"A small group of monsters was discovered 4 kilometers ahead, approximately 30 in number."
"Understood, once we are close, Squad One will disembark and use rifles to eliminate the target."
"A large monster was detected 6 kilometers ahead, about 5 meters tall, fast-moving, nearing Level 4 monster standards."
"Received, Team Three of Squad One, approach and use wrist-mounted missiles for target clearance."
"A giant monster found 12 kilometers ahead, slow-moving, reaching Level 4 monster standards."
"Use 107 rocket shells for salvo strikes, three shots per round. If they miss, get close; Squad One’s Team One will use rocket launchers to destroy it."
"Approaching Zhuolu City, 5 kilometers away."
"Drone reconnaissance shows frequent activity inside the city, with commercial activities, stable social order, and Mechanical God Sect’s Church Protection Army present. It’s feasible to enter."
"Roger that, set up camp at the city outskirts in 10 minutes. After a brief rest, Xie Liu and Ji Xing will advance to recon the situation."
"Enter the city after eliminating risks."
"Ji Xing understands."
After a long trek, the massive convoy finally reached the outskirts of Zhuolu City.
At this moment, all the Huaxia Army soldiers, including Huang Meng, were dazed.
Not dazed from the ride.
Simply dazed from the relentless fighting.
During this day’s march, they hardly rested.
Spotting monsters, tracking monsters, using the best-suited weapons to hunt them down.
kilometers, a full nine hours spent in this cycle.
Initially, everyone was excited.
Constantly trying new weapons, overwhelming firepower, strong cover, thoughtful and meticulous guidance from the commanders, the wailing deaths of monsters....
It was all fresh and exciting, as if washing away all the hardships suffered over the past twenty, thirty, or forty years.
They ran eagerly, pulled the trigger frantically, shouting various newly learned tactical commands, taking down one enemy after another with artillery and bullets.
And they themselves remained unharmed throughout.
Although at certain moments, they did feel danger looming.
There were even one or two instances where only the intervention of the commanders and the Holy Blood alongside them saved a critical situation.
But on the whole, their operations went incredibly smoothly.
This gave them firsthand experience of their own progress and the strength of this team.
The feeling of becoming one with the collective was so mesmerizing, they even became addicted to it.
----But gradually, their voices hoarsened.
Their shoulders started to ache, and their arms and legs grew sluggish, as their persistently excited spirits slowly dwindled.
Battle didn’t become monotonous but rather tiresome.
In the last few engagements, they even forced themselves to finish.
Finally, after receiving the last update from Fu Xi, confirming no further battles in the short term, everyone was on the verge of collapse.
Squad One’s ten soldiers dismounted their vehicles and fell onto the thinly snow-covered ground.
Their body heat quickly melted the snow, with the cold water seeping into their clothes, but wanting to stand, their bodies refused to obey.
Is tomorrow’s schedule the same as today?
At this moment, everyone felt an unprecedented exhaustion.
But Chen Jian wouldn’t let them off.
At the command, no matter how exhausted, everyone sprang up.
"Set up the posts as I taught you before, stay alert and watchful."
"Don’t let me catch any of you falling asleep!"
"Those who perform well on this mission will receive recognition and rewards upon return, affecting future promotions."
"For those who don’t perform well... go back to Yellow Stone City yourself!"
A unified voice rang from the team. With Chen Jian’s wave, they dispersed immediately, each looking for a position to keep watch.
Watching their staggering strides, even Ji Xing remarked:
"This training method is certainly... not unfamiliar."
"Back in the Holy Blood Temple, it was roughly the same routine."
"However, the stuff here seems much more useful than what the Holy Blood Temple taught."
Chen Jian chuckled and replied:
"This is the distilled experience of several generations; there’s no way it’s useless."
"Alright, we’ll keep watch here while you head into Zhuolu City to scout the situation."
"If everything checks out and confirms that the Church Protection Army has received orders from the Mechanical Holy Temple, we’ll enter the city to rest."
"If any anomalies or suspicious signs are found, we’ll retreat 5 kilometers away to camp at the second site and rest."
Ji Xing’s concise reply carried no hesitation, as he drove the reconnaissance vehicle, taking Xie Liu along, dashing towards Zhuolu City a kilometer away.
Chen Jian checked the drone footage, confirmed there were no anomalies, and then called Li Shi over to gather some dry wood nearby and start a fire.
The bright flames lit up the night, and the surrounding temperature rose quickly. Chen Jian once again ordered the Huaxia Army to take turns on watch, while those who had some downtime began preparing dinner.
Simultaneously, Lei Jie climbed out of the tank, did a quick check, and then contentedly said:
"This thing is really quite sturdy. At this rate, we might reach the Imperial City before needing the first maintenance support."