Once the wheels of war are set in motion, they crush forward with astonishing speed.

The vast war machine of the Jade Land operates efficiently, dividing into three paths like three unsheathed swords, resolutely piercing into the territory of the Ancient Ruins through the main strategic channels penetrating the plane barriers. These three routes are the Rift Valley Corridor in the Southern Territory, the Giant Steps in the Central Region, and the Eagle's Nest Pass in the North.

Despite the Freemasonry Church's years of control over the Ancient Ruins, anticipating potential attacks from the Jade Land, and establishing strong defenses at the exits of the three major channels to store heavy troops, they severely underestimated their opponent's strength.

What they faced was no longer the chaotic land split by warlords and internal conflict decades ago. After decades of iron-fisted integration and resource investment by Lynch, the Jade Land has now become a highly unified and war-ready powerful entity.

Armies from different races and occupational systems, under unified command, demonstrated a terrifying ability for coordinated combat.

In the early stages of the war, the forces of the Jade Land exhibited a momentum of swift destruction:

In the first month of the war, the southern army, with the support of elite adventurers' guild, combined surprise attacks with strong offensives to first capture Twilight Fortress, which guarded the exit of the Rift Valley Corridor, opening the southern gateway.

The following month, the central army, with the fanatical Holy Temple Legion of the Light Church and the iron flood of the Orendale Empire, crushed forward. After more than ten days of fierce siege battles, they successfully seized the hub of the Giant Steps, Rock City, completely dismantling the church's central defense core.

At the beginning of the third month, the northern army, with extensive spell support from the Wizards of the Ice Castle and repeated charges from the Blood Knight Order, after nearly a month of tug-of-war and attrition, eventually crushed the final barrier at Eagle's Nest Pass, Frostwind Castle.

Thus, in just a short span of three months, the three strategic strongholds relied upon by the Freemasonry Church to resist foreign enemies were captured and occupied by the Jade Land one by one. With the fall of these three strongest bastions, the path to the heart of the Ancient Ruins land was wide open, with no further defensive terrain ahead, only vast and unobstructed plains.

The army of the Jade Land, like a flood beyond the levee, is about to pour in. Establishing a new order is now within reach.

...

In a small wooden house covered in mist at the northern border of the Ancient Ruins land.

Inside the house, the furnishings are simple, with only the central dancing fireplace dispelling the cold of the forest. Lynch sits quietly on a rough wooden chair, eyes lowered, gazing at the light screen formed by thin smoke in front of him.

Within the light screen, several clear figures are slightly floating, evidently the core leaders from various parts of the Jade Land—Scarlet Flame Councilman Fred, Holy Daughter of Light Julia, Witch Master Jeraf of the Jade Tower, and Kalsa of the Witch Castle.

Despite being separated by thousands of miles, through this mysterious communication spell, their voices and images are transmitted here without hindrance.

"Master." Fred, sitting in the foremost position in the light screen, spoke first, his voice steady with habitual reverence, "The three armies are advancing smoothly, and the encirclement of the 'Golden Ears Corridor' in the Central Plain has been completed according to the scheduled plan. The logistics supply lines are clear, and the army corps are high in spirit."

Next, Julia's ethereal voice sounded, yet it carried an undeniable firmness: "Under the guidance of the Light, the Holy Church Army has purified seventeen stubborn church strongholds along the way, capturing over three hundred priests, all subjected to sacred imprisonment. May their souls find redemption in the judgment." Her words bore a kind of righteous severity of a victor.

"The Mage Group of the Jade Tower has taken over three key magic power nodes," Jeraf's voice was concise and precise, like the runes he manipulated, "The regional magic net disorder is stabilizing, and it is expected that a stable long-distance teleportation array will be established within three days, greatly enhancing troop deployment and resource allocation efficiency."

Lastly, Kalsa's cold face remained expressionless, her report was the briefest: "Remaining resistance forces in the Northern Territory have been cleared, the Ice Barrier is deployed. Ready to support the main forces to advance eastward at any time."

Everyone reported one by one, clearly presenting the pulse of the vast battlefield in this tranquil forest abode.

Lynch listened quietly, fingers tapping lightly on the wooden armrest unconsciously, the gray in his eyes reflecting the flowing images and data in the light screen, seemingly having fully grasped the battlefield situation.

After everyone finished reporting, Lynch nodded slightly, his calm voice transmitted through the light screen to every leader's ear: "The progress of the war is smooth; thank you all for your hard work."

He paused briefly and then dropped a decision that stirred all the figures in the light screen: "From now on, any area independently conquered and stabilized by your respective forces is allowed to establish outposts, resource collection points, or permanent strongholds according to their own developmental needs."

He clearly laid out the rules: "All resources obtained at such strongholds, including but not limited to minerals, magic plants, population, and knowledge heritage, except for knowledge heritage, fifty percent of the remaining must be submitted to the central treasury of the Jade Land, to maintain the overall war machine's operation and subsequent development."

"The remaining fifty percent can be freely allocated by you to strengthen the military, cultivate talent, or any area you deem necessary."

Once these words were spoken, even the most composed Fred couldn't help but show a glint in his eyes; the corners of Julia's mouth lifted slightly and uncontrollably; Jeraf adjusted his sitting position subconsciously; even the usually indifferent Kalsa had a barely noticeable movement of her brows.

An intense yet repressed atmosphere of excitement and fervor instantly spread among the leaders.

Engaging in this interplanar expedition certainly involves executing Lynch's will and expanding the power map, but who can deny that territorial expansion and the acquisition of rich war spoils aren't the most primal and direct motivators driving countless soldiers under their command to fight bravely?

"We shall abide by your will! Thank you for your grace!" Fred was the first to respond, placing his right hand on his chest, deeply bowing, his voice filled with genuine gratitude.

"Praise your generosity and wisdom! The Light shall illuminate these newly born territories!" Julia followed, her ethereal voice barely able to conceal her joy.

"The Jade Tower will not disappoint." Jeraf's words were concise but his tone was evidently more enthusiastic.

"The Witch Castle, at your command." Kalsa also slightly bowed.

Everyone expressed their gratitude, the solemn atmosphere during the previous war report was wiped away, replaced by a clear goal and full-throttle fighting spirit. The lure of resources doubtlessly injected another strong catalyst into this war.

As the smoke cloud of the small house gradually dissipated with the end of the communication, the last bit of light and shadow escaped into the air, returning to silence.

Lynch sat quietly for a moment, then calmly stood up. Standing in the center of the small wooden house, he didn't make any complex actions, just casually sliced through the air with his fingers as a blade—

"Screech!"

In response, a space crack bearing a silver luster on the edges and unfathomable depth in its interior opened, maintained by the stable power of space rules, without causing any chaos.

Subsequently, an indescribable pure, warm, and vast brilliance emanated from the depths of that crack, instantly dispelling all shadows and cold within the wooden house, as if a miniature sun was introduced here. The air became sacred and solemn, faintly echoing with a chorus-like harmony at the soul level.

Amidst this endless brilliance, a breathtaking figure slowly emerged from the crack.

She had a graceful and upright posture, seemingly embodying all concepts of "light" and "beauty." Her long silver-gray hair, like flowing moonlight and starlight, cascaded naturally down, the tips appearing to flicker and dissipate with tiny sparks.

Her face couldn't be precisely described in mortal words; it was a purity and supremacy surpassing race, gender, and desire. Her eyes seemed to contain two newborn dawns, warm, compassionate, yet indifferent and divine as they gazed upon all beings.

Bathed in a soft yet undeniable halo, she appeared as the embodiment of the law of "light."

It was none other than the Light Goddess, Messiah.

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