Chapter 29: Yingjiang's Probe

After completing the replication of one hundred "Ascending Dragon" fighter jets, Qin Hao welcomed a rare period of leisure.

At the national level, it seemed to have entered a high-speed "digestion phase," with countless tests, verifications, and personnel training being carried out secretly and urgently.

Qin Hao's existence was like pressing the fast-forward button; now the entire state apparatus needed time to adapt to this sudden acceleration.

For over ten days in a row, there were no new replication tasks.

During this period, Old Luo called; the conversation didn't involve any specific matters, merely like a kind elder advising Qin Hao to rest well, not to put too much pressure on himself, and incidentally to accumulate more Energy Points for emergencies.

Qin Hao enjoyed the leisure; each day, besides monitoring the growth of system Energy Points, he would read the news and chat with Cheng Haitang, leading a rather pleasant life.

The Energy Points in his account were also steadily increasing at a rate of sixty to seventy million per day, quickly breaking through the ten-billion mark again.

Remaining 1.2 billion Energy Points.

That afternoon, the sunshine was just right.

To the southeast of Yanhuang Guo, above the azure sea, the sky was cloudless for thousands of miles.

At that moment, four Yingjiang Guo Y-35 fighter jets, like four sharp daggers, in an extremely aggressive formation, silently crossed an invisible line and intruded into Yanhuang Guo's Air Defense Identification Zone.

Yingjiang Guo, Air Force Headquarters.

On the huge electronic screen, the flight data and tactical situation diagram of the four jets were being displayed in real time.

"Ghost Squad, report the situation."

Air Force Commander General Marcus held a cup of coffee and asked in a relaxed tone.

"Reporting, Commander, the 'Ghost' Squad has reached the target airspace; everything is normal. The weather here is really nice, more comfortable than Hawaii's sea breeze."

Over the radio came the slightly teasing voice of squad leader William.

A low chuckle rose in the command hall.

For them, this operation was more like an armed parade.

The purpose was simple: to force Yanhuang Guo's new fighter named "Ascending Dragon" to take off, then use the Y-35's powerful sensor array,

without direct conflict, to gather as much of its radar, infrared, and electromagnetic signal data as possible.

"Don't be careless, William."

Marcus took a sip of coffee, "Our intelligence shows that the stealth performance of that 'Dragon' might be decent."

"Don't worry, General."

Another pilot interjected, "In the face of the Y-35's radar, any stealth is just a joke. I'm really curious whether that 'Dragon' dares to come out and say hello to us."

They were overconfident.

As their nation's newest fighter, they naturally had full confidence.

In their view, Yanhuang Guo's "Ascending Dragon," no matter how hyped, was nothing more than a beginner just learning to walk, an imitator.

As time passed minute by second.

One minute…… five minutes……

The four Y-35s loitered in the target airspace, as if taking a stroll in their own backyard.

Their radars remained on, combing the airspace like a comb over and over, but the radar screens showed nothing besides a few civilian signals.

"General, there's nothing detected in the target airspace."

William's tone grew more flippant, "Looks like that 'Dragon' is a sleepy dragon, still napping in its lair."

General Marcus suddenly furrowed his brow, "That shouldn't be."

Given Yanhuang Guo's consistent hardline stance, facing this level of provocation, it was impossible to have no reaction.

Could it be that the "Ascending Dragon" is merely a showpiece, lacking any actual combat deployment capability?

Just as that thought flashed through his mind, an abrupt change occurred.

"Good God! What is that?!"

"Ghost Four! At your right wing, three o'clock!"

"I see it too! Left! There's one on my left as well!"

Over the radio, the pilots' relaxed tone vanished, replaced by extreme shock and undisguisable panic.

At the Yingjiang Guo Air Force Headquarters, everyone sprang to their feet, staring fixedly at the main screen.

Through the real-time footage transmitted from the fighter cockpits, they witnessed a scene unforgettable for a lifetime.

Four silver-gray "Ascending Dragon" fighter jets, at some point, had silently appeared around the Y-35 formation, tightly enclosing them in the center.

They were like four ghosts that had drilled out of the void; the nearest one was less than a hundred meters away.

At that distance, the pilots could even see the cold, indifferent eyes beneath the opponent's canopy.

Almost as the naked eye caught sight of the "Ascending Dragon," the cockpits of the four Y-35s were pierced by a shrill radar warning.

The red "LOCK" label flashed wildly on the screens.

"We're locked on! We've been locked on!"

William's voice trembled with disbelief!

"My radar shows no abnormality; how did they do that?"

At that very moment, a voice came through the public channel, clearly reaching each pilot's ear and echoing in the command hall of the Yingjiang Guo Pacific Air Force Headquarters.

"This is the Yanhuang Air Force; your aircraft has illegally invaded our airspace. Immediately change course and withdraw from our Air Defense Identification Zone. Otherwise, we will take further measures!!"

This emotionless warning, combined with the lock-on alarm, instantly shattered the psychological defenses of the Yingjiang pilots.

Their prized stealth advantage, in the face of the "Ascending Dragon," became the biggest joke.

General Kuss almost shouted the order: "Retreat! Ghost Squad, retreat immediately!!"

The coffee cup in his hand clattered to the floor and shattered.

Even without his command, several pilots had already gone cold with fear.

They almost instinctively shoved the control sticks forward; the four planes fled the formation in disarray, escaping at full thrust toward the direction they had come.

And the Yanhuang Guo side neither pursued nor attacked them.

They simply held their original formation, watching as the four arrogant Y-35s fled in panic.

Only when their tail flames disappeared at the horizon did everything calm down.

General Marcus slumped back into his chair, his whole body icy cold.

He knew, something major had happened.

They weren't there to collect data; they went to actively submit a report certifying "We are not as good as you".

Meanwhile, on the Yanhuang Guo side, Li Hongtao, the pilot of the Ascending Dragon fighter, was reporting the situation to the Command Headquarters.

"Calling headquarters, calling headquarters, Divine Dragon Squad has completed the interception mission, now requesting return."

He soon received a reply.

"Headquarters received it, approves return, welcome you home."

On the return journey.

"Captain, those four little eagle chicks just now really ran fast."

"The Number Two pilot, voice holding back a laugh, said, 'I just saw that kid's terrified expression; I bet he'll need to change his pants when he gets back.'"

"Enough, cut the chatter. Keep formation, don't get carried away—this is a real combat sortie for the Ascending Dragon fighter, a good start."