CH 113

Rode saw a steep and towering gray mountain range from a distance.

A thin crack split the mountain range in the middle, and Jian Guan stood in it.

As they approached, they discovered that this "crack" was over a hundred yards wide, and the fortress at the end of the canyon was a magnificent blue stronghold.

The soldiers guarding the fortress were extremely excited about the arrival of the reinforcement team. When Rode and the others stepped into the fortress, the loud cheers almost echoed through the Dead Mountain Canyon.

The commanding officer was called Charles Steelhand, a man in his thirties with a weathered face and graying temples. But his smile at the moment made him look much younger.

"Great, brothers, you came just in time. We thought we would have to wait another week for reinforcements. The upper level of the defense zone told me that the military headquarters' schedule is already full, but we can't afford to wait any longer. The overflowing Black Tide could come here at any moment, and our spiritual energy generator is still not repaired. If the fortress collapses, everything will be over."

Beowood stepped forward and shook his hand.

"Don't worry, sir. We brought Mina, a specially appointed researcher from the Institute of Mechanical Research, and Kimberly, a specially appointed teacher from Kimworth Academy. She will definitely be able to repair the spiritual energy generator."

Applause and cheers erupted once again.

Mina waved to them generously, causing a chorus of whistles.

Annabel muttered quietly, "Big-breasted fool."

Beowood laughed and said, "Sir, please assign us our tasks."

Steelhand nodded and led them into the central command room of the fortress.

On a huge round table, there was a map centered around Jian Guan.

"This is our position, located in the seventh defense zone, at the end of the inner defense circle. Behind us is the kingdom's heartland, the Red Earth Plain. If we lose, the first to be attacked will be Rock Village and Southwind Town."

"After destroying these two settlements, the violent monster tide will continue to spread along these three lines, affecting eight more villages until we reach the Old City, where there will be enough defense to resist. Apart from a large number of casualties, three true silver mines and seven platinum mines will stop production, causing a significant shortage in resources and making recovery extremely difficult."

Steelhand's thick fingers moved on the map, and his tone became somewhat heavy.

"The Black Tide arrived one day earlier than predicted by the White Tower. The outer defense circle has already failed, and the middle defense circle has taken on the functions of the outer circle. In other words, the inner defense circle has become the middle defense circle."

"According to the defense principles, we will also face a significant impact. In fact, we have already been attacked by a large number of evil spirits, and it was they who destroyed our spiritual energy generator."

Beowood nodded. "Please rest assured, sir. We have brought a top-level clairvoyant, and no evil spirit can escape his vision."

A soldier shouted, "That's great! It's the first time I feel like we are being taken seriously."

An excited squad leader shouted, "Absolutely! They even brought the Guardian Flame! Our Flame Protection Altar can finally stop relying on residual fire!"

Steelhand also showed a joyful smile.

"This is the best news I've heard this year. Our top priority now is to quickly repair the spiritual energy generator. If it doesn't provide spiritual energy protection, Jian Guan Fortress may be crushed."

"Then we need to clear the monsters near Jian Guan and reduce the pressure when the Black Tide arrives, especially those evil spirits still wandering in the wasteland."

"Finally, we need to establish several patrol teams to ensure the safety of our supplies and communication."

He turned his head and said seriously, "I'm sorry, my soldiers have been through multiple fierce battles, and now we only have twenty-one left. Two unfortunate ones died in battle, and fifteen were seriously injured and sent back to the royal city. Our defense mission will be very heavy."

Beowood and Raisin both smiled and said in unison, "Don't worry, sir. We are not afraid."

Steelhand said loudly, "Good, with your words, I can rest assured. May the fire be with us, illuminating our blades, and killing all demons and monsters!"

The three strong arms linked together, and all three of them had passionate expressions.

Afterwards, they began to carefully discuss the allocation of personnel.

Mole, carrying a lamp, came to the Flame Protection Altar with the soldiers and placed the Guardian Flame in a huge stone basin in the center.

With his strange ritual movements, the Guardian Flame gradually stabilized.

Until there was a soft click, as if some mechanism had been inserted, the missing gap was filled, and the Guardian Flame solidified.

In the next moment, the entire fortress lit up.

The soldiers' moods also broke through the barriers, and many of them couldn't help but burst into tears, feeling the warmth that they hadn't felt in a long time.

Rode also felt the strange warmth that surged straight to his heart.

It was as if the Guardian Flame had taken root here, dispelling the coldness that originated from the depths of the world.

Perhaps this is why humans always rely on fire as their stronghold.

Mole also smiled. After the Guardian Flame landed, the power became stable and would not easily dissipate.

As long as fuel was added carefully, the fire would be difficult to extinguish.

Afterwards, the soldiers led Mina to the underground of the fortress.

In the center of the basement stood a large red crystal in the shape of a tree.

At the bottom of the crystal was a round altar made of red copper, which looked like a giant bonsai growing out of metal.A warrior said, "Miss Mina, this is our psychic generator. When it starts, it will use psychic energy to reinforce our fortress, preventing it from being collapsed by monsters and stopping spirits from penetrating. However, due to our long neglect of maintenance, it broke down after the last attack by evil spirits and can no longer be started."

