Chapter Ninety-Four: One Day, Every Soul of Great Xia Will Stand Alone Against the Gods

“Half a month!”

The moment those words were spoken, even the Head of State drew in a sharp breath.

Half a month.

What had originally been two and a half months was suddenly cut down to half a month.

Though the Head of State said nothing, a suffocating tension had already filled the office, so heavy that no one could speak.

Lin Fan’s return had carried the greatest significance of all for Great Xia: it had bought them three months of preparation.

Three months to brace for the descent of the gods.

Every second was precious.

If used wisely, those three months would be enough to ensure Great Xia remained undefeated when the gods first arrived.

But now, through this exchange with the gods, two whole months had been lost.

Smack!

Chen Yan suddenly slapped himself hard across the face, leaving a vivid red print on his old cheek.

“Senior Chen, you...” Lin Fan froze.

Chen Yan lowered his head, his body trembling, and said in a heavy voice, “It was my fault.”

“Because of a moment of impulse, I built that device. And then, with wild, unrealistic ideas, I wanted to communicate with those gods...”

“I clearly knew the outcome might not change. I clearly knew that so-called gods would show not the slightest mercy to us weak mortals... and yet I still held on to a sliver of hope.”

“I naively thought that communication might truly prevent war.”

“I foolishly believed that if the gods showed goodwill toward us in our weakness, they might stop their invasion.”

“I...” Chen Yan, Great Xia’s chief scientist, was in tears. “Because of my wishful thinking, because of my fear of the so-called gods, I cost Great Xia two months of preparation time!”

“If Great Xia suffers any casualties this time, it is all because of my mistake!”

“Head of State!” Chen Yan raised his head, his gaze resolute. “Please execute me. Let my head pay for my error, and let my blood serve as Great Xia’s sacrifice!”

Seeing the Head of State remain silent, Lin Fan hurriedly said, “Head of State... Senior Chen only wanted to avoid war. He did it because he cared for Great Xia.”

“To be honest, I was the one who represented Great Xia in that exchange, so I also bear responsibility.”

“In fact, I may be the one most responsible... But Head of State, this matter is not entirely a bad thing for Great Xia. In fact, it may not even be a bad thing at all!”

Chen Yan was slightly taken aback.

“A good thing?”

“You say Great Xia losing two months of preparation time is a good thing?” The Head of State frowned at Lin Fan, though there was keen interest in his eyes. “Tell me your view.”

Lin Fan nodded and said in a grave voice, “Head of State, to speak frankly, although we had already announced that the gods would descend, and publicly disclosed that they intended to invade Great Xia...”

“Still, at least one-third of Great Xia’s people believed the gods were not much of a threat.”

“On one hand, that is because Great Xia has protected them too well, so they trust the power of the official state.”

“And on the other hand... as Senior Chen said, human beings are all prone to wishful thinking.”

“The gods may be strong, but many people would still think that merely witnessing their descent is something to look forward to.”

“They hope those gods will not invade Great Xia. They hope those gods are peace-loving. They hope those gods, like in the legends, will bring advanced technology to mankind, erase all war and strife, help humanity solve every disease and hardship, and let us live in love and peace.”

“This kind of mentality is not uncommon,” Lin Fan said. “But now, because of that press conference, because of the gods’ attitude, every person in Great Xia has abandoned their last shred of wishful thinking.”

“Everyone knows this is Great Xia’s battle with nowhere left to retreat.”

“The gods have completely enraged Great Xia this time. Great Xia and the gods are now formally at war!”

“Now, no one in Great Xia harbors any more illusions. We have all become one.”

“Every person in Great Xia will face the descent of the gods head-on!”

“Head of State!” Lin Fan said loudly, “Please believe me: Great Xia, now utterly enraged by the gods and stripped of its final ounce of illusion, will unleash a power beyond comparison!”

The Head of State was silent for a long time.

“Two months of preparation time, exchanged for every citizen facing this directly... is it worth it?”

“In my opinion, it is!” Lin Fan said firmly. “Just now I received word that another fifty million people from Great Xia have voluntarily joined the construction of the Iron Great Wall. Some ordinary citizens even drove their own cars to help transport supplies. The initial construction of our Iron Great Wall has already accelerated dramatically!”

“Half a month will be enough to finish it.”

“Head of State.” Lin Fan went on, “What Great Xia lacks is not time. What we lack is the resolve to give everything.”

“Two months of preparation time in exchange for the awakening of a lion, in exchange for the unity of all, I believe this press conference was absolutely worth it.”

Silence.

Then the Head of State suddenly laughed.

“You’re right.”

“However, Senior Chen, there’s no need for you to be so tense.” The Head of State slowly stood up. “I never intended to hold you accountable, because what has happened has already happened... You really do underestimate the breadth of my mind.”

This was the bearing of Great Xia’s sovereign.

Never thinking first of punishment, but of how to respond.

Chen Yan scratched his head a little sheepishly.

“Transmit my orders,” the Head of State said, turning to look at the vast map of the empire. “From this moment on, the entire nation enters a war readiness state. All military regions are to deploy to the eastern coast. In addition, every matter concerning the initial construction of the Iron Great Wall is to be treated as top priority. We must ensure its successful completion.”

“Also, whatever the Godslayer Army requires, satisfy every demand.”

Before the Head of State had even finished speaking, Lin Fan said, “Um... Head of State, there is actually one matter I would like to report.”

“Speak!” The Head of State turned to him.

“I want to take the entire Godslayer Army to the Western Regions!” Lin Fan said solemnly.

“For what purpose?”

“To kill the snowmen clan and seize the snow lotus of Mount Tianshan!” Lin Fan replied in a loud voice.

“The gods are about to descend. At such a critical moment...” The Head of State looked at Lin Fan. “Is the Tianshan snow lotus really that important?”

“Report to the Head of State! After the first squad of the Godslayer Army fought in the Free Nation, they destroyed the Phoenix Society, but their foundations were also damaged. If this cannot be remedied, their full combat strength cannot be brought to bear. In the future, they will also be unable to cultivate their bodies into divinity, and even less able to serve as Great Xia’s guardian gods,” Lin Fan said loudly. “The Tianshan snow lotus can heal them!”

“Furthermore,”

“the Tianshan snow lotus can raise the physical condition of ordinary soldiers to the fourth tier, and it can also grant them the aptitude for cultivation!”

“Although, since they had never cultivated before and have not awakened any powers, their progress will be somewhat slow if they start from the beginning... still, one day, every person in Great Xia will be able to stand alone against the gods!”

Lin Fan did not answer the Head of State directly.

But his words rang out like a hammer strike, making even the Head of State’s breathing quicken.

One day, every person in Great Xia would be able to stand alone against the gods!

Would such a day truly come?