The Heavens: A Qing, the Yue Girl at the beginning

The extra-long iron box cracked into fragments upon landing. Before the fragments even touched the ground, they were twisted into spinning fireworks in mid-air by an invisible force, like a reversed fireworks display.

Deep within the dust, a heavy black greatsword emerged. Its blade was rough and dull, making it difficult to distinguish whether it was a sword, a battle axe, or a spear. It could only be roughly defined as a gigantic cutting weapon—a shape never before seen in human history, defying all the rules that weapons should follow.

Even though it just lies there quietly, it is awe-inspiring, like a sleeping dragon.

It could wake up at any moment and swallow people whole.

Excalibur, an ancient name that speaks volumes about its extraordinary nature, is said to have been forged in the sacred Avalon and bestowed by angels upon the first king to unify the western world. Whoever wields this sword is destined for victory and invincibility—a weapon that can rewrite destiny.

The Holy Lance Armor - Longinus remained silent, like a tomb.

It has the shape of a musket, but its length reaches an astonishing four meters. The complex flow tube is covered by a hard protective plate, and the surface has the texture of bronze, mithril and wind metal, as if the pulse of an entire dormant volcano is sealed into the barrel.

Rundstedt bent down, his five fingers piercing through the cold mist. The instant he gripped the gun handle, a pale blue arc of electricity shot up his arm through the gaps in his armor, as if a god were gently knocking on his bones, confirming whether he was still worthy of this cursed power.

Immediately afterwards, he reached out with his left hand towards the black greatsword—just as he touched the spine of the sword, he saw a line of eerie blue light emanate from it.

Like the only star in the distant sky, torn open by dark clouds.

Like the only moon in the abyss, its edge is honed by nightmares.

"Give you a hundred times the supply of red mercury, and you should be able to handle the enemy who arrives tonight all by yourself, right?"

Zhao Qing's voice drifted from behind.

Suddenly, a small, worn-out box appeared in her hand, exactly like a steam backpack, but it contained highly compressed, passivated liquid red mercury. Its actual capacity far exceeded expectations. The next moment, it clicked shut on the interface on the back of the armor.

The red mercury in a standard steam backpack is enough to keep the "Seraph" fighting for 5 minutes. A hundred times the supply would be almost enough for an entire night, which sounds incredible.

The eerie magic may have come from bloodline inheritance, but this huge breakthrough in industrial technology was fueled by the flame of wisdom.

But Rundstedt chose to believe.

He knew that the Minerva Agency's failure to develop a larger steam backpack was not due to a lack of technology, but rather because the Seraphim should not have longer operational time—they were designed as "short-lived disasters" to prevent them from turning against the power behind the scenes.

A monster kept under the ice always needs a sturdy chain.

Historically, "Saint George the Dragon Slayer," who retired forty years ago, possessed an astonishing endurance that surpassed all current armor.

"War has begun."

Zhao Qing stood by the open door, gazing into the darkness several kilometers away. "The fire has been lit. Which side do you intend to choose? Will you participate in this war between the East and the West to help Chu Shunhua, or wait for the Holy See to launch a siege against the 'Holy Calamity'?"

She suddenly raised her hand and pointed to a weak, hazy flame on the dark plain.

The flame was so faint that it looked like a firefly at first glance.

Fireflies don't come out on rainy days. If they look like fireflies from several kilometers away, they should be some kind of bright light source up close, like a torch.

On the vast mountain plains, the firelight moved slowly, like an old man walking alone.

It stopped, and then rose slowly after a moment.

Following it, thousands upon thousands of flames rose from one side of the plain, carried by the wind into the sky, and hovered after reaching a certain height. The dark clouds did not dissipate, but the sky was as brilliant as a galaxy, and the man holding the fire stood beneath it, his white robes pointing skyward, as upright as a spear.

Chu Shunhua stood with his hands behind his back, gazing up at the night sky as if admiring the spectacular sight of lights filling the heavens.

Behind him, tens of thousands of crossbowmen held their crossbows level, the sharp arrowheads gleaming with a chilling blue light.

