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Chapter 297: Chapter 294: Begin
In the meeting room of Fortress One.
Gu Jinlai, Gu Luochen, and several others were present.
In front of him, there were several Thousand-mile Light and Shadow Mirrors.
The images of Xin Tianqi, Gu Chaoyang, Cheng Wanli, Jing Yunshan, and others appeared in the mirrors.
This scene faintly reminded Gu Jinlai of video conferences held on Blue Star.
"The time has come, and since Lizhou State has still not given a response, we must take action regardless. Especially since we have notified the Purgatory Sect, Netherworld Sect, and Cold Moon Sect of our operation this time," said Xin Tianqi from within the mirror. "If we remain indifferent this time, it will be a huge blow to the prestige of Lingxiao City, and it will greatly affect the peaceful unification plan that you, State Governor, intend to implement. Therefore, the arrow is on the bowstring and we must shoot."
Cheng Lixue and Jing Yunshan, both Primordial Spirit True Monarchs, nodded and said, "If Governor Gu finds it inconvenient to take action, the two of us are willing to go to Lizhou State in place of the State Governor."
"Just within Lizhou State itself, there are six True Monarchs. Although these six True Monarchs are in constant conflict, their long-time marital alliances have created a basis for unification. When facing an external invasion, they will quickly band together, so the two of you alone will not be enough. Count me in as well," Gu Jinlai continued.
"During this time, I have gathered quite a number of sea vessels, some of which are warships suitable for naval combat. Although small in scale, they can transport two to three thousand people without issue. If the State Governor is willing to order two to three thousand Demon God Guards to act with me, we can surely teach Lizhou State a harsh lesson," Xin Tianqi spoke.
Gu Xiliu, commanding a host of guards in Jiangzhou State, immediately volunteered, "Our two units of guards are fully prepared and ready to fight to the death for the Patriarch."
"If that’s not enough, we can also spare some troops from the Yellow State to reinforce them," Gu Luochen told Gu Jinlai.
However, Gu Jinlai was not in a hurry to speak.
The fact that the Demon Realm Rift had not yet opened was somewhat unexpected to him.
After all, according to calculations by Zhang Lihuo and others, the Demon Realm Rift was supposed to open during a period twenty days ago.
Fortunately, even if the Demon Realm Rift had not opened, and the Mystic Bird Fighting Machines had not been strengthened, their Star State was still capable of taking down Lizhou State.
It was just that the final result would likely be compromised.
After a while, he slowly spoke, "Lizhou State must be conquered, but the key is how to do it. To capture Lizhou State with minimal cost, we must at least make the six major powers of Lizhou State bow their heads and willingly hand over the main culprits who dared to plunder the Lingxiao City’s Sword Heavy Cannon."
"Our combined strength surpasses that of Lizhou State, the biggest problem lies in the three hundred li strait between the two places. Without a navy, once our ships are attacked by the Lizhou State navy during the crossing and destroyed, even the strong power of the Demon God Guards cannot be brought into play," Xin Tianqi said.
"No matter," Gu Jinlai said: "I will operate three Mystic Bird Fighting Machines to escort the transport fleet. Any warship daring to approach will be struck by the thunder of the Mystic Bird Fighting Machines. Even if the six Primordial Spirit True Monarchs of Lizhou State make their move, with the power of the three Mystic Bird Fighting Machines and your strength, Star Lord Xin, we will be able to crush them."
Cheng Lixue and Jing Yunshan both strongly agreed with this.
They had personally witnessed the combat power of the Mystic Bird Fighting Machines, which was not inferior to top-tier True Monarchs. Three machines were equivalent to three top-tier True Monarchs.
Combined with the Spirit Sparrow Sword, which also boasted combat power not inferior to a top-tier True Monarch, Xin Tianqi was a force to be reckoned with.
This lineup was more than capable of overwhelming the six True Monarchs of Lizhou State.
"With Governor Gu making a move, it can be said to be foolproof," Xin Tianqi said. "It’s just that the Mystic Bird Fighting Machines we’ve just refitted will have to be altered back again."
"No matter, it won’t take much effort. We need some time to assemble our forces and prepare for the cross-sea operation anyway," Gu Jinlai replied, then went on: "So, that’s the plan. Star Lord Xin, next..."
Before he could finish his words, an urgent voice from Zhang Lihuo rang out from outside: "It’s opened! It’s opened! State Governor, the Demon Realm Rift in Tianhe has opened!"
Hearing this, Gu Jinlai abruptly stood up.
Xin Tianqi and the others visible in the Thousand-mile Light and Shadow Mirror also showed expressions of joy.
They all knew what the opening of the Tianhe Demon Realm Rift meant for Gu Jinlai.
"It’s opened?"
Gu Jinlai strode to the entrance of the meeting room.
"Yes!"
Zhang Lihuo, who had entered the meeting room, nodded vigorously, his demeanor excited: "The ripples of space have started to emit. Based on our previous experience, in three to four days at the fastest or five to six days at the slowest, the Demon Realm Rift will officially open. Then, the Demon Spirits will pour out from the rift."
"Good," Gu Jinlai replied with a sound of agreement: "Take all the fighting machines to Tianhe, and moreover, lock down the information on this side; it must not be leaked."
As he spoke, his tone paused: "Not just devils! But also humans!"
Zhang Lihuo, Gu Luochen, and the others nodded in unison.
Every opening of the Demon Realm Rift allowed the Demon Power to grow immensely.
If the devils did not want the Demon Spirits rushing out from the rift to be blocked at the doorstep and annihilated, they would inevitably launch a counterattack.
And human forces...
Such as the Purgatory Sect, Cold Moon Sect, and Netherworld Sect, although they have been very obedient recently, to minimize risk, it would be best if the news here were not spread out.
