"Alright, Wuming, let's head out. The war isn't over, and you likely have combat duties."
Tianlong Daoist smiled and patted Jiang Wuming's shoulder. He then got out of bed and led Jiang Wuming out of the room.
At the front-line command post of the Mount Everest East Slope base camp, besides the command staff, there was also a special envoy from the God of War Hall and a reporter from the Dragon Country branch of the Divine Network.
The special envoy from the God of War Hall served as a bridge between the God of War Hall and the Dragon Country's combat command, responsible for communication and coordination of major issues encountered during the war.
The reporter from the Dragon Country branch of the Divine Network promptly reported the progress of the war to the global martial arts community.
When Tianlong Daoist led Jiang Wuming out of the room, everyone at the combat command post, as well as the special envoy from the God of War Hall and the reporter from the Divine Network's Dragon Country branch, were waiting in the courtyard.
Most of them were martial artists and could sense the auras of Tianlong Daoist and Jiang Wuming, even overhearing their conversation and knowing that Tianlong Daoist had awakened.
"Master Tianlong!"
The entire Dragon Country combat command, led by Li Rui, greeted Tianlong Daoist first.
"Master Tianlong!"
The special envoy from the God of War Hall and the Divine Network reporter also quickly spoke.
"Director Li, please arrange a helicopter to send my master back to Longhu Mountain," Jiang Wuming directed his gaze at Li Rui.
"Certainly."
Li Rui nodded, then asked with concern, "Master Tianlong, how is your injury?"
"With Wuming's help, my injury has basically healed," Tianlong Daoist replied.
"Phew..."
Hearing Tianlong Daoist's words, the front-line command staff, led by Li Rui, all breathed a sigh of relief.
This was because they all understood how significant Tianlong Daoist's survival was to the Dragon Country and even the global martial arts community.
The special envoy from the God of War Hall and the reporter from the Divine Network's Dragon Country branch were momentarily taken aback.
After a brief pause, the reporter from the Divine Network's Dragon Country branch stepped forward and said, "Hello, Master Tianlong, I am a reporter for the Divine Network stationed in Dragon Country."
"Hello."
Tianlong Daoist nodded slightly.
"Master Tianlong, you successfully killed the Heavenly God realm leader of the foreign forces and then single-handedly wiped out four half-step Heavenly God realm experts from the foreign forces, laying a solid foundation for us to win this war. You are the hero of this war and the hero of all humanity!
The war is not over yet.
I believe all participating warriors hope to hear your encouragement.
May I interview you?
It will only take a minute or two of your time."
The reporter from the Divine Network's Dragon Country branch spoke rapidly.
"Yes."
Tianlong Daoist glanced at the reporter, as if he could see through the other person's thoughts.
"What are your thoughts on the full-scale war launched by the extraterrestrial world?"
The reporter from the Divine Network's Dragon Country branch felt a little nervous but quickly adjusted his composure, aimed the camera at Tianlong Daoist, and asked.
"The extraterrestrial world has launched aggressive wars more than once, but none have succeeded, and this time is no exception!"
Tianlong Daoist replied.
"What would you like to say to the participating warriors?" the reporter from the Divine Network's Dragon Country branch continued to ask.
"To protect our homes and our country is the sacred duty of a warrior, and also their glory!" Tianlong Daoist stated.
"Last question, you were seriously injured in the battle at Mount Everest. Earlier, you said your injuries have recovered. Does this mean you will continue to participate in the fight?"
The reporter from the Divine Network's Dragon Country branch asked the last question, which was also the one that concerned the global martial artists the most.
"No."
Facing the camera, Tianlong Daoist gently shook his head and said, "Although my injuries have recovered, my combat power has not. As I am now, I am basically a cripple and cannot fight."
"What truly sad news this is. This will be the greatest loss to the global martial arts community. I hope you can recover your combat power as soon as possible!"
The reporter from the Divine Network's Dragon Country branch said with regret.
Tianlong Daoist said no more, allowing Jiang Wuming to help him as he walked towards the helicopter outside the courtyard.
A few minutes later, Tianlong Daoist departed by helicopter.
