The upheaval in Tokyo, Japan, had been confirmed. Save for the single sea vessel deliberately left behind by Chu Xuan and his companions, aircraft departing from Korea verified the Tokyo catastrophe within the subsequent hour. From Tokyo Bay outward, covering nearly a third of the island’s total area, Japan had vanished. More land was engulfed in violent earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and massive tsunamis. Preliminary estimates placed the death toll in the millions… Humanity had never faced such an awkward predicament before. Extinction—this word usually only appeared in science fiction novels. When it truly manifested in the real world, humanity’s first reaction was amusement, the second was disbelief, and the third was sheer, enraged indignation.

The United States had also received definitive information: Tokyo had sunk. And the Eastern Immortal responsible for all this was now en route to the American Pacific coast. The next region slated for destruction would begin with the US. Though America was vastly larger than Japan, even a localized destruction on the scale Japan experienced would inflict unbearable harm. Thus, after the third reaction of rage, the US government mobilized every available Pacific Fleet unit. Simultaneously, they dispatched officials stationed in China to urgently negotiate with the Chinese government, demanding they facilitate contact with these Eastern Immortals.

“Contacting us is certainly not an issue.”

Chu Xuan held up a sliver of silver metal and stated coolly, “But what about the Buddha statue fragments? Without them, the next place we destroy will start with America. Also, inform them that the fleet ships arranged along the Pacific coast… we will destroy those too. Say nothing else. The Buddha statue fragments! There is only one remaining piece. If we get it, we stop. If we don't, let this world perish!” On the other end of the silver metal piece were the high-ranking leaders of the Kuomintang.

They all fell silent upon hearing this. Since receiving news of Tokyo’s definitive sinking, these individuals held an indescribable mixture of feelings: pride in the might of their nation’s Immortals, awe at the terrifying power of the weapon, and the looming dread that all humanity might soon be annihilated. If they managed to find the statue without destroying the world, future China would possess hidden strength capable of deterring the entire globe. Consequently, for many reasons, every Chinese person aware of the details was inexpressibly complex emotional turmoil.

Since Tokyo’s demise, this was the fifth call Chu Xuan had received. Besides the Kuomintang, the Communist Party had also contacted him twice. Each call was invariably from some powerful foreign entity demanding contact with these Eastern Immortals. However, only China’s two political parties possessed the means to reach Chu Xuan and his group. Thus, in the hours following Tokyo’s sinking, the global shockwaves began to manifest sequentially.

“That may be so…” Cheng Xiao watched Chu Xuan turn off the silver metal piece and asked curiously, “But our energy stones currently only have enough charge for one more Magic Cannon shot, right? Can that really destroy the whole world?”

“Of course not,” Chu Xuan admitted readily. “The last time, we used the Magic Cannon at its maximum setting. It’s true that such power cannot be deployed frequently; it should exist as a final deterrent weapon. Under normal circumstances, we only need to insert a few energy stones to make it a conventional weapon. As for the current situation… have you forgotten the vast number of energy stones Zheng Zha brought back from the Ring?” He patted his side. “I have them all on me. While it will consume some of the power, using sheer quantity to compensate for the difference in energy levels is enough to achieve the power of that previous blast. We can fire about five more shots.”

Cheng Xiao exchanged glances with the others. They asked in unison, “Five shots? Five shots can destroy the entire world?”

“Indeed, they can,” Chu Xuan nodded. “Five shots from the Magic Cannon are fully capable of obliterating the North American continent if we strike the American continental shelf. The result would be a magnitude 12 or greater earthquake across the Americas, massive seawater ingress, causing the continent to sink beneath the sea, mirroring the fate of Atlantis. The resulting tsunami and tremors would sweep across the entire globe, with an intensity no less than the Great Flood described in myths. Whether it’s the divine destruction of mankind in the Western Bible or Yu the Great controlling the waters in Eastern mythology, this level of flood and earthquake is sufficient to crush humanity’s current nascent scientific civilization. Following the quakes and floods, the onset of a minor global ice age would occur, as the shockwaves from America’s sinking would reach the poles. The destruction and melting of the polar ice caps, coupled with massive earthquakes, would cause the mini ice age to last approximately three hundred years. Those humans who survived the initial disaster would then face the ice age. By the time the Earth recovers, humanity’s technology will have regressed by about three thousand years. They can start over with a slave society then…”

Everyone stared blankly at Chu Xuan. Cheng Xiao was the first to snap back to attention. He clapped his hands. “Humanity returning to a slave society… What does that have to do with our objective?”

