Deposed Crown Prince: After three years of service on the frontier, the entire court knelt and begge

Chapter 1426 The Origin of the Dragon Guardian Ghost City

Yin Pan'er didn't offer any empty words of comfort, but instead held his hand tightly, conveying her own steadfastness and warmth to him!

“I believe in you. You’ve always been the one to create miracles from the impossible. Tell me, what should we do now? What can I do?”

Xiao Ce lowered his head and met her eyes, which were full of trust and determination. That gaze was like a ray of light, piercing through the gloom churning in his heart.

Yes, he wasn't fighting alone. He still had Pan'er, the ten major arsenals he had just begun to master and the robot army within them, the Eastern and Western Federation's hidden forces, and the instinctive will to continue the entire Earth's civilization!

He gripped Yin Pan'er's hand tightly with his other hand, and the flame of battle reignited in his eyes.

“You’re right, Pan’er. Worrying is useless; only action brings life.”

He took a deep breath, his eyes resolute: "Time is of the essence; we must act immediately, every second counts!"

After Yin Pan'er finished speaking, she looked at Xiao Ce and said, "Your Highness... we're almost there..."

Xiao Ce followed Yin Pan'er's gaze...

We're almost there.

The massive hull of the Breaking Waves slowly approached Xiao Kingdom's largest port, its horn blaring a long blast that startled a flock of seagulls...

The port was already bustling with people and flags waving...

Xiao Ce was well aware that these were all the results of his reforms...

Xiao Ce stood at the bow of the ship, the sea breeze ruffling his clothes. Beside him, Yin Pan'er clung tightly to his arm, her gaze fixed on him with tenderness and unwavering determination...

Following Yin Pan'er's gaze, Xiao Ce saw that familiar figure on the dock...

The leader was Yin Weiyong, dressed in a dark brocade robe. Although he held a high position and great power, he was showing a hint of excitement and respect that was not easily detected.

Beside him stood Han Da, the iron-blooded commander of the Xiao Kingdom's military, who stood ramrod straight, his eyes as sharp as ever.

Like a cheetah blending into the shadows, the night owl's sharp eyes scanned its surroundings!

Wei Wuji, however, had long since shed his childlike innocence, displaying his usual composure. He merely nodded slightly, his eyes filled with undisguised anticipation. Behind them stood a group of high-ranking civil and military officials from the core circle of the Xiao Kingdom, the atmosphere solemn yet enthusiastic.

As soon as the boat came to a stop, the planks were lowered.

Xiao Ce, holding Yin Pan'er's hand, stepped down first, his steps steady...

The boat had just come to a stop when the planks were lowered...

Xiao Ce led Yin Pan'er down the steps first, his steps steady.

"Your Highness! Your Highness!"

Yin Weiyong led everyone in bowing respectfully, their voices loud and clear.

Xiao Ce strode forward, took Yin Weiyong's arm, and smiled gently: "Father-in-law, gentlemen, there's no need for such formalities. I said we would meet again soon, and it's only been a few days, hasn't it?"

Yin Weiyong straightened up, a relieved smile appearing on his face!

His gaze toward his daughter, Yin Pan'er, was filled with love and reassurance. He then said, "Your Highness is absolutely right! This old minister received a message that Your Highness has set sail for your return journey, so I came immediately to welcome you."

"Seeing the Prince and Princess return safely, this old minister finally feels relieved."

He paused, then looked at Xiao Ce: "Your Highness must have gained a great deal from this trip."

Yin Weiyong said this entirely because he had seen Xiao Ce.

Although Xiao Ce seems to be the same as before, he hasn't changed at all.

However, upon closer inspection, one can still sense that Xiao Ce's aura is becoming increasingly unfathomable...

"Yes, Your Highness!"

Before Xiao Ce could respond, Han Da spoke in a loud voice, with the straightforwardness typical of soldiers: "Now that you're back, we feel reassured! Those huge iron lumps that fell from the sky at the port really gave everyone quite a shock!"

He was referring to the five super arsenals that have broken ground within the East Asian Federation.

Although the night owl didn't speak, its piercing eyes were fixed intently on Xiao Ce.

Wei Wuji calmly added, "All parties in the capital are aware of Your Highness's triumphant return and are eagerly awaiting it. Your Highness, shall we depart for the capital immediately? There are urgent matters to discuss."

All eyes were on Xiao Ce, awaiting his instructions.

Xiao Ce shook his head slightly, his gaze passing over the crowd and landing on the outline of the huge city behind the port!

Protector of Dragon City.

