The hum—
The Alliance meeting concluded.
During the meeting, Sage Baiyao, projecting his presence, informed them of the impending Disaster Tide.
"With the official notice from the Alliance, I no longer need to find a way to spread this news."
Given the scale and reputation of Xin Huo, a warning would not be entirely disbelieved, but disseminating it to the masses would still be troublesome and time-consuming, with far less impact than a word from Sage Baiyao or Sage Cangtu.
They were two of the Ten Sages.
The cornerstones of the Human Alliance.
Among numerous hegemonic powers, only a select few had produced Human Sages.
Sage Baiyao was a high-ranking existence who had emerged from the Seven Stars Alliance.
"Humanity's strength is not as weak as it seems; they too foresaw the coming disaster early on."
Xin Huo began its preparations for war.
Human forces across various domains recalled their strongest explorers.
In recent days, streaks of light could frequently be seen flashing across the skies of super-cities; these were returning Legendary powerhouses.
Xin Huo Academy found itself being courted from all sides. All human hegemonic powers hoped the academy would anchor itself in their respective domains.
Years ago, the academy's performance in the Yunhui Domain during the first Disaster Tide had already been thoroughly investigated.
Dozens of Legendary figures had emerged, traversing millions of miles to eradicate multiple sources of disaster!
They had, as demigods, withstood the full force of a powerful Arch-God's attendant!
"Xin Huo Academy possesses at least three top-tier demigods: the Ten Thousand Dao Sword God, the Immortal Rock Dragon, and the incredibly mysterious Dean."
"And based on our estimations, Xin Huo Academy likely has a fourth and fifth demigod."
"Most importantly, Xin Huo Academy acts with righteousness and has no oasis territory that it needs to defend… whoever can invite Xin Huo Academy to their domain will gain a powerful ally!"
Old King Chisha understood the might of Xin Huo Academy.
He had long since conspired with the other six kingdoms to offer generous terms to bring Xin Huo Academy to the Yunhui Domain, but…
"Xin Huo Academy refused?"
"Which local tycoon offered a better deal than us? The West Guijie, or the North Guijie?"
"Neither?"
Old King Chisha was puzzled. If it wasn't them, there was no reason for Xin Huo Academy to refuse their invitation.
The Legendary, Hand of Flowing Sand, pondered for a moment and said, "Xin Huo Academy claims they themselves have an oasis territory to defend and cannot spare much of their strength… I am unsure if this is an excuse or the truth."
"However, Xin Huo Academy also stated that if they can spare strength, they will definitely provide reinforcement to all parties."
Such words, if spoken by other powers, would merely be polite deferrals. But coming from Xin Huo Academy, Old King Chisha instinctively chose to believe them.
This belief stemmed from Xin Huo Academy's past deeds!
Xin Huo Academy had, even while its own secret realm was under siege, dispatched demigod-level powerhouses to aid their Yunhui Domain. How could they doubt those who acted with such righteousness?
"This is not an excuse; Xin Huo Academy must possess its own oasis, otherwise, where did the batches of elixirs and weapons they sold us come from?"
"There aren't many personnel moving within their secret realm, nor could it accommodate so many factories."
"However…"
Old King Chisha stroked his chin, "It is highly probable that upon witnessing the power of a Level 9 oasis, Xin Huo Academy decided to commit to cultivating one, thus requiring them to invest more strength in its defense."
"And it's possible they intend to cultivate more than one Level 9 oasis… their strength is indeed greater than our Red Sand Kingdom."
He felt a twinge of regret at not being able to secure a powerful ally, but it was only regret.
Compared to a few years ago, their Red Sand Kingdom had undergone earth-shattering changes. Not only had the 'Lion of Red Sand' broken through to the demigod realm, adding another top-tier combat force, but he also wielded the authority of a Level 9 oasis, capable of unleashing vast power.
Most importantly, any of the seven kingdoms in their Yunhui Domain now possessed a Level 9 oasis.
When wielding the authority of 'World's Shelter' from a Level 9 oasis, although the oasis master could not step half a step outside the oasis, their power could extend to any remote corner of the Yunhui Domain.
In other words, their seven kingdoms, their seven Level 9 oases, could watch out for each other across half the domain.
"If a single Arch-God's attendant were to descend, as before, our seven kingdoms would not need to seek any external aid; we could repel and kill a high-ranking figure with our own strength alone!"
"Even if this Disaster Tide is more ferocious, we still possess greater confidence!"
Thinking of this, Old King Chisha felt a measure of peace, a wry smile gracing his weathered face.
"Bring it on. Let the God of Evil's faction witness the might of us humans!"
