187: 'lighthouse'

Holographic projections lit up in the Command Center.

The Southern Border War Zone's Commander, Lieutenant General Lin Yuan.

The Southern Border Fleet's Commander-in-Chief, Lieutenant General Zhao Qingcang.

And several other high-ranking figures, generals stationed across the Southern Border, appeared.

Their virtual figures materialized around the conference table, each person's face as dark as a storm-laden sky.

General Wei recounted the message Su Jin brought in the most concise language.

When he heard that a structure in a private territory might replace the Windbreak Corridor, even Marshal Lin Yuan’s usually calm face showed clear agitation.

“Lord Su Jin,” Lin Yuan’s voice came through the holographic projection, carrying a steady, authoritative tone.

“This matter concerns the lives of tens of millions of soldiers in the entire Southern Border War Zone; are you certain your words are true?”

“I stake my territory and my life on it,” Su Jin replied calmly.

“Good,” Lieutenant General Lin Yuan nodded, his gaze sweeping over everyone present.

“Regarding the coordinates, I will immediately report to the Blue Star Alliance High Command and request special approval in the name of the Southern Border War Zone.”

“Now, let’s discuss the second issue—placement.”

Everyone understood that this was the biggest challenge.

A city, a super target capable of strategic teleportation—where should it be placed?

“It cannot be placed in Youfeng Valley,” a general who looked like a chief of staff immediately shook his head.

“Youfeng Valley is a frontline position; if the battle goes poorly, Infinite City and the eternal star beacon would be exposed to the Dark Star Empire’s forces. We cannot take that risk.”

“Then how about placing it in the far rear, near Tianhuo City?” another person suggested.

“That’s our core area, absolutely safe.”

“No,” General Wei immediately retorted.

“It’s too far! From Tianhuo City to the Youfeng Valley front line, the distance is over five hundred thousand kilometers.”

“Even if reinforcements teleport over, it would take a lot of time just to reach the front line.”

“By the time they arrive, the battle would be over! What we need now is a rapidly deployable support force!”

“Furthermore,” General Wei added, “given Infinite City’s size, a long-distance jump would cause too much commotion, making it extremely easy for the Dark Star Empire to detect and intercept.”

“We must choose a location that is absolutely safe and can be reached quickly.”

The meeting fell into debate.

The front line was too dangerous, the rear too slow.

It was like a heart: placed too far forward, it was easily pierced; placed too far back, it wouldn’t supply enough blood.

“Perhaps there is one place,” Su Jin, who had been silent, suddenly spoke.

He walked to the holographic map, his finger pointing to a spot on the map, amidst a continuous mountain range.

“Here, Thunderclap Valley.”

That place was about one hundred thousand kilometers from Youfeng Valley.

The terrain was treacherous, easy to defend, difficult to attack.

More importantly, it was located at the junction of several main defense lines; no matter which direction a battle broke out, troops dispatched from here could arrive in the shortest possible time.

General Wei’s eyes lit up. “A good place! It allows for both offense and defense!”

Lieutenant General Lin Yuan looked at the point on the map and pondered for a moment. “Thunderclap Valley… that is indeed a good position. But the defensive strength…”

“Leave it to me,” a booming voice came from one of the holographic projections.

The speaker was a burly man in crimson general’s armor, with a square face and a domineering aura.

He was Xiang Tian, the Commander of the Crimson Dragon Legion, the First Legion of the Southern Border War Zone.

He was a Sixteenth Order legendary powerhouse.

“I will personally lead the main force of the Crimson Dragon Legion to Thunderclap Valley and construct three lines of defense around Infinite City.”

Xiang Tian’s voice was resolute, “Unless every member of my Crimson Dragon Legion falls in battle, no enemy will be able to touch a single corner of Infinite City.”

Lieutenant General Lin Yuan’s gaze finally returned to Su Jin.

“Lord Su Jin, to place your city in such a perilous position, are you willing to bear this heavy responsibility?”

Inside the Command Center, everyone’s gaze, both real and virtual, converged on Su Jin.

“It is my honor,” Su Jin replied without the slightest hesitation.

“Very good,” Lieutenant General Lin Yuan’s face finally showed a look of relief.

