Translator: CinderTL
At these words, everyone turned to look at Chen Jiuxuan.
It was Chen Jiuxuan who had spoken.
"Before a Shadow Calamity erupts, we'll receive at least an hour's warning," he said calmly. "Even if it's a 7.9-magnitude Shadow Calamity, that hour will be sufficient to prepare a response."
The others nodded in agreement.
Blue Star had been at war with the Shadow Clan for centuries, and their early warning systems were well-established.
An hour's warning!
For demigod-level experts, that was more than enough time.
At that moment, the Zhou Family Demigod spoke up. "What kind of response are you proposing? The aftershocks of a battle between demigods alone could obliterate entire cities. Do you really think you can evacuate hundreds of millions of people from multiple cities in just an hour?"
Chen Jiuxuan fell silent.
This was indeed the greatest challenge.
In past Shadow Calamities, the highest-level conflicts had only involved peak ninth breakthrough cultivators. While the demigods didn't directly intervene, they could still protect cities from the fallout.
But what if demigods themselves clashed?
They would struggle to protect themselves, let alone spare any attention for others.
As for evacuating hundreds of millions of people in advance? Even a demigod couldn't accomplish that.
Humans cannot enter storage spaces.
In Donghai Province alone, a single city has over a hundred million residents. Such a massive population is nearly impossible to relocate in a short period.
"If a 7.9-magnitude Shadow Calamity truly erupts," the Zhou Family Demigod murmured, "a single battle could annihilate tens of millions, even hundreds of millions of lives. Blue Star cannot withstand such a loss."
"That's why we've been stalling."
"Once someone breaks through to peak demigod, we'll have nothing to fear from a 7.9-magnitude Shadow Calamity!" the Zhou Family Demigod declared firmly. "Now is not the time for a decisive battle."
His unspoken meaning was clear:
Hand over Jiang Ye!
If sacrificing a young genius could stabilize the current situation, it would undoubtedly be worth it.
"We must never compromise with the enemy," the Li Family Demigod countered. She was a veiled woman whose voice was ethereal and resonant. "If we truly hand Jiang Ye over, how would our actions differ from those of the Hidden God Organization?"
"How can you compare the two?" the Zhou Family Demigod retorted, shaking his head. "The Hidden God Organization acts for selfish gain, while we strive for the future of Blue Star. The two cannot be equated."
The Li Family Demigod glanced at him and asked, "If we were to hand over a junior from your Zhou Family, would you agree?"
"Of course I would," the Zhou Family Demigod replied.
"Enough," the Demigod of the Chu Clan interjected. "Let's hear what the Alliance Leader has to say."
At this, the assembled powerhouses fell silent.
Ultimately, the decision rested with the Alliance Leader.
All eyes turned to the blue-robed figure on the dais.
"Let's discuss strategies for dealing with the 7.9-level Shadow Calamity," Qi Tian said calmly.
This simple statement made the Alliance Leader's intentions clear to everyone:
Protect Jiang Ye!
"Alliance Leader," the Zhou Family Demigod said, frowning. "Are we truly going to engage in full-scale war with the Shadow Clan?"
As a demigod, he wasn't afraid of fighting the Shadow Clan, but such a conflict would inevitably devastate Blue Star.
Moreover, with only a few decades left to live, a major war could drastically shorten his lifespan.
The other demigods also frowned, none of them wanting such a scenario to unfold.
"Zhou Huaifeng, your prolonged avoidance of conflict has become a liability," Qi Tian said coolly. "While we strive to avoid war, we will never cower before it."
"If the Shadow Clan truly seeks an ultimate shadow calamity, then let the battle begin!"
"Moreover, the Shadow Clan lacks the courage to initiate a full-scale war," Qi Tian said calmly.
Upon hearing this, the assembled experts, including Chen Jiuxuan, exchanged puzzled glances.
"The war between the Shadow Clan and Blue Star is not desired by either side," Qi Tian continued gravely. "If I'm not mistaken, there may be another hand orchestrating these events from behind the scenes."
