Celestial Human Diagram

The Defense Department's Independent Combat Command Hall, located in the Central Coordination Center, Weiguang District, Central City.

An announcement echoed throughout the hall:

"The Fumu has entered the final preparatory stage for splitting."

"First split is projected to occur at 00:00 on the twenty-second. Countdown: twelve hours, thirty-two minutes."

"All departments and emergency response units have entered a state of high alert."

Specialist Liang stood on the hall's second floor, gazing at a light screen displaying an image of the entire Central City.

Below him, the command room was bustling with communications liaisons, Resonance technicians, and a number of unit commanders.

Once the split officially began, they would receive real-time information from the Administrative Affairs Hall, the Processing Bureau, city patrols, and the various local units and emergency teams across Central City. This data would be compiled and analyzed, then used to issue commands and orders.

Specialist Liang's expression was extremely grave. He knew that even though the major corporations in Central City didn't know the Fumu's exact splitting and reproduction time, they could estimate the general timeframe from its observable condition.

It went without saying that these corporations were also making their own preparations, waiting for the right moment to act.

But the Defense Department had to maintain a strict defense. As the first-generation offshoots of the progenitor, not a single one could be allowed to escape.

However…

His gaze deepened. Their opponents weren't just the corporations; there was a far greater and more dangerous enemy. 'I can only hope the arrangements we made earlier will be effective.'

Chen Chuan had already left the Profound Palace Building and was driving his Gard Car toward the manor.

He glanced outside and saw that the flickering in the sky was still continuing, and had even grown more intense.

In fact, after brewing for so long, the phenomenon had become so pronounced that even ordinary people could see it clearly.

But because of the neon light screen that usually filled the sky, it wasn't particularly conspicuous. Besides, the public was in no mood to pay attention to such things.

The ever-increasing swarms of insects on the streets had formed a virtual downpour, obscuring vision to the point that even spraying pesticides couldn't stop them.

The ground was covered in a thick carpet of insect carcasses. On either side of the road, city sanitation crews shoveled them into large dustpans, then dumped them into transport vehicles.

Everyone hurrying along the streets was bundled up in thick clothing that covered them from head to toe.

The light screens began repeatedly broadcasting announcements, warning the public not to go outside. They were told that a larger bio-tide was coming, possibly accompanied by a magnetic storm, the likes of which hadn't been seen in decades.

The Central City Administrative Affairs Hall would soon deploy armed forces to eliminate the creatures that had been plaguing the city for days. The public was instructed to remain in safe locations or follow patrol convoys to evacuate into underground bunkers for shelter.

Malls and public places in Central City were already being sealed off and closed, and patrol cars drove up and down the streets.

Ten minutes later, he arrived outside the manor. All preparations were complete. An electric fence was draped over the top, and barbed wire and barricades were set up at the entrance. As the electric gate opened, the car drove slowly through.

He parked in the garage and entered the living room, where three fully armed team members were waiting. When they saw him, they saluted in unison. "Captain!"

Chen Chuan nodded and returned the salute. "Is everything ready?"

Qin Qingque replied, "Captain, everything is ready. The manor's internal and external defenses are secure. The three of us are ready to move out at any time."

Chen Chuan grunted in acknowledgment. Just then, his Realm Token chimed with a notification. Seeing it was a voice message from Counselor Pei, he opened it.

Counselor Pei's voice immediately played:

"The situation will likely unfold between tonight and tomorrow morning.

Captain Chen, if communications are cut, you can use the contact information chart I gave you earlier to communicate with the nearest Domain Creatures. The Defense Department may have a mission to assign you then.

If you don't receive any messages, try to contact the nearest response team.

I'm sending you the locations of the response units in Wuding District now. Make sure you receive it."

Chen Chuan checked the location display Counselor Pei had sent. He saw that one of the response units was just two kilometers away. This meant their rented Domain Creatures could contact them directly.

After forwarding the location to his three team members, he said, "The split is estimated to happen sometime tonight or tomorrow. Get some rest so you can handle what's coming."

"Yes, Captain!"

After giving his orders, Chen Chuan left the living room and returned to his bedroom on the fourth floor. He washed up and then sat down, composing himself.

He placed the Snow Monarch Blade in front of him, then took out all the melee and ranged weapons he carried, wiping each one down for a final check.

Once the Fumu began to reproduce and the Celestial Gate opened, everyone would join the fray—be they freelance Fighters, faction groups, or those scheming corporations.

'The enemies I'll face this time might be stronger than any I've ever encountered. But that's exactly what I need, and what I hope for.'

