OBS Chapter 8 Top Secret Analysis by the Think Tank!
Chapter 8 Top Secret Analysis by the Think Tank!
The sky stretched for thousands of miles, and the fierce wind cut like a razor.
Rising abruptly from outside Chaoge City, Lin Yuan transformed into a streak of dark golden light and sped northward.
As you pass by, you see vast, desolate mountains and towering ancient trees, with a spiritual light seemingly flowing between their branches and leaves.
In less than half a day, the majestic pass of Jizhou was already in sight.
Lin Yuan folded his wings and landed fifty miles outside Jizhou City, in the inner layer of a beacon tower.
This place is situated on extremely high ground, offering a panoramic view of the majestic city of Jizhou while completely concealing any fluctuations of demonic energy within itself.
"call--"
Lin Yuan exhaled a breath of stale air, and a golden light shone from the Eye of the Sun.
"The Secret of Observing Qi and Fortune, open!"
With a whoosh, the scene before my eyes suddenly changed.
The cities of Jizhou and the soldiers guarding them, as seen by ordinary people, have all faded away.
What followed was a long river of fortune that hovered above the city.
Above Ji Province, the fortunes of the feudal lords were churning violently, faintly coalescing into the image of a blue wolf howling towards the sky.
The wolf's mane stood on end, each hair like a thorn.
It was the rebellion against destiny that was gathered by the words of Marquis Su Hu of Jizhou, "Never pay tribute to the Shang!"
However, Lin Yuan's gaze bypassed the wolf's avatar and locked onto its edge.
Between the four paws and tail of that auspicious wolf, wisps of black energy began to swirl, gradually eroding the wolf's essence.
"The omen of death is already appearing."
Lin Yuan observed coldly, "The fall of Jizhou City is inevitable; it's just a matter of time."
In this great calamity of the Investiture of the Gods, where sages wield the pieces and heaven and earth are the chessboard, let alone a mere minor Marquis of Jizhou.
Even those high-ranking Golden Immortals, once tainted by this deadly aura, can only obediently walk the path on the Investiture of the Gods list.
"If we follow the script of 'Investiture of the Gods,' once this rebellious poem is published, the anger of Chaoge will soon turn into thunder."
"The army of Marquis Chong Houhu of the North, numbering 100,000, will be at the city gates in a few days."
Lin Yuan simply closed his eyes to rest in the interlayer of the beacon tower, circulated the Heavenly Demon Technique, and patiently lay dormant.
……
Just as Lin Yuan was waiting for this grand show to begin, the global public channel on the edge of his retina suddenly started scrolling rapidly.
A pinned announcement glowing red was forcibly pushed to all explorers by the official account of the Blue Star military.
[Blue Star Strategic Think Tank - Top Secret Strategic Analysis V2.0]
【"The Core Storyline and Action Guidelines of the Sealed Mystic Realm"】
[Blue Star Military Think Tank (Official Agent Account): Attention all explorers.]
[After round-the-clock analysis by our think tank of one hundred top professors in history and strategy, and by deeply integrating with the remaining fragments of the "Records of the Grand Historian: Annals of Yin" and "Bamboo Annals" from the main world, we have now reached a final conclusion regarding the underlying logic of this SSS+ level secret realm.]
[Blue Star Military Think Tank: Conclusion 1: The wheels of history are unstoppable!]
The transition from Shang to Zhou is an inevitable historical process. King Zhou's blasphemous poem at the Nuwa Palace, inscribed with obscene verses, has alienated the people and the heavens, making him the ultimate villain of this secret realm. Meanwhile, Marquis Su Hu of Jizhou's rebellion against Shang is the central plotline that unveils the prelude to overthrowing tyranny.
[Blue Star Military Think Tank: Conclusion Two: Opportunity knocks but once!]
We urge all explorers who are located near Jizhou and possess the capability to act to immediately converge on Jizhou City. Assist the Marquis of Jizhou in establishing a "United Front Against the Shang Dynasty."
According to the rules of the higher-dimensional realm, those who participate in and advance the main storyline will have a very high probability of obtaining extremely precious cultivation techniques and rare treasures from within the realm!
[Blue Star Military Think Tank: A solemn promise! All explorers who respond to the call and successfully participate in the anti-commercial faction will be awarded "Founding Hero" level rewards upon returning to the main world after one year, and will be directly admitted to Blue Star's highest institution of learning... Kunlun Martial Arts University!]
The moment this report was released, the entire server chat channel went into a frenzy.
The wages of avarice is death.
Those low-level explorers who were trembling in the wilderness, and those students who suffered humiliation at the hands of low-level NPCs, had their eyes ignited with hope.
"Direct admission to Kunlun Martial Arts University!"
For them, those few words alone were more tempting than anything else.
[Li Si (Level E/Mountain Vagabond): "Let's risk it all! Let the timid starve and the bold feast! Let's go to Ji Province and overthrow the tyrant!"]
[Zhang San (Rank F/Broken-down Blacksmith): "I've used up all my savings to buy an old horse and a travel permit on the black market, and I'm heading to Jizhou tonight. Brothers, see you in Jizhou!"]
Just as the crowd was getting excited, several significant comments emerged.
[Wang Hao (Rank D/Soldier of the Chaoge Imperial Guard): "Gentlemen, I've had enough of eating chaff and wild vegetables every day in the Chaoge military camp. I've decided to desert. Tonight, I'll leave the Chaoge military camp and head to Jizhou to join Su Hu's army!"]
[Li Ming (Rank E/Hunter on the Border of Xiqi): "Sigh, I'm on the border of Xiqi. This wretched place is so far from Jizhou, I can't possibly make it on foot... Keep it up, brothers, the future of humanity depends on you!"]
