Chapter 552: Chapter 347: System Bug Fixed, Timeline Returns to Normal

’My poor, adorable little nieces and nephews... They barely get to see their father all year round.’ Shen Wenqian sighed to herself. But she was only their father’s cousin. Since neither her scumbag cousin nor her cousin-in-law, Erin, seemed to care, it wasn’t her place to interfere.

Besides, from the way her cousin-in-law Erin acted, it seemed she only wanted her cousin’s children, not the man himself—a classic case of wanting the child without the father.

Given the Melovanga Clan’s wealth and the fact that she was the sole heiress to the family fortune, a move like this was hardly surprising.

This wasn’t just a phenomenon abroad. It was quite common even within China, particularly in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang Region.

She had read a news report in which an obstetrician from Jiangsu and Zhejiang revealed that in recent years, a significant number of newborns had the "father" field on their birth certificates left blank.

Most of these new mothers were sole daughters from wealthy local families, dressed in Chanel and carrying Hermes bags.

The reasoning was likely that these wealthy families with only one daughter were worried about being taken advantage of—afraid a divorce would lead to an outsider splitting their family assets.

Yes, it was a new trend for the age of the alpha female. And the "fathers" in these arrangements were often handsome, top-performing students of outstanding character; they wouldn’t even glance at an ordinary man.

To be honest, with her cousin’s status as Earth’s number one powerhouse, not to mention he was devastatingly handsome, if he were willing to share his genes, the line of women waiting for them would probably stretch for decades.

Sigh. Times really had changed. It was the age of the alpha female.

Unfortunately, Shen Wenqian was more of a girl-next-door type. Besides, she had a younger brother and no great family fortune to inherit, so that path had nothing to do with her.

She snapped out of her reverie and comforted the children. "That’s not it at all. A father should spend time with his children, but your dad is just too busy. He’s the strongest person in the world, the guardian of all humanity, so he has too many responsibilities. You all have to study hard and be diligent in your Cultivation, so you can help ease his burden someday!"

"Aunt Qianqian, we’ll definitely work hard!" the children all eagerly promised.

...

「Li Family Village Underground City」

Li Xiang’s maternal grandfather came to find him. "Xiang’Er, the world’s about to turn upside down. Aren’t you bringing that girl, Qianqian, back home yet?"

Li Xiang smiled reassuringly. "Don’t worry, she’s perfectly safe. She’s my own cousin; would I really put her in a dangerous situation? She’s quite strong now, and besides, I have a lot of important work for her to handle."

Li Xiang had told his uncle that Shen Wenqian was about to become the Chief Arbitrator of the Extraordinary Talent Review Committee, but his uncle was a quiet man and probably hadn’t explained it clearly to his grandfather.

So, Li Xiang invited his grandfather to have a seat on the sofa and brewed him a cup of tea. As the two of them drank and chatted, Li Xiang explained his plans for his cousin in the simplest terms he could.

The newly established organization was called the "Extraordinary Talent Review Committee of the Global Anti-Exotic Beast Alliance." As a core department of the Anti-Exotic Beast Alliance wielding true power, it answered directly to the Alliance’s highest leadership, independent of the old United Nations framework.

In truth, the United Nations had long been a hollow shell. This was now the age of the Anti-Exotic Beast Alliance.

As Chief Arbitrator, Shen Wenqian was responsible for setting the standards for the talent review, overseeing the global process for bestowing Advanced Breathing Techniques and Body Techniques, and held the final say through a "Heart Image Judgment" on an applicant’s past actions.

Seeing his grandfather’s lack of reaction, Li Xiang hit him with the most important detail. "Her position, if you convert the annual salary to RMB, is about five million a year."

"Whoa." His grandfather’s face lit up instantly. "That’s wonderful, just wonderful. But you have to guarantee her safety."

"Don’t worry. The network is still fine for now. She’ll basically be telecommuting, so she won’t need to leave," Li Xiang assured him.

The global fiber optic cables also ran underground, linking the major Underground Cities. They hadn’t been damaged yet, so remote work was still feasible.

