Shen Feng, leading the gathered superhumans, finally set foot on the battlefield after half a month of preparation. His method of arrival was simple: Chang Haojie unleashed his ability, causing vast amounts of clouds to condense on the ground. These clouds were solid enough to walk on, feeling like solid ground.
Shen Feng had also brought many of his disciples. Over the past half-month, he had poured considerable resources into them, enabling them to grow as strong as possible, for only strength could ensure survival in dangerous combat.
Numerous teenagers were hauling heavy cargo. These provisions were crucial for their survival in the wilderness.
Meanwhile, Wang Xiran, watching Luo Hui about to depart, asked, "Do you dislike me because you think I'm not pretty enough?"
Seeing the person she liked about to head into battle, Wang Xiran couldn't hold back her emotions and began to question him. She had made her feelings incredibly clear, yet he remained so nonchalant.
Luo Hui replied, "It's not like that, Sister Ran. I've always understood your feelings, but I truly cannot accept them. I've always seen you as an elder sister!"
"So, you're saying I'm too old, that I've lost my bloom, and you, being young and vibrant, find me unworthy? Is that what you mean?" Wang Xiran pressed further.
"How could that be? Sister Ran, you are clearly the most beautiful woman. You can heal our fellow disciples, and you are kind and beautiful. Wherever you go, you attract a crowd. Who wouldn't want to marry you?" Luo Hui was still trying to defend himself.
"Then why haven't you ever clearly stated your position? What are you worried about?" Wang Xiran asked.
Seeing his sister confessing her feelings, Wang Xiqiang waved to the people around them, asking them to move away. "Move along, everyone. There's nothing to see here. Stop being so nosy and get back to moving supplies. There's still a lot to transport!"
Luo Hui then revealed the true reason: "It's because I feel I'm not worthy of you. Firstly, you are highly valued by the City Lord, and everyone respects you immensely. You and Wang Xiqiang were among the first to serve the City Lord. In terms of seniority, you are already our elder. Moreover, your brother is known as one of the Three Heroes of Yuzhou. As for me, I am still disabled. My legs from the knees down are gone. Even in combat, I might not be able to protect myself. If I were to die out there, it would leave our household in disarray and become a burden to you!"
Now that Luo Hui had revealed the real reason, he could only offer a bitter smile. He understood his current state made him entirely unworthy of her noble status.
Wang Xiran responded, "But I know these things are superficial. They don't matter. What matters is that you step forward in critical moments and can protect me. Perhaps you've forgotten, but six years ago, when we accompanied the young lady to watch a play, we were attacked by assassins. You alone stood up to face those ferocious enemies, never flinching even when facing death. That's when I knew you were a man worth entrusting my life to!"
Wang Xiran continued, pointing to Luo Hui's legs, "As for your legs, I don't think you need to worry too much. I can now rapidly cultivate a person's organs. In the future, I will definitely be able to quickly cultivate suitable limbs, and then we can find a way to reattach your legs. You'll become a whole person again!"
Luo Hui stated, "If I can return alive from this battle, then I will express my true feelings, and I will marry you!"
"Don't you know the curse of the battlefield? If you promise to return to the one you love, you are most likely to die in battle. So, you don't need to say anything more. Just come back safely, and that will be enough!" Wang Xiran quickly said.
Luo Hui nodded in agreement. He had finally faced his inner feelings, but his heart remained heavy. Although there was joy, the weight of it made him breathless.
Many children from poor families experience this feeling when they grow up and discover someone they like. Their first instinct is to pursue that person, but after comparing their circumstances, they must abandon the idea and can only watch from afar. The inferiority they feel cannot be easily overcome; only those who have experienced it can truly understand.
Wang Xiqiang walked over and said, "Are you two done talking? It's almost time to depart. You two were avoiding each other for the past half-month, and only now, as you're about to leave, do you finally speak your minds. You're too slow!"
Luo Hui shrugged, saying nothing.
Large quantities of supplies were packed into metal crates and placed on the expansive clouds. These provisions included many clothes and ample food, ensuring they could live for extended periods even in the sky. This way, they could be ready for combat at any time once they reached the battlefield.
Shen Feng said to Chang Haojie, "When I first met you, you were a very timid child. Now you can handle things independently. Without your ability this time, we wouldn't have been able to reach the battlefield quickly or find suitable places to establish our base. Thanks to you!"
Chang Haojie replied, "It's a pity that after all these years, my strength still can't match yours, brother-in-law. You are the strongest in this world. I've strived to be like you since I was young, and it seems I've chosen the right path!"
Shen Feng smiled and said, "My current strength is due to a great deal of luck and my own efforts. Without consistent effort, progress is impossible. Without luck, I wouldn't have obtained so many resources through fortunate encounters!"
