A year passes by, and another begins.

The New Year is a fresh start.

The New Year in North County isn't as lively as in previous years. Due to the Can Shang Company, the entire power system of North County has lost its energy supply, leading to a cancellation of satellite networks and signal coverage.

The Ancient Array can only maintain the climate, fend off external invasions, and enhance the effect of Gathering Spirit... but it doesn't provide energy or other advanced technologies.

Throughout North County, it's pitch black at night, and nothing is visible.

"Ah!" A scream as piercing as a prairie dog's echoed from the room.

Han Zhan and the others rushed in with a candle, only to see Li Lingzhen crouched on a chair, looking hopelessly at the front where a computer had automatically shut down due to a dead battery.

"I wrote a five thousand-word draft and didn't save it, the computer shut down automatically because of the power loss..." Li Lingzhen said with a mournful face.

"It's okay, it's okay, it's just five thousand words." Han Zhan comforted.

"But those five thousand words were the essence I've accumulated in my mind for a long time!" Li Lingzhen struggled to argue.

Essence? Then it's even less of a big deal.

If those five thousand words really spread, who knows how many people's minds would turn dirty, Amitabha.

"Damn Can Shang Company, truly damn it! The power outage has caused us such a big obstacle! My readers have been cursing me for not updating for over ten days in the comments section. I told them I was fighting the Insect Race, and they mocked me for bragging!"

Li Lingzhen's phone still had a little bit of battery left, and with her last bar of signal, she could barely surf the internet.

Sure enough, on her phone, the top-liked comments were all urging her to update, and some were criticizing her for ending the story abruptly like a eunuch.

Han Zhan glanced at Li Lingzhen, the eunuch part wasn't wrong, but unfortunately, it lacked impact.

In the highest pinned comment in the comments section, Li Lingzhen indeed left a message explaining her lack of updates, and the comments below were much more aggressive.

—"A banned book author like you, going to fight the Insect Race? Why not say you're an SSS Level Contracted Spirit?"

—"The author must be in Deep Blue City; I heard an insect disaster broke out there, condolences."

—"Pah, no updates from the eunuch without a reason. If you lack inspiration, hurry and find some inspiration for me! I want to see an update today, or I'll chop my head off and show it to you!"

—"Give me your address, I want to send you some local specialty products."

The densely packed comments, who knew Li Lingzhen was so adept at this, had developed quite well.

Most of the people in the comments section were Great Xia People, but now the vast land they lived in had already changed owners.

To ordinary people, this change of land ownership didn't feel like anything—it was just a change of rulers, nothing more.

There are quite a few people who think like this.

Looking at these sarcastic comments, Li Lingzhen gritted her teeth even more, typing on the keyboard at such a speed that it could be described as her ten fingers flying, to the point of creating afterimages with each keystroke.

Xia Youwei had to cough to remind her, "Lingzhen, today there are new materials and new inspiration, are you planning to argue with these people until dawn?"

"I just want to argue with them... new materials and new inspiration?" At this point, Li Lingzhen suddenly raised her head, her eyes shining as she looked at Han Zhan and, standing beside him, the stunningly beautiful and tall Gongyang Jin.

She suddenly understood!

Ever since Gongyang Jin woke up, they had been wandering, and it was only now they settled down in North County.

As the latest Xuanyuan Sword Contracted Spirit, Gongyang Jin hadn't figured out the situation, but seeing Xia Youwei and Li Lingzhen eagerly pulling her aside, the three of them began whispering.

Xia Youwei: "Gurgle gurgle gurgle."

Li Lingzhen: "Quack quack quack."

Gongyang Jin: "Buzz buzz buzz!"

Han Zhan looked at these three cryptic communicators in front of him with a helpless expression.

After a while, whatever they had discussed, they simultaneously raised their heads to look at Han Zhan,

that look made Han Zhan's heart skip a beat.

The three of them stepped forward, surrounding Han Zhan. Under their interrogation, Han Zhan could only confess under duress.

...

In the middle of the night, Gongyang Jin woke from her sleep.

Beside her, Xia Youwei and Li Lingzhen were still in deep slumber.

Despite their carefree appearance, what they had just discussed was actually figuring out a way to help Han Zhan relax and not be on edge all the time.

That's why Gongyang Jin eventually agreed to their excessive suggestion.

Gongyang Jin wasn't a Great Xia Person by origin and didn't carry the same deep sorrow as Xia Youwei and Li Lingzhen, so she was cooperating with the other three as much as possible.

Except for the two sleeping soundly, she couldn't find a trace of Han Zhan nearby.

Gongyang Jin put on her coat and walked out, only to see Han Zhan standing alone on the balcony, lost in thought.

"It's so late, and you're not asleep yet, little brother?" Gongyang Jin joked lightly.

At the sound of her voice, Han Zhan turned his head. His gaze landed on Gongyang Jin, who was only wearing a coat, with a hint of warmth in his eyes. "Woman, you're provoking me. Is it not obvious who's small here?"

"Hehe." Gongyang Jin chuckled a few times, acknowledging Han Zhan's retort.

After the jokes, the conversation returned to serious matters.

Han Zhan looked into the distance, feeling the faint chill conveyed by the breeze.

"The Ancient Array, after all, is just an emergency measure left by the teacher. It works for a while but not forever."

"Why do you say that?"

"You must feel it too, right? Like this Four Seasons Spring Array, its Array Power is weakening. The cold in the air is the external temperature; the array is weakening. It might not be noticeable now, but the process of weakening will definitely continue."

"I've heard about this." Getting serious, Gongyang Jin shared her assessment, "Ancient Arrays aren't new; they're all unearthed from ruins."

"But because they originate from Ancient Times, no one has been able to understand these arrays' principles for hundreds of years. We can only watch as they gradually lose energy until the core energy runs out and the array can no longer be activated."

"Without foresight, there will be immediate worries, and I'm just worried that such a situation will occur." Han Zhan sighed, admitting honestly.

Gongyang Jin stepped closer, soothingly touching Han Zhan's brow. "You're quick to get into the right state, already worrying about the country and its people so fast."

"Don't worry, there will be a way. Don't forget, you have other senior brothers whose knowledge is broader than yours; they'll have solutions."

"Unfortunately, my strength is greatly reduced now, and it's hard for me to help you much." Gongyang Jin sighed.

Han Zhan walked to her side, gently taking her soft hand. "Everything will be alright."

"I know a method to quickly increase cultivation, do you want to try it?" Gongyang Jin's awkward topic shift was as clumsy as "my cat can do a backflip."

Han Zhan noted with interest, "Then let's try it?"

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.