Heat Coins had already been issued but weren’t yet in wide circulation. There would be a transitional period, but they were destined to become the single, globally recognized currency. Converted to Heat Coins, Shen Wenqian’s annual salary was about 1.2 million.

No matter which currency system was used, it was an undeniably high salary.

This salary was funded jointly by the member nations of the Anti-Exotic Beast Alliance and incorporated into the Alliance’s core budget.

As for the Spiritual Medicine Li Xiang frequently gave her, that was a token of a cousin’s affection and not part of her salary package.

...

It was a rare occasion for Li Xiang to be home, and many people came to visit. Seeing how busy he was, his grandfather decided not to disturb him further.

At two in the afternoon, he and Jiang Cai’Er delivered a speech in the central plaza of the Underground City. It was broadcast throughout the main city and its twelve satellite cities to calm the people’s hearts.

Many old acquaintances who had known Li Xiang for a long time were filled with emotion as they witnessed the scene.

For example, some of Jiang Cai’Er’s old teachers from her school days, their relatives, her former classmates, and their families had nearly all moved in. The teachers, of course, went back to their old trade, putting their talents to use in the Underground City’s new schools.

Then there was the smithy Li Xiang had visited when he first returned home, the one Jiang Jianguo had recommended. The owner’s surname was Lei, and his ancestors hailed from Lei Family Gully. He had, of course, moved his smithy into the Underground City to continue his ancestral trade.

His smithy, it had to be said, was doing excellent business. The Underground City’s militia didn’t just train with firearms; they also practiced with all sorts of melee weapons. The first volume of *Li’s Breathing Method and Body Techniques* included various Martial Arts in its Body Techniques section, many of which involved skills with such weapons.

All these weapons needed to be forged and, over time, repaired. Master Lei had even hired several apprentices, planning to make his business bigger and better.

Although Li Xiang was an expert at creating Crystal Gold Armor and had forged numerous Extraordinary Spiritual Soldiers and conventional weapons, he was, after all, juggling countless responsibilities. He had his own Cultivation to focus on and was a pillar of the resistance against the Exotic Beasts. He simply didn’t have time for such minor tasks.

「Three days before the Apocalypse.」

Li Xiang left again. He visited Erin and the children and also spoke with his cousin, warning them that when the darkness fell, they should focus on defense and staying hidden, not on launching attacks.

Erin desperately wanted Li Xiang to stay, but she knew it was impossible. She could only hold him in a passionate embrace, unwilling to part for a long, long time.

Shen Wenqian rolled her eyes from the sidelines. ’Seriously, you two? Can’t you get a room? I’m standing right here, and I’ve never even been in a relationship! This is way too much PDA for me.’

After watching for a dozen or so seconds, Shen Wenqian went back to the children.

Li Xiang lifted Erin into his arms. An earthy yellow light flared, and the two of them disappeared deep into the ground.

A full three hours passed before Li Xiang finally departed.

At the Mount Fuji Shelter, Chiba Yuki had long since taken refuge with the Twin Gouyu. In addition to the mother and her daughters, she had sheltered more than ten other girls and five female kitchen staff, all of whom were former employees of her hot spring resort.

The Twin Gouyu were now fourteen, their hair in high ponytails, and they stood tall and elegant. Meanwhile, Chiba Yuki, having reached the Saint Tier, had not aged a day. In fact, she looked even younger and more beautiful than when she first met Li Xiang. The three of them standing together looked like an older sister with her two younger siblings.

Chiba Yuki was a Saint Tier, and the Twin Gouyu were both Tier Fifteen. Their group was actually stronger than Erin’s. Li Xiang gave them the same warning: focus on staying hidden and defending, and do not initiate an attack.

The moment Li Xiang and Chiba Yuki sank deep into the ground, Asatsuyu pulled Yukigiri into a secret room. "Quick, the Glimmering Moon Ice Mirror!"

Three hours later, Li Xiang departed. With a flicker, his form reappeared in the Amazon Jungle of South America.

"Paya!" Yaki Toto exclaimed, overcome with emotion as he moved to kneel.

Li Xiang lifted him up and asked about his situation.

