Chapter 215. Strengthening the Nation

     The azure sea surface was suddenly split by the sword of light, leaving a chasm about half a meter wide. The gap was bottomless, with no end in sight, and furious waves surged on either side.  

     Wang Xue swallowed hard before speaking. “So the legend about the river being split in two is actually true. Unbelievable.”  

     “Won’t this cause any problems?” Watson gazed into the distance. His vision was sharp, yet he couldn’t see the edge of the chasm.  

     Ye Mo hadn’t expected the demigod artifact in her hands to unleash such terrifying power. She quickly sheathed the sword and sent Hawk Eye to investigate. “…Probably not?”  

     Unlike rivers, the sea was vast and held an immense amount of water. The split would heal in about thirty minutes, though the lingering sword energy might still have some effect.  

     Fortunately, there were no casualties. However, the three nearest islands had been unlucky enough to be split cleanly in half, an outcome that was nearly irreversible.  

     With such a massive open-air disturbance, it was impossible for satellite footage to completely miss it. Part of the interference shielding had been damaged, so other nations were undoubtedly aware that something unusual was happening in the South China Sea near China, even if they couldn’t clearly capture what exactly it was.  

     Other countries could wait, though. Within three minutes, Wang Xue received a message from the Supernatural Investigation Bureau, telling them to stop playing around and be more careful, nearby islanders were already online screaming about the apocalypse.  

     And if they had to slash something, couldn’t they at least avoid their own territorial waters and islands? Those were their own lands, after all.  

     Watson, Wang Xue, and Ye Mo: “…”

     If even the Sword of Light was this terrifying, they couldn’t help but glance at the Magic Cauldron and the Stone of Destiny.  

     The Magic Cauldron was self-explanatory. As long as the victim wasn’t instantly brain-dead or suffering cardiac rupture, Watson was confident he could save any life with it. The Maria Apothecary was about to become legendary.  

     After some discussion, the trio agreed: not only would they produce magical potions, but they’d also collaborate with the Supernatural Investigation Bureau to share recipes for elixirs that, while useless to them, could greatly benefit ordinary survivors. It was their way of contributing to Earth and to China.  

     That left only the Stone of Destiny. This semi-divine artifact had thrown the Irish dungeon world into chaos, and no one could say for certain whether it was a blessing or a curse.  

     Even now, Ye Mo still hadn’t figured out how to use it. In her hands, it was little more than an ordinary rock, except for the fact that it was utterly indestructible.  

     Had she not known this round stone was already a semi-divine artifact, she would have undoubtedly treated it as a rare material, experimenting with every possible method to forge it into equipment or weapons.  

     Even now, the temptation lingered. ‘Was reforging it truly impossible?’ 

     “Ahem. I’ll give it a try,” Wang Xue volunteered, stepping up as the second to examine the Stone of Fate. She cradled it in her palms, closed her eyes, and waited.  

     Nothing happened.  

     After an awkward pause, she opened her eyes.  

     Watson fared no better.  

     Wang Xue nearly lost it. “Is this semi-divine artifact only good for decoration? It can’t even qualify as a night pearl, just some dim, eerie glow in the dead of night. Ordinary people would be scared out of their wits!”

     Ye Mo stared fixedly at the unmoving stone. “…Are we sure it can’t be used as material?”  

     Wang Xue & Watson:  “Fine. Whatever makes you happy.”

     Meanwhile, Ji Li who had nearly spilled his drink in shock after watching the video of the sea splitting chimed in: “I wonder which is more powerful: the Sword of Light or the Stone of Destiny?”

     Ye Mo also wanted to know.

     And so, in the time that followed, Watson and Wang Xue found themselves grilling meat within the protective array Ye Mo had set up, all while watching her engage in an increasingly absurd battle of wills with the Stone of Destiny.  

     Sword slashed stone: both remained unscathed.  

     Stone struck sword: still, no mark was left on either.  

     When Ye Mo’s gaze shifted pointedly toward Watson, he pretended not to notice. Absolutely not. There was no way he’d let her treat the Magic Cauldron the same way. Dream on!  

     “Fine.”  

     Ye Mo had always been the steady anchor of their team, her presence as reliable as a keel in stormy seas. It was rare for Wang Xue to witness her acting so… childish. The sight was so absurd that Wang Xue burst into uncontrollable, goose-like giggles.  

     When Ye Mo wasn’t looking, Wang Xue and Watson exchanged a glance. The Stone of Destiny had to be extraordinary in some way. After all, it was the only thing that could reduce the unshakable Ye Mo to the level of an ordinary, stubborn human. 

     …

     After the sumptuous barbecue feast, the three of them turned on their phones in the living room, ready to manage Maria’s store.

     Due to their collaboration with the Supernatural Investigation Bureau, part of Maria Shop’s operations, including pharmaceuticals, equipment, weapons, and musical items were transferred to a new jointly-operated storefront. They even leveraged Mi Wenjing’s alternate account for promotion.  

     This new store was far more reliable than Maria Shop ever was. With multiple customer service representatives, 24/7 operations, and scientifically calibrated pricing, it ensured a steady stream of points for Ye Mo and the others.  

     Of course, China’s new global-facing store inevitably faced backlash from foreign critics.  

     Some openly admitted they couldn’t stomach China’s rising influence, a sentiment particularly common among new survivors and those just discovering the Survivor app. Numerous organizations, large and small, also voiced opposition.  

