As Zuo Qiu Yue observed the members of the three clans joyfully feasting and dancing around the bonfire, she found herself momentarily lost in thought.
The divine had guided humanity into an unprecedented era of prosperity; what more could they, the beneficiaries, desire?
Was it justifiable to shift the blame for their misfortunes onto the "timely absence of divine favor"?
"Ah..."
Zuo Qiu Yue exhaled deeply, a wry smile gracing her lips: "I nearly became the very type of person I loathe..."
As she spoke, her gaze fell upon Nalan Xia's youthful visage, and she sighed softly:
"Leader Xia, your wisdom is truly remarkable; I finally comprehend why the divine favors you so."
The remark elicited a peculiar expression from Nalan Xia.
"Favored? What rumors have you been listening to...?"
Boom!!
Their conversation was abruptly interrupted by a deafening explosion!
The two women instantly rose to see the tent where provisions were stored had been overturned, with dozens of purple-skinned creatures roaring as they charged forth!
In the "Third Year of Divine Descent," on October 20th, the celebratory bonfire feast of the three clans was besieged by a horde of purple-skinned monsters.
Due to inadequate preparedness, the death toll exceeded two hundred, and the leader of the Nalan clan suffered severe injuries!
Although they ultimately repelled the creatures under the leadership of Huyan Gui, Zuo Qiu Yue, and Nalan Huazi, a shadow loomed over the hearts of the three clans.
These purple-skinned beasts not only emerged from breached nests but actively launched assaults as well!
The price of this realization was paid in blood...
On October 25th, the harvest season commenced in various regions.
The three clans halted extensive excavations for heavenly crystal stones, prioritizing the collection of grain to prepare for the harsh winter ahead.
Yet while they sought stability, the purple-skinned creatures had no intention of allowing it.
Incidents of these monsters suddenly erupting from the ground to attack became alarmingly frequent!
The subterranean creatures appeared desperate for sustenance, ravenously consuming humans and livestock, including the valiant scaled horses.
The relentless slaughter of their offspring incensed the divine beast, the dragon horse!
It took to accompanying the cavalry on patrols, mercilessly retaliating against any purple-skinned creature that dared to emerge, trampling them into a pulpy mass before relenting.
Alas, with only one dragon horse, even its relentless efforts could not stem the ever-increasing tide of these monstrosities.
Swish!!
With a mighty swing, Zuo Qiu Yue severed the head of a purple-skinned creature that had stealthily infiltrated the pasture!
"Huff... Huff..."
Breathing heavily, she continued to race alongside her guards toward the next location under siege, neglecting even to wipe the blood from her face.
"The Zuo Qiu clan is favored by the divine; how could we succumb to your wretched kind?!"
...
In the "Fourth Year of Divine Descent," on February 2nd.
Due to the frequent assaults by underground monsters during the autumn harvest, food production across the three clans fell dramatically short of expectations.
The flesh of the purple-skinned creatures was rank and toxic; after being hunted for heavenly crystal stones, they had to be incinerated.
Consequently, the three clans were forced to tighten their belts and conserve their food supplies.
The biting cold and heavy snowfall did little to abate the frequency of attacks from the purple-skinned creatures, leaving the inhabitants to fight on empty stomachs, enduring tremendous hardship!
In the northern mountainous regions, among the Nalan clan...
Leader Nalan Xia had sustained grave injuries during a purple-skinned creature attack last October and had been recuperating for three and a half months.
Thanks to the infusion of Wang Hui's source energy, she had valiantly endured the infection phase, and her condition was gradually stabilizing.
"What is the status of the battle?"
Reclining on a stone bed draped with thick wool, Nalan Xia inquired of the guard standing at the door.
The guard's eyes flickered, and he responded vaguely, "Lord Huazi has displayed unparalleled bravery, having joined forces with Leaders Yue and Gui to collectively slay over a thousand purple-skinned creatures, and we..."
"Bring me the battle reports!"
Nalan Xia's gaze sharpened.
Even in her weakened state, her intellect and authority remained undiminished.
The guard trembled slightly, lowering his head to deliver a stack of reports before bowing and withdrawing.
The reports from various regions were diverse in material—some were on sheepskin, others on cowhide, and some even on fabric or wooden boards.
The handwriting was predominantly scrawled and unclear, but Nalan Xia scrutinized each one intently.
As she read, her expression darkened.
The casualties were staggering!
Indeed, the total number of purple-skinned creatures slain by the three clans had surpassed a thousand, yet each clan had lost well over a thousand members!
The sharp fangs and claws of the purple-skinned beasts inflicted severe damage; even the finest cowhide armor could scarcely withstand a few bites.
Nalan Xia, having been blessed by the source energy, had narrowly escaped death herself; how could ordinary warriors endure such assaults?
Even if they were not directly killed by the initial bites, they often succumbed to subsequent infections.
Once bitten by a purple-skinned creature, survival was a slim chance indeed!
"Something is amiss..."
Nalan Xia did not allow the dire situation to cloud her judgment; she keenly noticed certain details within the reports.
The attacks by the purple-skinned creatures seemed confined to the outskirts of the three clans' territories, merely harassing the outer pastures and farmlands.
It was puzzling that these monsters would target the robust adult members outside when the elderly, weak, and women within the clan were far easier prey.
Nalan Xia retrieved a map, upon which recent troop movements of the three clans had been marked with colored ink.
She observed that the majority of forces were directed toward the confluence of the Pinchuan River, the junction of the three clans' territories.
"Why are we redirecting troops there?"
The guard at the door turned to report: "It is said that a massive sinkhole has appeared in that area, suspected to be a source for a swarm of purple-skinned creatures. Leader Gui, in his wisdom, has mobilized the majority of warriors from all three clans to prepare for a joint effort..."
"That is not right!"
Nalan Xia interjected sharply, urgency in her voice: "Quickly inform both leaders at the front lines to instruct all battalions to return to the clan territories immediately!"
...
Outside,
Wang Hui had just completed the paperwork for his annual leave at the company and had gone to the market to purchase a sunshade.
As he sought to cover the entirety of his courtyard, many shops lacked the necessary dimensions, and after considerable searching, he finally procured a suitable folding version.
Declining the seller's offer for delivery, Wang Hui carried the folding sunshade to a small eatery for lunch. By the time he hailed a cab to return home, it was already past one in the afternoon.
"Having been away from home for more than five hours, it feels like nearly a year has passed in the micro-world. I hope nothing has gone awry..."
After locking the yard gate, Wang Hui set down the sunshade, deciding to check on the little ones' conditions first.
He lifted the paper box used for camouflage, and his expression shifted dramatically!
The micro-world, which should be experiencing the vitality of early summer, bore no signs of life.
All around, there were numerous pits of varying sizes, with bodies and blood strewn about, even visible from his giant perspective.
It resembled a veritable hell on earth!
"What has transpired here?"
He swiftly slid open a pane of glass to synchronize the flow of time on both sides.
With the fast-forward mode disabled, he could see that many little ones were still active in the three clans' encampment, which brought him a measure of relief.
As long as they were not all dead, he believed he could eventually restore vitality to this world.
Picking up a magnifying glass, he peered intently at the many unfamiliar purple creatures.
Their limbs were long and serpentine, crawling along the ground with menacing appearances.
"The little ones are battling these creatures...
Where is the griffin? Wasn't it meant to maintain stability in situations like this?"
Wang Hui's expression grew grave.
He was eager to see if those vicious little creatures could withstand the wrath of the divine!