CH 70

【”Mom! I don’t want to die yet. I’m still so young. Sobbing~”】

【”Who wants to die? Damn Stone Clan, what’s happened to them? Why have they suddenly become so powerful?!”】

【”There are six divine clans in the temporal battlefield! Six of them!! And they’ve all been breached! If these Stone Clan attackers reach our small worlds, who can resist?!”】

【”The six divine clans have only been breached, not defeated. We still have a chance.”】

【”Not defeated? If the divine clans have all been killed, then there’s no hope. The entire Three Thousand Worlds might as well collectively commit suicide. The fact that the divine clans couldn’t hold back the Stone Clan’s army already shows they’re powerless against them. We’re doomed.”】

【”Upstairs, do you really need to be so pessimistic? Your thinking seems problematic. It’s only six divine clans after all. The other divine clans haven’t even intervened yet. Plus, there are the Dragon Clan, the Soul Clan, and various other races known for their bravery and skill in battle. The real fight hasn’t even begun, and you’re giving up already. You’re not from the Rat Clan, are you? So timid!”】

【”Indeed, that’s an exaggeration. Why say we’re doomed? I haven’t even entered the battlefield yet!”】

【”Exactly! Even if I die, I’ll drag a Stone Clan down with me!”】

【”Changing the topic here, I just came of age this year. I don’t really know much about the Stone Clan. Are they really that terrifying? I’ve seen videos, and they’re just a bunch of moving rocks.”】

【”Kid, go search the internet yourself.”】

【”Kid, search how the Insect Clan was exterminated. After you read it, you’ll know.”】

In the rift of space and time, thousands of warriors stood resolutely on a massive steel battleship. Ji Lan stood at the forefront, her gaze fixed on the densely-packed Stone Clan approaching from afar, a grave expression on her face.

“Lady Ji Lan, the Stone Clan is coming.”

With a solemn expression, Ji Lan turned around and looked at the thousands of soldiers under her command. On the temporal battlefield, the tens of thousands of surviving soldiers had been divided into six groups, each led by a leader from one of the divine clans. They were stationed to defend the barriers of the six worlds closest to the temporal battlefield. Ji Lan didn’t know the situations of the other groups, but now they had no choice but to face the Stone Clan head-on. She hoped that the reinforcements sought by Feng Ye would arrive soon.

“Warriors!” Ji Lan’s voice was deep. “We’re only half a day’s journey away from the Orc Clan. So, we can’t retreat anymore. For the sake of the Three Thousand Worlds and the Orc Clan, we must hold this ground and not let the Stone Clan advance a single step!”

“Are the Orc Clan’s warriors ready?” Ji Lan commanded.

Nearly half of the warriors answered loudly, “Ready!”

“Good!” Ji Lan’s gaze swept over the soldiers like a torch. “Now is a critical moment for the entire Three Thousand Worlds’ survival. If we retreat, the Orc Clan behind us will face extinction. Orc Clan’s warriors, do you agree?”

“No!” Thousands of warriors shouted in unison, their voices resounding.

Ji Lan nodded slightly and continued, “Other clan warriors, are you ready?”

“Ready!”

“If we retreat, the Three Thousand Worlds will have its first breach. Under a massive invasion by the Stone Clan, no world will survive. Are you willing to let the Stone Clan pass?”

“No!”

“Very well! Prepare for battle, be ready to meet and fight!”

“Yes!”

The battleship was filled with a fierce spirit. The warriors who had been tempered on the temporal battlefield were stirred with excitement, their gazes burning as they looked at the distant swarm of Stone Clan approaching like ants. The blades in their hands hummed, and their battle intent surged. They only awaited the arrival of the Stone Clan to draw their swords.

However, in a corner of the battleship, four figures stood out.

“Xiao Man, you can stay behind us later. We’ll protect you!”

“No, big brother, big sister, I want to fight too. Our Orc Clan is in dire straits. Since I’m here, I want to contribute as well!”

“Nonsense!” Ye Tong, the eldest brother, rebuked sternly. “Facing the Stone Clan head-on, you wouldn’t last a single round. What are you going to do? Offer yourself as a sacrifice?”

Ye Man bit her lip and didn’t say anything. Ye Tong turned to Ye Xin and said, “Xiao Xin, when the Stone Clan arrives, Xiao Meng and I will be on the periphery. You and Xiao Man stay inside. We’ll try to block the Stone Clan for you, but there will still be stragglers. Keep an eye on Xiao Man.”

