Strong Enemy: Huo Rong!

Less than half a minute had passed since Xing Tian escaped from the Seventh Floor of Fortress No. 76.

After swallowing the pill, his aura recovered.

A breath rose in Wang Jixuan's chest. He lowered his head and spat out a mouthful of clotted blood, his spirits surging once more.

These Great Blood Qi Pills really were good stuff. Though they were produced through Demonic Path methods and had some side effects if taken too often, their overall effect was quite decent.

—What he lacked now were the materials to refine plant-spirit pills.

Peony pulled off the damaged X Armor component and saw that Wang Jixuan's wound had already closed on its own, surrounded by Blood Qi.

She frowned and asked, "Sir, how should we deal with this?"

"Leave it alone. It's not a serious injury... Bring me his severed leg."

Daoist Wang answered softly as he guided the Blood Qi around the wound, constantly searching his memories for whether he had recorded any spell like a Thousand-Mile Soul-Chasing Art in his previous life.

Damn it, he really didn't have one.

After all, their sect was not some Demonic Path Sect, so they had not collected such techniques.

Or perhaps they had collected them, and he had missed them while searching through everything.

Xing Tian had left behind a leg...

The only technique Wang Jixuan could use was a secret curse from the Miao-region gu poison arts. Yet this kind of curse required sacrificing at least several hundred lives just to severely injure Xing Tian. Given the powerful regenerative ability Xing Tian had displayed earlier, it probably could not kill him outright.

This...

Forget it.

He would settle the score with Xing Tian after breaking through to the Golden Core Realm. He would remember this ambush.

The Daoist was in a rather sour mood.

Peony hurriedly jumped back through the breach, passing Ling Tong on the way.

Ling Tong frowned at Wang Jixuan's shoulder wound. The faceplate of her Blade-Slaying Armor opened automatically, revealing her slightly anxious pretty face.

She knelt on one knee before Wang Jixuan, and an emergency tourniquet popped out from the side of her armor.

Ji Xiao and Ji Yale also gathered beside him. The two brothers looked calm and emotionally steady, with compassion in their eyes.

Buddhist teachings had made them kind and gentle.

Wang Jixuan did not stop Ling Tong from bandaging him. He asked quietly, "Can we relocate now? Other Psionicists will definitely come after us. Like the Blade Beasts, they probably think I'm the heir of the Spiritual Practitioner Civilization."

"Hm?" Ling Tong quietly asked back. "Aren't you?"

She was far too perceptive.

"Not entirely."

Wang Jixuan laughed.

"This Xing Tian is truly disgusting. An S-Class Psionicist actually came here to scout us out. But his target should have been the Demon-Breaking Daggers."

"He took one Demon-Breaking Dagger with him."

"Does it have a tracking device?"

"It does, but it has already been blocked. Its last recorded location was deep underground, in a tunnel previously used by Blade Beasts."

Ling Tong quickly said:

"General Headquarters has already dispatched two Second Generation Half-Human Mechs to support us. They can reach this airspace in thirty minutes.

"The entire fortress is under full lockdown. We have deployed six Half-Human Mechs and a two-thousand-man Special Operations Team here. As long as they do not have infiltration abilities as abnormal as Xing Tian's, there should not be any further problems. Our defenses were indeed inadequate this time. I'm sorry.

"Everyone is armed now. I told them not to come down for the moment and to guard every route.

"If we relocate rashly, we will be more likely to fall into danger.

"And if we have to relocate later, it would be best to go to General Headquarters. Although there are still many spies among the middle and lower ranks there, at least the upper ranks have been purged, and their military strength is the most abundant."

Wang Jixuan nodded. Just as he was about to say, "Then we'll listen to you," Wan Xiaoqi was already shouting at the top of his lungs beside him:

"New S-Class response! Someone is entering the atmosphere from high altitude! The high-altitude cameras caught a woman! Searching the database for her information!"

"She came that quickly?"

Wang Jixuan was not especially nervous, but he found it strange.

If she was with Xing Tian, why had she not acted when Xing Tian was being surrounded? Although the siege had been brief, she should have revealed herself as soon as the fight began...

And if she was not with Xing Tian, was she here for the Demon-Breaking Daggers as well?

They had expected the Psionic Capital to take notice once the Demon-Breaking Daggers began spreading.

But they truly had not expected them to move so quickly—or to send two powerful S-Class Psionicists at once.

Ling Tong immediately said, "Wang Zheng, don't worry. We can handle this. Even if the enemy comes in force, we can hold out for half an hour without any problem."

Deep Sea corrected her over the communications channel. "Half an hour is only enough for the two instructors to reach this airspace. It will take at least forty minutes for them to actually enter the battlefield. If Xing Tian was merely an investigator or a vanguard, the intensity of the following attack is easy to imagine. Tell Ji Xiao to prepare. We need to use his ability to relocate Wang Zheng."

Wang Jixuan hurriedly said, "I'm fine now. I can keep fighting. The wound is only a minor problem, and my Mental Strength has already recovered."

