"Things that happen next year will determine if the humans will make it or not . " Samantha said, surrounded by officers in a meeting room listening to the briefing from Mars .

The situation on Mars was highly unstable; however, uncertainties were better than defeat .  

"Lie Jian and Michaux's actions are too reckless . If they are killed on their mission, the morale of the Martian resistance will be shaken beyond mending . "

"Getting killed is still a better ending than being captured by the Zergs . "

"I doubt that the dark ones will let them live if they capture them . "

"Yes, they will kill any ordinary soldiers on sight, but they are not ordinary . They might transform them into dark ones . "

"General, why did w.a.n.g Tong suddenly disappear? What will be his next move?" A lot of the generals were friends with w.a.n.g Tong, but some had never met him before .  

"Boss must have a plan . The quieter it is, the more fun there will be to watch for us . I am so excited!" Only Karl could make such statement without really knowing anything . The thought of seeing w.a.n.g Tong again had elated him greatly .

Everyone had seen what w.a.n.g Tong was capable of . However, what he had achieved so far was not able to change the course of humanity's destruction . Everyone at the table, except for Karl was convinced that w.a.n.g Tong had met resistance from the Zergs, and therefore, had retreated quietly back to the human territory . What happened to Lie Jian and Michaux was a good example of how deadly the dark ones were .  

"Captain Karl, we respect your faith in w.a.n.g Tong . However, as a commander, you need to make a judgment based on facts, not feelings . I urge you to refrain from making such groundless claims in the future . " An officer in his forties retorted .

"I agree with Captain Saint . w.a.n.g Tong is working alone, and we can't put all our eggs in one basket . Captain Karl, please watch what you speak . We don't need your optimism in this meeting . "

"With all due respect, Captain Stain, I do agree with Captain Karl . Yes, w.a.n.g Tong is fighting by himself, but he is h.e.l.l of a one-person army . If he succeeds and the Zergs pull their fleet back, we can chase them down with ease . But, the requirement is that we have a full fleet . I motion the board to order the fleet to stay put until we hear more news about w.a.n.g Tong . " Cao Yi put in calmly . He was the chief adviser of Samantha, and therefore, his words carried more weight than Karl's .

"Hehe, Adviser Cao, where is your usual pragmatism? We all know that w.a.n.g Tong is the heir of the Blade Warrior, but so what? Even that t.i.tle was a product of a PR stunt from the Templar's Court, wasn't it? It meant nothing . If w.a.n.g Tong was really as powerful as you claimed, why didn't he stop Patroclus five years ago? I think you all need to wake up and stop dreaming . Instead, think about what we could do for the people on Mars . " Lun Deng refuted . He had been a captain of Martian battles.h.i.+p during the Confederation days and even now . His view on the war was more hawkish than anyone else on the board .

He was from Mars, and therefore he insisted that Mars should be the priority .

"The Zergs are prepared . If we attack them now, we will be walking right into their trap . One misstep and we might destroy everything that we have built up so far . " Flash said coldly . He was the first promoted to the position of captain due to his unrivaled strategic sense .

"May I? I think you are both right . The situation on Mars has reached a critical moment . Therefore, we can't just sit around and do nothing . However, our help should be limited to containing the Zergs' air raids . We cannot afford to lose any marines . " Samantha finally spoke .

"I agree!"

"I agree!"

"I agree!"

"Very well! Everyone, set your course to Mars . Make some noise and make your intention as obvious as you can . Let them know we are heading to Mars . " Samantha issued her command, her voice holding an unswerving conviction .

"Hehe, I could draft a call to arms and distribute it among other resistance forces . " Cao Yi suggested .

"Good call! But, be wary of the immortals' sabotaging activities . "

…

Meanwhile, on Mount Dynamo, the retinue had been waiting for w.a.n.g Tong for two hours . It had been the longest two hours of their life . The soldiers didn't waste their time while waiting, as they all started their cultivation to recuperate some of their soul energy .  

