Pleading for Moon Tickets—a massive payout of ten thousand Qidian Coins today will earn one Moon Ticket, you know! …… The next morning, just as dawn broke, Ye Chen received an official summons from above, calling all Generals and Commanders to a high-level meeting.

Ye Chen’s eyes flashed, and after a quick wash, he donned his long robe and headed toward the conference room. "It's the last day of the month; next month begins Dark Calendar April.

The Atlantean civilization should be revealing itself soon," Ye Chen mused as he walked, a divine light flickering in his gaze. "Divine Blood, that supreme treasure that ranked number one in the world in my previous life—I wonder what its true capabilities are." …… The High-Level Conference Room was situated outside the General’s Encampment, deep within the Commander-in-Chief’s estate.

High-ranking personnel from various departments arrived in succession. The room was vast, filled entirely with tiered seating, resembling a lecture hall more than a formal gathering around a circular table.

Upon arriving, Ye Chen saw that many seats were already occupied. A swift scan allowed him to find an empty spot, where he sat down quietly to wait.

When several people noticed Ye Chen, they were startled, then quickly moved aside, fearful of blocking the path of this veritable plague god. "Brother Ye!" Zhuge Fan, Bai Long, Yue Heng, and others approached, greeting him with smiles before taking seats near him and striking up a conversation.

"You were terrifyingly ferocious yesterday, actually managing to kill Yun Shaojing," Yue Heng exclaimed in awe. Bai Long and the others echoed his sentiment.

Ye Chen responded coolly, "How have your power levels been progressing lately?" Bai Long quickly replied, "I’m already Level 30." "Me too, Level 30," added Yue Heng. "I’m at 28," Zhuge Fan admitted with slight frustration, being the weakest among them.

Mo Feng stated flatly, "32." Ye Chen nodded. After exiting the Runic Ruins, they had all reached around Level 25.

Gaining four or five levels in roughly half a month was quite rapid, comparable to established Evolvers. "The Commander-in-Chief is here!" someone near the entrance called out.

Silence fell over the room as everyone turned to look. Murong De entered at the doorway, clad in a heavy fur greatcoat, his expression grim, followed by two bodyguards.

Stepping onto the platform before the assembly, Murong De surveyed the crowd with stern eyes. Where his gaze passed, order was instantly restored, giving everyone the distinct impression that momentous events were about to unfold.

"Today, I have gathered you all here for a matter of critical importance," Murong De stated gravely. "Following thorough investigation, if the situation proves true, humanity may be about to enter a new era, one where we finally possess the means to truly fight back against the monsters." A wave of surprise rippled through the attendees.

Murong De continued, his seriousness unwavering, "Since the apocalypse broke out, most of you here have surely experienced the pain of loss. And as all life on Earth has mutated and evolved, we humans face the very real possibility, as prophesied, of vanishing from this planet, of complete extinction." "This is not merely the struggle of one individual." "This is the fight for an entire race, an entire civilization." A shadow of grief crossed Murong De’s eyes.

"My wife became one of the infected when the virus first struck, and I became a mutated Evolver. I ended her life with my own hands.

When my hands were slick with her blood, how I wished I could have turned into a zombie myself—then perhaps I wouldn't have to worry about survival, wouldn't have to stress over food and water, wouldn't have felt such profound pain." "I often ask myself: what is the point of living?" The audience listened in absolute silence. A fierce resolution hardened Murong De’s gaze.

"Since my wife died, I lost my reason for existing. At dinnertime every night, when I don't see her familiar figure across the table, I don't know what gives me the courage to keep drawing breath." "I believe you all share my absolute hatred for these monsters.

Otherwise, right now, you would all be in your offices, or at home, enjoying long calls with loved ones, laughing over dinner with family." Murong De’s eyes burned with cold fury. "But instead, we can only cling to our weapons, walking the tightrope between life and death.

All of this was destroyed because of the monsters." "Therefore—" Murong De’s gaze swept over everyone. "If we wish to survive, there is only one path: kill every single monster!" Silence descended upon them all.

Ye Chen remained composed, observing Murong De with subtle admiration. In a moment threatening species annihilation, leadership like this was precisely what was needed to ensure the continuation of a civilization, a race.

It was no wonder that the Huaxia Base City became the world's foremost hub in his previous life; it wasn't just individual strength, but the magnetic charisma of its leaders. If those in charge only concerned themselves with the necessities of daily survival, that base city would surely be doomed.

At this point, Murong De lowered his voice. "This time, the Reconnaissance Department discovered an extra-dimensional spatial node in Shanghai.

Within that rift, there is an exceptionally advanced city, built entirely of steel. Experts from the Research Division have authenticated it; this is highly likely to be the ruins of the long-vanished Atlantean civilization." Everyone gasped in astonishment.

