CHAPTER 452: CHAPTER 221: THE SOURCE

Two hours later.

Base.

After a smooth landing, Lei Jie eagerly directed everyone to unload the cargo.

At the same time, through the battle reports transmitted from Fu Xi, he also received the latest news on the Mechanical God Sect’s combat situation.

"What’s the situation??"

"Zhang Tao is dead?!"

Lei Jie’s face was filled with shock, but more so, it was an inexplicable confusion.

He died?

How could he possibly be dead?!

Just a few days ago, this person seemed to be plotting against the Huaxia Army, and a few days later, he was dead?

And he died on the battlefield, died fighting to cover the retreat of the large troops?

Lei Jie couldn’t comprehend what this person was trying to do at all.

His own mature logical system could no longer reasonably explain Zhang Tao’s actions, and perhaps the only somewhat convincing reason left was faith.

What a joke?

Has the faith in the Mechanical God Sect really become so deeply ingrained?

Upon hearing Lei Jie’s query, Fu Xi quickly replied:

"The information is accurate."

"According to the battle report from Jinling City, Zhang Tao transferred the Saint Seal to the Archbishop he selected."

"After that, he remained with a 34-strong Forbidden Army squad at the gorge of Jianxi Town, completing the defense against the stray monsters there."

"In the beginning, the defense battle went quite smoothly."

"They eliminated several level-four monsters, slowing down the monsters’ pursuit."

"This provided an opportunity for the retreat of the Supreme Army’s scattered soldiers, preserving the remaining elite defensive forces in Jinling City."

"However, after a second-level monster known as ’Beikun’ joined the battlefield, this defense squad was wiped out in an extremely short time."

"Zhang Tao has been confirmed dead in the battle—he gathered and detonated a large amount of explosives, heavily injuring the second-level monster."

"Of course, he also perished in the explosion."

"...considered a heroic death."

At this moment, Lei Jie suddenly felt he had forgiven Zhang Tao.

No matter what thoughts he had against the Huaxia Army before, no matter if he was attempting to break free from his side’s control, and no matter how foolish and slow his previous responses to the Beast Tide were, when he died on the battlefield, it all vanished like smoke.

The Huaxia tradition, the act of "dying for the country," often can offset many sins.

Although Zhang Tao doesn’t quite qualify as dying for the country now, at least he chose a decent end for himself.

Dying on the retreat path...

At least he was still a man of integrity.

Thinking of this, Lei Jie let out a long breath.

Subsequently, he asked:

"Did the information get forwarded to the captain? What’s his suggestion?"

"Is the current Archbishop who succeeded Zhang Tao reliable? Is he able to organize defenses in Jinling City?"

"So far, it seems he is capable."

Fu Xi’s voice came through the earpiece.

"This Archbishop was personally promoted by Zhang Tao; he used to be Zhang Tao’s deputy in the Guard Brigade."

"Whether in military proficiency or management ability, he meets the standards."

"Additionally, I have informed Director Chen Jian."

"But he’s currently conducting combat operations on the southeastern battlefield and hasn’t responded yet."

"Understood, let’s leave him be for now."

Lei Jie decisively replied, then went on to say:

"I need to conduct tests on three items here."

"This signal transmitting equipment, this corpse, and the flexible armor on the corpse."

"Is there suitable testing equipment in the base?"

"Please hand the corpse and equipment directly to the ant swarm robots, I’ll organize the disassembly."

"Okay."

Lei Jie immediately called Jiang Yu to lift all the cargo to the main channel of the 011 Base, where a few ant swarm robots were already prepared.

Upon arrival, the cargo was immediately transported to the depths of the 011 Base.

"What do I need to do?"

Lei Jie asked once more.

"Wait."

"Please give me twenty minutes, I will try to provide a preliminary conclusion first."

"Alright."

Lei Jie sat himself down on the ground; only then did he feel a sense of "exhaustion."

After fighting continuously for dozens of hours, his mind was in a state of high excitement.

Adrenaline had been secreting nonstop for 24 hours, squeezing every last drop of potential from his body.

Now, suddenly stopping, he felt like a completely dried-up corpse.

Let alone undertaking new tasks, even moving a finger was too exhausting.

Overwhelming dizziness hit him, almost causing him to collapse onto the ground.

Beside him, Jiang Yu seemed somewhat clueless, slightly panic-stricken as she called for a doctor, but just then Lei Jie shakily retrieved a bottle of sugar water from his backpack and gulped it down.

"Just low blood sugar, don’t make a fuss."

Lei Jie took a few deep breaths, gradually shaking off the dizziness.

At that moment, Fu Xi’s voice also came through the earpiece.

"Autopsy results confirm that the biological specimen does not belong to ’narrow humans.’

"A large number of mutations in organs, altered skeletal structure, severe abnormality in brain tissue, likely resulted from artificial intervention to adapt to the brain machine."

"This is a Holy Blood individual, a Holy Blood controlled by a brain machine."

Holy Blood?

Lei Jie straightened up abruptly.

Right after, Fu Xi’s report came again.

"Soft armor material analysis complete."

"The armor is composed of multiple layers of different materials compounded together, all materials documented in the database."

"This means the materials themselves don’t exceed the limits of pre-Cataclysm human materials science research."

"However, the material composition method has changed."

"It can be determined as an improved version of the M77 flexible armor."

"Understood, expected."

Lei Jie nodded slowly, then continued to inquire:

"What about the transmitter? What’s the situation?"

"Still in the process of disassembly, the situation with this equipment is somewhat complex."

Fu Xi’s voice carried a hint of "humanized" confusion.

"The device is divided into two parts. Besides the upper-level basic radio transmission module, the interior of the device separately partitions out a solid sealed area, seemingly the main processor of this equipment."

"I am attempting to disassemble without damaging the equipment, but it’s necessary to first create a vacuum and a cleaner electromagnetic environment."

"So troublesome?"

Lei Jie frowned deeply.

"Why is it so troublesome?"

"The equipment is suspected to be a quantum communication module, a modified quantum communication module."

As the words fell, Lei Jie suddenly stood up.

Quantum communication.

Holy Blood.

Equipment stemming from pre-Cataclysm, but optimized.

At that moment, he realized all clues were converging at one point.

There couldn’t be a mistake.

All these things must originate from Mountain City.

The monsters and Beast Tide may not come from Mountain City itself, but they are definitely controlled by Mountain City.

That’s the source of everything!

Lei Jie took a deep breath.

Then, he ordered:

"Prepare the missiles, get ready for launch."

"Inform the captain, convey the current situation to him."

"This nuclear missile... I’m afraid it has to be fired!"