Initially, Xu Que had no intention of revealing the location of Longjing Villa to Shen Mengchu, as he had planned to take his time tormenting Tang Xue. However, upon reflecting on the emotional fluctuations he sensed through the pendant, he decided that sending her to the military for careful rehabilitation would provide far more entertainment in the long run.
After all, the most exquisite form of torment is not simply to inflict pain, but to nurture your victim while intermittently tormenting them—only such an approach would make Tang Xue truly understand the essence of a sudden and unpredictable assault!
Once Shen Mengchu had completed all the necessary arrangements and hung up the phone, Xu Que presented her with a trade. "Take this with you. If I'm not around, at least it will ensure your survival."
Shen Mengchu accepted without hesitation, fastening the Star Shattering Dog pendant to her person.
"What are your next plans?" she inquired.
"I will close the rifts around Hezhou and then head to Linan," Xu Que replied.
"Do you need me to leverage any connections?"
"No, Mayor Li has already assisted," Xu Que smiled in response.
"Very well, then. I shall take care of the company affairs," Shen Mengchu said, returning the smile.
...
In the wake of this catastrophic disaster, the world's structure had irrevocably changed.
With the Abyssal Calamity looming, humanity had no choice but to confront it head-on in hopes of securing a sliver of peace.
Numerous human survivors began establishing companies. The previously timid found newfound courage and joined the ranks of those facing the calamity.
The operational models of these new companies were still heavily influenced by pre-apocalypse methods, as few understood how these businesses were meant to function. Many even emulated the model of the Skybreaker Hunter Company.
Shangjing's prestigious manor, built by the Chen family of the Four Great Families, stood as the first and most influential estate of the Z Nation.
From dawn, countless luxury imported vehicles streamed in and out, all for one purpose: an invitation sent by the Chen family to prominent families and business elites, calling for the establishment of a Hunter Company.
Chen Tianfang, the leader of the business world, had extended the invitation. Those who were still alive would certainly pay their respects—after all, his methods were far beyond what they could compare to.
His influence was overwhelming. Besides the family representatives, there were also CEOs from various sectors—securities, construction materials, and entertainment industries—each a notable figure in their own right, all gathered for the occasion.
"Ah, Boss Zhou, a pleasure!"
"Mr. Zhang, how are things going for you recently?"
"Oh, Boss Gu has arrived as well..."
"Brother Ji, will you attend the funeral ceremony tomorrow?"
As the guests exchanged pleasantries, the gathering began to warm up.
Just as some of the guests were about to engage in idle chatter, the host of the banquet, Chen Tianfang, stepped forward with a smile.
"Thank you all for honoring my Chen family's invitation. I will not beat around the bush. I, Chen Tianfang, dislike hiding my intentions. My family is planning to establish a Hunter Company, and I hope for your support."
As Chen Tianfang's words resonated, applause rang out from the crowd. Every one of them, far from naive, understood the true meaning behind his words and the significance of this gathering.
As for the first Skybreaker Company in the Magic City... well, in the eyes of these influential figures, it was nothing more than a fledgling organization, ripe for the picking.
...
On the morning of June 30th, a headline swiftly ascended the global media platforms.
"Send off the Heroes, Battle the Abyss, Let Our Nation's Glory Shine!"
As every Z Nation citizen clicked on the live stream, tears welled up in their eyes as the truth struck them all at once.
Hundreds of buses slowly rolled into the Martyrs' Cemetery.
Then, under the gaze of the public, soldiers disembarked, each carrying an urn of ashes.
These soldiers wore expressions hardened by the ravages of battle, many still bandaged from injuries they had sustained, yet they participated in the funeral ceremony regardless.
A middle-aged man, donned in military uniform, his eyes brimming with tears, declared in a loud voice: "The bumpy road, our martyrs paved with their blood. They were like coal, like bundles of firewood, and through the burning of their lives, they earned us a brief peace. As soldiers, we swear to defend our homeland with our lives. The strong among humanity have no easy end. We dare to fight, and we fight to the death, never retreating! Salute!"
Unlike the typical words of tribute, these were no laments for fallen warriors from a time of peace, but a fervent declaration of unyielding resolve—to fight to the death against the otherworldly creatures!
At that moment, the citizens of the Z Nation seemed to awaken, realizing they could not afford weakness. They had to grow stronger, more formidable, until the sight of them struck terror into the hearts of the alien invaders!
Meanwhile, at the Magic City Command Operations Center, Elder Ye put down the phone and took out his own, sending a message to Xu Que.
"The great upheaval has begun. I hope your plan succeeds."
Putting away his phone, Elder Ye sighed with relief and began to review the "National Strengthening System Training" materials Xu Que had sent him.
This was the fourth gift Xu Que had given him. Though he had initially been hesitant, after witnessing the catastrophic battle, he now understood the terrifying nature of the Abyssal Calamity.
Just as he flipped open the first page, Elder Peng entered, pushing the door open.
"Didn't you knock?" Elder Ye scolded without lifting his eyes from the materials.
"I was in a hurry, and I have something important to discuss," Elder Peng replied, sitting across from Elder Ye.
"Oh?" Elder Ye set the materials down. "Which rift is causing trouble?"
"No, it's about Tang Xue," Elder Peng replied.
Elder Ye fell silent, looking at Elder Peng, awaiting further explanation.
"We found a lot of information about the Chaisfield family from the villa. Tang Xue and Ji Boda are affiliated with Maier. They've set up a Hunter Company in Xiangcheng, and according to the intel, they plan to target Xu Que's Hunter Company here in the Z Nation. Should we help him out?"
"No need," Elder Ye replied. "The young lady from the Shen family already told me about it. And from what she said, Xu Que plans to handle it himself. He doesn't want official involvement."
"But this is the Chaisfield family! How could Xu Que stand a chance against them? I heard they've established a branch in the US, primarily to gain political influence." Elder Peng expressed his concerns.
Elder Ye replied impatiently, "If Shen's daughter isn't worried, why should you be? Focus on training the personnel. We've got another rift outbreak in just over twenty days."
Elder Peng paused, realizing his mistake. If Shen's daughter wasn't concerned, then why should he be?
As he left, Elder Ye shook his head with a wry smile, returning to his materials.
...
In a different dimension, after clearing out a large number of goblin-like creatures, Xu Que found a relatively safe location to begin his cultivation.
Though he longed to break through to S-level, he knew that in order to secure first place on the [Formation Leaderboard] and [Forging Leaderboard], he would have to set aside his personal progress for the time being.
He had never experienced the use of formations in his previous life, but he had seen many powerful beings use them.
It could be described as an expansive domain, much more powerful than his combat field. It could nullify other fields and provide various enhancements.
As Xu Que continued to gather spiritual energy, golden light began to surround him.
"I missed so many opportunities in my past life. In this life, I will step by step reach the peak and erase all my regrets!"
"Void!"
A massive vortex of spiritual energy erupted, and soon ten stars formed within Xu Que's body.
Just as he was about to continue forming stars, distant screams echoed through the air.