185: Chapter 185... Shall we begin?

[Spirit: Tears of the Tree of Life]

[Grade: Peerless Grade]

[Spirit Description: The final essence from the fall of the Ancient Tree of Life, condensing the ultimate answer to billions of years of life evolution. Your body is no longer a fragile collection of organs, but a perfect Tree of Life. Its roots spread everywhere, its branches grow together. Sever the branches, and the roots remain; burn the canopy, and the trunk is reborn.]

[Spirit Effects]

[Redundancy: Removes human physiological weaknesses. Organ functions are fully decentralized; the destruction of any single part does not constitute a fatal injury.]

[Tidal Surge: For every instance of damage taken, the recovery speed for the next instance increases by an additional 200%, stacking up to 10 times.]

[Cicada Molting: When suffering fatal damage, the spirit instantly releases accumulated life energy, forcibly locking the last shred of Qi and blood, and removing all injuries (Cooldown: 6 hours).]

Su Ming stared at the panel.

His breathing became heavy.

Redundancy.

This single effect wiped "instant death" directly from his dictionary.

No weaknesses!

No vital points!

The previous Unquenchable Tide, with 1500% recovery, 50% Tidal Surge stacking 10 times, and a 12-hour Cicada Molting, was already monstrous enough.

And now?

Tears of the Tree of Life...

It directly removed the concept of vital points.

Tidal Surge increased from 50% to 200%, with a full stack providing a 2000% recovery speed bonus.

The Cicada Molting cooldown was reduced from 12 hours to 6 hours.

Four lives in a day!

Crushing in every aspect!

Although Unquenchable Tide's effects were strong, it was nothing compared to Tears of the Tree of Life.

Su Ming licked his lips.

This was a complete superior replacement for Unquenchable Tide.

Every effect was a crushing upgrade.

Then came the question...

Why keep Unquenchable Tide?

The two spirits had highly overlapping functions; Tears of the Tree of Life completely covered all the effects of Unquenchable Tide.

And another thing...

Su Ming narrowed his eyes.

Could the Cicada Molting effects stack?

Both spirits had the Cicada Molting effect. At the moment fatal damage was triggered, would both take effect simultaneously, or would only one be triggered? Would they enter cooldown at the same time, or would only one spirit enter cooldown? Would the 12-hour cooldown trigger first, or the 6-hour one? Was it a shared cooldown, or separate...

It was so confusing!

He couldn't figure it out!

Besides, this wasn't something to experiment with.

If they couldn't stack, trying it would mean death.

If there was a conflict in the spirit priority judgment before near-death, the two Cicada Molting effects might clash, resulting in neither triggering.

Just thinking about it was painful.

He couldn't afford to gamble.

Moreover, thinking about it carefully, even if they could stack, it wouldn't be very meaningful.

One life every 6 hours was enough; why need another 12-hour backup? He wasn't getting killed every 6 hours.

Keep Unquenchable Tide as a Cicada Molting backup?

That would be too wasteful!

Just for insurance that might not even stack?

It wasn't worth it at all.

Then only one path remained...

Spirit Fusion.

Fuse it with another spirit.

For example, Unquenchable Tide + Eight Wastelands Mountain-Suppressing Aspect...

One was life recovery.

The other was combat power amplification.

What would be born from their Fusion?

If everything went as expected, it would be a hexagonal spirit with Giant-form size + damage sharing + super recovery ability!

Feasible!

And...

Under the blessing of Spirit Projection!

The 3,000 Wilderness Suppression Bureau soldiers would share the fused spirit, their upper limits raised another tier, transforming into 3,000 terrifying slaughter giants.

Sweeping across the wilderness!

Killing gods if gods block the way!

Su Ming's breathing suddenly became rapid.

He gripped the star abyss spear tightly.

The curve of his mouth couldn't be suppressed.

refinement points.

He needed a massive amount of refinement points.

Su Ming put away the panel.

He propped the star abyss spear on the ground, his mind spinning rapidly.

Within a 500-kilometer radius of Pingan City, he had already plucked it clean, leaving not even a single mutated plague rat. The 3,000 Wilderness Suppression Bureau soldiers were left idle there, doing nothing but patrolling and training every day.

He had to get them moving.

How?

Expedition further into the wilderness? Possible, but who would guard Pingan City?

Three million people.

It couldn't be without defensive forces.

Su Ming narrowed his eyes.

His gaze crossed the wilderness and turned toward Longjiang Prefecture.

