Red Snake obediently shut her mouth and indignantly jabbed the corpse several times with her blade limbs.
Her voice echoed in Wang Jixuan's heart:
"I'm furious! I wanted so badly to become human, yet I became a monster. They're humans, yet they turned themselves into monsters!"
Wang Jixuan merely smiled without speaking.
The souls of those six people were all hidden inside their crystal cores. He only needed to bring the bodies back for later study. Given the properties of crystal cores, those souls could not escape on their own.
Still, to be safe, he produced six Demon Sealing Talismans.
Crystal cores implanted into human bodies, Brain-Eating Worms controlling human brains, forcibly raising Psionicists' strength.
The Blade Beasts have some tricks up their sleeves too.
Wang Jixuan's thoughts stirred slightly. He looked up at the windblown sand filling the area, and a sense of unease rose within him.
It was as though vertical pupils everywhere were watching coldly.
All this time, he had been considering how to deal with Spiritual Practitioners, but he had never forgotten that they were losers—losers defeated by the Blade Beast Civilization.
The true formidable enemies were still these vile beasts.
"Everyone, head back. Leave these soldiers' bodies for the troops arriving afterward to collect."
Wang Jixuan instructed:
"Peony, cut off those six heads and burn the Brain-Eating Worms inside. Take the bodies back for research."
"Yes, Commander!"
The transport aircraft slowly descended from above.
Just as Wang Jixuan was about to leave, he suddenly remembered something. He hurried to the wreckage of the aircraft Red Snake had rescued earlier and dragged out Uncle Tai and several surviving researchers.
When they returned to Fortress No. 76, the transport aircraft swept slowly through the low skies while Red Snake, the Sub-King-Class Human-Soul Blade Beast, raced across the earth.
The fortress garrison troops who had come to reinforce them had nearly sounded the alarm for a Blade Beast assault on the city.
The members of Shen Qionglin's team, who had only just arrived in D5, were all pale-faced, clearly frightened by the sight.
When had they ever seen anything like this?
After Wang Jixuan returned to Fortress No. 76, a Blade Beast shaped like a scorpion, only twenty centimeters long and concealed in a nearby sand dune, aimed its tail at Red Snake as she entered the hangar for shelter.
The insect burrowed into the sand and swiftly disappeared.
Two hours later.
Wang Jixuan sat in a dormitory on the seventh floor of Fortress No. 76 and slowly exhaled a breath of Turbid Qi.
Daoist Wang did not concern himself with arranging accommodations for Shen Qionglin and her team. There were plenty of professionals here to handle that.
His breakthrough had been interrupted earlier, leaving him with a minor injury to his vital energy. He now had to focus completely on recovering it!
His spiritual awareness spread outward, inspecting every area.
Fortress No. 76's state of alert had now caught up to, or even surpassed, that of the General Headquarters.
The Second Generation Half-Human Mech, Black Shell Instructor, was in the Command Center on the Third Floor with Dongfang Zhenghong, observing the battle conditions across the Six Frontlines through a wall of screens.
Both wore grave expressions. The front lines were clearly under considerable pressure.
The Beast God Faction Psionicists had suddenly joined the battle, placing immense pressure on localized battlefields.
Fortunately, D5 had responded swiftly. Commander-in-Chief Fu Jian had gone there personally to oversee the situation and was organizing an effective counterattack.
His spiritual awareness swept past.
Zhou Zhengde was in a meeting with the governor, discussing the reconstruction of the Lower City. They appeared to be preparing some political event related to Fortress No. 82.
Wang Jixuan had no interest in such matters, so he did not look further.
Shen Qionglin and the group of white-coated researchers she had brought were currently undergoing medical examinations at the Surface Camp to determine whether they carried any unknown antigens.
A fortress was an enclosed space where infectious diseases could easily break out.
Although the major Comprehensive War Zones consciously kept the public's "antibodies" updated, people returning from other war zones—especially those who had emerged from biological laboratories—still could not put everyone at ease.
Such examinations were a necessary procedure.
The Buddha Hall Squad had already returned to their respective residences to rest.
