Chapter 1 The Summit Frontline Command Post
Long Qisheng stood by the window of the command center, gazing outside.
He had arrived here today to assume his duties as the temporary Marshal of the Martial Department and the overall commander of the Mount Everest War.
Following Long Qisheng's gaze, Li Rui and several core members of the frontline command post could be seen standing at the entrance of a room.
That room had been converted into a makeshift infirmary, equipped with various advanced medical devices transported from elsewhere. Doctors Li Gu and Li Lianyi were tending to Qi Wufu.
As he watched, Long Qisheng frowned.
The first thing he did after taking office was to propose that Qi Wufu be transferred to the nearest major city hospital in Chuan City for treatment. However, Li Rui insisted that Qi Wufu remain at the Mount Everest frontline command post for his treatment.
Li Rui's reasoning was that Qi Wufu was the Marshal of the Martial Department and a beacon of the Dragon Country's martial arts community.
With the Mount Everest War not yet concluded, Qi Wufu's injury and subsequent departure from the front lines would deal a significant blow to the morale of the Dragon Country's soldiers, hindering future combat efforts.
Faced with such reasoning, Long Qisheng found himself unable to refute or reject it.
He was aware, however, that Li Rui harbored ulterior motives. As long as Qi Wufu remained at the frontline command post, Long Qisheng's power and authority would be constrained!
Soon, Long Qisheng withdrew his gaze and positioned himself behind the dispatch desk, directing his attention to the large screen.
The screen displayed a dense array of lights, representing the coordinates of various teams.
Long Qisheng's gaze immediately fell upon the southeast direction, the area where the Zhanlong Team was located.
Then, his peripheral vision caught sight of the Longshen Team of the Northern Region Corps, situated not far from the Zhanlong Team.
…
In the southeast, a helicopter belonging to the Longshen Team was in flight. Its captain, Gu Tianlong, along with other members, including two elders from the Longmen sect, sat in silence.
They had already learned that Qi Wufu had defeated an extraterrestrial enemy at the tenth stage of the Five-star God of War realm but had sustained severe injuries.
"Captain, it's bad! The aircraft is malfunctioning!"
Suddenly, a voice shattered the quiet of the cabin.
Following the pilot's panicked cry, the helicopter, unable to continue its flight, began to plummet downwards.
"What kind of malfunction? Can it be fixed?"
Gu Tianlong's expression shifted, and he asked in a deep voice.
"No... no, we have to bail out before the plane crashes!"
The pilot replied, his face ashen.
"Everyone, open the cabin doors and prepare to jump!"
Gu Tianlong's face darkened, and he felt an overwhelming sense of misfortune.
They were currently quite a distance from the main base at Mount Everest. Even if they requested reinforcements from the frontline command post for a helicopter, it would take some time.
During this period, if they were to encounter powerful enemies, it would be extremely perilous.
Boom!
Soon, the helicopter crashed in front of a canyon, erupting in a fiery explosion that lit up the sky.
Gu Tianlong and the others managed to bail out just before the helicopter's impact to save themselves.
Among them, the two Longmen elders, who served as the team's protectors, unleashed a surge of true energy, forming a protective barrier that shielded them from the blast wave and the incoming wreckage. Not a single member of the team was injured.
"Phew…"
This outcome brought relief to Luo Yu and the other weaker members of the team.
However—
Before they could even get up, the Fifth Elder of the Longmen sect, who possessed the strength of a ninth-stage Five-star God of War, his expression suddenly changed.
"Bad news, there are enemies nearby! And they are approaching us rapidly!"
The Fifth Elder of the Longmen sect sensed the presence of extraterrestrial enemies in the vicinity, and in significant numbers.
"Fifth Elder, what is the strength and number of the enemies?!"
Gu Tianlong was about to raise his wrist to contact the frontline command post and request additional helicopters when he heard the Fifth Elder's words. He quickly inquired.
"There are dozens of enemies, and eight of them are Five-star Gods of War!"
The Fifth Elder of the Longmen sect spoke again, his tone exceedingly grave.
Swish, swish, swish…
As the Fifth Elder of the Longmen sect's words reached their ears, both Gu Tianlong and the other team members, including the elder who was a ninth-stage Three-star God of War, their faces contorted in shock!
To ensure the safety of each guardian team, the frontline command post had assigned a ninth-stage Four-star God of War protector to all teams except the Zhanlong Team.
The Longshen Team only had the Fifth Elder of the Longmen sect as a ninth-stage Five-star God of War!
And… the extraterrestrial enemies had eight Five-star Gods of War!
The disparity in strength was immense. If a battle ensued, it would be a one-sided slaughter!
"Fifth Elder, escort us in our retreat!"
Immediately, Gu Tianlong was the first to regain his composure and made a decision, subtly urging the Fifth Elder to prioritize his own safety.
"It's too late, the enemies are already close!"
The Fifth Elder of the Longmen sect, whether he understood the subtle implication in Gu Tianlong's words or not, did not agree with Gu Tianlong's proposal. Instead, he looked at the ninth-stage Three-star God of War elder of the Longmen sect.
"The two of us will stay and hold off the enemies. Tianlong, you lead the others in retreating!"
"Fifth… Fifth Elder…"
Gu Tianlong frowned upon hearing this. He believed the Fifth Elder had not grasped his true intention and intended to reiterate his thoughts.
Because, in his opinion, even if the two Longmen elders stayed, they wouldn't be able to hold off the enemies for long.
During that time, even if he and the other team members exerted all their strength, they wouldn't be able to escape far.
This would result in his death.