The Joint Defense Conference...

The city lords of the seven Western Region cities were all here, as were the high-ranking military officials.

Borrow troops?

The thought was rejected as soon as it arose.

The seven Western Region cities were all nailed to the border defense line, gnawed on by beast tides every year, with soldiers dying every day; they didn't even have enough for themselves.

Only Longjiang Prefecture was different.

Its location was biased toward the inland hinterland.

The threat of exotic beasts was far lower than that of the front-line cities, its military forces were relatively abundant, and its defense pressure was the lightest.

Take over Longjiang Prefecture?

Su Ming shook his head.

Not worth it, and meaningless.

He already had his hands full with one Pingan City—personnel, administration, military affairs, logistics.

Add another prefecture?

He wasn't here to be an emperor.

But...

Not taking it over didn't mean it had no value.

If the garrison of Longjiang Prefecture could take over the defense of Pingan City, he could pull all 3,000 Wilderness Suppression Bureau soldiers out.

The efficiency of 3,000 people grinding monsters was far better than him doing it alone.

But why?

Why would Longjiang Prefecture lend troops?

He needed to think of a way.

Something that wouldn't involve taking over the mess of Longjiang Prefecture, but could make their troops willingly garrison Pingan City...

He pondered for a moment.

An idea formed in his mind.

Su Ming's mouth curled up slightly.

He retracted the Eight Wastelands Mountain-Suppressing Aspect.

His 36-meter stature rapidly shrank back, the obsidian patterns faded, the Star Abyss Spear rested on his shoulder, and the World-Rending Heavenly Wings vibrated as he swept toward the city wall.

On the city wall.

A dozen pairs of eyes stared at that scarlet figure.

No one spoke.

The sound of breathing was clearly audible.

Su Ming stepped onto the battlements.

The bald city lord subconsciously moved two steps to the side; the movement wasn't large, but it was honest. The casual, contemptuous way he had looked at the "young man" before was gone.

Replaced by awe.

Level 5 killing a 7th Realm.

It was simply unheard of.

Su Ming ignored him and turned to walk into the city.

"Let's go, the meeting isn't over yet."

...

Longjiang Prefecture, Joint Defense Conference hall.

They had changed rooms.

The original one was still letting in drafts.

The new conference room was a size smaller than the previous one, the round table had been replaced by a long table, and white porcelain tea sets were arranged neatly.

Everyone sat down roughly according to their previous seats.

Principal Han Chengde sat on Su Ming's left, Elder Yan sat on his right, and Chen Zhan and Fang Yuanxing were squeezed to the back.

The conference room was abnormally quiet.

No one spoke first.

Simply because the last person responsible for opening the meeting was now nothing but bones.

Everyone's gaze glanced toward the last seat from time to time.

They seemed to be...

Confirming.

Confirming that the person was still sitting there, confirming whether he had any intention of standing up again.

The head seat was empty.

No one dared to sit there.

The risk was too great.

On the right side of the head seat, Representative Shen Zheng sat down.

He remained silent the whole time.

On the left side of the head seat sat a middle-aged man with an unfamiliar face.

In his early forties, thin, with ordinary features, wearing the official civil servant uniform of Longjiang Prefecture.

Secretary-General Chen Yongzhi.

The second-in-command of Longjiang Prefecture, Secretary-General, at Level 5 Peak.

Qin Yaotian was dead.

When he received this news, he was dumbfounded.

He was stunned for a long time, unable to process it.

Holding a Joint Defense Conference...

Was it this dangerous?!

He hurriedly retrieved the meeting surveillance footage. After slowing it down to extreme speed, he could barely see a teenager from the last seat erupting, thrusting his spear, the wall exploding, and the figure disappearing.

Then the bad news arrived.

Qin Yaotian, the Prefect, was gone.

Gone?

Gone!

Gone?!

There was no explanation of the reason, just constant urging for him to come quickly to preside over the Joint Defense Conference.

Oh my god!

Are you kidding me!

This is way too damn scary!

Since when did being a civil servant become a high-risk profession?

Especially when he saw the spear-wielding teenager enter the conference room, his legs went soft.

What kind of terrifying lineup is this!

The teenager sat down.

Two of Longjiang's top bigwigs were keeping him company.

Both of them even had smiles on their faces, looking kind and amiable; when in his life had he ever seen such a scene!

After waiting for a long time.

No one opened the meeting for a long time.

He bit the bullet and said in a trembling voice.

"Sh-shall we begin?"