Jiang Wuming felt that the first batch of red-armored warriors who descended were different from any enemies he had encountered before, from the very first glance.
They did not boast or mock or show contempt openly.
Their contempt was ingrained in their bones, evident in their demeanor.
Most importantly, not a single one of them showed fear from beginning to end.
Even when facing death!
Beyond that, the gaze of the leading red-armored warrior towards Jiang Wuming was peculiar.
Jiang Wuming was certain that the other party recognized him.
In this situation, what did the fleeting excitement in their eyes signify?
Previously, Jiang Wuming had no time to ponder the underlying implications, but now, seeing only eighty-one enemy corpses on the ground, he vaguely guessed what it was.
Stunned by Jiang Wuming's words, everyone, whether it was the leadership and teachers of East Sea Martial Academy, headed by Ren Xiaoyao, or the students present, was taken aback.
They had not counted the exact number of enemies carefully.
In fact, only a few observant individuals knew how many nine-star martial artists there were.
"Wuming, are you sure?"
Immediately, the silence of the scene was broken, and the speaker was Ren Xiaoyao.
In the morning light, the old man's brows were already furrowed, his expression slightly solemn.
This was because he knew very well what Jiang Wuming's words implied!
"Grandpa Ren, I specifically scanned the enemies with my spiritual power earlier. There were eighty-two enemies, and only eighty-one corpses on the ground now."
Jiang Wuming nodded, replying in a very certain tone, and before anyone could ask again, he stated his deduction.
"It is likely that one enemy returned to the Great Curtain amidst the chaos."
As his words fell, Jiang Wuming quickly recalled everything that had happened earlier, finally freezing the scene at a specific moment.
At that moment, the leading red-armored warrior was killed by Huangfu Weixia, and the other red-armored warriors launched their charge.
At that moment, everyone, including Jiang Wuming, was drawn to the red-armored warriors at the forefront of the charge.
And in that very instant, one red-armored warrior, using his comrades in front of him as cover, seized the opportunity to return to the Great Curtain behind them!
Swish, swish, swish...
As Jiang Wuming's words echoed, many people on the scene, including Ren Xiaoyao, changed their expressions!
The students, however, were completely bewildered. One student even instinctively asked:
"Teacher Wuming, why did that enemy return to the Great Curtain?"
"To report back."
Jiang Wuming narrowed his eyes and slowly uttered four words, finally understanding what was different about those red-armored warriors.
They were a group of death warriors, but their descent into this world was not for slaughter, but for another purpose.
First, to scout the enemy.
They confirmed whether the location of their descent was guarded by anyone from Earth, and what their strength was.
Second, to buy time.
Whether it was the leading red-armored warrior voluntarily proposing a duel between commanders or the subsequent red-armored warriors feigning a charge to cover the return of one of their own to the Great Curtain before immediately taking a defensive stance, it was all to delay time.
Or, to put it another way, to gain time.
They were buying time for the extraterrestrial enemies who would descend later!
According to the experience summarized from the war between the Military Department and extraterrestrial enemies, the stronger and more numerous the extraterrestrial enemies who descend, the longer the time required.
The fact that the enemy sent down eighty-two death warriors as cannon fodder to delay time made Jiang Wuming's expression also turn solemn!
Hearing Jiang Wuming's words, and looking at his solemn expression, the East Sea Martial Academy leadership and teachers, headed by Ren Xiaoyao, Xing Tian, Dongfang Xiaoyao, and Huangfu Weixia, and even some astute students, all realized the seriousness of the situation.
At the same time, before the other students could ask further questions, Jiang Wuming flashed aside and then raised his wrist, contacting the East Region Military Command Headquarters with a special communicator.
"Wuming, this is Qin Yuanzheng, what's the problem on your end?"
The call was connected quickly, but it was Qin Yuanzheng's voice that came through.
In the East Region Military Command Headquarters, Qin Yuanzheng, having seen Jiang Wuming make the call through the monitoring screen, immediately walked to the dispatch desk and picked up the walkie-talkie.
He did so because he had just witnessed everything on the screen—everyone was looking at Jiang Wuming, and Jiang Wuming had said something with a solemn expression.
The monitoring equipment had no voice system, so Qin Yuanzheng and everyone in the command center could not hear what Jiang Wuming said, but they were certain that a new situation had arisen.
"Reporting, Legion Commander, it's like this..."
Jiang Wuming immediately began his report, including the fact that one red-armored warrior had returned to the Great Curtain, as well as Jiang Wuming's analysis and judgment of that red-armored warrior's actions.