Peony jumped out of the pit with a disgusted look on her face, still carrying the severed leg and keeping it as far from herself as possible.

Wang Jixuan suddenly asked, "What about letting Peony wear my X Armor?"

"It's possible, but we must submit a request to higher command. The Commander-in-Chief should approve it temporarily."

Ling Tong acted decisively. She scooped Wang Jixuan up in her arms and turned to sprint toward the Sixth Floor entrance.

"Go to the Sixth Floor first. There are too many children here."

Her voice rang beside Wang Jixuan's ear and in the ears of every unit commander:

"All units, attention! A powerful Psionicist is about to invade Fortress No. 76!"

"All units are authorized to fire freely! Eliminate every Psionicist entering radar range!"

"This fortress is activating the Level One Psionic Disaster Response Protocol! Blast doors will descend across all fortress levels, severing communications! Activate automatic firepower throughout the Upper City! No matter the cost, we must hold for forty minutes!"

"Immediately relocate the Fortress Governor and commanders to the Eighth Floor safe room."

"Yes!"

More responses came through the rapidly expanding communications channel.

Just as Ling Tong carried Wang Jixuan onto the Sixth Floor, Wan Xiaoqi drove a Supply Vehicle up from behind and shouted quickly:

"Sir! We just received a video! It was sent by the enemy! The Psionicist descending from high altitude will reach the surface in three minutes. Her code name is Huo Rong! She ranks nineteenth among known S-Class Psionicists! She specializes in fire-based abilities and once killed a King-Class Blade Beast alone! She's an old monster from Xing Tian's generation!

"Over a hundred Psionicist signals have suddenly appeared around the perimeter! They are all A-Class or B-Class, and there are groups of their shuttles underground!

"They will assault the camp within three minutes of Huo Rong reaching the surface!"

Ling Tong's expression remained calm. Hugging Wang Jixuan tightly, she leaped into the Supply Vehicle through its open rear door, while Deep Sea in the back seat reached out and pulled Wang Jixuan inside.

Wang Jixuan: ...Actually, this Daoist can walk.

"Play the video first."

Bzzzt.

The Projection Screen trembled slightly. A "young" woman in a red rubber bodysuit appeared on it, hands on her hips as she sneered.

"Hello, residents of Fortress No. 76 in the Ancient Basin.

"I regret to inform you that half of you will meet death within the next twenty minutes.

"I can tell you what we will do here.

"I will descend from high altitude and destroy your surface defenses. Then the powerful, righteous, adorable, great Psionicists I brought with me will crush every defense system on your first through sixth floors.

"After that, we will reach your Eighth Floor. That's where your reservoir is, isn't it? We will release a rapidly spreading virus there and kill forty percent of the humans in this fortress. Note that forty percent is the minimum.

"If you ask why we must be so extreme, this is, in fact, a punishment.

"The D5 Comprehensive War Zone has recently continued provoking our Psionic Capital, severely damaging our positive image throughout human society.

"The Military Dictatorship led by Fu Jian refuses to embrace progress and refuses to view the relationship between Psionicists and humans from a more open perspective. They recklessly tore up our agreements, destroyed hundreds of thousands of crystal cores that should have belonged to us, denied our contributions in resisting the Blade Beasts, and sought to impose a Military Dictatorship over all Humanity.

"What we are doing today is necessary, and it must be done.

"Fu Jian and his lackeys even killed dozens of responsible senior officers whom we painstakingly cultivated for you. That has severely crossed our bottom line.

"That is why this punishment has come.

"Also, you have something hidden in this fortress, don't you? You have been very disobedient. Based on the various intelligence we previously obtained, there is a Secret Factory here producing some strange things. I know you must be destroying those things right now, but it doesn't matter.

"As long as you produce that thing, we will keep attacking.

"Whether it is here, there, or the General Headquarters of your Commander-in-Chief, no one can challenge the Psionic Capital's authority to define the word 'psionic,' no matter how heavy a price we must pay.

"Remember, we kill you because you crossed the line, not because we are cruel."

Huo Rong blinked lightly.

The projected image trembled slightly, then vanished.

Inside the Supply Vehicle heading toward a corner of the Sixth Floor, everyone fell silent.

Ling Tong said, "Arrogant and conceited. That fits my stereotype of High-Tier Psionicists."

"They intend to destroy this place," said Deep Sea, frowning in his Blade Armor Set. "This is retaliation, and it is obvious that they are targeting the Demon-Breaking Daggers."

Ling Tong said, "The Demon-Breaking Daggers broke their monopoly over psionic power. They also made them feel fear."

"There's another point."

Wang Jixuan exhaled softly. The wound on his shoulder had already begun to heal.

"This video was likely recorded beforehand.

"They are explaining their motives. It is both a show of force and a threat to the other Comprehensive War Zones. The Psionic Capital, at the end of its rope, can only deter human society by creating panic and delaying the time when they are brought to account.

"They are telling everyone that they are not merely Psionicists—they also possess a virus capable of eliminating forty percent of the Remaining population... Damn them! Inhuman bastards!

