The Wine Master's face darkened. "You didn't even tell us before you took this risk.
If only … "
Lan Jue smirked. "It's fine, there's no 'if's. I'm back alive, aren't I?
Don't be angry. What's more important now is to destroy the aliens. "
Lan Qing had already made his way over to them. He bowed respectfully to the Wine Master. "My apologies, Wine Master, and all of the Avenue's Majesties.
We had no choice but to take this risk.
When I was formulating the plan, I understood that on the battlefield, even if we did everything we could, the chances of us winning in the end would be very small.
Even if we did win, we wouldn't have enough power to face the alien home worlds.
We had to attack from both sides, we couldn't afford to miss this opportunity. "
The Wine Master and Skyfire Avenue's Paragons didn't say anything. They could see the exhaustion in Lan Qing's eyes.
As the commander-in-chief of the three armies, the pressure on him was undoubtedly the greatest. This was a battle that concerned the survival of the entire human race!
He'd had to send his brother into the most dangerous of situations. His burden was no less than anyone else's.
But he had no other choice.
He'd succeeded.
Not only had they won the battle, but Lan Jue's plan had been a success.
Humanity still had the strength to launch another attack. The Banishing Blades could also form the Banishing Strategy. Humanity's chances had improved.
"Admiral Lan Qing," the Keeper said, "we had the upper hand in the last battle. Should we regroup and attack again?
Our collective strength should be enough to fight the aliens.
Although the Celestial Eradication Sword Formation is powerful in the legends, none of us have seen it before. Moreover, our current abilities are not enough to truly set up this sword formation. If we fail, then everything will be for naught.
I don't think we can pin everything on a single possibility. "
Lan Qing nodded. "That's what I'm thinking. But we've spent a lot of energy in the last battle.
Even without Poseidon's battleship transformation, we'd need at least five days of rest before we'd be able to fight again.
Middle Heaven's energy core is unstable, we won't be able to use it much longer. "
The Keeper nodded. "I hope the aliens don't finish their evolution in five days," the Bookworm said.
"I have an idea," the Wine Master interjected.
"Admiral Lan Qing, since you've been chosen to be part of the Banishing Strategy, I think you should return to Angel with the Jewelry Master, Qian Lin, and the Pharmacist. Don't participate in the upcoming battle.
Leave the rest to us. We'll be weaker in command, but we'll be able to weaken the aliens as much as we can. We'll give you a chance to use the Banishing Strategy. "
The Wine Master's words were calm, but Lan Ting could hear the determination in the Cosmagus' voice.
Jueti had sacrificed his life for this war. None of the Paragons would back down.
Lan Qing thought for a moment. "I understand what you mean, but please give me time to think about it.
Moreover, I have to evaluate whether the Fairy Eradication Sword Formation can really succeed before I can continue with the next step of the plan.
I'll ask Senior Li Ke how long it will take for the aliens to evolve. "
The Wine Master nodded. "Very well, we'll do as you say.
No matter what happens, we'll support you. "
As they conversed, Jun Er, nestled in Lan Jue's arms, began to cry.
"Daddy, I see him." Jun Er whispered into Lan Jue's ear.
Lan Jue shuddered. "What did Jun Er see?"
Jun 'er murmured, "I saw another father.
He's sad, I can feel it.
But he doesn't really exist.
Mommy is sad too. That daddy will be gone.
Daddy, what should I do? "
Lan Jue gently stroked her daughter's hair. "I don't know. But no matter what, Jun Er is my daughter."
"Yes.
Jun Er loves daddy. "She wrapped her arms around Lan Jue's neck. Her little body trembled.
Lan Jue felt a tug at her heart. Jun Er was a good girl.
The lounge.
Li Ke and the Pharmacist stood face to face. Tears streamed down her cheeks.
The Pharmacist stared at the man in front of her. How many years had it been?
How many years had it been since she'd seen him so clearly?
In fact, in the deepest recesses of her memory, his figure was a blur.
She'd been alone for so many years. No one knew the pain she'd endured.
