46: The military welcomes the talented people who have gathered!

The Kunlun Restricted Zone.

This mysterious land, located in western Huaxia and shrouded year-round by unceasing energy storms and spatial rifts, is the oldest and most dangerous forbidden area on the planet. According to legend, it is the birthplace of ancient myths, burying endless treasures capable of overturning the world order, and harboring terrifying existences that could cause even Martial God-rank powerhouses to fall.

On the outskirts of the Kunlun Restricted Zone, a temporary base city, “Kunlun City,” built by the Huaxia military over nearly a century and with immense resources, brimming with cyberpunk and military fortress styles, is now, with unprecedented grandeur, welcoming a gathering of global elites.

The Global Youth Martial Arts Tournament had just concluded, but its aftershocks were far from settling.

News that the Long family's Alpha Heir, Lin Tian, was about to enter the Kunlun Restricted Zone to explore the legendary War Emperor's Mausoleum had, through unknown channels, already reached the ears of all major top forces worldwide.

In an instant, winds gathered, and Prodigies converged!

Live broadcast cameras from major global media outlets once again focused here, transmitting this grand event, which could be called a "treasure hunt mobilization" for the younger generation, in real-time to tens of billions of viewers worldwide.

“Friends, what you are seeing now is the central airport of Kunlun City! In the past seventy-two hours, over a hundred exclusive aircraft from major top forces around the world have successively landed here!”

“Look! That magnificent spaceship, entirely made of gold, like the chariot of the sun god, is the vehicle of the Egyptian Pharaoh Council! Leading the team is Cleopatra, known as the ‘Daughter of the Sun’! It is said that she is born with the ability to communicate with the power of the sun and summon a Golden Legion that fears no death!”

“Over there! That trident-shaped submersible, full of classical aesthetics, as if sailing out of a myth, is the ‘Trident of Poseidon’ from Atlantis, deep within the Bermuda Triangle! Their ‘Sea Prince’ Poseidon is said to possess the supreme power to control the ocean!”

“There’s also Arthur, the Saint of the European Temple, who awakened the legendary [Sword of Kings] ability, wielding the holy sword, invincible! Simba, the Golden Lion of the African Beast King Hall, whose [Nine-Headed Lion King] gene is hailed as invincible in physical defense! Rama, the ‘Son of Brahma’ from the Indian Mythological Organization, whose [Brahma Divine Arrow] hits every time, never missing!”

...One by one, top Prodigies, already famous across their respective continents and shrouded in countless halos, gathered here like fish crossing a river.

Their purpose for this trip was self-evident.

— The War Emperor's Mausoleum!

Everyone wanted a piece of the pie in this exploration led by the Long family's Alpha Heir, or even… to replace him!

A fierce collision of the world's top young generation forces was already… imminent!

...While the outside world was stirring and various Prodigies were preparing for battle.

On the Long family's exclusive aerospace carrier, code-named “candle dragon,” which resembled a floating fortress, Lin Tian's team was also conducting their final pre-departure briefing.

In the spacious combat conference room, Grandpa Long Zhanye's expression was unprecedentedly solemn.

He distributed devices, sparkling with faint blue light like medals, to Lin Tian, Dragon Snow Phoenix, Jiang Luoling, and Long Ao, among other core members.

“These are the latest single-soldier equipment specially supplied to us by the military's top scientific research institute for this operation.”

“— ‘Field Shield’. Once activated, it can instantly form an absolute defensive barrier capable of withstanding a full-force attack from an S-rank ‘Star Realm’ powerhouse, but it can only be used once.”

“— ‘Spatial Warp’ beacon. When encountering irresistible fatal danger, crush it, and you can randomly warp to any safe location within a hundred-mile radius within 0.1 seconds. Likewise, it can only be used once.”

“Remember, each of your lives is ten thousand times more precious than this equipment! At critical moments, saving your life comes first!”

Long Zhanye repeatedly admonished, his eyes full of worry.

Lin Tian and the others took the equipment and nodded solemnly.

However, at this solemn moment, a discordant voice coldly rang out.

“Hmph, a bunch of hothouse flowers who still need to rely on equipment to save their lives.”

It was the number one heir, Long Qingtian.

