Skyfire Avenue - Chapter 881

Chapter 881

Chapter 881: Cultivation and Strategy

The soldiers were once again busy with preparations . Repairs became the highest priority . Damage to the bastions both big and small were attended to while their energy stores were rebuilt . As a newly arrived asset Heron was in prime condition, and would likely hold an important role in the fight to come .

Kang Hui ordered Middle Heaven be given priority treatment . He was hoping to gain An Lun’s favor . The Northern leader could see the East’s rise to prominence, inevitable assuming they were able to defeat the aliens . Considering their high-powered fighters alone, the North could not catch up or hope to contend . They had an advantage technologically, but maintaining a force of notable Adepts was going to be difficult .

If Middle Heaven was any indication the East’s technological mastery was not as backwater as they’d expected . In fact there were systems on that bastion that perplexed Northern scientists . It seems the only thing that’d been holding the East back was access to resources .

In this moment it was important for humans to be united against the universal threat of the alien horde . Kang Hui knew this, and it was for this reason that Lan Qing chose him to command the armada while he was cultivating . Kang Hui was more than an experienced and talented commander, he was also a good man deserving of respect .

ξ

Lan Jue was out of the public eye for more than a day before he emerged from his room . He seemed composed, at least on the surface Lan Jue appeared back to his former self .

Mika had returned to the area designated for the Dark Citadel’s representatives . Lin Guoguo and Ke’er remained behind, and they had also regained their composure . When they saw Lan Jue again they didn’t bring up Xiuxiu .

“Lan Qing and sister Pharmacist have locked themselves away to cultivate . They wanted me to bring you to them when you came back out . “Zhou Qianlin said in her soft voice .

“Alright, I’m fine – let’s go now . ” Lan Jue nodded for her to lead the way . She took his hand and smiled sweetly at him . She used her actions to soothe his injured spirit .

A loaded look crossed Lan Jue’s face, heavy with emotion . He lifted his other hand and gently pressed it against her face .

When they arrived at the room where Lan Qing and the Pharmacist were cultivating they found the Wine Master and Clockmaker seated by the door . They were there to look over them .

After the recent tragedy who knew when the Violet Prince might try to strike again? They knew it to be unlikely, though . If he did dare to come he would be marching to his own demise . Aliens no longer enjoyed an overwhelming advantage of super-powerful fighters .

“Wine Master . Clockmaker . ” Lan Jue greeted both of them .

His old drinking companion answered with a smile . “What is past is past . Try to remain positive, and focus on exacting revenge for our fallen friends . For our people . The fight to come may require more sacrifices, but we are prepared to fight to the last man and woman . ”

Lan Jue nodded firmly . He knew this was the Wine Master’s effort to soothe him, but the wound was still too fresh . What words could make him feel better?

“Let’s go in . ” He said, nodding to the two Paragons .

The Wine Master moved aside from the door and entered a password . The metallic portal opened and Lan Jue stepped in . Qianlin was close behind .

Stepping inside, they were struck by the sensation in the air . It was thick with vital energy, almost stifling . Lan Qing and the Pharmacist were seated in the middle of the room with a strange device between them .  

Nestled in the device was a single golden-purple vital crystal . Lan Jue could tell at a glance that this crystal was at least Nirvana-level . The rich sense of vitality was coming from there . Situated around the apparatus were twelve Tears of Neptune, all comparable in size . Their presence galvanized the remains of the alien to release its vitality . Once that energy was filtered by the tears it could be used safely .

Lan Qing and the Pharmacist immersed themselves in the exuberant current, taking it in with slow and steady breaths . All the while their cultivation was slowly rising .

Lan Jue nodded in appreciation . This was certainly a spectacular specimen of a vital crystal! After only a day the two of them were already near the upper reaches of Reflection of Heaven and Earth .

There was another presence in the room with them . Li Ke observed the process, sustained through Ultus .

No one else was in the chamber . As agreed, these few were the only ones permitted in order to keep the vital crystal transmutation process a secret . Lan Qing and the Pharmacist already had their mind wiped by Lin Guoguo prior to beginning .

Lan Jue looked at Li Ke questioningly, but did not speak . The spirit understood and delivered his answer directly into Lan Jue’s mind .