“Suspended lamps,” Rundstedt said softly. “I never imagined they would be so beautiful…so bright and dazzling, they are as radiant as a star.”

The floating flames released by Xia Jun into the air were actually a type of lamp called a suspended lamp.

To make this lamp, the outer layer of cowhide is first peeled off, dried until it becomes translucent, and then made into a tall, air-filled bladder. Inside, a butter lamp is placed. The butter lamp heats the air inside the bladder, allowing the lamp to levitate in the night sky for up to half an hour.

The suspended lamps illuminated the entire battlefield, something even the Papal States, where gas lamps were already widely used, could not easily achieve.

This greatly facilitated the Xia army's crossbowmen.

Today, the Crusader Guard is fully equipped with triple or quintuple muskets, and the Easterners are not incapable of manufacturing firearms, but the Xia army still regards the precision crossbow "Mountain-Breaking Crossbow" as its most important long-range weapon.

This centuries-old steel crossbow is extremely powerful and has a very long range. When equipped with an automatic bolt-loading cartridge, its rate of fire is comparable to that of a musket.

The bullets fired from a musket have almost no killing power once they are out of range, while crossbow bolts draw elegant arcs in the air and can cause fatal damage to the enemy even in the final stages of their flight.

The only drawback of the Mountain-Breaking Crossbow is that it must be operated by experienced crossbowmen, and the Xia Kingdom happens to have such a "Forest" unit, whose crossbow bolts are densely packed like a forest when they fire in rapid succession.

The four major armies of the Xia Kingdom are Wind, Forest, Fire, and Mountain.

The Wind Troops were cavalrymen with both speed and heavy armor, tasked with charging; the Forest Troops were crossbowmen, responsible for suppression and control; the Fire Troops were equipped with high-quality muskets and heavy artillery; and the Mountain Troops were infantry suicide squads.

On the other side of the battlefield stood rows of powerful black steeds, their broad chests pressed together like a black wall. The warriors wore golden armor over their black uniforms, their muskets pointed to the sky, and sharp knight's swords were stuck in their saddles.

Flanking the cavalry regiment were assault squads composed of Stein heavy machine guns, and directly behind them were artillery positions made up of black iron giant cannons.

The Crusader Guards had already formed ranks in the darkness. They hadn't lit their lanterns to avoid giving Lin's troops targets to shoot at, but the dense array of suspended lanterns thwarted their stealth tactics.

In order to protect the Jinlunga Tunnel and allow the holy war route to carry armored trains across the Caucasus Mountains and deep into the heart of Great Xia, the Western countries mobilized twelve divisions.

Six of the divisions came from the headquarters of the Crusader Guard, while the other six were dispatched by monarchs from various countries who believed in the Messianic religion.

The Crusader Guard was fully equipped with Stein machine guns, while the divisions sent by various countries rode warhorses of superior breeds.

The Blazing Iron Cavalry and the knights dispatched by various countries were not incorporated into these divisions; the movement of armored knights on the battlefield was always kept secret.

The "Avalon Ship" also arrived on the battlefield. This tracked chariot was actually a war chariot, decorated with a golden cross on its top and armor made of a mixture of mithril and bronze.

The white-robed monks who were leading the way all picked up their hive muskets; they were also the Pope's royal guard.

In the past, popes would not easily appear on the battlefield.

They are God's servants, whose duty is to spread the doctrine and guide the world; combat is naturally the responsibility of the soldiers.

The noble cardinals were called "those in red robes," while soldiers were called "those in black robes," with those in red robes consciously considering themselves to be of higher status than those in black robes.

But this battle is different; it will rebalance the world's balance.

Everything was calm, though there seemed to be a hint of tension in the storm.

This is the highest level of warfare in the world, solemn and elegant, like a duel between nobles.

"What do you choose?" Zhao Qing gazed at the prelude to both tragedy and splendor, repeating the question with a smile.

The ground shook, as if an ancient ferocious beast was rushing out of the darkness. Chu Shunhua turned and walked towards his own position.

A dark blue steed emerged from behind him, trotting across the rain-soaked plains, its hooves kicking up arcs of mud.

