Light Fortress
Chapter 191 - 178: Angel Envoy

Chapter 191: 178: Angel Envoy

The circular curtain slowly opened, and the soft light of the auditorium hall fell from above the head of every audience member. This landmark building, constructed a century ago, had a long history, back when the Five Continents were not so peaceful.

The Dadu District had endured many wars.

The name "Freedom Hall" was given to commemorate the end of the last war, where a certain leader granted Dadu District complete liberation and "freedom." Over the past century, the hall had undergone many renovations of its exterior stone walls, but its core spirit had never changed.

Freedom.

"I can understand your speech at the selection ceremony for the council member."

"I can also understand your decision in Lion Alley to shut me out."

The old man sitting next to Lu Nanzhi wore a simple suit today. Due to his advanced age, his spirit didn’t look well, like a flickering, weak flame that could be extinguished at any moment.

The old man gazed at the center of the stage where the circular curtain opened. His voice was calm: "I can understand everything you’ve done, just as I understand the significance of this hall’s existence. Countless people in Dadu once fought bloodily for freedom, and now you choose to step forward for the same reason."

Lu Nanzhi didn’t argue. She just listened quietly.

Over the years, her interactions with Zhao Xilai had always been simple: a teacher and a student. One taught, and the other listened. This conversation was not the first, but having it in Freedom Hall was indeed a first.

"I am relieved that you didn’t continue hiding behind the wooden door of Lion Alley but chose to attend the ball and talk to me again." The old man said softly: "Child, you have always had freedom. The banner will not become your shackle, but your wings, helping you fly higher, a foundation and aid countless others dream of. Why destroy it with your own hands?"

"Opposing the bill... doesn’t mean destroying the banner."

Lu Nanzhi shook her head.

"Do you know... what the current situation of the East Continent is?" The old man smiled at Lu Nanzhi. Over the years, the "Madam" of Dadu District had gained widespread reputation, but he had silently and anonymously put in a lot of effort behind the scenes.

Watching this woman grow, he felt both relieved and helpless... because an ominous premonition told him that one day, Lu Nanzhi would stand on the opposite side of him.

The stronger the student is taught.

The more challenging the day of confrontation.

"There is disharmony among the Five Continents because there’s a split in opinions at the highest seat."

"The awakening speed of the Black Dots is increasing. If left unchecked to spread... the five continents will be devoured in disorder; it’s only a matter of time. I probably won’t see that day, but what about those after me? How much time do they have?"

The old man’s voice was sorrowful: "Therefore... those holding the fire seeds have decided to heed ’Deep Sea’s’ advice and try to push the Awakening Bill in a certain region."

Lu Nanzhi’s pupils contracted.

What?

"They are holders of the fire seeds, controlling the unbeatable ’supreme power’ of gods." Zhao Xilai’s voice was very soft. "And the only man that the East Continent could rely on... has fallen into a deep sleep. We are lambs to the slaughter, and in this matter, we have no choice."

"Treating the East Continent as a chessboard, how can one agree to such a decision..." Lu Nanzhi said coldly. "We should be more opposed!"

But when she saw Zhao Xilai’s indifferent, emotionless face, all her anger gradually receded...

It was a feeling of powerlessness.

No wonder, no wonder Changye City chose to remain silent on this issue... They were supposed to refuse, yet Gu Changzhi slept. Who in Changye City could bear the cost of refusal?

"If the majority votes against, according to the rules, the bill will be rejected... But what happens next, no one knows." Zhao Xilai said slowly. "The Awakening Bill is just a test. Rather than whether the bill could be implemented, the few at the highest seat, and other council members of the Five Continents, wanted to see if the man in Changye City was truly dead."

"The Banner found two allies, West Continent’s Light City, and the ’Lin Family’ from the Northern Fortress. These two have made some guarantees after the bill’s implementation." Zhao Xilai said slowly. "If the Awakening Bill can indeed absorb Extraordinary Essence and mitigate the emergence of the Black Dots... then the East Continent would also become the greatest beneficiary. With no one to oversee, we can only gamble. The one from Light City and the Lin Family agreed to act on behalf of East Continent to ensure fairness."

"Fairness..."

Lu Nanzhi couldn’t help but laugh.

What she saw was the East Continent being manipulated as a chessboard by the highest seat. Where was there any fairness to speak of?

"So... back to the original question. You previously said opposing the bill does not equate to destroying the Banner..."

"You are wrong."

