The focus for the next phase fell upon Qin Lianbai as the primary, with Lan Yuling as secondary. As for Zhong Yun and Gu Mo, their roles remained ambiguous. They were neither standard soldiers nor possessed command authority. Zhong Yun, for his part, was perfectly content with the arrangement.

As they departed the base, everyone boarded their respective mechs. Three hundred standard soldier mechs were unremarkable; their shared design aesthetic clearly indicated a single creator.

The true spectacle lay with Qin Lianbai and Lan Yuling. Qin Lianbai’s mech was pure white—a rare color choice. Its silhouette suggested a focus on long-range engagements.

Lan Yuling’s mech, however, was crimson, a dazzling red like a burst of flame. It was physically larger than Qin Lianbai’s, its frame bristling with more than a dozen dark, metallic bone spurs that cast a chilling impression. This was unmistakably a close-combat machine, and one built with an aggressively brutal, iron-blooded aesthetic.

Given their status as key figures from the Qin and Lan families, both were piloting Eight-Star Mechs.

The Eight-Star Mech was a revolutionary combat weapon designed exclusively for masters who had achieved Level Five status or higher.

The official classification for mech pilots only extended to seven star levels.

This was because piloting an Eight-Star Mech required no specific operational technique whatsoever. Only by attaining Level Five strength could one drive it with full efficacy. It was less a machine to be piloted, and more an armored shell—controlled directly by the user’s body.

When Zhong Yun released “Ling Long,” it instantly overshadowed the two other mechs. With its seductive, alien curves and an ethereal, cold blue luminescence, the entire machine looked less like a weapon and more like a piece of art.

With the Qin and Lan pilots leading and Zhong Yun following behind, the contingent of three hundred soldiers trailed them as they flew out of the base.

The team maintained a relatively slow pace. It was clear that Qin Lianbai was an extremely cautious individual. Under his command, everyone maintained low-altitude flight, keeping their speed capped around one hundred kilometers per hour.

Though the group was small in number, their deployment was perfectly balanced. Qin Lianbai had dispatched scouts ahead to clear the path. Heavy assault mechs formed the outer perimeter, while artillery and fire support mechs were tucked securely in the center.

Along the way, the few unknown creatures they encountered were quickly dealt with by the advance scouts. In truth, due to previous sweep missions, biological life near the base had become sparse; large concentrations were almost nonexistent.

After traveling roughly three thousand kilometers, the flat plains began to disappear, replaced by rolling peaks rising into view. Upon entering the mountainous terrain, vigilance increased across the board, especially in heavily wooded areas, where they flew high overhead to avoid potential threats lurking below.

Despite their caution, they endured several attacks. The flying creatures native to this region tended to travel in aggressive, highly ferocious swarms. This time, however, they had picked a fight with the wrong target. This contingent was overwhelmingly powerful; the creatures were instantly scattered by a dense barrage of artillery fire, fleeing in disarray after leaving behind several corpses.

Fortunately, the massive swarms seen on the first day did not reappear; otherwise, it would have been them fleeing.

As he flew, Zhong Yun extended his spiritual sense outward like probing tentacles in all directions. All mechanical sensors had failed, forcing him to rely solely on his psychic awareness. With his current powerful Divine Sense, projecting his awareness over ten kilometers was easily achievable.

Within his spiritual perception, Zhong Yun could sense numerous life forms thriving beneath them—some so weak they were nearly undetectable, others significantly stronger, including entities that rivaled his own power level.

After several more hours of flight, Qin Lianbai finally located a relatively open area to halt and regroup. The weakest members of the team were Level Three, capable of flying in their mechs for several days and nights without issue.

However, they were nearing the location where the previous team had vanished. Uncertain what dangers awaited them there, Qin Lianbai opted for a rest period to ensure everyone was operating at peak condition.

“Your mech is quite fascinating.”

“Ling Long” stood slightly apart from the main group, leaning against an enormous tree thirty meters high, its trunk requiring four or five people to encircle. Zhong Yun had not dismounted. A soft, seductive voice reached his ear.

Among Gu Yi, Qin Lianbai, and Lan Yuling, Zhong Yun was most wary of this woman. He could never discern her true strength; every time he tried to gauge her, it was like looking through swirling mist—never truly clear.

Zhong Yun had a rough grasp of the capabilities of Gu Yi and Qin Lianbai. Lan Yuling, however, either possessed power far beyond his own, or she had a method to perfectly conceal her true strength. Either possibility was enough to set Zhong Yun’s internal alarms ringing.

“Commander Lan flatters me. I simply have an affinity for aesthetics. This machine looks good, but its actual destructive power is quite moderate,” Zhong Yun replied, offering a half-truth. Anyone who genuinely underestimated “Ling Long’s” combat readiness would face dire consequences.

“Is that so?” Lan Yuling’s tone held a hint of amusement before she smoothly changed tack. “I find it quite appealing, actually. How about you trade it to me? I’ll swap one of my Eight-Star Mechs for it.”

“I appreciate the kind offer, Commander Lan, but I’ve had this machine for so long, we’ve developed an attachment. I couldn't bear to part with it,” Zhong Yun declined politely.

“What a pity,” Lan Yuling’s voice betrayed little genuine regret. “I heard you used to be an adventurer.”

“Mmm,” Zhong Yun’s heart gave a slight jolt. It seemed she was probing his background. He couldn't tell if this was her initiative or a directive from the three major families.

“Someone with your abilities, so young, must be quite renowned in adventurer circles.”

“Young?” Zhong Yun sounded as if he’d heard something deeply ironic. “My age might not be less than yours.”

Lan Yuling gave an ‘oh,’ acknowledging that although Zhong Yun appeared to be in his early twenties, that might not reflect his actual age. There were many ways to preserve a youthful appearance. That made more sense, she thought; if he truly were only in his twenties, that would have been genuinely startling.

According to the intelligence she possessed, this ‘Yun Zhongyu’ was ranked somewhere between Level Four and Five. Reaching Level Four before forty was already considered genius level. Early twenties? That was unheard of.

“I have a friend who is fairly well-known in the adventurer community, goes by ‘Sanyue’ (Three Moon). Do you know him?” Lan Yuling inquired further.

“I’ve always worked alone, rarely interacting with other adventurers. I’ve never heard that name,” Zhong Yun stated calmly.

Lan Yuling asked no more questions and soon excused herself. She understood the value of knowing when to stop; pressing further would border on interrogation, and ‘Yun Zhongyu’ might grow irritated.

An hour later, Qin Lianbai announced the resumption of the journey.

The three hundred soldiers took their assigned positions and lifted off. They were only another hundred kilometers from the site where the previous team had met disaster.

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