She'd raised her children alone. Her daughter was blind, and every day she'd had to endure the pain of her husband's death.
It was this torment that had kept her on the brink of collapse. When she'd learned that her husband had been swallowed by Monarch, she'd decided to die for him.
To her, living was much, much more painful than dying.
Today she'd finally seen him again. He looked as if he'd disappear at any moment. It was as if he could leave her at any moment.
His figure grew clearer and clearer, his eyes filled with pain and anguish. She could only imagine how much he'd sacrificed to keep his consciousness intact in the fight against the alien planets.
Wasn't it all to see her again?
Now, they had finally met, but both of them didn't know what to say.
"Are you … are you alright?"
In the end, it was Li Ke who spoke first. However, as soon as he said this, his expression couldn't help but collapse. How could she be fine?
The Pharmacist stared at him. She didn't answer. She wanted so badly to throw herself into his arms, just like so many years ago.
But there wasn't even a body left of him. She didn't have that feeling anymore. She didn't have those strong arms anymore.
"I miss you!" The Pharmacist murmured. "Li Ke, I can't take it anymore. Do you know?
I'm alone, I'm so lonely. I miss you. I think about you every day. I think about everything we've been through.
Every day I hope for a miracle. That you've been taken away by a wormhole. One day you'll come back. "
"Day after day passed. My hope grew slimmer and slimmer. But I kept telling myself I had to be strong. I had to wait for you.
For my daughter, I waited for you with her.
When she was little she'd always ask me why daddy wasn't back yet.
I told her he'd gone on a mission far away, but he'd come back.
Every time she asked, my heart ached. I missed you just as much as she did. I wanted you to come back just as much as she did. "
"Jun 'er was our daughter. She was born eight months after you left.
Because of your disappearance I was overcome with grief. The Banishing Blade's aura infected me.
Therefore, his daughter was born blind.
I'm so sorry. "
"No, no!" Li Ke closed his eyes in agony. "It's all my fault. It's all my fault.
If I hadn't been so desperate for success, I wouldn't have had to go on that mission.
I wouldn't have left you.
Jun 'er, our daughter … it's all because of me. I'm so sorry! "
At this point, he was choking with sobs. However, he was only in the state of light and shadow, so he couldn't even shed tears.
The Pharmacist shook her head. "I couldn't stand my daughter's questions. I asked the Jewelry Master to pretend to be you. He had an aura similar to yours, and he was from the Eastern Alliance.
Jun 'er was so happy. She thought her father was back. Thanks to the Jewelry Master, he filled in the image of a father in Jun' er's heart.
He gave me a glimmer of hope.
Later, I began to bring my daughter out of the house and into the outside world. Her personality finally became more cheerful. "
"I could find a way to deal with my daughter's longing for you, but I couldn't. I couldn't let it go.
Every day I wondered why you hadn't come back.
I was angry. I was angry. Why did you have to go on that mission?
But in the end, I could only beg the heavens bitterly, begging them to return you to me. As long as you can come back, I'm willing to do anything! "At this point, she was already sobbing uncontrollably.
Li Ke floated in front of her and tried to hold her. But he couldn't. He had no body, he couldn't even communicate his emotions.
After a long time the Pharmacist's emotions began to subside. She lifted her head and looked at Li Ke with tearful eyes. "Then one day I learned from the Violet Prince that you had been swallowed by the alien planets. The last shred of hope I had left in my heart was gone. Gone without a trace.
At that moment, my heart was no longer in pain. Instead, it was instantly emptied, leaving only a blank space in my empty heart.
I broke through to become a Paragon. It was our dream, but you weren't there to keep me company.
Without you, even if I became the strongest man in the world, what would be the point? "
"So I thought of death. No matter what, I had to see Ultus again. I didn't have any hope. I just wanted to die with you.
I was the only one left in my heart. I didn't even think about my daughter.
Wasn't that selfish of me? "
"No, it wasn't."
Li Ke's voice was trembling as well. Even his body in the state of light was trembling violently.
Beg.