The maids of the Peak Maid Group had also begun their routine maintenance.
The neighbor next door was probably on vacation. She was still sleeping in broad daylight, perhaps after staying up late recording songs again?
Well, her sleeping posture was somewhat unbecoming. And at her age, she was actually still wearing a nightgown with little bear patterns on it...
Ahem. One must not look upon what is improper.
Wang Jixuan quickly withdrew his spiritual awareness, then let it extend naturally again, deliberately avoiding a certain Virtual Songstress next door while maintaining basic vigilance.
"Peony."
He spoke with his eyes closed:
"Notify the Buddha Hall Squad and your team members. The front lines may need combat strength. If they are willing, have them apply to go provide support after a brief rest.
"It will be enough for you to stay behind with me.
"Unless someone attacks us, there is no need to wake me afterward."
"Alright, Commander." Peony blinked. "What if there are other emergencies?"
"Unless someone I know is injured and needs rescue, do not wake me for anything else."
"Understood!"
Peony said gently:
"Being known by the Commander really is such a fortunate thing."
Wang Jixuan smiled without speaking.
A Loyal Wingman often flattered her master.
—Her Humor System included that function.
Calming his mind and focusing his spirit, Wang Jixuan entered meditation. Scenes continuously passed through his mind—images from his previous life, when he underwent Hard Cultivation in the mountains.
He was recalling what he had thought back then.
Since he had been given another chance, he naturally needed some different ideas, filling in gaps and correcting shortcomings.
Gradually, specks of starlight appeared around Wang Jixuan once more. It was as if he stood amid a starry sky.
Peony knelt on a cushion in the corner, habitually pretending to charge. Her long eyelashes met as she connected to the fortress network, using this place as a starting point to link into the information network of the D5 Comprehensive War Zone.
She helped Wang Jixuan watch over various areas, protecting the people he cared about in her own way.
Such as Ling Tong, Deep Sea, Sister Wan, Wan Xiaoqi, Zhou Zhengde, Wei Na, and so on.
This was the hidden purpose of a Loyal Wingman—or so Peony herself believed.
By evening.
The phenomena around Wang Jixuan had vanished. The Spirit Release Array he had set up had also shut down. The stars filling the sky had returned to his body, concealing a sea of stars within him.
Wang Jixuan was immersed in the Dao Realm, reluctant to pull himself away.
He had successfully entered the Void Return Realm.
His Dao foundation had initially reached harmony. All he needed to do afterward was stabilize his foundation, raise his primordial soul and Dao body as much as possible, then unite spirit, soul, body, essence, and qi to enter the Core Formation Realm.
The Core Formation Realm was a major hurdle.
If he could form a Golden Core, he would be able to embark upon the Golden Core Great Dao and call himself a Golden Core Daoist.
At that point, cultivators could cross the void, summon wind and rain over local regions with a raised hand, connect their techniques to the mysteries of the underworld, and greatly increase the power of their Dao arts!
However, Daoist Wang was still quite some distance from the Golden Core Realm.
A strand of his consciousness withdrew from comprehending the Dao. He took out the Sword Pellet stored close to his body and began the final stage of refining it.
This flying sword was about to be born.
It was also this divided strand of consciousness that allowed Wang Jixuan to hear the conversation outside the door later.
Zheng Shiduo had come looking for him, only to be stopped by Peony.
"Brother Wang is still breaking through?"
"Yes. Breakthroughs are confidential matters, so please do not spread the news."
"I know, I know. The application I submitted has already been approved. Looks like the front lines really do need people. Is the entire Buddha Hall Squad going to support them? What about the defenses here?"
Peony explained, "Peony will remain here. Besides, the Maid Group's application was rejected. From what Peony understands, the military does not seem to need us Mechs very much!"
"Alright." Zheng Shiduo did not forget to remind her, "We're leaving now. If anything happens, contact us directly."
"Stay safe, Mr. Pervert Duo." Peony waved in response.
"Why doesn't it feel like an insult when you call me that? Strange." Zheng Shiduo scratched his head and hurried away.
