"Cancel self-destruct sequence." Following Long Tian's command to cease the assault. Nile also ordered the base's self-destruct sequence canceled!

The crisis had finally stopped!

But just then! A set of heart-stopping images flickered onto the computer screens!

The once bright sky was now shrouded by a massive crimson cloud. Upon closer inspection, these crimson clouds were composed of countless Fire Dragon Moths!

Their numbers were staggering, stretching for dozens of miles!

"It's the Seventh Fire Dragon Legion from Sky City Number Seven," the signaling woman reported nervously. "Current location is the Great North African Desert, estimated to reach the Nile Headquarters in two hours."

"So fast." Nile seemed somewhat surprised. "Activate air and ground defense systems. All combat units to their stations. All members of the Phoenix Heaven Squad, assemble in the plaza."

"The air and ground defense systems suffered severe damage during the previous attack by the Long Tian Legion," another signaling woman swiftly pulled up the base's damage report data. "Defense sectors Five, Four, and Three have been completely destroyed and cannot be repaired in a short time. Base defense capability is less than fifty percent of its original strength."

"Defense systems severely damaged." Nia and Lan Qi's faces both changed drastically.

"Lieutenant General Long Tian, look at the mess you've made," Nile's eyes were practically blazing as he stared fixedly at Long Tian. "The Nile Unit's defense system is renowned as the best in the military; for years, the Xiang Tian Unit couldn't breach it, yet unexpectedly, you shamelessly destroyed three sectors."

"......" Long Tian stared at the nearly frantic Nile, utterly speechless. However, this guy's deviousness was beyond ordinary imagination, and he immediately reacted: "Since the Nile Unit's defense system is already non-operational, why not abandon this location and retreat back to the Shadow Moon Headquarters."

"Hmph, and then the Nile Unit, along with that Mad Thunder Set, will conveniently fall into your hands again, is that it?" Lan Qi scrutinized Long Tian with dark intent.

"I'm telling you, impossible," Nia ground out through clenched teeth. "Even if the Nile Unit is destroyed, we will absolutely not abandon this place. Of course, if the Nile Unit is destroyed, that Mad Thunder Set will also be lost, and the culprit responsible for all of this is your baseless attack. By then, you can just wait for military court to ruin your reputation and bring about a miserable end."

"You people." Lieutenant General Long Tian's face cycled between shades of green and white; his scheme to profit from the disaster had been seen through so quickly.

"So you had better not harbor any false hopes or try any tricky ideas," Nile said coldly. "Also, don't forget the Shadow Moon Grand Marshal's order—you are to thoroughly assist my Nile Unit in defending against the invasion by the Seventh Legion." At this point, Nile took a deep breath, then continued: "Since it is assistance, naturally, you must follow the command structure of my Nile Unit. Therefore, I now command you, the Long Tian Legion, in my capacity as the highest-ranking officer in this war zone, to immediately proceed to the former Defense Sectors Three, Four, and Five to take up defensive duties."

"Let's see the valor of your so-called regular legions then," Nia stated gravely.

"You! This is using public office for private revenge!" Lieutenant General Long Tian's face became extremely ugly, even trembling somewhat hysterically.

"This is an order," Nile countered. "It was personally issued by the Shadow Moon Grand Marshal."

"You! You." Lieutenant General Long Tian was so enraged he almost spat blood, yet he couldn't find a single retort.

The military law of the Shadow Moon Unit was notoriously strict.

Furthermore, although Long Tian's Lieutenant General rank was much higher than Nile's, that was merely a matter of rank disparity.

But in his current capacity, because of the Shadow Moon Grand Marshal's single sentence: "Assist the Nile Unit in resisting the attack of the approaching Seventh Legion," those simple two words—"assist"—had slotted Long Tian under the subordination of the Nile Unit! Even if only temporarily!

As the highest officer in the Nile Defense Sector, even though Lieutenant General Long Tian’s rank was three levels higher than his, he still had to obey Nile's command and dispatch in this critical moment, otherwise, it would constitute defiance of military law, leading to a certain death sentence in the subsequent military court.

Observing coldly from the sidelines, Xing Chen couldn't help but shake his head inwardly.

