158: Chapter 158 Planning Ahead and Making Careful Preparations

The door to the Council Hall was blown open by the wind. Charcoal ash drifted in, landing by Chen Wuwang's feet. He didn't look, nor did he move; he simply took a Jade Slip from his waist and placed it on the stone table.

"You're here."

His voice wasn't loud, just enough for the two people who had just entered to hear.

Chen Tiezhu stepped inside, a dirty apron still draped over his shoulder, clutching a crumpled blueprint in his hand.

His brow was furrowed, and he spoke as soon as he stood still: "The energy diversion in the third section of the Dongshan Mineral Vein has collapsed again. If it keeps burning like this, the furnace core won't last three days."

Chen Xiaodao followed him in, still wearing his black training suit. His right index finger traced patterns in the air, as if he were still thinking about operating the mecha just now.

He glanced at the Jade Slip on the table and asked directly, "Did you call us because the Angel Race is passing through?"

Chen Wuwang nodded, tapping the Jade Slip with his finger: "The news is true; they'll be here in three days. This time, it's not about preparing for war, but for receiving guests—so, we must handle this 'reception' well."

"Receive them?" Chen Tiezhu sneered. "They're a high-tech team arriving in starships with anti-gravity engines. We don't even have a decent landing platform; how are we supposed to receive them? Have them land next to the Medicinal Field to drink tea?"

"You're worried about insufficient equipment," Chen Wuwang looked at him. "I'm worried that they won't want to land at all."

The room suddenly went quiet.

Chen Xiaodao suddenly smiled, his eyes shining: "Then let's make them want to land."

"How do we make them want to?" Chen Wuwang turned to look at him.

"Put on a show." Chen Xiaodao took a step forward, his voice crisp. "Not the kind of welcome with dancing and lanterns. I want them to know as soon as they approach—this place has the goods and the strength."

"The mecha will fly a lap to clear the way, the rune arrays will provide suppression, and finally, I'll take the stage to perform a sword dance as the finale. Let them know before they even enter the door that this isn't some small place where they can just lowball us."

Chen Tiezhu immediately shook his head: "You think they're here to watch a performance? With all these flashy tricks, the energy won't last half a day! All five po xu type-2 units are running right now, and the spirit cores are reaching their limits. You want to add a lantern array projection? Who's responsible if it blows up?"

"I didn't say turn everything on at once." Chen Xiaodao also shook his head. "We'll do it in stages. First, use small rune lanterns to guide the way. Once they enter the mountain gate, activate the mecha squad, and finally, I'll perform the sword dance on the high platform. It'll be loud enough, but won't consume much energy. The key is—we only show them our strongest parts."

Chen Tiezhu wanted to speak more, but Chen Wuwang raised his hand to stop him.

His right eye flashed with blue light, and a translucent holographic map appeared in the air, floating between the three of them.

The mountain terrain, Formation points, and energy flows were all clearly visible, with even the potential flight altitude of the merchant fleet marked by red lines.

"You both have a point." He pointed at the holographic map. "Uncle Tiezhu values safety, while Xiao Dao wants Aura. What we need to do now isn't choose one, but have both."

He traced three lines with his finger.

"First, an automatic welcoming lantern array. No need for manual control; just set the program. We'll build twelve Spirit Energy Lighthouses along the ridge to form the 'Path of Return' array. The lights will change color based on distance, turning gold as they approach to show respect."

Chen Tiezhu glanced at the energy consumption simulation and huffed, "This... is doable."

"Second, a patrol of the po xu type-2 mecha." Chen Wuwang continued, "Not all of them, just three. They'll fly in a Z-pattern at low altitude to demonstrate maneuverability. The outer armor will be in self-repair mode, letting them see the cracks healing with their own eyes—this is both technology and a warning."

Chen Xiaodao's eyes lit up: "I can lead the team. We can stop suddenly at a turn and then instantly accelerate to break the sound barrier, giving their starship hull a good rattle."

