Chapter 131: The Storm Approaches! Bai Xiang and Eagle Countries' Joint Exercise?

July, in the underground base of Dragon Chant, the screen in the central command hall no longer showed complex technical parameters or 3D designs.

Instead, it was split into dozens of windows, broadcasting live news feeds from around the world.

Feng Yan stood before the screen, hands tucked into his lab coat pockets.

His gaze was calm, sweeping over the blatantly biased headlines on the screen:

"Eagle Country announces deployment of the Mountain Hound exoskeleton; joint exercise shows outstanding performance, mountain warfare rules may be rewritten!" — Eagle Country Global Military Network.

"Technological leap! Military experts say the Mountain Hound now surpasses China's Chengshan model in mobility and sustained firepower." — Europa Defense Weekly.

"The cornerstone of peace: Bai Xiang Country and Eagle Country's Holy Ridge joint exercise is about to begin, aiming to maintain regional stability and security." — Bai Xiang State News Agency.

The anchors and commentators spoke nonstop, while the background footage kept switching to Eagle Country soldiers wearing sharp-edged gray-green exoskeletons.

Footage of them nimbly maneuvering, climbing steep slopes, and shooting precisely in simulated mountain terrain.

That Mountain Hound exoskeleton indeed shows traces of the Chengshan Guard.

But its joint structure and armor layout have been clearly altered, giving it a more aggressive appearance.

"The public opinion war has already begun." Secretary Lin, in a professional suit, walked up to Feng Yan.

Accompanying her was the commander responsible for base daily security and the Dragon Cavalry Guard, a middle-aged man with general's stars on his shoulder tabs, Lei Jindong.

"Petty clown." Lei Jindong snorted, his voice like muffled thunder.

"You take our intentionally released, castrated old design—with its energy core and materials process stripped—and cobble together a freak, then dare to claim total superiority?"

"Who gave them the nerve?"

Feng Yan's mouth twitched slightly, but he didn't respond.

What Lei Jindong said was indeed true.

Back then, to draw out the snake, we also wanted potential rivals to waste resources on the wrong technical path.

The Chengshan Guard data leaked to the dark web had its key parts heavily altered with misinformation.

Eagle Country's reverse-engineering capability is indeed impressive; they can build a functional Mountain Hound based on that, but to surpass the original?

That's nothing short of daydreaming.

"The key is their intention." Secretary Lin pointed to a window on the screen where the map coordinates had suddenly been magnified.

"The exercise zone is set on the western border, near the McMahon Line. Here the terrain is rugged, the climate harsh, and it has long been a disputed area."

On the screen, the satellite map clearly showed three Bai Xiang Country battalion-level units equipped with Mountain Hound exoskeletons.

Under the pretense of exercise, they were rapidly maneuvering toward our side of the traditional border line.

Their vanguard units had even crossed the actual control line, establishing temporary observation posts and fire points on our territory.

"Using the exercise as a cover, they're actually nibbling away." Lei Jindong's eyes were sharp as a hawk.

"Same old trick. This time, they merely think they have a new toy that can suppress our border troops."

"The frontline border defense units have issued warnings repeatedly, but the other side turns a deaf ear." Secretary Lin pulled up internal communication records, her tone grave.

"They're still restrained for now, but provocations keep escalating. With Eagle Country's Mountain Hound backing them, Bai Xiang soldiers' morale is arrogant."

The hall fell silent at once; everyone present realized this was no longer a simple border skirmish.

This is Eagle Country backing Bai Xiang from behind, using it to make a naked probe and display of force against Longguo's recent rise in high-end equipment, especially the Dragon Chant series technology.

"What do the higher-ups mean?" Feng Yan finally spoke.

"Fight!" Lei Jindong said tersely, his fist instinctively clenching.

"We must fight, and fight beautifully, so they dare not cross the thunder pool even half a step again!"

"We'll trample them in the mud using the very way they're most proud of!"

Secretary Lin nodded and added: "The higher-ups in principle agree to use the Dragon Fang Special Task Force.

"But there are two requirements: first, control the scale—this is 'exercise versus exercise,' not all-out war; we must show strength while also occupying the moral high ground."

"Second, ensure the technological demonstration is overwhelming—not just to win, but to let the whole world see exactly where we prevail."

She looked at Feng Yan: "President Feng, the core of the Dragon Fang is our newly developed mech; for this operation, the higher-ups mean for you to serve as technical chief commander and on-site coordinator."

"Commander Lei handles military command and mobilization of the Dragon Cavalry Guard."

"Understood." Feng Yan nodded.

This arrangement was as expected; the Dragon Fang Special Task Force was originally conceived as a rapid-response force for such high-tech, low-intensity conflicts.

"Do we need to hold a meeting to deploy?" Secretary Lin asked.

"No large-scale meeting needed." Feng Yan turned and walked toward the elevator leading to the core experimental area.

"Notify Chen Guang, Wang Hao, Zhao Kaiyuan—Tactical Preparation Room No. 3."

"We need to make a final tactical adaptation based on the specific environmental data and enemy equipment parameters sent back from the front."

"All right!"

Tactical Preparation Room No. 3.