He did not want to die.
Therefore, he suggested that the Fifth Elder escape with them, and if the situation became dire, the Fifth Elder should focus on his escape!
As for the lives of the others…
He couldn't care less!
"Hurry up and go, or you'll all die here!"
The Fifth Elder of the Longmen sect interrupted Gu Tianlong again.
Whoosh!
As the words fell, the Fifth Elder of the Longmen sect launched himself forward, actively confronting the enemies.
The other ninth-stage Three-star God of War elder from the Longmen sect, seeing this, followed suit without a word.
"Captain, let's run quickly…"
Luo Yu, witnessing this, said to Gu Tianlong with a look of terror.
However—
Before his words could finish, Gu Tianlong turned into an afterimage and fled at maximum speed in the opposite direction of the enemies.
As danger loomed, not only did he fail to fulfill his responsibility as captain, nor did he lead the other team members to escape as the Fifth Elder of the Longmen sect had instructed, but he fled on his own!
Gu Tianlong frantically circulated his true energy, pushing his speed to its limits as he fled. He raised his wrist, attempting to contact the frontline command post for support, only to discover there was no signal.
"Damn it, how can there be no signal?!"
Gu Tianlong cursed and tried again, but there was still no signal.
Could my communicator be broken?
Gu Tianlong asked himself inwardly, contemplating whether to slow down, wait for the team members behind him, and then use their communicators to contact the frontline command post.
However, this thought, as soon as it surfaced in Gu Tianlong's mind, was immediately dismissed.
In his view, the most urgent priority was to escape!
After all, even if he managed to contact the frontline command post, by the time they dispatched personnel, it would be far too late.
Hundred meters, a thousand meters…
Unknowingly, Gu Tianlong rushed into a canyon ahead. Leveraging his superior strength, he widened the gap between himself and the team members behind him, rendering him unable to sense their presence.
Similarly, he could no longer sense the presence of the extraterrestrial enemies.
This discovery brought Gu Tianlong a sense of relief.
However—
The next moment.
His movement abruptly halted, and his face contorted in shock!
Because he sensed an incredibly terrifying aura!
Then, a figure arrived like the wind, appearing before Gu Tianlong!
…
Ten minutes later.
Mount Everest Frontline Command Post.
The dispatcher received Gu Tianlong's call request and stated, "Captain Gu, this is the Frontline Command Post. Please speak."
"The Longshen Team's helicopter malfunctioned and crashed. Subsequently, they encountered extraterrestrial enemies. The situation is critical. We request the command post to dispatch personnel for support!"
Gu Tianlong's anxious voice echoed.
"Captain Gu, please inform us of the number and strength of the enemies," the dispatcher quickly asked.
"The enemies consist of two ninth-stage Five-star Gods of War, while the other dozen or so possess strengths ranging from One-star to Three-star Gods of War," Gu Tianlong replied.
"Understood. Please wait!"
Upon hearing this, the dispatcher immediately put down the headset, stood up, and reported the crisis encountered by the Longshen Team and their request to Long Qisheng and Li Rui.
"Immediately notify Jiang Wuming of the Zhanlong Team and order him to lead the Zhanlong Team to provide support!"
After hearing the report, Long Qisheng made a decisive command.
"Wait!"
Li Rui, before the dispatcher could relay Long Qisheng's order, interjected, "Clarify the enemy's strength and numbers with Gu Tianlong again, especially if there are other extraterrestrial enemies in the vicinity!"
"Staff Officer Li, this is unnecessary! Gu Tianlong has already reported the enemy situation. What else is there to verify? Time is of the essence. Immediately have Jiang Wuming lead the Zhanlong Team to rescue them. That is the priority!"
Long Qisheng's brow furrowed, and he said sternly, "As for the safety of Jiang Wuming and the Zhanlong Team, there is absolutely no need to worry. After all, Jiang Wuming once stated that he is invincible below the Five-star God of War realm!"
Li Rui's brow twitched.
He naturally remembered Jiang Wuming's statement.
However, he also knew that Jiang Wuming was referring to one-on-one situations.
If Jiang Wuming encountered two or more ninth-stage or even tenth-stage Five-star Gods of War, who could guarantee Jiang Wuming's survival? Da Feng Novel Network.
"Why are you still dawdling? Immediately relay the command from the command post to Jiang Wuming!"
While Li Rui was lost in thought, Long Qisheng spoke again.
"Yes… Yes, Marshal!"
The dispatcher nervously accepted the order.
Since Long Qisheng arrived at the frontline command post and assumed his duties, everyone in the command center had experienced his authoritative presence.
In fact, one dispatcher, due to a slip of the tongue and failing to address Long Qisheng as Marshal, was summarily ejected from the frontline command post by Long Qisheng.
"General Jiang Wuming, this is the Frontline Command Post. We have just received a distress call from the Longshen Team…"
After receiving the order, the dispatcher did not dare to delay and immediately contacted Jiang Wuming, relaying Long Qisheng's command.
Li Rui hesitated for a moment before ultimately refraining from intervening.
Because, even if the enemy numbers were large and their strength formidable, the Zhanlong Team was the closest to the Longshen Team, and they should investigate.
"Understood."
In the Zhanlong Team's helicopter, Jiang Wuming acknowledged the order and then instructed Dongfang Xiaoyao to pilot the helicopter towards the coordinates of the Longshen Team provided by the frontline command post.
At this moment.
Neither he nor the personnel at the frontline command post were aware of one crucial fact.
The Longshen Team, with the exception of Gu Tianlong, had all been killed!
…