Chapter 155: Ripples from Above

Of the territories Seven, Eight, and Nine, the first to log in was unexpectedly the Lord of Plot Eight, who had only ever spoken once on the Lord’s Channel.

“Lord Xin Yu of Territory Eight grants approval.”

Next came Territory Seven. The reply was from the same voice that had responded when Yuan Yan from Territory Six sought help just a few days ago and the Lord of Territory Seven was away.

“Permission not granted after consulting with Lord of Territory Seven. We’ll take down any evolved birds entering our airspace ourselves.”

Territory Nine’s Assistant Liu checked in as usual. “Captain Tan, Territory Nine’s stationed personnel request to contact the Lord.”

The Lord of Territory Nine, Li Si, was still being detained in the Safe Zone, making direct contact with him impossible for those in the territory.

Tan Junjie replied, “Received. The Inspection Team will submit a request immediately.”

About fifteen minutes later, Tan Junjie responded, “Lord Li has been consulted. He does NOT grant the Inspection Team entry to Territory Nine.”

Assistant Liu replied calmly, “Understood. Territory Nine will do everything possible to eliminate any evolved birds entering our skies.”

Tan Junjie responded, “Territories Seven and Nine, please report your method of counterattacking the evolved birds.”

Assistant Liu said, “Territory Nine will be using chemical sprays, firearms, and artillery.”

The representative of Territory Seven replied, “The same methods as Territory Nine.”

Won’t these birds driven away by chemical sprays end up swarming my own territory? Xia Qing immediately contacted Yang Jin, asking him to send over the weapons she’d just acquired from Azure Dragon Unit—even if it wasn’t the grenade launcher, grenades would do.

Tan Junjie replied, “Received. Any chemical sprays deployed by Seven or Nine must not impact other territories. Otherwise, they will be held accountable. Keep artillery fire tightly controlled. If artillery triggers Xiang Rain, any territory damaged within its coverage will receive double compensation.”

Firing high-density shells skyward in a short burst could very well trigger small-scale, high-risk Xiang Rain.

If red or orange Xiang Rain actually falls, it won’t just threaten any humans within its reach—it can also cause rapid Xiang Evolution in local wildlife and even send the already-crazed evolved raptors into an unstoppable killing frenzy.

“Territory Nine acknowledges.”

“Territory Seven acknowledges.”

Both territory representatives responded with cool professionalism, but the rest of the Lords couldn’t hide their anxiety.

Kuang Qingwei asked, “What if, tonight, we just cover our greenhouses with rainproof tarps?”

Hu Zifeng replied, “If a flock of evolved birds comes charging in, the tarped greenhouses will just attract their attacks.”

If the evolved birds can’t see into somewhere at a glance, they always think there’s something good inside. The rainproof tarp can handle hail, but it’s no match for the sharp talons of those raptors.

“We just got through hail and storms three days ago, the air’s still damp. Even low-powered shelling could trigger Xiang Rain.” Qi Fu voiced his concern, his weak voice edged with worry.

As farmers, protecting the young crops is priority number one. If those seedlings get hit by Xiang Rain and undergo Xiang Evolution, not even double compensation would make up for the heartbreak.

Territory Seven’s representative replied, “We’re using laser cannons—no risk of Xiang Rain.”

Their answer didn’t reassure anyone. If anything, the Lords felt their hearts seize up.

The laser cannon is a high-energy weapon that fires a powerful focused beam to directly destroy targets. After the great evolution on Blue Star, experiments proved it could disperse storm clouds and drive away bad weather. So, despite its high cost and power drain, every base prioritized building them.

But in the sixth year of disaster, disaster struck—and momentum stalled overnight.

That year, one of the bases in Guilin went through seven straight days of rain. Testing revealed huge concentrations of the Xiang element high above, gathering into thick storm clouds. Soon, a vast stretch of red Xiang Rain threatened to drench the Safe Zone.

So the base decided to use their laser cannon to break up the Xiang clouds. No one expected the clouds to detonate midair instead.

Massive amounts of high-density Xiang element shot out in every direction. Every living thing it struck, humans included, underwent rapid Xiang Evolution.

Protective suits were pierced straight through. The once secure Safe Zone turned into a living hell.

This was the most intense display of Xiang element’s aggression in a decade of disasters, known by humans as:

Xiang Detonation.

After the Xiang Detonation incident, laser cannons were blacklisted for three years. It wasn’t until the start of Year Ten that the national research institute, after extensive testing, worked out the conditions for Xiang Detonation. Only then did the authorities allow bases to use laser cannons again—with strict limitations.

It’s already well into Year Ten now. Xia Qing didn’t know about any other base, but Hui San Base hadn’t dared use one even once.

