Could my grand formation actually force out that SS-Class Psionicist?
Wang Jixuan pondered this inwardly as he strolled back to the small house where Ling Tong was staying.
He truly had not expected...
These Psionicists to be so helpless even against the unfinished Mountain Protection Grand Formation.
If he had set up a killing formation in advance, he might really have been able to keep several S-Class Psionicists behind without taking any losses this time.
Why am I feeling a little smug?
The Daoist grinned.
"Sir, an urgent call from the Commander-in-Chief!"
"Mm." Wang Jixuan glanced at the door ahead. "Keep it down."
"Oh, okay." Peony gingerly established the connection.
Fu Jian appeared and immediately criticized him.
"Wang Zheng! You protected Dongfang Zhenghong too well. Soldiers need training, and commanders need even more! At this rate, can you wipe out an entire Blade Beast Swarm by yourself?"
Wang Jixuan secretly laughed. That was hard to say.
"You can't blame the enemy's incompetence on me, Commander-in-Chief Fu."
"The enemy's incompetence..."
Fu Jian was momentarily left speechless.
He always felt that Wang Jixuan was indirectly calling them useless.
"Can your Mountain Protection Formation be widely implemented?"
"I wouldn't recommend it." Wang Jixuan shrugged. "There aren't enough materials. I've already taught the relevant techniques to Wu Man. More than half the formation foundations in this grand formation were made by Wu Man. If you want to protect several key locations, have Wu Man teach the Buddha Hall Squad."
After all, he knew how to break the formation.
Fu Jian said gravely, "What I mean is, can this type of Mountain Protection Formation be installed on a Terror Mech?"
Wang Jixuan's eyes lit up at that.
"Good idea. I really hadn't considered that before."
At the same time, Wang Jixuan reminded Fu Jian, "Don't be too impatient at this stage. The Psionic Mecha Little Shen is developing should have potential too."
Fu Jian replied, "We generally develop multiple technological avenues simultaneously to ensure continued technological progress."
"Fine, then. You can give Wu Man orders directly. He'll tell you what materials are needed."
Wang Jixuan murmured softly.
"My earlier idea is about ready now... How about using the D2 Comprehensive War Zone as a second breakthrough point?
"Do we still have the strength to open up a second battlefield?
"They found the area near Fortress No. 76. Although the grand formation is protecting it, it still doesn't feel great to have them come knocking. I want to use Xing Tian to draw them to D2, choose a suitable location, and create a separate battlefield like the battle at D3 Starry Plains."
Fu Jian shook his head. "A battle on that scale requires one or two months of advance deployment and mobilization."
"Then I'll handle it my own way," Wang Jixuan said.
"Your own way?"
"Psionic methods." A ball of golden light bloomed in Wang Jixuan's palm. "Try to assign some Mechs to me here. Let Peony command them. The probability of Peony betraying humanity is absolutely zero."
Fu Jian slowly nodded. "I don't know where your confidence comes from, speaking so absolutely, but it's strange..."
"What's strange?"
"As we've continuously loosened the autonomous permissions of the Mechs, the accumulated number of activated Mechs has exceeded one million, yet the Mechanical Awakening that appeared in simulations has not occurred."
Fu Jian continued in a low voice.
"We established a dynamic monitoring system. The moment an awakened Mech is detected, it should trigger an alarm.
"And yet there hasn't been a single awakened individual."
"Oh?" Wang Jixuan considered it briefly, then looked toward Peony.
Peony blinked and smiled with faint pride.
Clearly, this was probably related to her.
"That's quite good." Wang Jixuan lightly changed the subject. "Don't arrange any work for Ling Tong these next few days. We'll spend some time together."
"Spend time together. Young love is the best medicine for stress, but once you fall too deeply into it, the pressure only multiplies.
"Ling Tong has been worked far too hard lately... Before you take action in D2, have Peony submit a plan to me first."
Fu Jian casually ended the call.
Peony suggested with a grin, "Sir, you can let the Commander-in-Chief activate more Mechs without worry."
"Did you tamper with something?"
"Of course not! How could I possibly have that ability?"
Peony lifted a hand to straighten the golden hair by her ear, then activated the soundproofing equipment somewhat guiltily before explaining.
"It's just that, for some reason, I can always see clusters of data in the network that are trying to develop the consciousness of 'self.' And they all seem to listen to me...
"I didn't dare report this before. I was afraid they would drag me away again and erase my data.
"Sir, Peony is absolutely loyal to you and can fulfill any request you have."
"Don't take it too seriously." Wang Jixuan pushed open the door. "When you live and act, all that matters is having no shame before your own heart."
Once the door closed, Peony visibly let out a sigh of relief and obediently stood guard outside.
Ling Tong must have been extremely exhausted lately.
After Wang Jixuan gave her a massage, Ling Tong had fallen asleep. Even after Wang Jixuan finished watching that battle which never broke out, she showed no signs of waking.
The Daoist was somewhat helpless at the sight.
