"You must be well aware of what the Phoenix Knight's armor truly means to my Shadow Moon Clan," Long Tian stated. "This is the first time in so many years we've had an opportunity to unravel the secrets of this battle armor, yet you want to let this chance slip away just as we've grasped it? Listen, this is the final warning: bring out the armor. Let our Clan's regular army study it and protect it. This is the best arrangement for both you and us."

"I regret to refuse," Nile responded. "Though the Nile Clan is subordinate to the Shadow Moon Clan, we only accept directives from the Shadow Moon Marshal. Without authorization proof issued by the Marshal's military command, we absolutely will not hand over the armor."

"Nile!" Long Tian sounded thoroughly enraged. "I had intended to settle this matter gentlemanly." He then strode toward Nile, gritting his teeth: "But clearly, that's not going to work!"

Did this fellow intend to use force? Xing Chen suddenly felt a sharp, killing intent surge!

Four warriors clad in golden armor suddenly flooded in from outside the door!

Almost simultaneously, the two warriors behind Long Tian abruptly drew their swords, and a blinding radiance erupted from their entire forms. The terrifying aura soared madly in an instant.

"They are the Golden Warriors," Nia and Lan Qi gasped in shock.

The sudden entry of four Golden Warriors into the control room was indeed unexpected.

"Damn it, these guys really want to use force." Xing Chen instinctively moved to draw the Dragon Shadow, but Nia swiftly pressed down on his arm: "Don't act rashly. If a real fight breaks out, we absolutely cannot win."

"......" Although Lan Qi's face was also contorted in anger, she and Nia stared fixedly at Long Tian.

"General Long Tian," Nile said, slightly irritated, "you intend to coerce my Nile Clan using force."

"Hmph, you refuse a toast only to be forced to drink hard liquor," Lieutenant General Long Tian sneered. "You brought this upon yourself."

"Are you not afraid of the judgment of the Military Tribunal?" Nile asked grimly. "Using force without the highest authorization from the military command, coercing a colleague—that is a grave offense."

"Nile, you are too naive!" Long Tian retorted. "The situation is urgent; I am left with no choice. I absolutely will not allow the hard-won Phoenix Knight Armor to be lost again in your hands. As for the military document, rest assured, I will obtain it afterward."

"Spoken nicely," Nia shot back angrily. "But don't forget, it was my Nile Clan who seized the Phoenix Knight Armor this time. Where were your so-called regular troops then? You watched the Darrow Clan being slaughtered, not even offering minimal aid, and now you have the audacity to strut in here."

"Regardless of what you say," Lieutenant General Long Tian stated gravely, "I must have it this time. Enough talk. If you don't want to cause greater sacrifice, just hand over the armor obediently."

"Colonel Nile," just then, the two female soldiers in front of the electronic screen cried out, "A large number of troops have been spotted outside the perimeter! We are surrounded!"

"Lieutenant General Long Tian, you!" Nile was extremely furious but dared not make any rash moves.

"This base is now surrounded by my main legion. And with a single order from me, this place will be leveled instantly," Lieutenant General Long Tian revealed a hint of a ferocious smile. "You truly do not know what is good for you."

At the same moment, on the computer screens, dense formations of troops surrounding the base immediately appeared. Demon Generals, Thunder Generals, even more than a dozen Phoenix War Gods clad in Phoenix Demon Armor, plus the four Golden Warriors now in the control room! Long Tian's forces held an absolute advantage!

"So, now, can you hand the armor over to me?" Long Tian was determined, aggressive, and assertive.

"......" Looking at Long Tian's undisguised greed and ambition, Nile became surprisingly calm, yet still gave no order to surrender the armor.

"What's wrong, Major General Kaman? What are you hesitating for?" Long Tian, holding the upper hand, was smug. "Will you hand over the armor, or will you perish together with your base?"

"Lieutenant General Long Tian! Mobilizing troops to attack a subordinate department is no longer just a minor offense; it is treason! Are you not afraid of the Military Tribunal?" Nile stated gravely.

