Chapter 43

Booms!

As flames burst on the outer surface of the glazed cup, the mountain, which had been covered by dust for thirty years, suddenly became lively.

The three major forces opened fire near simultaneously. The Burning Fire and Gray Mountain were particularly notable, for they had the most impressive firepower.

Cannonballs roared from all sides, and they exploded into flames and dust. While a storm of bullets accompanied them, still, they could not shake the glazed cup that was magnified countless times.

No one expected this to happen.

As the first bombardment fell, the gunners at the top of the mountain stopped filling the cannonballs, and the densely packed Evolved Ones loosened their grip on the guns.

After the short roar at the mountain, they all fell into silence!

As the thick clouds in the sky stopped whirling around, they were shocked to find that a thick, glass-like shield had encased the entire lonely peak.

The hot weapons they thought sufficed to destroy the target were rendered useless.

Silence.

The Evolved Ones looked at the gigantic, incomprehensible shield in awe. They felt suffocated, and their mouths opened wide—they couldn’t even exclaim.

“Is… is that… also… his ability?” The brain of the Apocalypse Wanderer’s leader blanked.

Many of the Burning Fire and Gray Mountain’s top echelons were equally silent. They were unable to process what happened.

That is… also a Transcendent Ability?

The scene in front of them was unimaginable, indeed. For a while, no one could make any response.

Some Evolved Ones even fell onto the ground.

The mountain wind howled, and as the attack ceased, the sky darkened again.

The chilly wind swept the earth, causing everyone but Lin Tuo to shiver.

Even Hua Xi, who stood beside him, was the same. She stared blankly ahead, through the glazed cup, at the blurry people. After a while, Hua Xi returned to her senses and turned towards Lin Tuo, again, yearning to ask something. However, Lin Tuo said something before she could.

“Wait here.” Lin Tuo turned around and went straight to the Laboratory’s window near the sea.

He jumped down and walked along the mountain rocks towards a gap between the Liu Li Zhan and the sea. Immediately, he switched consciousness and passed the Imperial Seal to the main body.

……

Lishan Martial Hall, in the study.

After Lin Tuo slowly withdrew his right hand from the ocean, he summoned the virtual panel and switched to Observation Mode.

He carefully lowered his palm and threw the dusty Imperial Seal onto the training field. Immediately, he got up and pushed open the door. Soon, he returned with a quaint seal in his hand.

“There is no time to lose… whether I want to abandon the Wasteland or not, I must first transfer the lives within it. Only then could I deal with it…”

Lin Tuo switched the Sandbox back to the Wasteland and stood by the side of it with a serious expression.

Yes, he was ready to use the power of the Imperial Seal to make the lives from the entire continent come out of their shelter voluntarily, facilitating the transfer.

“According to the analysis report, the scope of the Imperial Seal is only ten meters at most. Indeed, if used inside the Sandbox, ten meters could only affect so much, but… what if I use it outside?”

Lin Tuo measured with his eyes the long table of the Sandbox inside his study. Ten meters is enough to cover the entire continent!

As for the number limit, by using the seal from outside the Sandbox, the targets were shrunk many times, which lowered the difficulty of hypnotizing them.

Of course, even so, the Ether of the Imperial Seal alone can’t support the vast consumption. Fortunately, Lin Tuo can inject Ether into it to help it.

“I hope this works.”

Lin Tuo whispered to himself as he held the Imperial Seal. He hung it above the Sandbox and tried to activate it as described in the analysis report.

In the next second, he saw the old and plain Imperial Seal slowly lit up.

As if a sun was burning inside it.

At the same time, Lin Tuo connected his consciousness with it. He immediately leaned over the clouds and pretended to be majestic.

“Heed me well. This world will soon be destroyed. Go, seek the Great Western Continent, where ye shall find the New World.”

The Imperial Seal, meanwhile, shone brightly as it spread an invisible ripple containing the will in these words.

……

Meanwhile, in the Sandbox.

On the 300,000 square kilometers of the Wasteland, countless creatures, at the exact moment, stopped with their busy day, and the sleeping ones were awoken from their sleep.

They raised their heads and looked towards the sky.

The voice of the sky—or perhaps, heaven—was speaking to them. Though vague, the voice was grand, almost… spiritual.

Unconsciously, they were hypnotized by the ripple that swept across the entire continent. Thus they followed the instruction; they headed outside, to the wilderness, and to the Great Western Continent.

……

Mining Town.

In an open-pit mine, countless refugees wearing thin clothes were swinging their tools mechanically. Sounds of clanging from mining could be heard.

