Even on flat ground, it takes a long time to walk for nearly a kilometer, let alone on this suspended stone steps. And they have to withstand the strong crosswinds wrapped in clouds and mist, trying to maintain their balance, resist the fear of the heights, and carefully step and settle down.

"One misstep becomes a thousand hatreds" should be used in this situation at this time. If you are not careful, you will be pulled by the powerful gravity of the planet "Taiji" from an altitude of more than 7,000 meters to the hell of death.

Although they were both well-trained Imperial soldiers, both Bridgeman and Azay faltered on the unbelievably suspended stone steps. Especially Captain Jiang Ziyue, who had been in space for too long, trembled slightly in the face of the surging hanging stone steps, and almost struggled to follow behind.

"We're stupid." Omar Azai's words of dissatisfaction and frustration came from the whirring wind, "Captain, I would have let the Bodhi Ye take us directly to the pavilion in front of us. ”

The words of his subordinates immediately reminded Jiang Ziyue, and he shouted happily: "Omar, you are right. Call the Bodhi Leaf for support immediately.

"Captain!" Felix Bridgeman, who was further ahead, turned his head and exclaimed with disdain and mockery, "Can't the captain of the Empire even conquer this little hanging stone staircase?" ”

It's not that he has noble sentiments, and it's not out of respect for the holy places of Buddhism, but that he has other plans in his heart.

Jiang Ziyue didn't know what the imperial intelligence officer was fizzling in his heart, but he was angered by the other party's words. As a recipient of the Imperial Medal of Courage, how could he flinch in front of this small hanging stone staircase? If you have to rely on the help of the aerospace plane to spread even this little difficulty, and spread it out and save your face?

So, he replied loudly to Bridgeman, saying, "Mr. Intelligence Officer, for me, this is just a general training program when I enlist in the army. My proposal is actually for your sake. ”

Bridgeman couldn't help but let out a low sneer from the breathing enhancer, but the whistling high-speed air quickly carried his laughter away along with the clouds that swept around him. He said loudly—with a hint of sarcasm—"Thank you so much for that kindness, Captain. I don't need to, though. ”

The last sentence Jiang Ziyue said just now was just looking for a step for himself. The generous Bridgeman also pushed the boat along the river and gave a cheap favor, lest the hero with the golden Caesar and the Imperial Medal of Courage on his chest not be able to get off the stage.

Jiang Ziyue understood the mystery in Bridgeman's words, so he stopped talking and tried to keep up with everyone.

Master Xuejian, who was walking on the ground, silently listened to the cynicism among the imperial officials behind him, counted the Buddhist beads, and led them to the deep clouds and mist, suspended in the air at an altitude of more than 7,000 meters.

Half an hour later, a small sky pavilion appeared in front of them.

Aside from the fact that it is suspended in the air at an altitude of 7,000 meters, there is nothing special about this so-called Buddhist holy place. Three red wooden cylinders stand on a disc-shaped pedestal with a diameter of three meters made of polished monolithic rock, supporting a dome made of golden glazed tiles.

The strange thing is that the pavilion is actually calm here. Under the clear blue sky, thousands of clouds and waves, golden columns, the scene is magical and elegant, and it is fascinating.

In the center of the pavilion sat an old man of the Oriental race, who was studying a game of Go in front of him. The chessboard is not a world-famous game, just a simple "monolithic" mode.

The black disc of the first move has six discs in a pentagonal shape surrounding a point, while the black disc at the apex of the pentagonal disc is surrounded by a half of five white discs of the second hand. This is the simplest "robbery" in Go.

At this point, it should be the turn of the white disc of the back hand, and if the disc falls to the point surrounded by the black disc, it can capture the black disc surrounded by your own side. But then, black can drop the disc to the position of the newly captured black disc and capture the white disc that has just fallen. If it continues, the two sides will fall into a repeated cycle of unsolvable "robbery".

Compared to intelligence officer Felix Bridgeman and his assistant Omar Azai, Jiang Ziyue, who is half Chinese and grew up in the culture of the Chinese community, understood the content of the chessboard on the spot.

This kind of "robbery" can only be put out in the introductory teaching of Go, so that beginners can understand the so-called "robbery". In the game, the occurrence of "robbery" will be dissolved according to the rules or the actual situation to avoid meaningless "homomorphic repetition".

It's just that why this old layman, who has entered his twilight years, studied this kind of "monolithic robbery" that has little value, but Jiang Ziyue was puzzled.

