Inside the General's residence, the atmosphere was heavy.
General Teng Xiao stood with his hands clasped behind his back before a star chart, brows drawn tight. Dan Feng—the Vidyadhara High Elder—was already present as well, along with several senior Cloud Knight commanders, speaking in low voices.
When Wei Qing and the other two entered, Teng Xiao gave a short nod and motioned them closer.
"Master."
"General," the three said in unison.
"You're here." Teng Xiao pointed to a marked region on the star chart. "We just received an emergency report from the forward outposts. Deep in the Wasteland, there's been an abnormal energy surge. A large number of Abundance spawn are massing—both the scale and the level of coordination far exceed anything we've seen lately."
On the chart, red points denoting hostile activity were packed so densely it made the skin crawl—and they were still multiplying.
One commander added, "The energy readings there are… strange. It doesn't look like ordinary Abundance rites or spontaneous congregation. It resembles a deliberate military movement. And within it, there are… abnormal signals we can't parse."
"We have good reason to suspect this is a precursor to war."
"Which tribe is it?" Wei Qing asked.
"Based on our preliminary reconnaissance, it may be the Borisin," the commander said. "They might be preparing to strike the Luofu—to rescue their former warlord, Hulei."
As soon as the name was spoken, everyone's gaze shifted, almost by reflex, to Jingliu. After all, it had been the Sword Champion herself who had captured him back then.
"Borisin… Hulei." Jingliu's eyes sharpened. "The warlord we've held for centuries? If they truly intend a rescue, why choose this moment—and why gather so brazenly?"
It was abnormal. The Borisin were savage, yes, but not mindless beasts. A massing this blatant felt less like strategy and more like a provocation.
With their strength alone, taking the Luofu to free Hulei was essentially impossible. No one in the room believed the Borisin would be so stupid.
A cold glint passed through Dan Feng's draconic eyes. "The Wasteland's terrain is unique—easy to defend, hard to assault, and perfect for ambushes. If this were truly for Hulei, this amount of noise would be idiocy. It feels more like bait."
"The High Elder has a point," another Cloud Knight commander agreed. "General, should we dispatch an elite detachment to recon first—confirm what's real before moving the main force? If we rush in, we may be walking into a trap."
Teng Xiao fell silent.
Of course he understood the concern—and as General, he knew intelligence the others did not. Recently, the general of the Xianzhou Yaoqing had reported signs of the Abundance Emanator Shuhu appearing again within their territory.
That enemy had opposed the Xianzhou Alliance for ages.
And Teng Xiao, in particular, had deep old blood with it.
If Shuhu was pulling strings behind this, it reeked of a "lure the tiger from the mountain" ploy.
After a brief moment of thought, Teng Xiao swept his gaze over the room—and stopped on Wei Qing.
"Wei Qing. What do you think?"
In an instant, all eyes fixed on him.
Wei Qing weighed the situation at speed.
The system's warning was absurd, but the shadow of Shuhu's chaos was very real. Phantylia had only recently been driven off; the odds of interference by Xing Xiao—or another Annihilation Lord—weren't zero. This was not a simple Abundance disturbance.
He stepped forward, voice low and firm.
"Master. Everyone. Your concerns are sound. The Wasteland is built for ambushes. But precisely because of that, we can't ignore it."
"If the Borisin truly are gathering in desperation to save their warlord, and we sit still, we lose a rare chance to cripple—or annihilate—their force. If it's a lure… then we take the bait on our terms. Let's see what kind of feast they've prepared for us."
His tone carried decisive finality.
"I recommend we deploy the main force to purge them. At the same time, the Luofu's internal defenses must be reinforced immediately, in case they're striking elsewhere under cover."
He paused, then looked straight at Teng Xiao and volunteered without hesitation.
"If you can trust me, Master, I'm willing to lead the vanguard to the Wasteland—verify the situation. If I meet their leaders, I'll take their heads."
"Oh?" one commander teased. "So you're not staying behind to tinker with that Qiongguan Array with the two geniuses?"
Evidently, the first trial ending in Aha's spectacle had already spread throughout the Luofu.
Wei Qing didn't blink. "Duty comes first. The Qiongguan Array can wait. The Abundance threat cannot. We can't exactly count on the Aeon of Elation to drop in again and turn the Borisin into a punchline."
As he spoke, he and Teng Xiao exchanged a look—mutual understanding, unspoken and precise.
Whatever Herta and Ruan Mei intended, the Luofu's side naturally wanted to slow their progress. It was an unacknowledged agreement between parties.
Frankly, no matter how weighty those two geniuses' reputations were, they couldn't expect to freely use the Luofu's heavy strategic assets on Luofu soil—while "studying" the Luofu's future general—without conditions.
That was exactly why they'd chosen to visit during a period when Abundance forces were starting to stir.
If war truly arrived during their research, then the geniuses would have to contribute manpower and effort to the Luofu's defense.
Teng Xiao studied Wei Qing, a flicker of approval—and something deeper—passing through his eyes.
Wei Qing's initiative matched his usual temperament, and it fit the complexity of the moment perfectly.
Whether the Wasteland was a trap or a genuine threat, sending this highly watched, exceptionally capable disciple would both respond quickly and, in practice, keep the geniuses' momentum in check.
"Good." Teng Xiao's voice dropped like a hammer. "We'll do as you say. Wei Qing—by my authority, you are to muster your Cloud Knight unit immediately. I will additionally assign three thousand elite from the Xiaowei Camp under your command. You will proceed to the Wasteland and recon. If you encounter the enemy, use your judgment. You must determine the true scale and intent of the spawn, and if the opportunity presents itself—cripple their main force."
"Yes! This disciple accepts the order!" Wei Qing clasped his fists.
"All other divisions—war protocols in effect. Raise the alert level immediately. Each department to its post. Stand ready at all times."
The commands were crisp and final. The mood inside the residence tightened another notch, as if the shadow of war had already arrived.
Orders acknowledged, the commanders moved at once.
Wei Qing turned and strode out.
Baiheng hurried after him immediately, worry written all over her face. "Hey—hey, you're really going? That sounds insanely dangerous! Want me to come with you? My star-skiff piloting can leave those Abundance freaks eighteen streets behind!"
"You stay on the Luofu," Wei Qing said, giving her a flat look. "Assist Jingliu with the defense. The front line isn't a star-skiff race. This isn't your battlefield. Protecting the rear is the biggest help you can give."
Baiheng pouted. She knew he was right, but it didn't make it easier.
"Then… then you'd better be careful, okay? Don't let anything happen to you… or else Jingliu, she…"
She cut herself off halfway through, but her eyes started screaming the rest of the sentence in frantic, exaggerated hints.
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 90)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 95)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League (Chapter 80)
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter70)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter70)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter50)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter60)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 20
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 20
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