Americonia’s western port was catastrophically destroyed. On the surface, the incident was blamed on armed militants, and a public announcement was made worldwide, vowing to hunt down the perpetrators and uphold peace... The United Nations and most of the public expressed approval and support for these efforts.
But the problem is—
The truth is often unexpected; the facts are rarely known.
......
Imperial Capital, Sinovera.
In the Elders’ Council Hall of the Martial Arts Alliance, the Alliance Elders were in heated discussion.
“A peak Great-Class Specter launched a surprise attack on Americonia’s port?”
“Why? On what grounds... Is this the Ghost Kingdom acting alone, or is it the entire Specter race? If it’s the former, it’s just seven or eight Netherfiends seeking some nation-building amusement, governing the Ghost Kingdom and tempering their ghost power in the process.”
The Ghost Kingdom is not a major threat. The Martial Arts World of Sinovera alone could overturn it with a single move, so if this is merely a Ghost Kingdom initiative, it’s nothing to worry about.
But if it’s a coordinated action by the entire Specter race, then it is truly terrifying.
They want Sinovera to become better and stronger.
They also hope the Martial Arts World will grow more resilient, giving rise to enough powerful martial practitioners to withstand the impending full-scale invasion of Demons and Specters.
Beside them.
Shawn Xiao sat quietly, running his hand over his perfectly smooth bald head, his brows creased with worry, silently brooding: "Is it really coming so soon? I thought we still had four or five years."
Even Shawn Xiao could not help but feel a chill in his heart.
As one of the Alliance Elders, and a third-step titled Martial Lord, even he could only pray that humanity had enough Law Realm guardians—at least enough to withstand the initial wave of a full-scale assault by Demons and Specters.
Everyone knows this.
In the struggle against Demons and Specters, humanity is at a disadvantage!
A disadvantage!
An absolute disadvantage!
Even where there are advantages, they are mostly limited to small-scale skirmishes; if you look at Sinovera as a whole, or even the world, humanity truly cannot match Demons and Specters.
For thousands of years, it has always been this way. Humanity has never slackened, nor dared to relax for even a moment.
"Sigh."
"Times have certainly changed—the Martial Arts World and the Gifted World have both grown stronger, but so have they... It’s absurd, almost unbelievable. Five hundred years ago, Specters couldn’t possess humans; now not only is possession simple, but only Law Realm guardians can reliably detect it."
The more Shawn Xiao thought about it, the more worried he became, sighing inwardly.
He alone cannot change the situation. Even a Supreme Saint high above the atmosphere cannot alter the global balance.
"What are we to do?"
Shawn Xiao looked at Quinn Qing.
Both men were mid-aged Alliance Elders known for bold, sweeping reforms—decisive in action, but at this moment, both fell silent.
The strength of one person is simply too little.
Even if the entire Martial Arts World of Sinovera were united, it still could not withstand Demons and Specters. All they could do was hope the foreign Gifted Worlds would hold their ground... If the Gifted Worlds fall, it would be like lips gone, leaving the teeth exposed.
"Then."
"If full-scale war breaks out, do they plan to exterminate the foreign Gifted Worlds first?" Quinn Qing hesitated for a moment, voicing his hypothesis.
Outside Sinovera, most countries rely on the Gifted path.
Only the deep-rooted culture of Sinovera could give birth to such profound martial power; without it, one could not comprehend or even begin to practice martial arts.
"If we only compare the three Martial Levels, the Gifted path looks stronger. But martial arts are about excavating one’s own potential—even ordinary people can gain incredible strength through training. That means the proportion of martial practitioners is much higher than that of Gifted individuals." Shawn Xiao scratched his bald head, agreeing with Quinn Qing’s hypothesis.
Perhaps, in their eyes, Sinovera’s Martial Arts World is the tougher prey—so they plan to wipe out the foreign Gifted Worlds first, then deal with the Martial Arts World that refuses to yield.
"Sigh, forget it."
Shawn Xiao waved his hand, standing up with weary resignation and surveying the vast council chamber: "We have to consult the Law Realm. As for concrete countermeasures, let Supreme Zhang decide."
This meeting lasted for half a day.
Only after the meeting ended did Shawn Xiao finally sit down with a sense of relief, no longer inclined to speak.
Here and now.
The elders departed one after another, leaving Quinn Qing leaning against the edge of the table with his arms crossed: "Demons and Specters have lain dormant for centuries. If full-scale war truly breaks out, I fear we may not withstand it."
A thousand years ago, there were long, drawn-out battles.
Five hundred years ago, there were countless conflicts, large and small.
Now, in the internet age, perhaps Demons and Specters are no longer willing to wait, or perhaps they fear humanity’s technological progress. In any case—the Alliance Elders’ Council has reached a consensus: full-scale war is not far off.
......
In golden October, the fields gleam with harvest—the season of abundance. The crisp autumn air only adds to the sense of prosperity.
Yet.
Beneath this seemingly peaceful and stable atmosphere, a black cloud presses down on the city, threatening to crush it—a suffocating sense of coming storm.
Incidents erupt one after another, as if a storm is brewing.
Rising tension has led to global turmoil.
Within Sinovera, the Martial Arts World quietly debates, preparing to enter a state of alert. The drawn-blade atmosphere gradually spreads across the country.
As head of the Martial Arts Alliance’s Dawn Oversight Group, Andrew Han is, apart from the Alliance Elders, the first to learn of this decision.
"A state of alert?"
"Elder Shawn Xiao, has the situation really grown this dire?" Andrew Han asked, holding his Unit Communicator, his voice grave.
A state of alert—above that lies only a state of war!
A state of war means Sinovera’s security faces a severe threat, the Martial Arts World enters maximum readiness, and the true nature of the world is publicly announced to all citizens.
"That’s right." Shawn Xiao’s heavy voice came through the receiver: "We’ve already consulted the Law Realm guardians of other countries. Sinovera’s Martial Arts World is entering a state of alert by decree of Supreme Zhang."
Andrew Han has been focused on calming his heart and deepening his strength, so he hasn’t attended many Alliance meetings.
After all.
Right now, the most important thing is to keep growing stronger!