…
News of the Disaster Tide was only announced at the Alliance meeting, but the recipients of this information were by no means limited to the super-powers of various domains.
They soon spread Sage Baiyao's warning.
This was a calamity for the entire Guijie, for all humanity. If other oases had an additional source of resistance, their own pressure would be reduced.
No power would hoard such information.
However, to avoid widespread panic, the news of the disaster did not fully reach the low-level Awakened or ordinary people. Yet, some perceptive Awakened individuals could sense the undercurrents within the cities, a suffocating atmosphere pervading the air.
Something ominous was likely about to happen.
Clever Awakened individuals began stocking up on common elixirs and items.
The prices of elixirs, items, and war supplies across various regions began to rise, with shortages appearing to varying degrees.
Some merchants, smelling an opportunity, even traveled across domains to procure goods from the Blazing Fire Marketplace. At least there, the supply of goods was relatively ample.
"The prices of war preparedness materials have risen in many domains, doesn't this imply…"
A merchant who had come to the Blazing Fire Marketplace pondered with a troubled expression.
But when he looked up, he found the gazes of those around him somewhat peculiar, as if he were out of touch.
"Brother, didn't you know the second Disaster Tide is about to arrive?"
Disaster Tide?
What disaster?
What tide?
This merchant from a certain large city was utterly bewildered.
He didn't even know what a Disaster Tide was, let alone the first or second one.
Indeed, this information was circulating only within upper-tier circles. However, the Blazing Fire Marketplace had its unique characteristics. While not many ordinary people lived there, it was frequented by many great merchants and large mercenary groups from various domains.
Great merchants were already well-informed, and some guild leaders were even high-ranking officials of large oases. Over time, the matter of the Disaster Tide was no longer a secret in the Blazing Fire Marketplace.
The visiting merchant's gaze gradually became vacant.
In a cafe, merchants at a nearby table shook their heads, as if accustomed to such scenes. They felt like laughing, but thinking of the impending Disaster Tide, they couldn't help but sigh.
"This world is getting worse and worse. I don't know where the future will lead."
"Regardless, when the sky falls, the tall ones will bear it. What the future holds is a concern for the hegemonic powers and the Sages. As for us, by diligently transporting resources and producing more war materials, we are contributing to the grand scheme."
"That being said, during the last Disaster Tide, the factories my Tulip Merchant Guild had in various locations were affected, resulting in property losses exceeding thirty million Guijing. Another one like that would be crippling."
"Our Silver Merchant Guild is similar, but the root cause was previously seeking cheapness and setting up many factories in large oasis territories. In recent years, our Silver Merchant Guild's operational focus has gradually shifted to the Blazing Fire Marketplace, and our core industries are also there, making it much safer than before."
The other great merchants agreed.
The Blazing Fire Marketplace possessed super-tier security. Under the jurisdiction of Blazing Fire, they had never witnessed any violent crimes. More importantly, the Blazing Fire Marketplace was guarded by a top-tier Legendary exponent, providing an extraordinary sense of security to the merchants, mercenaries, and residents who stayed there.
Let alone comparing it to large oases, even most super oases were less secure than the Blazing Fire Marketplace.
Some merchant guilds had already moved their core industries in super oases like Falling Star City, Dawn City, and Quiet Night Garden to the Blazing Fire Marketplace.
They sought only stability.
They no longer wished to witness the tragedy of a super oasis being breached and their industries being destroyed in blood and fire.
The Blazing Fire Marketplace, established in just a few short years, had become incredibly valuable, which was not unrelated to the global situation.
However,
"It is rumored that this Disaster Tide will be even more violent. Can the Blazing Fire Marketplace withstand the disaster safely? This…"
They felt uncertain.
But compared to relying on large or super oases, they placed more trust in the strength of the Blazing Fire Merchant Guild.
One merchant, stroking his goatee, said with a slight grin, "Therefore, I have already moved my entire family and some expensive equipment from the guild to the Sixth Star Island. I will also be departing in two days. My esteemed colleagues, we will meet again only after the disaster has passed."
The other merchants: "!!!"
We thought we were banding together for warmth, but you, little fellow, were sneaking away!
They felt a bit displeased, but more so, envious.
The Sixth Star Island, this was one of the core oases of the Seven Stars Alliance! It was also one of the safest places in the entire Eastern Guijie.
"It is said that the top three island lords of the Seven Stars Alliance are all great demigods."
"Not only that, the Seven Stars Alliance possesses two Level 9 oases, and it is rumored that Level 9 oases possess supreme power that surpasses demigods."
This made the overall environment of the Seven Stars Alliance even more stable!
