209: Land of the Red Moon

In the Red Moon Land, high above, there was no red moon.

On the contrary, the moon was never seen here throughout the year.

As the wartime capital of the Blue Star Alliance in the Molten Heart, this colossal fortress city was enveloped by a vast energy dome.

The dome simulated the day and night of Blue Star.

Its energy core was a massive artificial celestial body, the 'Red Moon Furnace,' suspended at the city's highest point, emitting a soft red glow.

It served as both the city's energy hub and its most powerful strategic defense weapon.

On a military airport apron reserved for high-ranking generals and VIPs, the rune base of a spatial teleportation matrix glowed with a silver light.

Lieutenant Colonel Li Zhen, the liaison officer in charge of reception, glanced at the tactical terminal on his wrist, his brow furrowing unconsciously.

"This Lord Su is putting on too many airs."

A young ensign beside him whispered, his voice full of barely concealed resentment.

"He's kept the headquarters' welcoming party waiting for almost half an hour."

Li Zhen frowned slightly and reprimanded him.

"Shut up. Is a figure who can get Marshal Lin to personally issue a 'First Merit' invitation someone you can criticize? Stand at your post!"

Despite his words, he was also muttering to himself.

According to intelligence, Lord Su Jin rose from obscurity.

In just over a year, he went from an unknown minor lord to a key figure capable of influencing the war in the Southern Territory.

This experience was filled with legendary color.

It was also inevitable that people would feel he might possess some of the arrogance and pride of youthful success.

Just then, the legendary guiding array in the center of the airport apron flared with brilliant light!

Dazzling starlight shot into the sky, condensing into a silver portal in mid-air.

The next moment, a line of figures stepped out.

Leading them was a tall young man with a calm expression, dressed in a black casual uniform.

Behind him was a cold-faced man in white, holding a long sword.

Further back were ten guards in dark soft armor, each with a standard long sword at their waist.

Beside them was Xiang Tian, whose uniform was almost overflowing with medals of honor, and the elite Crimson Dragon Legion squad he led.

These burly men, however, consciously stayed half a step behind, highlighting Su Jin in the center.

Li Zhen's spirits lifted.

People from Infinite City?

He quickly straightened his uniform and hurried forward.

"Is this Lord Su Jin, Master of Infinite City? And General Xiang Tian, Commander of the Crimson Dragon Legion?"

"Your subordinate, Li Zhen, liaison officer for the General Command, is here to greet you as ordered."

"It is I." Su Jin nodded slightly, his voice clear.

Xiang Tian, on the other hand, casually looked around and pouted.

"Damn it, every time I come to this ghost place, I feel stifled. The air smells like stale metal and rules."

Li Zhen's mouth twitched, but he pretended not to hear.

He respectfully made a 'please' gesture.

"Lord Su, General Xiang, your accommodations have been arranged. Please follow me."

The group boarded a dedicated maglev car, silently gliding into the Red Moon Land's transportation network.

Unlike the rough, blood-and-fire-filled war fortresses of the front lines, the Red Moon Land everywhere demonstrated the Blue Star Alliance's heritage and order as one of the three major powers of the Tianyu Realm.

On wide streets capable of accommodating heavy armored convoys side-by-side, there were not only civilians but also soldiers and professionals in various uniforms.

In the sky, squadrons of futuristic patrol fighters traced elegant arcs, leaving trails of energy.

On both sides of the streets were towering alloy buildings.

Energy patterns flowed across their surfaces, and together with the city's countless defensive weapons, they formed a massive defense system.

Su Jin's gaze swept across a holographic billboard on one of the buildings.

It was continuously broadcasting propaganda about the great victory in the Southern Territory, with 'Infinite City' and his name repeatedly mentioned.

"Why was this commendation ceremony chosen to be held in the Red Moon Land?"

Su Jin looked at Li Zhen beside him and asked casually.

"According to past custom, it should have been held in the Southern Territory."

Li Zhen leaned slightly forward and replied.

"This was General Qin Wu's decision."

"The General believes that the great victory in the Southern Territory completely reversed the situation of the entire battlefield in the Molten Heart."

"Our main forces on the southern front have been liberated, and how this power is utilized will directly determine the strategic direction of the next phase."

"Therefore, this commendation ceremony is also a highest-level strategic meeting."

"Leaders from all major war zones and main legions of the Alliance will attend."

General Qin Wu… the immovable mountain of the Alliance, one of the supreme existences of Legendary Tier 18.

Su Jin understood.

It seemed the ripple effect of this victory was even greater than he had anticipated.

As the vehicle moved, it passed an open-air plaza.

At the entrances of several buildings by the plaza, stood some elegantly dressed men and women with extraordinary auras.

They had clearly noticed Xiang Tian's conspicuous Crimson Dragon Legion general's uniform inside the car, as well as Su Jin beside him.

Several not-so-friendly gazes were cast over, carrying scrutiny and an almost imperceptible hostility.

Xiang Tian's brow furrowed, about to erupt.

Bai Xiao, behind Su Jin, whose eyelids had been lowered, slightly lifted them.

In an instant, the owners of those gazes looked as if struck by lightning, their faces pale, and they awkwardly averted their eyes.

Xiang Tian swallowed the words he was about to say, chuckled, and whispered to Su Jin.

"See that? People from the Central Starlight Legion."

"Last time the Windbreak Corridor fell, they were the loudest complainers."

Su Jin smiled, noncommittal.

The maglev car finally stopped in front of a row of independent aerial villas.

This area was extremely high, offering a view of most of the urban area, and a clear sight of the colossal 'Red Moon Furnace' in the sky.

"Lord Su, General Xiang, this is the accommodation arranged for both of you."

Li Zhen handed over two access cards and said respectfully.

"In three days, the commendation ceremony will be held in the 'Star Dome Council Hall.' I will come to guide you then."

"Thank you."

After Li Zhen departed, Xiang Tian surveyed the luxurious accommodation and said:

"Brother Su, I'll be next door to you. Call me anytime if you need anything."

"For these three days, you should rest well and gather your energy. There will be plenty of excitement to see at the conference."

Su Jin smiled and entered his own villa.

Time quickly passed to three days later.

The awards and commendation ceremony was about to begin.