Baiyu could even feel the blood dripping from Qiu Yun's body onto the ground.

"Hang in there, old Qiu, don't die."

Baiyu comforted him, then his whole body was swallowed by the swirling vortex of the Teleportation Gate.

After a dizzying spin.

Baiyu appeared in the underground chamber of the Anomaly Bureau.

The secret facilities of the Anomaly Bureau are generally located underground, making it easier to keep them confidential.

In this chamber.

There is only one Teleportation Light Gate, surrounded by smooth walls; the exit is a mechanical electronic door, requiring a password, fingerprint, retinal scan, and Identity Card to open.

It seems Yao Shuimei had done very detailed preparation work before.

Baiyu took a deep breath to calm himself and looked at Qiu Yun behind him.

The opponent was already on the verge of death.

Worse off than before.

Yet surviving even so was something Baiyu would have never expected.

"Hold on, a doctor will be here soon, I'll get you out right away."

Baiyu carried Qiu Yun, continually feeding him elixirs to supplement his Blood Qi and keep him alive, though the effect was obviously not very good.

Very soon.

Baiyu opened the mechanical door and called in the staff of the Anomaly Bureau to perform emergency aid on Qiu Yun.

Just after Baiyu had left.

Both Yao Shuimei and Oulei rushed out from the Teleportation Light Gate.

Their bodies covered in scars, stained with blood.

Their faces pale like golden paper.

Moreover, they had a faint shadow of black aura on them, indicating significant internal injuries.

After the two rushed out, an angry roar suddenly came from the other side of the Teleportation Light Gate, immediately followed by an explosion.

...

Three days later.

Anomaly Bureau Special Research Institute.

Qiu Yun lay on the hospital bed, the lower half of his body, which had only been bones, now covered in flesh.

Wrapped in thick bandages.

The whole person, except for the head, was wrapped, resembling a living mummy.

"Baiyu, I never thought I would live to see the day… it really feels like a dream.

You know?

The Demon King wanted to pry various secrets about Mountain City's arrangements from me with rounds of torture, but I endured it all without revealing a single word."

Beside the bed.

Qiu Yun puffed on a cigarette while recounting the past.

Who could have thought that the same elder, now with a healthy complexion, lying on the hospital bed, was only half-a-body a few days ago?

Anyway, Baiyu couldn't imagine it.

Seeing Qiu Yun bragging endlessly, Baiyu sighed.

Why didn't he notice this before?

"Old Qiu, take your time to recuperate, once your injuries are healed, the Armed Department still needs you. This time has cost us dearly..."

Baiyu sighed.

Yao Shuimei suffered severe injuries, and so did Oulei, both were still lying on hospital beds.

However, unlike Qiu Yun.

Their recovery was much slower.

It was said that they were affected by the Demon King's special power, and needed to recuperate quietly for a while to expel the poison from their bodies.

Moreover, when they returned.

Although the Teleportation Light Gate was timely destroyed by Yao Shuimei, the Fourth Celestial Demon King's vengeful strike still came through.

The result was that the Anomaly Bureau was blown up.

The building housing the teleportation gate was obliterated, and everyone in it is still in the hospital.

Such losses cannot be described as anything but significant.

The only good news was that the Fourth Celestial Demon King was also injured, and due to the enormous energy consumption, had to return to the Celestial Demon Pool.

These leaders who submitted to the Demon Race, after undergoing demon transformation, found it impossible to leave the Celestial Demon Pool.

Once injured or their energy depleted, they must return to the Celestial Demon Pool to replenish.

This means.

In the upcoming exotic race invasion, the Fourth Celestial Demon King cannot personally strike but at most issue remote commands.

After chatting with Qiu Yun for a while.

Baiyu went to visit Yao Shuimei and Oulei, and then walked out of the internal hospital belonging to the Anomaly Bureau.

He did not return to the Earl's Mansion but headed for the city wall.

He Jin was standing on the towering stone bricks of Mountain City's walls, gazing at the scene of Heavy Fog Forest outside.

Mountain winds swept through the forest, creating waves of green.

