Chapter 1201: I Am the Celestial Pivot Lord

The dim, cramped underground shelter was filled with panicked shouts and fearful gasps. In a corner of the crowded space, a girl hugged her school bag tightly, squatting down, her hand clutching the edge of the man’s coat beside her.

“Daddy… are we going to die?” Jiang Jiang’s voice trembled slightly.

“It’s okay, don’t be afraid. Daddy will protect you.”

The man, dressed in a plain coat, shielded the girl behind him. His weathered face was etched with exhaustion, and his eyes were bloodshot.

Just last night, he had thought fortune was finally smiling on him. Someone had generously offered almost double the price to buy his barely profitable shop. His first thought after receiving the money was to take his daughter away from this small town, to live in a better house and attend a better school in a big city.

But no matter how urgent he felt, the school enrollment procedures had to be followed as usual. He had just managed to complete the school process, and as he was taking his daughter to the high-speed rail station, disaster struck…

All the anticipated good things shattered like a fleeting dream, vanishing in an instant. By the time he came to his senses, he was already in this shelter, with the roar of explosions echoing violently in the distance. The pall of death left him with no visible hope of survival.

“It’s useless… even if this shelter can withstand the explosions, it can’t filter the air. Now the air is full of radioactive dust. If we breathe this air, we’ll die sooner or later…”

Among the crowd, someone with some knowledge of nuclear explosions spoke with despair.

As soon as these words were uttered, many around them completely collapsed, and a sense of hopelessness spread wildly through the crowd!

“Why couldn’t they install air filtration systems in the shelters beforehand?!”

“Why aren’t there more shelters?!”

“Why do others get to enter top-grade underground facilities while we’re just directed here?!”

In their extreme despair, the darkness within people’s hearts was infinitely magnified. Hysterical complaints and roars erupted from all directions, terrifying Jiang Jiang, who huddled in the corner, too afraid to even look at the chaotic crowd.

Chu Changqing watched the increasingly out-of-control crowd, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper.

He could fully understand the public’s reaction. If he were in their shoes, uninformed, he might also join the chorus of complaints. However, Chu Changqing was a direct witness to the Red Star incident; he knew exactly what was happening.

Only about ten days had passed since the Red Star descended, and satellite failure had occurred just two days prior. Even if those in power generally anticipated that a world war was imminent, there simply wasn't enough time in a mere two or three days to build more shelters. Existing shelters were constructed according to regulations, and once a state of war was declared, everything had to follow strict procedures. With hundreds of cities and tens of thousands of shelters, big and small, across the country, how could they be upgraded or renovated so quickly?

Regardless of the reasons, most people could only blindly see the outcome. Driven by the impending death crisis, unrest broke out in various parts of the shelter.

Some, upon learning of radiation in the air, frantically wrapped things around their mouths and noses, nearly suffocating themselves.

Others, believing death was inevitable, simply unleashed their long-suppressed aggression. A slight accidental bump would lead to a fight, drawing a large section of the area into chaos.

Some, thinking themselves clever, believed that since there was radiation in the air, it would be better if others inhaled more of it. They reasoned that if others breathed a large portion of the harmful substances for them, they would survive. So, they simply lay down on the ground. Crucially, this action was misinterpreted by those around them as a secret method for survival, and they began to imitate it. One group after another quickly lay down, fearing they might die faster than others if they took one more breath, turning the already cramped space into utter pandemonium.

Even though some tried to maintain order, their efforts had no significant effect. The chaos spread uncontrollably in all directions. Even if they had survived the explosions, people were now starting to die at the hands of their frenzied compatriots…

Just as the scene was about to descend into complete chaos, a voice directly cut through all the noise, echoing throughout the shelter.

“Stop it, everyone!!”

The next moment, a dazzling starlight illuminated the ceiling of the shelter. In the dim conditions, it shone like a scorching sun, instantly dispelling every shadow that had festered within…

The intense starlight made it difficult to open one’s eyes. People could only vaguely perceive a figure slowly floating upwards above the shelter!

A hazy starlight emanated from around him, almost enveloping the entire shelter. The person stood in the very center of the radiant light, looking down at everyone with a gaze that was both helpless and compassionate.

“My starlight will filter out harmful substances from the air and block some radiation, so there’s no need to panic… Today, no one will die.” Lu Xun’s voice was deep and powerful, acting like a calming anchor in the midst of the swirling uncertainty, making people believe him instinctively.

Everyone was stunned; they couldn't comprehend what they were seeing. Starlight appearing underground, a mysterious figure floating in mid-air—these were things only seen in science fiction movies.

But there was no doubt that in this environment, such a presence—one that defied ordinary understanding—was needed. Only his appearance could instantly subdue the crowd and, with his unparalleled power, give them a sense of security.

Lu Xun was that person.

“Daddy… are there really gods in this world?!” Jiang Jiang asked in shock, looking at Lu Xun amidst the distant starlight.

“Well…” The man scratched his head, replying uncertainly, “Perhaps there are?”

“Holy cow, Brother Pao, what did I tell you? There definitely are Kamen Riders in this world!!” A boy nearby exclaimed excitedly.

“Kamen Rider, my foot! He hasn’t even transformed, has he? It’d be more fitting to say he’s like Doctor Strange or the Scarlet Witch.” Brother Pao rubbed his chin, his eyes gleaming with fascination.

“Who are you???” someone in the crowd asked, equally astonished.

Everyone looked up at the figure in the starlight, their eyes filled with both confusion and longing.

“My name is Lu…” Lu Xun instinctively began to answer, but he fell silent after seeing the look in their eyes.

Lu Xun realized that what these people needed now was not a name, but hope—the belief that they could survive the disaster—and someone who could guide them.

Lu Xun looked at the slowly rotating Big Dipper in his hand. Suddenly, a name surfaced in his mind.

His lips parted slowly:

“I am Lord Tianshu.”

“From now on, everyone will follow my command.”

Without an introduction, without consultation, Lu Xun, in the calmest tone, implanted a “command” into everyone’s minds… an undeniable command.