Xiao Libie was amazed by the soldier's discipline . Everyone on the team was a force to be reckoned with; however, their teamwork was sublime . Not only did they carry out instructions to the letter as a team, but when they were alone, they also possessed incredible self-control and restraint . Xiao Libie remembered that his s.h.i.+fu Zambrotta often lamented the lack of talent under his force . Now he knew where all the talent had gone to: they were all working for w.a.n.g Tong .

Two hours later, w.a.n.g Tong was still nowhere to be seen .

The leaders of the band gathered around to discuss their next move . "Let's wait for another half hour, and if w.a.n.g Tong still doesn't return, we should go save him . " Guan Dongyang urged .

The leaders of the band gathered around to discuss their next move . "Let's wait for another half hour, and if w.a.n.g Tong still doesn't return, we should go save him . " Guan Dongyang urged .

Yin Tianzong nodded . Although w.a.n.g Tong possessed miraculous abilities, there would always be a limit to his power .

"We should tread carefully . There is no way back . " Vorenus said in a serious voice . As soon as they pa.s.sed the midpoint, they had entered a pa.s.sage of no return . The wind blew with a constant anguished keening as the snow and ice blocked their view . No one knew what lay ahead of them .

After a while, Bu Zhihuo broke the silence . "Let me lead a small group of rangers to scout ahead . It's too risky to march right into there . "

"It's no use . Even if you could scout out a path for us, you won't be able to come back to us alive . This place is . . . cursed . " Yin Tianzong said hopelessly, and then shook his head . If w.a.n.g Tong couldn't make it back, everyone would die .

"I believe w.a.n.g Tong will be able to make it back even if he can't find any plausible route . I agree with Brother Yin's plan . Let's move in together . "

"Brother Xiao, we might not be able to make it to the other side . If you change your mind, I will a.s.sign a couple of soldiers to escort you back . " Yin Tianzong said . He noticed that Xiao Libie had been very quiet, and was not sure if the new addition was up for his plan or not .  

Xiao Libie smiled faintly . "Brother Yin, don't look down on me . If I were too afraid of danger, I wouldn't resign from my position at Zambrotta's force to join w.a.n.g Tong . Not only do I wholeheartedly support w.a.n.g Tong's plan, but I have also dreamt of conquering Mount Dynamo ever since I was a child . "

Everyone nodded in approval toward Xiao Libie's determination . Xiao Libie also found the way everyone regarded him different; it was as if they finally consider him a part of their group .

"Very well! Since everyone is on board with our plan, let's take half an hour to prepare . I need every METAL warrior's full commitment to look after your mastery caster partner . " Yin Tianzong issued the final announcement .

Everyone nodded in approval toward Xiao Libie's determination . Xiao Libie also found the way everyone regarded him different; it was as if they finally consider him a part of their group .

"Very well! Since everyone is on board with our plan, let's take half an hour to prepare . I need every METAL warrior's full commitment to look after your mastery caster partner . " Yin Tianzong issued the final announcement .

"Make sure you stay away from the natural forces without a specific order to do so . " Xiao Yuyu reminded casters once more time, who nodded in response . The force field on top of Mount Dynamo was extremely unstable, and no one knew why . It was as if the energy had a mind of its own, a wild and savage mind . w.a.n.g Tong was the first to have experienced its feral savagery when he drew the natural energy, but he was able to escape the natural forces attack by using soul essence . The mastery casters had registered the danger that w.a.n.g Tong was in, and therefore, even Xiao Yuyu and Guan Dongyang dared not to test the waters .

However, the unsteady force field seemed more like an inconvenience compared to the nerve-wracking waiting .

…

It was fitting to call these warriors devils or demons, since they were capable of treading through h.e.l.l unfazed .  

In the narrow pa.s.sage between heaven and h.e.l.l, a retinue of human plodded on . The warriors only truly understood the difficulties of the journey that they had embarked on once they entered the treacherous path . The wind howled insistently in an anguished keening, dismantling the warriors' will one shred of nerve at a time . If not for the soldiers' solid soul energy, they wouldn't even be able to pa.s.s the test of the wild gales . The temperature had dropped down below minus forty, and the path seemed endless . Without a sound physique, one would quickly suffer hypothermia as the coldness nibbled away their frayed mind, and soon, they would feel the burning of coldness .