"The Banner no longer has any retreat. Once the bill fails to be implemented, Light City and the Lin Family will no longer perform supervisory fairness duties. At that time, the East Continent will face an unprecedented storm." The old man’s voice gradually slowed, and finally, he said: "Do you understand the weight of this final vote?"

Lu Nanzhi fell into a long silence.

"If someone hadn’t seen it with their own eyes, who would believe such ’god’ like beings exist in this world?" Zhao Xilai chuckled softly, "My life would have been much more splendid if I hadn’t seen them."

The Fire Seed Project... was one of the highest secrets of mankind.

And those who received the fire seed’s recognition and fully developed its power had surpassed what the transcendent could understand.

From a material level, Perfected, Saints... or gods. Such terms were more appropriate to describe them.

"The materialist social order is destined to be broken by the Transcendent, and the logical baseline of scientists’ understanding of the material world is doomed to be shattered by the fire seed... As the balance among the Five Continents gradually changes, we must accept and adapt."

Zhao Xilai said slowly, "The new leaders who inherited the fire seeds today are no longer as grand and selfless as they were at the beginning. Although they will certainly go to the fortresses to eliminate the ’Black Dots’, more than going out, they gradually turned their gaze inward to the continent."

"The East Continent is being eyed?" Lu Nanzhi said coldly. "We oppose the bill. Do they still intend to cross continents for ’justice enforcement’?"

Terrifyingly, Zhao Xilai remained silent.

He sat quietly, seeming to be an answer in itself.

After a long time, he revealed another piece of information:

"A Firekeeper from the Central Continent did such a thing first... He gave a strand of his spiritual power to a transcendent who was absolutely loyal and devout to him, and granted him the ability to eradicate the ’Black Dots.’ Thus, the recipient of such a gift became an ’Angel Envoy.’"

"Technically, this is absolutely forbidden."

"But... now there are more Black Dots. The appearance of an Angel Envoy is a good thing for humans."

"But the problem is, only a god can defeat a god."

"And the Angel Envoy who inherits a strand of the god’s spiritual power... Even if this spiritual power is very weak compared to the god, it is not one that a normal person could bear or defeat."

"Thus... to maintain the balance, other Firekeepers all choose their Angel Envoys. When rules are broken, everyone must adapt to new rules. But the East Continent has nothing."

Zhao Xilai said: "In the latest conversation, Light City informed me that a Central Continent’s Angel Envoy would come to the East Continent soon... We don’t know when he will arrive. In this incident, he might just be an observer or he might become an executor."

Lu Nanzhi listened, feeling horrified.

"You see... there’s no need to play many tricks. All schemes are futile before absolute power. The Angel Envoy only needs to visit each seat and convey the ’god’s’ will. In the East Continent, there are twenty seats in total, and there will always be someone who is afraid and retreats because seats are inanimate, but people are alive."

Zhao Xilai sunk into his seat, very tired, and persuaded: "That’s why I wanted to have a deep talk with you... Give up this battle; you cannot win."

Lu Nanzhi opened her mouth.

She had nothing to say.

"What I asked Zhao Qi to bring you... you should have read. After my death, the Banner is yours. These are not compensations but what you rightfully deserve." The old man let out a long sigh, "Or, you can see it as a compromise in this war. If we continue to fight, there will be no winners. You will lose, I will lose, the East Continent will lose."

"Is there no better way than accepting?"

"There is."

Zhao Xilai suddenly laughed, a joyful laugh like a child’s, "If that man wakes up, I would be the first to raise both hands and feet to vote against, then use a loudspeaker to tell those bastards at the highest seat to get lost and never plot against the East Continent again."

"But..."

"He is still asleep, isn’t he?"

The old man’s voice was like autumn leaves falling, "So we must accept reality... and prepare for the worst."

Lu Nanzhi slowly said: "What if... I still refuse?"

"..."

The old man fell into deep contemplation.

"I... don’t know."

Zhao Xilai shook his head, he said seriously: "In such a grand trend, there is no retreat. I cannot accept the failure of the Awakening Bill. I have never truly lost a battle in my life, so if you refuse, there’s a high probability of only one outcome."

"You will become the ashes crushed by the wheels of history..."

That lean, aged old man, without spirit, at this moment, had restrained his aura, like a thin blade.

Those murky eyes became instantly clear, emitting sharp cold light.

He spoke slowly: "Dadu will no longer have a so-called ’Madam.’"

Lu Nanzhi showed a peaceful expression, looking at Zhao Xilai. It was like she was looking into his eyes, like staring directly at the blazing sun.

But she didn’t retreat.

...

...

(There is only one Chapter today. Tomorrow will be a big climax. There will be additional updates to make up for it.)