In the center, the “Mayor,” wearing a worn-out jacket and overalls, held a horsewhip. He patrolled the site while guarded by his thugs.

From time to time, he yelled and whipped the lazy refugees.

However, at this moment, he suddenly realized something. He raised his head and looked up at the sky. He saw the thick clouds whirling above his head—as if seething. Above the clouds, a faint and dignified voice slowly echoed: “Heed me well. This world will soon be destroyed…”

The moment the “Mayor” heard the voice, his dirty eyes lost their clarity, as if he fell into a dream.

Around him, countless refugees also stopped their movements and raised their heads. On those dirty, rough, and numb faces, a confused look appeared.

Patter.

Clang.

The Mayor threw down his horsewhip; the thugs threw away their rifles; the miners unloaded their baskets and threw down their iron picks… All of them seemed to be dreaming as they walked towards the Great Western Continent.

……

Black Rock City.

Inside a large base within the sphere of influence of the Burning Fire Company.

At this moment, countless sleeping people opened their eyes. In their ears, the voice from the distant sky resounded, and their eyes lost clarity. Soon, they packed their most precious things and joined the crowd on the street; they all walked towards the city gate.

No communication, no obstruction.

Even the guards, under the effect of hypnosis, took the initiative to open the city gate. They led the people to migrate towards the Great Western Continent.

……

Not just humans.

In the wilderness, a group of Eremus Wolves came out of a dense forest. The leader—the powerful alpha gray wolf—raised its head and pricked up its ears.

While it doesn’t understand human words, the will in these words has invaded it.

The wolf howled skyward with a whimper. It led the tribe and rushed towards the Great Western Continent.

Behind, countless Mutated Beasts also emerged from the dense forest and followed the migrating lot.

Among these, many were the natural predator of others, yet, under the power of the Imperial Seal, they suppressed their hunting instinct.

……

Similar scenes were happening everywhere right now.

Under the spiritual will, countless humans and mutated beasts had formed a surging flood. They crossed the icy wilderness and marched towards the Great Western Continent.

Even the fishes in the distant ocean were affected. They leaped from the Endless Sea to the land—a magnificent sight, truly.

……

Great Western Continent.

In the mountains, at this very moment, the Evolved Ones from the three major forces also heard the voice from the sky.

Compared with ordinary people, the Evolved Ones had a stronger will, and thus, were less affected.

Even if some powerhouses were affected, they immediately broke free from the hypnosis. They looked skyward, aghast.

“Heed me well… This world will soon be destroyed… Go… seek the Great Western Continent, where ye… shall find the New World.”

Hearing that grand and unfamiliar voice, countless Evolved Ones almost lost their will.

Some of the weak-willed prostrated on the ground.

Thereupon the same term emerged in the hearts of countless men.

“God!”

Though civilization had regressed, knowledge of the old era had not been wholly lost to the ages. The people of this world still remembered that God existed.

When the fire of destruction devoured everything in its path—when the Cataclysm started—they all prayed for the coming of God.

They cried out, begged for help, and yet, no answers could be heard.

Thus a rumor was spread by the survivors. God had abandoned this land, for the deed of the Mad Emperor had angered Him.

But today, they once again witnessed God’s divinity, His miracle.

Even if they were not affected, numerous Evolved Ones threw down their weapons and looked toward the firmament in reverence.

Try as they might, the high-level officials can’t stop them.

……

Lishan Martial Hall, in the study.

The Ether stored within the Imperial Seal was consumed in a few seconds after activation. Lin Tuo had to inject a bit of his own to support it.

After he confirmed it was a success, he stopped the supply of Ether. The Imperial Seal suddenly dimmed, and more cracks appeared on its surface.

Fortunately, not much Ether is consumed. Well, the hypnotic effect shouldn’t last long, but it’s enough. Lin Tuo overlooked the Sandbox.

In fact, he could do it just by pretending to be a god if he only wanted to migrate the humans. At most, it will be a little troublesome. But Lin Tuo also wanted to take the Mutated Beasts. Therefore, using the Imperial Seal was the simplest and most effective method.

“I need to keep as many lives as possible… After all, I’m different from the Mad Emperor. I’m not a mad god…” Lin Tuo shook his head and whispered.

After he said that, he suddenly froze. He re-examined his words. His eyes changed slightly. He looked at the Imperial Seal with dread.

“The side effects… Indeed, this thing must be destroyed.”

With a cold expression and clenched fists, he shattered the Imperial Seal, turning it into nothing more than a mass of extraordinary residue.

He indifferently threw the jade powder into the sea and closed his eyes, concentrating. After a while, he looked at the Sandbox again.