Chapter 204 Day Three · Sunshine
It was cloudy at dawn.
The morning sun was like fire.
The blazing red sun rose from the eastern sea, and the darkness began to fade before sunrise. Nurous rays of light thrashed through the clouds. Light and darkness intertwined with each other. As the sun rose, all the clouds in the sky were illuminated into a brilliant picture of light and darkness.
The light pierced the clouds and passed through the sky. The gloom was fading, and the bright light was falling from the sky, shining on the distant sea, scattering among the flowers and plants of Changdao, filling the tall buildings and large mansions of the city. Everything seed to happen in an instant, yet it seed to be everlasting.
It was a sunny day.
Facing the sunshine of the third day, Li Tianlan slowly stepped over the grass under his feet, his mind calm and serene.
The final battle was drawing near. Since the end of the eting on the first day, Li Tianlan seed to have completely let go of everything. He stopped ditating and studying Martial Arts. Moreover, he quickly adjusted his ntal state, making it empty and pure. In just one day, he seed to have adjusted himself to the best condition.
The morning wind floated in the air with the fragrance of vegetation. Unhurriedly, Li Tianlan ascended a sod-covered hill.
It was arguably one of the highest places in the clubhouse. If a person stood at the top of the hill and looked down, most of the clubhouse would be in his view. The lake in the distance gently rippled, flowers swayed, and the leisure area was crowded with people. The club, which had been closed down, encountered the busiest period since it was founded. Cars ca in and then went out, one after another. The whole clubhouse seed to be operating sothing in an orderly and secretive way.
Li Tianlan watched all these quietly, with a glimr of incomprehensible amusent on his lips.
At present, Li Tianlan’s realm had steadily stopped in the stabilization phase of the Ice-condensing Realm. Under the stimulation of the potion nad Surge, his realm, on the surface, was the stabilization phase of the Fire-flaming Realm. As for the actual combat power, even Li Tianlan himself could not predict it unless he was fully engaged the enemy. When both the realm and unique techniques encountered bottleneck, there was no point in ditating and studying unique techniques. At the very least, it was unlikely to do much better in the coming final battle. It would add more psychological burden to him instead.
Li Tianlan did not know when the final battle would break out, but he had decided to relax his mind most thoroughly before the outbreak of the final battle and truly adjust himself to the strongest state to face everything.
Although his realm was not high, he was a fighting force that no one could ignore if his martial inheritance, constitution, talent, and willpower were combined. At the critical mont of the final battle, any one of the experts above the Thunder-shocking Realm should exert their supposed strength.
“How are we prepared?”
Li Tianlan stood at the top of the mountain and looked down. He asked suddenly, his tone soft and calm.
“The last batch of weapons will be in place within twelve hours, through a special channel of Samsara Palace.”
Behind him, Deep Dream replied earnestly. Under the circumstances that the few Super Masters of Samsara Palace had left the clubhouse, Sigh City provided Li Tianlan with the most direct protection. For most of the ti, either Deep Dream or Sunset Shadow would appear within 20 ters of Li Tianlan at any ti, and the cases that the two appeared at the sa ti were even more often.
Deep Dream, Sunset Shadow.
In recent years, they had been the two most active assassins of Sigh City in the outside world. Although they were not masters a half step to Invincible Realm, for assassins, in many cases, the level of the realm was not the most crucial factor. Now they were not at the top of the killer list, but with their close protection, Li Tianlan’s degree of safety could be guaranteed.
“Samsara Palace...”
Li Tianlan’s body stiffened. After a long while, he nodded and muttered to himself again, “Well, Samsara Palace...”
His eyes were still calm, but there was a sudden quiver in his heart. A sense of subtle yet profound powerlessness and lancholy, which he was unable to capture and control, swept over his nerves in a mont.
He and Qin Weibai...
They lost touch with each other again.
He couldn’t get through to her, and no one answered the video call. What was worse, there was no response to his ssage.
Duke, Horsewoman, and Flaming Fire had completely disappeared. In a series of plans of Zhongzhou State, the whole Samsara Palace seed invisible, without leaving a trace.
Li Tianlan sighed softly in a trance.
In just a few days, invisibly, Qin Weibai seed to erase all traces of her deliberately.
There was no disagreent or quarrel between the two. The last ti they made the video call, Qin Weibai was as gentle as water. However, in her gentleness and sentintally attached love to him, the two seed to drift away gradually. Everything about Samsara Palace began to leave him, and Sigh City appeared by his side.
Li Tianlan did not know what Qin Weibai was thinking, but he felt her cruelty and resolution from a series of secretive actions of her.
