Seek Righteousness, Not Power

Wang Jixuan had already made up his mind before heading out.

If Old Fu didn't have anything serious this time and had only called him over for teppanyaki, he would hit him with a sliding tackle the moment he got there...

No matter. He could take the opportunity to see Ling Tong.

Ling Tong had been getting busier and busier lately, and the two of them rarely met. Being able to see her this time was wonderful enough.

When Wang Jixuan reached the first floor, Ling Tong was standing with her hands behind her back, leaning against the wall as she waited by the elevator doors.

She had clearly dressed up on purpose today. She wore her favorite tight jeans, a light gray cropped shirt with several tears along the shoulders and sleeve cuffs, and platform shoes that gave her already tall figure proportions straight out of a comic. Her lightly made-up face had lost some of its battlefield weariness and gained a delicate softness that seemed almost too tender to touch.

After her Mechanical Arm had been covered in Simulation Skin, it lost some of the striking contrast created by the fusion of machinery and flesh, but it also made her seem less aggressive.

When others interacted with Ling Tong, they usually unconsciously overlooked her age because her presence and gaze were simply too sharp.

In truth, she was only twenty-two this year.

Ling Tong first gave Peony behind Wang Jixuan a slight nod in greeting. Then she looked Wang Jixuan over a few times and said softly:

"You look well."

"How did you suddenly get prettier?"

Wang Jixuan, ever one to speak the truth, proactively extended his right hand.

Ling Tong was visibly stunned.

She glanced around, offered him her right hand, then realized something was wrong and swiftly switched to her left.

"My Mechanical Arm... the sensation is simulated..."

"I saw other people doing this," Wang Jixuan calmly explained as he took her left hand.

As his fingertips brushed against it, there was indeed an unmistakable mechanical feel.

Wang Jixuan calmly walked forward. After a few steps, they encountered a patrol of soldiers ahead.

Ling Tong whispered, "Mind the atmosphere in the camp."

Daoist Wang naturally released the Combat Machine's hand, only then noticing a flush beneath her crystalline skin.

She was embarrassed?

That was rather interesting.

"What does the Commander-in-Chief want with me this time?" Wang Jixuan casually changed the subject.

Ling Tong immediately returned to her usual demeanor. "A Commander-in-Chief-level meeting is being held at the Surface Camp of Oriole Highland Fortress No. 39, the fortress that was previously destroyed by Blade Beasts."

"Why are they calling me to this kind of meeting?"

"Black Storm needs to make an appearance," Ling Tong quickly said. "Those attending include the Commanders-in-Chief of Comprehensive War Zones Four through Nine, while D1 Comprehensive War Zone has sent a retired Deputy Commander-in-Chief."

"D2 and D3 didn't send anyone?"

"They tried to send two deputy-level officials who supported the Psionic Capital's position, but the Commander-in-Chief rejected them."

"Got it. Everyone coming is one of ours."

Wang Jixuan turned and called out to Peony, who had deliberately fallen ten meters behind:

"Bring over the new Black Suit I made."

—The other members of the Peak Maid Group were still on duty at the front lines, so Peony could only make the trip herself.

Fu Jian waited for him in the transport plane. There was no need for pleasantries when they met; he simply tossed a stack of documents to Wang Jixuan.

Daoist Wang read through them all the way there until his head started spinning.

The documents Fu Jian had given him detailed the internal power structures of the various war zones.

Within every major war zone, the interests were tangled like interlocking teeth.

While the overall divisions among the Comprehensive War Zones were fairly simple—either they leaned toward Fu Jian of D5 or toward the Six Elders of the Psionic Capital—

In reality, every Comprehensive War Zone contained differing opinions.

Other than the three war zones of D1, D2, and D3, most officers in the other war zones still considered matters from the human standpoint. Generally speaking, whoever could lead humanity to victory, or bring greater hope, would earn everyone's support.

When the transport plane was about to land, Wang Jixuan had not even finished a third of the paper documents. He simply stopped reading.

Rubbing his forehead, he muttered, "Old Fu, just tell me. What am I supposed to do today?"

"You don't need to do anything. Watch from the side. I need you to witness and understand the opinions within humanity," Fu Jian replied, his mechanical face remaining stern.

Wang Jixuan glared. "Then why did you make me read all this?"

"In case you got curious."

Ling Tong, seated in the back, pressed her lips together to hide a smile.

Wang Jixuan:...

A Daoist profanity.

Wang Jixuan had already heard about this meeting before; Peony had reported on it several times.

He changed into Black Storm's signature outfit and followed behind Fu Jian with Ling Tong at his left and right, entering the venue last.

The venue had an overall oval layout, with a large round table surrounded by dozens of seats.

This was the Fortress Era. Military Power outweighed politics, but meetings of this level still required representatives from the Joint Governance Conference of the Comprehensive War Zones.

—Half of them were here merely to fill seats and spout empty formalities.

The moment Wang Jixuan appeared, countless gazes in the hall converged on him.