     But none dared to cause trouble at Maria Shop. From the very beginning, Ye Mo had run her store with an iron fist, permanent blacklists were her specialty. Wang Xue had inherited this no-nonsense attitude, responding to dissent with sharp retorts and instant bans.  

     The new store’s customer service team, however, took a far gentler approach. Wang Xue, unable to tolerate the diplomatic pacifism, would occasionally jump in to deliver a few choice words of her own. Watson, long accustomed to the cutthroat nature of business, merely observed with amusement before he slowly explained, “This kind of controversy actually boosts sales.”  

     Wang Xue: “???”

     Not long after that, Wang Xue and the others witnessed the no-smoke war sparked by the new store spread from the Survivor app forums into the real world, trending across multiple countries.  

     Domestic:

     “Wow, the top survivors are ours! Hell yeah!”

     “Please take me with you!”

     “Who says women are inferior to men? Good job!”

     “All I know is Watson’s potions gave me a second chance at life. Watson yyds!”

     “They’re this powerful yet won’t help our country? Look how besieged we are, how many have died. ‘Elites’? Pfft. Just blood-stepping opportunists. No heroes here.” 

     “↑ Commenter above has been added to Maria’s blacklist. Think anonymity protects you? Remember that survivor who cursed all those men hiding behind female alts? Still at large. You really think Mi Wenjing can’t find you?”

     “…”  

     International Reactions:

     “We hate China!”  

     “The top two spots are both taken by Chinese people? Disgusting! I’m never buying anything from them again.”

     “↑ Hey genius, check your shirt tag—‘Made in China.’”

     “Wait, isn’t China a ‘developing country’?”  

     “…” 

     Anti-China sentiment abroad runs deep, fueled by decades of hypocritical Western media bias. However, these people who have always been used as guns have discovered that their anti-China remarks and videos are now restricted by the authorities of their own country, just like those videos or comments that truly introduced China in the past.

     If they curse too harshly, they will get a 404 response.

     And the videos that positively portrayed China were less restricted. The official media of many countries even earnestly introduced China domestically, going so far as to praise it, as if they had never smeared China before.

     Many national leaders expressed good relations with China, while foreign celebrities suddenly discovered an intense fascination with Chinese culture. Mentions of China on international platforms gradually eclipsed those of the U.S. and European nations.

     It wasn’t that no one was angry, of course, some people resisted, some cursed angrily, and protests occurred one after another. In their eyes, allowing China to continue to grow stronger meant the end of the world.

     However, the governments of various countries all pretended not to see, continuing with their affairs. If things got too out of hand, they would arrest a few of the most serious troublemakers, issue some criticism, or use official jargon to appease the masses, all while being careful not to offend China, their words quite cautious.

     They understood that even if they used the most terrifying thermal weapons currently on Earth, it would likely be themselves who would be destroyed.

     Frustrated anti-China voices raged: *”@$%#*$?!”*—only to find their words vanished into algorithmic voids.  

     Anyone with a brain knows that the world has changed.

     Now on Earth, the Survivor App is known to all, and it’s inextricably linked to global politics, economy, technology, and comprehensive national strength. The revolution brought about by spiritual energy is even more powerful than technology, leading to national prosperity and strength.

     As for China, despite its outwardly gentle appearance, it has become significantly more assertive internally, especially after reaching a consensus with Ye Mo’s small group.

     Regarding the goodwill gestures from smaller nations, without further ado, they are told to first repay their past debts. Matters such as acknowledging the history of aggression, revising textbooks, returning cultural relics to China, and sharing technological advancements with China are being accomplished subtly and gradually.

     Even if the aforementioned errors are corrected, some matters still require negotiation. The interaction between nations is a field of study no less complex than cultivation. There are no eternal friendships, only eternal interests, and it’s always a matter of give and take.

     Regarding the contradictions and entanglements with major powers, China feels very pleased and proud, but they will also not forget to study what benefits they can gain from these situations.

     As for anyone who tries to sow discord between Ye Mo’s group and China, the Chinese side will absolutely not tolerate it, while simultaneously focusing on the new spiritual energy revolution to enhance their own national strength.

     It’s not that Ye Mo and her group are bad. While it’s certainly good to have such talented individuals among their own people, China hopes to shine brightly on the international stage through its own strength.

     In a nutshell:

     Only strong nations have the right to speak.

     Wang Xue’s head ached listening to all of the above. The first time she saw the Survivor App and the top 100 rankers on the national news, she found it very novel and exclaimed “damn” a couple of times, never expecting that she would also have a day to appear on major news outlets.

     But after seeing it more often, with international news plastered on the screen 24/7, she became numb to it. She left these international disputes for the Supernatural Investigation Bureau to handle, Wang Xue and the others had bigger things to focus on.  

     Then, a notification buzzed.  

 

     Domestic Trending #1:  【Congratulations to the Chief Survivor Jing…】

     Not surprising, not surprising at all.

     A tap opened Maria Shop’s updated inventory:  

    – New experimental products

    – High-tier (and above) gear — uncraftable by even the Bureau’s top alchemists or engineers  

   – Custom orders (for those with the points to burn)

 

     With the release of the Irish Town II dungeon, Ye Mo will definitely have more new products to launch, but that could wait.  

     But there’s no rush for that yet.

     After quick consultations with Ji Li and Watson, Wang Xue updated the listings:  

 

     New Additions: 

    – Anti-depression/death curse parasitic worms (finally cleared for sale)  

     And in the announcement section: 

   “Official welcome to our squad’s fourth member: Li. “