The success of the Perpetual Gale colossal cannon tactic and the news of repelling the enemy did not bring much elation to the highest echelons of Xianxia.
Instead, Sun Qihua received a top-secret emergency order: [Leave half of the forces to defend the war zone, preventing the enemy from regrouping for a counterattack. All remaining troops are to provide support to the Cauldron of Xianxia].
Gu Ya’s combat directive was issued by the Xianxia General Strategy Bureau. Because the Skyhawk Squad Three was simultaneously affiliated with Perpetual Gale and the Xianxia General Strategy Bureau, Perpetual Gale had administrative custody, and the General Strategy Bureau held ultimate authority.
When Gu Ya saw the real-time combat situation transmitted simultaneously, he was stunned.
In just one day, the Cauldron of Xianxia war zone had been bisected by thirteen thousand Black Star enemy forces that appeared out of nowhere.
Tens of thousands of defending troops were under fierce assault from an equal number of enemy forces, while two large mech columns traversed the divided battlefield, blocking reinforcements, encircling, and cutting off the defenders' retreat routes.
Furthermore, a surprise attack force of thirty thousand enemy aircraft was rapidly flying towards Xianxia City, encountering almost no resistance along the way.
By the time Gu Ya received this command, the surprise attack force of thirty thousand enemy aircraft would reach Xianxia City in approximately four hours!
Even if Gu Ya rushed to Xianxia City immediately, it would still take him a full day and night!
By then, the thirty thousand Black Star mechs would have already destroyed Xianxia City!!!
That was the very heart of Xianxia, so easily breached by the enemy’s defense, like a dagger plunged deep into the heart.
Frankly, Gu Ya found it unbelievable, as if it were a joke! Had no one in Xianxia seen through the Black Star’s ploy? What were the intelligence departments doing?
“Skyhawk Squad Three!” Gu Ya, suppressing his shock, shouted loudly, “Abandon all current tasks and converge on Xianxia City with all speed! First come, first served in battle. We will establish communication for assembly! Acknowledge receipt!”
“Received!” Liu Feng was the first to respond to Gu Ya, with less than a five-second delay.
“Received, Captain!” Tao Na followed closely behind.
“Order received, Captain. Don’t worry, Lifang is moving out immediately,” Lifang shouted.
After a long while, there was still no word from Qiao Weiwei.
With Xianxia City in peril, Gu Ya was already agitated. This Qiao Weiwei was still sulking over the loss of her best friend and throwing tantrums at Gu Ya, unreasonably blaming him.
This was war, and in war, people died. Not only would Rui Zi die, but Gu Ya himself was fighting with his life on the line.
“Qiao Weiwei! Acknowledge receipt!” Gu Ya, doing his best to suppress his rage, spoke with the remaining rationality he possessed, his voice steady.
After a prolonged silence, Qiao Weiwei’s communication came through, her voice icy cold, “Qiao Weiwei has requested to withdraw from Skyhawk Squad Three. Gu Ya, I never want to see you again.”
Gu Ya gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead. He used all his strength to suppress his fury and replied coldly, “Suit yourself!”
After disconnecting the communication, Gu Ya switched the Umbra mech to autopilot, opened the cockpit, summoned his exosuit, and climbed onto the Umbra’s shoulder.
“Ancient Mech!”
The Majestic mech, unlike the dark red coated mech covered in blades, suddenly appeared beside the Umbra, erupting with fiery aura in mid-air, flying in formation behind the Umbra.
Gu Ya activated his leg thrusters, launched himself from the Umbra’s body, and landed on the shoulder of the Majestic mech.
“Skyhawk Squad Three needs a heavy firepower output mech to clear out the fodder. While the Black Star’s fodder mechs are easily defeated, their sheer numbers are overwhelming!”
Gu Ya murmured, “Since Qiao Weiwei has left the squad, I will take on this role.”
Standing on the Majestic mech, Gu Ya quickly opened the system store.
At this moment, he still had over sixteen thousand system coins, more than enough to build another heavy firepower output mech.
“I need a heavy firepower that suits my piloting style, one that doesn’t require other mechs for defense, can defend independently, and can sustain output. I also need…”
Gu Ya secured himself firmly to the shoulder armor of the Majestic mech, assembling the new mech with composure against the Level 14 gale.
A new mech required an incubation period. Just like the Umbra, Moon Oriole, and Nightingale mechs.
Moreover, the more advanced something was, the more complex its internal structure, and the more parts and mechanical assemblies it used compared to ordinary mechs. Some mechanical structures were even pieced together by Gu Ya from various parts to match his style, so the incubation time would naturally be longer.
The Umbra and Leaf Oriole each took two hours, while the Moon Oriole took a little over an hour.
The fierce wind noise echoed in his ears. Gu Ya utilized his full concentration and several auxiliary skills to quickly purchase parts and assemble the mech.