Who would’ve imagined that one of these ordinary-looking outer territories belonging to Hui San Base would have a laser cannon ready to fire? Were they planning to fight back against the evolved raptors or wipe out all twenty-eight neighboring territories at once?

With no one speaking up, Territory Seven’s rep added, “We have full command of the technology. Our laser cannon meets all standards. No risk of Xiang Detonation.”

Just because you say it’s safe, we’re supposed to believe it?

Shi Chong tried to reason, “Hey, brother from Territory Seven, laser cannons use a ton of energy. Saving your stored power isn’t easy. Why not just use more chemical spray to repel the birds?”

Kuang Qingwei, whose territory neighbors Territory Seven, jumped in, “Hey man, I’m from Territory Six. Any chance you could swap some of your bird-repellent chemical spray with us?”

Territory Seven’s rep replied, “Sorry. The chemical spray we use is a restricted material. It can only be traded with approval from relevant Base authorities, or it could cause uncontrollable risks.”

The group fell silent. What on earth does Territory Seven have that needs restricted gear and a laser cannon to protect it?

Territory Seven’s not trading, but someone else is.

With a trademark gentle businessman’s tone, Assistant Liu chimed in, “Lords, Territory Nine possesses an exclusive, patented, safe and efficient bird-repellent chemical. It’s an approved item for trade. After repeated field tests, it works on over 90% of bird species below Level Six. One thirty-milliliter vial protects an acre once diluted and sprayed, lasts eight hours. Each bottle costs three hundred points.”

Three hundred points. An acre. Eight hours?

Not a single farmer Lord said a word. Raptors rarely attack crops, so they didn’t have money to spare on buying peace of mind for a thousand points.

But just because they didn’t, doesn’t mean no one would.

Tang Zhengbo of Territory Twelve asked, “Assistant Liu, what’s the shelf life of the spray? Any side effects?”

Assistant Liu replied, “Unopened, store at room temperature away from light for up to a month. Any food directly contacting the spray shouldn’t be eaten. It’s harmless to plants, but may affect animals in the sprayed zone. Any humans or other animals in range must wear protective masks with at least level-two air filtration for twenty-four hours. After this, the spray evaporates and no longer threatens humans. However, residual spray can be fatal or repellent to small birds and insects for seven days afterward.”

Tang Zhengbo politely responded, “Thank you for clarifying, Assistant Liu. Territory Twelve will buy five bottles. Can we get them tonight?”

Assistant Liu’s voice got even softer, “Of course. Fifteen minutes from now, the sprays will be delivered in the corridor between Territory Nine and Twelve. Please have your points card ready, Director Tang.”

Hu Zifeng placed an order too. “Plot One will take six bottles. Have the transaction at the same time and place as Twelve.”

Assistant Liu confirmed, “Understood.”

The spray from Territory Nine was good stuff, but Xia Qing had too many animals needing protection in her area for it to be practical.

First, she reached out to Ji Li to move the medicine and hemostatic trade up to four-thirty the next morning. If the raptors came, she needed to defend her territory. Fighting meant possible injury, and that meant risk of evolutionary bacteria infections. She wouldn’t feel safe going into battle without a dose of Zhang San’s special hemostatic medicine.

Then Xia Qing dashed into the yard to relay the news to the Alpha Wolf in the sheep shed. “Your Majesty, tomorrow we might get swarmed by lots of evolved raptors. You do know what those are, right?”

“Just think of the kind that flap around in the sky,” Xia Qing spread her arms out like wings, mimicking a bird, then curled her fingers like talons and made a few aggressive grabs. “They swoop down and snatch prey with claws like these.”

The three wolves stared at Xia Qing with different expressions, none of them moving an inch.

Xia Qing dropped her claws and continued, “If the evolved birds attack, stay quiet in the sheep shed. Most birds hunt by sight, but some have advanced hearing or smell. Winged things are just tough to deal with.”

When she was done, Xia Qing stared at the wolves through her night vision goggles for a few seconds, then sighed. “Well, once they come, you’ll know what I mean. Just do whatever feels right then.”

Since these wolves grew up in the Evolver Forest, they probably had more tricks for fighting and surviving than she did.

Xia Qing returned to the house to contact Yang Jin again, hoping he could deliver the weapons they’d traded for over the last few days by tomorrow morning—she only had a few dozen bullets left.

Yang Jin replied quickly that the grenade launcher hadn’t made it to Hui San Base yet, but all other traded supplies would be delivered first thing. He also reminded Xia Qing not to forget to warn the wolves about the possible raptor attack, so they could help defend the territory.

Tough as always—nothing gets by that guy.

Xia Qing laughed and texted him back: Already told them.

She had, though who knew what the wolves would actually do when the time came.