However cold it was, the soldiers could not stop; once they did, their feet would be frozen solid and they would never walk again . Every captain kept their eyes peeled for any warrior that had gone astray from the group .  

Yin Tianzong, Vorenus and Xiao Libie led the way at the front of the column . Suddenly, Yin Tianzong shouted, his soul energy reverberating from the head to the tail of the line .

It was a warning .

Things that happen next year will determine if the humans will make it or not . Samantha said, surrounded by officers in a meeting room listening to the briefing from Mars . The situation on Mars was highly unstable; however, uncertainties were better than defeat .   Lie Jian and Michauxs actions are too reckless . If they are killed on their mission, the morale of the Martian resistance will be shaken beyond mending . Getting killed is still a better ending than being captured by the Zergs . I doubt that the dark ones will let them live if they capture them . Yes, they will kill any ordinary soldiers on sight, but they are not ordinary . They might transform them into dark ones . General, why did w.a.n.g Tong suddenly disappear? What will be his next move? A lot of the generals were friends with w.a.n.g Tong, but some had never met him before .   Boss must have a plan . The quieter it is, the more fun there will be to watch for us . I am so excited! Only Karl could make such statement without really knowing anything . The thought of seeing w.a.n.g Tong again had elated him greatly . Everyone had seen what w.a.n.g Tong was capable of . However, what he had achieved so far was not able to change the course of humanitys destruction . Everyone at the table, except for Karl was convinced that w.a.n.g Tong had met resistance from the Zergs, and therefore, had retreated quietly back to the human territory . What happened to Lie Jian and Michaux was a good example of how deadly the dark ones were .   Captain Karl, we respect your faith in w.a.n.g Tong . However, as a commander, you need to make a judgment based on facts, not feelings . I urge you to refrain from making such groundless claims in the future . An officer in his forties retorted . I agree with Captain Saint . w.a.n.g Tong is working alone, and we cant put all our eggs in one basket . Captain Karl, please watch what you speak . We dont need your optimism in this meeting . With all due respect, Captain Stain, I do agree with Captain Karl . Yes, w.a.n.g Tong is fighting by himself, but he is h.e.l.l of a one-person army . If he succeeds and the Zergs pull their fleet back, we can chase them down with ease . But, the requirement is that we have a full fleet . I motion the board to order the fleet to stay put until we hear more news about w.a.n.g Tong . Cao Yi put in calmly . He was the chief adviser of Samantha, and therefore, his words carried more weight than Karls . Hehe, Adviser Cao, where is your usual pragmatism? We all know that w.a.n.g Tong is the heir of the Blade Warrior, but so what? Even that t.i.tle was a product of a PR stunt from the Templars Court, wasnt it? It meant nothing . If w.a.n.g Tong was really as powerful as you claimed, why didnt he stop Patroclus five years ago? I think you all need to wake up and stop dreaming . Instead, think about what we could do for the people on Mars . Lun Deng refuted . He had been a captain of Martian battles.h.i.+p during the Confederation days and even now . His view on the war was more hawkish than anyone else on the board . He was from Mars, and therefore he insisted that Mars should be the priority . The Zergs are prepared . If we attack them now, we will be walking right into their trap . One misstep and we might destroy everything that we have built up so far . Flash said coldly . He was the first promoted to the position of captain due to his unrivaled strategic sense . May I? I think you are both right . The situation on Mars has reached a critical moment . Therefore, we cant just sit around and do nothing . However, our help should be limited to containing the Zergs air raids . We cannot afford to lose any marines . Samantha finally spoke . I agree! I agree! Very well! Everyone, set your course to Mars . Make some noise and make your intention as obvious as you can . Let them know we are heading to Mars . Samantha issued her command, her voice holding an unswerving conviction . Hehe, I could draft a call to arms and distribute it among other resistance forces . Cao Yi suggested . Good call! But, be wary of the immortals sabotaging activities . … Meanwhile, on Mount Dynamo, the retinue had been waiting for w.a.n.g Tong for two hours . It had been the longest two hours of their life . The soldiers didnt waste their time while waiting, as they all started their cultivation to recuperate some of their soul energy .   