Shadow Moon Division! Observation Tower!
The vast computer screens flickered with a strange image: a dazzling, massive point of light was blinking, slowly descending! "Ah!
What is this!" The on-duty observer exclaimed in shock: "Sky City Number Seven in orbit is moving, report this anomaly immediately to Headquarters." "Yes!" The deputy on duty bolted out of the control room in a flash! Niro Division, Biochemical Research Lab!
Deceased! Niccol was laid flat inside the testing capsule!
The dense array of indicator lights on the monitoring equipment pulsed intermittently! Several Taoists clad in traditional robes bustled about in the vicinity, recording data every so often.
"Cellular tissue, no abnormalities! Blood, bone density matches that of a normal person!
If there is any difference, it's that his body's fiber and muscle tissues are thicker than average, lending him greater physical strength." Meimei reported meticulously on the physical examination data, scrutinizing the report. "So, the physical functions of the Phoenix Knights are essentially the same as ordinary people, only their physical resilience is far greater," observed Niro.
"For now, yes," Meimei continued. "More detailed judgment awaits the completion of further analytical data, which should take a week." "It seems their combat power must come from the Night Pearl within their bodies," Niyya murmured, gazing at Niccol in the testing capsule with a complex expression.
"How is the analysis of the Night Pearl progressing?" Niro turned to another girl across the room, who appeared to be the same age as Meimei. It was Lili, the one Meimei had been constantly concerned about earlier!
Daluo and Niro had always been inseparable, their bond deeper than brotherhood. Now, with Daluo almost entirely annihilated, the surviving members of the Daluo Division preferred to stay with the Niro Division rather than remain in the Shadow Moon Division's ancestral grounds!
This girl possessed strikingly beautiful golden hair and eyes, complemented by a tall, slender figure. Perhaps due to the loss of her kinsmen, a faint veil of sorrow still shadowed her face.
Nevertheless, her strong composure allowed her to maintain the characteristic coolness and rationality of a soldier! Though young, Lili was a rare alchemy genius from the Daluo tribe!
In the world of Wolong, 'alchemy' was essentially synonymous with modern science; the terminology was merely different! After Uncle Qiao's death, Lili became the most accomplished alchemist in both the Niro and Daluo divisions combined.
To crack the manufacturing process of the Phoenix Knights, she had been specifically assigned to the research lab! "The interior of this Night Pearl seems encased by a barrier layer of unknown substance.
Detection instruments cannot penetrate it at all, rendering any analysis of its internal structure completely impossible!" "What on earth is that substance, that even detection lasers cannot pierce?" Niyya expressed her curiosity. "We can't be sure yet," Lili replied.
"It appears incredibly hard, its density surpassing that of diamond, yet it registers as an organic compound." "An organic compound," Niro frowned. "It seems we must analyze it from a biological perspective." "I agree," Lili conceded.
"Obtaining data on the Phoenix Knight manufacturing process will not be possible in a short time." Lanqi, standing nearby, silently observed Niccol within the testing chamber, unsure what thoughts occupied her mind. However, Xingchen could discern that the female warrior, usually so stern and resilient, appeared profoundly pained and fragile at this moment!
Xingchen could not fathom this emotion, nor did he wish to become entangled in it! As the hero responsible for securing the Phoenix Knight armor—and one of the Niro Division's most powerful allies—he was not excluded from their research.
Perhaps this was one of their ways of demonstrating sincerity! Still, Xingchen was immensely fascinated by the high-tech testing instruments; they gave him a profoundly bizarre feeling!
They carried the dense aura of modern civilization, yet were simultaneously saturated with an ancient resonance similar to the Marfa civilization. Consider it: Taoists in their Heavenly Venerable robes manipulating various computer analysis instruments—it simply looked incongruous!
He had been at Wolong Manor for some time now. Though anxious about the whereabouts of Xingye and Xingzhan, Xingchen's urgency was futile!
Not only were the formidable Phoenix Knights beyond his current capabilities, but even the slightly lesser Golden Warriors could defeat him. Therefore, the only course of action for Xingchen was to patiently await the progress of the Niro Division's research!
