314: Chapter 314 Territorial Conflict, First Encounter with a Powerful Enemy

The sun hung high overhead, its light blades slicing through the remnant clouds, illuminating a crack-like mountain pass on the wasteland until it glowed with the color of rust.

The team stopped at the edge of the new land, the sound of mecha tracks grinding over gravel coming to an abrupt halt.

Chen Wuwang sat in the cockpit of the 'dawn,' his Mechanical Prosthetic Eye flashing with blue light as a stream of data scrolled across his vision: Spiritual Vein fluctuation frequency 0.87 Hz, activity stable, energy purity over twenty percent higher than the main mine of the Eastern Barrens—just as the System said.

"We're here," he said in a low voice, his finger tapping the console twice with light 'da-da' sounds.

Bai Ling floated into mid-air, a Nature Compass spinning in her palm, her brow furrowing slightly. "Something's wrong... the earth here has been disturbed. More than one team has camped here, and the scent of blood hasn't fully dissipated yet."

Before her voice could fade, a cloud of yellow dust suddenly billowed up from the mountain pass ahead.

The ground vibrated, and the sound of footsteps approached like the beating of war drums.

A group of people rounded the bend from behind the mountain hollow, each clad in armor and carrying weapons. Their blades and axes were crude, and their faces were etched with deep gullies carved by wind and sand.

Standing at the very front was a burly man nearly ten feet tall, his face full of scars. His nose had been broken, a black cloth covered his right eye, and his left eye was cloudy and yellow. His heavy armor was stained with dried blood, and he carried a giant axe on his shoulder. The axe's edge was riddled with nicks, looking as though it had smashed through many bones.

He stopped, squinting as he scanned the Chen family team. His gaze flickered back and forth across the five pitch-black mechas before finally landing on the 'dawn.' He grinned, revealing yellow teeth.

"Yo? The ones in the iron shells have arrived?"

The subordinates behind him burst into laughter.

"Boss, which mountain gully did these guys hop out of? They even brought a little slip of a girl to scout the way?"

"Probably here to scavenge, right? A group died here three months ago, and their bones were fed to the eagles!"

The burly man didn't laugh. He took a step forward and slammed his giant axe onto the ground with a 'boom,' sending out a circular wave of sand.

"State your names. Where are you from? Who let you in?"

Chen Wuwang slowly pushed the intercom button, his voice projecting through the mecha's loudspeaker, cold as frozen iron:

"The Chen Family."

He paused, then added:

"This land—we're taking it over."

The air went silent instantly.

Even the wind stopped.

The muscles on the burly man's face twitched before he erupted into a wild laugh that made eardrums buzz.

"Hahaha! Taking it over? Who the hell do you think you are? I've been digging here for three months, cleared three branch veins, and laid out the water sources, mine lines, and Formation bases. You say you're taking it over just like that?"

He suddenly raised his axe, pointing it at Chen Wuwang. "Get out! Before I make a move, push these iron lumps of yours back! Otherwise—"

His voice suddenly dropped, sinister and bone-chilling:

"I'll weld you into the ground to serve as foundation piles for the soil sacrifice!"

Chen Xiaodao stood at the front of the right wing. Hearing this, his hand was already on his sword hilt, and the joints of his mechanical arm emitted a faint clicking sound.

"Captain?" Er Gouzi asked in a low voice. "Are we really going to fight?"

"Wait for orders." Chen Xiaodao didn't blink, staring at the hands of the group opposite them as they gripped their blades.

Chen Tiezhu was crouched behind the logistics vehicle, his fingers already sliding across the control panel as he muttered:

"Damn, just out of a sandstorm and we hit a hard wall. Why is everyone fighting over this crappy place?"

He looked up at the sky and cursed, "Big Brother System, couldn't you mark the 'new territory' you gave us as 'already occupied' beforehand?"

Bai Ling floated in mid-air, her compass slowly rotating. Frost condensed on her fingertips as she whispered an incantation.

She wasn't looking at the burly man, but rather at the ground beneath his feet—there were three dark red patterns there, like talismans soaked in blood, which were beginning to glow with heat.

"They've buried something underneath," she suddenly spoke. "It's not a Formation, but the remains of a living sacrifice. Someone was killed here very recently."

Chen Wuwang didn't respond. He simply stepped down from the mecha, his silver hair fluttering in the wind, the three claw marks on the right side of his face gleaming coldly.

He stood firm, no more than twenty paces from the burly man. His voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear:

"I will say it once more—the Chen Family is taking over this place under heavenly secret instruction. Unaffiliated forces, withdraw."

"Heavenly secret?" The burly man sneered, suddenly pulling up his giant axe and pointing the blade toward the sky. "I am the heavenly secret! This land was dug out by me, Lei Sha, and my men with every hoe and shovel! You bastards in iron skins think you're worthy of talking about taking over?"

He turned and roared to those behind him:

"Listen up, everyone! Kill these imposters, and we're having extra meat tonight!"

"Kill!"

"Kill!"

"Kill!"

Dozens of people roared in unison, blades and axes held high, their Killing Intent soaring to the heavens.

The next second, figures lunged forward.

