Army Club.

The explosive music was deafening, and many men and women were dancing closely together in the dance floor; the atmosphere was heated, and most were white people.

Chen Shouyi felt a bit uncomfortable walking in here, as such scenes were nonexistent on the battlefield in Great Xia.

"Hey handsome, want to dance together?" a scantily clad, voluptuous white woman provocatively asked aloud.

"Interested in having a drink?" another woman said.

Chen Shouyi reached out and grabbed a hand attempting to get fresh: "Sorry, I'm not interested."

He gently squeezed past several women.

"First time here, huh?" Li Wenwu smiled and then lowered his voice with a cheeky expression: "White folks here are quite open, except the Lucy Country ones who are slightly conservative; in the European Union, as long as you look pleasing, it's okay. It's convenient, and quite a few are from the entertainment troop; just pay a bit, and you're good."

Chen Shouyi looked at Li Wenwu with disdain.

Didn't expect even someone who looked solid and proper could be so worldly, truly a disgrace to the legendary Martial Artists.

"Is this your idea of a good place?" Chen Shouyi said. Coming here was not as fun as playing flight chess with the two little ones at his place.

"Where else can one relax except here on the battlefield?" Li Wenwu retorted.

Seems to have a point.

"What's the deal with the entertainment troop?" Chen Shouyi couldn't help but ask quietly.

"They're all looking to earn extra, or just here to freeload, all colors... you know, those without military uniforms." Li Wenwu said with a know-it-all demeanor.

I don't understand.

Chen Shouyi discreetly scanned his surroundings and indeed noticed quite a few.

...

The two ordered two pitchers of beer and a fruit platter, sitting in a corner.

"Another batch of expedition forces is about to arrive." Li Wenwu said.

"What scale?" Chen Shouyi spears an unnamable local fruit and stuffs it into his mouth.

"Reportedly totaling nine million, with four million from Great Xia Country."

Chen Shouyi nodded. The four million from Great Xia Country weren't entirely Great Xia nationals; many came from Great Xia's sphere of influence, including Rising Sun Country, Korea, South Asia, and the Middle East. The actual Great Xia soldiers were likely around two million. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

To some extent, the God of Lightning's approach was quite successful, at least slowing the pace of human warfare. During this period, most troops were stationed at the rear for operations, cleansing remnants, unable to continue expanding the fallen zones.

"How many troops are here now?"

"Altogether over ten million; by the way, this time India will also send troops." Li Wenwu suddenly remembered something and said.

"India?" Chen Shouyi asked, slightly surprised. Since the changes, India had been quite low-profile, barely any news domestically, and he thought it had already fallen.

"India is still strong, recently recovering quite well. You know about the Ascetic Summit?" Li Wenwu drank a sip of beer and asked.

"I've heard of him." Chen Shouyi said, Summit ranks third on the global combat list, the world's first legendary warrior, and a Martial Arts predecessor to Chen Shouyi.

Emerging from over seven billion people globally, there's no doubt he's a truly extraordinary figure.

It's like cheating.

"According to intel, he's also broken through to Sub-god status."

"Oh, that fast?" Chen Shouyi said surprised, thinking it would take a few more years.

"Reportedly, before cultivating, he was an actual ascetic; when he encountered Martial Arts, he was already thirty-five, having missed the golden age for cultivation." Li Wenwu said admiringly.

Chen Shouyi had heard about the ascetics from India.

Many followers of Yinxi Sect would pack up and let go after finishing all matters in the secular world to pursue cultivation; they were ragged, disheveled, starving, enduring cold and heat, some even abstaining for life.

They were a truly tough group, not tough on others, but tough on themselves.

For them, their flesh served merely as a shell.

During cultivation, some would hold their right hand up for thirty to forty years, causing the entire arm to decay, achieving cultivation through such methods.

Some ascetics even subjected themselves to fire, braved icy environments, buried themselves alive, wore shoes with spikes, or even hung themselves on trees, sometimes for days and nights!

These people pursued spiritual calm, steel-like determination. What seemed difficult to ordinary individuals, achieving introspection and forging their body was as simple as eating and drinking for them.

Just then, chaos suddenly broke out in the dance floor, a brawl erupted.

"Bang!"

A dull thud.

A military officer's body was knocked flying.

Chen Shouyi originally thought it was just a regular fight and didn't plan to intervene until he heard the intense sound of bones snapping, realizing something was off.

A white officer, face distorted, eyes bloodshot, emitted a deep roar, appearing insane. In this military club, he was like a wolf amidst sheep; each person he struck was either severely injured or on the brink of death.

No one dared approach him at that moment.

Frowning slightly, his thoughts moved; the air solidified, freezing the mad officer and nearby individuals in their actions.

Chen Shouyi stood up and walked over.

Li Wenwu followed immediately.

"What's going on?"

Chen Shouyi's voice wasn't loud, but somehow everyone felt a pressure like a mountain; their chests seemed to be blocked by a massive stone, causing shortness of breath. The original noisy sounds and screams quickly quieted.

As Chen Shouyi and Li Wenwu approached, the crowd hurriedly cleared a path; one panicked girl even fell to the ground.

"It's, God Chen."

Someone recognized Chen Shouyi and quickly spread across the venue; everyone was awestruck.

Chen Shouyi glanced at the two injured; one had their chest completely collapsed, the other's neck was twisted, only able to exhale with no intake, evidently already dead.

"Guess he was spiritually contaminated by the Barbarian God?" Li Wenwu said seriously.

"Spiritual contamination?" Chen Shouyi asked, puzzled.

"You may not have encountered it; many tribes have divine statues and temples. When demolishing them, divine descents often occur. Despite all these are destroyed remotely, and those responsible are the elite among elites, this still happens sometimes. This guy evidently got caught unconsciously. Worse is, it seems to be happening more frequently now." Li Wenwu said with a grave expression.

Chen Shouyi pondered thoughtfully.

Soon, the gendarmerie arrived upon receiving the news, controlling the contaminated individual.

...

In the days following, large numbers of soldiers were transported to the frontline daily, transport trucks continuously moving. Ten days later, the rear clearing operations gradually ended, leaving only sporadic fighting, as major forces began to expand again, reclaiming fallen zones.