Shen Feng knew very well that his current power was also a result of his experiences over the years. His voyages to the sea allowed him to encounter many powerful sea creatures, which gave him goals to strive for and enabled him to obtain numerous evolution crystals, providing him with the capital for continuous evolution.
There were many geniuses in this world, and among them were always diligent individuals. Thus, talents competed for the position of the strongest. However, in the end, only Shen Feng became a ninth-tier superhuman, which was entirely due to the arrival of opportunities.
Once everyone was assembled, Shen Feng signaled to Chang Haojie beside him. He nodded, and then piloted the cloud upwards from the ground, ascending into the high sky. From below, it looked like an ordinary white cloud. The group, clad in thick clothing, sat on the cloud and drifted towards the distant north.
Meanwhile, Chang Jianyi and Chu Chaoyan, along with their family, watched from the rooftop of the City Lord's mansion. They couldn't see them off at the departure site because the crowd was too large, and mingling with ordinary people would be inappropriate. They had already said their goodbyes, and now, to bid farewell, they could only stand on the rooftop and gaze into the distance.
However, at this moment, Li Keyi noticed something amiss and quickly asked, "Where did Xiao Long go? Wasn't he supposed to come here to see us off together? Why is he missing?"
Du Xinshi replied calmly, "This child told me last night that he also wanted to go to the battlefield. So, he left under the cover of night, heading north alone. He said he wanted to go to Europe quickly!"
"This is such an important matter, why didn't you tell me earlier? It's probably too late to chase after him now. We can only notify all regions to block traffic and key routes, hoping to intercept him!" Chang Jianyi was shocked to hear this. She hadn't expected the child to be so audacious as to escape immediately and volunteer for the battlefield.
Du Xinshi appeared very calm. "He has explained the situation to me, and he knows his identity. Although he is only Shen Feng's adopted son, he has always been treated like his own son since childhood. Therefore, he understands that he should repay his father for the care he has received, and now he has volunteered to go to the battlefield!"
Although she spoke calmly, as if she had already come to terms with it, Shen Yishi, standing beside her, could see that her mother's hands were trembling. Her heart was likely anything but calm.
Even though Du Fansheng needed to repay Shen Feng's nurturing kindness and thus had to go to the battlefield, it was incredibly painful for any mother to watch her child march to their potential death. However, Du Xinshi now had no reason to object, as her son had grown up and had his own thoughts.
At this moment, in the sky, Shen Feng summoned countless gusts of wind, propelling the cloud beneath them into the distance. The cloud drifted at a very high speed, and the scenery on the ground receded rapidly. The temperature at this altitude was very low, only around eight or nine degrees Celsius. Anyone staying there for an extended period would surely suffer from hypothermia.
To move quickly, they needed to harness the wind. Clouds could drift at their fastest at the top of the troposphere, reaching incredible speeds. While aircraft could surpass the speed of clouds, the fact that these clouds could carry so much cargo and so many people was already remarkable.
Shen Feng then took the opportunity to ask Guo Pinju beside him, "You've found your daughter, who was imprisoned to bear children, yet you seem unconcerned and haven't gone to rescue her. What are you thinking? Do you think she's just an adopted daughter and doesn't warrant your attention?"
"How could that be? Although Lily is an adopted child, and her biological father committed a grave offense, I have always treated her as my own daughter and wanted to give her the best life. Now that she has encountered such a crisis, I cannot stand idly by!" Guo Pinming explained.
"Why don't you go rescue her yourself?" Shen Feng continued to inquire.
Guo Pinming replied, "Because I need to prioritize. The war is imminent, and I cannot be a coward at this time. I must participate in this battle. As for Lily, I believe Yue Cangshan can save her. He is Yue Hengyi's son. As the saying goes, 'A hero's son is a hero.' He will surely complete the mission. However, by the time he realizes he has completed his mission, he will have missed our team. He will have to remain in Yuzhou."
Shen Feng looked at the dim sky in the distance and said, "I've always wanted to end this damned world with my own hands, but I still don't know how to achieve it. Honestly, I'm not sure if sending the meteor to the moon was a good or bad thing, but it's all I could do. For now, I can only ensure that the people here can live the best lives possible!"
As the clouds continued to drift towards the northwest, a fierce battle was erupting over the North Atlantic. Numerous sea beasts were attempting to flee south into the vast, boundless ocean. Unfortunately, countless missiles were descending from the sky, targeting the gathering of these sea beasts, forcing them not to move south. Some missiles even carried large amounts of radioactive material, which, while not exploding, were sufficient to contaminate vast stretches of water.