Chapter 1504: The Dilemma

The meeting room was eerily quiet, with an indescribable tension hanging in the air.

On the large screen, footage played of shadowy figures relentlessly and frantically assaulting the edges of a rift. Everyone watched with grave expressions, and for a long time, no one spoke.

No one had anticipated that the shadowy figures would be so ferocious!

Not long ago, after suffering significant casualties, they had managed to repair the rift, only for the enemy to violently tear it open once more!

While the people of Shadow Island were willing to sacrifice everything to protect their home, these shadowy figures seemed to have no regard for consequences. They attacked the rift with a mindless frenzy, their sheer numbers and savage combat style far surpassing anything the people of Shadow Island could handle.

If this continued, not only would the repaired sections of the rift be breached, but the rift itself might even expand further.

By then...

The sky would be filled with a deluge of shadowy figures, and Shadow Island would be doomed!

Faced with this grim reality, the leaders in the room were filled with both sorrow and anger. They felt utterly helpless against the relentless enemy and could not think of a viable solution.

Xiong Zhong, seated at the far end of the table, wore a conflicted and anguished expression. After a long moment of contemplation, he finally spoke up.

"Esteemed elders!"

"If we allow the rift to continue being assaulted, more shadowy figures will pour through. Our forces are already taking turns to guard the rift, and casualties are mounting. If more enemies come, we won't be able to hold out for long!"

"In my humble opinion, we must repair the rift as quickly as possible. Even if the enemy tears it open again, we must keep repairing it at all costs. Only then can we keep the number of shadowy figures that make it through to a manageable level."

"This time, I am willing to lead our forces to hold the line and buy time for Elder Lu to repair the rift!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the others exchanged glances.

Jiang Zhi nodded in agreement, his expression grave.

"Manager Xiong makes a valid point."

"No matter how many casualties we suffer in the process, we must grit our teeth and repair the rift. It seems to be our only option..."

While these two spoke with urgency, the expressions of the others were more complicated.

Master Lu pondered for a long while before responding.

"While that may be true, the casualties from repairing the rift are simply too high."

"The enemy's numbers are overwhelming. Even if we combine all the forces of Shadow Island, we cannot match them. If not for the city's protective barriers left behind by Lord Fang, Shadow Island would have already fallen."

"Engaging in a direct battle of attrition is not a wise move."

His words left everyone in a dilemma.

Repairing the rift would inevitably lead to heavy casualties. Moreover, the barriers were too complex and profound to fully restore, meaning the problem could not be fundamentally solved.

Even if everyone on Shadow Island united and was willing to sacrifice for their home, how many times could they afford to repair the rift?

Ten times?

Twenty times?

Even if they could hold out for a while, the population of Shadow Island was limited. In the end, the island would still fall.

To put it bluntly, they were merely delaying the inevitable at a great cost.

But if they didn't repair the rift...

Shadow Island would fall even sooner!

What were they to do?!

As the room remained deadlocked, Lu Qingshan stood up with a heavy heart and clasped his hands in a gesture of respect.

"Given the situation, we must admit that even if we give it our all, we likely won't be able to hold out for much longer..."

"Our only option now is to seek help from the outside world. We must hope that powerful allies will come to our aid and help us defend Shadow Island!"

His words cast an even heavier pall over the room.

Many of the elders sighed, their eyes filled with regret and sorrow.

"Ah..."

"In the days when the Master and the other great leaders were here, Shadow Island was a place of glory. Any outsider who came would marvel at its divine nature. Yet in just a few decades, we've fallen to the point of begging for help from the outside world."

"It is our failure. We have let down the expectations of our great leaders."

Hearing these words, everyone in the room felt a deep sense of loss, as if the world had changed beyond recognition.

But they all knew the truth.

Shadow Island held immense significance for the Master and the other great leaders. It was tied to a grand plan, which was why the enemy was so desperate to attack it.

The more they thought about it, the more determined they became to defend Shadow Island.

Master Lu, his eyes now clear, turned to Lu Qingshan and asked, "Old friend, since you've brought up the idea of seeking help, you must have a plan in mind, right?"

"Right now, Shadow Island is barely holding on thanks to the city's protective barriers. The outside world is surrounded by unknown enemies. How can we possibly send someone out to seek help?"

As he spoke, everyone's attention turned to Lu Qingshan.

The situation was indeed as Master Lu described.

The shadowy figures were pouring down from a massive gate in the sky, most of them blocked by the barriers. But as time passed, more and more of these alien beings were breaking through, and Shadow Island was gradually being surrounded.

While the numbers around the island were nowhere near as vast as those in the sky, breaking through would still be a near-suicidal mission.

How could they possibly send someone out to seek help under these conditions?

Under the weight of everyone's gazes, Lu Qingshan clasped his hands once more.

"Everyone."

"Before the Second Young Master left, he taught me a technique for creating talisman clones. I must admit, despite years of practice, I have yet to master it. However, I can now create over a thousand clones."

"To my shame, these clones possess only a fraction of my strength—about ten percent. They are useless in combat and cannot communicate with me at will. But if we temporarily open a small gap in the barriers at a weak point in the enemy's encirclement, I can send out these clones to escape and deliver our message for help."

"I am deeply ashamed that I cannot repair the rift. This is the only idea I have. What do you all think?"