He shook his head, trying to hold back his inner emotional turmoil, and cald himself down again.
It seed that the extrely enclosed living environnt since his childhood had constrained his mind. Whether in the prival forest or the prison in the desert, Li Tianlan had his own goals and knew what to do.
Li Tianlan left the Li family’s campsite and went to Huating. In the face of the general trend in this big world, he had his monts of loss, of perturbation, of fear, and of self-abasent. Under the circumstances, he acquainted himself with Qin Weibai, Yu Donglai, Li Baitian, and Ning Qiancheng. He had his brothers and woman, and he witnessed the turbulence of the world. Having been influenced unconsciously by them, his anxiety about his first entry into the world seed to have subsided completely. His road was right ahead of him.
Now, however, as Samsara Palace separated itself from him and Qin Weibai lost contact with him on purpose, Li Tianlan realized that his self-perceived peace was, in fact, only an illusion. The sense of integration with the outside world was even brought mainly to him by Qin Weibai. When Qin Weibai disappeared, his sense of isolation from the world suddenly began to reappear, so clear and distinct.
He was no longer perturbed, but he was at a loss.
He had his own goals, but for the mont, he didn’t know what to do.
Therefore, he stopped ditating and temporarily gave up improving his strength. He was adjusting his state. He also wanted to think seriously about what he should do next when he was the most peaceful inwardly.
He must do sothing!
Must!
“I should do sothing.”
Li Tianlan suddenly said calmly, with his back to Deep Dream behind him.
“What do you want to do, Young Master?”
Deep Dream remained silent for a few seconds and said slowly, “I am willing to do it.”
“No.”
Li Tianlan shook his head. “I’ll do it, not you.”
He turned his head and smiled at Deep Dream, whose enchanting face was full of doubt. “Not the sa.”
Deep Dream blinked her bright eyes and said nothing.
The current Li Tianlan was completely different from the one whom she first t. He had beco quite a different person.
When she first saw this Young Governor, he was calm, but behind the calmness, she could clearly feel the seriousness and sharpness that overwheld her.
But now...
He was still calm, but there was a sense of elusiveness about him, showing that he really relaxed. He stood there casually, and his gentleness and sharpness were gone. He was as calm as a deep pool, as ethereal as mist, and as cold as ice.
In this state, Li Tianlan’s every move carried the most essential truth and softness.
The most real things were often the most easily to be overlooked.
Ideas flashed through Deep Dream’s mind. When she saw the smile that gradually erged in Li Tianlan’s eyes, she was startled.
Opposite her, the Young Governor, who was still a youth, had eyes as clear as water. His soft eyes, however, had a power that seed to see through the soul and make anyone who looked at them lose his presence of mind.
“I don’t quite get you, Young Master.”
Deep Dream unconsciously avoided Li Tianlan’s gaze.
“How is my identity in Zhongzhou State today?”
Li Tianlan said softly, not knowing whether he was asking Deep Dream or himself. He fumbled for a cigarette and lit it. Looking at the cigarettes in the black wooden box, a specialty that belonged to the Wang family of Beihai, he was in a trance.
“You’re quite noble.”
Deep Dream said without hesitation.
Li Tianlan’s current identity may be controversial, but despite being the son of a traitor, he still had the halo as the Young Governor of Sigh City.
In Zhongzhou State, Sigh City was a well-deserved giant-level force. Its Governor Situ Cangyue was known as the Hidden God of Zhongzhou State and possessed Setting Sun, one of the 12 Murderous Weapons. Even if it couldn’t compare with the Wang family of Beihai and Kunlun City, it was a real behemoth.
Li Tianlan was now the Young Governor of Sigh City and one of the three young Heavenly Sons of Zhongzhou State. His status was by no ans low. It was not an exaggeration to say that he was noble.
“Yeah, but don’t you think it’s too desolate here?”
Li Tianlan said insipidly.
Deep Dream raised her eyebrows. Before she could speak, Li Tianlan continued, “I have a sensitive background, but since I can still stay in East Island, the matter itself has already indicated that the higher-ups have had a relatively clear attitude. I had a close relationship with Samsara before, and the situation was not clear, so it made sense that so many people did nothing but watch. But now things are different. After the eting held the day before yesterday, we divided the defensive zones, and I beca the Young Governor of Sigh City. But how many people have co to visit us these days?”
Deep Dream seed to think about sothing.
At the eting held the day before yesterday, Military Counselor of Samsara Palace successfully joined up with God of Army of Zhongzhou State. After careful planning, they temporarily divided Changdao into three closely linked defensive zones to better cope with the coming final battle. The three defensive zones were, in fact, three evacuation routes. To think of defeat for the sake of victory. The views of Military Counselor and God of Army on this point were surprisingly consistent. They also planned very carefully. Even if they lost the final battle, as long as they could guard a defensive zone, elites of Zhongzhou State would have a route of retreat. If they were all together, there was a much higher chance that they would all get caught.