He had already donned a black Dragon-patterned battle armor full of killing intent, standing alone in the corner of the conference room, his eyes full of disdain for these “military-supplied” pieces of equipment.

He looked at Lin Tian and said coldly, in a tone devoid of any emotion:

“Lin Tian, I admit, your talent and your vision are far superior to mine. But your Martial Dao path has been too smooth; you have never experienced the true tempering of blood and fire that would force you to hover on the brink of life and death.”

“True powerhouses are never made by relying on the protection of elders and the accumulation of equipment.”

“Our Dao are different; we cannot conspire together.”

After speaking, he turned directly, ignoring Long Zhanye's angry gaze, and strode towards the carrier's flight deck.

There, a small high-speed fighter jet, the “Heavenly Tribulation,” belonging to him and full of streamlined violent aesthetics, had been waiting for a long time.

Without looking back, he boarded the fighter jet, transforming into a black streak of light, and rushed into the Kunlun Restricted Zone, shrouded by endless energy storms, one step ahead, alone.

He chose to… act alone.

This sudden scene stunned everyone present, and an unstable shadow, full of unknown variables, was cast over the team… At the same time, in an extremely secluded valley on the outskirts of Kunlun City.

Ye Fan gazed at the base city, full of futuristic technology, and the magnificent aircraft representing various top forces constantly descending from the sky, his eyes, burning with unyielding flame, filled with solemnity and Battle Intent.

“Master, it seems this trip to the War Emperor's Mausoleum will be very competitive.”

“No matter,” the wise and confident voice of the remnant soul of the human emperor slowly echoed in his mind, “They are just a bunch of hothouse flowers who only know how to rely on Bloodline and resources. Disciple, you must remember, you are the true protagonist chosen by this era!”

“For this trip to the War Emperor's Mausoleum, you have only one goal!”

“— Find that wisp of ‘Qi of the Earth Dragon Vein,’ use it to reshape your supreme Foundation, and let your Human Emperor Suppressing World Art ascend to the heavens in one step!”

“Yes! Disciple understands!” Ye Fan nodded heavily, his eyes becoming more resolute than ever… Kunlun City, Central Airport.

At this moment, the atmosphere here was unusually solemn, even… austere.

The highest-ranking general of the Huaxia military's Western Theater Command, an S-rank top powerhouse with brilliant general stars on his shoulders and unfathomable aura, had personally led an honor guard of the three armed forces, composed of the most elite soldiers from the army, navy, and air force, representing Huaxia's highest honor, standing against the biting cold wind, waiting silently here.

This unprecedented, highest-spec welcoming ceremony caused all the Prodigies and representatives of various forces present to discuss animatedly, their hearts filled with immense curiosity and a hint of… jealousy.

“What’s going on? Who is the military waiting for?”

“To have the Commander of the Western Theater Command personally greet them, and even deploy the honor guard of the three armed forces… Could it be that the Federal President, or one of the marshals from the military, has arrived?”

“Impossible! This is just a training exercise for the younger generation; how could those important figures come in person?”

“Then… who exactly has such a grand reception?!”

Just as everyone's guesses and discussions reached their peak—

Buzz—!

Above the sky, the clouds were slowly pushed aside by an invisible, domineering force.

An aerospace carrier, massive enough to cover the sky and sun, with lifelike ancient Candle Dragon totems carved on its hull, full of endless majesty and oppressive presence, slowly appeared in everyone's sight, like a floating fortress sailing out of a myth!

It was the Long family's “candle dragon”!

Seeing this legendary vehicle, the military general, who had been solemn, instantly narrowed his eyes!

He suddenly turned to face the three armed forces honor guard, who were already prepared behind him, and with all his might, let out a thunderous roar!

“All units!”

— “Salute!!!”

Swish!!!

Uniform movements and crisp, powerful metallic clashes echoed through the sky!

Immediately after, he loudly proclaimed, with an awe-inspiring voice full of supreme respect that silenced all the Prodigies present:

“Welcome—”

“Your Excellency, Lin Tian, the Long family's Alpha Heir!”

— “To Kunlun!!!”

“The person hasn't arrived, but the momentum is already here”!

This was the highest-grade courtesy that the Huaxia military, as the host, offered to their future guardian!

It was also the most severe warning issued to all the malicious individuals present!