“Order: The Southern Border War Zone will immediately activate the ‘Lighthouse’ project.”

“All engineering units, in coordination with the Crimson Dragon Legion, will immediately proceed to Thunderclap Valley to construct permanent fortifications.”

“General Wei, the Youfeng Valley defense line must be held at all costs to buy time for the ‘Lighthouse’ project.”

General Wei grinned and replied, “Don’t worry, General, this old bone of mine will be the best nail.”

“Xiang Tian, your Crimson Dragon Legion is Infinite City’s last barrier, and also the spearhead of our counterattack.”

At this point, a chilling killing intent emanated from Lieutenant General Lin Yuan’s usually placid face.

“The Dark Star Empire painstakingly used an elaborate deception to destroy the Southern Border’s main artery, thinking we would be severely crippled and unable to move.”

“They want to see us in a panic, they want to see us running ragged.”

“But our Blue Star Alliance has never been one to suffer in silence.”

Lin Yuan’s hand swept heavily across the virtual map, drawing several sharp attack arrows.

“My command! The Southern Border’s First, Third, and Sixth Fleets, all reserve legions, launch a full-scale attack!”

“Launch a general offensive against the feigned gaps in the Dark Star Empire’s defense line!”

“They want to lure us into a trap, don’t they? We will turn their trick against them, break open that trap, and put on a show they will never forget!”

“It is rude not to reciprocate; this will be a perfect opening for our ‘Lighthouse’ project.”

“Yes!” everyone responded in unison.

A gamble capable of turning the tide of the entire Southern Border war thus began.

General Wei walked over to Su Jin.

He clapped him hard on the shoulder, letting out a chuckle, though his smile held a hint of complexity.

“Little Su, I knew you’d always come up with something new.”

His lips moved, as if he wanted to say more, but in the end, it only became a sigh.

“But this time, you… don’t be careless.”

Su Jin nodded, chuckling softly. “Don’t worry.”

The next moment, his figure vanished from the Command Center, leaving behind only a faint ripple of spatial energy.

…

One week passed, and the Southern Border saw dramatic changes.

Thunderclap Valley.

Beneath the cloaking array, countless colossal engineering vessels blotted out the sky, swarming to various parts of Thunderclap Valley like worker ants.

The Sixteenth Order legendary powerhouse Xiang Tian personally arrived, and the iron torrent of the Crimson Dragon Legion coursed across the land.

Permanent fortifications, shimmering with runic light, rose from the ground at a visible pace.

On the other side, the Southern Border War Zone Command Center.

On the gigantic holographic star map, blue arrows representing the Blue Star Alliance, like torrents, surged towards the weak points of the Dark Star Empire’s defense line.

“Report, Marshal! The Southern Border’s First, Third, and Sixth Fleets have engaged the enemy across the board!”

“The Crimson Dragon Legion, the Azure Wolf Legion, the Iron Wall Legion… a total of fifty-two main legions have torn through the enemy’s first line of defense!”

“The Dark Star Empire’s feigned defensive gap has now become their true graveyard! Our offensive is even smoother than expected!”

Lieutenant General Lin Yuan sat in the main seat, his face as still as water, listening to the battle reports streaming in.

“Where are their reserves?”

“They are being urgently mobilized from the rear.”

“According to intelligence analysis, their command system has experienced a certain degree of chaos; they likely didn’t anticipate us launching such a large-scale general offensive!”

Lieutenant General Lin Yuan’s fingers tapped lightly on the table, his gaze, however, fixed on an inconspicuous coordinate on the star map.

“Very good,” his deep voice echoed through the Command Center.

“My command, notify ‘Lighthouse’ that it can be activated.”

…

Infinite City, at the base of the towering eternal star beacon.

Su Jin received an encrypted communication from the Southern Border War Zone Headquarters; the message contained only one word: “Begin.”

He looked up, gazing at the colossal tower cast entirely from silver-white metal.

The deep vortex within the massive spatial crystal at the tower’s peak was slowly accelerating.

Su Jin reached out, his palm pressing against the cold tower body.

“Core function five, ‘Celestial Anchor,’ activate.”

“Coordinate locked: Thunderclap Valley, Legendary-grade Guidance Array.”

“Initiating lock-on…”