Chu Xuan glanced at him. “It has nothing to do with it, of course. Similarly, destroying the world—what direct bearing does that have on us obtaining the Buddha statue fragments? Listen carefully: destroying the world is merely a means to acquire the fragments, not our ultimate goal. As they say, a third strike is the limit. If we fire three Magic Cannon shots continuously and still fail to secure the fragments, then that final piece might be lost in some obscure location. Not just us, perhaps everyone on Earth is unaware of its existence, or maybe the Western Saints erased it directly. That would be a guaranteed death trap. Therefore, five Magic Cannon shots are enough to find the answer we need. Whether we secure that final Buddha fragment or usher in the complete destruction of the human world…”

“Although you put it that way…” Cheng Xiao muttered quietly, “Why do I feel like you actually want to destroy all of humanity? Are you trying to sink the Americas just to verify if your theory is correct?”

Chu Xuan ignored him, simply piloting his Green Goblin Glider forward at increasing speed. Cheng Xiao and the others accompanying him could only offer wry smiles before following Chu Xuan’s trajectory.

Several minutes later, the silhouette of the American continent was faintly visible before them. Just then, someone else contacted Chu Xuan. He showed no impatience, opening the silver metal piece to hear a familiar voice issue forth: “Chu Xuan! You used the Magic Cannon?”

It was clearly Zheng Zha’s voice, sounding somewhat frantic. After a long pause, he calmed down slightly before continuing, “I don’t care about any of that, but you’re aiming the Magic Cannon at the US! Didn’t you forget O’Connell and the others are over there? Are you trying to kill our comrades?”

Chu Xuan let out a cold laugh. “They are your comrades… And you woke up rather late, two days later than I predicted. How was it? That pair of glasses—were they effective?”

Zheng Zha hadn't been angry until the mention of the glasses. He roared into the metal piece, “Damn your glasses, what kind of garbage item is that? Glasses? Damn your glasses! By the time I woke up, I had already crushed them!”

“Is that so?” Chu Xuan’s tone remained detached. “Then when we return to the ‘Main God’ space, give me a D-rank side mission. The materials required to fabricate those glasses need to be exchanged for a side mission.”

“You think I’d humor you?” Zheng Zha asked after regaining his composure. “My situation here is peculiar. Zhao Yingkong has indeed awakened, but she is not the Zhao Yingkong from before we entered the ‘Main God’ space. Ah, no—the original, true Zhao Yingkong has not fully awakened yet. The person awake now is the Zhao Yingkong who emerged after entering the ‘Main God’ space… It’s getting complicated to explain, but that’s the general situation. We can discuss it further when you return.”

Chu Xuan found the explanation somewhat perplexing but, lacking natural curiosity, merely responded with an “Oh.” He continued, “We will be back anytime within the next twelve hours. During this period, you must maintain full combat strength, as time is short. When we return, we will immediately proceed to that underground tomb. You must maintain complete readiness then; do not lose to the First Prototype God.”

“While you say that…” Zheng Zha chuckled foolishly for a moment before saying quietly, “I trust your plan. Zero Point told me the general situation. While this current situation is extreme, I believe… death is the greatest peace for them. So, don’t carry any psychological burden; proceed without hesitation! I will always be your rear guard!”

“…It sounds like you experienced a great shock in your dream…”

The unproductive conversation ended there. Zheng Zha’s awakening on this final day brought a slight surge of morale to Zhang Heng and the others. Though the subsequent actions dampened their spirits, the return of a companion certainly brightened their mood.

The next operation was to bombard the US Pacific coast, centered around San Francisco, encompassing the vast region including San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose. This time, the Magic Cannon’s target was aimed at this landmass. Judging by the destruction wrought upon Tokyo Bay, America would likely lose about one-twentieth of its territory, with the affected radius being even wider…

“Then just pick any warship below…” Chu Xuan pointed toward the assembled fleet below the sea surface and immediately dove toward one of the battleships. As he landed on the deck of a dreadnought, Chu Xuan tightly gripped both of his Gauss pistols. Zhang Heng and the others, who were flying toward the warship, knew that Chu Xuan wasn't just planning to blast four holes in the deck this time… He intended to clear the entire vessel first, and then—it would be time to redraw the map of America!