In just a few days.

Chen Shouyi had already mastered the Shield and Sword Technique, optimizing and improving it countless times with a mind as fast as a supercomputer, as if an ordinary person had practiced for a lifetime.

The large shield, half as tall as a person, was like a thick wall impervious to anything. Whether attacking or defending, the shield moved as if it were a shadow, securely protecting his body.

...

Time flew by.

After staying in Zhonghai for a month, Chen Shouyi received intelligence and hurried to Yan State to oversee matters.

The war continued till now, with two-thirds of the Flame Continent already liberated.

However, the real danger never came from mortal warfare, but that lofty existence.

Chen Shouyi wore a T-shirt above and shorts below, as if casually on vacation. He hugged Li Wenwu who came to greet him and said, "Lao Li, just a few days and you’ve lost a few pounds."

Li Wenwu, somewhat unaccustomed to Chen Shouyi’s sudden enthusiasm and not daring to struggle, mainly because that arm was as oppressive as a Great Mountain and couldn’t be wriggled free. Hearing Chen Shouyi’s teasing, he pulled at the corners of his mouth and sighed heavily:

"It’s a long story."

These words were laden with nuance, explaining all the sorrows and grievances.

Boss, you just left like that, gone for a month.

It’s been a lot of pressure for me, both mentally and physically.

This past month, he had no time to breathe, always on a task or on the way to a task.

Of course, these complaints could only be swallowed.

Chen Shouyi joked and then turned to serious matters: "What’s the situation?"

"Recent intelligence from reconnaissance planes indicates that cultists in the fallen areas are starting to contract and abandon territories, gathering around Bujumbura." Li Wenwu’s face turned grave: "Something unusual is brewing, the United Army Staff Headquarters predicts changes will come soon."

Chen Shouyi nodded, having a premonition: "It seems the Lord of Lightning is about to descend!"

What?!

Li Wenwu was shocked and frightened.

"Are...are you serious?"

"Maybe I’m wrong." Chen Shouyi said and then fell silent.

The atmosphere turned somewhat somber, oppressive.

If it were someone else, even another legendary power, Li Wenwu might have been skeptical.

But it was General Manager Chen who said it.

He had killed so many gods, one couldn’t count even with one hand, and rumor had it that he had once clashed with the Lord of Lightning, his strength reaching the Realm of Profound Mystery.

Would he dare not believe such a person?

Is the Lord of Lightning really going to descend again?

Li Wenwu’s heart felt as if a massive stone was weighing it down, making it hard to breathe.

Everywhere on the road were logistical vehicles, dust swirling, the jeep bounced along the rut-filled dirt road. Chen Shouyi closed his eyes, calling forth the attribute panel in his mind.

Strength: 25.7

Agility: 25.7

Constitution: 25.8

Intelligence: 25.7

Perception: 24.2

Willpower: 24.1

Energy Accumulation: 44.21

Faith Value: 15578.2

Innate Abilities: Self-Healing (Super): 35.01%; Giant Battle Body (Super): 99.99%; Control Atmosphere: 40.01%.

During this time, he had closed himself off in another world once more. If not for the intelligence received, he would still be in seclusion, but this obsessive cultivation had seen him make considerable progress.

Strength, Constitution, Agility, Intelligence, these four attributes grew by at least 0.3 points, Constitution by as much as 0.4 points.

The progress was astonishing.

Chen Shouyi willed, and fifteen thousand points of faith value vanished instantly, added to Control Atmosphere.

...

In May, the climate in Yan State remained scorching hot.

The blazing sun, like a giant oven, made the air distort from the heat.

Amir Gar, covered in sweat, was quietly praying while struggling forward with the crowd.

The air was filled with a foul stench. On both sides of the dirt road, rotting corpses could be seen from time to time, with a few bold vultures not even flinching as the crowd approached, their sharp beaks tearing away chunks of flesh, swallowing it down.

Since the forced migration, in just four days, ten people from his tribe had fallen forever.

Yet the journey never halted, continued trekking.

He carried deep worry in his heart, not like the other fanatical cultists. Being a highly educated individual who studied in the Great Xia Country, he retained basic reason.

This situation clearly wasn’t normal.

Very abnormal!

Why gather everyone in Bujumbura, isn’t that giving invaders the chance to catch everyone in one go?

Not to mention, what will they eat then?

Where will the food come from?

Has no one thought about this?

Although each tribe brought some food during migration, it wouldn’t last long at all.

Unfortunately, he was no longer the son of a chieftain.

Ever since believing in the cult, his family’s fortunes had declined, their power quickly replaced by the priest. Now, they were no different from ordinary people. If not for his father’s remaining some reputation in the tribe and aligning with the priest, even survival would be hard.

Yet, even so, they were under constant watch. Just like the Divine Warrior slots, no matter how well he performed, he simply wasn’t eligible.

At this moment, beside him, his father staggered, nearly falling.

Amir Gar hurriedly reached out to support him, realizing then that his father was trembling all over, clearly hanging on by sheer will: "Father, are you... alright?"

The gilded, diamond-studded black hat symbolizing the chieftain was long gone, now just a weary, weak old man. The old black man coughed a few times, shook his head: "Walk slower, I don’t think I’ll make it, soon I’ll join the embrace of the Lord."

"Father..."

"It’s a good thing, I’ve long wanted...to see the Lord’s kingdom."

Amir Gar felt sorrow but nodded solemnly.

He and his father walked slowly, soon trailing behind.

The old black man, with his murky eyes, inconspicuously watched their surroundings, then whispered almost inaudibly: "If there’s a chance, escape."

Amir Gar felt a chill in his heart.

...

The next morning, the old black man died.

"Great and merciful Lord, you are the incarnation of lightning, you possess boundless might. Today we are here to offer devout prayer for Akam, who finished his journey on earth and will be taken to the Divine Country by the Lord..." 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

The priest performed a simple prayer ceremony, the body was tossed aside the road, and then they hurried on.

During this time, Amir Gar had several opportunities to escape, but there was never a chance. The tribe had several Divine Warriors and countless informants watching, making escape nearly impossible.

As they entered Bujumbura, the crowd joining them grew larger, resembling a never-ending dragon.

After seven days, the area was filled with people, and traffic was severely congested, making progress difficult.

The group finally came to a halt.