The dozen or so marshal- and vice marshal-level figures of the Human Faction present all knew more or less about Black Storm's deeds and possessed some intelligence on him.

Fu Jian arrived beside the table.

"Stand!" Dongfang Zhenghong called out firmly from a corner.

Amid the scrape of chairs, a group of old-fashioned Half-Human Mechs and white-haired politicians rose together, following Fu Jian and his group in saluting the Human Faction.

Stirring music rang out from all around.

The music had no lyrics, yet it carried an indescribable sense of heaviness.

Quite a few of the somewhat younger marshals looked at Fu Jian with added fervor in their eyes.

Fu Jian simply said, "Sit."

Everyone took their seats, their postures more proper than before.

Zhang Huanying beside Fu Jian began chairing the meeting and read out the proceedings. Two squads of Mechs waited outside the doors, all from the Loyal Wingman series, models weaker than Peony.

After several necessary yet tedious opening procedures, Fu Jian took the microphone.

"Same old rules. Keep it brief. Us gathering in one place is itself extremely dangerous, but this time, I felt it necessary to call you all here."

"First, let me show you a few things."

The Mechs brought over twelve Crystal Core Greatswords, all versions originally made by Wang Jixuan.

Fu Jian had not directly brought out the strongest batch of greatswords.

To prevent accidental activation or injury, the Mechs remained beside the marshals the entire time to protect them.

Very quickly, the meeting entered its first wave of eager discussion.

"Can this kind of weapon be modified for ranged attacks?"

"What does it cost to make?"

"How durable is it? Still, cold weapons are too limited. Equipping assault teams with them is fine, but it would be difficult for them to change the battlefield."

"Old Fu, where did you get these? Did you really dig up some Ancient Ruins? This doesn't seem to be some precious alloy. The key is that it can mobilize psionic energy."

Fu Jian leaned back in his chair, a relaxed smile appearing on his face. "Black Storm."

The assembled commanders mostly looked at Wang Jixuan with admiration.

After the first round of demonstrations, Fu Jian instructed each war zone to take the greatswords away as commemorative gifts for attending.

Then he added, "Huanying is here too. You must all be curious. She hasn't appeared in public for a long time."

Everyone nodded.

Zhang Huanying continued, "The reason we invited you here this time, especially the Commanders-in-Chief of each war zone, is also to help you comrades extend your lives."

The Mechs brought over tray after tray, holding a total of sixteen Crane Origin Pills.

Every old Half-Human Mech attending received one.

The Mechs operated with precision. Out of their trust in Fu Jian, these old marshals said nothing and simply waited quietly to feel the effects.

The venue remained silent for over an hour.

That was the time required for treatment.

Just as Wang Jixuan was becoming drowsy at the side, the entire hall suddenly erupted into noise.

A group of old marshals directly surrounded Fu Jian. Fu Jian smiled as he folded his arms and leaned calmly in his chair, his expression indescribably satisfied.

"Old Fu! Give me five! Five will do! I'll take out my own core components and let you use them as a ball to kick around!"

"Brother, where did you get this stuff? Did you really tame a Spiritual Practitioner? Damn, you're incredible, big brother!"

"Commander-in-Chief! We need three over here! Urgently!"

Fu Jian calmly raised a hand to press downward, and the surrounding area instantly quieted.

"It's not that I'm deliberately holding you back or demanding outrageous prices. We are all warriors fighting for humanity's survival, and we should be helping one another.

"But this thing is extraordinarily precious. The raw materials are difficult to find, and the output is limited."

Fu Jian said seriously:

"Black Storm does not eat or drink. Two months' worth of production has already been used by all of you.

"I have a list here, included in the appendix of your meeting materials. Don't worry, they aren't the expensive consumables we use. They are the Special Ore required to make these Crane Origin Pills and Crystal Core Greatswords.

"These plant materials are widely distributed, but scarce in quantity.

"Bring me the materials, wait for the time, and I will deliver Crane Origin Pills to you."

The marshals returned to their seats and began flipping through the documents they had previously been too lazy to read.

The items Wang Jixuan had once requested from Fu Jian—crystal cores above the general rank, all kinds of ores, and all kinds of Herbal Medicine—were all listed in that table.

Behind his helmet, Daoist Wang's eyes... gleamed wickedly.

Old Fu was truly cunning.

Now, he effectively had cultivation resources from more than half of humanity's territory!

Fu Jian clapped his hands for the third time. A third batch of Mechs entered, carrying box after box.

Fu Jian said slowly, "Everything we prepared for you today has now been brought out. Don't say I was deliberately keeping you in suspense. Take a look."

"Old Fu, where did you get so many good things?"

"Black Storm, are you interested in coming to our war zone and becoming our precious treasure?"

"No wonder, Old Fu. You've been acting like you were pumped full of hormones lately, going head-to-head with the Psionic Capital. If I suddenly got my hands on all this new technology, I would've gone after those bastards ages ago! And you managed to hold back until now!"

