Armor-Piercing Munition: Face Me, Carbon-Based Monster!
Chapter 73 Probing

Chapter 73: Chapter 73 Probing

Chen Jian anticipated that the Mechanical God Sect would launch a retaliation, but he did not expect that the first to strike would be the Water Ghosts of the Blood Skull.

What, I cleared your camp and took out your leader, so now you have to chase and kill me?

That doesn’t make sense!

The one I took down was the Blood Sun General. He’s the leader of the Terror Demons, what does that have to do with you?

Isn’t it said that there are internal conflicts between the Water Ghosts and the Terror Demons?

Chen Jian looked over at Zeng Yi, who was equally bewildered.

Before Chen Jian could speak, Zeng Yi quickly asked Huang Yu:

"Did the Water Ghosts of the Blood Skull often attack Yellow Stone City before?"

"Occasionally!"

While running southward toward the waterway leading to the Yangtze River to observe, Huang Yu replied:

"But never this many! There are at least a hundred Water Ghosts here, no idea where they’re coming from!"

Under the moonlight, Chen Jian saw waves rolling on the distant river channel.

He flipped down his night vision goggles to check, and indeed, as Huang Yu said, the number of Water Ghosts swimming rapidly was quite large.

"Gather all city defense members and residents, distribute weapons, and immediately go on alert by the riverside!"

"Don’t shoot blindly, the river water will block bullets, wait until the Water Ghosts land before firing!"

"Got it!"

Huang Yu turned back toward the residential area, while the team of seven led by Chen Jian rushed to the riverbank, occupying favorable positions, ready to start the interception.

Even the severely injured Li Shi dragged his immobile leg and lay down on the ground.

His large frame didn’t quite match the 191 in his hand, but he was still trying to aim, adapting to the new weapon he wasn’t accustomed to.

The seven dispersed individuals had overlapping fields of fire; before they even opened fire, an invisible net of fire had formed. As soon as the Water Ghosts landed, they would be enveloped by this fire net, immediately turned to ashes.

Chen Jian did not believe that these more than a hundred Water Ghosts, without any long-range attack capabilities, could pose a significant threat to Yellow Stone City; even if they launched a scattered assault, they would at most create some disturbances.

They are not the Holy Blood, their movement speed is nowhere near fast enough to surpass the traversal speed of a gun muzzle.

Let alone within seven steps, even within five steps they are no match for semi-automatic weapons.

So the Water Ghosts were troublesome but not dangerous.

But the question was, where did so many Water Ghosts come from all of a sudden?

Are their senses so sharp, sharp enough to detect the soft target of Yellow Stone City so quickly?

Something’s off.

By this time, all combat-capable residents had been organized by Yellow Stone. The seasoned city defense members were holding 191s, while most others wielded makeshift weapons left behind by the Mechanical God Sect.

There were single-shot rifles, muzzleloaders, and even some hand-crafted bird guns.

Chen Jian didn’t expect them to inflict significant damage with these weapons; his goal was merely to get these people to "join the battle."

As long as they can hold out through a single battle, the 191s stored in the 7025 bunker would definitely be enough for these thirty to forty people.

"Everyone, form a line, guard the lakefront!"

"Find cover, follow orders. Only shoot when I give the order!"

"Do not retreat, do not advance, and do not leave your cover!"

Chen Jian issued the same orders as before, but this time, his orders were executed without exception.

A few minutes later, all combat personnel were in position.

Although their faces showed a trace of nervousness, they seemed to truly have no intention of fleeing.

The concept of "following orders without question" began to take root in everyone’s mind. Chen Jian patrolled the battle line, reaching out to pat the shoulders of each soldier, whether crouching, standing, or lying down.

"Hold on, don’t lose face!"

"Follow my command, fight with me!"

"Fight boldly, if the sky falls, we’ll hold it up in front!"

...

After his patrol, the Water Ghosts began landing one after another on the far shore.

