As Mu Ye Xing Chen and his entourage were about to leave the laboratory, they suddenly heard the massive cylindrical experimental instrument behind them begin to vibrate, its invigorating electrical hum rising in pitch.
Everyone looked up or turned their heads, their gazes simultaneously fixed on the numbers representing assimilation rates.
The eerily blood-red digits surged from 39% to 81% without pause. After stabilizing at 81%, the numbers began to ascend slowly and steadily.
Inside the instrument, the tubes injecting the highly corrosive hallucinogen separated from Gu Ya's body, retracting like slender black snakes into the ceiling.
Mu Ye Xing Chen’s face was even calmer than before as he retorted, "What exactly is going on?"
The older scientist exclaimed excitedly, "Reporting to Grand Commander, Hei Yang has once again defeated the experimental subject's consciousness and returned the subject to a normal assimilation phase! With this recovery, the subject has reached the theoretical assimilation threshold! The latest speed calculations are in; in another week, it will reach optimal melting degrees!"
Mu Ye Xing Chen nodded calmly, said no more, and left the laboratory with Fu Ya Fang.
They proceeded to the adjacent rest area next to the laboratory. Mu Ye Xing Chen dismissed the guards, leaving him and Fu Ya Fang alone in the rest area.
"What is really going on?" Mu Ye Xing Chen inquired, his tone neither warm nor cold.
Fu Ya Fang knew she couldn't hide anything and confessed the truth. After being threatened by Hong Lian Zhi Wu, she had contacted a Xian Xia agent for self-preservation and stayed in a safe house for several days. Only after confirming that Hong Lian Zhi Wu would not find her did she contact Mu Ye Xing Chen.
However, Fu Ya Fang did not mention that she had already transmitted intelligence to Xian Xia.
As for the Xian Xia agent, Fu Ya Fang lied, claiming he was a colleague from the Wuxian City Intelligence Bureau.
Clearly, Mu Ye Xing Chen was growing impatient with the lengthy explanation. His expression told Fu Ya Fang that he was currently preoccupied with more important matters.
"Grand Commander Xing Chen, what are you worried about?" Fu Ya Fang asked with concern.
Mu Ye Xing Chen suddenly displayed a hint of sorrow, clenching his fists tightly, and said, "My approval rating has been declining. I am now three percentage points behind Lai Jing Fa Nan. Disaster is imminent!"
"What do you need me to do?" Fu Ya Fang asked.
Mu Ye Xing Chen gently touched Fu Ya Fang's cheek, which he had recently slapped red, and whispered, "I want you to stay and personally complete the fusion ceremony, and then send the awakened Hei Yang to me."
"Hong Lian Zhi Wu is one of my confidantes, but she is too ill-tempered and incapable of handling such important tasks."
Fu Ya Fang sighed softly, hugged Mu Ye Xing Chen, and said, "I'm afraid I can't handle such an important mission without you by my side. Please let me go with you..."
"I am going to war," Mu Ye Xing Chen looked at Fu Ya Fang seriously. "Lai Jing Fa Nan will not let me off easily. Rather than wait for death, I must take the initiative."
"My ultimate ideal is to control the entire world and lead humanity to break through the cosmic barrier, allowing humanity to return to space."
"Conquering Xian Xia is merely the first step in my ideal. I will not let Xian Xia perish, nor will I let Hei Xing fall, but rather make them even stronger!"
"But Lai Jing Fa Nan is different; he is a complete madman. If Hei Xing falls into his hands, it will only bring greater disaster to humanity."
"Therefore, I must do everything in my power to prevent him from ascending the throne."
Fu Ya Fang understood Mu Ye Xing Chen's words. In fact, she had anticipated this long ago. She said with slight surprise, "You plan to withdraw troops from Xian Xia and fight a civil war with Lai Jing Fa Nan?"
Mu Ye Xing Chen nodded calmly and heavily, saying, "The first batch of soldiers has already returned to Shan Hai City and is now assembling outside the city. Once assembled, I will personally lead the troops to depart. I came back... to see you, actually."
"Xing Chen!" Tears welled up in Fu Ya Fang's eyes as she tightly embraced Mu Ye Xing Chen's waist, unwilling to let go.
