Cheng Jinyang, who wasn't nervous at first, stared at the holographic real-time projection on the battlefield for a long time and began to feel uneasy for no apparent reason.
The other two squads were also ascending into the sky aboard their flying tanks. Three small crafts fired beams around the Jingwei-class mothership, but couldn't penetrate the opponent's force field shields at all.
To make matters worse, the swarm of unmanned drones circling around began to chase after them.
Cheng Jinyang looked up again and saw that the outer shell of the Jingwei-class mothership had opened, pouring out a large number of tiny dots like mosquitoes from within.
Just as Princess Luling had said, given the density of the peripheral drone swarm, the three squads could barely ensure maneuverability without damage for now. However, with the enemy's numbers continuing to increase, they would eventually breach the critical point.
And no one knew just how many drone swarms were stored inside the mothership.
Cheng Jinyang silently watched all this, suddenly feeling like he understood the Emperor's purpose in having him observe the battle:
The war mothership represented the pinnacle of human military technology.
Compared to it, what were noble families?
What were supernatural abilities? Thousands or tens of thousands of drones descending upon them were nothing more than ants, dust.
Yet, even with such cutting-edge technology, they couldn't deal with the northern demons. Then, in the eyes of those demons, what were humans?
The thought was chilling.
Despite the three flying tanks maneuvering at maximum speed, the high-energy particle beams they fired remained steady, focusing their attacks on the mothership's shield, which had turned from blue to red, indicating its thickness was rapidly decreasing.
Suddenly, a massive beam pierced from bottom to top through the crust, instantly hitting the shield's focal point where the three beams converged!
Like a hot knife through butter, the focused shield was immediately pierced by the particle beam, with the remaining energy surging towards the underside of the Jingwei-class mothership.
Then... there was no 'then'.
Because the anticipated scene of the third-grade beams piercing the mothership did not occur; instead, the beams themselves disappeared.
Princess Luling stood up, her expression dramatically changing, green lights flickering in her eyes.
"Retreat," she said shortly. "Head for Jiankang."
"Understood!" Cheng Qingyuan quickly changed course.
"What's happening?" Cheng Jinyang took off his helmet and asked quietly.
Princess Luling shook her head without answering.
However, even without her reply, Cheng Jinyang could guess roughly that something must have happened with the Lu family patriarch...
But before he could further ponder, the entire vehicle suddenly shook violently.
"We're locked on by the mothership's main laser cannon!" Hongnong Yang Clan quickly issued a loud warning.
Then.
.....
Cheng Jinyang's consciousness slowly recovered, feeling his eyelids extremely heavy, unable even to muster the strength to open them.
"So, did he die?" a voice came near his ear.
Wanrou...
"No. Just before the main cannon's laser hit the vehicle... at the last moment, Princess Luling shielded him with her body," another voice replied.
Ah Zhi...
"Wanrou, what exactly happened?" Xing Yuanzhi asked softly. "Is this a conspiracy?"
"No," Wang Wanrou answered, "the internal modification of the Jingwei-class mothership is the highest military secret within the Longxiang Army. If the Emperor had anticipated the enemy's counter-energy armor modification, he definitely wouldn't have approved this military adventure."
"However, to say that His Majesty knew nothing at all might not be accurate. Otherwise, Princess Luling would have been on the same team as the Lu family's patriarch, not with Cheng Jinyang."
"What about the head of the Longxi Li family?" Xing Yuanzhi asked, "Was it also arranged by the Emperor?"
"No, it was arranged by my father," Wang Wanrou replied, "Since the Emperor sent people to protect him, how could the aristocratic family not express their opinions?"
"Both Princess Luling and the head of the Li family protect him at the same time. Ha, no wonder you all feel assured letting him go to the battlefield," Xing Yuanzhi sneered coldly, "So why is he so important to you?"
"That's another secret," Wang Wanrou fell silent for a moment, "I only just found out from the clan... He is the son of Xie Guyan."
"Who?"
"Mother of Cheng Jinyang. You should know his supernatural bloodline comes from his father. But do you know who his dream interface comes from?"
....
Cheng Jinyang suddenly opened his eyes.
"You're awake?" Sister Xinnan's voice came from beside him.
"I..." His mouth felt incredibly dry. The next moment, Princess Nankang brought a cup of water to his lips.
"Drink slowly," she said gently.
"Sister Xiannan," Cheng Jinyang took a sip of water and asked softly, "Did that project fail?"
"Yeah," Princess Nankang leaned against the hospital wall, "The armor on the Jingwei-class Mothership was modified with anti-energy ablative technology, and Lu family's constraint pulse couldn't penetrate it. It was hit by the main cannon at its location, forcing the attack to be aborted."
"Including the vehicle you were in, the other three teams were also hit by the main cannon. Wang Chuzhong actually allocated so much energy..." she continued, "In the end, Nandi saved you."
"Except for the two of you, Li family's head is the only survivor left. He brought you, Nandi, Lu family's head, and some others alive back to Jiankang through the Ground Network tunnels."
Cheng Jinyang didn't speak. Or rather, he didn't know what to say.
Are they all dead? Second Uncle, too?
"All four sixth grade supernaturals of your Cheng clan died," Princess Nankang continued, "Similar losses occurred in other clans. Lu's family head lost both legs, and the Fanyang Lu clan is debating whether to fit him with prosthetics or a wheelchair. Right now, the gentry are furious and demanding the court take responsibility for the accident losses. Grand Secretary Wang Maohong has already resigned out of guilt, pending the Emperor's approval, and currently, Chancellor Yu Yuangui serves as acting chief of state."
"How is the situation in the clan?" Cheng Jinyang finally regained some consciousness.
"They are currently in full mourning attire," Princess Nankang said softly, "After all, the sacrifice of four sixth grade supernaturals... But luckily, you are unharmed, which has eased everyone's minds somewhat."
She stood up, "I took leave to come here. I should go now. I've already called your ladies to come over."
Princess Nankang left the ward. Cheng Jinyang lay on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Ants.
That sense of helplessness was becoming more and more apparent.
In front of the war machine, whether royalty, gentry, or commoners, everyone was nothing more than ants.
Could die at any moment.
.....
"Jinyang?"
The door of the ward suddenly opened, and Miss Qingqing peeked in, relieved to see him lying perfectly well on the bed:
"You're finally awake."
"How long was I unconscious?"
"About three days," Miss Qingqing sighed, "You were brought back to Jiankang City the day before yesterday evening. Your head was almost wrapped up like a dumpling, and I thought you had been shot in the head... Turns out it was just a concussion."
What does "just a concussion" mean? Go get hit by a battleship's main cannon and see.
Cheng Jinyang didn't want to talk to her, so he turned his head away.
"Oh, don't be so sulky," Miss Qingqing picked up an apple from the nearby fruit basket, "The others are coming soon. Should I peel this apple for you?"
"I want it with the skin, peel it in one go without breaking it," Cheng Jinyang said.
"Even as a patient, you shouldn't be so picky," Miss Qingqing melted the fruit knife, circling around the surface of the apple, "You take it yourself, or should I feed you?"
"I want to eat it myself, but I don't have the strength," Cheng Jinyang said.
"Then I'll just squeeze some juice for you," Miss Qingqing went to get a paper cup.