327: Chapter 327 The First Signs of Crisis

"The 1677th Ascension Battlefield has successfully concluded. The application channel for the return entrance is now open. All civilization representatives, please proceed to the Shanhai City Administration Hall for registration in a timely manner. In ten years, all areas except Shanhai City will be completely closed..."

"To commend the contributions of each civilization in this Ascension Battlefield, the Association will cover all return travel expenses. Additionally, all affiliated civilizations may travel through the Gate of Boundlessness at half price for the next millennium..."

"The handover of areas will be publicized within three months. At that time, please ensure all forces strictly follow the regulations for the handover. If necessary, you may apply to have Association staff assist with the execution nearby..."

One month later, in a temporary resting palace in Shanhai City.

"It seems there is nothing left for me to do."

Zhang Huaiyuan let out a sigh of relief as he looked at the announcement issued by the Association.

Ever since the ceremony ended, he hadn't had a moment of rest this past month.

Civilization representatives expressing their gratitude again and again...

The twelve Shanhai City councilors inquiring about his well-being...

And quite a few chamber of commerce factions trying to cozy up under the guise of cooperation...

He really wasn't good at handling these social obligations, but he couldn't refuse them all either.

After all, this kind of network truly needed to be cultivated.

Those powerful Level 6 civilizations all possessed many local specialties within their territories; the same materials would be much cheaper than buying them directly from the Association. The same went for those chambers of commerce.

"It's about time to head back. I'll say goodbye to Councilor 'Qiao' and the others, and then I'll leave."

Zhang Huaiyuan quickly made his decision.

Just as he was preparing to leave, the communication device on his wrist suddenly flashed.

"Oh, it's Third Senior Brother."

Zhang Huaiyuan glanced at it and immediately connected the communication.

"Third Senior Brother."

"Junior Martial Brother, how does it feel in the Ascension Battlefield?"

A clear, bright voice came from the other side.

"It feels pretty good, it's just that the people here are too enthusiastic..."

Zhang Huaiyuan said truthfully.

"Haha, that's only natural. Those who have served as special envoys in the past were generally at least at the same status as your Second Senior Brother. Their status and strength were too high, so they didn't dare to disturb them too much."

The voice on the other end of the communication laughed, unsurprised:

"It's rare to have a genius with high status whose strength is still growing; they have to suck up to you for all they're worth."

"How is it? You've realized how powerful the Association is, right?"

"That is true."

Zhang Huaiyuan nodded in agreement.

Coming on this trip to the Ascension Battlefield, he realized the Association's power even more.

For instance, the Virtual Tower learning rewards that those civilizations had to fight tooth and nail for, needing a full 10 million points to exchange for, were often available for Scholars of the Association to borrow freely for just a few credits.

Someone with his status could even study from floors above 100,000 without restriction.

Those benefits that he took for granted were immense opportunities that people outside would fight tooth and nail for.

"By the way, Third Senior Brother, you're looking for me suddenly—does Teacher have any new instructions?"

After feeling a bit emotional for a moment, Zhang Huaiyuan asked.

"You're quite sharp. That's right, there is an important matter I need to trouble you with."

The smile in Third Senior Brother's voice faded, becoming serious:

"Is it convenient to talk where you are?"

Seeing the other party's attitude, Zhang Huaiyuan also became cautious, his eyes turning toward the Statue of Liberty nearby.

The latter nodded in understanding:

"I have already shielded all surrounding signals, Your Excellency."

"It's convenient, Third Senior Brother, please instruct me."

Zhang Huaiyuan then continued.

"Hmm... Junior Martial Brother, do you know why at least a Seventh-Realm Deputy Tower Master-level powerhouse is dispatched every time the Ascension Battlefield is settled?"

"Please enlighten me, Senior Brother."

Zhang Huaiyuan was also a little curious in his heart.

From the current situation, there was no need for the Association to waste the time of an existence of this level to make a special trip to the Ascension Battlefield.

"The councilors of Shanhai City should have introduced it to you—the Ascension Battlefield has a total of 129,600 world layers and is the barrier protecting the entire All Heavens and Myriad Realms."

"Yes, they told me that when I first arrived."

Zhang Huaiyuan's gaze sank slightly; he thought of a certain possibility.

"In fact, the wars those civilizations experienced were not cruel games we meticulously designed, but real wars."

Third Senior Brother didn't keep him in suspense any longer and stated the truth directly:

"Outside the Ascension Battlefield, there is a terrifying power that has been persistently invading the All Heavens and Myriad Realms for countless epochs."

"It is a terrifying existence that normal living beings find difficult to resist, difficult to understand, and difficult to completely exterminate. Even the Association has no strategy to deal with it."

"Therefore, the Association, in conjunction with the Elf Race and Holy Spirit City, created this weapon called the 'Ascension Battlefield'. It isolates that evil force from the All Heavens and Myriad Realms and continuously converts its power, evolving it into the 'monsters' on the battlefield."

"By using the form of trials, we hand it over to those civilizations to fight against, in order to prevent that power from becoming excessive and breaking through the limitations of the Ascension Battlefield."

"It actually... is like this."

Zhang Huaiyuan muttered to himself subconsciously.

He had long guessed that the purpose of the Ascension Battlefield was by no means as simple as just testing each civilization; after all, the cost of maintaining these battles was too high, completely outweighing the gains.

But he didn't expect that it was actually to resist an existence that even the three most powerful forces could not completely resolve.

"Then what exactly is that thing?"

Zhang Huaiyuan couldn't help but ask.

"I don't know either. Unless one becomes the master of the Tower of Knowledge, knowing it will do more harm than good."

After a long silence, Third Senior Brother continued:

"That is all I can say, or rather, I actually don't know much more than you do."

"I understand, thank you for clarifying, Senior Brother."

Zhang Huaiyuan took a deep breath and suppressed the urge to ask further.

He still had many doubts in his heart.

For instance, why didn't the Association send experts to directly solve those converted monsters? There were definitely many more cost-effective ways to keep civilizations competitive.

Or why not make this news public so that those civilizations would have stronger cohesion and a sense of mission when fighting.

However, it was clearly not the time to delve into it.

He calmed his mood and asked:

"Then Senior Brother, what is the thing you said the Association needs me to do?"

"Apart from presiding over the closing ceremony of the Ascension Battlefield, the special envoys who came in the past had a more important task: to check the integrity of the seal before the battlefield was closed."

Third Senior Brother's voice sounded again:

"For countless epochs, the seal has never had any problems. However, recently, the Association discovered some strange things. Some Tower Masters suspect that the seal of the Ascension Battlefield may have loosened."

"The aura of powerhouses above the Seventh Realm is too distinct and difficult to hide. The Association suspects that that evil force is intentionally disguising itself to avoid detection."

"So, the Association wants me to investigate the condition of the seal?"

Hearing this, Zhang Huaiyuan couldn't help but frown.

However, out of trust in the Association, he didn't say anything more.

"That's right, Junior Martial Brother."

Third Senior Brother's voice became increasingly sincere:

"There are some things I cannot disclose, but you are the direct disciple of Teacher Kraft and the most talented Scholar in ten million epochs; the Association would never let you truly fall into danger."

"I understand."

Zhang Huaiyuan nodded slowly, his expression returning to calm as he said:

"What specifically do you need me to do?"