The Commander-in-Chief's Lesson

Dragonfly Aunt used her parasitic ability to control a sleeping soldier and exchange intelligence with Wang Jixuan.

When she withdrew her ability, Wang Jixuan caught the fluctuation of qi—psionic energy—and followed it to the location where Dragonfly Aunt's true body was hiding. To his surprise, he discovered a man and a woman lurking in the belly compartment of the Stealth Aircraft assigned exclusively to Dragonfly Aunt's squad.

The moment Wang Jixuan noticed something was wrong, he sent a voice transmission to warn her.

To him, it was no different from "two assassins hiding under the bed," the sort that could kill someone at any moment.

Yet under his spiritual perception, Dragonfly Aunt's expression turned extremely grave one second, then returned to calm the next. She continued flipping through a handsome-men's magazine in her hammock and condensed the word [Mm] out of smoke.

Mai's nerves are really something.

After a brief consideration, Wang Jixuan decided to remain still as well.

If the person involved was not in a hurry, why should he be?

The abilities Dragonfly Aunt had displayed before were indeed remarkable: controlling smoke, investigating beyond visual range, manipulating other humans without harming them...

She probably had other abilities hidden away.

Wang Jixuan melted into the night. On his way back to the Seventh Floor, he had Peony submit a request to Fu Jian, briefly explaining Dragonfly Aunt's predicament. He wanted to arrange a live-combat exercise for the Buddha Hall Squad and the Half-Human Mech Group.

Fu Jian sent back a simple reply:

[It's such a small matter. Decide for yourself.]

Daoist Wang frowned in thought, somehow feeling as though he had just been lectured by a junior.

The next time he invited Fu Jian to serve as sparring practice for the Half-Human Mech Group, he could have Ling Tong and the others use more force. After all, the Old Commander was not good at close combat with cold weapons.

While meditating, Wang Jixuan kept his spiritual perception fixed on the two "assassins" lurking beneath Dragonfly Aunt for a long time.

The two had brought enough water and biscuits. They had no intention of acting yet, and two sharp alloy daggers remained at their sides.

"Are they just keeping watch?"

Wang Jixuan looked once more at Dragonfly Aunt...

Good grief, Dragonfly Aunt had already turned over and gone to sleep!

Just as Wang Jixuan was about to withdraw his spiritual perception and focus on cultivation to heal his damaged meridians, the two began communicating in a manner both primitive and technological.

They took out palm-sized communicators, typed lines of tiny text onto them, and showed them to each other. The displays even contained text from their previous conversation.

Male infiltrator: [From what I can see, there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with this squad right now. They just want to slack off. Do we really have to kill them?]

Female infiltrator: [The higher-ups' meaning is that whether they have a problem is not important. We act first, then make sure they have one. Mai Qingting is an important figure in the Naturalist Faction. We can use her to go after a lot of people.]

Male infiltrator: [Are we really going to stay here for several more days? This is a terrible experience.]

Female infiltrator: [We have to wait until they finish the investigation, intercept it with the equipment, and replace their investigation report. That is our main mission. Killing them is merely incidental. The Investigation Group's procedures are very complicated. Only an investigation report with her biological authentication is valid.]

Male infiltrator: [I really don't understand why we have to make this so complicated. Why not just ambush the Naturalist Faction directly?]

Female infiltrator: [Don't underestimate the Naturalist Faction. They have several SS-class members too. Even if we win when they fight desperately, it will only be a costly victory.]

Male infiltrator: [You look beautiful.]

Female infiltrator: [You're very short when used.]

The male infiltrator darkened and did not type anything else.

[You take the second half of the night. I'll take tomorrow morning.]

The female infiltrator scooted backward, her body rising as though boneless. She moved into the rear corner, leaned back to take a drink of water, then closed her eyes to rest.

Seeing this, the Daoist relaxed as well.

At the very least, they would keep watch until tomorrow morning.

Once Dragonfly Aunt sent over the location information for the four investigation squads, they could arrange an ambush here and pay special attention to those two A-Class Psionicists.

Their strength was limited. They probably would not be able to test the full power of the three sword formations.

A little after six in the morning, Peony received the location information sent by Dragonfly Aunt.

In less than three minutes, Peony used the fortress's Radar System to determine the locations of the four investigation squads. Three squads were aboard old-model Stealth Aircraft, while one was operating underground far away.

None of the four investigation squads showed any sign of sending people out to investigate.

In their eyes, Fortress No. 76 was no different from a dragon's den or tiger's lair. Dragonfly Aunt's squad was not the only one planning to slack off.

At seven-thirty in the morning, inside the Governor's Office on the fortress's First Floor.

Wang Jixuan stood with his hands behind his back before the three groups and briefly assigned their upcoming tasks.

"Look at the map. I have marked three locations where three teams of Psionic Management Committee Investigation Group spies are hiding. This morning's lesson is to use the Seven Star Sword Array to defeat those three teams.

"The Buddha Hall Squad will go to Point A. Zheng Shiduo will lead them.

"Peony, take the Maid Group to Point B.

"You two teams will prioritize capturing people. If you cannot capture them, kill them directly. Do not let a single one escape."