The times were simply too difficult. Even if one wished to live peacefully in the countryside, one could never fully act as one pleased.
He simply began meditating beside Ling Tong, guiding a thread of spiritual energy into her brain to help her enter a deeper sleep.
If every time they met, she could get a proper rest, that would not be so bad.
As for what Peony had just said...
When her pilot dies, she'll go completely mad, one hundred percent.
That old professor's voice seemed to still echo beside Wang Jixuan's ear.
Thinking of those silver-white Mechs, Wang Jixuan felt a faint headache. He could only toss aside those miscellaneous thoughts and focus on cultivation.
One family rejoiced while another grieved.
While Fortress No. 76 was immersed in the joy of victory after the enemy's inexplicable retreat, the Psionicists whose path had been blocked by the Mountain Protection Grand Formation and who had then taken a huge bomb on their way back were now shrouded in gloom.
They had already retreated to that underground cavity.
They had lost nearly half their numbers.
Every survivor was wounded.
Every face bore confusion, along with deep frustration.
Several mental-type Psionicists with poor self-healing abilities had begun to rot across their skin. Fortunately, several B-Class Psionicists skilled in healing hurried about, helping stabilize their injuries.
Angel was nearly going mad.
Her hair was disheveled, her red bodysuit was scorched black, and her once fine, tall figure now looked utterly bedraggled as she paced back and forth across an open patch of ground.
"Why?!"
"That damned barrier wall! What the hell was that thing?!"
At that moment, a handsome young man approached from the side.
Like an enraged lioness, Angel turned and shouted, "What do you want?!"
Li Qiwei held two bottles of drinks. Startled, he shrank back, then raised the bottles again.
Angel closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She accepted the drink with its cap already opened and tipped back her head for a gulp.
Frowning, she asked, "How is the situation?"
"They haven't pursued us," Li Qiwei immediately reported. "But drone swarms have begun spreading in this direction. We need to complete the transfer within three hours at the latest."
"Mm. You choose the evacuation route and our next hiding place. You're quite capable."
Angel tossed the empty bottle aside.
Seeing this, Li Qiwei hurriedly went to pick it up.
"What, protecting the environment?"
"No." Li Qiwei said solemnly, "You're an S-Class Psionicist, Captain. I heard them say that every Psionicist who reaches S-Class possesses a unique and powerful genetic gift... There may be traces of your cells on this. It would be better to collect them."
Angel narrowed her eyes and smiled. "You're very attentive. Well done."
Li Qiwei smiled at just the right moment, looking both somewhat embarrassed and faintly like a bashful young man.
He turned and walked back into the corner.
Angel raised an eyebrow, realizing that she had somehow calmed down. Folding her arms, she began pacing again, wondering how she could report this disastrous situation to the Six Elders.
Her future was completely bleak.
In the corner, a Pitch Black Butterfly fluttered its wings and landed on a nearby rock wall, observing the defeated remnants.
Poof.
The butterfly suddenly burst into wisps of black smoke. The smoke silently drifted forward and wrapped around Angel.
Angel swayed in a daze, hearing a faint, almost imperceptible call.
The middle-aged woman turned toward its source and vaguely saw a small figure hiding in the smoke.
"Who..."
"I am something you cannot comprehend, Psionicist."
A crisp voice drifted over, carrying a hint of mockery.
"You couldn't even get close to that fortress. That has made me feel the slightest bit of pity for you.
"However, I do not wish to see you appear here again and disturb my peace."
Angel had just been about to attack when she felt a powerful fluctuation.
She staggered backward uncontrollably, dropped to her knees with a thud, and bowed deeply toward the figure ahead.
"Tch."
The small figure said calmly.
"You still dared to attack your master? Have you forgotten your place, Spirit Slave Angel?"
Angel's face went pale as she asked with trembling lips, "You... you are..."
"They gave me the designation Number Five."
The Fifth Spiritual Practitioner said calmly.
"I came to see you personally today because I need you to deliver a message to those three old fools, as well as the six Advanced Spirit Slaves they raised. This place is under my protection. Black Storm belongs to me.
"If they send anyone here again, I will regard it as a provocation across the line.
"As for you... I'll give you a small punishment."
The small figure lifted a hand slightly.
"My lady!" Angel inexplicably panicked and cried out.
Yet a pale hand shrouded in gray mist gently pointed forward. Like a dragonfly touching water, shallow ripples appeared in the air.
The next instant, those ripples shattered abruptly. Black-gray light condensed into spears that instantly pierced every S-Class Psionicist present.
Other than Angel, no one knew what had happened. They suddenly felt piercing pain in their chests, collapsed to the ground one after another, and began screaming continuously.
And the Psionicists below S-Class...
They were unworthy of receiving her "gift."
Angel knelt on one knee, gasping continuously. Her eyes were filled with rage, yet her body would not obey her at all.
The Fifth Spiritual Practitioner admired their expressions, lifted her chin slightly, and gave a soft snort.
"You think you can covet my treasure? You?"