His voice was calm but carried an undeniable determination: "Not going back to Kyoto. Going directly to the Dragon Guard City."

"Dragon Guard City?"

Yin Weiyong was slightly taken aback, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes.

Although the Dragon City is important, the capital city seems to be a more suitable place at this moment, whether it is to report on the trip to the Star Network Hub or to discuss the five earth-shattering armories.

But he knew that Xiao Ce's actions must have a deeper meaning, so he immediately bowed and said, "Yes, Your Highness! This old minister will arrange the carriages and ceremonial procession immediately, and the Lord's Mansion of Hulong City will be ready in no time."

“No need for a big fuss,” Xiao Ce waved his hand. “Go quickly with a small entourage.”

"As ordered!"

So they got into their pre-arranged car and prepared to set off...

Although their procession was large, the expressions on the faces of the local people showed that they were not too surprised.

Obviously, seeing these things shouldn't be surprising anymore...

They went directly to the Dragon Guard City; Yin Weiyong's advance troops had already given orders.

So by the time they arrived at Dragon City, everything was already prepared...

Inside the council hall of the city lord's mansion, the air was thick with the scent of sandalwood, yet the atmosphere was heavy and oppressive. Xiao Ce sat upright in the main seat, with Yin Pan'er standing quietly beside him, her bright eyes always following him, as if giving him endless strength. Yin Weiyong, Han Da, Ye Mao, Wei Wuji, and other core confidants sat on either side, their gazes all focused on Xiao Ce.

Yin Weiyong took a deep breath, breaking the silence first, his voice trembling with barely concealed emotion: "Your Highness, a few days before your return... five mysterious things appeared in the Federation..."

"The court and the public are in shock. Although we... although we had a premonition that it was related to Your Highness's trip, hearing you confirm it with your own ears, this... this is still..."

He struggled to find the right words to describe the impact.

Xiao Ce raised the corners of his lips slightly, revealing a calm smile that contained an air of complete confidence: "Indeed, it is the fifth of the 'Ten Great Armored Arsenals' that I have opened. They have slumbered for a thousand years, all for today's event."

His gaze swept over the still-shocked faces of the crowd, and his tone suddenly turned solemn. He then said, "However, the appearance of the armory is not for show, but out of necessity. A catastrophe concerning the survival of our planet is imminent."

Then, Xiao Ce used the most concise yet impactful language to reveal the truth that had been buried for thousands of years!

"The Xiao Dingshan we defeated before is nothing compared to the ones we might face in the future... Their reinforcements are already on their way... So, we must prepare for a counterattack..."

Every word struck like a heavy hammer blow to everyone's hearts.

The council chamber was so quiet you could hear a pin drop; the only sounds were heavy breathing.

Yin Weiyong's face turned deathly pale, his fingers unconsciously gripping the armrest...

Han Da, the battle-hardened commander, suddenly felt his pupils shrink and veins throb on his forehead, as if he were witnessing a future battlefield of mountains of corpses and seas of blood...

The owl's figure seemed to blend even deeper into the shadows, but its eyes gleamed with an unprecedentedly sharp and cold light...

Even the most composed Wei Wuji could not hide the turmoil in his eyes at this moment, and his fingers trembled slightly in his sleeve!

"Popular panic?" That's not enough to describe the atmosphere. It's a suffocating sense of facing imminent doom, intertwined with an unbelievable sense of absurdity.

It's not that they were cowardly; it's simply that their opponents were too terrifying.

Because the great battle Xiao Ce just mentioned was merely a drop in the ocean...

In that war, they actually won by a narrow margin...

Panic was spreading, and some low-ranking civil officials were almost collapsing to the ground.

"Your Highness... what... what should we do?"

Yin Weiyong's voice trembled slightly, almost imperceptibly.

If they didn't know how powerful those so-called mechs were, they wouldn't be so afraid...

But it was precisely because they knew these dangers, and witnessed the cruelty of war firsthand...

Just as an atmosphere of despair was about to spread!

Xiao Ce's voice rang out again, like a sharp sword piercing through the dark clouds, carrying an undeniable power, as he addressed the crowd: "What's the panic! I've returned; am I here to sit and wait for death?"

"Those ten armories are our strength... and our strength goes far beyond that..."

He stood up, his imposing presence instantly quelling the commotion in the hall!

"The armory contains guard robots and a basic defense system!"

But to fight against the interstellar fleet and protect the entire planet, we need far more powerful weapons! We need equipment sufficient to arm a new army! We need the power to turn the tide of battle!

"We need a continuous stream of support..."

