Chapter 451 - 300: Longevity Sword Technique Refines Vitality, Jiangbei Titans Lock Down Dragon’s Fang

A sentry tower on the Dragon’s Fang Port Breakwater, along with its concrete base, was instantly sheared in half by a high-energy beam fired from beneath the water.

Rubble mixed with twisted rebar rained down like hail on the port’s container area, sparking a flurry of panicked curses and a mad dash for cover.

"Goddamn Jiangbei bastards! Those sons of bitches actually opened fire!"

Liu Zhen stood behind the bulletproof glass of the Command Tower, his bloodshot eyes glued to a pair of binoculars, locked on the sea’s surface two kilometers away.

There, three jet-black warships, shaped like giant steel whales, floated silently on the water.

The menacing rams on their bows and the countless launch tubes lining their hulls proclaimed them to be nothing less than killing machines.

These were the trump card of Jiangbei Fortress City—Titan Level Deep Dive Cruisers.

Surrounding these steel behemoths were a dozen or so humanoid Mecha, each over five meters tall.

Riding on some sort of jet propulsion system, they skimmed across the surface of the sea, executing high-speed zig-zag maneuvers.

"BZZT—"

A harsh burst of static crackled in the command room, followed by a lazy, drawling voice on the public channel, filled with undisguised mockery.

"Oh, my apologies, my apologies.

The waves are so big, our fire-control radar was a bit ’off.’ We accidentally clipped one of your guard posts."

The veins on Liu Zhen’s forehead throbbed violently. He snatched the comms unit and roared:

"Zhao Heihu, cut the bullshit!

These are the territorial waters of Dragon’s Fang Port, under the jurisdiction of East Sea City!

You’re trespassing!

Pull back fifty kilometers immediately, or we will consider this a declaration of war!"

"A declaration of war? That’s a rather serious accusation."

The voice laughed even more wildly.

"We’re just conducting routine ’deep-sea exercises’ in international waters.

As for territorial waters... heh, according to the latest geological survey, that ’Broken Star Reef’ that just popped up thirty kilometers east of Dragon’s Fang Island...

...well, its tectonic plate is connected to our Jiangbei continental shelf.

How did it end up becoming yours?"

"Bullshit! Those are fragments spat out by the compression of the Dragon Abyss Space!"

Liu Zhen was so furious he slammed his fist on the table.

"That’s your version of events.

In any case, during these exercises, this sea zone is under lockdown.

Any unauthorized vessels or Flying Devices that enter the exercise area will be responsible for their own consequences."

The communication was cut unilaterally.

Immediately after, as if receiving some command, the dozen or so Mecha on the sea ignited their thrusters. Eerie blue exhaust plumes flared from their backs as they shot toward the skies above the port like arrows released from a bow.

"Air-raid alarm! All hands to battle stations!" Liu Zhen roared.

The anti-aircraft emplacements around the port instantly roared to life.

Six-barreled Spiritual Energy Machine Cannons spat long tongues of flame, and several short-range anti-aircraft missiles screamed forth trailing smoke, weaving a dense web of firepower.

However, a scene of utter despair unfolded.

A pale blue, watery shield materialized around each of the Jiangbei City Mecha.

PING PING PING PING!

Large-caliber machine cannon rounds struck the Shields, only to be deflected by a strange, yielding force that sent ripples across their surfaces.

As for the missiles, before they could even get close, the Mecha would nimbly dive into the water.

These contraptions, known as "Titan Battle Armor," were a specialty of Jiangbei City.

Their core power source wasn’t the Spiritual Energy Batteries commonly used by East Sea City, but a special crystal from the "Titan Secret Realm"—the Titan’s Heart.

This material gave the Mecha an extremely strong Water Attribute affinity.

In the water, they were more agile than fish.

Out of the water, their Energy Shields could drastically weaken the damage from kinetic weapons.

A few seconds later, two Mecha burst from the water in a blind spot on the other side of the port.

The pods on their shoulders sprang open, not to launch missiles, but to fire several high-pressure water-cutting beams.

"HSSSSST!"

Two of the port’s recently repaired Spiritual Power generator units were sliced in half as if they were made of tofu.