Now, the three defensive zones were closely connected, and the three groups of people could quickly support each other when they were in different places. In this way, it was impossible for East Island to eliminate the elites of Zhongzhou State in one place with the greatest force. After all, this wasn’t a final battle between the two sides, but a free fight among many parties. In addition to Zhongzhou State, there were teams of various dark forces. Although East Island had ho-field advantage and personnel advantage, all of the forces glared at it like a tiger watching his prey, which showed that East Island was dood to dare not fight against any force recklessly.
This final battle was the defense of East Island, but for all forces outside East Island, it was a military offensive.
The advance and retreat between offense and defense, at the right ti, was enough to create a huge advantage.
Sigh City was in charge of the No. 3 defensive zone. It was centered on the clubhouse at Li Tianlan’s feet and was closest to the edge of the battlefield. anwhile, Mount Shu was also divided into the No. 3 defensive zone.
The Wang family of Beihai was responsible for the No. 2 defensive zone, and several Super Masters of Samsara Palace would normally stay in the No. 2 defensive zone, but they did not belong to a particular area, because they had to offer full support.
Kunlun City was in charge of the No. 1 defensive zone, and anwhile, the Eastern Theater of Operations was also divided into the No. 1 defensive zone.
The forces involved in the battle of Changdao were not only these forces from Zhongzhou State. On the contrary, there were too many forces and agencies. It was hard to co up with the most detailed plan at a single eting, and the higher-ups had just divided the strongest or largest forces into three defensive zones. As for the remaining secret service agencies, they were free to choose their defensive zones and could wait for the final list of the three defensive zones before making any changes.
Now, it had been one day after the end of the eting. There was no shortage of forces choosing to join the No. 3 defensive zone, but far too many entered the No. 2 and No. 1 defensive zone.
In Li Tianlan’s view, this was not a normal phenonon at all.
In Zhongzhou State, Kunlun City and the Wang family of Beihai were indeed stronger than Sigh City, but they were in East Island. The final battle was just around the corner, and what mattered was the strength of these forces in East Island.
Strictly speaking, the strength of Sigh City in East Island was not weaker than that of the other two defensive zones.
At least in terms of top experts, Tribulation, known as the Lord of Shadow in the Dark World, was slightly powerful than Firmant in the No. 2 defensive zone and Gu Zhendong in the No. 1 defensive zone.
In terms of strength and prestige, the only one who could compare with Tribulation was Gongsun Qi, General of Nine Heavens, codenad the Azure Dragon.
But it was impossible for Gongsun Qi and his Terracotta Army to stay in a particular defensive zone. After all, they were the most aggressive special team.
At least in Li Tianlan’s view, if anyone really compared the power invested by several significant forces in East Island, he would find that Sigh City was at least not weaker than the Wang family of Beihai and was slightly stronger than Kunlun City.
That was what made Li Tianlan a little confused.
Kunlun City was strongly supportive of this national plan and was even the most critical promoter. It established the Snowdance Corps. Furthermore, Gu Qianchuan, an Invincible Realm expert, went to northern Europe as the commander of the army. Kunlun City indeed invested a lot. However, it invested not much in East Island.
Invincible Realm expert Gu Zhendong.
Ice Crystal and Ice Frost.
Gu Yunxia.
Gu Hanshan.
They seed to be the main high-end forces.
And the weirdest thing was that the higher-ups even acquiesced in the list carrying minimal input.
The reason behind this was worth pondering.
Li Tianlan did not want to think too deeply. He only knew that when Kunlun City’s input in East Island was not as great as that of Sigh City, far more people were willing to join the No. 1 defensive zone than the No. 3 defensive zone. The matter itself explained everything.
It even showed that many people didn’t approve of him. They did not approve of Sigh City’s willingness to accept him, or the fact that it even made him the Young Governor.
There may be stances and grievances involved, but obviously, they didn’t think highly of Sigh City. The ultimate cause was that he beca the Young Governor of Sigh City.
The halo around his head, or his own strength, seed weaker than those of the other two Heavenly Sons.
So Li Tianlan must do sothing. At the very least, he needed to do sothing convincing in this final battle.
For Li Tianlan, this was crucial to his developnt after his return to Zhongzhou State.
“If I go to fight Wang Shengxiao now, and I can beat him, I think there will be many more people who are willing to join the No. 3 defensive zone.”