"What is this?"

"The first transformation diagram of the Seven Star Sword Array?"

A buzz swept through the venue.

Fu Jian raised his hand to press downward and said slowly, "This is the main event today, and the reason I called you here. Given D1 Comprehensive War Zone's current situation, this transformation diagram will not be shared with you for the time being. I hope you understand... All right. You must now make a promise to me and swear upon what you cherish most."

"What are we swearing for? Do we even need oaths between us?"

"You must swear... Under any circumstances, the things in your hands may only be used by Half-Human Mechs and Mechs. They must not fall into the hands of the Psionic Capital."

Fu Jian spoke slowly:

"If the situation were not dangerous to a certain degree, I would not be so eager to promote this.

"This sword array has only just begun to be implemented in our war zone.

"What you are receiving now is its most basic version. What I am implementing among D5's Half-Human Mech Troops is the intermediate version. Its complete form is the advanced version, and without Black Storm's permission, we cannot promote it on a large scale for now.

"As for its actual combat results... Ling Tong, I'll leave the rest to you."

Ling Tong took a light breath, rose to stand straight, and replied firmly, "Yes!"

She was clearly nervous, but that nervousness swiftly turned into excitement. She walked with standard military steps to the open space at the center of the oval conference table and activated the holographic projection.

"Commanders, please watch closely. I will play three combat recordings: my first-person perspective, an overhead perspective, and a slow-motion analysis of the sword array.

"These recordings were taken from three battles involving the Encirclement and Suppression of King-Class Blade Beasts. We achieved victory in all of them!"

The holographic projection immediately expanded, covering half the venue and making everyone feel as though they had been transported to the battlefield, charging alongside fifteen-meter-tall mechs.

Ling Tong gave detailed explanations at the side.

Wang Jixuan watched with great interest. Because of the intertwining lights, Ling Tong seemed to be glowing at that moment.

If the announcement of the Crystal Core Greatswords—Psionic Weapons that could use Blade Beast Crystal Cores to mobilize the psionic energy in the air—had invigorated the commanders present,

Then the commanders who had personally experienced the effects of the Crane Origin Pills had already seen a ray of dawn.

It was the dawn of rapidly increasing the Human Faction's strength, of sending those old soldiers with remarkable achievements and vast Combat Experience back onto the battlefield, and thus launching a counterattack against the Blade Beasts.

Now, the announcement of the Seven Star Sword Array and the demonstration of its actual combat effects had driven these commanders nearly mad.

Ling Tong explained for more than half an hour.

Most of these commanders were Fu Jian's juniors, and they did not put on airs before him. They came down to try it themselves.

Under Ling Tong's guidance, they experienced the basic positional transformations. Then they put on the special Bagua Plates Wang Jixuan had made for the Half-Human Mech Group, sensing one another's locations during the transformations and perceiving the movement of psionic energy around them.

Once they picked up the Crystal Core Greatswords and moved through the positions again, the crystal cores on the greatswords directly resonated!

A group of white-haired old men and women earnestly studied and experienced the subtleties within, making for a slightly comical sight.

This meeting, which should have been stern and dreary, nearly turned into a martial arts gathering.

Wang Jixuan sat in a corner. A trace of pride stirred within his Dao heart, but he suppressed it.

He smiled freely, and his mindset returned to calm.

If he had created these things himself, he would indeed have reason to feel proud.

They were merely some beginner-level things he had brought over from the Cultivation World. He had only made adaptive improvements.

Seek righteousness, not power.

After this meeting, the internal pressure the Psionic Capital faced from the Human Faction would surely rise sharply!

By the time Wang Jixuan returned to his workshop, it was already evening.

He actually felt somewhat exhausted.

The final part of the meeting had been a meal together. Several war zone Commanders-in-Chief with political status similar to Fu Jian's had pulled him aside to build rapport in every possible way.

This was far more exhausting than attending the Supreme Elders' centennial birthday banquets, each of which lasted at least half a month.

Ling Tong hurried back to the front lines to teach the Seven Star Sword Array to the Combat Machines.

Everyone in the studio was busy as well.

Wu Man was working on the foundation of the Mountain Protection Grand Formation. It would be completed in another three or four days, and it could protect floors one through fourteen.

Uncle Tai and several old scholars were researching improvements to the Demon-Breaking Dagger assembly line.

Wan Xiaoqi was pulling Gao Huating into a corner to play video games.

Gao Huating suddenly froze, then turned and glared at Wang Jixuan, who had just climbed in through the window.

Black Wind!

Wang Jixuan removed his helmet and tossed it onto the coat rack in the corner. Humming a little tune, he undid his Tactical Gloves and removed the "Zhou Tiantian" mask from his face.

Hoo—finally free.

Hmm?

Daoist Wang sensed that something was off about someone's gaze. He looked up and met the eyes of Gao Huating, who was staring wide-eyed and open-mouthed, her face full of shock.