The Buddha Hall Squad had already finished gearing up and set out once more.
Wang Jixuan gave them no further instructions and continued focusing entirely on comprehending the Dao and refining his flying sword.
Although flying swords possessed great power, they needed to be nurtured with one's body and soul. Once refined, they had to be housed within the sea of qi. If the flying sword were damaged afterward, it would greatly affect its owner as well.
The so-called bond of life and fate was roughly like this.
He did not know that Peony had already prepared good news for him.
The Half-Human Mech Group led by Ling Tong had achieved a crushing victory, defeating a King-Class Blade Beast at minimal cost!
Though it was the weakest King-Class Blade Beast around D5.
And at the site where the great battle had just ended, Ling Tong was facing a choice. The mastermind who had given her that choice was the Devil Commander-in-Chief, who was overseeing the front lines in another direction.
By evening.
Ling Tong's battlefield.
Viewed from the air, massive armored formations were driving away from the mountain of corpses formed by Blade Beasts, while Firepower Mechas were suspended beneath transport aircraft and carried back to the rear headquarters.
Second-line units dedicated to clearing the battlefield began entering the area. They also had to guard against severely wounded Blade Beasts that might not yet be dead launching sudden attacks.
The crystal cores collected here, along with everything valuable on the Blade Beasts, would now be transported to the D5 General Headquarters under the latest temporary laws enacted by War Zone D5.
The Psionic Capital could no longer interfere.
Inside a large Supply Vehicle returning to the rear headquarters.
Ling Tong lay on an operating table, receiving treatment from the Logistics Team. Several areas of her right Mechanical Arm had been scorched black—injuries caused by pressure overload during the fierce battle earlier.
She had never imagined that she would truly be able to fight a King-Class Blade Beast.
With the support of more than ten Magic Tool Bagua Plates, the psionic modules loaded into their Exclusive Mechas, and the Seven Star Sword Array, the seven Half-Human Mechs—none of whom were among the strongest models—had truly defeated a King-Class Blade Beast!
This tactic could be replicated!
Ling Tong was greatly encouraged by this.
That was why a smile she could not suppress had remained at the corner of her lips, despite her usual stern demeanor.
"Commander?"
A young female mechanic handed her a cup of coffee with a built-in straw.
Ling Tong raised her head and took two sips, fatigue showing in her eyes.
She asked, "How is Fortress No. 76?"
"Everything is normal. Much better off than your Mechanical Arm."
Sister Wan replied without raising her head, her eyes fixed on a stream of rapidly scrolling data as she spoke quickly:
"Don't worry about Wang Zheng's side. They defeated six Beast God Faction Psionicists earlier and are currently resting inside the fortress."
"Beast God Faction Psionicists?"
Ling Tong moved the fingers of her Mechanical Arm, and a string of projections appeared before her.
These were intelligence reports submitted from various locations to the General Headquarters concerning the Beast God Faction:
[Beast God Faction Psionicists suddenly appeared at the border, attacking in coordination with a Blade Beast Swarm. Our casualties are severe. Details. (4 hours ago)] [Beast God Faction Psionicists discovered near Fortress No. 76. The enemy is suspected of targeting the secret objective C23 and has currently been repelled. Details. (3 hours ago)] [Latest autopsies show that every Beast God Faction Psionicist had a crystal core implanted inside their body—some in the stomach, some in the large intestine. Examination of their organs found that these crystal cores had been forcibly stuffed into their abdomens before the wounds healed on their own. Their internal organs have already mutated. Massive Brain-Eating Worms were hidden in their brains, confirming the first documented instance of Blade Beasts modifying human bodies. Recommend notifying all war zones immediately. (3 minutes ago)] [Confirmed: more than 620 Beast God Faction members defected from the Psionic Capital. More than 300 Beast God Faction members also defected from Secret Bases in other Psionic Capitals. Attached is the list. (8 days ago)]
Ling Tong carefully read the first three reports.
Her expression became somewhat grave.
Sister Wan smiled. "Don't put too much pressure on yourself. We have a secret weapon: the Miracle Maker."