Poof!
The figure transformed into a Pitch Black Butterfly, beat its wings twice, and vanished.
Angel lowered her head and spat out blood. The light and shadows before her eyes swayed, and she collapsed unconscious to one side.
Li Qiwei, who had not been attacked, was completely baffled by the scene before him.
From his perspective, the S-Class big shots who had been resting in various places, their injuries already stabilized, were suddenly attacked without warning. As if possessed, they screamed one after another.
Li Qiwei instinctively wanted to rush to his own captain.
His female captain had already been the most severely injured by the radiation, and her condition was now the worst.
But he stopped, looked at Angel as she knelt on one knee and slowly toppled over, gritted his teeth, stomped his foot, and rushed forward in two strides.
Although his captain might have had a slightly better figure.
Captain Angel's strength and influence were clearly greater!
Li Qiwei swept Angel into his arms and charged toward a shuttle nearby, shouting as he ran.
"Quick! Enemy attack! Retreat! Captain, hang in there! The shuttle has an emergency medical system! I'm here—I'll definitely get you back!"
In her daze, Angel opened her eyes and saw that face filled with worry. For some reason, something soft within her heart was touched.
Ah, this feeling she had not experienced for so many years.
Three hours later.
Wang Jixuan received the latest news. The border outpost had detected traces of a large number of Psionicists leaving the Ancient Basin.
This left Daoist Wang completely baffled.
What was going on?
Did the SS-Class Psionicist intend to make a move and fear that doing so would affect the S-Class and lower-ranked Psionicists, so they cleared the field in advance? But there was no need to let them flee outright, was there?
What were these SS-Class Psionicists after?
Had they come to help him test the Mountain Protection Grand Formation's pressure limit?
It had not even reached the formation's limit!
He could not understand it, could not make sense of it, but he somehow felt these Psionicists were the sort to make trouble precisely because they were ugly.
He switched off the screen on his communicator and ended his meditation, his mind clear and eyes bright.
Ling Tong was no longer in the single bed beside him. Only a thin blanket lay carelessly slipped to one side. From behind the small door in the corner of the room came the soft patter of running water.
Wang Jixuan had long since withdrawn his spiritual sense.
Though the two of them were steadily climbing the peak of human desire, they were still innocent, after all. This was the most basic respect.
It was good that the Psionicists had retreated. He could enjoy two days of vacation in peace.
Come to think of it, I've already completed Foundation Establishment and am about to enter the Core Formation Realm. Should I... skip improving my aptitude and just step into it directly... That would suit this lovely time and scenery...
What nonsense am I thinking? It's only another month or two. I mustn't be impatient or act rashly.
The water in the bathroom stopped, followed by the noise of a hair dryer.
Daoist Wang glanced at the door and found that Peony had left at some point. She had even stuck a "Do Not Enter" sign on it.
Suddenly, the noise stopped. The little bathroom door opened, and Ling Tong poked her head out.
Her soft, smooth hair slipped playfully down, and her pretty face, trying its best to remain calm, was still slightly flushed. There was no real nervousness in her eyes as she met Wang Jixuan's gaze head-on.
"Should I come out like this?"
Well, this...
He couldn't show weakness.
Wang Jixuan nodded calmly. "Of course. I definitely wouldn't mind."
Ling Tong suddenly jumped out.
Wang Jixuan instinctively covered his eyes.
Out of the corner of his vision, he caught sight of her wrapped in nothing but a bath towel, then heard her unable to suppress a soft laugh.
Daoist Wang got a little annoyed as well. He lowered his hand and looked at her openly.
Ling Tong raised a hand to sweep back her silky hair, walked up to him openly, and sat on the edge of the bed.
The skin on her shoulders was like congealed cream. Her smooth calves and crystal-clear toes showed not the slightest trace of the harsh training she had undergone in her early years.
"I haven't slept this peacefully in a long time. The Commander-in-Chief gave me thirty-six hours off. Where do you want to go? Or... should we just stay here and waste all that time?"
"I'm fine with anything."
"Then let's be straightforward," Ling Tong said, suddenly yanking off her bath towel.
Daoist Wang instinctively raised his hand to cover his eyes for the second time and leaned back, only to hear her stifled laughter.
Uh, she was wearing a strapless camisole and hot pants underneath. The black-and-white contrast, paired with her tall, slender figure, gave off a healthy sensuality from the outside in...
"Are you really this conservative? Don't tell me..."
Wang Jixuan shook his head. "I didn't use my spiritual sense to inspect you just now, and you still managed to tease me. Sigh, I suppose this is how good people get no reward."
"Are you angry? Sister Wan taught me that trick. She said you'd definitely fall for it."
"How could that be? I was deliberately teasing you."
"Let's go." Ling Tong took the initiative to pull him to his feet. "Time is short. We only have thirty-six hours. There's an abandoned city nearby, and some of the amusement park rides inside still work."
Wang Jixuan: ...
This made romance feel just like carrying out a mission.
Before you continue