carefully, though they did not bring her joy. "While the formation is still incomplete, I will show you what lies ahead before it is erected. Of course, seeing this may make you uncomfortable. Do you wish to see it?"
After a moment of thought, Yang Guizhi finally nodded. "I would like to see it; perhaps comparing it will help me determine whether my actions are right or wrong."
Kai Zhou Shen fulfilled Yang Guizhi's wish and presented a vision of the future before her eyes. She saw many Divine Eagles soaring through the mountains of the Opening of the Zhou Wasteland, with members of the Desolate Evil Hall's Cult seated atop them, holding the Crimson Phoenix Bell that glowed with flames.
Yang Guizhi watched as the Crimson Phoenix Bell was thrown down from the sky by the Desolate Evil Hall Cult. The screams of the villagers echoed everywhere, mingling with the roaring flames. The villagers, in their despair, could find no one to call for help.
Though she was an outsider, Yang Guizhi felt as if she were right there among them. The villagers were engulfed in flames, running around like ants on a hot pan, desperately trying to escape the inferno. The sight was heart-wrenching; she absolutely did not want to experience such a future.
A Divine Eagle swooped down toward the fleeing villagers, its thunderous voice mocking them. "Trying to run? Where do you think you can go?"
The Divine Eagle was several times larger than a human, circling and tormenting the panicked villagers. With little effort, its claws tore into a villager's abdomen.
After the villager fell lifeless, the Divine Eagle began to feast on the flesh, laughing maniacally. "Eat up! These people are your food!"
Yang Guizhi could no longer bear to watch. She trembled uncontrollably. "This is the future... We are destined to endure such horrors!"
Kai Zhou Shen replied, "We have seen the future, but this is not a fixed outcome."
Yang Guizhi's expression softened slightly. "You're right; this is not a fixed outcome. We can change this future."
She asked unexpectedly, "As long as we establish a Formation, we can avoid such a future?"
Kai Zhou Shen responded, "I don't know. Like mine, the future is ever-changing."
---
Xi Zu noticed that many guardians had arrived in the village. Although he had never been to the Great Palace Kingdom, he had heard of these guardians. They were experts in using magical artifacts and Formations from the Opening of the Zhou Wasteland. Xi Zu watched from a distance as they set up a Formation around the village. To the naked eye, it appeared they were simply planting Nine-Colored Wish Sticks at each corner of the village.
The sticks radiated nine colors, but to an untrained observer, it was impossible to discern their purpose. A Gale swept through, stronger than anything Xi Zu had ever felt before.
The Gale seemed ready to tear at his face, whipping up sand and scattering it everywhere. Xi Zu tightened his clothing to prevent sand from getting inside.
Gale moved swiftly, and in no time, he had vanished. With his disappearance, the Formation was already taking shape.
A faint protective shield hovered above the village.
A mage wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "It's done."
Gradually, Yang Guizhi's emotions returned to a state of calm. Even so, the vision of the future she had seen continued to disrupt her thoughts. Ultimately, she managed to suppress these thoughts. Kai Zhou Shen looked at her with concern; he was worried that Yang Guizhi's body and spirit might not withstand the burden.
Kai Zhou Shen spoke gently, "Don't worry too much. I can sense that the Formation is ready. The future you saw may not come to pass."
Yang Guizhi asked, "Can you show me a new future?"
This time, Kai Zhou Shen refused her request. "You need to rest. Let's leave it at that for today."
He decided not to let her know the outcome because he had already seen a new future—one that was even more troublesome than the previous one.
If Yang Guizhi were to see this new future, she would lose confidence and perhaps even go mad. Kai Zhou Shen could not tell her that this Formation would lead to terrifying events.
But for now, Yang Guizhi still had a little time; she didn't need to worry about it just yet. She felt a wave of dizziness wash over her and struggled to keep her mind clear.
Kai Zhou Shen noticed something was off with Yang Guizhi. "You need more rest," he said.
But what she needed went beyond mere rest; she needed relief from this ominous and sensitive unease, yet she couldn't change anything.
"How far away is the new future?" Yang Guizhi asked, then suddenly touched her mouth in surprise. She realized she understood Yuanming's words: knowing the future did not bring her joy or a sense of superiority.
"Kai Zhou Shen said, 'A new future is not far away. The course of the future has changed somewhat, but it will not be delayed.'"
"Yang Guizhi asked, 'Is the new future fortunate or unfortunate?'"
Kai Zhou Shen gazed steadily at Yang Guizhi and replied helplessly, 'There is no such thing as fortune or misfortune. When disaster strikes, people's hearts will unite more strongly. Even in times of peace, there will still be bloodshed.'"
Yang Guizhi nodded seriously and said, 'I admire your wisdom, Kai Zhou Shen.'
'Just remember one thing: the future is in the hands of humanity,' he stated.
'I understand,' Yang Guizhi replied.
As Kai Zhou Shen's figure began to fade into transparency, he warned, 'You must be prepared. You will face an all-out war. You must unite your people to resist this war.'
Thoughts of resistance filled Yang Guizhi's mind with terrifying images of bloodshed, slaughter, and souls scattered in despair. Her body trembled again.
Yet despite this, Yang Guizhi knew she had to be strong.
She was not the first to believe in Kai Zhou Shen, but she understood the heavy responsibility that lay before her. Arriving at the Open Zhou Divine Platform, she recalled how he had explained to Yuanming that while this platform seemed unremarkable and its structure unassuming, it was an exceptionally special place—one that involved faith and prophecies about the future.
At that time, Yuanming had disapproved of her wording but chose not to voice his opinions further.
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