Ye Xin nodded firmly. “No problem.”

With the plan set, Ye Man had no choice but to comply. He gazed down at the boundless space beyond the battleship, feeling the loneliness and vastness. A faint glimmer of light appeared in the distance, vague and indistinct. Her eyes lit up—it was…

“Quick, look! It seems like the Stone Clan hasn’t come over!”

A startled cry disrupted the thoughts of many. Ye Man hurriedly looked into the distance, and the Stone Clan remained densely packed like ants. He couldn’t discern anything significant.

“Look, the Stone Clan was just that size earlier. It’s been ten minutes, and it’s still the same size. These Stone Clan haven’t moved at all!”

The first person to speak was excited. Ye Man remembered him; he was the guy who made the delicious roasted meat on the first floor of the cafeteria. He was surrounded by cafeteria staff, a different group from the battle-hardened soldiers on the battlefield. Although some of these cafeteria workers were full of battle spirit, many still clung to the illusion that they might not have to face their imminent death after the mobilization.

This young man, after sharing his discovery, looked around with hopeful eyes. He hoped that his observation would gain agreement from others. Regardless of the actual truth, the more people agreed at this moment, the closer his discovery would be to reality. Amidst the impending doom of death, even a fleeting moment of false joy was precious.

A nearby warrior saw through his intentions and stated bluntly, “The Stone Clan is moving. They’re approaching us, but the distance is too far, and the time is too short, causing you to have this illusion.”

Those who had been hoping for a miracle, upon hearing the roasted meat guy’s words, looked closely and indeed found the Stone Clan moving. Any notion of them stopping was purely wishful thinking. Many sighed in disappointment, and the roasted meat guy slumped against the ship’s bulkhead.

Seeing his demeanor, the warrior who had spoken earlier flashed a trace of disdain in his eyes. These kinds of cowards would never become true warriors.

Ye Man saw all of this, and Ye Xin, beside him, said, “Don’t worry about it, Xiao Man. Life only happens once. In a life-or-death situation, as long as you don’t harm others, you’re not in the wrong.”

Ye Man looked at her and said, “But sister, I want—”

“No,” Ye Xin cut off the latter part of his sentence. “You don’t want to. As long as we’re still here, you must stay alive. That’s our responsibility as older siblings.”

Ye Man’s eyes filled with sadness. “But sister, if you all go and I’m alone—”

“Don’t be so pessimistic,” Ye Xin smiled reassuringly. “Maybe all four of us can make it through. Let’s think positively!”

Ye Man fell silent. In the midst of his silence, a commotion suddenly arose from the nearby crowd. Looking up, he realized that more than one person had mistaken the situation and believed that the Stone Clan hadn’t drawn closer. The excitement had spread to that group as well.

“What’s happening?” Ji Lan, who stood at the bow of the ship, asked

The deputy respectfully reported, “Some warriors had a misconception that the Stone Clan hasn’t come closer, which led to unrest among the soldiers. The situation has been explained, and the unrest has been quelled.”

Ji Lan nodded and looked into the distance, saying lightly, “It’s not their fault. The Stone Clan’s speed has indeed slowed down considerably. At this rate, it will take them three hours to reach us.”

“How is that possible?” The deputy took out binoculars to look. He didn’t have the extraordinary vision of the divine clans and needed external help to see things at a distance. After about a minute of observation, he put down the binoculars, his face a mix of shock and confusion.

“Why? Has something happened within the Stone Clan?” The deputy asked in puzzlement. The large Stone Clan army in the distance looked completely different from their previous aggressive pursuit. Now, they seemed unexpectedly calm, moving at a pace that was more than half of their initial speed.

“I don’t know,” Ji Lan let out a sigh. Her gaze sharpened, and she said, “Their speed has slowed even further.”

The deputy quickly grabbed the binoculars again and confirmed that the Stone Clan’s speed had indeed decreased.

Deputy: “???” What on earth is happening? Could it be that the Stone Clan has suddenly changed its mind and won’t attack them anymore? In a while, will the Stone Clan just turn back?

Ji Lan wasn’t as naive as her deputy. Could the Stone Clan, which had been relentlessly attacking for almost a century, suddenly change its strategy overnight? Instead of believing that the Stone Clan had given up their attack, Ji Lan was more inclined to think that they were trying to wear them down slowly. After all, they were trapped in the spatial rift, with no supply of food, spatial energy, or spiritual power. Apart from the divine clans, everyone else was undoubtedly facing death.