Mina nodded, walked closer, and saw cracks all over the psychic generator. She gently touched it with her slender hand and found that the metal at the bottom was leaking psychic energy.

Her expression became serious. She took out tools from her backpack and began to disassemble the metal below, revealing the complex structure inside.

No one could understand it, only Rode could barely recognize a bit. It was somewhat similar to the internal structure of the psychic spear, both of which changed or amplified psychic energy through certain structures, and then formed specific functions through certain cores.

Although they couldn't understand, almost all the warriors in the Sword Pass came to watch.

The psychic generator was the core of the Sword Pass. The fortress of the Sword Pass was built with ordinary stones. Although it was convenient and fast, without the psychic generator, it would easily collapse.

Everyone was watching Mina with anticipation.

However, as the repair progressed, Mina's face became more and more serious, and everyone's mood became anxious.

At some point, the defense commander and two team leaders also stood aside.

Suddenly, Mina stood up and said solemnly, "The situation is far beyond expectation. It has not been maintained for too long, and the internal damage is very serious. There are breakpoints in many places. The most serious is this psychic adjuster, which is completely damaged."

Steelhand asked nervously, "Miss Mina, can you fix it?"

Mina glanced at him, her delicate and beautiful face was solemn at the moment, like a researcher.

"I can fix it, but I need at least ten pieces of red copper and platinum."

Steelhand quickly said, "We have them in our warehouse."

"I also need a red jade."

As soon as her voice fell, everyone's faces showed difficulty.

Red jade is not a common material, and they don't have it in their warehouse.

Beowood asked, "Is there enough time to apply for it?"

Steelhand looked troubled, "The fastest is four to five days. Now everywhere is difficult. The front-line fortresses and strongholds are facing the impact of the black tide and need a lot of supplies. Our situation is relatively mild, and the military department cannot handle it immediately."

"What should we do? Are we going to give up the Sword Pass?"

This was too hard to accept.

Steelhand turned his head and looked back. Almost everyone was gathered in the basement. He asked as if praying, "Does anyone of you have red jade?"

No one answered.

He also knew that it was almost impossible for anyone to answer. Who would carry a red jade that can't be eaten or used?

However, Rode suddenly had a thought in his heart.

Find the original at bit.ly/3iBfjkV.

He rolled up his sleeves, buttoned them, made a lightning symbol, and his soul rose into the air, instantly returning to the dream.

In the quiet mist, a pile of miscellaneous items was piled in the corner of the hut.

Rode rummaged through it and quickly found the red jade they were talking about.

It was oval, the size of a pebble, warm and shiny, and very expensive, costing 4,900 silver strands.

It was what he bought during the big shopping.

Rode held the red jade in his palm, crossed his hands, made a lightning gesture, his soul fell rapidly, and instantly returned to the material world.

The hand was slippery, hard and soft. Rode unbuttoned his sleeves, opened his palm, and the red jade had appeared in his palm.

"I have it!"

In the gloomy and silent atmosphere, Rode's voice was like a light, piercing the dark clouds.

In an instant, everyone's eyes were focused on Rode, on his outstretched palm, and on the jade that was emitting a warm red glow.

Mina was extremely surprised, "How do you have it? What are you doing with red jade on your body?"

She reached out to take it, but Rode shrank back as if he had been burned.

"This is what I bought, you have to pay for it."

Rode's words made everyone breathe a sigh of relief.

Steelhand immediately said, "Don't worry, Brother Rode, if the military department doesn't reimburse you immediately, I'll pay for it."

"Okay."

Only then did Rode let go of his heart and stretched out his hand.

Mina snatched it angrily and said, "Money, money, money, all you know is money!"

Rode was dissatisfied, "I bought it with my own money!"

"Don't you know about dedication?"

"Do you want to dedicate a night to me?"

"Pei! Dream on."

Mina's joy +9

Humanity +1

Mina turned her head, carefully looked at the red jade in her hand, and said happily, "It's real, it can be used!"

Cheers immediately echoed in the basement.

Raisin was also full of joy. He didn't want the mission to be interrupted before it started.

He leaned in and asked quietly, "Rode, why do you carry a red jade with you?"

Rode casually replied, "To ward off evil spirits!"

"…Red jade is a very precious spiritual material. Without protection, its spirituality will attract black fog to corrode, and it can only bring disaster."

While Rode was racking his brains to make up an excuse, he heard Mina say again:

"Don't be too happy too early, its contact core is also completely destroyed. If it's in the royal city, I would suggest scrapping this instrument directly."

Steelhand quickly asked, "Is there a way to fix it, Miss Mina?"

"Yes, I can make a new one. I have the regular materials, but I need a luminous stone of more than thirteen grams."

Really?

Looking at everyone's sinking faces, Rode had a very bad premonition.

Are you guys poisonous?

Am I doing a big shopping for you?

(=)