Chapter 1728: Setting Off in the Snowstorm
At this moment, the faces of everyone in the meeting room were extremely grim!
Piers cursed loudly: "Dammit! We have nearly four hundred million people to relocate. How long do we have?"
Yang Jian shook his head: "I don't know how long. But Jiangnan is holding the line, and everything is uncertain. So complete the relocation as quickly as possible!"
"Four hundred million, so what? Is that a lot? We have over a billion people relocating too!"
Upon hearing this, everyone's eyelids twitched. Hua Xia was truly insane!
A strategic relocation of this many people was unprecedented in human history. And to maximize civilian survival, they just went for it without any hesitation?
Martin was full of anxiety: "So that's why you were clearing out spiritual ruins on such a large scale, using them as shelters?"
"Where do we get that many shelters to accommodate so many people? This..."
Although after the No Man's Land Spirit Calamity incident, all nations had become wary and prepared in secret, none had ever considered a situation as severe as relocating the entire population of a country.
Big grinned happily: "I knew Hua Xia wouldn't launch an 'Overturned Nest Plan' for no reason. Good thing we followed suit!"
"It might not be fully prepared, but at least we have something."
Yang Jian's face darkened. Your nation's intelligence network is pretty well-informed, huh?
But the Dao Heaven from other nations also grew anxious.
No nation was stupid. Under these circumstances, everyone had held back many trump cards, but none were as well-prepared as Hua Xia!
Relocating such a huge population involved countless considerations: water, electricity, accommodation conditions, food supplies, basic necessities...
This could never be completed in just a day or two. Three days, five days, or even ten-plus days—it could take that long.
Miyazaki's expression was strained: "Our nation has very few spiritual ruins. There simply aren't enough shelters. Saving even half would be tough!"
"Long-term survival supplies in shelters are also a major problem. Which half do we save? How many will survive in the shelters? After the Spirit Calamity..."
Yang Jian's expression turned solemn: "That is not the priority. The priority is to ensure as many humans as possible survive the first wave of impact!"
"Survival first! Then there's a future!"
At that moment, a shadow fell over everyone's faces. Was it really time for this?
Just then, Pang Badi suddenly raised his hand, his face full of pain:
"I... I've stockpiled over a hundred sets of God-Slaying Spell Arrays. I originally planned to sell them to various nations at a high price when the time was right and make some money. Hai Tang doesn't have that many people, so we can't use that many. Free! Who wants them?"
Everyone's eyes lit up, and they looked at Pang Badi with hope.
Holy crap! Over a hundred sets?
Boss Pang hasn't been idle either, huh? You really can manufacture stuff!
Piers instantly vanished, his face full of excitement: "That's a huge help! I'll go get them right now!"
Bati gave a thumbs up: "Boss Pang is the GOAT! Awesome!"
The God-Slaying Spell Array was definitely a life-saving artifact. If there were no shelters, the people could be organized into the spell array to survive the first wave of impact.
Mi Ye spoke up: "Those near the Nightless City in the Abyss can come to my Nightless City. I can guarantee the safety of the people!"
"But while the God-Slaying Spell Array can hold, it doesn't have the conditions to support long-term survival. That's a problem."
Bai Kou quickly added: "Don't forget! We still have the Moon! As long as we survive the first wave, we can bring the Star Ring over and transfer the people from the spells to the Moon in large batches!"
"After all this time, the Moon Joint Base's construction has already taken shape!"
Yang Jian's eyes lit up. That was also a viable method. No matter what, they just had to survive this wave first!
"The Pupil Race can also come to help. Their abilities should be more than enough to deal with the spirit beasts during the Spirit Calamity."
Facing the imminent global Spirit Calamity, the high-level remote video conference among nations had no arguments or refutations. Instead, it was a frantic brainstorming session, sharing resources, and helping each other out—offering whatever they had.
One strategy after another was rapidly determined.
