The Galaxy Defense Group's fleet slowly advanced the front line.

Li Xin messaged Adams, "General Adams, we don't know much about Xilin's defenses. Would you be willing to serve as a vanguard and clear out the many weapon stations within Xilin's defenses?"

Adams felt bitter when he heard this.

Although he is from Lidadas Capital, the reconstruction of the Xilin Sky Fortress has nothing to do with him.

But now he couldn't refuse. Although he was not happy in his heart, he nodded respectfully on the surface: "Master Li Xin, please leave this matter to me!"

Li Xin nodded: "I will arrange for a fleet to escort you from behind. If the enemy fleet attacks, don't worry!"

"Yes! Thank you, sir!"

Soon, Adams' nine thousand ships accelerated and began to clear the weapon stations and weapon platforms outside the Sky Fortress.

This is not an easy job and will require some casualties.

Because many weapon stations are hidden, they won't open fire unless you get close to them, and even if you get close, they may not open fire.

Li Xin also arranged for Weng Hua to lead three Tough Defense battle groups to follow Adams' fleet from the side and rear.

To prevent Clive's fleet from suddenly launching an all-out attack.

Apart from this, the other fleets always maintained a slow-moving advance.

Li Xin even asked the engineering ship force to build a temporary base at the edge of the galaxy. There will be a simple starport here, and some damaged fleets can come here for repairs.

In addition, emergency jump points have been set up outside the galaxy, where there are also temporary starports and maintenance bases to minimize the damage to warships.

Adams' fleet on the front line continued to advance and destroyed more weapon stations.

But Clive quickly launched a countermeasure.

He looked at Duncan, thought about the combat effectiveness of Duncan's fleet, and ultimately did not order Duncan's fleet to attack.

Instead, he selected three from his space battle groups to attack.

The three space battle groups rushed into the defense line and relied on the weapon station platforms within the defense line to defend step by step, which greatly reduced Adams' speed in destroying the defense line.

At the same time, the losses of Adams' fleet were gradually increasing.

But no one found this strange.

Attacking and defending are inevitable things, and someone always has to be responsible for the sacrifices in the early stages.

Even if we replace it with the more powerful Galaxy Defense Group fleet, there will still be the expected casualties.

The fighting on the front line was not fast, but Li Xin could accept it.

According to intelligence, Clive's other fleet that was sent to pursue Owen would not be able to return for at least half a year.

This means that Li Xin has at least half a year to properly clean up the Xilin defense line.

As for what to do if the enemy fleet returns earlier.

Li Xin was not worried at all. He had the number of ships he needed. If the enemy reinforcements arrived, he would retreat to C-22.

Now the initiative is in his hands, and Owen has begun to continue the operation of recovering the planet.

Duncan is like a grasshopper in autumn, getting worse day by day.

Clive and Duncan had no choice. Even if the reinforcements returned, it would only reduce their casualties in Xilin.

It is not certain whether Xilinzuo can be defended in the end.

The fleet advanced slowly, and Li Xin did not always let Adams' fleet take the lead.

Every few days, he would withdraw Adams' fleet and rotate other ships to fight.

The main rotations are among the five task force defense battle groups.

In the past few years, the large warships of the Task Force Defense Battle Group have been replenished.

But their training time and combat experience are still not as good as those of the veteran fleet.

In addition, there were many prisoners and new soldiers recruited in Lidadas, which made them the most suitable for fighting this war of attrition.

Firstly, it is for training, and secondly, even if there are losses, Li Xin will not feel that sad.

Finally, these fleets can become more cohesive after being tempered by battle.

Round after round of blows, round after round of attacks, were like a hammer forging iron.

Even with Clive's fleet holding them back, the defenses outside the Sky Fortress were gradually cleared.

The total time taken was almost a month.

During this month-long battle, both sides suffered heavy casualties.

Even from the perspective of casualty ratio, Clive still has the advantage.

Adams, and the Task Force Defense Battle Group suffered greater losses.

But this is not surprising. After all, it is relying on the defense line, and Clive has dispatched the elite forces of the headquarters.

And what did Li Xin dispatch? Adams and some newly formed fleets.

This means that the combat effectiveness of the fleets of both sides is not proportional.

After the outer defense line was repeatedly cleared, all that remained in the galaxy was the main fortress of the Sky Fortress and the outer enemy fleets.

Inside the Sky Bastion, Clive looked at the battle report and felt much happier. He said, "The Galaxy Defense Group's fleet isn't as strong as Moli said!"

"How did you lose so badly last time?"

Duncan's condition has also recovered a lot because of recent battles.

He looked at the results of the battle between the two sides and the estimated casualties of the enemy. He said, "Lord Clive, many of these are Adams' casualties."

Clive waved his hand indifferently and said, "I know, but apart from Adams's, the others were all losses suffered by the Galaxy Defense Group. When you calculate it, their losses aren't much less than Adams'."

"With such fighting power, shouldn't they be able to inflict so much damage on Mori?!"

"Could it be that the fleet dispatched by the Galaxy Defense Group at that time was the elite of their elite?"

Duncan shook his head and said, "Definitely not. The enemy still has a fleet with a longer main gun range that hasn't appeared yet."

"This must be their elite force."

Clive was still guessing, but the Galaxy Defense Group had already arrived with a large army.

"Sir, the main force of the enemy fleet is approaching!"

Of the nearly 50,000 warships, except for a small number left as reserves, the rest were arranged in a complete battle formation, approaching the main fort of the Sky Fortress.

The Dreadnought Defense Strike Group under Li Xin, the Xingyuan Fleet in other fleets, and all the Phantom-class battlecruisers are already in the central protection of the defense line.

So far, Li Xin has summoned the Star Fleet eight times.

Nearly four hundred Phantom-class battlecruisers assembled and began to accumulate energy at ultra-long distances.

As the warships finished charging, Li Xin looked at the Xilin Sky Fortress in front of him and smiled with murderous intent:

"Fire!"

"Let them experience the power of the Starburst Light Cannon!"