Armor-Piercing Munition: Face Me, Carbon-Based Monster!
Chapter 192 - 71 Waiting for the North Wind_2

Chapter 192: Chapter 71 Waiting for the North Wind_2

"And the entire Jinling Ruins area has not seen rainfall for more than ten days."

"The fungal activity is rapidly decreasing. If we can wait for another dry and cold air mass to pass through, the entire Jinling Ruins will open its doors for us."

"Just like Kongming borrowed the east wind, we need to borrow the north wind... Now we just have to see if this north wind can start blowing tonight."

"Tonight?"

Ji Xing looked at the sky and instinctively asked:

"With this kind of weather, can a north wind blow?"

"Who knows?"

Chen Jian turned his head and said to He Shuo beside him:

"Help us out, quickly check the celestial phenomena."

He Shuo rolled his eyes and replied speechlessly:

"My interest is astronomy, not astrology."

"Besides, at this age, who still believes in predicting the weather by observing the sky?"

"Let’s have the drones fly over a wider area."

"If there’s a significant drop in temperature detected, then the wind should arrive soon tonight..."

....

Meanwhile, inside Jinling City.

Ten Holy Temple Guard brigades had completed their assembly, and the Pope Saint sat outside the Holy Hall, inspecting his powerful personal guard.

When the incense burner emitted a column of indigo smoke, the gear dome of the Trinity Holy Temple began to roar.

The steam-driven giant organ roared on both sides of the square, its pipes trembling as they infused the Trinity hymn into every iron sand-paved ground.

The Archbishop extended a withered arm from his black robe, holding a wheel inscribed with scriptures, blessing the soldiers about to step onto the battlefield.

The first to pass in front of the Holy Hall was the phalanx of Armored Soldiers from the Holy Temple Guard, their breastplates carved with bas-reliefs of the Trinity Supreme devouring lightning, and the gaps in their shoulder armor soaked with lubricant.

The automatic weapons they held, called "Conquerors", were actually simple multi-barreled guns. Although not as powerful as some relic weapons, they were their proud standard armaments.

The ground shook under their orderly steps, and a greater tremor followed as the steam locomotive formation roared after them.

A total of 24 heavy steam locomotives rolled over the ground in front of the Holy Hall, 48 exhaust pipes simultaneously spewed out scalding steam, accompanied by the relentless wailing of the steam whistles and organ music.

The steam locomotives were mounted with 24 giant smooth-bore cannons, and the Fire Cannon Priests chanted hymns, scattering ethereal sparks with their censers.

When the steam locomotive formation reached directly in front of the Trinity Holy Temple, the 24 cannons suddenly exploded all at once.

"Boom!"

A violent explosion swept through the entire Jinling City, and amidst the smoke and firelight, the Church Protection Army cheered in unison.

However, the highlight of this parade was not them.

The last to pass the Trinity Holy Temple was the rifled cannon formation, uniquely called "Giant Cannons".

The masked Fire Cannon Priests silently drove 12 internal combustion vehicles pulling the cannons past, black wisps of smoke slowly dispersing as the jubilant crowd returned to a solemn silence.

After the silence, the Pope Saint raised his arms, leading the crowd in chanting the name of the Trinity.

The expedition was about to begin.

This team, comprised of nearly 3,000 men, could almost be said to have gathered the most elite forces of the Mechanical God Sect.

The Pope even spared no expense in mobilizing forces originally stationed in other cities to participate in this grand expedition, which many deemed a journey of no return.

Because he had no other choice.

The army from Huadu had already reached Zhuolu City, easily defeating the few Church Protection Army troops there and continuing to advance south.

In no more than 10 days, they would reach the Jinling Ruins, stretching their evil claws toward its secrets.

They must be stopped—or at least, they had to be beaten to the punch.

This was a choice between two options, and if more conservative, he should have chosen to reap the benefits once the other side and the Second-level Monster had exhausted each other.

But on this wasteland, things often weren’t so simple.

On one hand, any idea of "picking up scraps" in the face of a Second-level Monster was a joke.

On the other hand, no one knew what was really hidden in the ruins guarded by the monster.

And everyone knew that what lay within was extraordinary.

After all, just by exploring the outskirts of the Jinling Ruins, the Mechanical God Sect had easily established a giant city on the wasteland.

What if in the true "core area," there were even more terrifying, more exaggerated things?

Just like those so-called "Huaxia Army," like the rising sun...

The Mechanical God Sect could not afford such a risk.

So the only thing he could do was to be faster than Huadu.

Yes, facing that monster would certainly result in heavy losses.

But once the treasure was unearthed, even if only half or even one third of their forces remained, it would be enough to confront Huadu’s two thousand men.

This was a seemingly illogical but absolutely strategically sound decision...

At this time, the Holy Temple Guard, having completed their review task, had already returned to camp.

They were set to depart in 10 hours and head straight for the Jinling Ruins.

The Pope returned to his godly throne with a solemn posture, while the high-ranking Archbishop dismissed everyone once again, standing alone before the Pope.

"The north wind is coming."

He said:

"This time, we are almost going all out."

"From tonight, until the next few days, will be the time when that monster is at its weakest."

"The soldiers of the Guard can easily penetrate the depths of the ruins and find traces of that monster."

"As long as we can locate it, the firepower of 12 giant cannons will be enough to bury it completely."

"All we need is a little luck."

"May the Trinity Supreme bless us."

The Pope slowly nodded and then continued to ask:

"What about other news? You mentioned earlier that gunshots were heard from the Jinling Ruins?"

"What’s going on, has it been clarified?"

"Not yet, for now."

The Archbishop shook his head and replied:

"The gunshots were a few hours ago, and we have already sent orders to the Holy Blood Temple, instructing them to scout the outskirts of the ruins."

"Currently, a team of Holy Blood Scouts has already set out. They are expected to arrive at the periphery of the ruins in a few hours and bring back information from there."

"Are they willing to cooperate?"

The Pope’s eyes subtly changed as he asked.

"They have no other choice."

"Either cooperate with us, or cooperate with Huadu—the ’Holy Father’ in the Holy Blood Temple is no fool, he surely knows what choice to make."

"That’s somewhat good news..."

The Pope sighed lightly and then said:

"At the very least, we can focus on the monster without facing two enemies at the same time."

"Not necessarily."

The Archbishop shook his head and after a moment of silence, said in a low voice:

"A Huaxia Army team is heading towards Jinling."

"Their goal might also be Jinling."

"Though it’s unclear what they want, from their previous actions... they are bound to be curious about this monster."

"And they have the backing of the Ring Chamber of Commerce... you know, the Ring Chamber of Commerce has been trying to get into the Jinling Ruins for some time."

"I’m worried that they might find a way to get ahead of us."

"If the treasures of the Jinling Ruins are stolen by them, then everything we’ve done might become a joke..."

"That’s impossible."

The Pope shook his head firmly and said:

"The Second-level Monster is not like those Third-level or Fourth-level monsters they’ve dealt with before. No one can cut corners in front of the monster in the Jinling Ruins."

"They have too few people, no matter how powerful their firepower is, it’s not enough to make up for the disadvantage in numbers."

"Perhaps they can enter the depths of the ruins, perhaps they can see the monster."

"Even, perhaps they can escape from the monster’s grasp."

"But to say they can defeat that monster and retreat completely, even opening the treasure... that’s too far-fetched."

"They can’t do it."

"No one in this world can do it."

"...You’re right."

The Archbishop slowly nodded and then said:

"Then, let’s focus on our own matters."

"The Guard Brigade is about to set out, I think you should also personally go to the camp to give them your final blessings..."