True crisis had arrived, with a blade pressed against their throats. With the previous Moon counterattack battle as a foundation, there was at least a basic trust among them.
At this moment, humanity was united as one!
Yang Jian looked at everyone and took a deep breath.
"Gentlemen! This era might be rewritten by this event. No matter the outcome, this is by no means the end! The finish line! Human civilization will not end here!"
"Perhaps after this battle, many familiar faces will be gone. When we gather again, things will have changed and people will be different."
"But we will be remembered by history, becoming an indelible mark of this era!"
"I hope each of you can protect what you wish to protect in your hearts! May your martial fortunes be prosperous! See you on the rivers and lakes!"
At that moment, in the meeting room, flames seemed to burn in everyone's eyes.
Compared to the Bose Body, the Ten Thousand Races,
We are insects, ants.
But even ants have the right to live!
Having said this, Yang Jian withdrew from the meeting. He still had too many things to handle. He strode out of the meeting room door.
Even if the future was full of thorns, humanity would embrace it with open arms! Even if they were stabbed bloody, they would still march forward!
Because there was no retreat for them!
The meeting room door slammed heavily shut, and once again it was pitch black inside.
No one knew that a brief high-level meeting of world leaders had taken place here.
It was this meeting that would influence the direction of the era and even become its turning point.
After the meeting, nations began to take action, starting a global-scale relocation.
...
At the Pioneer Academy, reconstruction work had stalled.
A large number of people from Rongcheng were pouring into the Toy House.
This was also being used as a wartime shelter.
Yu Qingqing, Hua Ling, Leng Yan, and others were busy organizing the evacuation of the people.
Many students were helping.
This place had naturally received the shelter notice. Facing the impending global Spirit Calamity, the students felt lost.
Just a moment ago, everything was fine. How did it suddenly become a nationwide relocation?
With the New Year approaching, the peace and stability that had been there was completely shattered.
On the Sunset Red Square of the Nursing Home, a group of elderly men and women, led by Xiao Chuihuo, watched this scene in silence.
Their cloudy eyes seemed filled with memories.
They recalled the various experiences of the Spirit Calamity chaos over twenty years ago.
And now, was such an era about to come again?
Zhao Dezhu's voice was hoarse: "I didn't think that when I'm old, I'd still witness an age of change."
"The peace that our old brothers watered with their flesh and blood lasted for over twenty years. Is it finally going to disappear?"
Wang Zong said calmly: "Living long is apparently not a bad thing. At least it lets me fight again for Hua Xia and for the little ones."
Li Kai took a deep breath: "I should have died on the battlefield over twenty years ago! I lost everything there!"
"But I've lived so many extra years. I've made a huge profit!"
"Maybe it's inappropriate to say this, but I've been dreaming of this day. The day I step onto the battlefield again."
Xiao Chuihuo looked up at the sky, but there was no setting sun.
Only white snowflakes were falling, heavier and heavier. On his head and shoulders, a thick layer of snow had already accumulated.
"It's snowing. This year won't be peaceful. I've spent my whole life wanting to make this land better."
"Now... the time has come."
"Old brothers, go back and prepare. The time to set off has arrived."
Li Kai, Wang Zong, and the others exchanged glances and went back to prepare.
Xiao Chuihuo just stood with his hands behind his back, looking up at the sky, his eyes full of memory.
The snowflakes on his head and shoulders silently dissipated. The heavy snow, before it could even land on Xiao Chuihuo's body, had already vaporized and disappeared.
Just then, a large number of troop transport trucks drove up. Fully armed, well-trained Spirit Martial Force soldiers jumped out and took over the scene, relieving the students and mentors.
Guan Tai, wearing a fluffy coat, jumped nimbly out of a truck and walked straight toward Xiao Chuihuo.
Once a Starlight Peak, he was now a Dao Heaven One Star!
"Student Guan Tai! Greetings to Elder Xiao!"
A gentle smile appeared on Xiao Chuihuo's face, and he patted Guan Tai on the shoulder.