Li Tianlan was silent for a while and then said with a smile.
Deep Dream was slightly shocked.
Although Wang Shengxiao from the Wang family of Beihai was also known as one of the three young Heavenly Sons of Zhongzhou State today, in the hearts of the majority of people, he had beco a leading figure of the young generation of Zhongzhou State. He was a Thunder-shocking Realm genius who possessed Wind and Thunder Veins and top martial inheritance. Deep Dream was under a lot of pressure even if she just thought of such a person.
Her Young Governor was a few years younger than Wang Xiaosheng was after all.
“Can you win?”
Deep Dream asked softly, biting her red lip.
“We won’t fight to the death. It’s just a simple competition. I cannot win.”
Li Tianlan shook his head honestly.
“Why are you in such a hurry to compete with Shengxiao? The future Zhongzhou State is destined to be yours. When you return to Zhongzhou State, there are plenty of opportunities for you to compete with him. I don’t think he will refuse.”
A loud laugh suddenly sounded down the hill, heroic and unrestrained.
Li Tianlan raised his eyebrows and looked down.
In his sight, a robust man was walking up the hill, smiling at him.
The man was handso, about forty years old. He was full of masculinity and looked mighty and burly. He was dressed in plain clothes, but he walked instinctively with a majestic gait and the deanor of a soldier. Li Tianlan frowned, and his gaze subconsciously fell on the man’s chest and shoulders.
There were no epaulets on the shoulders of the man, but there was a vague, dagger-like mark on his chest, with only a faint outline.
“General Wang? Morning.”
Li Tianlan knew the mark very well. He greeted the man with a smile.
Throughout the Dark World, only a unit of Zhongzhou State would use such a vague mark.
That was the Shadow Sting Army, which claid to be the largest special forces unit in Zhongzhou State!
Although the Shadow Sting Army was a special forces unit, it had always received the dual managent of the Army Headquarters and Kunlun City. It was extrely significant in the Special Warfare System of Zhongzhou State. Its first in command was the deputy commander of a theatre of operations with the rank of Lieutenant and had both power and prestige. Today, the leadership of the Shadow Sting Army was in the hands of the Southeast Group, and it was the mber of the Wang family of Beihai who served as the leader.
The handso man in his pri before Li Tianlan was undoubtedly one of the key figures of the Wang family of Beihai and the top leader of the Shadow Sting Army, Lieutenant General Wang Zhaoliang.
The Wang family of Beihai was extrely complex inside. A super giant that had always been in its heyday was by no ans simple and could not only have one or two generations. Apart from the lineal branch led by Wang Tianzong, there were more than ten collateral branches. And each branch was extrely prosperous, adding up to hundreds of people and forming a real clan. Wang Zhaoliang’s kinship with the lineal descendants of the Wang family of Beihai was far, but he had a close friendship with Wang Xiaoyao. Wang Shengxiao was also very polite to him. No matter what the occasion, Wang Shengxiao would call him Sixth Uncle. His status in the Wang family of Beihai was self-evident.
Moreover, when communicating by telephone with Principal Zhuang Huayang, Li Tianlan heard him ntion Wang Zhaoliang and the Shadow Sting Army. It was said that Wang Zhaoliang once received the instruction of Great Master Wuwei. He made teoric rises in his career since his youth and still had the potential to rise. This ti, if Wang Shengxiao lost the competition for the position as the General of Nine Regions of the Terracotta Army, the Wang family of Beihai was likely to make him take charge of the Shadow Sting Army after several years of accumulation and push Wang Zhaoliang to a higher level.
Li Tianlan would not be careless when facing such a person who was not one of the lineal descendants but was a crucial figure in the Wang family of Beihai. He shook hands with Wang Zhaoliang and again volunteered to ask, “Did you co here for a walk, general?”
“It’s a fine day for a walk, but how shall I have the ti?”
Wang Zhaoliang smiled and said, “I ca especially to find you.”
Li Tianlan remained calm and asked gently with a smile, “What can I do for you, general?”
“The Shadow Sting Army wants to ally with you. What do you think, Young Master Li?”
Wang Zhaoliang was a standard soldier. He was straightforward and preferred to co straight to the point. However, there was profound aning behind his words.
It was the Shadow Sting Army who ford an alliance with him.
Not the Wang family of Beihai.
In fact, the Shadow Sting Army had always been considered part of the force that the Wang family of Beihai invested in East Island, and of course, they were divided into the No. 2 defensive zone that the Wang family of Beihai took control of.
What was the profound aning of this alliance?
There was the Shadow Sting Army between the Wang family of Beihai and Sigh City.
Was this alliance the goodwill of the Wang family of Beihai?