Atlantis? Legend held that the Atlanteans were colonizers from the Orion constellation, naturally possessing the power of light and wielding technology far beyond comprehension.

Creatures like mermaids and unicorns were supposedly products of this civilization. However, around 12,000 B.C., a combination of nuclear warfare and catastrophic flooding submerged their continent, leading to the civilization's demise.

Murong De’s tone was grave. "According to photos and data provided by a surviving member of the reconnaissance team, this ruin contains mechanical beasts, perfectly preserved.

Furthermore, after all this time, nothing inside shows signs of rust or decay. If we can acquire the blueprints for manufacturing these mechanical beasts, or perhaps their energy crystals, then humanity has a real hope of resurgence." "And," a flicker of intense hope crossed Murong De’s eyes, "if the interior is habitable, we could relocate the Base City there.

With a city constructed entirely of steel, even facing a monster siege, we would be more than capable of wiping them out." The assembly paused, clearly tempted by the prospect. Ruins of such a prehistoric civilization had long vanished into the currents of history; who knew what treasures might lie within?

If they could secure the mechanical beast blueprints and begin mass production, humanity could finally establish a foothold on Earth. Ye Chen’s expression remained placid as he thought to himself, The Atlantean civilization is far more complex than you imagine.

Their technology surpasses that of modern Chinese civilization by an unknowable margin. The Atlantean civilization was located in the continent of Greater Oceania, with Poseidonia (Neptune City) as its capital.

Atlantean life was excessively luxurious. Due to their advanced technology, labor was obsolete; everything was automated, affording citizens every convenience.

Some fringe historians boldly theorized that their excessive hedonism led them to abandon their spiritual focus and transgress against their gods. Most Atlanteans were exceptionally beautiful, their clothing adorned with jewels; they spent their time dancing, attending gatherings, and consuming hallucinogenic substances.

Atlanteans utilized up to 90% of their brain capacity, communicating easily with animals, and not only manufactured robots but also created half-human, half-beast creatures like the 'Kamera' through genetic engineering—mermaids being one example. The entire city was managed by machinery; citizens had no need for formal schooling, as knowledge could be directly absorbed from specialized apparatuses.

Children of fifteen or sixteen possessed wisdom surpassing today's top scholars. Even the unicorn was a product of their genetic modification.

Among the Atlantean prehistoric hyper-civilization, the most astonishing scientific achievement was their energy system. They could convert light directly into power.

The Atlanteans not only harnessed light as a motive force but could also regenerate human tissue and reverse the aging process. All of this allowed them to live a carefree, joyous existence in that paradise.

Yet, this hyper-civilization sank beneath the waves abruptly around 16,000 B.C. The "Garden of Eden" described in the Bible's Book of Genesis reportedly referred to Atlantis.

(Note: All the above is derived from genuine historical sources, not fabricated.) "For this expedition, I am appointing five commanders, each leading an army to the entrance of the ruins," Murong De stated, looking at the assembled officers. "The Reconnaissance Department reports that the entrance is guarded by numerous powerful monsters.

Therefore, this mission is authorized to carry nuclear weaponry; we must secure these ruins at any cost." Nuclear weapons? Everyone was stunned.

What kind of formidable monsters required the deployment of nuclear arms? Ye Chen glanced at Murong De, sighing inwardly.

Experience truly sharpens one’s instincts; the Commander-in-Chief surely possessed further intelligence he hadn't disclosed, otherwise, he wouldn't be sending armies equipped with nuclear fire based merely on the initial findings from the Reconnaissance team. "The five commanders this time will be Qin Lan, Hua Bu Luo, Tang Zhu..." Murong De listed six names—Ye Chen’s was notably absent.

He then commanded sternly, "Those Generals appointed to deploy must unconditionally obey the orders of their superior officers." A sense of resignation settled over the group. "This is the roster for those heading to the ruins to engage in combat; the lists are being distributed." Murong De handed a document to a man standing nearby, whose expression was cold as he began passing the papers out.

Ye Chen casually accepted his copy. A quick glance revealed his name—assigned to the team led by Tang Zhu.

He allowed himself a slight smile, not giving it much thought. His absence from the commander slots was not surprising.

First, he was only a Major General. In the Base City hierarchy, anyone meeting the physical requirements and possessing basic command skills could become a General; promotion without combat skill was possible through recommendation.

The five appointed commanders this time were all full Commanders. Second, despite the overwhelming power he displayed battling Yun Shaojing, others likely still viewed him as a reckless brute; he wouldn't be appointed a commander for a large-scale strategic operation.

This suited Ye Chen perfectly. Once the ruins were breached, his priority was finding the Divine Blood; being a commander would only impede his movements.

"Rest your troops today; departure is tomorrow," Murong De ordered, before turning and exiting the room. ……