Super God Golden Crow Record

Chapter 52 Foundation

More than seven hundred people were scattered across seven nearby asteroids. They had shelter and enough food, but not enough weapons, armor, or men capable of fighting. Keisha sat by the campfire, a hand-drawn star map spread out in front of her, marking Hua Ye's troop deployments, patrol routes, and outpost locations. The dense markings made Liang Bing feel a little dizzy.

"Sis, can't we take a couple of days off and relax?"

Keisha didn't even look up. "By the time you recovered, Hua Ye would have already come knocking on your door."

Liang Bing immediately shut up.

Zhao Chen walked over and sat down by the fire. He looked at the star map in front of Keisha, then at the tattered armor and short swords seized from the mine in He Xi's hands, and spoke.

"You have three things to do now."

Keisha immediately looked up, appearing interested. He Xi also stopped what she was doing, waiting for what was to come. Liang Bing also leaned closer from the side, looking like a curious child.

Zhao Chen looked at He Xi. "First, technology. You lack equipment, weapons, and armor. Hua Ye has these things, but you don't. You need to study these technologies, thoroughly disassemble their systems, and then create your own."

He Xi didn't speak, waiting for him to continue.

Zhao Chen looked at He Xi. "Second, divine bodies. Are you currently in the first or second generation?"

He Xidao said that we are all now. "Early stage of the second generation."

Zhao Chen nodded. "Hua Ye is at the peak of the third generation. He's two major realms below." He paused, "The technology for divine body modification is on Tiancheng Star. Hua Ye's weapon workshop and research center are there. We can't get these things yet."

He Xi looked at him. "Then why did you bring this up?"

Zhao Chen looked at her. "Let me show you what you're lacking. Equipment is something we can make now, the divine body is something we'll make later. Two paths, take the one you can take first."

Zhao Chen then looked at Keisha. "Third, the army. More than seven hundred people, but less than half of them are capable of fighting. These people need training, organization, and strengthening. They need someone to lead them in battle. They can't just hide here forever; they need to go out and fight guerrilla warfare, seize supplies, and gain experience."

Keisha nodded.

Zhao Chen looked at Liang Bing. "Fourth, we're short-handed. Relying solely on those rescued from the mine isn't enough; we need to let those female angels who are still observing know that someone has stepped forward. The message needs to be spread, and people need to be recruited."

Liang Bing was taken aback. You mean, "I'll go?"

Zhao Chen looked at her. "You have the loudest voice."

Liang Bing stood there, speechless, unsure whether to be angry or happy. Meanwhile, Keisha's lips secretly curled into a smile.

He Xi continued to look down at the armor plate in her hand. "For technical matters, I need equipment. Dark copper furnaces, energy testing platforms, and engraving platforms. These things aren't available in the mines; they're all on Tiancheng Star. Hua Ye's weapons workshop and research center are there."

Zhao Chen looked at her. "I'll figure out the equipment. You do what you can first."

He Xi stared at him for a few seconds. "Without equipment, relying solely on manual labor will result in very slow progress."

Zhao Chen didn't speak, but poured out several pieces of dark copper ore from his storage ring and took out a captured short sword. "Tell me how to do it, and I'll do it. No need for a furnace, I'll use fire. No need for an engraving platform, I'll use a knife. Draw the energy circuit, and I'll engrave it accordingly."

He Xi stared at him for a few seconds. "With your hands?"

A wisp of pure Yang true fire rose from Zhao Chen's palm, enveloping a piece of dark copper ore. The ore began to soften slowly, and the impurities within were burned away, turning into wisps of blue smoke that drifted away. Then Zhao Chen handed the softened metal to He Xi. "You draw the lines, I'll carve."

He Xi reached out and took the piece of dark bronze, examining it closely. The texture was uniform, without any cracks. After a moment of silence, He Xi picked up a small knife and drew the first line on it. He instructed, "Deeper. If you carve too shallowly, the energy circuit will be broken."

Zhao Chen took the knife and began carving, stroke by stroke, following the lines she had drawn. He Xi stared at Zhao Chen's hands, watching him finish the first stroke. "Too deep. Half-deep."

Zhao Chen immediately started carving again. But He Xi still shook her head. "Too shallow. One-tenth deeper."

On the third attempt, He Xi finally nodded. "That's it."

Zhao Chen channeled a wisp of magic power, and the energy circuit slowly lit up. He Xi picked up the short sword beside her and slashed down forcefully. The blade bounced off, leaving only a white mark on the armor plate. Putting down the short sword, He Xi took out her notebook and made a few notes.

