Chapter 234: Southward Migration!

Chapter 234: Southward Migration!

After perusing the records preserved in the underground nuclear facility, most of Chen Jian’s lingering mysteries found their explanations.

The paranoid queen of the flower metropolis, the conservative yet lax Sanctum of Sacred Blood, the terrifyingly powerful mimetic heretics, the blood‑thirsty, raging terror demons.

And, of course, the humans still clinging to life upon the wasteland.

They are all heirs of the Imperial Capital base.

Yet every person, every “species” here has inherited only a sliver of that legacy.

Like descendants of a sprawling clan, left to scrape by on the meager inheritance after the patriarch’s departure.

To revive the family’s former glory may now be an impossible dream.

Still, they have survived at last.

And for those once‑survivors, perhaps their greatest hope lies right here.

To keep living.

Chen Jian tucked away his PDA and lifted his gaze toward the “Holy Father.”

The other party had also seen the records; though most of the information eluded him, in that instant he understood his origin.

“Academy… so that’s what it means.”

A myriad of emotions flickered across his face.

“I never truly grasped why our ancestors called themselves an ‘Academy.’”

“Now I finally understand.”

“Indeed, they were always a band of great scholars.”

At that point the man paused.

Then, turning his eyes to Chen Jian, he spoke:

“My doubts have been answered.”

“Thank you, gentlemen of the Huaxia army.”

“You may not be our ‘Holy Father,’ but at least we share the same bloodline as brothers.”

“Those of the Sacred Blood are not outcasts.”

The final words drained him of almost all his strength, and Chen Jian saw resignation in his eyes.

So these bearers of Sacred Blood have always been shackled by a loneliness of self‑identification?

Indeed.

Imagine, if from the moment of birth one were a Sacred Blood, a rift with ordinary folk would be inevitable.

After all, if the very species differ, “integration” is nothing but an empty phrase.

Yet now, amid that desperate, painful, yet majestic struggle, every barrier has dissolved of its own accord.

Chen Jian looked toward the three standing not far away—Ji Xing and his companions—and saw in their eyes a glimmer he had never witnessed before.

Xie Liu was even weeping.

Chen Jian could not fully share the sentiment of this somewhat emotional Sacred Blood, yet he did not find her reaction overly exaggerated.

He knew that whenever Xie Liu spoke of the so‑called Sacred Blood, the word she uttered most was “monster.”

She had perhaps always believed herself kin to monsters, not to humanity.

This time, she finally learned her true origin.

Chen Jian lifted his head and exhaled slowly.

He turned once more to the Holy Father and asked:

“We have resolved your problem and shown our sincerity.”

“Now, where is your sincerity?”

The man stared into Chen Jian’s eyes and replied:

“My sincerity is the Sanctum of Sacred Blood.”

“From now on, from this very moment, the Sanctum will unconditionally cooperate with your actions.”

“All the Sanctum’s secrets will be laid bare to you; the secrets I speak of are everything I know.”

“It was only 150 years ago that the Sanctum truly came into being.”

“Our birth sprang from a schism that cannot be called a rebellion.”

“After the split we lost contact with the true Holy Father, yet we preserved much knowledge, equipment, and methods.”

“Among them is the way to propagate, to give birth to new bearers of Sacred Blood using a progenitor.”

“All of this I will hand over to you.”

“Whether to use it is your decision.”

“As the records left by the Holy Fathers state, their purpose was merely to ensure humanity’s survival; clearly, we are but by‑products of their research.”

“Perhaps, when the time is right, we too should go with the tide and withdraw from history.”

“No need to rush.”

Chen Jian waved his hand and said:

“You still have…”

“Yes.”

The man nodded, then continued:

“But I can no longer claim the name of Holy Father—call me Lin Shen.”

“So, what is Lin Jing to you?”

From beside them, Lei Jie suddenly asked.

“My mother.”

Lin Shen answered without hesitation.

Chen Jian stared at Lin Shen in surprise, then soon felt a calm acceptance.

A “queen” who could obtain so much information could not possibly be a mere ordinary attendant within the Sanctum of Sacred Blood.

He should have realized long ago that the two shared an extraordinary connection.

“She’s dead, you know?”

Chen Jian asked.

“She took the wrong path.”

“Or perhaps, it was I who took the wrong path.”

“My arrogance drove her away; she need not have done so.”

“But I have no other choice.”

In Lin Shen's eyes a flicker of mournful sorrow appeared, and Chen Jian finally understood what the "hidden danger" spoken of by that man named Lin Yu had truly meant.

It could indeed be called nothing less than a hidden peril.

Chen Jian did not press further, but simply nodded toward Lin Shen.

"Let's go; there's nothing here left that we need."

Chen Jian turned to Lei Jie and continued:

"Coordinate with Fuxi to retrieve the key, then enter the nuclear arsenal and assess the condition of the warheads."

"If any warheads are well preserved, find a way to take them all."

"The beast tide has already begun, and the challenges we face are far from over."

"In this world, surviving is far from simple."

"By the way, the fusion reactor of Project 001 is still running; though its state is poor, such components are not something we can fabricate in a short time."

"Dismantle it and take it away; if you cannot move it, at least take the fuel."

"Understood."

Lei Jie nodded, then gave a self‑deprecating smile and said:

"The focus of Project 001 really isn’t the equipment. Fortunately we have enough intelligence; this trip wasn’t in vain."

"But to be honest, the loss is considerable."

"So have we lost or gained in the end?"

As his words faded, before Chen Jian could answer, Lin Shen, standing nearby, suddenly raised his hand.

Then he spoke:

"Your losses will be compensated by the Hall of Holy Blood."

"I know you don’t need more gear or more weapons."

"But you will certainly need comrades to endure the calamity together."

"I, as the Holy Father, issue one final command."

"Except for those essential protectors of civilians, the Hall of Holy Blood will relocate the bulk of its forces to Jinling."

"Likewise, a portion of the populace under its jurisdiction will gradually, step by step, move south with us."

"That is the greatest aid I can offer you."

"The beast tide is imminent; unprotected civilians will become its greatest victims."

"I hope you can let these people, and many more, survive!"

(End of Chapter)