Their eyes were blood-red, their huge nostrils spewed white vapor from beneath their iron armor, and they were nearly twice the size of an ordinary warhorse, clad in heavy armor—they were practically a mobile steel city!

Lin's troops immediately moved to the sides of the battlefield to make way for Feng's troops. The rampaging Kui dragon horse was difficult to control; if it blocked their path, even friendly forces would be trampled.

But in front of Chu Shunhua, the torrent formed by the Kui dragon horse was forcibly split open, bypassed him, and then closed up again.

Amidst the turbulent sea, he is a white reef.

The burly entourage planted the crimson dragon and phoenix banner behind Chu Shunhua. The banner fluttered in the rain, dragons and phoenixes soared, and thousands of spirited horses galloped past under its banner.

From this moment on, Chu Shunhua's position became the main camp of the Great Xia Army. Everyone could only move forward, and those who retreated would be shot by friendly forces behind them!

If Chu Shunhua's behavior were applied to someone else, it would seem pretentious, but for Chu Shunhua, it all seemed perfectly natural. He was the God of War of the Great Xia Dynasty, a legend in itself.

The more calm and detached he appeared, the more the warriors of Great Xia felt that he had victory in his grasp and that there was nothing to fear.

As the Wind Forces launched their charge, the Crusader Guard's Dragon Roar Cannons began their bombardment.

The shells left burning arcs in the air and scattered thousands of fragments as they fell to the ground.

Blood and flesh stained the wild alfalfa on the plains, and the priceless Kuilong horse rolled in blood and mud.

Like flowers of hell, blooming on the land of the living.

The stamen is bone, the petals are fire, and the nectar is wailing.

Lin's troops advanced from both sides of the battlefield, clearing a path for Feng's troops with a rain of arrows. Their black crossbow bolts fell like a storm, piercing through the Papal cavalry along with Stein's heavy machine guns.

On the Crusader's position, red mercury explosions rang out one after another. Trees swayed, and the light on the mountains and fields resembled erupting lava, immersing one in a chorus of thunder and fire.

“I choose both.” Rundstedt also gazed at the distant death, his purple eyes reflecting the end he had not yet reached: “The rain is heavy, the road is long, and there are many enemies, but I am willing to take up that gun and that sword, charge forward, and cut through this long night that has lasted for hundreds of years.”

Some people are born to enjoy a peaceful life, while others must bow their heads and exchange it.

“Then let’s go.” Zhao Qing nodded.

First, win the key battleground, join forces with Chu Shunhua to defeat the Crusader Guard, tear open the Vatican's iron curtain, and allow the victorious Great Xia army to occupy Marston. No matter how much importance is attached to the so-called "divine calamity" and it must be eliminated, the other side will be powerless to interfere.

What appear to be two separate things can actually be considered as one thing.

Being able to prioritize strategically and make appropriate choices is a basic requirement she places on her collaborators. Having the courage to face numerous formidable adversaries, however, is the true test.

While the "Seraph" far surpasses military armor, including the Seraph Iron Cavalry Type IV, it is by no means an invincible creation.

Its protection is merely beryllium bronze armor reinforced with mercury, far inferior to hard gold and ultimate metals—the latter having a density equivalent to gold, limited material availability, and even many exposed weaknesses, such as steam pipes and joints.

Normally, against a fully armed Seraphim cavalry, a single Seraphim could only fight ten against one.

Even someone hailed as the "King of Knights," with exceptional combat skills, couldn't possibly withstand the fierce firepower of a division, could he?
But so what?
"I have awakened the spirit within the sword; it will cut the darkness into dawn for you. Go, and ignite the embers of the old world!" Zhao Qing said as he saw him off.

Rundstedt removed his face armor, completed the final inspection of the Holy Lance equipment, and then leaped straight out of the vehicle.

In a daze, he recalled the day many years ago when he was first brought into the Minerva Agency—it was raining and night.

It was also a muddy path, with one deep step and one shallow one.

A series of pits, some deep and some shallow.

Like a series of ellipses forcibly pressed into the world.

It awaits future generations to fill in the missing roar.

