The system is the proficiency panel - 268: Gathering

Xiao Ningxue stood on the top of the East Gate Arrow Tower, her white hair slightly fluttering in the morning breeze, her eyes cold and firm as she swept over the army assembled below.

"Ningxue."

Luo Youran's voice came from behind, gentle but with a hint of fatigue. Xiao Ningxue turned around and saw her dancing in purple clothes, holding a jade box in her hand. The green jade talisman in the box emitted a faint halo.

"This is the last batch of psychic amulets."

Xiao Ningxue took the jade box and gently rubbed the talisman with her fingertips, feeling the spiritual power contained in it. She looked up at Luo Youran and asked.

"Is the Silver Thunder Force ready?"

Luo Youran looked outside the city. In the morning light, seven hundred silver-gray mechas were arranged in a square formation. The twenty-meter-tall steel bodies glowed with cold light, the thunder crystal core on the chest pulsated slowly, and the psychic converter on the back emitted a light blue halo. In the cockpit, the mortal warriors were nervously conducting the final system check, their faces full of determination, even though they knew the danger of this trip.

Xiao Ningxue's eyes swept over these mortal warriors, and a complex emotion rose in her heart. She had argued fiercely with Luo Youran before - the casualty rate of using mortals to drive the Silver Thunder mecha was too high.

"Silver Thunder was born for cost-effectiveness, so that the weak can have the capital to fight against the strong. The driving difference between mortals and monks is acceptable. The biggest difference is the side effects that will be endured afterwards... Using mortals' lives to replace monks' is the most realistic option."

She took a deep breath, suppressed the waves in her heart, and said calmly.

"The test data is very stable, and the firepower coverage is enough to suppress the low- and mid-level demons in the abyss."

At this time, a low horn sounded from the city. Pu Jianxing stood in the air, the long sword behind him humming, the sword aura was awe-inspiring. Behind him, 434 foundation-building cultivators in the realm of mind lined up and waited, their spiritual power fluctuating like the tide. On the side, the demon clan team was led by the demon king Qingniao and Feng Tian, ​​and 100 demon clan warriors stood silently, with fighting spirit flashing in their eyes.

Xiao Ningxue leaped down from the tower, her white hair drawing a silver arc in the morning light. She landed steadily in front of the army formation, and when she looked up, Tianshu City was already suspended in the sky, casting a huge shadow.

For safety reasons, she decided to bring the entire Tianshu City to the battlefield. This would not only allow them to repair the damaged Silver Thunder mechas, but also provide a safe base for the two thousand mortal warriors.

"Let's go!"

Pu Jianxing's voice spread all over the land. Xiao Ningxue controlled Tianshu City to slowly operate, carrying everyone to the southern continent. She looked back and saw Luo Youran's figure gradually blurred in the morning sun and finally disappeared.

At the edge of the abyss crack, strong winds were howling and dark red sky light covered the entire area.

Xiao Ningxue stood on a temporary platform, her white hair flying in the wind. She looked at the troops gathered below with a cold gaze - seven hundred Silver Thunder mechas were neatly arranged, with complex array patterns etched on the silver-gray shells, and a faint blue light was emitted under the erosion of the abyss, like a steel forest.

“How stable is the crack?”

She turned her head and asked Yu Yue beside her.

"It is more stable than expected. The seal is strong enough for us to pass safely. The four Jindan Zhenren have arrived and are waiting for your combat briefing."

She paused and added in a low voice.

"However...some people still have doubts about the strength of the Silver Thunder mecha."

A hint of coldness flashed across Xiao Ningxue's eyes.

In the conference tent, the four Jindan masters were already in place. Pu Jianxing closed his eyes to rest, the long sword on his back trembling slightly; Shi Zhe from Tianyan Sect was talking to Daoyan in a low voice, his expression solemn; Ji Xiang from Lingtian Sect was playing with a fire bead, with a scrutinizing look in his eyes; Wan Junfei and Yun Shitian from Wuji Palace were staring at the abyss map on the sand table, their brows furrowed.

"Everyone."

Xiao Ningxue walked into the tent and everyone immediately quieted down.

She raised her hand and waved it, and a three-dimensional projection appeared on the sand table.

"The vanguard troops are composed of four real people and seven hundred Silver Thunder mechas. The follow-up troops will follow after they gain a foothold."

Ji Xiang suddenly spoke, his tone full of doubt.

"Xiao Ningxue, do those iron lumps really have the power to build a foundation in artistic conception? Isn't it too risky to let mortals drive them into the abyss?"

There was a commotion in the tent, and it was obvious that many people had the same question.

"Hu Lingling."

Hu Lingling, who had been standing in the corner, stepped forward and handed over a metal box. Xiao Ningxue opened the lid of the box, and dozens of photo stones were neatly arranged inside.

"These are the test records of the Silver Thunder mecha."

She threw the image stone into the air, and the image unfolded instantly - the Silver Thunder mecha shuttled at a speed of twenty Mach, the plasma cannon easily pierced through the black iron rockery, and the laser sword cut off the foundation-building level defense artifacts... In the picture, the combat performance of the mecha was not inferior to that of the artistic conception foundation-building cultivator.

Xiao Ningxue's voice became a little colder.

"If anyone still doesn't believe it, you can go ask Yu Shui Zhen Jun in person."

Ji Xiang laughed dryly and waved his hand.

"Miss Xiao, you are joking. Since it is a plan approved by True Lord Yu Shui, we naturally have no objection."

Xiao Ningxue put away the photo stone.

"The vanguard troops will set out at noon tomorrow."

……

The next morning, in the open space in front of the crack, the 700 Silver Thunder mechas had completed their final inspection. Next to each mecha stood a mortal driver, whose souls had been restricted by the monks to ensure their loyalty.

"It's incredible... that a mortal can possess such power."

"Daoyan!"

Yun Shitian strode over, his golden armor gleaming in the morning light.

"I heard that you met Jiang Yuan in the abyss?"

"He is being corroded and controlled by the black energy, and is in great danger."

Yun Shitian wanted to say something but stopped himself. Finally, he sighed, turned around and left.

"Attention all!"

Xiao Ningxue's voice spread throughout the camp through the formation.

The four Jindan masters flew to the crack first, and seven hundred mechas started up at the same time. The psychic converters emitted a low hum, like giant beasts awakening. Xiao Ningxue stood on a high place, watching this spectacular scene - the silver-gray steel torrent followed the four Jindan masters and slowly entered the dark red crack.

When the last mecha disappeared into the crack, Xiao Ningxue turned and walked towards another team ready to go. Half an hour later, she said in a deep voice.

"It's time for us to set off."

After passing through the teleportation array, the scene before her eyes caused Xiao Ningxue's pupils to shrink slightly -

The 700 Silver Thunder mechas formed a tight formation. When the plasma cannons fired in unison, a blue torrent of energy swept across the battlefield like a raging wave, tearing a huge gap in the charging demon army. As the laser swords were swung, the broken limbs of the demons flew everywhere. The mechas cooperated tacitly, clearing the remaining demons on the battlefield that had survived the attack of the Golden Core Master like harvesting wheat ears.

"Establish a defensive circle!"

Pu Jianxing's voice echoed over the battlefield.

"Formation Master, start setting up!"

"Success!"

A formation master shouted excitedly.

However, Xiao Ningxue did not relax. She looked beyond the battlefield and towards the dark red horizon in the distance. There, a larger shadow was vaguely moving...

"This is just the beginning."

At the same time, deeper in the abyss, the figure of Nexus emerged from the shadows. His scarlet eyes stared at the battlefield in the distance, and a sinister smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"Come on, cultivators... let me see how long you can hold out."