"Yes!"

Wang Jixuan looked toward Ling Tong and said solemnly, "Half-Human Mech Group, your mission is more complicated. I will send the specific objectives to Ling Tong."

"Yes!" Ling Tong answered with her head held high.

"Begin the operation now. I will score your performance."

Wang Jixuan shook the scoring board in his hand.

"The squad with the best results may receive private instruction from me. The squad with the worst results will watch the other groups eat meat at noon."

The crowd shouted in unison, "Yes!"

"Go on, then."

Wang Jixuan waved with effortless flair. The three teams saluted, turned, and swiftly departed.

The previously crowded office immediately became empty.

In a corner of the room, Wan Xiaoqi and Zhou Zhengde operated several instruments. Twenty-four portraits appeared on the all-terrain sand table as the three groups held simple meetings and formulated tactics.

The communications from all three channels would sound inside this office so Wang Jixuan could score them.

This "midterm exam" had been arranged quite properly.

After editing for quite some time, Wang Jixuan finally sent a message to Ling Tong's side. Its contents were somewhat complicated.

They needed to...

Let Bristle Bear and Dragonfly Aunt escape, while also ensuring that both were injured—but not fatally. They had to capture Shaman and Treant Beta, especially Treant Beta, who could not be injured. It did not matter if Shaman was hurt, as she could be treated.

As for the two A-Class Psionicists lurking around that squad, eliminate them directly. There was no need to deliberately take them alive.

The premise for accomplishing all this was still that they had to fight using the Seven Star Sword Array.

The order gave the eight Half-Human Mechs a headache.

Even though the tactical objectives were extremely complicated, they still wanted to earn more points and fight for first place.

Ling Tong reminded them, "These people are very special. We must carry out this order strictly, or it will cause serious consequences. This is not as simple as a test."

Deep Sea shrugged. "This is just a small matter. I think the seven of us can take down seven S-Class fighters now."

One teammate laughed and cursed, "Pfft. An S-Class fighter's mental attack or a meteor strike would kill us before we even met them!"

Ling Tong said, "We need three Blade Three loadouts, two Blade One loadouts, and three Anti-Psionic Dedicated loadouts. Gather at Exit Four in fifteen minutes. During that time, we need to discuss the primary tactics and backup plan."

"Understood!"

"Begin changing loadouts."

The eight Half-Human Mechs quickly rushed toward the exit to the Third Floor, heading to find their respective Logistics Teams.

Inside the Governor's Office.

Wang Jixuan gave a somewhat uneasy instruction. "Xiao Qi, notify the three captains. Have them strike at the same time. Do not alert the enemy."

"Okay... Already notified them!"

Afterward, Wang Jixuan stared at the Holographic Sand Table, thinking constantly about what methods he would use if he were carrying out these tactics himself...

The door on one side of the office slid open. Fu Jian emerged while stretching, then swaggered behind the desk and propped his two thick Mechanical Legs against its edge.

Wang Jixuan frowned and asked, "Commander-in-Chief, you have fought through countless battles. Do you have any good advice right now?"

"What advice?" Fu Jian picked at his left Mechanical Eye.

"I mean," Wang Jixuan pointed at the Holographic Sand Table, "what should I do next? I suppose I count as the central commander now?"

Fu Jian gave a snort of laughter. "You really want to hear my advice?"

"You are an authority in this field."

"Then call me teacher, get a griddle, and prepare some ingredients. I'll teach you."

Several question marks seemed to appear on Wang Jixuan's forehead.

The quick-witted Wan Xiaoqi had already jumped up and hurried toward the door. "I'll get them!"

Wang Jixuan was completely bewildered, while Fu Jian opened his holographic newspaper and began reading it with great interest.

The newspaper compiled all intelligence from within and outside War Zone D5 over the past few hours.

Wang Jixuan sneaked a few glances at it, but the numbers made his head spin. He went back to pondering tactics.

Being a high-ranking official really was a profound field of study.

Fifteen minutes later.

The three squads began moving. Concealing themselves, they left the fortress through the supply transport passage and approached the three Stealth Aircraft.

Dragonfly Aunt's aircraft was the closest. The other two were some distance away from the fortress.

Inside the Governor's Office on the fortress's First Floor.

Wang Jixuan and Zhou Zhengde sat at the table, watching Commander Fu Jian, now wearing an apron... make teppanyaki. Two bottles of chilled non-alcoholic drinks sat beside him.

"Eat. Why aren't you eating?"

Fu Jian scooped two fried eggs onto their plates. "Try my cooking, but you don't need to describe the flavor."

Daoist Wang took two bites and found that it tasted rather good.

He already understood what Fu Jian meant.

Zhou Zhengde asked quietly, "Maternal Grandfather, they're fighting over there, and we're eating here?"

"Why not? Did you eat breakfast?"

"No."

"Then have something."

Fu Jian began grilling two large skinned squids with great skill, saying as he worked:

"If it is a battle you are confident of winning, there is no need to be overly tense."

Zhou Zhengde refuted, "The orders were issued from here, so we should bear a certain degree of responsibility for their subsequent performance. We are overseeing the overall situation here. If something unexpected happens, we can remind them in time."