"Empty Settler, Master Bridgeman is here." Xuejian, an old black monk who was full of energy, informed the layman who was meditating.

"Layman, I've found you so hard." Bridgeman sighed with a smug smile, but his Mandarin Chinese was really not very good, and his stiff pronunciation could hardly express his complicated feelings. "It's just that the day before yesterday you should have known that I was going to come to arrest you, why didn't you run away?"

The layman stood up and looked at these people in front of him with his small eyes, which were almost squinted, before he said unhurriedly: "It's a blessing or a curse, it's a disaster that can't be avoided." The old man's voice was even weaker in the ethereal and empty air above.

At this time, Bridgeman put away his smile and told Yikong with a serious face: "There are only two choices in front of you, either confess and hand over the secret about 'Antnest', or follow me. ”

Hearing Bridgeman's warning to the Yikong layman, Jiang Ziyue realized that the rumors about "Antnest" were based on facts.

"I won't choose either." "For so many years, whether it is facing the New Roman Empire or the Perseus Federation, our family has always adhered to ethics and protected the secrets of 'Antnest'. You wicked villain, it's even more impossible for me to cooperate with you. ”

The layman's tone was filled with disdainful disdain, and it was clear that Bridgeman's actions were disdainful of him.

"This is related to the entire process of human civilization and even the ultimate meaning of the entire universe." The layman continued, his voice full of vicissitudes drifting to the wide sky, "Just like this game of chess, this is a 'catastrophe', and it depends on certain rules to make the chess game go on normally, otherwise there will be no solution." ”

At the same time, the cruiser "Siegfried" in space flew over Fuxi Mountain in accordance with the instructions of the captain on the ground.

Whether it is the Berkeley Mountains, where Fuxi Mountain is located, or the entire "Taiji" planet, it seems to be very calm. However, early warning sergeant Tang Xingyun soon discovered the anomaly.

Based on the analysis of multi-band remote sensing images and panchromatic remote sensing images of the ground, the computer found a pattern whose properties could not be deciphered. In the large continuous area of vegetation that should have appeared in the valley on the north side of Fuxi Mountain, there is a triangular pattern that is twenty-one meters long and fourteen meters wide.

"It's like an airplane." Tang Xingyun said hesitantly, "But it doesn't seem to have a height in itself. ”

"Where is it located?" First Mate Lieutenant Joseph Dietrich asked, staring at the three-dimensional image projected into the space of the bridge.

"Four thousand three hundred and twelve meters above sea level."

It is exactly the elevation of the valley floor.

Tang Xingyun looked at the "Taiji" planetary geography data that had just been transferred and added: "This is a nature reserve, and it is unlikely that artificial facilities will be built here." ”

"It's definitely a plane!" Lieutenant Dietrich made a judgment in a very affirmative tone.

Due to the use of stealth technology, many aerospace planes are mistaken for just ground when they are docked on the ground by remote sensing from space, but what they do not expect is that the surrounding vegetation instead reveals their outlines.

"Whose plane will it be?" Tang Xingyun said suspiciously, "It's not the 'Tai Chi' Planetary Security Bureau, their planes have obvious signs, and they don't have to have stealth capabilities. ”

"No matter who it is, so close to the Void Zen Temple, you must be highly vigilant!" Dietrich decisively gave the order: "Abhiji Kumanfur, inform the captain of the situation." Tang Xingyun, find out the true identity of that thing as soon as possible. Ralph Turk, unbuckle all underfire weapons, aim at that unidentified object, and get ready to fire at any moment! ”

Bridgeman's conversation with the Monk about "Antnest" makes Jiang Ziyue feel that he is getting closer and closer to the legendary secret. A wave of excitement arose.

But at this moment, the voice of Communications Sergeant Abiji Kumanfur of the cruiser "Siegfried" appeared in the tactical communication system:

"Captain, we have spotted an unidentified plane in the valley on the north side of Fuxi Mountain. Almost right below you! ”

"What? Unidentified aircraft? Jiang Ziyue asked.

His words immediately caught Bridgeman's attention.

"Yes, sir. Just ......" communication was interrupted, and the headphones were full of squeaky static ringing, apparently the communication was seriously disrupted.

"Hey, hey......" Jiang Ziyue didn't continue to call, because he was taken aback by what he saw—Bridgeman pulled out a particle gun out of nowhere and pointed it at him.