"Continue. Shoulder armor."

Zhao Chen nodded.

Liang Bing passed by the cave entrance and glanced inside. Zhao Chen was squatting on the ground carving something, while He Xi sat opposite him drawing blueprints. Neither of them spoke, one carving and the other watching. Liang Bing then pulled her head back in and silently turned to leave.

Keisha was training her troops outside. She divided the hundreds of women into several teams, having them take turns training, patrolling, and standing guard. Some of the female angels couldn't even hold their swords properly, some ran out of strength halfway through a strike, and some had their hands chafed raw by the hilts, bleeding but remaining silent. Every now and then, Keisha would walk over, take a female angel's hand, and help her straighten her grip on the hilt.

"Strength comes from the tiger's mouth, not the wrist."

The female angel gritted her teeth and nodded. Keisha released her grip and took a step back. "Again."

Liang Bing led a team out to wage guerrilla warfare. They chose one of Hua Ye's supply depots, and with fifty men, they sneaked in under cover of night, killed more than a dozen guards, burned half the warehouse of supplies, and escaped unscathed. When they returned, Liang Bing was running at the front, her face covered in blood, but her expression was one of pure excitement.

"Sis! We've taken down a supply depot!"

Keisha nodded and asked, "How badly are you injured?"

Liang Bing paused for a moment before turning around to look. "Three minor injuries, nothing serious."

Keisha didn't ask any more questions.

As the news spread, some of the female angels who had been observing began to waver. Some secretly ran away to join Keisha, some brought them supplies, and some passed on messages. Within a week, dozens more arrived. Keisha stood in the camp, looking at the new faces. Liang Bing counted heads beside her.

"Sis! Almost eight hundred people!"

Keisha did not speak.

Inside He Xi's cave, the lights stayed on until late into the night. Zhao Chen squatted on the ground, carving the last piece of armor plate, while He Xi sat opposite him, a blueprint covered in lines spread out in front of her. After finishing, Zhao Chen put down his knife. He Xi picked up the armor plate, examined it several times, and then placed it on top of the pile of finished pieces beside her.

"That's enough for now."

Zhao Chen looked at her. He Xi didn't look at him, but kept her head down, tidying up her tools. "Thanks."

Zhao Chen didn't speak. Instead, he reached out and gently grasped her wrist.

He Xi paused for a moment, then looked up at Zhao Chen. She didn't pull away or flinch, just stared at him.

"Let go," He Xi said coldly.

Zhao Chen not only didn't let go, but also raised his other hand, held He Xi's nape, and lowered his head to kiss her.

He Xi didn't close her eyes. She raised her hand, neither pushing nor grabbing. When Zhao Chen let go, she quietly looked at him, her voice calm.

"Didn't you hear me say 'let go'?"

Zhao Chen looked at her pretty face, which was filled with murderous intent, and mumbled, "I heard you."

He Xi stared at Zhao Chen for several seconds, then suddenly withdrew her hand. "Take the finished armor out to Keisha." Then, as she walked to the cave entrance, she stopped without turning back.

"If you dare to do that again, don't blame my sword for being blind."

He left after saying that.

Zhao Chen sat in the cave, staring blankly at the pile of armor, without moving.

Outside, Liang Bing was munching on dry rations by the campfire when she saw He Xi emerge from the cave, followed by Zhao Chen carrying the armor. She mumbled, "Sister He Xi, is the armor finished?"

He Xi ignored her and walked up to Keisha. "Twenty sets, enough for now."

Keisha took a set of clothes to try on and stretched her arms. "It works." She looked at He Xi, "Keep going."

He Xi nodded. "We have enough materials, but it will take time." With that, she turned and left.

Liang Bing crept over quietly, grabbed a set of clothes, and started putting them on. "Sis, can I have this one?"

Keisha glanced at her. "Practice your swordsmanship first."

Liang Bing pouted. Zhao Chen neatly arranged the remaining armor and sat down by the fire. Keisha flipped through the star map without even looking up.

"What's wrong with He Xi?"

Zhao Chen looked at her. "Nothing's wrong."

Keisha didn't ask any more questions. Liang Bing was trying on the armor beside her, muttering, "It fits pretty well." In the distance, He Xi's cave lights came on again. She didn't come out again.

It was late at night. Keisha was still looking at the star chart, while Liang Bing had already gone to bed. Zhao Chen sat by the fire and glanced in the direction of Hexi Cave. The light was still on. Then he silently looked away.