"Blade Beasts modifying humans," Ling Tong said simply. "So it really has happened. Before this, it was only theoretically possible."
"Doesn't that just prove the Blade Beasts are being pushed into a corner?"
Sister Wan yawned. There were more bloodshot streaks in her eyes as she muttered:
"Back then, when did we ever get this kind of treatment? Now that the Brain-Eating Worms have been exposed, the Blade Beasts have lost their ability to monitor humanity. They're talking now, and they're modifying Psionicists too.
"Who knows what major stunt those monsters might pull next.
"Didn't they say Blade Beasts could devour and merge with each other? Although that phenomenon has only occurred among low-tier Blade Beasts, and no such cases have been found among mid-tier or High-Tier Blade Beasts so far.
"But who can say for sure?"
Ling Tong asked, "Does the battlefield on the other side need our support?"
"Please, you need to rest right now."
Sister Wan said helplessly:
"You've already accomplished a great feat and made an outstanding contribution. You need to recover your strength now.
"Close your eyes and sleep for a while. If Wang Zheng calls, I'll tell him you're on a date with Dream God.
"Or I can give you an injection of Harmless Sleep Potion."
"You'd better not make jokes like that. He takes things very seriously."
Ling Tong closed her eyes. A hint of weariness showed on her delicate face, and she was about to fall into a deep sleep...
"Urgent call from the Commander-in-Chief!"
Ling Tong almost reflexively sprang from the operating table. Her Mechanical Arm was still connected to a series of cables, but her proud figure stood straight as she raised a hand in salute toward the Projection Screen.
The dozen or so logistics personnel inside the transport vehicle immediately gathered behind Ling Tong and somewhat chaotically saluted.
"Mm. You've all worked hard."
Fu Jian nodded lightly, looked at Ling Tong, and said simply, "Switch to the encrypted voice channel built into your Mechanical Arm."
"Yes!"
Ling Tong rapidly tapped her fingers. Beside her, Sister Wan hurriedly fetched two earpieces and stuffed them into Ling Tong's ears.
Fu Jian's voice soon rang out:
"This battle was hard-fought. With seven relatively inexpensive fifteen-meter-class Exclusive Mecha, you defeated a King-Class Blade Beast. Your names have already been written into human military history."
Ling Tong immediately replied, "This was a victory achieved through the united efforts of the entire war zone!"
"Even so, it was bought with your hard work and your willingness to risk your lives."
Fu Jian said:
"Don't worry about that front. I've already deployed a small portion of the Mechanical Legion. The Beast God Faction Psionicists only caused us some confusion; the situation has stabilized now.
"Ling Tong, I need you to make a choice."
"Commander-in-Chief! There are no multiple-choice questions in Ling Tong's world. A soldier only carries out orders!"
"No, you must choose. Consider it from every angle."
Fu Jian said gravely:
"The first path is to continue on the frontline combat route. Because Wang Zheng helped strengthen your body, your overall combat power is now comparable to that of a Half-Human Mech modified by over sixty-five percent.
"In this battle, you made the greatest contribution and served as the team's stabilizing force.
"The second path... is to become my candidate successor."
Ling Tong froze for a moment.
"If you choose the second path, I will immediately arrange for you to tour the entire war zone and give speeches, educating the public about the dangers of Psionic Capital.
"To become a hero trusted by humanity, you must first become a hero revered by humanity.
"Additionally, you will become the chief instructor of the Seven Star Sword Array. In the future, you will teach Half-Human Mech Groups in other war zones, and your rank will rise to at least general within five years."
Fu Jian paused. Seated behind a simple desk, he laced his fingers together before his nose and said quietly:
"Before, we couldn't see any hope. But now that we can, certain plans must be pushed forward.
"In this era, becoming humanity's hero is a cruel choice for the individual.
"Personally, I don't want you to choose this path. But as Commander-in-Chief, I must consider making you my successor.
"When can you give me an answer?"
Ling Tong parted her lips slightly.
She hesitated, a rare moment of indecision in her life.
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