According to Niro, once they deciphered the manufacturing process for the Phoenix Knight armor, they could forge Knights of their own! With Phoenix Knights in hand, the Shadow Moon Division and the Soaring Heaven Division would possess sufficient capability to contend with the enemy's Phoenix Knights!
For ages, the Shadow Moon and Soaring Heaven Divisions had relied solely on specialized magical barriers and defensive Star Domain zones, passively guarding against attacks from the Soaring Heaven Division! Instances of active offense were rare!
The fundamental reason was the lack of a powerful military asset comparable to the Phoenix Knights! The accidental acquisition of Niccol’s Phoenix Demon Armor represented an enormous technological leap for the Shadow Moon Division, the most critical turning point imaginable!
This involuntarily brought to mind a famous quote from modern society: technology is the primary productive force, and the fundamental element for strengthening a nation and its military! "We are running out of time," Niro stated gravely.
"We must accelerate the progress." Niro's apprehension was well-founded! The Soaring Heaven Division certainly would not stand idly by while they cracked the combat systems of the Phoenix Knights!
Therefore, in the short term, the enemy would launch the most ferocious attacks to reclaim Niccol's armor, securing their unilateral military advantage! Failure to prepare in time could lead to disaster!
Everyone in the research lab remained busy! But Niro's expression was deeply grim: "Xingchen, Niyya, Lanqi, come with me for a moment." Niro led the three out of the lab and took an elevator descending into the deeper levels of the base!
"Where are we going?" To Xingchen's surprise, even Niyya and Lanqi were unaware of their destination. "The progress on the Phoenix Knight research is too slow," Niro explained.
"Indeed," Lanqi nodded. "That is what worries me most." "I suspect Lord Niro has already made preparations," Xingchen remarked.
"That is correct," Niro confirmed with a confident smile. As they spoke, the four arrived before a storeroom door marked with an arcane symbol!
"Ah, this is a Five-Star Confidential zone," Niyya and Lanqi exclaimed upon seeing the peculiar star insignia on the vault door! Xingchen saw it clearly too: a highly unusual pattern resembling the Bagua Taiji symbol, with five neatly arranged golden stars at its center point!
At Wolong Mountain Manor, military secrets were strictly categorized by level! Though Xingchen had not been there long, he had learned that Five-Star military classification was undoubtedly among the core, inviolable secrets of the Manor, which astonished him greatly.
Could this house Niro's secret weapon? Niro smiled faintly, offering no explanation, then pulled out a large, peculiar key and unlocked the thick, iron vault door!
The sight inside startled Xingchen profoundly, as it did Niyya and Lanqi! It was a colossal research chamber.
In its center stood a massive, transparent crystal cylinder within which floated three warriors clad in strange armor, greatswords strapped to their backs! Xingchen couldn't discern their features, but the cyan light encircling their bodies and the dense surge of energy emanating from them bore an uncanny resemblance to the cyan Phoenix Demon Armor Niccol wore!
"This is the Thunder God Set of the Phoenix Knights," Niyya gasped. "How is this possible?" Lanqi murmured.
"Haven't we broken the secret of the Phoenix Knight armor yet?" "No," Xingchen clearly sensed that the crystal column contained no life force; there were no vital signs present. Only the characteristic energy fluctuation belonging to armor and accessories remained!
"Correct," Niro stated solemnly. "We have not yet cracked the secret of the Phoenix Knight armor, and these are not Phoenix Knights." "What is going on?" Niyya looked to Niro for answers.
"Long ago, Uncle Qiao and I began secretly researching armor capable of countering the Phoenix Knights," Niro continued. "This is the result of over twenty years of research.
In terms of combat effectiveness, they are in no way inferior to the Phoenix Knights, but they possess a very serious flaw, which is why we dared not deploy them in actual combat." "A flaw?" Xingchen inquired. "Could you elaborate?" "Strictly speaking, these three Thunder God Suits are incomplete," Niro finished.
"Despite possessing astonishing combat power, using them demands a devastating price."