Chapter 640: Chapter 539: New Year (End of Volume 3)

Two months later, on Blue Star.

It has been a full two months since that final battle.

Humanity’s ability to recover after the war is astounding.

Moreover, with the support of the Celestial Net AI, the post-war reconstruction work is progressing rapidly.

The several major forces originally on Blue Star,

the Imperial, Can Shang Company, Longevity Company, Old Covenant, Crimson Insect Race, have all been annihilated.

Great Xia has naturally become the number one power on Blue Star, and is now the only power!

As for the populace.

Because of the golden rain from the World Tree, all the cultivators are mostly unharmed.

At most, the separation from their origin has left them with soul wounds that though healable, still leave lingering mental shadows.

For this, Great Xia has made special arrangements for professional psychological treatment.

This involves Xia Youwei traveling to various cities to play the Fu Xi Zither, using the sounds of the zither to heal their mental afflictions.

In terms of infrastructure.

With the full cooperation of these three major figures: Celestial Net AI Bob, Shang Jianyue, and Shang Siteng.

They have redefined the construction plans for Blue Star as a whole.

The aim is to transform Blue Star into a super-technological civilization.

Shang Siteng and Shang Jianyue have also improved the theoretical upper limit of technological civilization level, raising it from the original level 6 to level 7.

Technological civilization level 7 should take the planet (Fruit World) as a unit, using divine power (such as Divine Heart) as the basic energy source for the super-technological civilization.

Blue Star is still a long way from this level.

But at least a direction has been set, and moving forward step by step, the day will come.

The Celestial Net has already been laid out across the entire Blue Star in these two months.

With the Celestial Net, people’s lifestyle and living environment have become much more suitable.

Second Brother Lin Jingxuan’s Heaven and Earth Array has been withdrawn from the former area of Great Xia’s influence.

Because now the entire Blue Star is the territory of Great Xia, there is no longer any need to guard against or isolate anything.

For the general populace, especially those with childlike hearts, this is huge good news.

Because they no longer need to take the Star Iron Express to play in the snow in extremely remote places.

Even at home, through thermal glass windows, they can enjoy the winter snow scene outside the window.

Sometimes, not everyone longs for a place where it feels like spring all year round; perhaps this is just how it is.

The above changes are within Blue Star.

And there are changes beyond Blue Star.

After the Bodhi Treasure Tree unlocked its progress and fully grew into the World Tree, the cosmos outside Blue Star has also changed.

The previous star sea and stars have completely vanished under Yi Fan’s devouring.

The current cosmos is a void, dark and deep.

Only a towering tree stands, rooted in this endless darkness.

The World Tree.

It uses the void as nourishment to grow.

The branches of the whole tree crisscross like a grand canopy, with countless golden leaves, moving without wind and scattering faint golden light particles.

On the stout main trunk, eight fruits are hanging.

Each fruit is as large as a planet.

Among them, six fruits are in an unactivated state, dim and non-luminous.

Only two fruits are shining brilliantly, echoing the golden glow of the World Tree.

The Blue Star Fruit World belongs to one of these two fruits!

...

Julu Pass.

It’s snowing heavily again.

Just like two years ago.

Two years ago, Han Zhan and the Great Xia people retreated to North County. They had just experienced displacement and the sacrifice of their leader, and with the New Year approaching, they couldn’t even meet basic needs.

Two years later, Julu Pass has undergone a complete transformation, becoming a popular tourist spot for the people of Great Xia, as it records the legendary leader Han Zhan’s journey of growth.

Li Shutong’s statue still gazes towards the south.

The new leader of Great Xia, Han Zhan, has fully fulfilled his promises.

He led Great Xia in reclaiming lost territory, he has done it.

He avenged his mentor Li Shutong, vanquishing those behind-the-scenes forces, he has done it.

He has protected Great Xia and its people, becoming a truly qualified leader, he has done it!

"It’s just a bit of wind and frost."

This was what Han Zhan said to inspire others when he first arrived at Julu Pass.

At that time, some might have mocked in their hearts: an inexperienced youth, by coincidence became a leader, what rights does he have to say such lighthearted words without accomplishments?

But now.

Having gone through Titan City, City of Extreme Evil, Imperial War, Can Shang War, and the final Crimson War.

Having experienced Hundred Herbs Sacred Heart, Fu Lai Instrumental, Wilderness of Zhulu, Kunlun Twin Fruit World.

Looking back.

Standing before his mentor’s remains and statue, he said the same sentence again.

"It’s just a bit of wind and frost."

The only difference is.

This time, no one doubts!

...

Han Zhan returned to his residence.

At this moment, the house was bustling with excitement.

Today is their third New Year at Julu Pass.

Unlike the previous two New Years, there are many more people celebrating together this time.

In the kitchen, the true chef Fan Chaohui was busy, with Xia Youwei and Gongyang Jin assisting him.

Yu Lian and Zhan Ning were responsible for serving the dishes, their coordination seamless.

Elder Bing Li Tugui sat at the seat first.

He was reluctant to sit in the main seat, but under Han Zhan’s insistence, he had no choice but to sit there.

According to Han Zhan, you are the mentor’s brother, and also our elder.

In this house, there are no official positions, no military ranks; the person most qualified to sit in the main seat can only be the elder, none other than him.

What’s more, if it weren’t for the Li Family twins delaying for a hundred years for Great Xia, allowing the next generation to develop and grow, the Great Xia might have long ceased to exist in name.

On Li Tugui’s left, sat Lin Jingxuan and his wife, Wei Qing and his wife, Ye Qiu, and Shen Zheqi and his wife, in that order.

They were chatting casually.

Due to Lin Jingxuan’s influence, their conversation mostly revolved around their respective work.

Wen Suya lightly pinched Lin Jingxuan under the table, abruptly interrupting this workaholic Grand Xia Commander-in-Chief’s state.

Perhaps only Wen Suya is capable of physically disrupting Tier Nine Ultimate Powerhouse Lin Jingxuan’s "casting."

Seeing Lin Jingxuan come to his senses and stop, Wei Qing, Shen Zheqi, Ye Qiu, and even Li Tugui quietly sighed in relief.

"Come on, come on, serving the dishes!"

At this moment, Li Lingzhen’s excited voice came through.

A steaming giant hotpot was brought in by Artifact Refining Master Dong Dachui.

Yes, it perfectly satisfied the hotpot lovers’ fantasy and requirements for an oversized hotpot banquet serving dozens of people.

Once the other delicious dishes had also been served, Han Zhan raised the wine glass in front of him.

The glass was filled with a brew specially made by top-level winemaker Chen Zui, the aroma delightful.

With everyone’s gaze on him, Han Zhan was the first to raise his glass.

"To Great Xia!"

Everyone smiled and raised their glasses with him.

"To Great Xia!"