Billows of black smoke rose into the air, and the lights in half the port district went out instantly.

Their sabotage complete, the two Mecha didn’t linger. Their thrusters blasted, tracing a provocative arc through the air before they dove back into the deep sea, leaving only a trail of white bubbles behind.

"Damn it! This is an impossible fight!"

Wang Qiang slammed his helmet on the ground. The adjutant, who normally remained calm no matter the pressure, now had a look of utter frustration on his face.

"These bastards are as slippery as eels. They fire a few shots and dive right back into the water.

Our anti-aircraft fire can’t break through their Titan Shields in time.

By the time we’ve drained half their energy, they just dive back into the sea to recharge!"

"It’s such a cheap tactic!"

Liu Zhen lit a cigarette and took a harsh drag. The acrid smoke swirled in his lungs, barely suppressing the rage burning in his chest.

"There’s nothing we can do. In the sea, on the home turf of their Titan Technology, we’re at a huge disadvantage."

Liu Zhen watched the cruisers flaunting their power outside the window, his voice growing hoarse.

"Our East Sea City relies on the Floating Crystals mined from the Suspended Mountain Secret Realm. We’ve gone the route of the Sky Fleet.

If we were fighting on the inland plains, my airship fleet would’ve bombed them into scrap metal by now."

"But this is the sea. It’s their home turf."

Ever since Jiangbei Fortress City cleared the Deep Sea Titan Secret Realm eight years ago and acquired the Titan Technology that allows them to move freely in high-pressure environments, our East Sea City has been at a constant disadvantage in the fight for marine resources.

Our East Sea City fighters may be fast, but they’re useless against Deep Dive Cruisers submerged three hundred meters underwater.

Depth charges?

They have highly maneuverable Titan Battle Armor escorts that intercept the charges before they can even reach the bottom.

Meanwhile, Jiangbei City’s fleet can blockade the surface with impunity, even sending up Mecha for surprise attacks every now and then.

"So what exactly is at that ’Broken Star Reef’?"

Wang Qiang couldn’t help but ask.

Jiangbei City had mobilized an entire flotilla, even risking a skirmish that could escalate into a full-blown war between the two Fortress Cities, all for a reef that had appeared less than three days ago.

"I don’t know, but it’s definitely something good."

Liu Zhen blew a smoke ring, a sharp glint in his eye. "Intel says that place ’flaked off’ the barrier of the Dragon Abyss Space.

You know how it is with a high-level Secret Realm like Dragon Abyss.

Even the scraps that fall off it might contain Tier Four or even Tier Five Spiritual Materials."

"Men die for wealth as birds die for food. When those paupers from Jiangbei see a piece of meat, of course they’re going to pounce."

Just then.

"WHOOM—"

The piercing sound of an alarm blared once again.

"Report! On the port’s perimeter, supply airship designated ’Albatross-3’ is under attack from an unknown source!"

Liu Zhen and Wang Qiang’s faces fell. They rushed to the viewing window.

In the distant sky, a transport airship belonging to East Sea City was trailing black smoke.

Its massive gasbag had several large gashes torn in it, and it was listing precariously as it fell toward the ground.

Surrounding the airship were five Titan Battle Armors, circling like a shiver of predatory sharks.

They continuously hammered the airship’s weak points with Particle Cannons and small missiles.

"Bastards! They dared to attack our supply ship!"

Wang Qiang was trembling with rage.

"Save them! Quick! Assemble a rescue team!"

Liu Zhen, his eyes nearly splitting with fury, roared into the comms unit.

But it was too late.

With a massive explosion, the airship—carrying desperately needed medicine and food for Dragon’s Fang Port—

disintegrated in mid-air, becoming a giant fireball that crashed into the wasteland outside the port.

Inside the Command Tower, everyone stared at the pillar of fire rising into the sky, their teeth gritted, filled with indignation and humiliation.

"Sir... we..."

A young staff officer looked at Liu Zhen, his voice trembling.

Liu Zhen said nothing. He simply turned around slowly.

From the wall, he took down the "Tiger Soul" Battle Saber that had been his companion for over twenty years.