After the Catastrophe

"Boss, if the Chen family sends too many fighter squadrons, we might not be able to handle them," said Old Twenty-One. "Why don't we retreat and leave the 1191 and 1192 fighter squadrons in the air to deal with them? That way, at least the Qingshan Hao won't crash."

"No," Li Changqing shook his head, "If the intelligence is accurate, two combat squadrons won't be able to stop them at all. As long as they fly over, they can directly reach the battlefield and bomb Qing Chen and his men."

"Who cares about Qing Chen now?" Old Twenty-One said, both amused and exasperated. "Boss, you've already come all this way in the Qingshan Hao, that's more than enough. The Chen family is clearly well-prepared, if we don't leave now we're going to die."

Li Changqing turned to look at Old Twenty-One: "When I was attacked, Qing Chen killed all the snipers upstairs. He could have retreated, but he didn't. Not only did he not leave, but he stayed there to fire a warning shot, which prevented the gene warriors from going all out. That's how I survived. He, on the other hand, didn't move for a long time, so someone found his position and launched a sneak attack."

Li Changqing: "Twenty-one, how he treated me back then is how I should treat him now. The only thing that can stop the Chen family's air force right now is the Qingshan Hao. I can't leave."

Old Twenty-One shrugged. "Boss, whatever makes you happy."

On the Baopu, Li Shu sat in the captain's seat. "Take off!"

In fact, Qing Chen didn't pay much attention to the Li family disciples he taught at the Autumn Leaf Villa.

He rejected the apprenticeship requests from Li Shu and others, so strictly speaking, Li Shu and others cannot be considered his disciples.

He taught Li Shu and others the Zhunti Method only because of an exchange with Old Master Li, since the Zhunti Method was given to him by the old master.

However, Qing Chen's indifference does not mean that Li Shu and the others are indifferent.

The Li family values the order of seniority, Qing Chen, who passed on his cultivation tradition, is their master.

If the master were a person of bad character, that would be one thing; Li Shu and the others, having not formally become disciples, would no longer care about the teacher-student relationship.

But Qing Chen is not a person of bad character.

When news of Qing Chen's escape from A02 Base reached the Li Clan Group Army, Li Shu and others would spread the word.

They would happily discuss the details of the battle, and even trick Li Changqing's aunt into giving them detailed intelligence. Then, sitting in the Group Army's mess hall, they would say to the other Li family's direct subordinate officers, "See that? This is my master, isn't he awesome?"

After he finished speaking, Li Shu and the others would receive envious glances, which greatly satisfied their vanity.

Life in the military camp is very boring. Every day, besides training and studying, there is only time to brag.

During that time, every day after lights out in the barracks, Li Shu would lie on his bed and boast for a while, either about how powerful he was when he fought in City No. 18, or about how powerful his master was.

My comrades were tired of hearing it.

Even Qing Chen himself didn't know that he had always been respected by these people.

At this moment, Li Shu was standing on the bridge of the Baopu A-Class Airship. Thinking of Qing Chen's current predicament, he couldn't wait to go over and give those Chen family bastards a good beating.

Just as Shadow said, Qing Chen was the one who was underestimated by Chen Yu and Li Bingxi.

Shadow's own trump card, because it is under so much scrutiny, is very easy to be targeted and restrained once it starts to make a move. Logically speaking, Shadow shouldn't be idly running around in the wilderness playing by himself.

If Shadow hadn't deliberately dragged himself into a dead end, no one could have done anything to him.

However, he had no more cards to play, but his brother did.

With such a younger brother, he dared to put himself in a desperate situation and then wait for Chen Yu and Li Bingxi to appear.

On the Baopu, Li Ke felt the surge of adrenaline, and his body even trembled slightly.

Li Yunjing glanced at him and said, "Take good care of this feeling. The human body is mysterious; it provides you with boundless support when you're about to fight. However, you can't let fear control you through the hormones your body secretes. Instead, you must get used to it, control it, and dominate it. That's when you've grown up."

Li Ke suddenly said, "Uncle Yun Jing, I'm not afraid, I'm excited."

"Why are you excited?"

"The thought of us going to rescue Mr. was like a lone journey, which gave me an indescribable sense of heroism and excitement. Loneliness and excitement were intertwined, and my feelings were very complicated."

Li Yunjing glanced at him. "You're overthinking it. We won't be the first or the last people to go rescue him. We're not alone."

However, at that moment, Li Shu suddenly said from inside the Baopu: "This is bad! Dozens of unidentified fighter jets have appeared on the radar and are rapidly approaching the Qingshan Hao!"

Li Ke suddenly looked at the holographic sand table and saw that seventy-two fighter jets, 12 A-Class Airship, and 12 B-Class Airship had appeared 110 kilometers away!

This distance is practically nothing for a fighter jet!

Li Shu said, "Return! Assist the Qingshan Hao in battle!"