"If something unexpected happens and an enemy they failed to notice suddenly appears, that is the messenger's job. At all other times, my advice is...

"Keep your mouth under control."

Fu Jian spoke with a smile.

"What a marshal must do is select a capable, experienced, trusted Frontline Commander, make sure there is nothing wrong with his thinking, and then hand the stage over to him.

"I learned this through repeated setbacks. When I was young, I thought much the same way you do, Zheng De. In every battle, I wished I could remotely control even a machine-gun position.

"But later, I discovered that this kind of command overreach created chaos and rendered the Frontline Commander's orders ineffective.

"Frontline command needs to be as flat as possible. As long as the Frontline Commander's orders can reach every unit in time, that is enough."

Wang Jixuan nodded, acting as though he too had seen countless battles, and said seriously, "Your maternal grandfather is right."

"Like you know so much about it."

Fu Jian turned the squid over, pressing it lightly as he spoke warmly.

"Zheng De, you are not suited to military command, but you are good at dealing with people. That is why I have never trained you to become a general.

"Humanity does not need hereditary power succession either.

"But Wang Zheng is different. In the future, Wang Zheng, you will most likely have to deal with these things. I can tell you only six words: do not overstep command, do not trust lightly."

Wang Jixuan shrugged. "I'm not interested in that. At most, I'll do what I am doing now—teach certain things to people I trust."

"You are only not interested right now."

Fu Jian sighed.

"At first, I was like you. I did my duty well and used my own combat strength to strive for humanity's future.

"But later, I discovered that if I did not seize power, I could not change this world. In the eyes of those in power, I was merely an advanced soldier.

"So I chose this path.

"Even if you do not need this experience, Ling Tong may."

Wang Jixuan was somewhat confused. "Her?"

"That is right." Fu Jian's expression became serious. "I intend to train her into a leader of the new generation. To be frank, I intend to use her to influence you."

Wang Jixuan: ...

That was far too frank.

Zhou Zhengde suddenly said, "They've started."

The Holographic Sand Table showed the three squads attacking simultaneously. Eight maids and eight Half-Human Mechs formed their formations and charged toward two targets in unison. It was genuinely quite spectacular.

Zheng Shiduo's side was half a beat slower, but the moment the eight Psionicists attacked, Buddhist light filled the sky and Buddhist chants rang out in waves.

Even Wu Man's Mental Shock carried Buddhist light!

Fu Jian did not even look. He simply added seasoning to the squid and focused on cooking at the griddle.

He said slowly, "The three words 'do not overstep command' contain profound knowledge. Without unexpected circumstances, both upward and downward command must follow this rule. It is the prerequisite for ensuring that your subordinates' authority is not undermined. One person cannot master politics; only a group can."

Wang Jixuan did not particularly want to continue this subject and stared at the sand table for a long time.

The targets at Point A and Point B were destroyed at the same time. Two Stealth Aircraft exploded simultaneously.

Point C was more complicated. Deep Sea shouted, "Capture them alive and bring them back for questioning!" before charging into the sky to provide cover.

The other seven Half-Human Mechs advanced in the Seven Star Sword Array. Using Annihilation Cannons as sword qi, they directly burned seven holes through the Stealth Aircraft and exposed the two A-Class Psionicists hiding below.

Those two Psionicists were indeed not weak, but before the sword formation composed of Half-Human Mechs, they had no room to fight back. They could not even use half an ability before their heads were pierced by Annihilation Cannon fire.

Bristle Bear carried Dragonfly Aunt out of the cabin and ran wildly into the distance. The remaining two targets, who had not even gotten out of bed, were easily captured.

Wang Jixuan frowned and gave the Half-Human Mech Group the lowest score.

Zhou Zhengde stared wide-eyed. "How can that be a failing grade? Their operation wasn't the slightest bit sluggish!"

Wang Jixuan gave a very serious evaluation. "They did not fully bring out the sword formation's power. During the charge, the formation was disrupted twice. The gaps were only filled because the others adjusted in time."

Zhou Zhengde tried to argue, "But you also have to consider the opponents. Those Psionicists were obviously stunned by the attack. Bristle Bear and Dragonfly Aunt did not even resist."

"Eat first." Fu Jian placed two grilled squids before them.

Fu Jian's eyes were full of satisfaction. He skillfully cracked two industrial eggs and continued making fried noodles for them, saying with a chuckle:

"When they take their graduation exams later, we can find S-Class Psionicists and King-Class Blade Beasts to serve as the exam material."

"Once you've eaten your fill, I'll show you something good, then tell you some... bad news."

Wang Jixuan: "What good thing?"

Zhou Zhengde: "What bad news?"

The two then exchanged a glance, each raising an eyebrow.

Fu Jian calmly explained, "The good thing is several crates of stone slabs I got when I led people against the Six Elders fifty years ago. They have many patterns on them, possibly related to Spiritual Practitioners. I'll let you study them..."

"As for the bad news... the Ninth Pillar, one of the Twelve Pillars-class Blade Beasts closest to us, reached the 24% warning threshold for awakening three hours ago."