Yaki Toto explained that they also possessed *Li’s Breathing Method and Body Techniques*. However, the local indigenous tribes were illiterate. Apart from Yaki Toto himself, no one else could read the text, so he had to teach everyone personally.

"Focus on staying hidden and preserving your strength," Li Xiang instructed. Yaki Toto’s group was the weakest of all. Still, they at least had one Extraordinary Being, whereas the other Underground Cities, though lacking Extraordinary Beings, were equipped with modern weaponry.

"Paya, I have a request I hope you will grant," Yaki Toto said, dropping to his knees again.

"Stop kneeling all the time. Just tell me what you need," Li Xiang said, stopping him.

"Could you please take my son and daughter to Li Family Village?" Yaki Toto asked, his gaze pleading. He wasn’t sure if Li Xiang would agree.

He had become the leader of his tribe, defeating and absorbing several rival tribes that had tried to seize his territory during the great flood. His population had grown substantially, but this place was ultimately primitive. If he could send his children to Li Family Village, his mind would be at ease.

The conditions in the Li Family Village Underground City were far superior and much safer than life in the primeval rainforests of South America. Plus, by being close to Li Xiang, they might even get a chance to receive his personal guidance.

"Fine. Bring them here. I’ll take them with me in a moment. I’ll get them enrolled in school first."

Yaki was ecstatic. He immediately ran out and returned carrying his five-year-old son and three-year-old daughter.

Though young, the two children had a notable Spiritual quality. Li Xiang took them, one in each arm, and returned to Li Family Village.

Jiang Cai’Er asked, "Don’t tell me these are your secret love children?"

Li Xiang replied, "Oh, come on. Take a look, they don’t even resemble me. If you really don’t believe it, you can draw some of their blood for a paternity test."

"Heh, never mind then." Jiang Cai’Er gave Li Xiang a look that was not quite a smile.

After a moment of silence, Li Xiang said, "I have to go to the Moon. I might be gone for many days, so keep the base safe."

"Don’t worry, I’m here," Jiang Cai’Er said. She knew Li Xiang’s plan was to intercept their great enemy in outer space, a strategy they had long since agreed upon.

By attacking the Exotic Beasts from behind, he hoped to draw the bulk of their firepower, thereby easing the pressure on the battlefields of Earth.

If not for her duty to guard the base, Jiang Cai’Er would have wanted nothing more than to go with him.

"Before I leave, how about we..." Li Xiang said, winking suggestively.

Jiang Cai’Er shot him a look. "...I’m going to check if the children are asleep."

A short while later, Jiang Cai’Er returned. She and Li Xiang then sank deep into the ground together.

That night, Li Xiang secretly visited Yao Yao, Zhao Xueqing, and Lei Xiaohui as well.

Despite the series of marathon encounters, Li Xiang remained full of vigor.

He was now a Tier Twenty-Two powerhouse. His two "Endurance" Inscriptions had merged into a single Great Inscription named "Fierce Battle." His amorous encounters with the women barely drained his stamina or vitality. On the contrary, he felt refreshed and was in better condition than ever.

In reality, the reason for Li Xiang’s "indulgence" was purely due to the immense pressure he was under. Plus, he didn’t know if he would come back alive.

’If I die on the Moon, this will truly be the final farewell. I don’t even know if I can be reborn again...’

...

After a flight of about eight hours, Li Xiang arrived on the Moon. Activating his Nine Nether Falsehood-Breaking Gaze, he peered into the vast distance.

An underground base had been built here before, and many nations had sent scientific personnel to conduct research. Of course, the base was led primarily by China, so all the signs were in Chinese. Researchers from other countries were required to learn Chinese before coming up.

Now, the place was completely deserted.

Li Xiang sat cross-legged on a stone on the far side of the Moon and began his Cultivation.

At his Realm of Tier Twenty-Two, four spiritual springs had welled up within his Spirit Pool.

Li Xiang came to a faint understanding: these springs were markers for minor realms. Across the Saint Tier, from Tier Nineteen to Tier Twenty-Eight, there should be a total of ten such springs.

An unknown amount of time passed before a system prompt jolted him from his deep Cultivation. "System bug fixed. Timeline adjusted to align with reality."

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