Chapter 748 - 718: Return (Part 1)

It seemed as though both sides had reached a tacit understanding, and the state of the battle had returned to its initial stage.

As long as the Abyssal Plane didn’t send members of the 108 Royal Families or launch a large-scale invasion, humanity’s Divine Demon Realm experts wouldn’t blockade the Abyssal Passage.

"Alright, it seems we’ve reached a preliminary understanding. Let’s proceed with the plan and withdraw in phases over the next day," Huo Feiteng announced.

They needed a full day to complete the withdrawal out of fear that this was a trick. If they pulled back and the enemy immediately launched a massive attack, they would be finished.

And even after the main withdrawal, the area wouldn’t be left unguarded. From now on, this Abyssal Passage would always have a garrison of at least ten Divine Demon Realm experts to respond to any unforeseen incidents.

"Understood! Regarding the missile division, shall we proceed with establishing permanent missile silos as planned?" a Divine Demon Realm expert in charge of this area inquired from behind him.

"Proceed according to the original plan," Huo Feiteng said. "Pay special attention to the conditions for automated launch. They must be strictly enforced, with no room for error."

Leaving a garrison of ten Divine Demon Realm experts wasn’t a foolproof plan, but reassigning more personnel was unrealistic given Hua Country’s current situation. After all, Divine Demon Realm experts didn’t grow on trees, and there were other Abyssal Passages that needed to be guarded.

Thus, high-yield cruise missiles became their preferred option.

The Divine Demon Realm experts stationed here could, whenever necessary, remotely control the cruise missiles positioned outside Changshi City to bombard the Abyssal Passage.

The powerful explosions would disrupt the spatial fluctuations, destabilizing the Abyssal Passage and serving as a delaying tactic.

Of course, to prevent the Abyssal Plane from using any special methods to jam their signals, the cruise missiles were equipped with an automated monitoring system in addition to their remote-launch capability. This system would watch the Abyssal Passage around the clock and launch immediately upon detecting any anomalies.

Moreover, these "anomalies" weren’t limited to just detecting Mutated Zombies. A lost monitoring signal, an inability to connect with the garrisoned Divine Demon Realm experts, or any similar irregularities would also trigger an immediate launch.

This ensured a "better to launch in error than to miss a threat" policy.

...

While Admiral Huo Feiteng was making his final arrangements, Lin Xinghai and his two companions were making a swift return. At the same time, they could see that the troops who had ceased their hunt for Abyssal Creatures had already begun constructing defensive fortifications.

The resources poured into these fortifications were immense; it was clear they weren’t building temporary defenses, but rather semi-permanent or even permanent ones.

Of course, Lin Xinghai paid these matters little mind. With the general staff coordinating everything, it wasn’t his place to worry about them.

The trio moved quickly, and it wasn’t long before they arrived back at the forward base.

There weren’t many people left at the base; it had been converted into a supply transit station.

The students from the major academies, along with the severely wounded, had long since been escorted back to the main military base.

Now, any troops that returned would only stop here for a brief rest to replenish ammunition and other supplies.

Of course, as a forward base, it was also undergoing major renovations, being converted into a full-fledged fortress.

In Lin Xinghai’s estimation, the base’s main purpose going forward would be to provide immediate medical care and to resupply ammunition.

After entering, Lin Xinghai soon parted ways with Zuo Wenyao and the others.

He first made his way to the medical station. By now, the number of patients had dwindled to almost nothing. Even the most severely wounded, just brought in, were quickly transferred to the main base in the rear after receiving initial treatment.

As a result, many of the medical personnel, who had been incredibly busy at first, now had time on their hands.

But one area remained as busy as ever.

Lin Xinghai continued down the corridor until he reached the officers’ wing. A brief scan with his Perception Power revealed the presence of three Divine Demon Realm experts, all critically injured and on the verge of death.

Liu Miaomiao was currently treating one of them, while the other two lay in medical pods, kept alive only by expensive Genetic Repair Liquid.

One of them, in particular, had been severed at the waist. Had he not been in the Divine Demon Realm, he would have died instantly. Even for someone at his level, after being saved by advanced technology, the mobility of his lower body would be severely impaired.

Yet, the man was currently lying in his medical pod, still in the mood to chat and joke with a nearby nurse, completely unconcerned about his injuries.

’Clearly, the man’s confidence spoke volumes. Liu Miaomiao’s abilities, demonstrated throughout the night, must have completely won everyone over. That’s why these men showed no signs of worry.’

With this in mind, Lin Xinghai quickly headed inside.

When the surrounding nurses saw Lin Xinghai walking toward the medical room where Liu Miaomiao was, they instinctively moved to stop him.

But when they got a clear look at him and recognized who he was, none of them said a word.

The Divine Demon Realm expert who had been severed in half saw this, a look of astonishment on his face. "Who’s that? If he were some big shot, I’d definitely recognize him! Why didn’t you stop him?"

"He’s Dr. Liu’s boyfriend," a nearby nurse whispered in explanation.

"Ah, a boyfriend! No wonder all those talented young men who confessed to Dr. Liu tonight were flatly rejected. So, she’s already taken. But is he really worthy of Dr. Liu?" the Divine Demon Realm expert asked doubtfully.

After all, among the men who had confessed to Liu Miaomiao, there was even a Divine Demon Realm expert.

"Of course he is! I heard her boyfriend is the number one genius of East Sea Academy," a nurse immediately chimed in to defend him, her eyes sparkling.

"Haha, an academy genius is nothing special," the Divine Demon Realm expert said dismissively. "If he can’t ultimately break through to the Divine Demon Realm, then it all amounts to nothing."

He himself was the perfect example. Back in his days at Capital University, countless so-called geniuses had been more brilliant than him, but he was the one who had ultimately become a Divine Demon Realm expert, while they were still stuck at the bottleneck, unable to break through.

"He’s different," the nurse immediately retorted. "I heard he’s the most talented student in the history of East Sea Academy. And it’s not just his talent—his combat prowess is on another level entirely."

"When the Abyssal Plane attacked, the other geniuses were considered lucky just to make it back alive. But he turned the tables and killed two Fourth Level Mutated Zombies—a Hunter and a Death Claw. That achievement is famous in all the academies now."