On the holographic sand table, the terrain of the border conflict area was clearly projected.

Mountains rose and fell, gullies crisscrossed, vegetation was sparse.

Chen Guang pushed up his black-frame glasses, his fingers swiftly swiping the holographic interface to call up an enlarged model of the Mountain Hound exoskeleton.

Beside it were listed a series of performance parameters obtained via satellite and high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft.

"Peak thrust output is about eighty-five percent of our first-generation Chengshan Guard."

"But the power system is clearly inadequate; under high load, continuous combat time won't exceed forty minutes."

"The armor is titanium-ceramic composite; it can stop rifle rounds……"

His tone carried a hint of a technician's nitpicking, as if evaluating a shoddy knockoff.

"Enough." Wang Hao grinned.

He was carefully loading a specially coated shell into the rear launch bay of his personal enhanced Iron Wolf Assault Mech.

"With just this level of skill, it's not enough for my 'hunting falcon' to intimidate even once."

"I guarantee, one shot will hit the soul, making the whole lot bow down and sing of conquest."

Zhao Kaiyuan pointed at several marked strong electromagnetic interference zones and complex airflow belts on the sand table:

"The mountainous weather conditions are complex, which will affect the field‑strength stability of the energy shield and the attenuation effect of laser weapons."

"I need to deploy a few micro weather monitoring stations at the front line, transmitting data in real time, so we can dynamically adjust shield parameters."

"Chen Guang, your laser modules should also have corresponding power fine‑tuning contingency plans."

Feng Yan stood at the main position of the sand table, listening to the team's efficient and professional discussion, his gaze falling on the glaring red dots on the table that represented enemy units.

"The opponent relies on numerical superiority and the 'mountain hound's' individual mobility in complex terrain," he said slowly, his voice echoing in the preparation room.

"They intend to use the forces of three battalions to create a locally overwhelming advantage, forcing us to retreat.

Or… to 'showcase' their new equipment in front of our regular troops, aiming for an international technical humiliation."

He paused, looked at Chen Guang: "Therefore, our response must fundamentally destroy their reliance."

"Old Li, your 'Mythic Beast', is the protagonist of this play."

Li Yang: "No problem! The 'Mythic Beast‑1 type' new equipment's dragon‑scale armor, those Eagle Country guys' individual weapons can't even scrape paint off it."

"Power comparison? Ha…" He rapidly tapped the virtual keyboard with both hands, pulling up a simulation animation of the 'Mythic Beast' airborne deployment.

"Commander Lei, how is the 'Dragon Rider' guard preparing?" Feng Yan connected to Lei Jindong via the communicator.

"Three 'Mythic Beast' units, twelve 'Iron Wolf – Assault Type' units, and the corresponding logistical support units have completed the final combat‑readiness inspection and can be loaded onto the 'Kunpeng' heavy transport aircraft at any time," Lei Jindong's voice was decisive.

"All members of the 'Dragon Fang' task force are on standby, awaiting your side's final tactical plan and equipment parameters to be uploaded."

"Very good." Feng Yan nodded, "Notify the crew and the task force: assemble at the top‑level base airfield in three hours."

The order was issued swiftly.

The entire Dragon Chant base resembled a precision clock wound tight, each department beginning high‑speed operation.

Ground crew guided the massive 'Kunpeng' transport aircraft to slide into the designated spot, and the logistical masters inspected the securing locks over and over.

Three colossal machines over four meters tall, painted with dark dragon patterns — the 'Mythic Beast‑1 type' heavy mecha.

Dragged by a tow vehicle, they emitted a low rumble, slowly moving into the transport's massive cavity.

Following closely were twelve 'Iron Wolf – Assault Type' mecha, whose lines were sharper, resembling mechanical feral wolves.

Feng Yan, Chen Guang, Wang Hao, and Zhao Kaiyuan also changed into specially made deep‑blue combat suits, heading toward the dedicated high‑speed transport that would carry them to the front line.

In front of the boarding ladder, Secretary Lin hurried over, handing a freshly decrypted document to Feng Yan.

"This just came from intelligence: the latest command copy from the Eagle Country military advisory group to the White Elephant front‑line commander," she whispered.

"The order contains only one sentence: 'Go ahead, the technological gap is your confidence.'"

Feng Yan took the document, scanned it, lightly tapped the four characters for 'do as you please' with his fingertip, then passed the document back to Secretary Lin.

He said nothing, merely turned and stepped onto the ladder.

The alloy sole of his boot struck the metal stairs, producing a crisp, resolute echo.

The cabin door behind him closed slowly, separating Yanjing's clear sky from the base's cool interior.

The transport accelerated on the runway, the powerful thrust pressing everyone into their seats.

Feng Yan looked through the narrow porthole, watching the base structures whizzing below and the distant city skyline.

Technological gap?

Confidence to do as you please?

He closed his eyes, and in his mind rose the image of a 'Mythic Beast' mecha leaping down from ten‑thousand‑meter altitude.

Like a mythic punitive beast, trampling all daring ruffians beneath its iron feet.

"Soon, you will know…" Feng Yan murmured in his mind.

"Who, then, is the gap itself."