Chapter 269: Level 3 Mobilization
Each leader received the Level 3 notice, a command to mobilize forces quietly without alerting anyone who might be watching their movements.
Yes, there were people like that. It wasn\'t as odd as it might sound, as the Xu family had been on the leaderboard for 30 years.
Multiple secret guards from different families were stationed in various locations where Xu family members frequently visited their known properties.
And yes, the Xu family, along with these secret guards and the families behind them, knew that their cover had long been blown.
But neither side made any moves, understanding that this was a situation that couldn\'t be avoided. Why take unnecessary lives without any gain?
This didn\'t mean that Xu Qianghua feared any of them. Instead, he saw this as public acknowledgment that the Xu family had grown to a status where top families could only monitor them.
However, the Xu family was prepared for situations requiring secrecy.
Each level of notice included guidelines on how discreet their actions needed to be and how much they could reveal.
Starting from Level 3, the chances of anyone noticing their movements were slim to none, thanks to artifacts that could hide all traces.
There would be no immediate actions on the surface—only secret preparations and training to ensure everyone was ready.
In the Empyrean Trade Consortium, Liu Meiying reviewed the orders she received from the duo and nodded in approval.
She summoned the vice leaders and discussed the need to double-check all resources and trade lines, ensuring they could acquire more if needed.
She also reminded the vice leaders that all of this had to be done discreetly, without attracting attention.
She issued directives to enhance defenses around key trade routes and stockpile resources in selected locations.
Her approach was calm and steady, focusing on building up supplies without drawing suspicion.
At the Empyrean Harmony Sect, Bai Xueyan and Liu Anwei met in a secluded hall, reading over the notice with curious expressions.
They quickly agreed to the plan, understanding that the time for the Zerg\'s arrival was near.
Bai Xueyan relayed orders to the sect\'s senior disciples, advising them to intensify their training routines and fortify defenses under the guise of regular practice.
Liu Anwei, who specialized in array formations, instructed experts to strengthen protective formations discreetly.
Then there was Bai Lingyun, who knew everything that was happening but didn\'t do anything out of the ordinary.
She acted like the other ladies, preparing the Xu family in the subspace.
Yet she still kept an eye on the Zerg ship moving through the void toward the planet.
The notice was received with similar composure within the borders of the Xuzhong Empire, under the rule of Huang Xinyi.
Huang Xinyi summoned her close advisors, explaining the need for quiet mobilization without alarming the general population.
Orders were sent to the Empire\'s military leaders, instructing them to increase training and quietly reinforce defenses around cities, towns, and key locations.
She kept preparations limited to essential personnel, ensuring the public would see no signs of unusual activity while the Empire strengthened itself in the background.
At the same time, Yan Yuehua, head of the Shadows, accepted the order and gathered her top agents.
She instructed them to monitor any movements or activities potentially related to the Xu family, especially those from outside their immediate allies.
Yan Yuehua\'s approach was cautious yet thorough, with orders to stay alert and blend into the background while keeping an eye on potential threats.
She also sent quiet signals to the Shadow Serpents to remain on standby for any last-minute assassinations if needed.
The Su maids—Xu Qianghua\'s personal attendants, Su Meifang, Su Meilan, Su Meihua, Su Meiyu, Su Meixue, and Su Meiling—also received the notice, mobilizing the maids who worked for the Xu family to assist wherever needed and ensure nothing was out of place.
Although it might not seem like much, these maids were some of the Xu family\'s best spies and spy-seekers.
They were trained to be the last line of defense and protect those closest to Xu Qianghua.
Their role was to ensure Xu Qianghua had everything he needed without disruption.
As always, they worked with silent efficiency, ready to provide any cultivation materials or reports the moment he required them.
The Shadow Guards, led by Su Lian, also began their assigned tasks connected to this notice.
Known as one of the few shadow branches serving Xu Qianghua alone, the Shadow Guards maintained high readiness as they prepared for any mission.
Feng Xue, Feng Lan, Feng Xu, Feng Mei, Feng Rui, and Feng Qian—the Feng sisters, who each led a branch within the Shadows—received the orders and issued their own directives to ensure everything went smoothly.
As heads of their respective branches, they began directing their operatives to prepare quietly, sharpen their skills, and rehearse scenarios.
Su Lian herself ensured that each Shadow Guard remained hidden in plain sight, ready to act when needed.
Even Li Xinyue, the family\'s guardian and Xu Qianghua\'s system, worked silently in the background, relaying information to all branches.
Her role in this quiet mobilization was crucial, ensuring that communications flowed smoothly without any sign of irregularity.
After some time, the ladies gathered in a room next to the dual cultivation room, waiting for Xu Qianghua, as they wanted to get the exact details from him.
They had agreed to maintain their usual routines publicly while ensuring every combatant and critical member in their ranks was aware and prepared.
It was a quiet but effective mobilization, with each branch focusing on readiness.
"Do we know the reason behind this order?" Huang Xinyi asked, glancing around. Her calm but firm gaze reminded everyone of her steady leadership over the Xuzhong Empire.
Bai Xueyan shook her head. "No details yet. The notice only mentioned the need for preparation.
But if a Level 3 is in effect, it\'s most likely related to the Zerg," she said steadily.
Liu Meiying nodded in agreement. "I agree. That\'s probably why this has to be kept as quiet as possible.
We don\'t want unnecessary rumors spreading, especially with how widely our trade routes reach into other territories."
Yan Yuehua leaned forward, a thoughtful expression on her face. "The Shadows are already monitoring. We\'ll know if anyone notices even the smallest changes."
The Feng sisters each nodded, silently conveying their readiness. Feng Xue, the oldest, added, "We\'ll keep our branches in line. No one will notice any unusual movements from the Shadows."
Finally, Li Xinyue confirmed, "All communications have been set. Each branch will receive updates directly and securely."
With each key figure offering their thoughts, it became clear that the Xu family had practiced this scenario before and could handle it smoothly.
They were aware of the sudden message of the Level 3 notice but understood the importance of maintaining a low profile.
They would prepare thoroughly and remain ready but wouldn\'t reveal a single hint of unusual activity to the outside world.
In the meeting, the ladies maintained a calm, measured approach, knowing that whatever the reason for this order, they had the capabilities and resources to handle it.
They all knew the stakes, and they knew that this incident would be over in a flash without them needing to worry.
But as this is their first-ever major war against a completely different race, so, they are kind of nervous.
Everyone except the Bai mother-daughter duo as they have seen and been part of multiple such wars and what to do.
But the ladies stayed in the room as they needed to wait until Xu Qianghua came out so that they could get more detailed info about the Zerg.
However, no one outside of the Xu family would notice any changes, and that was exactly how they wanted it.
They did not want to cause any chaos at this time, as it could alert top cultivators, leading to disturbances in their auras.
And such disturbances could be detected by the Zerg, who were approaching without much caution—which was precisely how Xu Qianghua wanted them to arrive.
This would be the perfect setup for a sneak attack outside the planet, as Xu Qianghua didn\'t plan to let the Zerg even get close.
The Xu family would be ready for whatever came their way, without ever revealing their readiness to anyone who might be watching.
Meanwhile, the Xu family leaders, other than the ladies, knew this preparation wasn\'t just a routine drill but a real step toward handling a major event.
They felt the weight of responsibility, aware that every order they gave, and every action taken could impact the family\'s safety and strength.
Over the years, the Xu family had dealt with many challenges without using any of their real stregth, but the incoming Zerg invasion was different.
Quietly, they all were prepared to face this soon-major incident, which would reveal part of their strength, which was to be expected.
But they were ready to face whatever came next, confident in their preparation and unity.