However, Li Yunjing calmly said to Li Shu, "Don't turn back. We have our own mission."

Li Shu was stunned for a moment.

Li Yunjing said, "Li Changqing didn't tell you to return, which means she has already made her choice. Whether you go back or not, it won't make a difference."

Li Shu was at a loss for words. Given the number of enemy troops on the holographic sand table, the Qingshan Hao could not possibly survive!

It's impossible for anyone to survive!

But Li Yunjing is right. Li Changqing knows why she came here, and she has already made her choice.

Inside the Qingshan Hao, Li Changqing looked at the fleet of ships and fighter jets appearing on the holographic sand table. "Indeed, this is what we need for attacking Aerial Fortress."

Old Twenty-One nervously swallowed hard. "Boss, what should we do?"

Li Changqing sat expressionlessly in the commander's seat. "Squadron 1192, return to defense. I request that you escort the Qingshan Hao. Squadron 1191, gain altitude. I request that you break through their formation as quickly as possible. Gentlemen, there is no turning back. From this moment on, use absolute reason to overcome fear and despair."

"The drone battle group has taken off."

"Secondary weapon compartment cover for ammunition loading."

"Drag them down to hell with you."

At this moment, the woman sitting in the commander's seat of the Qingshan Hao is the real Li Changqing.

She was not some timid woman, but a military general from the Li family who once used "Scorpion" as his code name.

Chen's Second Air Force Fleet arrived quickly.

This time, the Chen family was exceptionally well-prepared, and their military operations system was not compromised.

From the very first moment the two sides exchanged fire, more than a dozen fighter jets were bombed and shot down.

Clusters of firelight ignited the already somber night sky.

Li Changqing issued one order after another from the captain's seat, and then watched as the aircraft carrier-based aircraft of the Qingshan Hao fell one after another. The fighters of the Chen Clan Fleet continued to patrol in the distance, seemingly intending to first remove all the wings of the Qingshan Hao before finally attacking this isolated and helpless Aerial Fortress.

Inside the Qingshan Hao, many soldiers pursed their lips and remained silent, knowing what the outcome would be.

Return countdown: 3:00:00.

"The Qingshan Hao is here. This must be the trump card you were talking about," Li Bingxi- hee said expressionlessly.

They had just received news that the Qingshan Hao had appeared and intercepted the Chen family's First Air Force Southern Fleet, which was on its way.

Shadow smiled as he observed the expression on Li Bingxi's face, "Surprised?"

Chen Yu smiled and said, "I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint Senior Shadow. We naturally know that the Qingshan Hao participated in Qing Chen's rescue operation. The Qingshan Hao, Li Shutong, and Huotang were involved in the rescue. However, we've figured out how to deal with the Qingshan Hao. Li Shutong is far away in the Frozen Land north, and you can't use the Shadow Gate to bring him here right now. As for Huotang... they probably don't dare to participate in the Federation's direct war."

Chen Yu: "I understand that you're proud of your younger brother. But unfortunately, we're not only targeting your trump card, but also your brother's."

Shadow seemed somewhat surprised. "Oh? It seems you've made thorough preparations."

"That's right," Li Bingxi sneered, "And unfortunately, the high-energy nuclear research lab you were guarding upstream of the Spring Thunder River has also been handed over to us. My people from Kashima have already begun taking over it. How about it, knowing this news before you die, do you feel a little frustrated? Actually, I'm very curious, you're besieged here, while your father, the head of the Qing family, continues to sit in City No. 5 as if nothing happened. Don't you, as his son, feel sad?"

Shadow asked curiously, "What did you do for your son, Li Yunze?"

Li Bingxi sneered, "I'm here to hand him a Kashima that will allow him to regain control of the airspace. Don't worry, the Qingshan Hao is useless. Today, Li Changqing and her Qingshan Hao will perish together. The alliance between your Qing and Li families won't be so solid anymore."

Shadow suddenly laughed, shook his head and said, "How can someone your age say such childish things?"

At this point, Shadow's expression gradually turned cold. "Kashima, you'd better stay on the ground obediently. You want to trade your life for a core technology? Your life isn't worth that much money. From now on, I want you to witness a miracle happen."

Li Bingxi was taken aback. "What miracle?"

The shadow suddenly looked toward the towering tree in the distance.

Not many people actually know that Forbidden Zone No. 002 is a knight's private reserve.

Before Qing Chen appeared, Forbidden Zone No. 002 never took sides.

The old man adhered to the bottom line of being a dead person, no longer concerning himself with worldly affairs, and spent his days bickering and arguing with each other.

However, from the moment Qing Chen arrived, many things changed.

In the Forbidden Zone No. 002.

Azure Falcon stood on the trunk of a towering tree, preening its feathers, not even glancing outside the Forbidden Zone, as if everything was irrelevant to it.

Two more young Azure Falcon stood at a higher position, intently watching something.

Little Azure Falcon: "Chirp!"

(Dad, look, look, look!)