"Good kid! Impressive. Already at Dao Heaven! Your brother is far behind you."
A shy smile appeared on Guan Tai's face. He scratched his head, then his expression turned serious.
"Elder Xiao! Orders from above! The old pioneers are to lead the mentors and students in guarding the main cities!"
"Some large cities have astonishing populations. They can't be evacuated in just a few days. We're afraid trouble might arise during the transfer, and we can't guarantee the people's safety!"
"We have to hold to the death until the evacuation is complete. All the Dao Heavens at home have already set out."
At this point, Guan Tai's expression was pained and bitter.
He knew what the order to hold to the death meant.
These old pioneers, who had given their entire lives to Hua Xia, were still going to set off, even in their twilight years.
Xiao Chuihuo took the documents, which detailed the cities to be guarded and the personnel to be sent. He couldn't help but smile freely and flicked Guan Tai on the head.
"You brat, don't look so gloomy! You underestimate us old folks, don't you? When we were killing enemies on the battlefield, you were still sucking on a pacifier!"
Guan Tai smiled bitterly, looking embarrassed: "The uncles and aunties..."
Before he could finish, Guan Tai was suddenly stunned. Xiao Chuihuo gave him a look.
From the direction of the Nursing Home, uncles and aunties were walking over one by one.
Zhao Dezhu, in a golden dragon-armor suit of armor, held a huge golden dragon shield; his body was robust.
Liu Qiutian carried eighteen Tang swords at his waist, spread out like a fan, like a peacock spreading its tail.
Sun Fulai stepped on blood-colored battle boots, thudding loudly as he walked.
Wang Zong had a red headband tied around his head, carrying a broad-bladed ring-pommel chopping knife on his back, honed to a biting, sharp edge.
Although their hair was white and their youth was gone, their eyes burned with blazing battle intent.
As the old pioneers approached, Guan Tai's scalp tingled, and he was even suffocated by the pressure.
These... are the old pioneers who survived the Spirit Calamity chaos and were baptized by war?
Even after over twenty years of drifting in the mundane world, they are still as sharp as ever!
Even the mentors and students widened their eyes, shocked as they watched Zhao Dezhu and the others.
Grandpas and grandmas... are they setting off to battle?
Guan Tai was filled with shock: "How have the uncles' and aunties' injuries..."
He had only heard that Elder Xiao had regained his youth, but he never heard that the old pioneers had all recovered.
Xiao Chuihuo smiled and said nothing. He handed the documents to Zhao Dezhu: "You go. I can't go. I have to stay here and handle the situation."
"Fight beautifully."
Zhao Dezhu took the documents and shouted, "Little ones! Come over! We're going out to guard the cities!"
"This time, watch carefully! This is how you fight! Understand?"
The mentors and students were all excited. Did we get a chance too?
In the blink of an eye, they had already formed ranks. Behind each old pioneer, there followed a team of mentors and students.
Without extra words, led by the old pioneers, everyone headed straight out of the academy.
The snow grew heavier and heavier, gradually blurring their figures.
Guan Tai watched this scene, his eyes reddening. He saw the legacy of the old and the new, the handover between the older and younger generations, the passing of the torch.
Xiao Chuihuo watched the backs of the group setting off in the snowstorm, his heart stirred with emotion. He murmured softly:
"I wonder how many will return from this campaign. Will my old brothers still be here..."
At this moment, Xiao Chuihuo took a deep breath, and flames blazed in his eyes.
"Go and fight to your heart's content!"
"Go and establish a peaceful era for Hua Xia! Go and create a peaceful future for generations to come!"
"We await your triumphant return! To become the pioneers of this era!"
Guan Tai could no longer hold back. His eyes moistened, and he couldn't help but stand at attention.
"All personnel! Attention! Salute!"
All the Spirit Martial Force soldiers stood at attention and saluted Zhao Dezhu and the others as they set off, watching their retreating figures.
Until their figures disappeared into the snowstorm!