Three men on the left pounced toward Chen Xiaodao with twin blades; five on the right rushed straight for the transport convoy; and a team of ten in the center pressed forward in a fan shape, their target aimed directly at the 'dawn.'

The battle erupted instantly.

"Protect the Formation!" Chen Xiaodao barked, his sword leaving its sheath.

Cold light exploded.

A sweep of Sword Qi surged out. Before the two men on the left could reach him, their wrists were severed, and their weapons fell to the ground.

A second upward slash shattered the armor of the third man, who was sent flying backward into the sand.

"Shit! This kid is fast!" someone cried out in alarm.

"Don't just stand there! Surround him! Hack off his limbs!"

Seven or eight people turned to pounce on him, their blade light forming a net.

Chen Xiaodao didn't retreat; instead, he advanced. His mechanical arm exerted force, and with a flash of movement, he had already cut into the enemy group. His sword moved with unconventional angles, specifically targeting joints, throats, and knees, every strike drawing blood.

Chen Tiezhu crouched behind the vehicle, his fingers operating rapidly: "Activate defense protocols! Charge turret number three! Move it!"

"The power unit is jammed!" a technician shouted in panic. "The cooling System isn't connected!"

"Useless!" Chen Tiezhu kicked him aside and lunged at the console himself, pulling down the emergency switch. "I'll do it myself! Start the backup furnace!"

A low hum echoed.

The energy core behind the mecha lit up with red light, and scorching air currents seeped from the armor gaps.

Bai Ling's hands formed seals, her incantations rapid. Frost suddenly formed on the ground, causing three enemies rushing toward the convoy to slip, their knees hitting the ground, unable to move.

"Still want to play dirty?" one man roared, swinging a flail.

Bai Ling raised her hand, and the Wind of Nature condensed into a barrier, blocking the iron chain with a 'dang' sound.

Her eyes turned cold, the frost on her fingertips surging as ice spikes erupted from the ground, directly piercing the man's calf.

"Aaaah!" A scream rang out.

"Forget her! Tear down the iron shell first!" another man roared, swinging a pickaxe at the mecha's joints.

Inside the 'dawn,' Chen Wuwang sat back in the pilot's seat, data flashing wildly in his Mechanical Prosthetic Eye.

"Locking onto enemy command unit... Target: Axe-bearer, threat Rank A."

His finger hovered over the activation button, but he didn't press it.

It wasn't that he wasn't ordering a counterattack, but rather—

He was waiting.

Waiting for the opponent to completely drop all pretenses, waiting for them to make the first killing move, waiting for them to reveal all their cards.

Only then could he wipe them out in one go.

"Family Head!" Chen Xiaodao's voice came through the comms channel. "Pressure on the right wing is heavy, they're charging like they don't care about their lives!"

"Hold on," Chen Wuwang's voice was calm. "Let them get a little closer."

"Three down on the left wing, but there are six more behind them who haven't moved!" Bai Ling said urgently. "What are they waiting for?"

"Waiting for their main force." Chen Wuwang squinted, staring deep into the mountain pass. "That guy doesn't dare to act alone; he's waiting for reinforcements."

Sure enough, in the shadows of the pass, two more teams of figures emerged, carrying spears and fire crossbows, slowly pressing forward.

The burly man grinned savagely, raising his giant axe and roaring at Chen Wuwang:

"See that? These are the real masters! I'll burn those few pieces of iron of yours into scrap! If you're smart, kneel down now, and I'll let you die quickly!"

Chen Wuwang smiled.

The corner of his mouth twitched—a silent, yet frenzied curve.

He slowly raised his hand and pressed the communication button, his voice reaching the entire team:

"Remember, we aren't here to negotiate."

"We are here to—"

Before he could finish, the burly man suddenly waved his hand and roared:

"Kill!!!"

Everyone, like hungry wolves pouncing on prey, pressed forward on all fronts.

Fire crossbows were lit, and arrows trailing flames were shot out; rows of spearmen advanced; axe-wielders flanked from behind; even the three who had fallen struggled to their feet, drawing short daggers to join the fray.

Chen Xiaodao's sword light was like rain, repelling wave after wave of enemies, but there were simply too many. A deep gash had already been hacked into his shoulder armor.

Chen Tiezhu finally activated turret number three, firing a Rune Shell that blasted three people over, but the energy supply was unstable, and the cannon muzzle began to glow red.

Bai Ling hovered in mid-air, her hands constantly forming seals. Frost spread, freezing the movements of six people, but her face grew pale, and cold sweat seeped from her forehead.

"Hold on a bit longer," she gritted her teeth. "I can do this..."

At the mountain pass, the second batch of enemies had already rushed into the battlefield, and the combat situation was completely chaotic.

Chen Wuwang sat in the cockpit, his Mechanical Prosthetic Eye locking onto every moving unit as data scrolled past like a waterfall.

His finger finally pressed down.

The 'dawn's' engine roared, armor plates unfolded layer by layer, and cannon muzzles slowly rose.

Just then—

The burly man suddenly lunged, swinging his giant axe in a full circle and slamming it violently into the ground.

BOOM!!!

The earth exploded.

A blood-red crack spread out from beneath his feet, rushing straight toward the Chen family's position.