Soul-Slaying Maiden: Master Of Ancient Divine Weapons

"Why hasn't reinforcements arrived yet?"

"Why is there no reinforcement?"

"Where are the people from the war zone? Can't we even see a single troop carrier?"

"Are they planning to abandon this city?"

Morale could be worn down, and fear and panic were spreading continuously.

The brutal reality of death and the countless corpses of the fallen were silently narrating the cruelty of the battlefield. More and more spirit contract masters and their contract spirits were despairing, realizing the harsh truth that humanity seemed utterly incapable of defeating the Zerg.

Yi Fan, shrouded in golden light, crushed the Zerg in front of him with one punch, reuniting with Xia Youwei and Li Lingzhen on the battlefield.

"Any news from the official city guardians?"

"The phone won't connect."

"Won't connect? Are you joking? How can communication phones not connect?"

"I wish it was a joke." Yi Fan's expression was grim as he looked at the battlefield ahead, a massive grinder of flesh and blood.

Too many spirit contract masters and contract spirits had perished in this battle, and there was nothing he could do.

Just like back then.

"Captain, there are too many Zerg outside. We're surrounded. You must leave!"

"Leave? I can't leave. If I leave, what will happen to you? Besides, we're the combat spirit contract masters of the war zone. If even we retreat, what will happen to Da Xia?"

"But the war zone clearly used us as bait. Thousands of combat spirit contract masters—those are thousands of living lives! Are we just being abandoned like this as bait?"

"Enough, stop talking. Yi, big brother, our lives were saved by you. If we're going to die, we'll die together."

"Xiao Fan." A woman dressed in bright red, vibrant in color, appeared behind Yi Fan. Seeing his troubled expression, she reached out and rubbed his furrowed brow.

"Yuanwei, this time we might really die."

"No, you'll be fine. Did you forget? My innate ability is SS-level immortality."

"Immortality... Haha, right, how could I forget? It must be because of this ability that they deliberately left us in such a dire situation! Those high and mighty power holders, they don't even consider the lives of us frontline combat spirit contract masters! Those leeches eating away at the future!" Yi Fan gritted his teeth, his voice trembling with anger.

Why?

Why was it always them who died, while the incompetent lived off the spoils?

He looked down at his hands, clenching his fists in frustration.

———

[Flashback]

The comrades who once swore to fight and live together had all been slaughtered by the Zerg.

Hong Yuanwei also lay in a pool of blood.

Yi Fan held her body tightly, trembling uncontrollably. "Why? Why, when you have the ability of immortality, why did you still die?"

Hong Yuanwei looked at the devastated Yi Fan, her hand reaching out to gently stroke his face. "Silly... Immortality can be transferred. Against such intense attacks, a single layer of immortality wasn't enough to survive. From the moment I became your contract spirit, I knew this day would come."

"Carry my share as well. Live well for me, Xiao Fan!"

Hong Yuanwei died, transferring the ability of immortality to Yi Fan.

In that brutal battle, Yi Fan was the sole survivor.

From that moment on, Yi Fan abandoned honor, relinquished his identity as a combat spirit contract master, and returned to Deep Blue City.

———

"What are you thinking about?"

Xia Youwei's voice pulled Yi Fan back from his memories. He shook his head and asked, "What about Han Zhen? Hasn't that brat returned from the Bodhi Treasure Tree World yet?"

"He told you?" Xia Youwei shook her head. "Not yet."

Yi Fan sighed and asked again, "Where is the Bodhi Tree now?"

"It's with me, protected by the Shennong Cauldron. He's absolutely safe," Li Lingzhen replied.

"I'll try contacting the communicator one last time. If we can't reach anyone, then it means we're truly on our own."

———

"Commander Lin, urgent report from the rear. Deep Blue City is under a major Zerg disaster. A large force of Zerg appeared on Deep Blue's coastline using unknown methods. They are now launching a massive siege, and the situation is critical."

"Immediately deploy reinforcements. Notify the other major war zones to send support."

Lin Jingxuan's eyes narrowed.

As a strategist, he immediately sensed something was wrong.

A city deep in the rear lines—what kind of strategic significance could Deep Blue City have to warrant such an extensive Zerg operation?

In his mind, a figure flashed. It was none other than the teacher currently in Deep Blue City, Da Xia's number one war god, Li Shutang.

If that were the case...

Lin Jingxuan wasted no time and began contacting his fellow commanders in the major war zones using the communicator.

Upon hearing that their teacher's city was in trouble, the war zone leaders immediately mobilized and prepared to head for reinforcements.

With Da Xia's current troop deployment speed and the recent victory in the year-end large-scale battle, the frontline pressure was minimal. Rear reinforcements could move swiftly, forming a steady chain of support in just 30 to 60 minutes.

These Zerg targeting the rear city was akin to placing a piece on the center of the board—abandoning their overwhelming advantage to focus on a relatively insignificant area with no chance of success.

It was precisely for this reason that Lin Jingxuan felt a nagging sense of unease.

The unknown, elusive threat was the most terrifying.

Five minutes after he completed his communication, a subordinate rushed over anxiously. "Commander Lin! Our troop carriers are all out of control!"

"What did you say? Say that again!"

"Our troop carriers! All the carriers docked at the port are completely shut down!"

"Not just that, all our communicators have lost connection. All the major war zones are now incommunicado."

Troop carriers wouldn't malfunction without reason; they were maintained daily and always ready.

And communicators—losing connection for such critical infrastructure—what did it mean?

Lin Jingxuan had a grim realization, one that made his expression grow darker.

If the one betraying Da Xia was that person, then this was truly a disaster.

Even someone as composed as Lin Jingxuan couldn't suppress a sense of helplessness at that thought.

"Changsheng Corporation! One of the five independent companies outside of national control, after so many years of peaceful cooperation, what are you trying to do now?"

Yes.

For the troop carriers to fail and the communicators to disconnect, only one entity could orchestrate such an operation: the Channsheng Corporation, one of the five major corporations responsible for providing advanced equipment and weapons for the entire Blue Planet.

As a long-standing ally of Da Xia, if Changsheng Corporation had betrayed them, it would result in a blow that was fatal, one that would cut deep.

Just like now.

"Is it just the Changsheng Corporation?" Lin Jingxuan's expression was heavy as he turned to his subordinates. "Gather everyone we can contact. If communicators can't be used, inform them verbally. Issue the order: move out immediately."

"Commander Lin, without troop carriers, we can't return to Deep Blue City."

"Who said we're going to Deep Blue City? Head to the Third War Zone. We're out in the open while the enemy lurks in the shadows—they're bound to have follow-up plans. We're not the players in this game; as chess pieces, we need to ensure we're not defeated one by one."

"Yes, sir!"

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