To Chen Jian’s surprise, those slightly mindless Water Ghosts didn’t rush blindly; instead, they gathered at the shore, seemingly waiting for the rest of the team before charging.

Isn’t this playing right into our hands?

Chen Jian ordered via radio:

"Shen Yue, He Shuo, use the 201s to set up crossfire."

"Wait until they are within 100 meters before opening fire. Focus on suppressive fire, don’t kill or repel them all at once, leave some shooting opportunities for the civilians."

"Understood."

"Understood."

As the order was given, the dozens of collected Water Ghosts finally launched their charge.

Amidst the night, their shadowy figures appeared somewhat intimidating.

The battle line inevitably wavered, Chen Jian issued another order:

"Lei Jie, turn on the lights!"

"Copy that!"

In an instant, the lights mounted at a high point in Yellow Stone City suddenly turned on.

The residents on the battle line instinctively looked back, and what they saw was a burly and mighty figure under the lights.

"Open fire!"

Chen Jian shouted, pulling the trigger of the 191.

This gunshot lit up the entire battlefield like a signal. Gunfire erupted, and the charging Water Ghosts were enveloped by a "not so dense" barrage, falling layer by layer within a few short seconds!

Their advance didn’t stop, and more Water Ghosts continued landing from the water.

As the distance shrank, Chen Jian could clearly feel that the gunfire on his side became somewhat chaotic, losing its rhythm.

At that moment, Shen Yue and He Shuo opened fire simultaneously.

Both light machine guns fired long bursts, and the Water Ghosts within a hundred meters began toppling over one by one.

The pressure eased dramatically, even the slowest reloading flintlock guns managed a second shot.

No motivational speeches were needed, nor a disciplinarian with a handgun; the battle line stabilized.

Everyone became aware that a mountain-like force stood behind them, backing all their actions with an unstoppable stance.

Gunfire’s pace slowed abruptly, yet the rate of destruction sharply increased.

City defense members carrying 191s adapted to the new guns, aiming and firing carefully; even if it took dozens of shots to hit one, once the line solidified, the damage they caused became surprisingly effective.

Shen Yue and He Shuo no longer needed to fire, as the stable and functioning line began to mend its gaps instinctively.

In just a few minutes, the Water Ghosts’ charge faltered entirely, the survivors fleeing in panic back to the river.

It was only then that the battle-engrossed residents belatedly realized.

... Did we win?

Just like that, we won??

Having long been oppressed by the Mechanical God Sect, they had already lost confidence in their abilities; they no longer believed they had the "right" to win.

But the pungent smell of smokeless powder reignited their combative and martial instincts.

Everyone faintly sensed that some deep-seated stirring was quietly awakening within their blood.

Chen Jian stood up, raised his gun, and shouted loudly:

"Cease fire!"

"We have already won."

"This is the first victory, the beginning of countless victories to come!"

"Yes!!"

Cheers pierced the night sky, Chen Jian lowered his gun, his expression returning to calmness.

He spoke softly into the radio:

"He Shuo, take Zeng Yi forward. Use the drones to recon upstream along the Yangtze River."

"These Water Ghosts must have a source, find out where it is!"

"Understood."

He Shuo and Zeng Yi disappeared quietly into the night, and at the same time, a drone buzzed into flight.

Chen Jian vaguely sensed that the contest with the Mechanical God Sect had officially begun....

....

Meanwhile, on the Yangtze River.

A Mechanical God Sect steamship, its engines shut down, was moored by the shore. Xu Lie raised his binoculars, observing the roiling waves in the river.

After a moment, he spoke to the Mechanical Priest beside him:

"The Water Ghosts can’t get through."

"They’ve armed the remaining civilians in Yellow Stone City. With their firepower, with their reconnaissance capabilities, we can’t hope to exploit any weaknesses."

"Inform your people, send more support forces."

"To capture Yellow Stone City, we need more artillery."

"Lots and lots of artillery!"