“We’ve used two Nirvana-level vital crystals up so far, the results have been encouraging . In around five hours this crystal will be spent and they should be strong enough to make a breakthrough . From my analyses I suspect that once they join you in Nirvana they’ll need time to stabilize their cultivation . Qianlin’s Queen of Heaven Discipline should help them significantly there . Afterwards all four of you should undergo this process . We won’t push you into the Infinite, but we have to bolster your abilities as much as we can . The stronger you are, the more likely it will be that you can survive using the Banishing Strategy . ”

Lan Jue had experienced what it was like when ones foundation was unstable . There was no small measure of trepidation in his voice when he queried Li Ke . “Are you sure this won’t cause any problems? The moment something goes wrong…”

Li Ke smiled reassuringly . “It’s fine, I don’t suspect any complications . At your level and with the help of the Queen of Heaven, so long as we don’t cross the line into the Infinite there is nothing to worry about . To be safe we won’t reach the peak of Nirvana . Halfway should be sufficient to beginning attempting the Strategy . ”

“Alright!” Lan Jue affirmed . He and Qianlin made their way to a pair of seats nearby and waited .

They were careful to shut themselves off from their environment so that they did not absorb any of the vital energy . Qianlin let her Domain reach out and embrace them . Lan Qing and the Pharmacist had not yet broken through, but her presence helped strengthen and stabilize their protogenia in preparation for the moment they did . The two were almost immediately more relaxed, and were able to take in more of the vital energy .

Lan Jue and Zhou Qianlin passed the time in quiet meditation .

The moment of breakthrough was the most dangerous moment for Lan Qing and the Pharmacist . They were sure to experience some measure of what Lan Jue and Qianlin had had to suffer when they attained Nirvana . Unlike them, however, they had Qianlin’s help . The power of Nirvana-level Queen of Heaven abilities meant risks were kept to a minimum . Without her help Lan Jue would never have agreed to this .  

ξ

Time passed quickly . Before they knew it three days had come and gone .

The armada’s three bastions were almost back in full service . Those ships that were still heavily damaged and soldiers too wounded to serve would remain behind on Angel . Troops were reorganized into ten fleets for the coming operation . Their three mighty bastions were joined by a fourth .

Tyrannosaurus, Middle Heaven, Poseidon and Heron led the way as the war party embarked . Ten fleets worth of support vessels spread out around them as they made their way toward Europa .

Tyrannosaurus was in the center of the formation, taking Middle Heaven’s place . It wasn’t a power move, but one of practicality . Tyrannosaurus had the most resources left after their last campaign . What’s more, without Lan Qing to stabilize Middle Heaven’s molinite core the more advanced maneuvers were too dangerous to perform . With Tyrannosaurus in the middle it gave the other bastions more leeway .

No attempts to impede their progress troubled the armada . If they didn’t know better they might suspect the horde had left . Kang Hui knew that the enemy force was still formidable, they just weren’t wasting their strength on intercepting them .

He remembered that commander Lan Qing also suspected the alien home worlds were still a threat . Though they were busy with their evolution, they could still exert their influence on the battlefield . How much of an influence was as yet unknown .

They left Angel with Lan Qing and the others still locked away . Three days had passed without so much as a peep from the Paragons . Lan Qing had told him to expect a full week before they would emerge . Kang Hui used this estimate to craft his strategy . The four sword bearers should be completing their transmutation just as the armada was reaching Europa .

Kang Hui sat at his control desk looking over the information on his screens . But his mind was not on the data scrolling by .

Prior to this excursion he’d received tacit agreement to participate by the North . The day they set out he made peace with the idea that he might die . Chances were low that anyone would make it back . At that time humanity had yet to win a single victory over the aliens . Losses were already in the millions .

When they first arrived at Angel and saw the nearby planets occupied, his hope was all but gone . It felt like a pointless endeavor against an overwhelming enemy . Fighting was just increasing the number of casualties .

But fighting was their only choice . A desperate choice, certainly, but all that they had left .

He thought back to the outset of their war . Lan Qing was the youngest commander ever, an Easterner with command of three bastions and twelve fleets against a vastly superior enemy force . And then he started winning .