Shao Qi didn't have much desire to subdue them. He knew all too well the invaders' intentions. They weren't worth his effort. But he still offered them a chance to live, "If you promise to abandon this mission and leave our borders immediately, I guarantee your safety."

"No way!" A group of soldiers ran over, their uniforms identifying them as the previous guards here. Stopping Shao Qi was a middle-aged officer with a well-groomed beard, looking competent and sharp.

Frowning at the fully-covered foreigners, he thought of the many of his men killed by them. How could they be allowed to leave?

"Sir, you have no authority to release these invaders. They've killed our soldiers. They should either die or become prisoners."

Having just come from the main entrance, Shao Qi knew it was close to being overrun. If another group of foreigners entered, they'd be caught in a pincer attack. With casualties inevitable, it was better to deal with this group first.

If they agreed to his proposal, he'd let them leave the city first. But getting back to their homeland unscathed wouldn't be easy.

After this mission, he could also travel abroad to see what conditions were like elsewhere, though, from what he'd seen, situations seemed comparable everywhere.

"Colonel Qin, how many men can you mobilize?" Shao Qi presented his credentials and briefly explained their mission. Although Qin Xun didn't recognize Shao Qi, he knew of a team coming to assist them. Indeed, they seemed skilled. The leader exuded a strong aura, probably military too. And the young man on the roof was a psychic controller. With teammates like these, victory seemed assured.

A loud explosion. The gate was blasted open, and vehicles drove into the base. Orel removed a needle from his thigh, relieved it wasn't poisoned. Jumping down from the roof, he laughed at Shao Qi, "Looks like we'll be disappointing this gentleman. We're not the only ones after the satellite. Your men can't stop all of us. Attack!"

Zhou You, from his vantage point, had a clearer view. The convoy was flashy, impossible to overlook. He leaped from the roof toward it. Shao Qi directed a team to intercept, drawing his sword at Orel, "If you wish for death, so be it."

Aul raised his hand in defense, only to realize his strength was utterly overwhelmed. Though the blade didn't split his gauntlet, he was pushed back several steps. Blood streamed from his wounded leg, and he nearly lost his balance.

So powerful!

This man's strength was different from the frail one earlier; it was more aggressive. Just one strike determined the outcome.

Shao Qi's blade drew a circle on the ground. An entire section of the floor levitated and remained suspended, leaving the onlookers in stunned disbelief, suspecting some magic at play.

With a single swing, Shao Qi shattered the slabs into tiny pebbles that swirled into a ring. Everyone was baffled by his intention. But then, they looked up to see a bolt of lightning tearing through a clear sky, sizzling as it descended.

"What kind of technique is this?" Even the martial artists present had never seen such a move. Only Colonel Qin appeared contemplative, as if trying to recall something.

The pebbles shot towards the opponent like bullets. Despite appearing fragile, no one dared to underestimate these tiny stones after the earlier spectacle. And was it just their imagination, or did the stones seem to shimmer with a faint glow?

Shao Qi unsheathed his blade again, causing a whirlwind of sand and obscuring everyone's vision. Aul, with his keen hearing, pulled a teammate and rolled away. Where they once stood, an explosion had created a crater. How could stones explode like explosives?

They managed to avoid the explosion, but many were left with no choice but to shield themselves with their bodies and weapons. Though their bulletproof vests protected against external injuries, many suffered internal ones and struggled to rise.

"Yong...An? It's...him?" Qin Xun was in utter shock. Why would he come in person? And not leading a regular army, but a band of unmatched experts. Nevertheless, their arrival was timely against these foreign invaders.

The sound of gunfire rang close. Cutting through the dust with his blade, Shao Qi said to Qin Xun, "Subdue them. Tie them up for now."

Instinctively, Qin Xun saluted. "Yes, sir!"

Shao Qi gave a reassuring smile and patted Qin Xun's shoulder, "Stay calm. We'll protect the satellite today."

"Follow me!" Shao Qi rushed towards the source of the gunfire. Rounding a corner, he was warned by Zhou You to be cautious.

A beam of laser aimed right at him. Probably alerted by their footsteps.

Shao Qi took a step back, halted the ones following him, quickly assessed the surroundings, and directed his team to various hiding spots for a coordinated assault.

Miao Miao and their teams dispersed. Shao Qi spotted a laser beam targeting his location, leaped to climb a wall, and the protective barrier that just shielded him was obliterated. Their opponents' weapons were clearly more advanced.

But superior weaponry doesn't always decide the outcome of a battle. The foreigners' advanced arsenal was defeated nonetheless.

Zhou You reached Shao Qi and said, "Their armor is incredibly durable, made of some unknown material. They also have wrist devices controlling robots. I suspect they carry other powerful weapons."