Chapter 1944: Chapter 1938: Power

“This plot of land… seems very strange.”

No additional attention was needed; the moment the courtyard arrived in the area, they sensed something was off.

The fusion of this plot of land was quite troublesome.

According to the previous plan, Lu Ping’an intended to use the “space” from the Divine Kingdom to directly engulf and take it away… digest it on the spot if possible, otherwise take it to the void to slowly digest.

But from the start, the plan was not executed smoothly. The courtyard initially succeeded in fusing part of the volcanic surface, but couldn’t reach any deeper.

This was obviously unusual, yet it delighted the earth visitors, suggesting there might be something hidden underground.

“Only beings of Divine Realm level or above can resist such erosion…”

The courtyard had just descended, and naturally fell into a new round of conflict.

But this time, the local warriors were quite excited.

A large number of warriors participated, not just because they had recently acquired “Life Insurance,” but due to the vast profit potential this battle presented.

“Shining Stones” were bought at a rather high price in the courtyard, yet many warriors and mercenaries were hoarding them, hoping to sell this specialty at a sky-high price on Mother Star… This was clearly a gamble with a high chance of loss, but if the gamble paid off, it would be extremely profitable.

They were betting that the grade of the Bright Stones was exceptionally high, retaining most of their effectiveness even after leaving the Evolution World’s rules, allowing them significant profits.

If new uses can be developed on Earth, their value may increase further, potentially resulting in overnight wealth.

“… They’re dreaming of peaches. From the current evaluation, these Bright Stones will certainly lose effectiveness after leaving the courtyard and Evolution World.”

However, some things cannot be stopped… Most of the Bright Stones will remain in the courtyard; a little extra loss is all it takes, and Lu Ping’an hadn’t planned to intervene.

In some sense, this is a problem with Lu Ping’an being too lax. With “civilian forces” dominant, besides Lu Ping’an’s Family Clan, other groups would inevitably prioritize their own interests.

This isn’t necessarily a problem. Lu Ping’an even anticipated these situations…

“Even if they profit, I can make money back through logistics, arms, medical services, etc…”

On Lu Ping’an’s side, it remains quite conscientious.

He truly mastered logistics and the military chain within the courtyard. If handled by someone unscrupulous, bullets would cost a hundred each at the start of the war, a thousand mid-battle, and ten thousand during emergencies… Though exaggerated, with appropriate adjustments, one could unknowingly take all earnings from frontline warriors.

In fact, this is the approach of some Deities. The unit carrying and production capacity of their Divine Boat is limited; by claiming “it’s a market economy,” essential supplies could easily be inflated by several or even dozens of times… Even so, warriors still have to put on a smile to buy, as they have no choice.

Of course, this is under “civilian war group” conditions, but this doesn’t mean official legion orders aren’t inflated.

In contrast, many national arms orders skyrocket tenfold mid-battle, with ammunition costing ten thousand at the start, and two hundred thousand midbattle…

“Military-industrial things shouldn’t be completely handed over to the market and civilians.”

Lu Ping’an, reflecting on previous examples, decided to draw a line somewhere.

He doesn’t mind if civilian war power profits greatly; from his perspective, what matters more is the long-term future of the whole team. Letting certain small groups control military supplies and provision could spell trouble.

It’s best to plan early or have Lu Ping’an himself intervene, using the “official brand” for a safety net.

Others might provide better options, but here at least a baseline is maintained, preventing the infinite inflating of operational costs…

“Your Excellency, Your Excellency?”

At this moment, the commander’s calls jolted Lu Ping’an out of his reverie.

“Oh… Sorry, just proceed with your tasks.”

As the one in charge, only after Lu Ping’an issued his command did the fortress gates fully open.

Numerous legions, both on the ground and in the sky, started entering this area and battlefield, confronting the approaching “active Bright Stones”.

Lu Ping’an still sat on the “Throne,” leaning back with squinting eyes, either dozing or overseeing everything.

Even knowing his presence wasn’t crucial, during wartime, his presence or absence mattered greatly to others.

He yawned again and, unavoidably, his mind wandered.

For the seemingly intense “battle” before him, it didn’t pique his interest anymore.

As he is now, even if he doesn’t admit it, he has indeed reached a Deity’s level.

Deities are more about “intervening” in the world rather than a specific target.

Providing immortality (Life Insurance) to his followers, opening shelters for them, adjusting courtyard resource supplies, and offering more evolutionary paths is what he, as the “boss,” should do.

Currently, he neither needs nor is permitted to casually head to the frontline.

He suppresses his battle impulses, cultivating more “subordinates” and “companions”… But from another perspective, he might also be stockpiling strength for necessary moments.

His “Combat Divine Body,” a gift from the Underworld, continues to receive further cultivation.

Going to the research department might yield a good outcome.

“Indeed, back to the Elemental War…”

Fire Element and Stone Monsters’ battles quickly spread across the view; many areas were embroiled in intense struggle. Nevertheless, this time, the Balance of Victory tilted faster than expected.

“The targeted weapons are working, aren’t they…”

The Stone Giant’s most unsolvable aspect is its extremely tough body; its overall lack of vital points and no endurance limit until energy is drained make it a perfect war machine.

However, those targeted weapons were indeed mass-produced in the courtyard.

“Boom!”

Amidst the swing of an eye-catching black giant blade, a punctured Rock Giant violently struggled, then bit by bit lost strength, becoming immobile.

The rumors of poisons and antidotes await confirmation, but this deadly weapon against the Stone Giant is indeed the Soul-absorbing Heavy Sword from the Shining Stone.

Originally, Stone Monsters couldn’t stop before their bodies were thoroughly destroyed; the “little bit of spirituality” deeply embedded in their bodies was directly sucked out by the Demon Sword.

Have they truly perished? It’s hard to say. Perhaps they’ve simply moved to a new “residence.”

Yet, during that hunting process, the appearance of evidently enhanced Soul-devouring weapons seemed to offer new possibilities.