198: Chapter 198 The End of the Canglan Road

On the outskirts of the Canglan Empire's core region, the Xia Kingdom's spaceships were continuously dismantling the planetary fortresses of the cangyu system.

Such intense attacks were also causing a severe drain on the spaceships' energy.

But it didn't matter; every spaceship was now packed with dark energy crystal, so there was no need to worry about running out of power.

Even if they did run low, there was still no cause for concern because the core region was even richer in resources, with an abundance of dark energy crystal mines!

Time passed slowly, and two days later, as the Xia Kingdom's spaceship fleet was methodically attacking the planetary fortresses, the Red Queen's alarm suddenly blared!

"Warning! Enemy spaceships detected! Enemy spaceships detected!"

Hearing the alarm, Su Fan immediately turned serious. He knew that the Canglan Empire's spaceships had arrived!

"All spaceships, close ranks! Do not stay too far apart!"

"The Canglan Empire's spaceships are here!" Su Fan's voice echoed through all the ships.

"Assume the tactical formation specified in Plan B immediately!"

All spaceships immediately moved into formation, their muzzles pointing directly toward the enemy ships.

"Report: Ten Canglan Empire spaceships have appeared 1.8 light-years directly ahead of the first squadron. Should we destroy the targets?"

"Do not destroy them yet. Stand by for orders," Su Fan commanded.

He knew these were the enemy's reconnaissance ships; more would be following behind.

Five minutes later.

"Report: Another 100 enemy spaceships have appeared 1.8 light-years ahead of the first squadron. Should we attack?"

"Do not attack yet. Wait where you are!"

Another five minutes passed.

"Report: The 10 spaceships 1.8 light-years ahead of the first squadron are preparing to jump."

Upon hearing this, Su Fan instantly smiled.

"First squadron, retreat one light-year."

Twenty minutes later.

"All four thousand spaceships of the first squadron, activate energy shields and weapon systems. Jump back to your previous position immediately," Su Fan ordered.

"Remember, once you jump back, destroy any enemy spaceships you find immediately!"

"Yes, Chief Su!" the commander of the first squadron replied loudly.

Buzz—

The 4,000 ships of the first squadron jumped forward one light-year, returning to their previous position.

Just as the jump was completed, the Red Queen's alarm sounded.

"110 enemy spaceships detected 0.8 light-years ahead!"

"1,000 enemy spaceships detected 1.8 light-years ahead!"

"Haha, just as expected! Attack immediately!" The first squadron commander ordered the attack without any hesitation!

0.8 light-years away, the 110 Canglan Empire spaceships spotted the 4,000 ships that had suddenly appeared. Without hesitation, they activated their energy shields and began to attack frantically!

They had only one objective: to pin down these enemy ships!

As long as they kept attacking, the enemy ships wouldn't be able to jump away.

Behind them were not only the 1,000 ships one light-year away, but also nine legions ten light-years away. Each legion had 1,000 ships and could jump in to provide support within ten minutes!

The first squadron's attack was incredibly fierce. Within minutes, the 110 ships 0.8 light-years away were completely wiped out!

The 1,000 ships 1.8 light-years away had just received information from the 110 ships when they too came under heavy fire.

"All spaceships, jump to a position one light-year behind the first squadron immediately." Seeing that a mere 110 enemy ships dared to fight back so recklessly, Su Fan knew their reinforcements must be right behind them.

It was time for a counter-ambush.

Sure enough, just as Su Fan expected, ten minutes later—when only 100 of those 1,000 ships remained—9,000 spaceships suddenly appeared 0.8 light-years from the first squadron, their energy shields fully active!

As soon as these ships appeared, they immediately began attacking all the ships in the first squadron.

"All ships, fire!" Su Fan roared!

"First squadron, overclock your energy shields and hold out a little longer!"

Old General William's ship was right in the middle of these 9,000 spaceships.

He had thought the enemy had fallen for his trap—using 1,000 ships as bait to trade for 4,000, which would then be destroyed by his own 9,000 ships.

He hadn't expected the enemy to employ a scheme within a scheme, insidiously setting up another layout in the rear.

At this moment, their 9,000 ships could only detect and attack those 4,000 ships.

They couldn't see or attack the other 8,000 ships; they were nothing more than sitting ducks!

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

The battle was incredibly intense. The shockwaves from the exchange of fire between tens of thousands of spaceships shattered all nearby planets and meteors.

Fortunately, there were no stars nearby; otherwise, such a powerful attack would have surely detonated one, and everyone would have been finished!

The Canglan Empire's 9,000 ships could not destroy the Xia Kingdom's 4,000 ships in a short amount of time.

Similarly, the Xia Kingdom's 12,000 ships could not destroy the Canglan Empire's ships quickly.

The situation fell into a stalemate of mutual bombardment.

However, the Xia Kingdom's ships had a significant advantage.

Besides numbers, the quality of the ships was also crucial.

The kongming mothership was a mothership among class-c spaceship, representing the pinnacle of its class, whereas the Canglan Empire had very few motherships among its class-c spaceship.

Twenty minutes passed.

The Canglan Empire had lost 2,000 ships, while the Xia Kingdom had lost 1,000.

Half an hour passed.

The Canglan Empire's losses reached 3,000 ships, while the Xia Kingdom's losses were 1,400.

By this time, Old General William was in despair. He knew that he had lost this battle, and the Canglan Empire had lost as well.

It would take another eleven months for the reinforcing fleet to return to the Imperial Planet. By then, it would be far too late!

Furthermore, the enemy had only deployed 12,000 ships; any civilization that dared to target the Canglan Empire would surely have far more than that!

If Su Fan knew what Old General William was thinking, he would have burst out laughing.

Sorry, but the Xia Kingdom really only had a little over 12,000 ships!

"Master, the enemy ships have sent a communication request," the Red Queen's voice rang out inside Su Fan's ship.

Su Fan was taken aback and then looked toward the Great Elder.

"Great Elder, should we take it?"

The Great Elder frowned slightly. At a time like this, one didn't even need to answer to know what the other side wanted.

Either they were acting tough and wanted to hurl insults, or they wanted to sue for peace, or perhaps they were trying to gather information, since the Canglan Empire still had 20,000 ships stationed elsewhere.

"Don't take it. Keep firing!"

Hearing the Great Elder say this, Su Fan nodded.

He didn't want to take it either. After all, they were enemies to the death; what was there left to talk about?

He had seen enough cliché plots in novels and TV shows where characters would mess around when they had the upper hand, only to end up dead because they talked too much!

Seeing the other side refuse communication, Old General William's despair deepened even further.

In fact, the Great Elder was overthinking it. Although the Canglan Empire had 20,000 ships abroad, the personnel on board were all Androids!

The original bodies of these Androids were all on the Canglan Empire's Imperial Planet!

Once the Imperial Planet fell and the original bodies were killed, what use would those ships abroad be?

"Heaven wishes to destroy my Canglan!" Old General William cried out in grief, spitting out a mouthful of blood with a "pu" sound!

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