"Where is the Marshal?"
After watching Tianlong Daoist leave, Jiang Wuming asked Qin Xiaozhi next to him.
Qin Xiaozhi was a member of the front-line command post and had remained there since the start of the war.
Not only that, but the other three members of the Battle Dragon Squad—Xing Tian, Dongfang Xiaoyao, and Huangfu Weixia—did not immediately engage in combat upon arriving at the front-line command post, but were waiting for Jiang Wuming.
"The Marshal has gone to support the Eastern Domain Army," Qin Xiaozhi replied with a solemn expression, tinged with sadness.
Not only him, but other members of the front-line combat command post felt the same.
This made Jiang Wuming realize that the war's trajectory was unfavorable to the Dragon Country, so he proactively asked Li Rui, "Director Li, what is the current situation of the war?"
"Let's go inside and talk," Li Rui said, taking the lead and bringing everyone back to the command post's conference room.
In the conference room, the large screen no longer displayed the Divine Network live broadcast but a map marking various towns around Mount Everest and the locations of the Dragon Country Martial Arts Department's major legions.
In addition, there was information about the extraterrestrial enemy forces.
"Xiaozhi, brief Wuming on the current situation. Everyone else, listen carefully and consider if you have any better counter-measures," Li Rui instructed Qin Xiaozhi after everyone returned to the conference room.
"Yes, Director Li!"
Qin Xiaozhi rose to accept the order, then picked up a laser pointer, shone it on the map on the screen, and began:
"Mount Everest is divided into the north and south slopes. The south slope is within the neighboring country's territory, and the north slope is within our country's territory. According to the pre-war deployment, the south slope of the neighboring country is defended by the God of War Hall, and our country is responsible for defending the north slope.
After Master Tianlong killed the extraterrestrial enemy leader and the four half-step Heavenly God realm experts, the extraterrestrial army did not retreat behind the Great Curtain in fear but instead broke into scattered groups and descended Mount Everest.
Following the combat plan, we deployed fighter jets and annihilated over ninety percent of the extraterrestrial enemy forces. However, the annihilated enemy forces were all below the God of War realm."
Qin Xiaozhi paused here.
Jiang Wuming was not surprised by this.
Once martial artists cultivated to the God of War realm, besides the enhancement of their physical functions and combat power, they also gained a sense of danger, making them difficult to kill with conventional weapons.
The military, to avoid causing massive natural disasters, did not use high-impact weapons, which posed extremely limited threats to God of War realm martial artists.
"The remaining extraterrestrial enemy forces are all at least at the One-star God of War level.
Among them, about a quarter of the enemy forces rushed towards the south slope, which is the neighboring country, and the remaining three-quarters rushed towards the north slope."
Qin Xiaozhi spoke again, pointing to three locations with the laser pointer:
"On the south slope in the neighboring country, thanks to the presence of Shenlun @ Roman, the Hall Master of the God of War Hall, who is at the half-step Heavenly God realm, they successfully blocked the extraterrestrial enemy and achieved victory.
On our side, after the extraterrestrial enemy forces descended the north slope, they broke out from the northeast, east, and southeast directions.
According to the operational plan, the northeast and east directions have densely populated towns, so we deployed heavy forces.
The Western, Northern, and Central Armies, along with the Buddhist Sect, defended the northeast direction.
The Southern and Loulan Armies, along with the Dragon Gate and martial arts sects other than Kunlun, defended the east direction.
The southeast direction is sparsely populated, with only the Eastern Domain Army and Kunlun deployed for defense.
We successfully intercepted the enemy in the northeast and east directions, but the enemy's strategy was clear: they did not engage in direct combat, nor did they linger in battle, merely breaking into scattered groups to break out.
As a result, a small number of enemies still broke through from these two directions, and pursuit is underway; it is only a matter of time before they are completely annihilated.
The current problem lies in the southeast direction.
Due to the smallest deployment of troops and Five-star God of War experts in this direction, the enemy was not successfully intercepted, and most of the enemy managed to break through.
