CHAPTER 1134: CHAPTER 875: THE MOMENT WHEN THE OVERALL SITUATION IS DECIDED

After returning to the Northern Archipelago, Xu Yang found Yan Duo.

It had hidden itself deep in the mountains, sitting on a mountaintop in a no-man’s land, with trees around burned by fire, looking particularly troubled.

"The battle is over, the law of death is now ours, even those who died can be resurrected, there’s nothing to worry about," Xu Yang comforted it.

"Yan Duo..." But Yan Duo’s brothers couldn’t be resurrected.

"What kind of place is the Star Hometown, the homeland of the cosmic deities?" Xu Yang asked.

Yan Duo raised its hand, flame swirling in the air, weaving into a strange nebula.

"Yan Duo... Yan Duo... Yan Duo." It told Xu Yang about its homeland.

The Star Hometown is a distant nebula composed of massive gas and dust, with countless stars scattered throughout. Deities like Yan Duo reside in the heart of the Star Hometown. Yan Duo enjoys sculpting the gas into complex shapes with stellar winds and radiation energy. The entire nebula is the source of the deities’ power, allowing them to learn how to command the power of stars or planets over long periods of time.

The deities harnessed the inexhaustible energy and materials of the Star Hometown to invent gigantic, faster-than-light traveling Giant Wheels to explore deep space and map the cosmos. Many deities are curious about the outside world and wish to investigate other places.

However... shadows emerged in deep space, and the deities were hunted and consumed as if the predator fed on the genetic material of intelligent beings. Under its influence, many massive stars exploded like supernovas, forcing the deities to scatter and flee the Star Hometown. Yan Duo also protected its brothers, wandering deep space for tens of thousands of years, eventually accidentally arriving in this world.

"Then how can Yan Duo go back?" Xu Yang felt wary, that there were such powerful entities out there capable of destroying Yan Duo’s kind as if they were mere snacks.

"Yan Duo." It gestured, intending to confront the creature.

"That kind of thing can’t be defeated, right?" Xu Yang said.

"Yan Duo." Yan Duo said it was too stupid, it didn’t know either. But it really longed for home, it missed the Star Hometown.

Xu Yang noticed some scattered gifts piled around, some souvenirs, including dumplings, daifuku, dolls for blessings, metal crafts, all of which were "offerings" or gifts from nearby villagers.

Because when Yan Duo was here, the surrounding crops grew better, and even people’s ailments disappeared. Previously, many people were affected by the curse of death, feeling lethargic, and even developing illnesses, on the verge of decay and death. But with Yan Duo’s presence, the people in the nearby villages became healthy and strong, as if the influence of death was completely purified and eliminated.

"...You have done a lot for them, and everyone here is grateful to you, you are their guardian deity, and this is very important," Xu Yang said earnestly.

"Yan Duo, Yan Duo, Yan Duo..." Yan Duo sat sorrowfully on the hill, longing for its unreachable homeland, knocking its forehead with its hand, making a rumbling sound.

Then, it extended its enormous hand, dug out dirt and stones from the ground, and began to mold some rough items with its hands, which looked large and clumsy, like the vague clay figures of Yan Duo’s brothers.

It placed the false sculptures of its brothers beside itself, as if it now had someone to talk to.

"Yan Duo, Yan Duo." It conversed with the non-responsive clay figures, conveying its sorrow and unease. It longed for home but couldn’t return. It missed its brothers, but the brothers were already dead.

"Where did Chryses go?" Xu Yang asked.

"Yan Duo." Yan Duo said Chryses went to a faraway place traveling, the Golden Soul went to find the other two brothers.

"Then we’ll certainly help you find the remaining two brothers, so that you can leave here and return to your homeland." Xu Yang looked up at Yan Duo.

"Yan Duo." Yan Duo was tired and sat on the ground.

"If you’re tired, take a nap. I swear to you, Yan Duo, once we find your two brothers, we’ll bring them back, bring them to you, so you can all go home together!" Xu Yang promised.

Feeling exhausted, Yan Duo looked at Xu Yang, Xu Yang who had never lied, Xu Yang who was its good friend.

It extended its massive hand, touching fingers with Xu Yang, then its demeanor calmed, its posture became still, frozen in the gesture of reaching out.

Yan Duo was going to sleep.

It transformed into an entity resembling a warm, glowing giant stone. Anyone seeking help or healing could come to Yan Duo’s feet, touch its sun-like tremendous spirit, and gain spiritual healing, with physical wounds also able to recover.

Xu Yang sat beside Yan Duo for a while, feeling its warmth, pouring like light, boundless soul, gaining endless warmth and support.

Just like the sun, always shining, warming, and healing others.

He departed, glancing back at the peacefully sleeping Yan Duo.

Yan Duo had endured too much suffering; it should continue sleeping, undisturbed by any commotion. Until next time— when it opens its eyes next time, it will see its two brothers standing before it, and how happy Yan Duo will be then!