"...We are surrounded by enemies, but not crushed; our paths are cut off, but our hope is not lost; we are persecuted, but not abandoned; we are struck down, but not killed. We always carry in our bodies the death given by God, that the life given by God may also be manifest in us."

step.

Two steps.

After three steps, he started running.

Facing a massive army, defying the judgment of an entire era.

The Longinus's stock rested against his shoulder, its four-meter-long barrel stretching across the rain. Crimson mercury boiled inside, emitting a low, dragon-like roar as flames, a storm, and bullets burst from the barrel.

The mithril bullet spun rapidly, its spiral tail fins detaching, its heavy outer shell breaking away, leaving only the finger-thick silver spike at its core, which shot towards the battlefield at supersonic speeds! This red-hot silver spike accurately hit its target.

It pierced through... the Ship of Avalon!

The explosion of the red mercury occurred two seconds later, and the Pope's chariot and the Avalon Ship, which could withstand heavy artillery bombardment, were reduced to fragments in the incandescent flames!
This was an agreement between Rundstedt and Chu Shunhua, for their shared ideal: to destroy that evil country.

The fireball rolled and rose into the rain curtain, like a crimson sun that had suddenly fallen from the earth, illuminating the dark clouds.

The shockwave swept across, blowing the suspended lamps to their sides and extinguishing most of the starry sky in an instant.

Ashes and iron filings swirled in the wind, landing on the heads of both sides' soldiers like an untimely black snowfall.

Rundstedt sped through the flying snow.

The seraph "Lord of Light" spewed thin blue flames from below his sides, like a pair of pale blue wings.

This is the result of the mechanical core operating at extremely high speed, with an output exceeding the standard by 300%, or even higher.

The flame's tip was red, shifting and changing like the glow of a sunset.

The rain was sliced ​​into pieces in the silence of the black sword, as if the earth itself dared not hold onto its shadow.

The second mithril bullet is already loaded.

……

"Is the one in those four large iron coffins called Omega?"

Zhao Qing calmly watched the charging figure, then stepped outside the car. Suddenly, he grew larger, exceeding a hundred feet in size, and extended a hand that glowed with a strange gradient of colors, which sucked and grasped the World Python Train in mid-air.

If you look closely at the edges of her silhouette, you'll see that the mountains in the background are stretched into noodle shapes, and the sky is shattered into an abstract painting—this is an Einstein ring under gravitational lensing.

Although in its normal form, the "Mirror Puppet" is not much different from ordinary people, when it uses its large-scale spatial capabilities, it naturally reveals special visual phenomena.

The most advanced and heaviest super train in the history of the Papal States was lifted into the air without deforming or falling apart, and followed Zhao Qing's steps toward Marston.

In most people's minds, heavy trains can only move along the tracks, so the interceptors guard key crossings and steadily advance along the railway line, thinking that as long as they can choke the "monster" that is trying to escape, they can make it submit.

Little did they know that a deity had already placed a piece on the chessboard of the mortal world.

The logic of the world was casually bent by Zhao Qing tonight.

……

In the blink of an eye, the Wangli Mechanical Engineering College was within easy reach.

The remnants of lead-gray clouds were torn apart by the gale, revealing the cold moon behind them.

The train descended from the sky, raising a light dust cloud upon landing.

With a light leap, the porcelain doll Xiao Shi arrived at the last carriage. Without searching for or using the key, she placed her hands on the 12-centimeter-thick mithril alloy wall and tore it open.

Belon's black iron key is not qualified to open it.

The temperature in this carriage was lower than in the others. A hazy mist of carbon dioxide rose from the deepest part of the carriage, scattering intensely under a flashlight and creating circular iridescent lights.

The top and side walls are engraved with holy symbols and words, indicating that this place is protected by divine power.

Deep within the carbonated mist, something sprawling and branching out was faintly visible, like the skeleton of a giant spider lurking in the deepest part of the carriage, ready to launch an attack at any moment.

That grotesque-looking thing was actually some kind of machine. It was suspended above the carriage and had eight sharp iron claws. You can imagine how powerful those thick claws were when they tightened. Even a seraphim probably couldn't escape its control.

