Skyfire Avenue - Chapter 698

Chapter 698

Chapter 698: Ninth Level, Ninth Rank

Skyfire Avenue,

A month had passed since the failed attempt to destroy the alien planets . Humanity had fallen into a bleak despair, a fear that their foe could appear at any moment . The North’s defeat was too large to go unnoticed, so they didn’t even attempt to hide it from the public .

Each alliance – be in the North, West or East – all adhered to the suggestion Lan Jue had made at the Eastern parliament . The resource-oriented and smaller planets were abandoned, and their populations were gathered closer together for protection .

It was a large operation, but a necessary one . It was clear the aliens could appear anywhere, at any moment . The outlying planets were most vulnerable and thus had to be given up .

Representatives from all three alliances met several times for high-level meetings, with aims to coordinate their military power . At least they had come to some agreements over mutual defense .

When the scout team got back to Skyfire Avenue, Lan Jue continued to cultivate religiously with Zhou Qianlin . The Driver had completed the transformation of his Discipline and sheltered himself away . The Wine Master did as well, in preparation for ascension to Reflection of Heaven and Earth .

As for the alien Lan Jue had recovered, it was in the capable hands of the Bookworm and Keeper .

Preliminary analysis revealed what Lan Jue and the others had expected . The aliens’ defenses were weaker against biological attacks, and more potent against engineered power . According to the Keeper their weakness lay in their complicated DNA . Somehow, the power of an Adept’s Discipline broke apart the bonds that held their DNA together and subjected them to terrible consequences .

“Boss, you seem pretty lethargic today . ” Ke’er saw her employer resting idly behind the counter of the Jewelry Shop and couldn’t contain her curiosity .

Everything seemed business as usual on the Avenue . Few normal humans were permitted to enter, so it was like the troubles of outside didn’t exist here, at least on the surface .

Lan Jue smirked at her . “Constant preparation is going to get the work done faster . I need time to rest like anyone else!”

Ke’er giggled and trotted over to him . She hopped up onto the counter . “So what’s your plan today, boss?”

“No plan,” he answered . “Rest, cultivate . How are things underground?”

She beamed at him . “Couldn’t be better! Who isn’t interested in making themselves stronger? We’re low on inventory, though . Most has been given to Star Division . ”

Star Division’s numbers had grown to over one thousand five hundred soldiers, including the unfortunate experiments Lan Jue had rescued from the Pontiffs clutches at Moonfiend . Their abilities had all been boosted by fantascia genetica, though, which made their progress slow and fraught with hidden dangers .

Meanwhile Skyfire Avenue boasted more Paragons than anyone else, and only continued to add to their dominant position . It had always been their trump card, and they were finally reaping the benefits .

In terms of military strength, the North was still the strongest even after their defeat at the hands of the aliens . The West had thrown all their resources into the creation of more Bastions to keep up, and their total martial capabilities had improved markedly .

War had come to all corners of human space . They felt it like a dark cloud on the horizon .

The communicator on Lan Jue’s wrist began to buzz . He looked down and was surprised by what he saw .

“Wine Master, you’ve finished?” He’d been locked away in meditation ever since they returned . It’d been forty days .

“Yes . ” The Wine Master’s voice replied from the other end .

“Did you break through?”

“Luckily,” he replied . “Come, there’s something I wish to speak with you about . ”

“Alright . ” Lan Jue rose, waved goodbye to Ke’er, then left the jewelry shop .

Lan Jue took a minute to appreciate Skyfire Avenue . He loved standing on its stone pathways and looking at the buildings lining the street . It felt like stepping back in time .

“Hurry up!” The Wine Master’s voice shouted in his ear . Lan Jue grinned then crossed the distance to the Gothic Winery in long strides .

When he pushed the door open, the Wine Master was waiting for him inside .

“I assume we’re here to raise a glass or two for your good fortune? In congratulations for ascending to the next degree?” Lan Jue said with a grin .