Time ticked by, minute by minute. Soon, it was nine o'clock at night, with only three hours remaining until the Fumu's splitting phase.

A voice came from the command hall: "Domain signal is beginning to decay. Preparing to enter signal disengagement. Three-minute countdown initiated..."

The personnel on the first floor of the hall all ceased their activities.

Three minutes passed quickly. The light of the surrounding Domain dimmed for a moment, but after a few breaths, it returned to normal. Then, a calm and serious voice announced:

"Sentry at your service. During the Fumu's split, I will take full command of all inter-party Domain communications."

This was "Sentry," the Defense Department's active Consciousness Body, responsible for taking over internal and external Domain information relays during the Fumu's splitting period.

At the same time, scattered Domain Creatures in various regions began transmitting their visuals back through the Airship signal stations set up above. Within just five minutes, the information flow was restored to its previous level.

Specialist Liang said in a low voice, "Sentry, immediately verify all deployments and check personnel status at all key locations."

"Sentry copies. Conducting checks now..."

Chen Chuan set down the last weapon in his hands and checked the time displayed on his Realm Token. It was now 10:10 PM.

But as if drawn by some unseen force, his mind was growing increasingly active. This was likely because as the Fumu entered its reproduction phase, the Domain Power began to contract, causing the barrier—or perhaps some kind of protection—to the other world to gradually weaken.

If this continued, it would line up with the timeline Counselor Pei had provided.

He put away his weapons, then took out some medicinal drugs and swallowed them.

He had rarely used such drugs since reaching the Third Limit. This was partly because their effects had diminished, but also because as his strength grew, he simply no longer needed them.

'But this time, I don't know how many opponents I'll face, or how strong they'll be. I have to be fully prepared.'

After taking the drugs, he did nothing else, instead focusing on regulating his breathing and waiting quietly.

Another hour passed. Suddenly, a crackling static came from his Realm Token. The Domain information seemed to have become extremely unstable. After about ten seconds of this, the Realm Token fell completely silent.

He raised his wrist and checked the time on his watch: 11:55.

He tapped his Realm Token again, logging into the frequency of the Domain Creature within the manor and re-establishing contact with his three team members downstairs.

Yuan Qiuyuan's voice came through: "Captain, has it started? I don't feel any commotion."

Chen Chuan stood up and walked to the window. Outside, the neon light screen seemed unchanged, as if nothing had happened. But he could clearly feel a powerful, omnipresent consciousness surging.

He said, "No. It's already begun."

The moment he spoke those words, most of the light in the city district suddenly dimmed. The splendid world visible beyond the Realm Token nearly vanished. Immediately after, a seemingly bone-chilling sensation seeped into his mind.

A bright light suddenly bloomed outside the window. He looked up. Although it was still night, the sky had inexplicably brightened. Yet, it carried a cold, desolate gloom. The feeling was like staring at the sky of a Merging Land, as if, in that instant, the Merging Land had extended all the way here.

Just a moment later, a streak of crimson light appeared on the distant horizon, as if a rift had been torn in the sky, leaking thick, fresh blood.

He stared at that spot. He could feel that the invisible barrier in the sky, though breached, was still struggling to hold, repelling the invasion from the outside. But the Celestial Gate had already been pushed open a crack.

Inside the Defense Department's command hall, Sentry's voice sounded: "Time: 00:03. The Fumu's first wave of splitting has begun. Seven child-bodies detected... Reporting child-body locations now..."

On the holographic map of Central City before them, locations were marked one by one with light. The child-bodies were located in Fengde District, the Deep Unexplored District, Yinglu District, and Ji Yang District, among others. Three of them were concentrated in Ji Yang District.

"Administrative Affairs Hall has shared intel. All regional response units and emergency teams have been dispatched... Estimated engagement time: forty-five minutes. Second split wave estimated in one hour and thirty-five minutes. Countdown initiated..."

The display showed routes marked out, along with real-time timers and distances. As the teams drew closer, the distance markers steadily decreased.

"Warning. Numerous Resonance Domain pings and intrusions detected."

Only a moment later, the once-calm map was suddenly flooded with dense red dots. In a matter of seconds, they had spread across nearly the entire Central City.

Specialist Liang's expression was grim.

This clearly indicated that a large number of Resonators were using private Domain Creatures, as well as active and inactive Consciousness Bodies, to try and spy on the government's deployments. Some highly skilled Resonators were even attempting to hijack the shared Domain signals from the Airships.

He knew this was the work of the major corporations, trying to pinpoint the locations of the response units and analyze the combat effectiveness of the emergency teams in preparation for their next move.

But they had long since prepared targeted countermeasures for this very scenario.

...

...

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!