With the Shadow Cult's plot at the exhibition thwarted, Night Dynasty entered a relatively peaceful period of development.
Chen Xiao and his colleagues devoted themselves to in-depth research on the technology of manipulating natural elements.
During their research, they discovered that the activation of this technology required an extremely rare ore as a medium, and that this ore was extremely scarce and difficult to mine within the territory of Yechao.
In order to find more minerals, Chen Xiao, Ning Ci, and Xu Ruyu decided to lead an elite team to explore the deep mountains and forests on the border of Yechao.
This mountain forest has a complex terrain and is full of unknown dangers, but it is said that traces of similar minerals have been found here before.
The group struggled through the mountains and forests, not only having to cope with the harsh natural environment but also having to be wary of ferocious wild animals that might appear at any time.
After several days of arduous searching, they finally discovered a vein of ore in a secluded valley.
However, before they could even cheer, they sensed something unusual about their surroundings.
Suddenly, a group of mysterious masked men emerged from all directions, wielding sharp blades and with fierce eyes, clearly heading for the ore.
Chen Xiao and the others immediately realized that these people were likely remnants of the Shadow Cult.
The two sides instantly engaged in fierce combat.
The masked men came aggressively and worked in perfect unison, clearly having undergone rigorous training.
Chen Xiao, with his agility and mastery of ancient techniques, maneuvered against the enemy; Ning Ci cleverly used mechanical arts to set up various traps to block the enemy's attack; Xu Ruyu was not to be outdone, wielding a long sword and engaging in close combat with the enemy.
During the battle, Chen Xiao discovered that the masked men's attack techniques were different from those of the Shadow Cult assassins he had encountered before. They seemed to have incorporated some peculiar martial arts styles, which made their battle even more difficult.
But the group did not back down at all; they cooperated closely and gradually gained the upper hand.
Just as they were about to repel the enemy, a masked man took advantage of the chaos to activate a mysterious device.
Instantly, the surrounding space seemed to be distorted, and a powerful suction force came, trying to pull everyone in.
Chen Xiao realized that this might be an ancient evil spell, and the consequences would be unimaginable if he were to inhale it.
She shouted for everyone to concentrate their efforts on resisting, while quickly pulling out a jade pendant containing special energy from her bosom.
This is an ancient artifact they discovered during their research, which is said to possess powerful protective abilities against evil spirits.
Chen Xiao raised the jade pendant high, and the pendant emitted a dazzling light, resisting the power of the mysterious device.
Under the light, the power of the mysterious device gradually weakened, and the distorted space slowly returned to normal.
Seeing that things were going badly, the masked men fled in panic.
After this fierce battle, although everyone successfully protected the ore, they also realized that the Shadow Cult was constantly seeking new power and allies, and their threat was becoming increasingly unpredictable.
After returning to the capital with the ore, Chen Xiao and the others immediately threw themselves into intensive research. They knew that only by mastering the technology to manipulate natural elements as soon as possible could they gain the upper hand in the future confrontation with the Shadow Cult.
Upon returning to Beijing, the research team worked against the clock to analyze and experiment with the newly collected ore.
However, during their research, they discovered that the energy in this ore was extremely unstable and could potentially trigger a violent explosion if not handled properly.
Every attempt was accompanied by enormous risks; the laboratory was often filled with terrifying sounds and acrid smoke.
But the group was not deterred by the difficulties. With their firm belief and persistent pursuit of knowledge, they continued to adjust their experimental plan.
At the same time, Chen Xiao began to meet frequently with the military generals of the Night Dynasty to discuss how to integrate existing ancient technological achievements into military strategy.
They designed a completely new battle formation, combining ancient energy shields and offensive weapons, which theoretically greatly enhanced the combat power of the Night Dynasty army.
However, a great deal of training and real-world testing is still needed to transform these theories into actual combat effectiveness.
Outside the capital, the remnants of the Shadow Cult did not disappear. They secretly regrouped and reached secret agreements with some barbarian tribes beyond the Great Wall.
The barbarian tribes coveted the rich lands and abundant resources of the Night Dynasty. The two sides quickly reached an agreement and prepared to join forces to launch a large-scale attack on the Night Dynasty.
One day, a raging fire suddenly broke out at the beacon tower on the border of Yechao, and urgent military news flew to the capital like snowflakes.
Upon learning the news, Chen Xiao and the others realized that a great battle was imminent.
They quickly put aside their research on manipulating natural elements and devoted themselves to assisting the army in preparing to defend against foreign enemies.
In the capital, the people, under the organization of the imperial court, carried out defense preparations in an orderly manner.
The craftsmen worked day and night to manufacture weapons and reinforce the city walls; young and strong men responded to the call and joined the defense; women and the elderly were responsible for logistical support, providing food and clothing to the soldiers on the front lines.
Chen Xiao led some members of his research team to the front lines, bringing with them ancient technological weapons that they had successfully developed, hoping to play a key role on the battlefield.
On the battlefield, Chen Xiao and his companions witnessed the ferocity of the barbarian army and the bizarre methods of the Shadow Cult assassins.
However, the Night Dynasty army, with its strong fortifications and newly equipped weapons, stubbornly resisted the enemy's attack.
Ning Ci controlled the newly developed giant crossbow, each shot accurately hitting the enemy's vitals, causing huge casualties to the enemy army; Xi Xi used her understanding of ancient magic to cast various buff spells on the Night Dynasty army at critical moments, enhancing their combat power and defense.
However, the war situation remained dire. Under the influence of the Shadow Cult, the barbarian army fought fearlessly, launching wave after wave of attacks on the Night Dynasty's defenses.
Although the Night Dynasty army fought bravely, they gradually became exhausted.
In this critical moment, Chen Xiao suddenly remembered the inspiration he had gained while researching the technology to manipulate natural elements, and he decided to take the risk and give it a try...
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