The machine was covered in mottled gold patterns, as if gold paint had been splashed on it carelessly.

The ground was covered with similar patterns, like golden chrysanthemums painted using the Eastern ink-splashing technique.

Directly beneath that machine stood four enormous iron coffins. The shape and material of the coffins were no different from the Knight's Coffin, but they were twice the size, and the lids were reinforced with silver metal clamps.

Frosty brass pipes continuously pumped carbon dioxide gas into these iron coffins, so the steel chamber was filled with mist.

"Sleep now, never to wake again. You have been buried, you have been saved, your loved ones are weeping for you, your journey in this world has ended. Rather than clinging to the past, forget it."

Zhao Qing had already shrunk back to normal and entered this place as well, reading the variant runes in the holy emblem on the coffin lid.

All four iron coffins are decorated with reliefs and gold leaf, with angels wrapped in six golden wings, as if guarding them.

The angel's eyes are inlaid with silver, and when viewed from different angles, they appear to have a kind of "gaze". The wings are made of pieces of gold foil, which are shimmering and colorful.

These iron coffins are priceless works of art in themselves. Compared to these four iron coffins, the plain "Seraph" iron coffins outside are simply coffins used by ordinary people.

The contents of the Knight's Coffin were already priceless, so what amazing things must be inside these four enormous iron coffins, each twice the size and kept highly secret?

Could it be that there are special armors that are more than three meters tall?
Loosen the silver metal clamps at the four corners of the iron coffin, then lift the nearly ton-heavy coffin lid, and the contents inside are finally revealed.

An indescribable fragrance spread out.

The moment it enters your nose, it feels like warm water washing over your limbs and bones, as if your soul is being penetrated by that delicate fragrance.

Whether it's the ambergris, musk, and sandalwood of the East, or the rose, citrus, and laurel balm of the West, they are all dust compared to this fragrance, making the smeller feel as if they are in Eden at the beginning of creation.

……

"Welcome! Welcome to our Knight King's presence at Marston Royal Mechanical Academy! Unparalleled glory! Unparalleled glory!"

Loud applause erupted from the darkness, accompanied by extremely arrogant language and dance-like steps.

This is Dasmond, who claims to be helping the Duke's sister find a school. He obtained a document certified by the Vatican and is staying temporarily at the Mechanical Academy specifically for his deal with Rundstedt, which involves hijacking a car and selling a large number of "Seraphim".

Because he had a witch at his disposal who could potentially save "White Moon" Tilan, the audacious Darthmond secretly contacted a traitor, intending to pull off this unimaginable deal.

In fact, he was well prepared. His dozens of followers were armed with weapons such as repeating guns, which allowed him to quickly take control of nearly a thousand teachers and students in the school. By taking these children of high-ranking officials and nobles hostage, he made the Papal States hesitate to act and retreat calmly.

In this battle, he will become an idol for thugs all over the world. Further, he can become a high-ranking leader of the Satanic cult, or at the very least, he can sell "Seraphim" to those important figures who crave it.

But the gears of fate never shift even an inch because of the meticulous calculations of ants. Dasmond's smile froze on his face.

What he saw was not the wounded and battered knight king who had rushed to this place as he had expected, but a white-clad girl standing quietly at the crack in the carriage. Raindrops pierced through the hole, shattering into finer mist on her delicate glazed surface. Her eyes were devoid of sorrow or joy, reflecting his suddenly contracting pupils.

"Good evening," Xiao Shi said, her voice clear and melodious like a jade chime. "Your dance steps are out of rhythm."

Dasmond's Adam's apple bobbed as he tried to give an order, but found himself unable to make a sound.

Not only him, but also his followers behind him, who were holding repeating guns, were as if they were sealed in invisible amber, frozen in place, their limbs numb, their joints dry, and even their eyes unable to move.

Only the bulging veins on their foreheads and the surging fear in their eyes proved that life had not yet left them.

……

"It turns out that it is a tool for guiding souls to 'heaven'."

Gazing at the elegant and beautiful golden mobile armor, Zhao Qing sighed, "Finally, the first mystery is revealed..." (End of Chapter)