Everyone's attention was drawn to him again, a faint glimmer of hope shining through their despair.

"Energy weapons?"

Han Da suddenly looked up, his soldier's instincts allowing him to pinpoint the key word "weapon," his voice hoarse yet urgent.

"Mecha?"

A fanatical light shone in Wei Wuji's eyes. As a technical official, he had an instinctive fascination with creations that were ahead of their time.

"Artificial exoskeleton?"

Even the night owl couldn't help but whisper, imagining the tactical changes brought about by the equipment.

“That’s right!” Xiao Ce nodded firmly, his eyes shining as he said, “We have all of these! And I’m not just talking about the weapons in the armory…”

"It's right beneath our feet! Or rather, not far from us! There's an armory powerful enough to sustain this interstellar war, a dormant manufacturing heart!"

"Where?!"

"Your Highness, where is this important weapon?!"

Yin Weiyong, Han Da, Wei Wuji, and others spoke almost in unison, their eagerness evident in their words.

This news is even more shocking than the previous arsenal news, because it represents a continuous stream of productivity and hope!

Because when they first received these weapons, they were indeed very happy and excited... but they quickly fell into anxiety...

There is no other reason!

Because once these are used up, there are no replacements; each one used is one less available.

Even with so many arsenals, if there are too many enemies, they will eventually be depleted.

They were all veterans who had commanded troops and fought in battles...

I understand this even more now...

Xiao Ce's gaze fell upon the area outside the city lord's mansion window, beyond the brand-new city walls of the Dragon Guardian City, and settled on the eerie area shrouded in twilight. His voice was clear and firm: "Right behind the Dragon Guardian City, in that underground area known as the 'Dragon Guardian Ghost City'!"

"The Dragon Guardian Ghost City?!"

Exclamations erupted, louder than ever before, filled with disbelief and utter absurdity.

The Ghost City of Dragon Guardians is a forbidden place in the hearts of everyone in Dragon Guardians. It is a huge ruin formed by the collapse of the old city, a gathering place for vagrants, outlaws, and black market traders, filled with filth, chaos, and countless bizarre and terrifying legends.

This is also where Yin Weiyong resorted to violence to control violence, and evil to control evil...

There...is a super factory that could save the world buried there?

"Your Highness...this...how is this possible?"

Yin Weiyong felt that his understanding had been completely overturned; he had been to the ghost town several times.

"Beneath the ghost town lie only ruins and overflowing sewage; how could such a place exist..."

"It's precisely because it collapsed!"

Xiao Ce interrupted him, his eyes deep, and said, "Do you know why the Dragon Guard City suddenly experienced that earth-shattering collapse several years ago?"

Everyone shook their heads in bewilderment. This was an unsolved mystery that had plagued Dragon Guard City and even the entire Xiao Kingdom for many years.

"That collapse was neither a natural disaster nor an ordinary earthquake."

Xiao Ce's voice carried a heavy weight, as if unveiling the dust of history!

"The truth is, when I secretly built this core manufacturing plant, to ensure its absolute concealment and security, I constructed an extremely large spatial structure deep underground and laid out multiple energy barriers."

However, when faced with certain dangers, the core energy reactor experienced extremely brief but violent fluctuations.

This out-of-control energy pulse instantly exceeded the critical threshold for the underground structure's protection, triggering a chain reaction...

After saying this, a hint of guilt flashed in Xiao Ce's eyes...

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the astonished faces of the crowd: "A powerful energy shockwave raged underground. Although the main body of the factory survived due to its stronger internal protection, the foundation of the area directly above it, which was the core of the Dragon Guard City at the time, was instantly shattered and hollowed out."

The earth collapsed and caved in, like a fragile eggshell.

Overnight, the once bustling center of Dragon Guard City was reduced to a massive crater, and countless lives were annihilated... This is the true reason for the birth of the 'Dragon Guard Ghost City'!

The truth is brutally cruel.

Who would have thought that the mystery of the disaster that plagued Xiao Kingdom was rooted in the power beneath its feet that was capable of changing the world?

Yin Weiyong and the others' expressions shifted, showing both heartache for the historical tragedy and awe and...a hint of fear towards the object buried deep underground.

Han Da slammed his fist on the table: "Your Highness! Now that you know the location of the factory and have you here, what are we waiting for? This humble general will immediately mobilize heavy troops, seal off Ghost City, and dig three feet into the ground to dig out this factory!"

The soldier's passion was ignited; he seemed to see thousands of soldiers equipped with divine weapons.

"Don't be reckless, General Han!"

The night owl's cold voice immediately rang out...