Ji Lan immediately gave an order, “Send a small team to the Orc Clan’s Temporal Management Bureau to seek support for supplies.”

“Yes.”

As the deputy walked away, Ji Lan’s gaze remained fixed on the Stone Clan, her thoughts heavy. Could the usually impulsive Stone Clan really be this clever? Moreover, the Stone Clan was numerous and powerful. There was no need to adopt such a drawn-out tactic against their few thousand soldiers. So why had the Stone Clan slowed down?

…..

Three Thousand Food House

“Who wants to go back? You can go back now.”

“Boss!” The staff of Three Thousand Food House looked at Bai Xianzhi in astonishment.

Bai Xianzhi smiled and said, “The situation is urgent. Staying in Three Thousand Food House, which is within the spatial rift, might be more dangerous than being elsewhere. Many of you have families at home. Those who want to go back can do so now. Those who want to stay at Three Thousand Food House can also stay.”

The current staff of Three Thousand Food House numbered in dozens. They stood before Bai Xianzhi, deep in thought. Suddenly, someone spoke up, “Boss, I want to go back. My wife and child are still waiting for me. I don’t know what the outcome will be, but even if I die, I want to die with them!”

Bai Xianzhi nodded. “Xiao Du, there are snacks packaged in the kitchen for you all. Take a pack with you. If everything’s fine, I’ll notify you on the communication device to come back to work!”

He then looked at the group. “Don’t worry, as long as the Three Thousand Worlds are safe, take care of yourselves. After this is over, Three Thousand Food House will reopen. You’ll still be employees of Three Thousand Food House, and this incident won’t bring about any changes.”

Hearing his words, someone stepped forward. “Boss, I want to go back too. My parents are waiting for me at home.”

Bai Xianzhi said warmly, “Go to the kitchen, get something, and then head back. Being with your family at this time is most important.”

More than twenty employees left one by one, leaving only Tu Linlin, Zhuo Long, and Wen Nuan. Bai Xianzhi looked at Tu Linlin and said, “Linlin, get something from the kitchen and head back.”

“Boss,” Tu Linlin looked up with reddened eyes, “I… I…”

Bai Xianzhi ruffled his bunny ears. “Your grandma is waiting for you. Go back quickly. After this situation passes, we’ll see each other again!”

He embraced him briefly and whispered in his ear, “If things remain okay, bring your grandma to Three Thousand Food House when you return.”

Tu Linlin looked at him in surprise. Bai Xianzhi smiled. “Go now.”

Watching the young man with bunny ears go to the kitchen to get something before leaving, Bai Xianzhi felt somewhat worried. The words spoken by Tu Linlin weren’t baseless rumors. Three Thousand Food House connected the Huaguo to the Three Thousand Worlds. If the Three Thousand Worlds were destroyed, the only possibly safe place would be Three Thousand Food House. However, he hoped that nothing would happen, be it the Orc Clan or the divine clans. It would be best if no one lost their lives because of this.

However, he understood that this was his foolish wish. Countless warriors had already died by now, and all he could do was pray that the Stone Clan’s invasion wouldn’t expand to the various smaller worlds, causing even greater casualties.

Sighing, Bai Xianzhi went to the kitchen to retrieve some snacks and carried the two little ones down from upstairs. He greeted Zhuo Long and Wen Nuan, who had stayed behind, to eat. The three of them ate while anxiously watching the communication device. The two little ones didn’t know what had happened but felt that the atmosphere among the adults was strange. They ate their food in small bites without daring to speak.

The atmosphere was too heavy. Bai Xianzhi stood up and said to the two, “I’ll go open the door for some fresh air.”

He came to the door and bent down to pull it open. Along with the sound of the rolling curtain, Bai Xianzhi froze at the doorway. Outside the door was darkness. The faint light of Three Thousand Food House illuminated a void in front of the door.

There was no ground, no buildings, no sunlight, no sky. This was… a spatial rift!

Without Feng Ye’s assistance, he had actually seen the spatial rift. Bai Xianzhi’s throat moved, and his heart sank straight down.

—–

Author’s note: Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or gave nutrient solution during the period from 2020082615:11:13 to 2020082714:21:06~

Thanks to the following nutrient solution contributors: Shibi (20 bottles); yyy, 24905007, Xia, and Fengtangtang (10 bottles); _Xiaoyeqianzhao (5 bottles);

Thank you very much for your support. I will continue to work hard!

1TL: YSIAD “You can support me if you like my translations by leaving a comment below, or by sending me a Ko-fi. Thank you ”