The group chat became increasingly lively.
Zhao Qiang, who had drawn the D-level Chaoge Imperial Guard soldier identity, couldn't wait to jump out and start groveling to his master.
[Zhao Qiang (Rank D/Imperial Guard Soldier of Chaoge): "@Chu Tianhe (Rank B/Deputy General of Yin Shang), General Chu, the entire server is currently gathering towards Ji Province. You command three thousand elite troops; what are your plans?"]
"If you were to raise the call, humanity could absolutely dominate Ji Province!"
There was a moment of silence in the channel, and then the ID started flashing.
[Chu Tianhe (Rank B/Yin Shang Deputy General): "Hehe, as a deputy general of the Yin Shang Dynasty, commanding three thousand armored soldiers, I have my own profound strategies and plans, which are beyond your comprehension."]
[Chu Tianhe: "If Su Hu is truly destined by Heaven and can gain a foothold in Ji Province, I will naturally seek the most crucial opportunity on the battlefield, lead three thousand troops to turn against him and give King Zhou a huge surprise, thus achieving a peerless feat!"]
[Chu Tianhe: "But if that Su Hu is merely a hollow shell, a flash in the pan, then I will naturally continue to serve the King and punish the traitor. These matters of state are like a game of strategy, requiring careful planning step by step. How can they be discussed so rashly by commoners like you?"]
Upon hearing this, Zhao Qiang immediately felt as if he had found a treasure.
[Zhao Qiang (Rank D/Imperial Guard Soldier of Chaoge): "General Chu is a man of profound wisdom and foresight. He strategizes within the command tent and wins battles a thousand miles away. We are in awe!"]
Even the official account spoke up.
[Blue Star Military Think Tank: We fully understand General Chu's attitude. High risk, high reward. As the highest-level explorer known in this secret realm, we hope you can make the right choice for the future of humanity at this critical moment.]
However, amidst all this praise, there are always one or two who disagree.
[Passerby A (Rank F): "Tch, all that high-sounding talk, but frankly, isn't he just a fence-sitter trying to hed both sides? Does he really think the NPCs are idiots?"]
[Chu Tianhe (Rank B/Yin Shang Lieutenant): "How dare you! That anonymous Rank F trash, I'll remember you."]
"You'd better pray you don't run into me in the secret realm, or I'll chop you up with one stroke. Even if you manage to survive the secret realm and return to the main world, I have plenty of ways to make you disappear without a trace!"
[Passerby A (Rank F): Come on, you idiot!]
[Chu Tianhe (Rank B/Yin Shang Lieutenant): You XXOOO…]
[Everyone: 666...]
……
Inside the beacon tower, the cold moon shone like frost.
Lin Yuan silently watched the farce unfolding on his retina.
His gaze finally settled on the message: "[Wang Hao (D-rank/Chaoge Imperial Guard Soldier): I have decided to desert. I will leave the Chaoge military camp tonight and go to Jizhou]".
Lin Yuan's knuckles hovered briefly on the virtual keyboard of the system.
If he were to type just a few lines and reveal the truth about Jizhou's inevitable defeat in "Investiture of the Gods," he might be able to save Wang Hao.
They even saved hundreds or thousands of fellow Blue Star citizens who were blindly heading towards Jizhou.
But he knew very well that it was all in vain.
Faced with herd mentality and the immense temptation of "guaranteed admission to Kunlun and Wuhan Universities," who would believe the words of an F-class crow?
Moreover, even the lowest-ranking mortal armies have always had only one way of dealing with deserters during marches and battles: kill them without mercy.
Not to mention the powerful immortal generals in this terrifying world of Investiture of the Gods, who roam freely and regard mortals as worthless.
Wang Hao, and those explorers who blindly rushed to Jizhou, were already dead the moment they made their decision.
"Kind words cannot persuade a damned devil, and compassion cannot save a person who has committed suicide."
Lin Yuan shook his head.
In this perilous calamity, only by remaining aloof and hiding one's life in the shadows can one seize that sliver of opportunity to reach the heavens.
With a thought, he snapped the server-wide chat shut down.
Out of sight, out of mind.
……
Time stands still in the mountains, and one becomes unaware of the years while practicing spiritual cultivation.
Seven days and nights passed in the blink of an eye as Lin Yuan closed his eyes, absorbing the essence of the sun and moon, and deducing the Great Grade Heavenly Demon Technique.
Until the morning of the seventh day.
"Waaah—"
A bugle call suddenly tore through the sky outside Jizhou City.
Lin Yuan suddenly opened his eyes, and two golden rays shot out from the Eye of the Sun, staring straight to the north.
it's dark.
It wasn't a solar eclipse, but rather a vast expanse of continuous black clouds appearing on the horizon north of Jizhou City.
The dark clouds rolled in close to the earth, blotting out the sun.
Upon closer inspection, it was the towering dust raised by the iron hooves of a hundred thousand armored soldiers as they marched, shattering the earth.
Banners obscured the sky, and swords and spears formed a forest.
Those warhorses were all ferocious beasts whose bloodlines had been mutated; the earth trembled as they galloped wildly.
And at the very forefront of that torrent...
Lin Yuan activated the "Qi Fortune Observation Technique" once again.
Beneath the central banner, a general of a feudal lord, draped in a blood-red cloak, was riding a strange beast.
Above his head, there was a swirling mass of crimson energy.
Within that bloody aura, the faint wails of countless wronged souls could be heard; just one glance was enough to pierce one's soul.
One of the four great vassal states, Marquis of the North, Chonghou Hu!