"That works." Chen Wuwang nodded. "Third, a cultural deterrent. Your sword dance is good, but it can't just be a dance."

"It needs to link with the Spirit Array—every time you strike with your sword, a rune line will light up on the ground. The final strike will form the 'Star Orbit Sky-Lock' Formation."

"It looks like a ceremony, but it's actually a deterrent: every move we make has a follow-up."

Chen Tiezhu breathed a sigh of relief: "This works. It has both the carrot and the stick, courtesy and defense."

But he immediately frowned again: "What about the light blade projection System? You said you wanted to use it?"

"Use it, but not forcefully." Chen Wuwang took a Titanium Alloy Dagger covered in runes from his waist, clicked open the end, and took out a silver chip the size of a fingernail.

"This is a Spirit Energy Shunt I've been hiding. It can temporarily adjust peak output. If we install it in the main control Array Core, the light blade System can last for another two quarters of an hour."

Chen Tiezhu took the chip, turned it over several times, and suddenly laughed, "You brat, when did you modify this? This structure... looks a bit like that blueprint I scrapped twenty years ago."

"I used it as a reference." Chen Wuwang said calmly, "Back then, you wanted to do 'dynamic load balancing,' but it failed because there was no feedback mechanism. I've added an AI Sensing Module that can automatically adjust the frequency based on energy consumption."

Chen Xiaodao stared at the holographic map and suddenly traced a few lines in the air: "What if I synchronize the rhythm of the sword dance with the flickering of the lantern array? For example, I stab seven times, the lights flash seven times, and on the final strike to the ground, all the runes light up together—can we do that?"

"Yes." Chen Wuwang pulled up the data stream. "As long as you inject a specific frequency of Spiritual Pressure during your seventh strike, I can set the resonance points in advance."

"Then it's settled." Chen Xiaodao's eyes sparkled. "I want them to remember this scene—a youth standing on the mountain peak, splitting the night sky with a single sword strike, while the entire mountain lights up with him."

Chen Tiezhu glanced at him sideways: "Just don't trip on your steps when the time comes."

"Stop jinxing me." Chen Xiaodao rolled his eyes. "You, on the other hand, better not cross the lighthouse wires. Last time you soldered the polarity wrong, the training ground went dark for half an hour."

"That was an accident!" Chen Tiezhu snapped back.

Chen Wuwang ignored their bickering, his fingers sliding rapidly across the holographic map, re-marking the timing for each stage.

"We must have the final plan within six hours." His voice grew serious. "Uncle Tiezhu, you're in charge of optimizing the energy network. Take people to check all the wire interfaces, focusing on reinforcing the lighthouse bases on the three highlands. I'm leaving the shunt to you; finish the testing by tomorrow noon."

Chen Tiezhu nodded, gripping the chip in his hand.

"Xiao Dao, you're responsible for choreographing the 'Rites of the Star Orbit.' Find ten trustworthy young Disciples to participate. The movements should be simple and powerful, emphasizing the sense of ceremony. Conduct at least three simulated drills to ensure there's no delay in the Spirit Array's response."

"Understood." Chen Xiaodao dropped his playful expression, a wisp of Sword Qi condensing at his fingertip as he slowly traced a perfect arc in the air.

The light and shadows from the holographic map reflected on the faces of the three men.

Outside the Council Hall, the sunlight shone at an angle, and the shadows of the trees were still.

Inside the hall, there was only the faint hum of data and the rustling of a pen across a Jade Slip.

Chen Wuwang looked at the two people before him—one with calloused hands and fire in his eyes, the other young with bright eyes and an unyielding spirit.

He knew that this reception wasn't just for doing business.

It was to let the entire Eastern Wastelands know that the Chen family could not only stand up but also take the initiative.

He picked up the Jade Slip, circled the words "Reception Rite," and then wrote three lines below:

The lantern array begins, the mecha patrol, the sword dance concludes.

After writing, he closed the Jade Slip and placed it gently on the corner of the table.

His finger tapped the tabletop, once after another.

Like a countdown.