Rejecting Tsinghua and Peking Universities: I Will Lead Harbin Institute of Technology to World Lead

The northern sky was covered by a flowing cloud that shimmered with cold metal and a ghostly blue energy. It was not a cloud, but a dense formation of hundreds of Shadow Shuttle assault ships. The deep hum of their engines converged into a chilling sound wave, like the breath of death, rolling in from the Arctic and overwhelming China's airspace.

Following closely behind were dozens of massive Poseidon-class capital ships, each as large as a moving mountain. Their dark blue hulls reflected a dangerous gleam in the sunlight, and their main gun arrays radiated destructive energy waves poised to be unleashed, like ancient behemoths emerging from the deep sea, exuding an ancient savagery and majesty.

This sudden, overwhelmingly large fleet was witnessed by the people along the coast and in the north of China. Fear, like ice water, instantly chilled the hearts of countless people.

"What...what is that?!"

"Airplanes? There are so many airplanes!"

"Aliens...are aliens attacking?!"

"Run! Hide!"

Panic briefly erupted on social media, but thanks to long-term national defense education, efficient grassroots organization, and prior secret evacuation plans, chaos did not spread widely. After the initial shock, most people quickly and orderly evacuated to underground bunkers, civil defense facilities, or to safer inland areas, following the drills. On the streets, only patrolling troops and emergency vehicles with flashing lights remained. The entire country, like a beast that had suddenly coiled up and bared its fangs and claws, entered the highest level of wartime readiness.

This scene was also captured by the remaining satellites and reconnaissance systems of the three major federations. Panic also spread within them, but there was more of a sense of relief at surviving a catastrophe and a gloomy wait-and-see attitude.

In the Western Federation's underground command center, the president stared at the chilling images of the fleet on the screen, first taking a deep breath, then feeling a twisted sense of excitement.

"Have you found out? What is it? Has China provoked an extraterrestrial civilization?" the president asked urgently.

"There's no news yet," the intelligence officer said hoarsely. "Preliminary assessment indicates this is the main fleet of an unknown, technologically advanced civilization! Their target is clearly China!"

"No news at all?" The president glanced at the other person but ultimately did not blame him.

He looked at the fortified defenses along the Chinese coast and the sporadic takeoffs of fighter jets on the screen, then at the enemy fleet that blotted out the sky, and a crazy idea began to grow uncontrollably.

"Are our Sun God and War Lord ready?" The president turned to his chief of staff, a dangerous glint in his eyes.

"The first batch of twelve Apollo mechs are ready for combat, and three warlord mech squads are deployed along the eastern coastline, ready for action!" The chief of staff said confidently. "Mr. President, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"

"That's right!" The president stood up abruptly. "Let the world see who the real saviors are! Order the Sun God Squadron to take off immediately and stand by in the high seas and airspace near China! War Lord Forces, prepare for long-range deployment! We must strike while the aliens and China are both exhausted... no, we must take the initiative, crush these invaders, save China, save the world! Let everyone know that the Free Nation has returned! The world needs our leadership and protection!"

An order, a mixture of ambition, vanity, and opportunism, was issued from the Western Federation. Twelve ornately painted, flamboyantly designed Apollo fighters roared into the sky from their secret base, trailing long plumes of flame, and sped towards the Pacific Ocean. Three massive transport plane formations also began loading the enormous warlord mechs.

The Northern and Southern Federations chose silence and observation. The Northern Bear's high command, looking at the massive fleet, was ashen-faced, knowing their remaining forces were no match for it. They could only order their border troops to be on high alert and send a telegram of moral support to China, but without any substantive content. The Southern Federation was in complete chaos, overwhelmed by its own problems.

The world's attention, both overt and covert, is focused on the skies above northern China. There, the fate of this planet is about to be decided.

China, the highest wartime command center.

Elder Li, high-ranking military officials, and Lin Feng, who was remotely connected, were all in position. On the huge panoramic screen, real-time images of the enemy fleet, energy analysis charts, the deployment status of friendly forces, and a simplified global situation map were displayed in segments.

"What was bound to happen has finally happened." Old Li's voice was calm, yet carried an iron will. "The enemy has come out in full force; they're determined to finish us off in one fell swoop. Good, it saves us the trouble of searching everywhere."

He looked at the operations commander: "Execute the Sky-Piercing Plan!"