Time was of the essence. Xianxia City was likely under attack at this very moment, and Gu Ya couldn't afford to stop and wait for an hour or two.
Also, the system store now had a chance of acquiring future technology. Who knew what he might get.
He gave a self-deprecating laugh, imagining if the entire mech were made of future technology. How could that possibly happen?
For now, he could only have the Majestic mech carry the incubating mech as they advanced towards Xianxia City.
Carrying it was a bit of a stretch. In Gu Ya’s mind, it was like a bicycle carrying an elephant.
The Majestic mech stood 30 meters tall, already considered a medium-to-large mech. A standard heavy firepower output mech would be at least 35 meters tall, and a mech like the Windhouse No. 1 reached 60 meters, twice the size of the Majestic mech.
How could it not be like a bicycle carrying an elephant?
“Sigh, I’ll just buy a heavy transport mech later. It’s only thirty thousand system coins,” Gu Ya consoled himself.
As the parts he purchased gradually increased, the new mech began to take shape.
An hour later, Gu Ya completed the assembly of the new mech in the system store and decisively pressed "Confirm Purchase."
A pink sphere of light, about the size of a basketball, appeared before him. Within the sphere, faint outlines of small parts could be seen rapidly appearing and assembling.
“Why is it pink?” Gu Ya wondered, as he had clearly chosen a dark brown coating made of light-absorbing material.
The pink sphere grew larger, eventually expanding to Gu Ya’s own size. As the internal parts were pieced together, assembled, and perfected, the sphere continued to grow.
Gu Ya squeezed into the gap of the Majestic mech's neck armor to shelter from the strong winds, quietly observing the assembly of the new mech. As soon as it became large enough, Gu Ya would immediately purchase a heavy transport mech to help the Majestic mech carry it.
The journey to Xianxia City was still a long one. No matter how urgent it was, he couldn't teleport there. He hoped the defenders of Xianxia City could withstand the Black Star’s attack. No, they definitely could!
Gu Ya sat cross-legged, closing his eyes. Since formulating and implementing the colossal cannon tactic, helping Liang Yuwei find mech parts, to Rui Zi’s death, and then the successful execution of the colossal cannon tactic, he hadn’t had a proper rest for several days.
In a hazy state, Gu Ya thought of Ye Ying’s cute and captivating smile, and he couldn’t help but laugh.
“I wonder if I’ll get to see her when I go to Xianxia City this time…”
…
“Master! I’ll accompany you to Xianxia City!” Qiao Weiwei said to Hong Yan with a smile.
Hong Yan gave her a cold glance, her expression not improving. Instead, she chided, “Where is Skyhawk Squad Three? Why aren't you going with them?”
Upon hearing “Skyhawk Squad Three,” Qiao Weiwei’s face filled with grief and disdain. Gritting her teeth, she said resentfully, “Gu Ya killed Rui Zi, and I will never…”
“Slap!”
Qiao Weiwei stood stunned, her gaze fixed on the floor, her eyes wide with shock.
Hong Yan, the master who had found her in a garbage-filled alley and taught her mech piloting skills, had just slapped her hard.
“Master…” Qiao Weiwei, holding her burning red cheek, looked fearfully at Hong Yan.
Hong Yan’s thick lips, painted with bright red lipstick, parted, and she said each word clearly, “Rui Zi died in battle! She was an excellent Xianxia warrior!”
As if one slap weren’t enough to awaken her unfilial disciple, Hong Yan grabbed Qiao Weiwei’s hair, pulling her head up, and stared at her with cold eyes, saying, “You slander your comrades and insult your superiors without rhyme or reason. What kind of Xianxia warrior are you!”
Hong Yan roughly let go of Qiao Weiwei’s hair, lowered her head, and continued packing her belongings, saying, “Hurry and catch up with your teammates, and reflect thoroughly on the way! Also!!”
Qiao Weiwei flinched at the word “also.”
Hong Yan hesitated for a few seconds, then said softly, “That Gu Ya, he can take good care of you.”
Qiao Weiwei stood silently for a few more minutes. Seeing that her master was no longer paying attention to her, she lowered her head and prepared to leave. As she reached the door, Hong Yan called out to her.
Hong Yan glanced sideways at Qiao Weiwei’s reddened half-face. Her previously cold and angry expression finally softened, and she said gently, “You are my only disciple left. Live well for me!” With that, she tossed a red rectangular object, about the length of her palm, to Qiao Weiwei.
Qiao Weiwei caught it, startled, “Master, this is!”
Hong Yan continued packing her luggage indifferently, saying, “Go. Consider it a graduation gift from your master.”
Qiao Weiwei’s eyes shone with excitement. She took a deep breath, clutched the red rectangular object to her chest with both hands, bowed deeply to Hong Yan, and then quickly turned and left.