Even at this critical juncture, these people were still preoccupied with internal strife...

Relying on this group to assault the Xiang Tian Unit and rescue Xing Ye and Xing Zhan seemed like wishful thinking! It seemed he needed to start making other plans!

Of course, before all that, he absolutely had to secure that Mad Thunder Set. Xing Chen secretly made up his mind.

Long Tian, though unwilling, could only accept the order and depart!

"I apologize for letting you witness such a disappointing side of us," Nile seemed to have read Xing Chen's thoughts. "But there was no other way." Nile continued, "You have already seen the internal discord within the Shadow Moon Unit. These people will stop at nothing to gain power and profit, even turning their blades against allies."

"This Long Tian, in particular, is immensely ambitious," Nia added. "So, under no circumstances can we allow his schemes to succeed. If the Mad Thunder Set falls into his hands, it will only become a tool for him to eliminate rivals. By then, before the Xiang Tian Unit even launches an attack, our Shadow Moon Unit will crumble from internal strife."

"Can't the Shadow Moon Grand Marshal properly discipline these subordinates?" Xing Chen simply couldn't imagine how a faction riddled with internal conflict could fight against an external enemy.

Nile explained: "For a long time, the Shadow Moon Unit has been riddled with factions, split into several cliques, constantly interfering with and checking one another, making unified external action impossible." Nile then added: "Although the Shadow Moon Grand Marshal wishes to consolidate everyone, she is currently powerless. She is only the Grand Marshal in name and holds no powerful legion truly under her command. The only ones who genuinely obey her orders are our Daluo Unit, the Shadow Moon Unit, the Shaluo Unit, and the Duoluo Unit—four peripheral sub-divisions. But even these four weak supports, the Long Tian unit doesn't want us to be useful to her, which is why they are so recklessly trying to destroy us, aiming to hollow out her authority."

"So you deliberately took this opportunity to make Long Tian violate military law," Xing Chen suddenly realized something in an instant. "Could it be that the preceding scene was also part of your plan?"

"Lord Xing Chen indeed has extraordinary insight," Nile smiled faintly. "Seizing this armor was the first step we took to help the Shadow Moon Grand Marshal. The next step is how the Nile Unit, Daluo Unit, Duoluo Unit, and Shaluo Unit can break free from the military department's subsidiary status and become independent combat forces directly subordinate to the Shadow Moon Grand Marshal. Only then can the Shadow Moon Grand Marshal possess genuine executive power. And only after the Shadow Moon Grand Marshal unifies the internal disputes can we unite to resist the Xiang Tian Unit."

"Now the Nile Unit has successfully been placed under the direct jurisdiction of the Shadow Moon Grand Marshal. From now on, matters like military budget appropriations and research sponsorship will no longer be constrained by those bastards in the military department."

Such a meticulous plan made Xing Chen instinctively recall the capture of Nico's armor, the subsequent arrival of Lieutenant General Long Tian, and even the calculated use of the Seventh Legion's strength to weaken the Long Tian Legion!

These plans were interlinked and flawless!

And Xing Chen instinctively felt that this was only the beginning; Nile and the others undoubtedly had more maneuvers planned.

All of this was for the sake of seizing absolute control!

Thinking of this, Xing Chen couldn't help but feel a surge of disgust and annoyance.

Struggling for power and profit—no matter the dynasty, no matter the world, it seemed to be an unavoidable constant!

But in this moment, Xing Chen intensely missed the Black Flag Army he had founded himself!

Yet, upon reflection, it truly seemed incredible. Since the founding of the Black Flag Army, he seemed to never have to worry about control or power!

He didn't even need to do much; generals like Yin Shuang, Yin Hu, Bai Yan, and Bai Chuan would handle everything perfectly for him.

He could become the absolute core of the Black Flag Legion, even a crucial figure in the entire Divine Dragon Empire!

It seemed everything happened naturally!

And he had never once heard of any internal discord or conflict within the Black Flag Legion!

What exactly was the difference?

Why was he, as a Grand Marshal, able to operate so smoothly, while the Shadow Moon Grand Marshal faced such insurmountable difficulties?