"Wuming, are you sure that the leading red-armored warrior recognized you and was very excited at that moment?"
After hearing Jiang Wuming's report, Qin Yuanzheng's expression also turned solemn, and his brows were even knitted together.
If what Jiang Wuming said was true, it would mean that the leading red-armored warrior believed that Jiang Wuming was doomed today!
And Jiang Wuming had killed an extraterrestrial black-robed elder of the ninth stage of the Three-star War God in the War God Medicine Research Institute battle.
Besides that, although Ren Xiaoyao's martial cultivation was crippled, the Vice Principal Xia Xueqin was a ninth-stage Three-star War God.
Under such circumstances, the enemy's certainty of Jiang Wuming's death meant that the enemies who would descend next would be above the ninth stage of the Three-star War God!
"Reporting, Legion Commander, I am sure."
Jiang Wuming responded with a firm tone, then asked the purpose of his call, "Precisely because I am sure of this, I contacted the command center to know if you have applied to headquarters to have Elder Zhou Hetu sent over for support?"
"Wuming, I have already reported the situation at East Sea Martial Academy to the Marshal and requested support. The Marshal has dispatched Elder Zhou Hetu to support you. According to the Marshal's arrangements, Elder Zhou Hetu will travel from Yan Jing to East Sea by military transport plane, and then from the East Sea Base of the Military Department, he will travel to East Sea Martial Academy by armed helicopter. I estimate the time to be about two hours." Qin Yuanzheng said.
"Two hours."
Jiang Wuming murmured the time, then said, "I understand, Legion Commander."
"Wuming, I will immediately have Qin Linhai lead all personnel from the East Sea Branch to support you, and I will personally lead people from the Legion Headquarters to rush over!" Qin Yuanzheng stated his plan.
"Legion Commander, just have Uncle Qin bring people over. You don't need to come. As long as the enemy's strength is not Four-star War God, even if the numbers are large, we can hold on until Elder Zhou Hetu arrives."
As Jiang Wuming spoke, he hung up the phone directly.
Time was pressing, and he needed to communicate with Ren Xiaoyao about the next arrangements.
"Beep... beep..."
The call was interrupted, and Qin Yuanzheng, listening to the busy signal from the receiver, couldn't help but ask himself: What would Jiang Wuming and the others do if extraterrestrial enemies of Four-star War God or above descended?
Certain death!
The next moment, two words emerged in Qin Yuanzheng's mind.
This answer caused Qin Yuanzheng's face to suddenly change!
Then, with a solemn expression, he walked out of the command room and dialed Qi Wufu's private mobile number again.
Meanwhile, after ending his call with Qin Yuanzheng, Jiang Wuming, under the gaze of everyone present, quickly moved to Ren Xiaoyao's side.
"Grandpa Ren, I judge that the enemies descending upon East Sea Martial Academy this time, in terms of both numbers and strength, will be stronger than the three battles at Hanshan Temple, Putuo Temple, and the War God Medicine Research Institute. I suggest we have the students leave immediately!"
Jiang Wuming got straight to the point and stated his suggestion, "Also, Grandpa Ren, you should leave as well."
"Why should we leave?"
Ren Xiaoyao seemed to have expected Jiang Wuming to say this. There was no surprise on his face as he asked in return.
Jiang Wuming remained silent. Some things were difficult for him to say—the students of East Sea Martial Academy could not participate in the upcoming battle, and neither could Ren Xiaoyao, whose martial cultivation was gone!
"Wuming, although the enemies who are about to descend may be very powerful, neither I nor the children will leave."
Ren Xiaoyao spoke again, his tone resolute.
"If we win the battle, the children and I will sing praises for you; if we lose the battle, the children and I will become the last line of defense protecting the twenty million people of East Sea!"
"Grandpa Ren..."
"Wuming, like you, I was once a soldier, and the children have already become soldiers after experiencing the battle—protecting our homeland is our common mission!"
Seeing that Jiang Wuming still wanted to say something, Ren Xiaoyao gently patted Jiang Wuming's shoulder and said with a smile, "Go deploy the battle."
"Yes, Dean!"
Hearing the old man's words again, Jiang Wuming said no more, but solemnly performed a martial artist's salute to Ren Xiaoyao.
Because, in the old man's smile, he saw determination.
That determination would not change, even if the sky collapsed and the earth shattered!
Old soldiers do not die, they simply fade away!
...