"Whew!"

After a moment, Han Xiangman exhaled a breath of turbid air.

She opened her eyes and was instantly taken aback: "Liang Yuan? Mr. Liang!"

She quickly corrected herself.

Liang Yuan smiled: "Is there any need for such formality between us?"

Han Xiangman, noticing his friendly attitude, couldn’t help but smile too.

"Why are you here?"

Liang Yuan’s expression grew serious as he said, "There’s something I need you to do."

Seeing Liang Yuan’s serious demeanor, Han Xiangman couldn’t help but become solemn as well.

"Tell me."

"I’ve received news that there is turmoil over in Baoshan City, with the top survivor settlement Yang Baoshan and the second largest Beichen Island engaging in a civil strife."

"Currently, Yang Baoshan is unable to withstand Beichen Island and has sent people to ask for reinforcements from the Dark Abyss Mouth."

"Huh? Why would the people from Yang Baoshan seek reinforcements from the Dark Abyss Mouth?" Han Xiangman asked in surprise.

Liang Yuan said, "When I initially refined the Dark Abyss Mouth, Yang Baoshan expedition captain Xu Haoyang appeared there."

"This person knows when to advance and retreat; after seeing me refine the Dark Abyss Mouth, he voluntarily withdrew from the contention. I didn’t make things difficult for him, letting him put down all gains and compensate me partially for my losses, then sent him back."

"Afterwards, I didn’t receive any news of him sending people to deliver the compensation, and now suddenly received his plea for help."

Han Xiangman, hearing this, asked, "What do you want me to do?"

Liang Yuan said, "The Dark Abyss Mouth is too close to Baoshan City, especially not too far from Beichen Island."

"Last time, I heard a group from Baoshan City came over and occupied Fanshan Island. I suspect they might be enemies from Yang Baoshan."

"Wu Ying and Zhang Peng have already led people to reclaim Fanshan Island, but haven’t sent back any news yet, perhaps encountering obstacles in the plan to reclaim Fanshan Island."

"There should be masters among the enemies occupying Fanshan Island, so I need you to lead people over there to support Wu Ying and the others."

"Is your main attribute at 100 now?"

Han Xiangman shook her head slightly: "Only 93 points."

She was one of the earliest in Yangshan to receive the Water Attribute Genetic Species.

Initially, when Liang Yuan exchanged for the Water Attribute Genetic Species from Spirit Jade Island, he gave Han Xiangman a piece.

Han Xiangman quickly broke through the Genetic Species and has been diligently cultivating ever since.

Her cultivation progress, compared to Zhao Kai, wasn’t considered slow.

Especially after Liang Yuan took Miyuan Rainforest; Han Xiangman spent a lot of points to exchange for Water Attribute Blood Crystal, absorbing the energy therein, and her strength soared.

Over the past half month, she frequently cultivated on the second floor of the Spirit Gathering Tower using her fishery point income.

That’s why her strength surged to such an extent.

Nowadays, in Yangshan, because of the Spirit Gathering Tower, many people’s strength is rapidly climbing.

Among them, many have main attributes exceeding 90 points.

Particularly Superpower Users with Water Attribute, Earth Attribute, and Spirit Attribute are breaking through the fastest.

Miyuan Rainforest and Yellow Earth Divine Origin provide abundant Blood Crystals for them to exchange using points.

Now, among the strongest tier individuals, Li Qinghua and Zhao Kai have both surpassed 95 points.

Han Xiangman, Ding Yan, and others are around 90 points.

Those with main attributes over 80 points number in the dozens.

The overall strength of Yangshan has absolutely increased considerably.

"I’ve already sent Heavy Water Priest Deng Ze, one of the four original Water God Sect Priests, over there."

"But to be safe and understand the situation there, I want you to go as well."

"What you need to do is swiftly and decisively solve the problem at Fanshan Island, subdue the group of enemies occupying Fanshan Island."

"If anyone refuses, eliminate them."

Liang Yuan wants to capture the population of Baoshan City; the frontline at the Dark Abyss Mouth and Fanshan Island cannot be lost.

Just relying on Wu Ying and Zhang Peng may not necessarily reclaim Fanshan Island immediately; otherwise, with them gone for so long, good news should have come back by now.

The orders given to Deng Ze were to secretly train Zhang Peng and Wu Ying, not to intervene in this matter.

But now it seems necessary to immediately push this matter forward, reclaim Fanshan Island sooner.

The altitude of Fanshan Island isn’t high, yet it’s very important.

It’s very close to the Dark Abyss Mouth, essentially the gateway to the Floating Island of the Abyssal Mouth.

If the people from Beichen Island defeat those from Yang Baoshan, and attempt to covet the Dark Abyss Mouth, even set sights on Linjiang City, then Fanshan Island might become a bridgehead for them.

Therefore, while Beichen Island’s forces are occupied with Yang Baoshan, it’s crucial to swiftly, with thunderous momentum, reclaim Fanshan Island.

And just wait a while longer, for Yang Baoshan’s forces to collapse, depleting much of Beichen Island’s troops, and Yangshan’s experts here can mostly push their main attributes above 90 points.

Some might even achieve a main attribute of 100 points.

At that time, responding to Xu Haoyang’s request to clean up Baoshan City’s mess will yield twice the result with half the effort.

After listening to Liang Yuan’s analysis, Han Xiangman immediately nodded and said, "Alright, I will lead people over now to provide support."

Liang Yuan nodded, thought for a while, then said, "I’ll give you this item; if you encounter danger and can’t extricate yourself, it can save your life."

Liang Yuan retrieved a Sumeru Ring from the inventory.

