91: Return with a full load

At the same time, north of Infinite City.

Across the wilderness, a green figure galloped, kicking up clouds of dust.

Zhui Yun leaned over his warhorse’s back, his hair blowing in the biting wind.

His gaze was focused, fixed on the horizon ahead, with forests and wilderness rapidly receding on both sides.

Behind him, two hundred Riftwind Archers formed a tight formation, also riding fast horses.

They wore light leather armor, carried longbows on their backs, and their quivers were full of arrows, their expressions solemn.

Further back were over a hundred Spirit Pivot Sword Envoys, riding steeds, their plain white robes flapping in the strong wind.

“The Lord’s order is to leave no one alive.”

Zhui Yun’s lips curved into a cold sneer, “Boulder City… a Legacy-tier force? Hmph, if they dare to extend their claws towards Infinite City, they must be prepared to have them chopped off!”

The Wind and Thunder Longbow at his waist trembled slightly, as if sensing its master’s fighting spirit.

According to intelligence from ‘Shadow’, Boulder City’s reconnaissance unit should be active in the ‘Black Wind Canyon’ area not far ahead.

“Full speed ahead!”

Zhui Yun’s voice reached the soldiers’ ears, “Let’s make sure those fellows taste the flavor of the Wind and Thunder Arrow Rain before sunset!”

“Yes!”

The team suddenly accelerated, like an arrow released from a bow, rushing straight towards Black Wind Canyon.

A storm was brewing, and a completely different battle was about to unfold in another corner of Woma World.

......

On the wasteland extending from Mind Nexus City to Infinite City, a strange and spectacular procession slowly moved forward.

This procession was extremely long, like a gluttonous giant python, laboriously dragging its undigested prey back to its lair.

The main force of the procession was not Infinite City’s elite soldiers, but various constructs of different shapes, gleaming with metallic luster.

These war machines, originally belonging to Marco, had mostly lost their former ferocity.

Some had their weapon systems dismantled.

Their wide chassis were piled high with oddly shaped metal components, energy crystals, and various sophisticated instruments whose names were unknown;

Others were directly used as laborers.

Several spider-like multi-legged constructs were working together to drag a small runic furnace that had been completely cut out.

The heavy metal scraped against the ground, leaving a clear trail.

The Azure Lightning Cavalry Guard and Azure Thunder Dragon Riders were arrayed on both sides of the procession, vigilantly guarding this special “transport team.”

The sound of hooves, the heavy footsteps of the constructs, and the scraping of metal intertwined, occasionally mixed with the shouts and commands of the soldiers.

Su Jin rode on horseback, alongside Bai Xiao, his gaze sweeping over the mighty “moving” procession, a smile playing on his lips.

Huo Jun, on the other hand, galloped back and forth within the procession, directing and coordinating, fine beads of sweat on his forehead, yet his face showed excitement.

“Lord, over ninety percent of the valuable equipment and materials in Mind Nexus City have been loaded.”

Huo Jun came alongside Su Jin, his voice booming.

“That fellow Marco fled in a hurry; many laboratories and warehouses are still in their original state, and there are really a lot of good things inside!”

“Especially the backup data core of his central control tower; I have already assigned special personnel to guard it, absolutely foolproof!”

Su Jin nodded slightly.

“Marco has been operating for many years, so his foundation is naturally not bad. This time, it’s like pulling the rug out from under him.”

He paused, his tone playful.

“Those constructs are quite good for temporary labor.”

“Once we return to Infinite City, let the Research Institute study them thoroughly to see if they can be repurposed, or simply dismantled and recycled. In any case, they are all resources.”

Plucking feathers from a passing goose, skinning a fleeing beast.

Su Jin had always adhered to this principle; since he had conquered it, he naturally had to extract its value to the extreme.

Those captured constructs that could still move were, at his instruction, turned into the cheapest labor.

Some combat constructs with slightly poorer flexibility were even jokingly called “iron Silly porters” by the soldiers.

A heavy construct originally used for close-quarters combat was seen.

It was now carefully holding a pile of fragile crystal tube bundles with its thick mechanical arms.

As it walked, each step seemed to be on cotton, causing several Infinite City soldiers responsible for guarding it to chuckle.

“Lord is wise!”

Huo Jun praised sincerely.

“Although these constructs are creations of the Three-Eyed Race, their driving principles and some material technologies should provide considerable inspiration for our Engineering Corps.”

“Especially that self-repairing alloy; if we can analyze it, it will be a huge improvement for our army’s equipment.”

“Hmm,” Su Jin responded, his gaze cast into the distance.

“Although Marco took his territory’s core with him, this empty city, along with these technical data and equipment, is even more valuable to us.”

He recalled Marco’s pathetic appearance when he fled, and there were not many ripples in his heart.

A Lord who had lost the foundation of his territory and could only wander in the World Sea, even with means of self-preservation, his future path was destined to be incredibly difficult.

In contrast, Infinite City’s gains this time were substantial.

“Oh, by the way, Lord,” Huo Jun seemed to remember something.

“When we were clearing an underground warehouse, we discovered a batch of sealed ‘Psionic Amplification Modules’.”

“It looks like Marco was preparing to upgrade his construct army with them, and there were quite a few.”

“Oh?”

Su Jin raised an eyebrow; this was an unexpected surprise.

“Good stuff. Later, let the Research Institute see if they can be adapted to our equipment, or… it would be good to use them for those ‘big guys’ too.”

The “big guys” he referred to were naturally the captured constructs.

Squeezing out every last bit of residual value had always been Su Jin’s style.

The procession’s speed was not fast, but every step felt heavy.

The sunlight scattered on the oddly shaped metal creations, reflecting mottled specks of light, and also illuminating the soldiers’ faces, which, though tired, could not hide their excitement.

A young Azure Lightning Cavalry Guard.

He was somewhat clumsily directing a tracked construct to turn, the construct piled high with various circuit boards and energy pipes.

He shouted, gently tapping the construct’s shell with his lance, muttering.

“Hey, you iron lump, a little to the left, left! If you don’t listen, I’ll melt you down for horseshoes when we get back!”

The construct naturally didn’t understand his complaints, still making “creak, creak” sounds as it went its own way.

The sun set in the west, painting the entire procession with a warm golden hue.

Long shadows trailed behind them, and the heavily laden procession continued its steady and slow advance towards Infinite City.