They, the big bosses qualified to establish industries in the Blazing Fire Marketplace, were already the objects of envy and admiration for many, yet they still couldn't afford a single plot of land on the Sixth Star Island.
Did they not want to transfer their businesses to the safer Seven Stars Alliance? They couldn't afford to!
"The Blazing Fire Merchant Guild also has its advantages; they only need to defend the marketplace, allowing them to concentrate their forces, which should be quite stable."
The few merchants spoke to themselves, an air of envy filling the room.
…
A tense atmosphere permeated the marketplace.
While some great merchants sought connections and pathways to relocate their businesses to the territories of hegemonic powers like the Seven Stars Alliance and the Ancient Moon Dynasty, at the same time, more merchant guilds moved their industries to the Blazing Fire Marketplace.
It was not just merchant guilds; in recent days, many large oases had sent their outstanding juniors to the Blazing Fire Marketplace, their thinking clearly being: if the oasis were to be overturned by the Disaster Tide, at least this lineage, this civilization, would have a spark of survival.
This was pessimistic.
But it was indeed the most practical choice.
Beneath the large oases were very tiny ones, like weeds. They either merged into larger oases or were submerged by the tide, with little presence.
Xin Huo had been gradually relocating people from some of the smaller oases to Blue Star to settle.
However, Xin Huo could only transport and relocate the already discovered small oases. There were more small oases hidden beneath the gray mist in uninhabited places, undiscovered by the outside world, and whose destruction would go unnoticed.
And in the current era, there was almost no room for small oases to survive.
Small oases could not survive.
Large oases struggled to survive.
Super oases were also cautiously surviving.
Falling Star Imperial City.
Berzemon walked out of the opulent palace, his face etched with worry.
"In the past few years, our Falling Star City has produced a newly ascended Legendary; this should have been a joyous occasion, but alas…"
He looked up at the sky, "The Disaster Tide is approaching too quickly. Our preparations are likely insufficient."
He glanced at the current Falling Star Monarch, Stellar the Thirteenth, who had been reduced to a mere errand runner.
"Ancestor, the Blazing Fire Merchant Guild has agreed to watch out for us, but do we really need to be completely tied to Blazing Fire? We should still…"
With a somewhat fawning tone.
The Monarch could not utter these words; he only dared to weakly protest.
Berzemon glanced at him, "You know nothing!"
The Blazing Fire Merchant Guild's strength far surpassed theirs. A single Iroshi Legendary might be stronger than their combined three Legendaries of Falling Star.
While it was called watching out for each other, it was actually that they could call for the Blazing Fire Merchant Guild's rescue at critical moments.
They, the former hegemonic power of Falling Star, were reduced to relying on an emerging force for survival. It was indeed somewhat embarrassing, but compared to the hundreds of years of heritage, prosperity, and survival of Falling Star City, this bit of face was insignificant.
What Berzemon truly worried about was…
"If the Disaster Tide is too fierce, and the Blazing Fire Merchant Guild cannot spare the hands to assist?"
"No, no, no, there's no need to be so pessimistic. Our Falling Star is the outermost large domain of the Guijie, so the impact of the disaster will surely be the lightest."
"Having the Blazing Fire as a powerful ally to watch out for us is far better than holding on alone."
Thinking this, Berzemon's tightly furrowed brow eased slightly.
…
Elsewhere, Iron City.
At the highest point of the city, which had already become a super oasis, the Iron City Lord gazed at the gloomy sky outside the oasis.
"Disaster is imminent."
"Fortunately, our domain has the powerful Blazing Fire Merchant Guild at the forefront."
"I hope the storm doesn't come too fiercely."
The Iron City Lord remained silent for a while, then said, "Someone, install the batch of war weapons just procured from the Blazing Fire Marketplace. We will use these weapons to blast away all the storms!"
…
In a rarely inhabited area of the Falling Star Domain.
Here existed an oasis of no great scale, but with considerable fame throughout the Falling Star Domain—the Myriad Serpent Oasis.
The Myriad Serpent Society was quite mysterious.
The former hegemonic power, Falling Star City, harbored some apprehension towards the Myriad Serpent Society. This apprehension stemmed from the creator of the Myriad Serpent Society, the unfathomably deep and mysterious Lady Myriad Serpent from the deeper reaches of Guijie.
Legend had it that this lady rarely descended to the Myriad Serpent Society, but today…
Deep within the oasis, the snakes parted to reveal a path.
Vast power descended from the unfathomable depths of the void.
A girl with black hair flowing to her ankles, her face expressionless, slowly emerged from the brilliance of power.
Behind her, a colossal, sky-piercing serpent shadow could be vaguely seen, flashing and disappearing.