This was for the sake of Lingxiao City, and also for their own good.
Following Gu Jinlai’s orders, Gu Luochen quickly carried them out.
The area within dozens of li around the center of the Tianhe Rift was completely evacuated.
Squads of Demon God Guards patrolled back and forth on Swift Dragons and even T-Rexes to prevent anyone from sneaking in.
A radar, freshly produced not long ago, was also moved out.
Taking a lesson from Gu Chifeng’s unprepared ambush, Gu Luochen specially requested the Military Workshop to cast a radar for detecting Divine Thought Fluctuations. Its power was even higher than the Short Range Defense Cannon, and as it swept across the area, it could monitor everything within hundreds of li.
The Refining God Immortal might conceal their Divine Thought Fluctuation completely just before making a move, so as not to dissipate even a fraction, but a radar with a scanning range of hundreds of miles would inevitably expose the enemy with nowhere to hide.
At least until they figure out the specific function of the radar.
Gu Luochen remained on alert, while Gu Jinlai and Zhang Lihuo, among others, brought the Mystic Bird Fighting Machines and Cheng Ying Mecha to the site where the Demon Realm Rift was opening, quietly waiting.
However...
After waiting a day, Zhang Lihuo’s expression had gradually become more solemn.
"Supreme Elder, something’s not right."
Zhang Lihuo said in a grave voice, "The growth of the space ripples is much slower than expected."
"Slower?"
Gu Jinlai observed the faint ripples emanating in waves in the distance.
He was not completely ignorant about the Demon Realm Rift.
Typically, if opening within one or two days, it’s usually a small rift, allowing small and medium-sized Demon Spirits to pass through.
If it takes three to four days, or even five to six days to open, the rift is often referred to as a large rift, capable of allowing not only large Demon Spirits through but also certain special Catastrophic-level Demon Spirits to squeeze through.
Going further up...
There are the super-large Demon Realm Rifts located in the Imperial Capital.
These rifts have reached the point where they can truly allow Catastrophic-level Demon Spirits to pass through.
And their opening time is often more than ten days.
"You mean to say..."
"Based on the spread of the space ripples, the total opening time of this Demon Realm Rift is estimated to be eight to nine days. This... is close to the standard of the super-large Demon Realm Rift. Eight or nine times out of ten, a Catastrophic-level Demon Spirit will burst forth."
Zhang Lihuo stated solemnly.
"Catastrophic-level Demon Spirit?"
Gu Jinlai glanced at the Cheng Ying Mecha, which after a month of their efforts had been nearly perfected, and his face showed not fear but anticipation as he said, "In other words, after we finish modifying the other five Mystic Bird Fighting Machines, we still have a chance to co-spirit the Cheng Ying Mecha too?"
"Uh..."
Zhang Lihuo glanced at Gu Jinlai.
Shouldn’t their Supreme Elder be worried about the powerful Demon Spirits emerging from the Demon Realm Rift?
"Don’t forget, I’m capable of setting up the Ten Thousand Spirit Array, so what if a Catastrophic-level Demon Spirit arrives?"
Gu Jinlai smiled slightly.
He had the confidence to say these words.
In the past month, apart from casting the Cheng Ying Mecha with Zhang Lihuo and others, he had not been idle.
Criminals deserving death in Yellow State had already been sent in three batches.
Even though Karma in these batches of death-row prisoners was predominantly light red, there were still a few who had reached the bright red level.
At this moment, he possessed ten Qingguang.
With ten Qingguang, plus the fact that his Soul Secret Technique was already stronger than that of a Heavenly Monarch at the same Realm after reconstructing the Great Sun Core, what harm could Catastrophic-level Demon Spirits do?
Furthermore, if ten is not enough...
While there is still some time before the Demon Realm Rift fully opens, have Star State and Jiangzhou State also deliver a batch of death prisoners for him to judge.
"Just afraid that there will be more than one or two Catastrophic-level Demon Spirits arriving at that time."
Zhang Lihuo said, his expression slightly graver, "For safety’s sake, I suggest we call another team of Heavenly Masters from Lingxiao City."
"If we can’t stop these demons, having another team of Heavenly Masters won’t make much difference."
Gu Jinlai stated calmly, "Besides, at most, we’ll let some Demon Spirits escape. It’ll take time for escaped Demon Spirits to grow into Devils, and even for Catastrophic-level Demon Spirits to grow into a Demon Demon King, at least two or three years would be needed. And in two or three years... Do you think we’ll still fear a few newly formed Demon Demon Kings?"
Zhang Lihuo, initially surprised by Gu Jinlai’s words, soon thought of...
The rate of development of Lingxiao City in recent times.
And the prospect of the completion of the Mystic Bird Fighting Machines and Cheng Ying Mecha formation. If they were to develop for another two or three years, several Demon Demon Kings would seem...
Truly not to be feared?
With this thought, he lapsed into a trance.
"Lingxiao City... has grown so powerful without us realizing it?"
"This is because I had your help."
Gu Jinlai smiled slightly, "I believe, as time goes on, not only will Demon Demon Kings no longer be a threat, but even Devils and Demon Spirits will no longer dare to threaten our Heavenly Master Lineage. Perhaps one day we’ll invade the Demon Realm and make those Demon Spirits pay for the crimes they’ve committed in our world over the years."
"Invade the Demon Realm..."
Zhang Lihuo murmured these words.
If it had been three years earlier, he would have thought Gu Jinlai was dreaming.
But now...
He looked resolutely at Gu Jinlai, the Star State Governor, the bearer of the Heavenly Master Torch, their Great Sun Heavenly Sect’s Supreme Elder...
He nodded deeply, "I’m looking forward to that day."
Gu Jinlai smiled faintly, "Be patient. Time is on our side."