Azure Falcon: "Chirp!"

(Roll!)

Little Azure Falcon: "Chirp!"

(All right.)

Just then, a warm breeze suddenly blew from the Forbidden Zone. It spiraled up the trunk of the towering tree and came to Azure Falcon, as if it were saying something.

Azure Falcon paused for a moment, then a clear look of annoyance flashed in his eyes. "Chirp!"

(You knights value your lives, but mine don't?! And it's one thing to send me to rescue knights, but what's with sending me to rescue an Aerial Fortress?)

Another gust of wind blew by, and Azure Falcon stood there for a long time. "Chirp!"

(What does the Qingshan Hao have to do with me, Azure Falcon? Just because it has the name Aoyama in it, just because the people on the Qingshan Hao are helpful to you knights, I have to go and rescue them?!)

Another gust of wind blew in.

Azure Falcon: "Chirp!"

(So annoying!)

After saying that, it spread its wings and soared into the sky. The two little Azure Falcon followed their father after he flew away.

The three-headed, sky-covering Azure Falcon plunged into the dark clouds and disappeared in the direction of the Qingshan Hao.

The next moment, not only did Azure Falcon fly away, but there was also a fiery red Vermilion Bird with its body radiating brilliant stars inside the tree canopy, which let out a cry to the sky.

In an instant, it took flight, and then hundreds of birds of unknown species rushed out of the canopy of the towering tree.

The Vermilion Bird flew at the forefront, followed by countless other birds. In the night, the brilliant starlight on the Vermilion Bird shone exceptionally brightly, its light illuminating the flock of birds behind it, resembling long galaxies.

A hundred birds pay homage to the phoenix!

No one could have imagined how many creatures lived under that towering tree.

No one expected that the creatures of this Forbidden Zone No. 002 would help a human participate in a war!

The war in the direction of the Qingshan Hao is not over yet, but this battlefield has ushered in a new turning point.

Inside the Qingshan Hao, a soldier in charge of radar suddenly said, "Sir, hundreds of unidentified flying objects have suddenly appeared in the west! Three of them are moving at extremely high speed and are heading towards us! Judging by their speed, they are very likely Chen's A011 air-to-air fighter jets!"

Li Changqing's heart sank.

The tide of victory on the battlefield was already tilting in Chen's favor, and now that the enemy has spared no expense in sending so many air forces, the Qingshan Hao has no chance of turning the tide.

All commands and operations are ineffective.

Li Changqing sat in the captain's seat, opened the group communication channel, and remained silent for a long time. "Thank you all for your continued companionship and hard work. Today, you and I will fall here, but before we fall, please maintain the dignity of a Li family soldier and fight to the last second!"

It was a statement filled with extreme sorrow and despair, yet it brought those soldiers, who had been wavering, back to their fighting posts in quiet repose.

Since the outcome is already predetermined, can't they make the process more exciting?

However, at that moment, the soldier in charge of the night vision system suddenly said, "Sir, what's flying in doesn't look like a Chen's A011 fighter jet... it's a bird. Wait, isn't that Azure Falcon?"

The Qingshan Hao was named after the Azure Falcon, so how could the soldiers not know what the Azure Falcon looked like?

But that unidentified creature flying in from the sky was none other than Azure Falcon!

Furthermore, aren't the hundreds of unidentified creatures behind Azure Falcon the flock of birds led by Vermilion Bird?

What's going on? Why have all these mysterious creatures hidden in Forbidden Zone No. 002 flown over here, and headed straight for the battlefield?!

The next moment, Azure Falcon had already arrived on the battlefield!

Yet, it descended from the sky at a speed comparable to that of a fighter jet. Its flight power did not solely rely on the physical structure of its body; as its wings flapped, it seemed as if an unknown force was intertwined with the world.

Before the Chen family could react, three fighter jets had already been destroyed. The soldiers on the Qingshan Hao hadn't even seen how the three Azure Falcon did it. They would have to take the video back and review it slowly to find out the secret.

Li Changqing watched silently in the holographic sand table, not quite sure what was happening.

She only knew about the Li family's connection with the knights, and also about the knights' relationship with Forbidden Zone No. 002. It seemed... the sudden arrival of this flock of birds was because of Qing Chen?!

Just then, new unidentified flying objects appeared on the radar, numbering in the hundreds.

This time, a new fleet has indeed arrived on the battlefield.

However, before the soldiers on the Qingshan Hao could even feel any emotional fluctuation, the communication system had already received a connection request.

Communication is established.

The holographic projection revealed Qing Kun's image. "I have come to provide support on the orders of the Qing Clan's Shadow. Please open the navigation channel and mark our targets as part of the combat whitelist. Thank you for your cooperation."

After speaking, the communication channel was closed.

Inside the Qingshan Hao, the soldiers' long-suppressed emotions finally subsided.

Survived a disaster.

Second update.

The third update is still being revised and will be released within half an hour.