"But now, Xing Tian has escaped.

"We can reasonably assume that Huo Rong already knows Fortress No. 76 has an Awakened Spiritual Practitioner. Her motive to attack has grown even stronger."

Deep Sea asked, "Then should we immediately send out a transport plane, pretend to carry the Awakened Spiritual Practitioner, and lure them away?"

"Their original plan was to destroy this place."

Ling Tong quickly said:

"Even if we use that method, we can at most draw away a small portion of their combat strength. And whether they are interested in the Awakened Spiritual Practitioner, or whether Xing Tian has already shared the intelligence, are both unknown.

"What we need to do now is transfer Wang Zheng somewhere safe."

Deep Sea said firmly, "In just a few minutes, we cannot get far enough away!"

Ling Tong immediately retorted, "Then draw them into the Upper City and fight street battles, then use Ji Xiao's ability to take Wang Zheng away!"

"Rather than taking him away, we should fight with everything we have!"

Deep Sea's eyes burned with fire.

"Just like how we surrounded Xing Tian earlier, we surround Huo Rong again!"

Wan Xiaoqi, who was driving, reminded them, "There are still more than a hundred Psionicist readings outside the camp. They are all A-Class and B-Class. That number has exceeded the limit of what we can defend against. And more than half of the special drones Teacher Wang made—the formation swarm—were damaged earlier. They need repairs before they can be used."

The vehicle fell quiet.

Wan Xiaoqi lightly tapped the brakes, and the Supply Vehicle stopped before an ascending elevator.

The second and third transport vehicles following behind also stopped. Ji Xiao, Wu Man, Ji Yale, Zheng Shiduo, Peony, and a group of Special Operations Team members all jumped down at the same time.

They thought they were heading to the surface to fight.

Deep Sea and Ling Tong stared at each other, neither willing to yield.

Wang Jixuan slightly raised his hand. "How about... I go negotiate with them? Then during the negotiations, Peony carries me out into the wilderness. We draw them outside the range of Fortress No. 76, then use a nuclear bomb to deal with them?"

"And what about you? Are you going to withstand a nuclear bomb too?"

Ling Tong suddenly became somewhat agitated, though she restrained herself.

"Your value far exceeds mine, Deep Sea's, and everyone here combined!

"Failing to foresee that they would carry out an Encirclement and Suppression against the production site of the Demon-Breaking Daggers was already a failure in my work. I do not want to personally bury Humanity's only hope of fighting back against the Blade Beasts.

"Wang Zheng, you are that hope!"

But Wang Jixuan said, "I'm not. I'm merely a cultivator trying to make himself stronger. You provide me protection, and I provide you technology. That is a fair trade."

"Then this fair trade is our hope. If you die, or if they capture you, then we will have nothing left."

Ling Tong's chest rose and fell slightly. She took an injector from Wan Xiaoqi and stared at Wang Jixuan.

"I'm sorry. If there must be a villain, then I'll be one.

"I can live and die with Fortress No. 76, but you must obey my orders. When we drag the Psionicists into street battles, Ji Xiao will take you away from here. I will have Deep Sea and Peony meet you outside, while every other Half-Human Mech lies in ambush in the Upper City.

"The ground forces are already spreading toward the perimeter. They will preserve their Living Strength during the first wave of attacks, then cover your withdrawal.

"Once you leave this place, we will eliminate these Psionicists at the lowest possible cost.

"This is an anesthetic for Psionicists. I don't want to use it on you... Wang Zheng, look at me! Please carry out the order!"

Wang Jixuan sighed softly, then revealed a faint smile.

"Understood, Major."

Ling Tong relaxed slightly.

Yet Wang Jixuan quietly praised her in his heart.

She was rather charming when she got serious.

However, today's situation would not be easy to break. In these Chaotic Times, hoping to cultivate peacefully to greater heights was nothing more than a fool's dream.

Since that was the case, then he could not be blamed.

Wang Jixuan suddenly said:

"Ji Xiao, Wu Man, come with me.

"Peony, protect Ling Tong without leaving her side. If Ling Tong tries to use a self-destruction tactic, remove her Mechanical Arm.

"Deep Sea will take command from here. Ling Tong has lost her composure."

Ling Tong frowned. "Junior Mechanic Wang Zheng, I am the one giving orders right now!"

Wang Jixuan knocked on the vehicle door, lowered his head, and climbed out. Peony had already rushed over and displayed an order from the Commander-in-Chief on her arm Projection Screen.

"Sorry, Major Ling Tong. My commander possesses the highest command authority here, overriding all emergency orders. This is an encrypted personal letter from the Commander-in-Chief!"

Wu Man and Ji Xiao hurried after Wang Jixuan.

Without looking back, Wang Jixuan waved his hand. Then he clenched his fist toward the sky one last time.

"Fight as you normally would. Don't worry about me.

"Also, Humanity's hope lies in its own will. My fair trade with War Zone D5 is merely one path toward realizing that will.

"Let raging wind and violent rain come—I shall ride the wind and climb into the clouds!"