Light Fortress Chapter 2026 - 64: The Exiles

Bai Xiu left the Light Temple of Xiyin City with Gu Xiaoman.

But not long after, Bai Xiu returned.

"Miss Meng, the person you are waiting for is not just Xiaoman, nor is it just me."

Bai Xiu took a deep breath, standing before the majestic and bright Light God’s Seat, earnestly asking, "I have come this time to ask... is that person still alive?"

The expression of Meng Xizhou was complex.

The images revealed by the Forbidden Book Tower vary from person to person.

And the word ’destiny’, is truly wondrous.

Sometimes, because of the difference of a single word, countless destinies can change.

"I cannot say."

After pondering for a moment, Meng Xizhou shook her head and solemnly said, "Mr. Bai Xiu, who I am waiting for is not important. What is important is... I can feel that day is near."

Is that day... really coming soon?

Bai Xiu wished to say something, but ultimately held his tongue.

These four years.

He has almost traversed every Old World relic along the Northern Continent Border’s coastline, given an extremely detailed and complete map by Mu Wanqiu. Every doubt marked on this map, he explored... those places indeed had remnants of Starship Civilization, but how he searched, he couldn’t find any clues about the Extinguishing Candle.

No suitable Light Fire.

Unable to touch the origin.

Even as exceptional as Bai Xiu is, he is blocked by this divine trench.

He has longed to enter the Source Tower... yet even Meng Xizhou, who has smelted the Light Fire, has no assurance of facing Qinglong; what does he have now to partake in this Divine War?

"I want to visit the Forbidden Book Tower once more."

He took a deep breath.

Little Xiuzi gazed at the Light Goddess before him.

If destiny truly has a revelation for him, if that legendary bow is truly fated for him...

Then he wants to try again.

Try again, to see if in the endless darkness he can find a ray of light.

...

...

"How long has it been since we left our homeland?"

"Four years and six months."

"Gee, remembered so clearly, do you want to return?"

"Shh, silence! The Archbishop is coming soon!"

In the deep firmament, stars are dim, a massive azure starship sails through the void, the chaotic airflow entirely blocked by the Source Energy Shield, the interior of the starship only slightly bumpy.

Several cleaning staff in the cabin are whispering.

But soon the sound abruptly stops, shadows walk down the distant corridor, each week Archbishop Lan Wei’er patrols this area, yet today Lan Wei’er stands respectfully behind one person with several believers, his demeanor more reverent than the cleaning staff.

"Hai Tong, our collection task for this week, we’re still 20% short. Once the starship docks in the Windless Zone, the difficulty of collecting Mithril will greatly decrease, can I apply for a delay in delivery?"

Hai Tong Saint’s footsteps halted.

After leaving the Southern Continent, this starship severed its external energy supply.

Traveling in the Old World is not an easy task, even though the starship has an independent energy production system, relying solely on the internal ecological system’s self-propagation is far from sufficient to supply the survival of ten thousand people.

Storm needs to dock periodically.

The Transcendents from the church will take this opportunity to pilot the small airships at docking ports, collecting enough Mithril and Source Material infused Transcendent fuel in the Windless Zone.

The former is the material for repairing the cabin hull.

The latter is the temporary reserve when the ecological system cannot supply.

In case of an accident, these Transcendent fuels can be put to use.

At the beginning of the journey, Storm can completely bear these energy losses, even occasional attacks by small Source Material Storms posed no pressure... but as time went by, those aboard gradually realized the hardships of fleeing during the Starship Era.

Back when Storm Church selected "fugitives", only elites and authorities were chosen.

Thus, boarding this starship... was almost exclusively young people.

They can work, they are robust, but also brought a great burden to this starship.

In four years, the starship’s population grew by one fifth, and this was the church’s result of restraint, any group’s nature is reproduction, expansion, leaving behind fire, but the additional fifth in population damaged the internal ecological environment of Storm.

The starship’s self-reproducing resources have already begun to run low.

Several Saints from the church each manage an area, their Archbishops, Bishops must lead teams out to collect "resources".

Initially, Storm would only dock in the Windless Zone.

Now...

There have already been several emergencies, Storm temporarily docks in harsh unknown void environments, dispatching church Transcendents to collect resources, this behavior is certainly dangerous, but the church has no choice.

Previously in the Southern Continent, those with high-status "authorities" lost all their aura upon coming here.

At the start of the journey, Storm was as beautifully Utopian as possible, but due to resource shortages, divergences and disputes began, the Saints were not as harmonious as before.

Regarding all of this, the Storm God’s Throne adhered to the old ways.

Ignoring, turning a blind eye.

Indeed...

In the eyes of the Storm God’s Throne, the word "life" never existed, to him this entire starship of Transcendents were merely toys for maintaining his rule and status.

He wants to build a great ship riding the waves.

Those who believe in him are the droplets supporting the great ship.

There’s an ancient saying "Water can carry a boat, or overturn it", but to the Storm God’s Throne who controls the whole ocean, it’s just a joke; if he wishes, he can manipulate every droplet in the Infinite Sea Domain.

So... in the eyes of the Storm God’s Throne, none of the world’s water can overturn his boat.

"No need to wait for the Windless Zone."

Hai Tong said coldly, "Bring back the remaining 20% today."

Lan Wei’er was stunned.

He gazed out the porthole, his expression showing a hint of fear.

The real world outside the porthole is different from the virtual ecosystem inside the Storm. It seems like there’s never any daylight there; it’s always pitch black whenever you look.

