Chapter 60 The Might of Great Xia

Hearing Song Yunwei's words, Shi Yu's body trembled violently as if pierced by an invisible current.

He stared at her blankly, complex emotions flashing in his eyes.

At this moment.

The scene from back then resurfaced in Shi Yu's mind—that unknown martial artist who stood between him and Aunt Lan.

That figure gradually overlapped with Song Yunwei before him.

One like a towering mountain, one like gentle flowing water.

So different.

Yet so similar.

He couldn't help but raise both hands, gently covering Song Yunwei's hands that were cupping his cheeks.

Hand met hand.

Song Yunwei's hands were like the snow of early spring—delicate and cold—while his hands were like boulders under the scorching sun, burning and full of strength.

"Elder Sister, you won't die," Shi Yu said in a low voice.

Hearing this, the corners of Song Yunwei's lips curled into a gentle arc. "Silly boy, everyone dies eventually; it's just a matter of sooner or later."

"But rest assured!"

"I haven't seen you break into the Great Xia Heavenly Rankings yet," she hummed. "Before that happens, I definitely won't die."

"I'll certainly live a long and well life."

Song Yunwei scrutinized Shi Yu closely from up close, then sighed again, "I know you're strong, but you'll be even stronger in the future!"

"You want to go to the battlefield, and I understand your thoughts, but at least wait until you enter a martial arts university."

"By then, you'll be an adult and no longer my student."

Song Yunwei lowered her eyelids slightly. "When that time comes, I won't stop you no matter what you want to do."

Shi Yu listened in silence, a myriad of thoughts churning in his heart.

"So your task right now is cultivation, and more cultivation." Song Yunwei leaned closer; at this distance, both could feel each other's breath.

"When you eventually break through the mortal realm into the Transcendent, your role on the battlefield will be a thousand times, ten thousand times greater than it is now!"

"Remember, I'll be waiting for you in the Transcendent Domain."

"Don't let me down."

Shi Yu pressed his lips tightly together, his hands wrapping securely around Song Yunwei's delicate hands, and nodded heavily.

Song Yunwei's eyes curved into crescent moons, filled with gratification.

As her mind settled, she finally realized that her hands were tightly grasped by Shi Yu, their fingers nearly interlocked.

Her cheeks flushed slightly. She gave a light cough and whispered, "Let go..."

Shi Yu was startled, instantly snapping back to reality. "Oh, oh..."

The two quickly separated.

"Well... I should go," Song Yunwei said, straightening her hair and regaining her composure. "You... continue your cultivation."

"Mm."

Shi Yu responded in a low voice, his gaze closely following her retreating figure until the door clicked softly shut.

The room was silent, seemingly still lingering with the faint fragrance left behind by Song Yunwei.

The young man stood dazed for a long time.

His expression gradually grew firm.

Although deep down he still had some reservations about Sister Song barring him from the battlefield, he could feel that she was genuinely considering his safety and protecting him in her own way.

Therefore, the crux of the issue was still that he wasn't strong enough.

Only when he became truly powerful could he hold his destiny in his own hands!

Cultivate! Cultivate with all his might!

Until that day comes.

Until the mountain in his own soul becomes none other than himself!

"Wait for me. Wait for the day I can truly stand before you."

...

Deep within the Luoxiao Mountains.

The originally verdant mountain range was being eroded by an eerie dark red hue.

Space seemed to be tearing apart as a deep, jagged rift writhed and twisted, as if some terrifying creature was preparing to rip through the barrier and break into this world.

Frenzied energy fluctuations continuously spilled outward.

Everything felt like the precursor to a violent storm, causing all creatures within the mountains to tremble in terror.

Three kilometers away from the forming spatial rift.

Tens of thousands of residents of Gutong County were undergoing a tense and orderly evacuation.

"Please maintain order, everyone! No crowding!"

"Everyone will be safely evacuated; we won't leave a single person behind!"

On the roads, vehicles formed long lines, the roar of engines mingling with the murmur of anxious voices.

On the sidewalks on both sides, countless people carrying luggage and backpacks were slowly moving toward the outskirts of the county.

The crying of children could be heard from time to time, adding a layer of tension to the atmosphere.

Some people kept turning back to look at their homes, reluctant to leave their native land, only to be swept onward by the surging crowd.

At this moment, a roaring sound echoed from the sky.

Everyone raised their heads to look, only to see a massive aerial fortress approaching from the distance with an overwhelming and magnificent momentum, dominating the firmament.

"The Thunder!"

"It's The Thunder!!"

People cried out in surprise, their previously anxious and worried expressions finally easing somewhat.

The crying children were also captivated by this magnificent aerial spectacle, waving their small arms wildly.

The aerial fortress *The Thunder* was one of the most powerful airborne forces in Great Xia.

It belonged to the Southern Theater Command.

This aerial fortress measured 542 meters in length, 168 meters in width, and 142 meters in height.

Its total levitation weight reached 128,600 tons.

It accommodated a total of 5,312 internal combat and logistical personnel.

It adopted sixth-generation nuclear fusion reactors and the most advanced anti-gravity engine technology.

It was equipped with a variety of powerful weaponry.

High-energy laser cannons, electromagnetic railguns, particle beam cannons, close-in defense weapon systems, and various air-to-ground cruise missiles, among others.

More importantly, serving as a mothership, it carried multiple series of drone swarms totaling over ten thousand units!

At this moment, hundreds of [Firmament Guardian] drones swarmed around the aerial fortress to provide escort.

These drones were equipped with advanced laser cannons and plasma weapons, capable of utilizing high-energy particle beams to strike enemies and inflict massive damage in an instant.

This was a blatant display of muscle and power by the Great Xia Southern Theater Command.

It was also intended to stabilize public morale.

Following the arrival of the airborne forces, the torrent of steel on the ground also converged progressively toward the Luoxiao Mountains.

Due to the mountainous terrain, the Southern Theater Command did not deploy its most powerful heavy combined arms divisions.

Instead, multiple mountain combined arms divisions codenamed [Thunder Rock Blade] were dispatched to participate in the battle.

These combined arms divisions were equipped with Type-22 Thunder Armor-Breaking light tanks, Mountain Shadow Gale all-terrain assault vehicles, PLC173 vehicle-mounted 122mm howitzers, light 122mm self-propelled rocket artillery, and other equipment.

They possessed exceptional mountain combat capabilities.

The torrent of steel stretched for over ten kilometers along the mountain roads, advancing resolutely toward the theater of operations.

"Victory!"

"Great Xia will win!!"

The evacuating crowds in the county town grew passionate, raising their fists and shouting slogans.

At this moment, the sound of neat, synchronized marching footsteps echoed from further down the street.

Countless soldiers clad in energy battle armor and holding assault rifles were seen assembling toward the county town with solemn expressions.

Amidst the formation, red flags fluttered high!

The Great Xia Spark Battle Flag was entirely red, with several stars in the upper-left corner surrounded by blazing flames, symbolizing that hope would prairie-fire like sparks.

Flag after red flag surged forward like waves.

The soldiers' formation marched unwaveringly toward the theater of operations.

They brushed past the evacuating crowds of Gutong County.

The crowds moved outward; the soldiers moved inward.

They simply remained silent, resolute, and advanced forward without a single trace of hesitation—ever onward.

They were the retrograde heroes.