He Jin had a heavy expression as the secretary by his side continuously reported.

"Food supplies have been transferred from Villiduo, enough for the entire city for a year, totaling eighteen large grain warehouses."

"The army is also ready and can deploy immediately."

"Control over entry and exit has begun, and any attempts to flee Mountain City have been prevented to avoid causing panic."

He Jin listened to the reports with furrowed brows.

When Baiyu approached, he dismissed the secretary, saying, "Director Bai, how is the preparation?"

"Everything is ready, absolutely nothing will go wrong. As long as you need it, He Director, I can mobilize personnel anytime.

During wartime.

I can guarantee everything within the city remains stable, at least, no one will dare to cause trouble openly."

Baiyu assured confidently.

He Jin nodded: "That's enough.

This battle concerns the stability of the entire South.

If we can obliterate the Shell People Race and the Demon Race's army this time, control thereafter will keep them subdued for at least a century.

By then.

South will be stabilized.

Shelters such as Mountain City and Spring City will no longer face threats from Exotic Beasts and will become the source of fresh blood for the Imperial."

This battle is indeed crucial.

If it fails, and Mountain City falls, the South will become a breach for the exotic races to push directly in, conquering several states and counties of the East Prosperity Imperial.

Victory.

Ensures a stable South, free from exotic race threats.

Previously, wars were small-scale skirmishes, a push here and a push there, but now, it's the final showdown!

Baiyu nodded: "He Director, I will be supporting you within the city!"

Upon hearing these words.

He Jin coughed once, feeling a little odd in his heart.

"Tomorrow, I plan to inspire the soldiers at the barracks, and the day after, the army will depart, to face the enemy head-on."

He Jin decided firmly.

"However, isn't it premature to launch an attack now, given that Director Yao hasn't recovered yet?"

Baiyu inquired.

"I consulted the Director's opinion, and she felt too that the timing was right; tomorrow and the day after mark the time when Scar God once slew the Seven Heads."

He Jin explained.

Baiyu thought for a moment, calculating that tomorrow according to the Bright Calendar would be July 7.

Scar God is a deity worshiped in the military.

However.

Baiyu had never heard of the legend of Scar God slaying the Seven Heads.

Considering the incident of the Sea of Spirit, these mythical legends, intangible as they may be, have indeed shown some credibility and basis.

Especially in this world inhabited by Divine Spirits.

Many myths are not just idle tales.

Since He Jin chose this day, there must be a special reason, prompting Baiyu to stop questioning further.

After all, his position was akin to a combination of the city management and logistics department; it didn't extend to affairs of external warfare.

"Remember, tomorrow morning, to come to the military district. As the Director of the Security Bureau and the chairman of the Veterans Mutual Aid Association, you must not be absent."

He Jin instructed Baiyu.

Baiyu agreed, then during the evening went aboard the Legendary Ship, to discuss with Erza about the upcoming city security matters; the next day, he went along with He Jin to the military district.

Apart from He Jin.

Qiu Yun was surprisingly present too.

The Minister of Armament went from being on the brink of death to recovery in just four days.

The Recovery Power of a Tier Two Martial Artist, combined with various rare medicinal substances, made for astoundingly fast healing.

Undoubtedly, the reason was also because he did not suffer direct attacks from the Demon King.

Mostly, he endured torture, causing his condition.

The military district is never open to outsiders, nor does it allow entry.

Without Qiu Yun, the Minister of Armament, even Baiyu and He Jin wouldn't have the right to enter.

Unless a higher-level document is issued.

Soon enough.

The three entered the military district.

It's filled with various gigantic mechanical factories, producing one war machine after another.

Every moment.

Patrolling robots and mechanical sweepers line the roadsides in the military district.

The entire military district has steel flooring, incessantly echoing with the sound of iron being hammered.

The three arrived at the main steel avenue in the military district.

Not even a few steps taken.

A tall mecha greeted them.

"Greetings to you, lords, the soldiers have been assembled, please come and preside over the ceremony!"

A woman's voice emerged from the Iron Armor.