Eternal darkness.

The environment in the turbulent zone is extremely harsh... For a Transcendent, if they want to carry out daily tasks, they either have to open their domain or wear the Source Armor from the North Continent Underground Research Institute. The autonomous research and development team arranged by Lord Divine in the Southern Continent imitates the Source Armor to create an "exoskeleton device," but its life-saving effectiveness is poor and can almost be ignored.

In these circumstances, executing a collection mission means that out of a hundred people heading out, only a dozen or so can make it back.

The efficiency is extremely low.

"I’ve already made the list for you."

Hai Tong took out a stack of papers from his bosom and handed it to Lan Wei’er. He calmly said, "This collection mission is quite demanding; at least a hundred people are needed... Hurry and get it done."

"Lord Hai Tong..."

Lan Wei’er clutched the papers, wanting to say more, but the latter just coldly waved him off, interrupting him.

The whole corridor’s atmosphere became cold and murderous.

Lan Wei’er was very unwilling, but there was nothing he could do.

Just as he was about to leave silently—

A figure suddenly appeared at the corner of the corridor.

The man wore a menacing mask revealing dragon fangs, with double swords at his waist, his long hair hanging down to the waist. Though he wore the same Storm Church’s Saint’s Robe as Lan Wei’er, his robe was bright red.

This was the person Saint Hai Tong least wanted to see, bar none.

"Red Dragon."

Hai Tong’s expression was grim, as he said with disgust, "What are you doing here? Have you arranged the tasks that Lord Divine instructed?"

The starship’s stop in the turbulent zone and the church members going out to perform missions...

It’s certainly no coincidence.

The resources of the Storm have begun to dwindle; to solve the resource problem, there are only two ways.

Increase sources or cut expenditures.

Increasing sources is not achievable; the starship technology cannot progress, and after years of navigation, no suitable long-term mining area has been found.

So... reducing expenditures must be considered.

The newborns of recent years have all been placed in nutrition chambers, maintained at the lowest cost. Since the Storm God’s Throne decided to leave the Southern Continent, it naturally planned to continue the development of its church in the Old World.

These infants thus become the seeds of faith for the church’s continuity.

The cost of raising babies is very low.

But the cost of supporting adults, especially those in power... is very high.

In fact, the reserves on the starship are quite ample, at least there is no major survival crisis at present, but in any case, appropriately "trimming" some people is indeed a burden relief for this starship.

Thus, the collection mission in the turbulent zone was instigated.

However, regarding this "downsizing" action, there are also differing opinions within the temple... Some believe that to sail in the Old World for a long time, a price must be paid.

Death is unavoidable.

Rather than having the citizens voluntarily sacrifice themselves in the name of the church,

It would be better to weave lies, to cover the truth.

Some others argue that the starship has not faced a real energy crisis yet, and that regular "downsizing" is somewhat premature. It takes more than ten years for the newborns to grow up, and during these ten years, there will also be natural deaths on the starship, so if the sickle is swung too hard, there will be a conspicuous gap later.

The opposition and division of these two opinions primarily come from two individuals.

Spring Plow, and Red Dragon.

The Storm God’s Throne is in seclusion within the temple, nursing injuries. He was severely injured in a battle with Bai Shu years ago and has not recovered yet. In four years, he has appeared only twice, both times to cope with unavoidable Source Material Storms, hence leaving seclusion.

So Spring Plow and Red Dragon have become the executors of the divine will.

Divided, confronting each other!

This is precisely why the Storm God’s Throne recruited Red Dragon under his command... He needed someone who could counterbalance Spring Plow, restrain authority, and keep the high echelons of the Holy City in balance during his seclusion.

The "instructions from the Throne" that Hai Tong mentioned actually referred to the decrees of Spring Plow Saint.

The Throne is in seclusion.

Spring Plow manages the many affairs of the Storm as the head of the Holy City.

However...

In past years, the decrees from Spring Plow Saint were unchallenged; no one in the entire Southern Continent dared to oppose him.

Now, it’s different.

"I’m here to fetch someone."

Red Dragon stood firmly, looking at the bishop before him, and softly said, "Bishop Lan Wei’er, from today onwards, you are under my command... This residential area also belongs to me. Today’s ’Turbulent Zone’ collection mission is hereby canceled."

Lan Wei’er was stunned.

"???

Hai Tong Saint’s forehead veins bulged, his expression extremely ugly.

Red Dragon, right in front of him, directly took his subordinate bishop and an entire planning area for himself; his previous words didn’t leave any room for negotiation...

This was a notification!

"Do you know what you’re doing?" Hai Tong Saint’s voice was deep and angry, "Red Dragon, are you declaring war on me?"

Just as the words fell.

With a loud bang, a fist directly landed on Hai Tong Saint’s face.

The Saint didn’t even see Red Dragon’s move clearly; he just felt darkness before his eyes as he was sent flying, heavily embedding into a piece of Mithril alloy plate, vomiting blood with a cry.

"Who do you think you are, do you deserve me declaring war?"

Red Dragon looked down at the man before him expressionlessly.

"Go back and tell Spring Plow."

"This entire residential area will be taken over by me; this is the will of Lord Divine."

Hai Tong was like a wooden statue.

After doing all that, Red Dragon walked slowly to the few cleaning staff who were scared stiff. He bent down to pick up a piece of cloth and gently said.

"Counting from the day we left the Five Continents..."

"Today is four years, six months, and three days since we left our homeland."