After a long while, Mu Ye Xing Chen released Fu Ya Fang's hand, handed her two items, and said, "These are two sachets, each containing a path. They can only be opened if I am defeated. The first path is to continue your mission in the city where Lai Jing Fa Nan is located, and the second is a method to safely return to Xian Xia. I have arranged everything for you. It will depend on your choice then."
Fu Ya Fang clutched the two square electronic devices, at a loss for words for a moment, tears of sadness streaming down like a brook.
Mu Ye Xing Chen gently wiped away the tears from Fu Ya Fang's eyes and quickly departed.
After his footsteps completely disappeared outside the door, Fu Ya Fang fiercely wiped away her tears, a cold smile appearing on her face. She thought to herself, "Die, may they all die. For the sake of one person's dream, so many people in Xian Xia have been massacred! I will not fight for a person like you!"
Fu Ya Fang fiercely crushed the electronic sachet representing the return to Xian Xia and strode out of the rest area.
...
"Quick! Quick! Quick!!! Follow!"
As the ground crew waved their guidance rods, massive mechs, one after another, rapidly rushed out of the hangars from the glide channels and soared into the blue sky.
Three thousand elite Xian Xia mech pilots, controlling modified main battle mechs, converged from various directions of Deng Yuan City, forming a black steel torrent that advanced towards the deep southeast sea.
Ye Ying's Ao Ying Third Team was among them.
Liu Feng shouted excitedly, "Hahahaha! Our Xian Xia people are truly awesome!!!"
Tao Na also appeared very exhilarated, laughing, "Yes, indeed! Who designed such an ingenious tactic? It's divine! Hei Xing would never have imagined we would disguise ourselves as Hei Xing troops and infiltrate their retreating forces!"
Qiao Wei Wei sneered, "Hmph, what the strongest army in the world? I think Hei Xing is just a bunch of losers! Wouldn't you agree, Captain Ye?"
A smile of agreement appeared on Ye Ying's usually calm face, but she did not respond to Qiao Wei Wei.
She was overjoyed at the prospect of seeing Gu Ya again! Her mind was filled with scenes of reunion with Gu Ya, refusing to fade.
At this moment, the commander's voice came through the communicator: "Attention! We are about to rendezvous with the Hei Xing army. All personnel, remain vigilant. Unauthorized communication with the enemy is strictly prohibited. If necessary, use the dialogue manual content to communicate with Hei Xing! This is a death order, and it concerns the safety of the entire army! All regimental commanders must convey this to every soldier! Strict adherence is mandatory!"
Ye Ying responded with full confidence, immediately issuing the iron rule: "Unauthorized communication with Hei Xing is strictly prohibited."
Upon receiving the news that Xing Chen's Grand Commander Mu Ye Xing Chen was preparing to wage a civil war against Hei Xing and had secretly mobilized troops to withdraw to Shan Hai City, Xian Xia's senior commanders and think tanks immediately recognized this as an unprecedented opportunity for a surprise attack!
Through a captured and then co-opted Hei Xing high-ranking general, they obtained the enemy's top-secret clearance. This clearance was then modified by the strongest scientific personnel and distributed to every Xian Xia soldier.
With top-secret clearance, even if they were piloting Xian Xia mechs, Hei Xing would perceive them as their own.
Of course, a semblance of formality was still necessary.
These three thousand mechs had their armor coatings painted black in just one day, making them virtually indistinguishable.
The elite Xian Xia combat force, composed of three thousand elite mech pilots, had two objectives for their mission to Hei Xing's Shan Hai City.
The first was to destroy key political and administrative buildings in Shan Hai City as much as possible, causing temporary chaos and paralysis within the Xing Chen army. The second was to rescue Gu Ya!
The crucial mission of rescuing Gu Ya naturally fell to Ye Ying's Ao Ying Third Team.
Just as everyone was united in spirit, poised for a grand undertaking, another communication arrived from above.
"First determination of mission for each mech regiment, starting from the First Main Battle Regiment, ten seconds per team."
Ye Ying's heart was filled with eager anticipation. "Gu Ya, here I come!"
At this moment, Gu Ya stood atop a towering skyscraper, gazing into the far distance.
Within his sight, the small figure of Hei Yang gradually became clearer.
With a forceful push of his hands, the colossal You Yin, the Ancient Mech, and the Khorn simultaneously ascended from the rooftops of three skyscrapers and charged towards Hei Yang!