"Pangu System, full power activated! Kuafu System, provide all combat units with the highest precision guidance and early warning!"

"Nezha Defense Network, fully activated! All upgraded units, check final status!"

"Golden Crow Weapon System, first combat deployment, prepare for enemy engagement!"

"The national air defense and anti-missile system has entered automatic engagement mode! Prioritize the safety of civilian evacuation routes and core facilities!"

A series of orders were issued methodically. The war machine of China, which had been preparing for this moment for months, was fully operational.

Next came the display of power.

From dozens of bases along the coast and inland, over two hundred Fuxi fighters, upgraded with Nezha armor and equipped with Golden Crow laser weapons, took to the skies simultaneously like a startled swarm of bees! Their new silver-gray paint gleamed coldly in the sunlight, and the newly installed Golden Crow laser cannons beneath their noses reflected a dangerous light. The massive formation quickly formed multiple attack squadrons in the air, bravely charging towards the dark clouds pressing in from the north!

On the ground, more than one hundred White Tiger-I type powered armors emerged from various concealed strongholds, their vector thrusters spewing out scorching flames as they rose from the ground like steel giants, forming a second three-dimensional defense line on the ground and in the low air.

However, the most breathtaking scene appeared in the higher heavens.

The four Xuanyuan-class space carriers unknown to Atlantis—"Fuxi," "Shennong," "Suiren," and "Youchao"—have simultaneously deactivated their optical and energy cloaking abilities!

Their massive hulls, stretching 1,200 meters in length, resembled four suddenly appearing aerial fortresses, slowly descending from the clouds and hovering in the four strategic directions of China: east, west, south, and north! The silver-gray hulls gleamed in the sunlight, and on the enormous decks, more Fuxi fighters were being launched. Around the island superstructure, densely packed vertical launch units and the new Golden Crow laser close-in weapon system were already in place. Most striking were the enormous main guns located on the hull and bow—scaled-down shipboard versions of giant directed-energy weapons designed based on Wukong theory for orbital strikes. At this moment, the muzzles were already subtly aimed at the enemy's main fleet approaching from the north!

The appearance of the Xuanyuan warship acted like a stabilizing force, instantly calming the panic among the Chinese people and announcing to the world the strategic power that China possessed that was ahead of its time.

All of this was also observed by the rapidly approaching Atlantis fleet.

Inside the command center of the Poseidon flagship, Atlas's arrogance and disdain cracked for the first time when he saw the four towering, mountain-like Xuanyuan space carriers. His pupils contracted slightly, and the energy readings from the warship's scanning system made him feel unprecedented pressure.

"Report to the Commander-in-Chief! Four large enemy aerial platforms detected! Energy level... extremely high! Assessed as strategic units! The number of enemy fighters and ground forces far exceeds expectations, and their energy characteristics... are similar to our weapons, but seem... stronger?" The reconnaissance officer's voice trembled with disbelief.

"Those metal cans and aircraft seem to be equipped with some kind of new defense and weapon system, and their energy reaction patterns are unfamiliar!" the weapons officer added.

Nereus's face darkened: "Commander, it seems this insect civilization is far more troublesome than we imagined. Not only were they well-prepared, but... their technological advancement is abnormally rapid."

Atlas recovered from his brief shock, his eyes burning with an even more intense, yet more cautious, fighting spirit.

"So what?!" he growled. "They've only stolen a few tricks from us and made a few larger toys! They're still no match for the true power of Atlantis! Order: Vanguard Shadow Shuttles, spread out and launch a surprise attack to harass and probe their defensive firepower! Poseidon Fleet, charge your main cannons and aim at the four largest enemy platforms! Abyssal Beast Pens, prepare to open and unleash the second and third waves of berserk beasts to attack their ground facilities and cities!"

"Let these ants on the earth understand in their despair—"

"Divine punishment has arrived!"

At Atlas's command, hundreds of Shadow Shuttle assault ships suddenly accelerated and dispersed, swarming like locusts, launching the first wave of probing attacks towards China's air defenses. The bow guns of dozens of Poseidon-class capital ships began to unleash a chillingly bright beam of light.

Inside the belly hatch of the Poseidon, countless eyes gleamed with a bloodthirsty red light in the darkness, and deep roars and the scraping sounds of the armor blended together...

Dark clouds loomed over the northern sky of China, foreshadowing an imminent thunderstorm.