138: Chapter 138 Summary

Xia Xingchen held Mourn-Bane in his hand and slowly turned around.

Everyone around looked at Xia Xingchen, and also at the daemon sword in his hand.

Grand Master Krové of the Grey Knights stated bluntly, demanding that Xia Xingchen hand over the daemon sword immediately.

Seeing this, Xia Xingchen did not argue; he simply let go of the sword right there.

As the daemon sword lost its master, a massive surge of Warp energy was instantly released from the sword itself, distorting everything around it.

Grand Master Krové saw this and attempted to use psychic suppression, but found it impossible to control.

Krové forcibly grasped Mourn-Bane.

The next second, his own will seemed to be plunged into an endless tug-of-war.

He saw his battle-brothers leaving him one by one, everything he cherished turning to ash under the influence of the daemon sword, and he himself transforming into a Greater Daemon of Chaos.

The daemon sword finally transmitted two words:

"Let go!"

Krové had no choice and immediately let go.

There was no other way; Grand Master Krové had to let Xia Xingchen take hold of it again.

Xia Xingchen chuckled at the sight.

"Lord Grey Knight, it seems this daemon sword has chosen me."

Xia Xingchen grasped the daemon sword again, and in that moment, the powerful Warp energy was rapidly withdrawn back into the sword itself.

"Have you given this sword a name?"

Xia Xingchen then introduced the daemon sword.

"Mourn-Bane."

Hearing this name, Krové quickly had the scribe beside him record it.

Ordo Malleus · Grey Knights Purifier Brotherhood

Top Secret File · Restricted Access

ID: Ω - IX - Mourn-Bane

Threat Level: Supreme Danger – Ideological Corruption Type

Name: Mourn-Bane

Form: Transparent crimson blade, material composed of Warp energy compressed and solidified by a "chorus engine".

This sword is not to be kept by any Grey Knight; its "radiation" will slowly erode the keeper's emotions and will, even if they are pure and flawless.

This sword is not to be sealed in a fortress monastery; its very existence will cause irreversible damage to the entire monastery.

Holder: Xia Xingchen

After completing these records, Grand Master Krové of the Grey Knights turned and left.

Looking around at everything, Xia Xingchen finally felt that everything was over.

In the end, an Eastern Hive City surrendered entirely after learning the news of Chaos's defeat.

After finishing all this, Xia Xingchen's troops began to clear the battlefield and initiate a full withdrawal.

The war was over; it was time to go home.

A month later, with the repair of the Space Elevator complete, it took Xia Xingchen's troops only three months to complete the troop redeployment, and all units returned to the warships.

Xia Xingchen also took the talent Edward from this planet to serve as his future diplomat.

Edward's diplomatic talent had already been fully revealed.

As for the Penal Legion, Xia Xingchen disbanded them on the spot.

Xia Xingchen sat on the dream star and said his goodbyes during a communication with Inquisitor Kolo.

The reason Kolo questioned Xia Xingchen was entirely because he was worried about the Mourn-Bane in Xia Xingchen's hands.

Now, Inquisitor Kolo had another task:

To monitor Xia Xingchen, while also finding a way to seal Mourn-Bane, or finding another entity capable of controlling it.

In Inquisitor Kolo's eyes, he and Xia Xingchen were merely in a partnership.

Essentially, they had been forced to join forces because the threat of Chaos was too great.

Just as Xia Xingchen was talking with the Inquisitor, a dazzling light instantly erupted from Troy World.

"What is that?"

Xia Xingchen's gaze immediately turned to Inquisitor Kolo on the other end of the communication.

Kolo met that sharp gaze, stunned for a moment, and then had to answer:

"The Eastern Hive City has been purged."

"Why?"

"The Empire does not have the spare resources to judge and investigate; as for the other areas, they are already more than half-cleared."

Hearing this, Xia Xingchen understood instantly.

"No choice?"

Hearing this, Inquisitor Kolo naturally knew that Xia Xingchen was very dissatisfied with Grand Master Krové of the Grey Knights.

"This cost is the lowest."

Hearing this, Xia Xingchen immediately snorted coldly:

"Goodbye; after all, we walk different paths and cannot work together."

After saying this, Xia Xingchen immediately ended the communication.

Soon, Xia Xingchen's fleet set sail and departed.

Kolo watched Xia Xingchen's fleet disappear into the universe, knowing in his heart that the next time they met, it was unknown whether they would be friends or enemies.

Chapter Master Badan Duwaro and Canoness Vera came up behind Kolo and asked:

"What happened? Why did he leave without saying a word?"

Kolo sighed.

"It's the same old disappointing routine of the Empire."

Canoness Vera and Chapter Master Badan Duwaro also guessed that what just happened had caused Xia Xingchen's dissatisfaction.

But they had no way to help.

The Empire has always been like this; even if there is a one-in-ten-thousand chance of risk, it must be nipped in the bud.

Xia Xingchen's troops returned to Lanshan World, and he went back to his study to rest for the night.

The next day, Ma Pingliang reported the results of the Troy expedition to Xia Xingchen.

First, regarding the regular Astra Militarum troops, Xia Xingchen lost about 40 divisions, which is around 400,000 people.

The Death Assault Army lost nearly 50,000, and the Ironclad Heavy Army also lost nearly 30,000.

Looking at such heavy losses, Xia Xingchen couldn't help but lean back in his chair and sigh.

"And that's not counting the material losses and various other expenditures."

Hearing this, Ma Pingliang was about to speak, but was interrupted by Xia Xingchen.

"I don't want to hear about that."

Seeing this, Ma Pingliang had no choice but to close the file he had just opened.

Seeing the Archon's expression gradually calm down, Ma Pingliang continued to report the next piece of news.

"During the time you were away, we have been under attack by an unknown civilization, the Lux civilization."

Hearing this, Xia Xingchen immediately became alert.

"What's the situation?"

"Recently, the attacks from the Lux civilization on us have increased from once every three months to once every month."

Combining this with the previous situation, Ma Pingliang also relayed the assessment of the Department of Military Affairs: it is highly likely that by the end of this millennium, we will face the main force of the Lux civilization.

"Do we have any understanding of this civilization?"

Ma Pingliang shook his head.

"We know very little about them, only that they mainly come from the Lux star system."

"That area belongs to an undeveloped region of the Empire and has no stable Warp jump points. In other words, if you want to attack them, you must sail slowly from an adjacent star system."

Immediately after, Ma Pingliang reported again:

"At the same time, the Department of Military Affairs has also drafted our western expansion strategy."

Hearing this, Xia Xingchen immediately interrupted.

"I have a question: do we have enough troops to expand while maintaining the defense of the star system?"

Hearing Xia Xingchen's question, Ma Pingliang shook his head.

"Archon, our troops are not sufficient. Especially after the Troy expedition, half of our military units have been crippled, so we must rest and reorganize our existing troops while expanding the army."

Xia Xingchen understood instantly.

"From now on, we must shift to a defensive posture and focus on internal administration and military development."

Ma Pingliang nodded and handed over the report compiled by the Department of Military Affairs.

"This is our expansion plan; please take a look."