Xiao Libie was amazed by the soldiers discipline . Everyone on the team was a force to be reckoned with; however, their teamwork was sublime . Not only did they carry out instructions to the letter as a team, but when they were alone, they also possessed incredible self-control and restraint . Xiao Libie remembered that his s.h.i.+fu Zambrotta often lamented the lack of talent under his force . Now he knew where all the talent had gone to: they were all working for w.a.n.g Tong . Two hours later, w.a.n.g Tong was still nowhere to be seen . The leaders of the band gathered around to discuss their next move . Lets wait for another half hour, and if w.a.n.g Tong still doesnt return, we should go save him . Guan Dongyang urged . Yin Tianzong nodded . Although w.a.n.g Tong possessed miraculous abilities, there would always be a limit to his power . We should tread carefully . There is no way back . Vorenus said in a serious voice . As soon as they pa.s.sed the midpoint, they had entered a pa.s.sage of no return . The wind blew with a constant anguished keening as the snow and ice blocked their view . No one knew what lay ahead of them . After a while, Bu Zhihuo broke the silence . Let me lead a small group of rangers to scout ahead . Its too risky to march right into there . Its no use . Even if you could scout out a path for us, you wont be able to come back to us alive . This place is . cursed . Yin Tianzong said hopelessly, and then shook his head . If w.a.n.g Tong couldnt make it back, everyone would die . I believe w.a.n.g Tong will be able to make it back even if he cant find any plausible route . I agree with Brother Yins plan . Lets move in together . Brother Xiao, we might not be able to make it to the other side . If you change your mind, I will a.s.sign a couple of soldiers to escort you back . Yin Tianzong said . He noticed that Xiao Libie had been very quiet, and was not sure if the new addition was up for his plan or not .   Xiao Libie smiled faintly . Brother Yin, dont look down on me . If I were too afraid of danger, I wouldnt resign from my position at Zambrottas force to join w.a.n.g Tong . Not only do I wholeheartedly support w.a.n.g Tongs plan, but I have also dreamt of conquering Mount Dynamo ever since I was a child . Everyone nodded in approval toward Xiao Libies determination . Xiao Libie also found the way everyone regarded him different; it was as if they finally consider him a part of their group . Very well! Since everyone is on board with our plan, lets take half an hour to prepare . I need every METAL warriors full commitment to look after your mastery caster partner . Yin Tianzong issued the final announcement . Make sure you stay away from the natural forces without a specific order to do so . Xiao Yuyu reminded casters once more time, who nodded in response . The force field on top of Mount Dynamo was extremely unstable, and no one knew why . It was as if the energy had a mind of its own, a wild and savage mind . w.a.n.g Tong was the first to have experienced its feral savagery when he drew the natural energy, but he was able to escape the natural forces attack by using soul essence . The mastery casters had registered the danger that w.a.n.g Tong was in, and therefore, even Xiao Yuyu and Guan Dongyang dared not to test the waters . However, the unsteady force field seemed more like an inconvenience compared to the nerve-wracking waiting . … It was fitting to call these warriors devils or demons, since they were capable of treading through h.e.l.l unfazed .   In the narrow pa.s.sage between heaven and h.e.l.l, a retinue of human plodded on . The warriors only truly understood the difficulties of the journey that they had embarked on once they entered the treacherous path . The wind howled insistently in an anguished keening, dismantling the warriors will one shred of nerve at a time . If not for the soldiers solid soul energy, they wouldnt even be able to pa.s.s the test of the wild gales . The temperature had dropped down below minus forty, and the path seemed endless . Without a sound physique, one would quickly suffer hypothermia as the coldness nibbled away their frayed mind, and soon, they would feel the burning of coldness . However cold it was, the soldiers could not stop; once they did, their feet would be frozen solid and they would never walk again . Every captain kept their eyes peeled for any warrior that had gone astray from the group .   Yin Tianzong, Vorenus and Xiao Libie led the way at the front of the column . Suddenly, Yin Tianzong shouted, his soul energy reverberating from the head to the tail of the line . It was a warning .