Western Legion, Conference Room
The atmosphere was as oppressive as the sky before a storm. The enormous conference table, forged from a single piece of refined steel and polished as smooth as a mirror, reflected Dong Zi'an's furious face.
Dong Zi'an sat at the head of the table, his gaze blazing as he stared straight at Zhang Zhaoyan standing before him. "I remember you, Zhang Zhaoyan. Lieutenant Colonel, warehouse supervisor of the Logistics Department."
His voice was low yet powerful, every word striking Zhang Zhaoyan's heart like a heavy hammer.
"You enlisted twenty years ago and have served in the Western Legion ever since, climbing step by step from a recruit to a lieutenant colonel. More than eighty percent of the Legion's veterans have less seniority than you. Why? Why did you betray us?"
By the end, he could no longer suppress his emotions. He slammed his palm onto the table, making the teacups hum and tremble. He roared himself hoarse, the sound echoing through the empty conference room for a long time.
Zhang Zhaoyan stood ramrod straight, his head slightly lowered, not daring to meet Dong Zi'an's furious gaze. His shoulders trembled faintly, his hands clenched into fists, his nails digging deep into his palms, yet he felt no pain at all.
Hearing Dong Zi'an's questioning, scenes from when he had first enlisted surfaced uncontrollably in his mind.
Back then, he had joined the military with burning passion and a longing for a soldier's honor. On the training grounds, he crawled and fought through the dirt, pouring out sweat. On the battlefield, he charged into battle and fought through bloodshed. Every injury and every victory had only strengthened his conviction as a soldier.
However, one day, while he was busy organizing supplies in the warehouse, he suddenly received a mysterious phone call.
A cold, threatening voice came from the other end. "Zhang Zhaoyan, your wife and daughter are in our hands. If you don't want anything to happen to them, do as we say."
The cries for help of his wife and daughter also came through the phone.
He shouted into the phone in terror, "Who are you? Why are you doing this?"
But all he heard in reply was a cold laugh before the caller hung up.
From then on, he had fallen into endless pain and struggle. He had agonized over whether to report it, but whenever he recalled the tortured cries of his wife and daughter, he ultimately gave in.
At this moment, Dong Zi'an's questioning finally caused his long-suppressed emotions to erupt. His shoulders shook violently, tears welled in his eyes, and finally spilled over.
He raised his head and looked at Dong Zi'an with eyes full of guilt. His voice choked as he said, "General, I'm sorry! I've let you down! I've let the brothers down!
"I didn't want this either. My wife and daughter are in their hands. If I didn't do as they said, they would kill them."
His voice grew louder, carrying a trace of despair and pleading. "General, it's all my fault! Kill me! I don't deserve to be your soldier anymore. But my wife and daughter are innocent. For the sake of all the years I've served under you, please save them!"
As he spoke, he dropped to his knees with a thud and slammed his forehead heavily against the floor, leaving a bloody mark.
"Alas!"
Dong Zi'an looked at Zhang Zhaoyan, who was kneeling on the ground and weeping bitterly. He seemed to want to say something, but in the end, only a sigh escaped his lips.
Just then, the conference room door was flung open, and a fierce gust carrying the stench of blood rushed in.
Staff Officer Zhang from the Intelligence Department entered, still bearing traces of blood from the interrogation. He hurried to the conference table, first glancing at Zhang Zhaoyan, who knelt on the floor with tears streaking his face, before giving Dong Zi'an, seated at the head of the table, a crisp military salute.
He said to Dong Zi'an, "Commander, we've gotten the truth out of them. They're members of the Holy Spirit Cult. Not only did they seize Zhang Zhaoyan's family, but they've also captured many civilians to use for cultivation. They're currently being held at one of their strongholds on Grayglow Mountain. According to their testimony, there are not only several thousand Evil Soul Masters stationed there, but also three Titled Douluo guarding the place."
"The Holy Spirit Cult? Weren't they wiped out long ago? Have they actually risen from the ashes?" After hearing this, Staff Officer Liu dropped his pen onto the table. His face was full of shock, and disbelief filled his eyes.
"What? Three Titled Douluo? How is that possible?"
The conference room immediately erupted. Everyone whispered among themselves and discussed the matter heatedly. Some worried whether their own strength could match the enemy's, some were enraged by the Holy Spirit Cult's atrocities, while others pondered countermeasures.
Upon hearing this, Xie Jiayun could not help but think, So it really is the Holy Spirit Cult? But I didn't expect them to begin collecting Soul Guidance Shells already.
Everyone's gaze gradually focused on Dong Zi'an, who had remained silent at the head of the table. He sat there with a stern expression, like a statue forged from steel.
Suddenly, he slammed the table. The sound boomed through the conference room like thunder.
"I don't care whether they're the Holy Spirit Cult or whatever else they are! Since they dared set their sights on my Western Legion, there is only one outcome for them: death!" Dong Zi'an's voice was deep and powerful, filled with unquestionable authority.
He rose to his feet, radiating a powerful presence as his voice rang through the entire conference room.
"All troops, hear my command!"
At those words, everyone immediately stood.
"All soldiers, prepare your equipment! Destination: Grayglow Mountain! March out!"
With Dong Zi'an's order, the entire Western Legion camp sprang into motion, like a slumbering behemoth suddenly awakening and beginning an orderly operation.
The aerial reconnaissance units equipped themselves with the military's latest flying Soul Tools and took off from the airfield first. Several thousand Mecha units also launched into the air and followed close behind.
The Soul Guidance Tanks carrying the rapid maneuver units rolled forward like steel behemoths, their treads crushing the ground with deep, rumbling roars.
The tanks' hulls were cast entirely from Thousand Refinement Metal, their surfaces engraved with Soul Guidance defensive arrays capable of withstanding attacks at the Spirit King level.
The commander of the rapid maneuver unit stood atop the command vehicle, constantly communicating with each squad through a communications Soul Tool to ensure the army's speed and direction.
Like arrows released from a bowstring, they raced along their assigned route toward Grayglow Mountain.
During the march, the Soul Guidance Cannons mounted on both sides of the tanks stood ready to provide fire support. The moment they encountered an enemy, they could unleash dense firepower in an instant.
The soldiers boarded the troop carriers in an orderly fashion. These massive transport vehicles were like mobile fortresses. Their interiors were spacious and equipped with Soul Guidance arrays, ensuring that the soldiers remained in good condition throughout the long march.
The Soul Guidance Tanks and Soul Guidance Artillery were activated as well. They were mounted on specially made transport platforms and pulled forward by one steel behemoth after another.
The barrels of the Soul Guidance Artillery glimmered with a faint light, as though gathering destructive power;
During the march, the logistics soldiers constantly checked the equipment and supplies, ensuring that every weapon could serve its purpose at a critical moment.
They all knew that they were the solid support behind their comrades on the front lines and a vital guarantee of victory in this battle.
Soon, intelligence relayed by the aerial reconnaissance units showed that the terrain surrounding Grayglow Mountain was complex, with numerous ravines and caves that likely concealed the Holy Spirit Cult's secret weapons.
As the troops gradually approached Grayglow Mountain, a great battle was on the verge of breaking out. The officers and soldiers of the Western Legion surged toward the Holy Spirit Cult's stronghold like a torrent of steel, determined to wipe out this evil force completely.