Moreover, Elder Zhou Hetu, Master Yun Tianjian, and the Commander of the Eastern Domain Army, Qin Yuanzheng, all perished on the battlefield..."
"Wh—What?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Wuming stood up abruptly, "Elder Zhou, Master Yun, and the Army Commander all died?!"
"Among the extraterrestrial enemy forces this time, there are ten Five-star God of War experts, with four of them being at the peak of the Five-star God of War realm!"
This time, it was Li Rui who answered Jiang Wuming. "Among the enemy forces that broke out from the southeast direction were two Five-star God of War experts, one at the peak and one at the ninth stage.
Elder Zhou and Master Yun fought desperately, managing to kill only the enemy at the ninth stage of the Five-star God of War realm.
General Qin Yuanzheng led his soldiers in a desperate resistance but failed to stop the enemy and died on the battlefield!"
As Li Rui finished speaking, the atmosphere in the front-line command post conference room became instantly oppressive. Even though they already knew the news, everyone's faces were filled with sorrow.
At the same time, images of Zhou Hetu, Yun Tianjian, and Qin Yuanzheng flashed in Jiang Wuming's mind, and his eyes turned red.
Zhou Hetu, as an elder of the Martial Department and possessing the strength of a Five-star God of War, was known as the "firefighting elder."
In the battle at Putuo Temple in Sucheng and the first battle at the East Sea Martial Academy, Zhou Hetu had rushed to help, but by the time he arrived, Jiang Wuming had already finished the fight.
This made Zhou Hetu feel extremely guilty towards Jiang Wuming, and he constantly sought ways to compensate him.
When Long Shengzhe tried to suppress Jiang Wuming, Zhou Hetu was the first Martial Department elder to slam the table, even wanting to confront Long Qisheng!
Yun Tianjian, Jiang Wuming's most profound memory of him was at the Global Martial Arts Competition.
On that day, to defend the honor of the Dragon Country's martial arts world, even though he knew he was outmatched, the elder stepped forward resolutely, resulting in the arena being stained with blood.
Qin Yuanzheng...
In Jiang Wuming's heart, Qin Yuanzheng was not only his superior but also his elder.
This was because he was Qin Xiaozhi's grandfather!
*Crack!*
Amidst his sorrow, Jiang Wuming caught a glimpse of tears in Qin Xiaozhi's eyes. He clenched his fists, feeling a lump in his chest, and a sense of great discomfort.
He knew that his sworn brother's greatest wish for a long time had been to gain Qin Yuanzheng's approval.
Qin Xiaozhi's extraordinary performance in the Martial Department earned him the nickname "Gun God Xiaozhi" and he displayed command and operational talents, becoming Li Rui's successor.
He had earned Qin Yuanzheng's approval!
Whenever Qin Yuanzheng met with the heads of various legions, he would proudly say he had a capable grandson.
On the eve of the Lunar New Year, the night the Great Curtain appeared at Mount Everest.
At the Qin family's New Year's Eve dinner.
Qin Yuanzheng fulfilled his plan and said these words to Qin Xiaozhi in front of the entire Qin family:
"In the past, I felt ashamed that the Qin family had descendants like Qin Xiaozhi; now, I am proud that the Qin family has descendants like Qin Xiaozhi.
I'm sorry, Xiaozhi, please forgive your grandfather's ignorance and foolishness—you are the pride of everyone in the Qin family!"
That night, the man of unyielding integrity, the elder of the Qin family, bowed and apologized to his grandson.
Then, the Great Curtain appeared...
Three generations of the Qin family went to the battlefield!
"Brother Zhi, where is Uncle Qin?"
Jiang Wuming, with clenched fists, softly asked Qin Xiaozhi.
"General Qin Linhai, died in battle!"
Qin Xiaozhi replied, his eyes red and filled with tears.
His reply did not include the word "father" but rather his father's name and title.
This was the second time the young man had done this in his life.
The first time.
At the East Sea Martial Academy.
That day.
He took over the command of the battle from his father and astonished everyone. The son had grown up.
Today.
He could not collect his father's body from the battlefield, a lifelong regret.
Father, travel well.
...