During this period, he utilized the Sumeru Mustard Seed talent to create a batch of Sumeru Rings.

The Sumeru Ring not only can transport items but can also allow a living person to escape into it, avoiding crisis.

He relied on the Sumeru Ring when sucked into the Shadow World at the Dark Abyss Mouth, hiding from the black dragon’s attack.

His relationship with Han Xiangman is significant, naturally he hopes she stays safe.

"What’s this?"

Han Xiangman was taken aback, looking at the ring in Liang Yuan’s hand, slightly puzzled.

Liang Yuan explained, "This ring is one I personally crafted, using space-related Talisman Stone, and inscribed with a space rune."

"Activate the ring with Spiritual Power to open a small Alternate Space."

"This Alternate Space is not too large, roughly a few cubic meters, but it can accommodate a living person."

"If you encounter a crisis that you cannot handle, hide inside the Sumeru Ring. Remember, don’t come out for a short period. Once I receive the message, I will naturally come to the rescue."

Saying this, he reached out to hold her fair fingers, fearing she might refuse, he actively put it on her finger.

But this action seemed a bit too abrupt and intimate.

Even with Han Xiangman’s extraordinary temperament, at this moment, her heart couldn’t help but race like a fluttering deer, her cheeks turning crimson.

Liang Yuan also felt it wasn’t right. After securing the ring, he quickly released her hand and said, "Don’t refuse. I don’t want anything to happen to you."

Han Xiangman’s words of gentle refusal had not yet left her lips when Liang Yuan blocked them.

Looking at the ring on her index finger, a hint of shyness appeared on her flushed face.

She slightly nodded, "Thank you."

Liang Yuan couldn’t help but smile, "Be careful on the way, come back safely."

"Yes, once I return, I’ll give it back to you."

Liang Yuan smiled, not minding it.

The two chatted for a while longer before Liang Yuan took his leave.

Han Xiangman stood on the watchtower, watching his figure flying away through the air, a hint of reluctance in her eyes.

She looked down at the Sumeru Ring on her finger, her lips curving into a beautiful arc.

She thought for a moment, then took the ring off her index finger and put it on her ring finger.

She didn’t know what she thought of, but a blush emerged on her fair and beautiful face.

"Phew, Han Xiangman, what are you thinking? He is just worried about your safety, nothing else."

"It’s just that it was too big for the index finger and fits perfectly on the ring finger, that’s all."

She muttered to herself, seemingly trying to find an excuse.

The snowflakes continued to fall from the sky, but she did not feel the cold, instead, a warm current surged in her heart.

——

"Manager, ahead is Ji’an City."

On the vast snowy plain, a massive armored convoy crossed the snowfield and appeared in Ji’an City.

Within the boundaries of Ji’an City, there were many more mountain ranges than in Linjiang City.

However, Wu Yaobang’s real goal on this trip wasn’t the other mountains of Ji’an City. He intended to head directly to the vicinity of the Mirage Snake Space.

"Continue forward."

Wu Yaobang said in a deep voice.

"Manager Wu, I’m afraid not. We need to resupply; we’ve consumed a significant amount of superpower stones for the power devices, and our food supplies also need replenishing."

The voice of Hu Peigang reporting from the frontmost armored vehicle came through the intercom.

Wu Yaobang frowned and asked, "Where is the nearest supply point?"

"We need time to explore; drones have already been sent out."

Wu Yaobang set down the intercom and said to a young man beside him, "Bring me the map."

"Yes, Manager Wu."

The young soldier quickly brought over a map.

Wu Yaobang traced his index finger across the map and soon settled on the area around Ji’an City.

He recalled the memory of the 14th doppelganger and quickly identified his approximate position.

"Near the Mirage Snake Space, within Ji’an City... Furong Valley, is it?"

He seized the intercom and quickly said, "Pass down the order to advance southeast. There should be a survivor settlement called Furong Valley."

"We will resupply there."

"Yes, Manager Wu."

The armored convoy swiftly set off, proceeding in the southeast direction.

Another day and night passed, and indeed, a prominent snowy mountain appeared on the vast plain.

The snow mountain wasn’t very high; three or four peaks connected, forming a valley between two mountains, effectively blocking the piercing cold wind.

This was the once-famous scenic area of Furong Valley before the Great Flood.

But now, the scenic area had long been submerged, and the entire Furong Valley had been flooded up to the mountainside.

As the armored convoy continued forward, it soon attracted the attention of Furong Valley’s watchtower.

From the watchtower came the sound of a warning siren.

In an instant, the entire Furong Valley was alarmed.

"What’s happening?"

"Why is there a warning siren?"

"Let’s go out and take a look."

Many people on the mountain filed out, and those who could fly through the air directly took off, looking toward the snow-covered bottom of the mountain.

At this sight, everyone’s expressions changed dramatically. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"What a huge vehicle!"

"Where did this convoy come from?"

"Are they armored vehicles?"

"These are at least twenty or thirty meters high. These aren’t vehicles; they’re moving fortresses!"

On the snowfield, an armored convoy appeared in everyone’s view.

The armored vehicles were entirely welded from metal and bone armor, exuding a chaotic beauty of primitive ruggedness and futuristic technology fusion.

Each armored vehicle was a good twenty to thirty meters high and forty to fifty meters long.

The convoy had a total of eight such armored vehicles.

The armored vehicles were equipped with track and cushion devices, allowing them to move steadily on the loose white snow.

These cushion devices clearly had runes flashing on them, indicating the incorporation of Rune Technology, enabling them to support such massive vehicle bodies effortlessly.

The passage of the armored vehicles left deep tracks in their wake.

They also gave everyone in Furong Valley an unprecedented sense of shock.