Nevertheless, the Wang family of Beihai kept itself out of the affair. In this way, it could attack while advancing and defend while retreating. How much sincerity could such goodwill possess?
Li Tianlan squinted and smiled. “I will take your suggestion seriously, general. I don’t know what the alliance that you ntioned specifically an...”
“If we are allies, naturally, our priority is to support each other. Furthermore, we’ll share so resources and intelligence.”
Wang Zhaoliang’s voice sounded resonant.
Sothing flashed through Li Tianlan’s mind, but he said nothing.
The Wang family of Beihai still occupied a vast expanse of East Island’s territory. Their force had infiltrated almost every corner of East Island and was particularly mighty in intelligence. Although Li Tianlan was now the Young Governor of Sigh City, there was no problem if he wanted to use the unique channel of Samsara. Thus, the sharing seed harmless.
However, the goodwill of the Wang family of Beihai this ti confused him. Was there really any intelligence to be shared at this stage?
Or did he need the information that wasn’t about East Island?
A cold light flashed across Li Tianlan’s eyes.
Did the Wang family of Beihai detect anything? Or were they trying to find out the special channel of Samsara under the guise of sharing intelligence?
“In terms of intelligence, the foundation of Sigh City in East Island is relatively weak, and thus, we cannot help the Shadow Sting Army. But in terms of resources and support, we are willing to ally with you, general.”
After a mont of silence, Li Tianlan said in a steady voice.
A peculiar light glead in Wang Zhaoliang’s eyes. He seed to want to say sothing, but finally, he refrained from saying what he was thinking. Then, with a smile, he said, “Okay. We are willing to exchange the weapons of the Shadow Sting Army with you, Young Master Li. If you like any of them, please don’t hesitate to let us know. If Sigh City needs help, we’ll offer our support as soon as possible.”
Li Tianlan nodded and agreed verbally.
The few Super Masters of Samsara guarded the No. 2 defensive zone in the middle, but they could not be regarded as mbers of that zone because they were destined to support all the allies. And everybody, including Li Tianlan, believed that if they were in trouble, these Super Masters of Samsara would definitely co to their aid as soon as possible at all costs. Li Tianlan didn’t know if the Wang family of Beihai sensed sothing odd, but at the very least, through this alliance, they hoped to get so support from the Super Masters of Samsara. In exchange, of course, the Shadow Sting Army’s support was vital to Sigh City as well.
“Well... Young Master Li, wish us pleasant cooperation.”
Wang Zhaoliang smiled and reached out. “Besides, I’ve been asked to bring you a ssage.”
He slightly lowered his voice and continued, “Although it seems that Kunlun City invested a little this ti, in fact, they invested the most in East Island. Young Master Li, be careful.”
Li Tianlan’s eyes suddenly beca deep. He looked at Wang Zhaoliang for a long while and then slowly asked, “Who asked you to bring this ssage?”
Wang Zhaoliang laughed but said nothing.
“Samsara?”
Li Tianlan’s eyes grew focused.
Wang Zhaoliang laughed. After saying that he wished them pleasant cooperation, he turned and went down the mountain.
Li Tianlan looked at his back in silence and did not speak for a long ti.
“Young master, we cannot easily believe the Wang family of Beihai... I received so secret news. It is said that the Wang family of Beihai and Kunlun City seem to be planning sothing, mostly because of you.”
Deep Dream said, standing behind Li Tianlan.
Li Tianlan waved his hand, silently fished out his mobile phone, and opened the communication software.
The account of Qin Weibai was still lying in the address book with the sa profile picture, quiet and unchanging.
On the white paper were two lines of small, beautiful handwriting.
“Who are you to ?”
“Everything I have is you.”
Li Tianlan moved his fingers in silence and slowly typed words.
“Was it you who told the news about Kunlun City through Wang Zhaoliang?”
No response.
Li Tianlan did not give up and continued typing. “Don’t worry about anything. I know what to do.”
“If I were strong enough, everything would not be like this today?”
“I will beco stronger. The strongest.”
Still no response.
The top of Li Tianlan’s ssage was the three words that Qin Weibai sent him, but he never responded.
“I miss you.”
Li Tianlan breathed deeply and suddenly smiled. He continued to type. “You’re the woman that the few invincible giants in the Dark World have been dreaming of, but I had sex with you several tis since we t. Little Bai, do you think I’m the strongest?”
His phone vibrated.
Qin Weibai finally replied to his ssage with two simple words: wicked man.
Li Tianlan laughed, put away his mobile phone, and looked into the sky.
Basked in the sunshine of the third day, he could clearly feel that sothing was approaching.
It was getting closer.
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