"What?"
"Another hand?"
"Could there be another civilization pulling the strings behind the Shadow Clan Civilization?" The hundred-odd experts erupted in a clamor.
The conflict between Blue Star and the Shadow Clan had persisted for centuries, yet this was the first time they had heard such a theory.
"Alliance Leader, what do you mean by this?" Chen Jiuxuan couldn't contain his urgency. "Are you suggesting that a more powerful civilization is manipulating the Shadow Clan?"
The Shadow Clan Civilization already posed a formidable threat to Blue Star. If a more advanced civilization were backing them, it would be catastrophic news.
"I'm still investigating the specifics," Qi Tian replied slowly. "In any case, the Shadow Clan won't easily unleash the ultimate shadow calamity. Even a 7.9-level Shadow Calamity would come at a tremendous cost to them."
"The message from the Shadow Clan," the Zhou Family Demigod frowned, "was merely a verbal threat?"
"Yes, a verbal threat."
"But we can't dismiss it as just that," Qi Tian said calmly. "If a 7.9-level Shadow Calamity erupts, we must be prepared with adequate countermeasures."
The crowd finally understood.
If they refused to hand over Jiang Ye, at most one or two 7.9-level Shadow Calamities would occur—never more, let alone the ultimate shadow calamity.
Even triggering a 7.9-level Shadow Calamity comes at a cost to the Shadow Clan.
"Even just one or two 7.9-level Shadow Calamities," the Zhou Family Demigod shook his head, "Blue Star can't withstand that."
"Once demigod-level Shadow Clan members break through the cosmic void passage, a single casual strike could obliterate multiple cities."
"There's no defense against that!"
"To protect Jiang Ye alone, we'd risk losing tens of millions, even hundreds of millions of lives," the Zhou Family Demigod murmured. "Is it truly worth it?"
The faces of the assembled experts paled.
He was right!
Stopping a demigod was relatively easy, but unless the battle occurred in outer space, a single casual strike from a demigod could annihilate entire cities.
That meant hundreds of millions of lives!
For Jiang Ye alone, was it truly worth it?
"Then we must block the Shadow Clan within the cosmic void passage!" Chen Jiuxuan declared solemnly. "As long as demigod-level Shadow Clan members don't enter Blue Star, these calamities won't occur."
"Block them?"
"If we could block them, the Shadow Calamity wouldn't be a problem in the first place," the Zhou Family Demigod scoffed. "When the cosmic void passage erupts, even demigods like us dare not approach. Who would dare to block them?"
The others nodded in agreement.
The eruption of the cosmic void passage created a gateway between worlds, unleashing terrifying energy. Even demigods risked annihilation by getting too close.
"What's so difficult about that?"
"We simply need to infiltrate the Shadow Clan Nest on the other side before the Shadow Calamity erupts!" Chen Jiuxuan said calmly. "Eliminate the source, and Blue Star will naturally be safe."
"Infiltrate the Shadow Clan Nest?" The Zhou Family Demigod stared in disbelief. "Do you even know what you're saying? That's a tier 7.9 Shadow Calamity Nest! Who would dare to infiltrate it?" He shook his head.
Let alone a tier 7.9 Shadow Clan Nest, few would dare to infiltrate even a tier 7 nest.
But in the next moment...
"Who would dare?"
"This old man would dare!" Chen Jiuxuan declared, his expression impassive. "Given time, if a tier 7.9 Shadow Calamity erupts, I will personally enter the cosmic void passage and destroy the Shadow Clan Nest."
"You—"
The Zhou Family Demigod's expression twisted, and he involuntarily turned to stare at Chen Jiuxuan.
The assembled powerhouses were equally stunned, their gazes fixed on Chen Jiuxuan.
Single-handedly storming the Shadow Clan Nest?
The other demigods privately admitted they couldn't accomplish such a feat.
(End of the Chapter)
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