"Nile, you underestimate me too much. If I hadn't made thorough preparations, do you think I would take this action now?" Long Tian continued. "Alright, Nile, stop resisting. Give up. The Nile Clan is merely an affiliated research group of the military anyway. Matters of war should be left to us regular soldiers. You just need to handle logistics and production well—cooperation is best, isn't it!" Long Tian added. "It must be admitted that the Nile Clan's military research is excellent, but how can it compare to the regular army's powerful and sophisticated large-scale research institutes? The Phoenix Knight Armor can only be deciphered quickly there. Whether for the Nile Clan or the Shadow Moon Clan, handing the armor to me is the most correct decision. What more do you have to hesitate about!"

So, they came prepared! Xing Chen thought inwardly. It seemed Nile was really going to suffer this time; the opponent had clearly cornered him. Since he dared to mobilize troops so openly, he must have made foolproof preparations.

However, considering that Nile and Darrow had sacrificed even the Darrow Clan to seize the Phoenix Knight Armor, the cost had been devastating. Yet, these so-called regular troops were jumping out at this moment to snatch the fruits of others' victory—it was utterly excessive. Moreover, it appeared the conflict between Nile and Lieutenant General Long Tian was not a recent one! Seeing the small things allowed one to infer the large; the discord within the Shadow Moon Clan probably extended beyond just Nile and this Lieutenant General Long Tian. Through the preceding confrontation, Xing Chen had perceived some signs that this struggle for profit seemed to represent two different factions: the regular army and the affiliated research groups. Could it really be as Lieutenant General Long Tian claimed—that the Nile Clan was merely an affiliated research group responsible for logistics and production? If so, how could Nile contend against Lieutenant General Long Tian, who held heavy military power! Just as Xing Chen thought Nile could only resort to compromise!

"Impossible," Nile declared unequivocally. "You can destroy this place, even kill us, but you will never obtain the armor. And rest assured, the Military Tribunal will not let you off afterward." Although Nile's expression was calm, anyone could sense the deep, suppressed rage. "Feel free to try."

"Do you truly wish for mutual destruction?" Lieutenant General Long Tian became extremely annoyed. "Then don't blame me!" Lieutenant General Long Tian finally became furious with shame.

"Attack!"

Boom! Boom! Rumble, rumble, rumble!

As soon as Long Tian's words fell, countless roaring sounds and violent tremors immediately erupted. Although they couldn't see the situation outside, the intense energy fluctuations and the occasional screams clearly indicated that the base perimeter was engaged in fierce combat! Yet, in the control room, the two tense factions dared not make any rash moves! The four Golden Warriors were undoubtedly formidable, but Nile, Lan Qi, and Xing Chen were not entirely without the strength to resist! Of course, the balance was temporary; once the outer defenses were breached by Lieutenant General Long Tian's forces, the Nile Clan wouldn't even have a chance to fight back!

"I repeat my statement," Nile ground out, "the armor will never be handed over to a greedy ambitious man like you. At worst, we will both be destroyed."

"If you won't give it, I'll kill you all," Long Tian was finally driven to fury! The attack outside intensified! And the surveillance screen clearly displayed the fierce battle raging outside. Facing the onslaught of the ravenous regular army, the unprepared Nile Clan could offer no organized resistance. Many were brutally slain, resulting in continuous wails and flying gore. Lan Qi and Nia’s eyes turned bloodshot, almost maddened. Xing Chen, however, couldn't help but worry about his own predicament. Fate truly played tricks on men; he might actually die in this internal strife!

The first, second, and third defense zones had been breached. In five minutes, the enemy would reach the control center. The two female soldiers at the computer screens continued dutifully reporting the latest battle progress!

"What about it," Lieutenant General Long Tian looked at Nile. "Stop this futile resistance."

