Chapter Thirty-Three: The City of Machines

"Is it really an advanced mechanical civilization?"
Wang Yinlong looked at Wang Yuan, seeking confirmation again and again.
Wang Yuan appeared utterly composed.
"I saw it with my own eyes. It was a mechanical city shrouded in an energy shield, with only a single entrance.
There was a robot guard at the gate, incredibly formidable.
Our team had over a hundred people, and we tried everything, but none of us could get in.
I suspect there are no intelligent lifeforms inside, otherwise, they wouldn't let us run wild outside.
So, if we can break through that robot guard, there's a good chance we'll gain something significant."
Wang Yinlong nodded slightly and asked, "And then? How did you escape?"
"The team I was with belonged to a New Human Technology company. After several failed attempts to deal with the robot guard, the team leader decided to contact the regular army for help.
I was on the fringe of the team, so even though I volunteered for the task, I wasn't approved.
Seeing them go to contact the military, I had no choice but to sneak away under cover of night."
Wang Yuan spoke sincerely.
Yet Wang Yinlong's brow remained furrowed; something about the story felt off.
Just then, Wang Yuan leaned in and whispered a few words.
Upon hearing them, Wang Yinlong's pupils contracted instantly. Then he nodded gravely.
"I understand."
He asked no further questions, turning immediately to summon all the legion commanders and deputy commanders, as well as the chief strategists, calling out to Chen Nian as well.
Moments later, dozens of people gathered and began discussing their next move.
"You escaped about five hours ago… so, barring any surprises, they’ve probably already contacted the regular army.
Which country’s army is it?"
Someone inquired.
"It's a small country. The regular army entering here is at most twenty thousand men.
Right now, I'd guess they're on their way to the mechanical city.
But I can't be sure whether they'll contact armies from other countries.
If they don't see anyone returning after chasing me, there's a chance they'll do it.
Still, it would take other armies some time to arrive."
Wang Yuan replied.
"Let me calculate how long it’ll take us to get there."
Zhao Hu, commander of the Black Tiger Legion, spoke as he drew rows of squares on the ground.
"We’ll need to pass over a hundred teleportation arrays, and the mechanical city itself covers a vast area. But the distance we actually need to travel on foot is just a few dozen kilometers to reach the teleportation arrays—it won’t take more than a few hours.
If they arrive first, they might set up defenses near the teleportation arrays.
Wang Yuan, what’s the terrain like over there?"
Zhao Hu looked up and asked.
"It’s a vast grassland, endless as far as the eye can see."
Wang Yuan answered.

"If it’s grassland, they likely don’t have materials to set up strong fortifications, unless they bring them from elsewhere—which would slow them down.
So, we should be able to teleport directly to the arrays near the mechanical city."
"Right, then the plan is simple. We just move our main force straight there."
Another legion commander agreed.
"Any further questions?"
Wang Yinlong scanned the crowd, his voice steady.
Everyone was silent.
Wang Yinlong summed up, "So, the situation is this: we've discovered a city of advanced mechanical civilization. If we move our main force, we might encounter regular armies from other countries, and our base-building will slow down.
But if we don’t go… why did we come to this virtual realm at all?
Now, those in favor of marching the main force, raise your hand."
He raised his own hand first.
The others followed suit, and within seconds the decision was unanimous.
Before entering, they had been specifically instructed to pay special attention to advanced mechanical and genetic civilization artifacts.
Because the products of these two civilizations could potentially integrate with human civilization.
If acquired, they might be immediately usable.
With artifacts from other advanced civilizations, humans might not even know how to use them.
It’s like tossing an airplane into ancient times—you can’t expect people to replicate it.
The gap between civilizations is too vast; no matter how advanced the artifact, it’s meaningless for humanity.
That’s why this mechanical city is especially important.
"Then return and give orders: leave two thousand men at the base, everyone else grab supplies and march straight to the mechanical city!"
Wang Yinlong issued the command decisively.
Everyone dispersed at his words.
Soon, over three hundred thousand space soldiers began to mobilize in the woods.
Since each teleportation array could transport that many at once, Wang Yinlong devised ten teleportation routes, sending troops from all directions to the mechanical city’s vicinity.
...
Three hours later.
The teleportation array at coordinates 826, 609 glowed. A space soldier cautiously stepped out.
Seeing no one around, he quickly retreated back.
Moments later, the array erupted like a fountain, with waves of space soldiers emerging.
Upon leaving the array, each soldier sprinted ahead to clear the way for those following.
Wang Yinlong stepped out.
All around was endless grassland.
But the most striking sight was three towering structures in the distance, reaching into the clouds.
It was too far to discern their nature, but above each was a suspended blue sun, its brilliance rivaling that of the virtual realm’s sun.
"It truly is a mechanical city!"
Wang Yinlong whispered in awe.

He had expected to find some impressive technological artifacts in the early days of the virtual realm, but never imagined…
An entire city!
"Move quickly, make way for those behind!"
Wang Yinlong ordered loudly, taking the lead.
The Silver Dragon Legion’s thirty thousand men emerged first, following close behind.
Even this single legion stretched for several kilometers.
As the distance closed, the mechanical city grew clearer.
Upon reaching a slightly higher ground, Wang Yinlong finally saw the city in full.
Those three structures were not buildings, but three giant robots, each hundreds of meters tall.
Each robot held up one hand, supporting the blue sun.
The blue sun radiated light, wrapping the entire city in its glow.
In addition, before the city lay a massive shadow.
Chen Nian, always at Wang Yinlong’s side, witnessed this and spoke in his mind, "You have sharp eyes; why don’t you take a look?"
"Alright, let me try."
The voice replied internally, and Chen Nian’s vision sharpened rapidly.
The distant scene grew ever clearer…
Especially the shadow before the city.
At first, the shadow was still, but as Chen Nian’s vision improved, it began to move.
...
"Damn!"
Upon seeing the shadow clearly, another self in his mind cursed under his breath.
Chen Nian, sharing the view, was shaken.
It wasn’t a shadow at all.
It was people.
To be precise, a sea of people.
Judging by the scene, the team Wang Yuan had belonged to not only contacted their own nation’s regular army but also reached out to others.
And likely, when Wang Yuan fled, they weren’t sure if the pursuers would catch him, so they made the decision in advance.
Otherwise, it would be impossible to assemble so many so quickly.
From this, Chen Nian sensed a terrifying resolve.
He reflexively turned around; behind him, the space army stretched for dozens of miles—a sea of people as well.
A sea of people… vast grassland… mechanical city…
At that moment, his heart sank uncontrollably.