At five in the afternoon, Jiang Wuming and Wu Yong arrived at the communication base of the Loulan Legion by off-road vehicle.
The base was thirty kilometers away from the ancient city of Loulan, resembling a small military camp, and belonged to the communication battalion base of the Loulan Legion's support regiment.
Including the Loulan Legion, the Military Department had six major legions, with a structure slightly different from the regular army. Under each legion were regiments, under regiments were battalions, and under battalions were squadrons.
Jiang Wuming learned from Wu Yong that the Loulan Legion's establishment had remained unchanged over the years, always comprising three thousand people divided into ten regiments. Excluding the legion's high command, each regiment had approximately three hundred people.
"Wuming, do you want to rest before we leave, or switch vehicles and go directly?"
After the car entered the Loulan Legion's communication base, Wu Yong asked Jiang Wuming.
Because the area within thirty kilometers of the Loulan Legion was a special zone where all electronic systems were rendered inoperable, the two had to switch to specially made vehicles at the communication base.
"Uncle Wu, let's go directly," Jiang Wuming replied.
"Alright. Xiao Xu, we'll switch vehicles and go directly."
Wu Yong nodded and then gave instructions to the young man driving the car.
"Yes, Chief!"
The driver, Xiao Xu, was Wu Yong's personal guard and had been stationed at the Loulan Legion for years, unaware of external affairs and also not knowing Jiang Wuming.
Earlier, when he saw Jiang Wuming carrying the Zhan Shen Blade at the airport, he was astonished.
At this moment, seeing his superior seemingly "obeying every word" of Jiang Wuming, he was even more shocked: Who exactly was this kid, younger than himself? Why was he carrying the Zhan Shen Blade? Why was the Chief listening to him? What was he doing in the ancient city of Loulan?
Questions flooded Xiao Xu's mind. Before he could figure anything out, the car entered the military camp.
Inside the camp, most members of the entire communication battalion were already lined up, all wearing the same black combat uniform and looking spirited.
"Greetings, Chief!"
As the car stopped, the driver Xiao Xu alighted first, opened the rear door, and Wu Yong stepped out. The soldiers of the communication battalion greeted them loudly, their voices echoing across the military camp.
"I'm switching to another vehicle to head back to the ancient city. You don't need to mind me; continue your work." Wu Yong waved his hand, giving instructions.
"Yes, Chief!"
The soldiers of the communication battalion responded loudly but did not immediately disperse to their posts. Instead, they all turned their gaze towards Jiang Wuming, shock evident in their eyes!
Yes...
It was shock!
As soldiers of the communication battalion, they were different from the driver Xiao Xu – they were responsible for the legion's communication and intelligence gathering!
Due to their job functions, each of them was well-informed about the dynamics of the Dragon Country and the global martial arts world.
They not only knew Jiang Wuming but also knew about his exploits, including his outstanding performance in the martial arts practical combat competition of the recent Global Martial Arts Conference!
At this moment, they all recognized Jiang Wuming and were concurrently curious: What was Jiang Wuming doing here?
The next moment, before they could find an answer, Jiang Wuming followed Wu Yong into another specially made vehicle.
Simultaneously, the expressions of those communication battalion soldiers changed again!
Just like the driver Xiao Xu earlier!
This was because they too had seen Jiang Wuming carrying the Zhan Shen Blade!
Subsequently, under their shocked gazes, that specially made vehicle drove out of the military camp.
"Why is Jiang Wuming carrying the Zhan Shen Blade?"
"With the Zhan Shen Blade on his back, he's going to the ancient city with the Chief. Is he taking over the Loulan Legion?"
As the car departed, some soldiers from the communication battalion couldn't help but voice their doubts.
After their words fell, they invariably turned their gaze to the commander of the communication battalion.
"Although Jiang Wuming is hailed as the most powerful martial arts genius in the global martial arts world and has become the pride of the Dragon Country's martial arts scene, he is still only a Two-Star War God and is not qualified to take over the Loulan Legion!"
The commander of the communication battalion stated with absolute certainty.
The Loulan Legion was the only combat legion of the Dragon Country, and every Legion Commander was a Five-Star War God.
Among them, Jiang Zhan had even surpassed a Five-Star War God and was once hailed as the new "invincible in the human world"!
Jiang Wuming's strength was not yet sufficient!
"Commander, I think he not only lacks the qualification to take over the Loulan Legion but even lacks the qualification to wield the Zhan Shen Blade – even though he is our Legion Commander's son!"
Following the commander's words, another soldier from the communication battalion said.
"That's right!"
The words of that soldier were met with the agreement and endorsement of everyone.
This was because, in their hearts, Jiang Wuming was an outsider – not belonging to the Loulan Legion!