"Long Tian!" Nile looked at Long Tian with utter indifference. "The Shadow Moon Clan has been suppressed by the Sky-Soaring Clan for so many years precisely because of too many greedy ambitious men like you who only care about themselves and not others. You are masters of internal fighting, but you flee at the sight of a strong enemy. Now that you destroy the Nile Clan, just wait for the entire Shadow Moon Clan to be buried with it." Nile was clearly resolute, not even caring if it cost the Nile Clan all its assets and lives!

"Ah! Damn it!" Long Tian's face turned ashen, appearing even more hideous and terrifying. "Then let your Nile Clan vanish forever." At this moment, Long Tian finally gave up all hope!

"The fourth and fifth defense zones have been breached," the signal female soldier continued reporting. "In two minutes, the enemy will break through all defenses and reach the control room."

"Hmph," a trace of finality finally appeared on Nile's calm face. "Main control computer, activate self-destruct sequence."

Beep beep beep beep!

Almost simultaneously, a series of urgent alarm sirens sounded: "Base self-destruct sequence activated. 600-second countdown commencing." A profound magical fluctuation immediately surged!

"Ah! What is this!" Long Tian stared at Nile, dumbfounded, unable to believe his eyes.

Nile said gravely, "I told you, even if the Nile Clan is destroyed, the armor will not be handed over to you. Rather than watch this armor become a stepping stone for your power struggles and promotions, ultimately ruining the entire Shadow Moon Clan, I would rather choose mutual destruction. At least that way, I won't have to watch the day the Nile Clan becomes slaves to a fallen nation."

"Fine, you are ruthless," Lieutenant General Long Tian finally showed a flicker of panic!

And at that moment, the computer screen suddenly displayed a bizarre, distorted red image!

"What is this?" Nia looked surprised.

"It is the highest-level red dedicated communication channel," the signal female soldier reported.

"Connect the audio channel," Nile's tone remained as calm as before, but Xing Chen unexpectedly noticed that Nile seemed to reveal a hint of relief.

Ding ding ding! On the communicator, a red wavy pattern displayed. Then, a majestic-looking woman appeared on the screen! Blonde hair, blue eyes, clad in golden armor—even as an image on a screen, Xing Chen instinctively felt that immense power and authority!

"Ah! It's the Shadow Moon Grand Marshal," the signal female soldier exclaimed in shock.

"What!" Long Tian was even more startled. The Shadow Moon Grand Marshal? Xing Chen involuntarily widened his eyes. This was one of the three giants of Wolong Villa—the Shadow Moon Grand Marshal! No wonder she possessed such astonishing presence!

"General Long Tian, what are you doing here?" The Shadow Moon Grand Marshal on the screen stared at Long Tian, her gaze like lightning!

Slap! Although Long Tian was flustered, he straightened up and saluted stiffly. "Your subordinate is demanding that Nile hand over the captured Phoenix Knight Armor for military management."

"Oh! By pointing a sword at them, you demand it?" The Shadow Moon Marshal's expression was displeased.

"Ah!" Long Tian broke out in a cold sweat.

"Stop arguing. I know everything that has happened. From today forward, the Nile Clan is incorporated into the Military's Special Independent Combat Unit, no longer an affiliated research agency of the military. You will directly receive orders from this Marshal. As for the research on the Phoenix Knight Armor, the Nile Clan will continue to conduct it independently!"

"But, Marshal!" Lieutenant General Long Tian still wanted to argue something.

"Can't you hear me, Lieutenant General!" The Shadow Moon Marshal's voice sounded like it was on the verge of explosion. "This is an order!" The Shadow Moon Marshal on the screen stared intently at Lieutenant General Long Tian. "Immediately order the troops to cease fire and assist the Nile Clan in resisting the incoming attack from the Seventh Legion." After speaking, without waiting for Long Tian's reply, she directly terminated the communication.

"Damn it!" Long Tian, full of reluctance, could only command, "Cease fire." Nile paid no more attention to the exasperated Long Tian; he had clearly foreseen this outcome long ago.