Xu Yang returned to Nestor Headquarters.

The company is now flourishing, with revenue soaring significantly, it’s like they’ve ascended to a new level. Previously, he thought Nestor Corporation had expanded to its limit, but that was not the case. With their victory in the Near East, Nestor Corporation’s influence has further enlarged.

Under Lu Jing’s leadership, Heavenly Cardinal Manufacturing became a critical partner for them, and in the Near East, Queen Aisha-led Spice Coast Kingdom also accepted Nestor Corporation’s request to establish a branch, fully opening up its market to them, becoming a new overseas stronghold.

In other words... except for the White Elephant Continent controlled by Idith, the entire Eastern Hemisphere is firmly in the hands of Nestor Corporation or its allies!

With the current valuation and strategic assessment of Nestor Corporation, it has reached the position of being second in the world, only behind the Lighthouse Core.

Such a commercial territory, in ancient times, could only be achieved by super empires spanning multiple continents, and now Nestor Corporation too has become the controller of half the world.

People initially speculated, believing Nestor Corporation, Xia, and the West Coast Pact would stand in a triadic balance, but now, there are truly only two polar forces left.

Moreover...

The Hot Tree Continent is under the control of the Cyber Specter’s massive machine armies, the Agave Continent has Colonel’s troops, Peaceland needs Nestor Corporation’s robots to deal with kangaroos, and the Great Northern Region is being rebuilt, all these areas support Nestor Corporation’s business.

So, the "basic territory" of the Seven Seals only consists of the Taixi Continent, New Taixi State, and White Elephant Continent!

Our side’s power, for the first time in so many years... has surpassed the Seven Seals! Xu Yang felt a hint of excitement.

When Xu Yang concluded this fact, he was also very surprised. The Seven Seals, which once seemed like a formidable entity to them, is now in a relatively weaker position in the power struggle.

We... are stronger than them!

The tide of battle has changed!

After such long efforts, Xia and the broader region in the Near East also became partners, achieving today’s results was once unimaginable.

Xu Yang found Farosa in Nestor Headquarters, in a secret chamber where Farosa was deep in thought.

"It’s incredible..." Farosa looked up at him, "You felt it too, right? We started from nothing and now have an implicit advantage of dominating the world."

"Yes, with so many chips stacked in our hand, we ultimately achieved a qualitative change." Xu Yang sighed.

What are past enemies? Those once formidable figures—what do they count for? The enemies they once worried about: Xisheng, Black Fire Innovation, the giant gods of death, and frost—they’ve been utterly defeated now, and can never rise again!

They looked at each other and, unable to contain themselves, kissed passionately.

"This is truly wonderful." Farosa murmured, "We now control the entire cycle of life and death, which means that death is conquered by us. All living beings on this planet, their life before death and after must be governed by us. Do you know what this means?"

"The Seven Seals are also finished." Xu Yang nodded.

"Yes—imagine, if you work for the Seven Seals but your fate after death is entirely managed by us, how demoralizing would that be? If you resist us in the mortal realm, you’d better pray you don’t die, because once you do, your soul will fall into our hands, you won’t peacefully enter the Great Maelstrom, you’d face thousand-fold punishment for ever opposing us!" Farosa was somewhat excited.

Whoever controls the hereafter, controls the present!

"This is the new order led by us." Xu Yang nodded.

"Even Dilnai and Idith don’t dare oppose me now. The Godslayer Weapon has been deeply unsealed." Farosa produced the Godslayer Weapon.

Having absorbed the fifth layer of evil aura from Pomorty, the weapon’s appearance became sharper and more restrained, surrounded by an evil glow, it seemed eager to slay the next deity.

Xu Yang leaned on the table, feeling unprecedented pressure and fatigue sweeping over him.

Nigh ten years of exertion, he truly honored his promise, transforming the entire world drastically, its face greatly altered.

But it also exhausted his strength, he walked others’ paths of decades and centuries in mere ten years, which was a massive drain on Xu Yang too. He closed his eyes, feeling Farosa’s hand move behind his neck.

"You are weary." Farosa said.

"Yes..." Xu Yang replied.

"Oh, let me kiss you, kiss you again." Farosa kissed Xu Yang affectionately, "We have already achieved great victories in this life, next, all that’s left are patching things up, doing some trivial little tasks, resolving the last little chores, and then we can hold a wedding."

"If that’s the case..." Xu Yang felt foggy and warm.

"You and Yan Duo have both exerted all efforts to care for others, this drains you. You expend your inner strength to help others, only out, not in, this isn’t sustainable... you need love, Xu Yang, let me love you. Soon you’ll be revived." Farosa clung to him, her tone sly.

Xu Yang pulled Farosa close, parted her robe, and underneath that long robe, nothing was worn. How come?—he feared he wouldn’t regain his vigor, but become even more drained!