The Wine Master just looked at him . “It seems you’re awfully relaxed . ”

He shrugged . “If we don’t take time for ourselves how can we get anything done? If I don’t relax the alien planets will disappear on their own?”

The Wine Master’s eyes flashed . “Have you improved? Ninth level ninth rank?”

Lan Jue nodded . “As expected . I’ve continued to absorb the thunder essence . With the Driver and Qianlin’s help in cultivating, it’s getting hard to hold back . ”

Just yesterday he had reached peak rank . Now he bore the same power as he did when joined with Qianlin . She had risen to eighth rank, not far behind him . However, due to their connection Lan Jue had to stop cultivating . Now that he was at his peak he couldn’t press himself any further . The next step was Paragon, and he had to cross that threshold with Qianlin .

Until Qianlin reached her peak, he couldn’t progress . What he hated before was now helping him to keep his Discipline constrained, purifying it .

The Wine Master went on . “The Pharmacist still hasn’t come out from meditation?”

The process of the Pharmacist’s breakthrough continued all the way back to Skyfire . Once they got back she announced that she would sequester herself in her shop to solidify her new powers . However, Lan Jue knew it was in part because of what she’d learned about her husband .

She had waited for years, desperate for any news of him only to learn the news was sad . Ultus’ energies could not be faked – the final shred of hope in her heart had died .

It was hard to imagine the pain she was feeling . Lan Jue didn’t know what he should do or say . All he knew was that she had changed somehow .

“She isn’t doing well . I’m worried she’ll make a rash decision . ” Lan Jue sighed .

He’d told the Wine Master everything that had transpired . The Wine Master nodded . “Who could have anticipated we’d learn of this connection . Whatever her decision, Skyfire Avenue will support her as much as it is able . ”

For a moment he was silent, then quietly spoke again . “I called you here for something else . The Clairvoyant once called you a bridge, a hero to humanity who would defeat the aliens . He said you would help gather the strong . ”

“Star Division is working toward that purpose, so I have decided to ask the Paragons to join as well . This would include the Keeper and Bookworm, though of course their focus will be research . Anyway, this decision will certainly strengthen the Division tremendously . ”

Lan Jue furrowed his brows in thought . “You’re planning to have Star Division join the war directly? Individually our men are strong, but are of little use in a battle in outer space . What if they get hit by a Bastion cannon?”

The Wine Master waved a hand contemptuously . “I’ve already been in contact with the military . Of course it won’t be that simple . We aren’t going to be the brunt of the force, but we can be the tip of the spear . Simply put, we’d act like Arachnid – at the right moment, we strike fast and hard . ”

Lan Jue’s face darkened . “I think you need to find a better example . Arachnid was destroyed . ”

The Wine Master sighed . “Anyway, you know what I mean . The military has already given us a lot of resources . Zeus-1, 2, 3 and Majesty have all been upgraded and refitted to give us everything we need . More importantly are the mecha suits, which will supplement our Disciplines and harm the aliens . Once we get in close, we can do some real damage . ”

“The reason I called you here was to see if we can’t convince more Paragons to join our cause . ”

“More Paragons?” Lan Jue repeated . “Who do you mean? A-Li?” It was the first name he thought of . Other than him and those on the Avenue there was just the Pontiff, Satan, and the Terminator .

But Hua Li was already commanding his own unit, the Poseidon Corps . On the surface they belonged to the West, but according to what Hua Li had told him they were largely free of outside control . They even had their own bastion – called Poseidon .  It was patrolling space around their planet, now . As the commander of his own army there was no way he would join another, no matter how good their relationship was .

As for the Pontiff, Satan and the Terminator, they were all leaders of their own organizations . Kang Hui’s sneak attack was front-page news all across human space, and who wouldn’t want to play warlord? Right now Adepts were a hot commodity everywhere .

“Have you forgotten? We have a couple old friends in the West . ” The Wine Master replied with a smirk .