Their conversation was also overheard by Jiang Wuming and Wu Yong, who were already far away.
Wu Yong wanted to say something, but he glanced at Jiang Wuming from the corner of his eye. Seeing Jiang Wuming's calm expression, he swallowed the words that were about to be spoken.
Ten kilometers after leaving the military camp, Jiang Wuming noticed a gray and black area ahead, appearing as if there was a massive tornado.
"This area experiences hurricanes every day, so the legion specially built a tunnel that leads directly to a point five kilometers outside the ancient city," Wu Yong explained when he saw Jiang Wuming's confusion.
"Are there no hurricanes around the ancient city?" Jiang Wuming asked curiously.
"No. The area within five kilometers of the ancient city of Loulan enjoys pleasant weather. It's very strange, and the specific reason is something that even meteorologists and scientists cannot figure out," Wu Yong replied with a shake of his head.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Wuming said nothing further, his curiosity about this ancient city growing even stronger.
Half an hour later, the specially made vehicle passed through the long tunnel and then drove a short distance further, arriving at the foot of the ancient city.
This was an ancient city with a long history, covering an area of about ten square kilometers.
The ancient city was built with blue bricks. The city walls were dozens of meters high, and the city gates were dilapidated, bearing the marks of corrosion by time.
The ancient city was situated between two large mountains, and further ahead, a snow-capped mountain piercing the clouds, its peak obscured from view, stood directly in front.
"Wuming, do you want to see Uncle Zheng first, or go directly to see your parents?"
As the car was about to enter the city gate of the ancient city, Wu Yong asked. He knew that Jiang Wuming's primary purpose for this trip was to pay respects to Jiang Zhan and Ye Jinmei.
"Uncle Wu, I'll see Uncle Zheng first. Also, I'd like to get out and walk around the ancient city, to have a look," Jiang Wuming said.
"Alright."
Wu Yong nodded and then said to the driver, "Xiao Xu, park the car at the entrance of the ancient city and drive back by yourself."
"Yes, Chief!"
Xiao Xu complied and parked the car at the entrance of the ancient city. After Jiang Wuming and Wu Yong alighted, he restarted the car, muttering to himself: The Chief said that fellow was here to find his parents, but inside the ancient city, besides the legion soldiers, there were no outsiders, nor any couples – who were his parents?
Could it be...
The next moment, Xiao Xu seemed to realize something, his expression suddenly changed, and then some of the puzzles in his mind were resolved.
At the same time, accompanied by Wu Yong, Jiang Wuming stepped into the ancient city that his parents had once sacrificed their lives to protect.
Unlike some ancient cities in the real world, this ancient city did not have rows of shops. There were no pedestrians on the streets, making it seem very quiet and desolate.
"There used to be shops in the ancient city, but now they have all become dormitories for the soldiers. Apart from the soldiers, there are no other people in the entire ancient city," Wu Yong acted as a guide, explaining to Jiang Wuming, "The soldiers train and practice outside the city during the day, and only return to the ancient city to rest after nightfall, day after day, year after year."
"They've always been here? They don't go back to visit relatives?" Jiang Wuming asked.
"According to the legion's regulations, all soldiers who joined the legion signed confidentiality agreements and wills before coming, and they would not leave, effectively becoming soldiers guarding the frontier. After the divine war ended twelve years ago, the extraterrestrial enemies have not descended, so the legion changed its regulations, granting each regiment a certain number of chances to visit relatives during the Spring Festival," Wu Yong said.
Hearing Wu Yong's words, Jiang Wuming felt a surge of respect.
This was not a peaceful world; it was merely that some people were silently guarding it, keeping ordinary people away from war and danger.
Just then, the sound of uniform footsteps echoed from ahead. Over a hundred soldiers marched in two columns towards them. They wore identical black armor, like soldiers of ancient armies. One soldier carried a large banner with the words "Vanguard Regiment" written on it.
"That is the Vanguard Regiment under the legion," Wu Yong introduced to Jiang Wuming, while also casting a slightly peculiar glance at the four people at the front of the formation.
Jiang Wuming followed Wu Yong's gaze and also saw the four individuals. It was a group of three men and one woman. Apart from the man leading them, who was middle-aged, the other three were not old.
Just then, including those four, all three hundred soldiers of the Vanguard Regiment also noticed Wu Yong and Jiang Wuming. Their gazes were mainly focused on Jiang Wuming. This was because Jiang Wuming's face was unfamiliar to them, and he was not wearing armor, making him appear like an outsider. Only one person was an exception.
Lin Xiao!
"Jiang... Jiang Wuming? Why is he here?!" Lin Xiao, one of the four leading figures, exclaimed in disbelief upon seeing Jiang Wuming, as if he had seen a ghost in broad daylight!