For the students of Donghai Martial Academy, apart from Huangfu Weixia, this was their first experience fighting against extraterrestrial enemies and their first taste of victory.
They were excited, exhilarated, even shouting, "We won!"
But Jiang Wuming and the others knew that whether this battle was truly over depended on one thing – whether the curtain had disappeared!
Swish, swish, swish...
In the next moment.
The expressions of the entire Zhanlong team, led by Jiang Wuming, and the teachers of Donghai Martial Academy, led by Ren Xiaoyao, all changed.
Because they clearly saw that the curtain in the martial arts arena had not yet disappeared!
Soon, at the entrance of the martial arts arena, beside Jiang Zhan's statue, some senior students noticed Ren Xiaoyao's abnormality and followed his gaze.
"The... the curtain hasn't disappeared, which means more enemies will descend..."
"The battle isn't over yet??"
Upon seeing the curtain, the students snapped out of their excitement and exhilaration, exclaiming in shock.
Yes.
At this moment, no one spoke, but two words surfaced in everyone's minds.
According to the experience accumulated over the years from battles between the Martial Department and extraterrestrial enemies, when a curtain appears in a certain place, it only disappears after all enemies emerging from that curtain are eliminated.
The specific reason is unknown, suspected to be related to world rules.
After their minds conjured the answer, the students felt as if they had been doused with ice water. All traces of excitement and exhilaration vanished from their faces, replaced by confusion.
At the same time.
Dongyu Legion Operations Command Center.
Everyone's excitement and smiles, including Qin Yuanzheng and Zhu Shengxian, had disappeared. Instead, they looked at the screen with solemn expressions, staring intently at the curtain on the screen!
The curtain was still there!
The battle was to continue!
Moreover, based on the experience accumulated over the years from battles between the Martial Department and extraterrestrial enemies, the strength of the enemies who would descend next would certainly be greater than the previous two waves!
And just now, the second wave of extraterrestrial enemies that descended were stronger than the Zhanlong team and the teachers and students of Donghai Martial Academy. It was only due to Jiang Wuming's full display of command talent and individual combat strength that they achieved victory against the odds, securing a great win!
The third wave of enemies is even stronger. How strong will they be?
Multiple enemies at the peak of Three-star War God, or will there be enemies at the Four-star War God realm?
There were no answers.
But Qin Yuanzheng and the others knew that whether it was a large number of enemies at the peak of Three-star War God or enemies at the Four-star War God realm, Jiang Wuming and his team would be almost unable to resist.
If Jiang Wu and others were to fall, Donghai, and even the entire Dragon Country, would face disaster!
And they were powerless to change this, unable to offer any assistance to Jiang Wuming and the others, they couldn't even communicate with Jiang Wuming as they had before.
What was there to say in a call?
For a moment, the entire command center fell silent!
Qin Yuanzheng and the others wore solemn expressions, their hearts heavy!
It wasn't just the Dongyu Legion Operations Command Center; the Martial Department Headquarters Operations Command Center also quieted down.
Qi Wufu and the others also saw the curtain on the screen and understood the gravity of the situation.
Several elders of the Martial Department and personnel in the operations command center all turned their gaze towards Qi Wufu and Li Rui, their looks seeming to ask: What now?
As a staff officer, Li Rui's expression was solemn, and he remained silent.
Qi Wufu glanced at the time and then said, "Old Li, let's go outside."
"Alright."
Li Rui nodded, knowing that Qi Wufu wanted to communicate with him privately.
Others also understood this perfectly and were curious about what Qi Wufu wanted to discuss with Li Rui that couldn't be said in front of them.
Despite their curiosity, they did not speak, but watched Qi Wufu and Li Rui leave.
"Old Li, do you think enemies at the Four-star War God realm will appear next?"
Qi Wufu and Li Rui left the operations command center, and Qi Wufu asked.
"It doesn't matter, does it?"
Li Rui frowned. For Jiang Wuming and the others, the appearance of enemies at the Four-star War God realm or a group of enemies at the peak of Three-star War God made no difference.
"Hetu will take at least another hour to reach Donghai Martial Academy."
Qi Wufu stood by the window, looking towards the southern horizon, his brow deeply furrowed, his worry unconcealed.
"You called me out alone because you want to ask me if Jiang Wuming should be allowed to leave if the enemies become too powerful for them to resist, right?"
Li Rui sighed softly.
Having partnered with Qi Wufu for many years, he understood him extremely well.
Just as Qin Xiaozhi understood Jiang Wuming.
"What is your suggestion?"
Qi Wufu retorted, indirectly admitting Li Rui's words.
"Fight to the death."
Li Rui gave a very definitive answer.
"Fight to the death... If enemies appear that they cannot resist and the situation is a certain death, then there is no point in him dying at Donghai Martial Academy! And if he were to leave in such a situation, it could leave hope for the future..."
Qi Wufu did not look at his old partner, but continued to stare at the southern sky, his voice low and his expression extremely grim.
To choose between letting a globally renowned martial arts prodigy live as a deserter or die on the battlefield?
For Qi Wufu, as the Marshal of the Martial Department, this was an extremely difficult choice. Whichever way he chose, he would bear unimaginable pressure and consequences!
"Old Qi, you are mistaken."
Li Rui interrupted Qi Wufu.
"Mistaken?"
Qi Wufu came back to his senses and looked at Li Rui in confusion.
"This may be a choice for you, but the power to choose does not lie with you, but with Wuming. And you should know Wuming; for him, this is not a choice."
Li Rui said with extreme certainty, "He will not abandon his loved ones, comrades, and students to flee the battlefield alone! If he were that kind of person, he would not have reached this point, nor would you value him so highly!"
"I was foolish," Qi Wufu said with a wry smile.
"It's not that you were foolish, but that your heart is disturbed. Because, as we both know, since the curtain has not disappeared, then the situation that follows is a certain death. Wuming and the others have a nine-death chance, or even a ten-death chance! And you do not wish, nor are you willing, for Wuming to die at Donghai Martial Academy!" Li Rui stated pointedly.
"Mhm."
Qi Wufu nodded lightly, and then silently asked himself: In the current situation, even my old friend is probably powerless to turn the tide, isn't he?!
...
Dragon Tiger Mountain.
Second Senior Brother Zhu Yong arrived at the summit in a hurry.
Tianlong Daoist, as usual, sat by the cliff, breathing in and out.
"Master, it's not good, something big has happened!"
Zhu Yong's plump body rushed through the mountains, and before he even arrived, he yelled at the top of his lungs, his face filled with anxiety.
"What is it?"
Tianlong Daoist did not turn around.
"Master, I just received news..."
Zhu Yong immediately reported the situation of the defense battle at Donghai Martial Academy to Tianlong Daoist, and then said, "Next, there will definitely be a group of enemies at the peak of Three-star War God, or even at the Four-star War God realm. We must let Junior Disciple leave, otherwise he will die there..."
"He will not leave."
Tianlong Daoist suddenly interrupted Zhu Yong's words, his tone somewhat unusual.
"Then... what do we do? Do you have a way to save Junior Disciple?!"
Zhu Yong noticed the abnormality in his master's tone and his expression instantly changed.
No answer.
The old man slowly got up, gazed towards the direction of Donghai, his expression more solemn than ever before.
Honorable Hand, Amateur Hand, Master Hand.
On this day.
The old man, known as the number one chess player in the world, had no move left.
...