"Captain, unload the gun." Bridgeman gave the order in a cold tone.

Omar Azay, who was next to Jiang Ziyue, was about to pull out his gun when he saw this, but was immediately stopped by Jiang Ziyue. The situation was obviously quite unfavorable for them at this time, and Bridgeman could easily take out the two of them.

Jiang Ziyue, who has been tested by war, will naturally not be intimidated by Bridgeman's vulgar tricks, but he wants to see what this old fox wants to do.

"What's going on, Your Excellency Intelligence Officer?" Jiang Ziyue asked calmly.

"Stop talking nonsense and throw your weapons away." Bridgeman was still pointing his gun at them and screaming. Under the background of his full head of silver hair, his face was flushed and his expression was nervous.

Jiang Ziyue glanced at Azay, took the lead and pulled out the particle pistol from his waist and threw it at Bridgeman's feet. Omar Azai also took off the large particle gun he was carrying behind him and lowered it to the floor.

At this moment, the roar of jet engines could be heard in the clouds below the north side of the pavilion.

The two Buddhists, Xue Jian and Kong Yi, just stayed on the sidelines and silently watched the confrontation between ordinary people and laymen.

A triangular silver-gray skyplane with no visible markings quickly rose up and hovered in the air close to the Zenzen Pavilion.

The hatch opened, a springboard was set up on the edge of the Zen pavilion, and two soldiers wearing breathing enhancers and armed with large particle guns appeared at the door, aiming their guns at Jiang Ziyue and them. Then three other soldiers rushed out and jumped through the gangplank to the Zen pavilion.

The small pavilion immediately became very crowded, as if it were crumbling.

Then, a major wearing a white Bundeswehr uniform with a typical Chinese appearance, wearing sunglasses and a breathing enhancer, walked out and jumped onto the Zen pavilion.

Now that the situation is clear, Imperial Intelligence Officer Felix Bridgeman has colluded with the Perseus Star Federation to kidnap the Escape Layman who holds the secrets of "Antnest".

Just as Jiang Ziyue was thinking about how to deal with this sudden conspiracy, the Bundeswehr Major who came to the pavilion walked up to him and said to him with a smile and fluent Mandarin Chinese: "Captain von Jiang Ziyue, an imperial hero with a strange name, did not expect me to meet you in such a situation. ”

It was the first time he had met the other party, but it wasn't the first time he had ever met. Last year, when Jiang Ziyue commanded the destroyer "Miluojiang" to play a lonely hero's good show, he was in the hostile federal fleet. At that time, he was the second deputy commander of the fleet, and when the flagship was destroyed by the deadly shelling of the "Miluo River", the first deputy commander took over the command, intercepted the radio communications of the other side, thought that it was being surrounded by the imperial fleet, and hurriedly ordered a retreat.

At that time, Robb insisted that the enemy was only a suspicious soldier and should be surrounded and annihilated immediately. However, the frightened second commander did not listen to his advice, and as a result, Jiang Ziyue and the "Miluo River" miraculously escaped.

Later, the military intelligence of the Federation learned that there was no Imperial fleet around at that time, only a small-tonnage destroyer, and the commander of this small warship was only an ordinary lieutenant. Therefore, Robb was interested in this brave fellow and colleague, and collected a lot of information about the other party, hoping to meet him again on the battlefield in the future.

The two finally met today, but unfortunately this way of meeting was not what Major Robb had hoped.

"Major, please report first." Jiang Ziyue deliberately glanced at the other party, and made a rather disdainful expression on his face.

"Major Robb, Staff Officer of the Thirteenth Fleet of the Immortal Interstellar Bundeswehr." The major proudly introduced himself.

The reason why he said the unit he belonged to was because the 13th Fleet was the fleet commanded by his father, the "Victorious General" Su Yu, a five-star admiral, for a long time. For the Imperial Army, both Su Yu and the Thirteenth Fleet were a lingering nightmare. Major Robb clearly wanted to use this to intimidate the other side.

"Turnips?" Jiang Ziyue clearly spit out the name of a vegetable, and then said in a mocking tone: "I like to eat stewed duck with white radish, Major, I don't know what your taste is?" ”

"You ......," Major Robb's face changed suddenly.

Unexpectedly, he fell for the other party's tricks last year - although the main responsibility does not lie with him - and now he can't overwhelm the other party in terms of power and eloquence. Major Robb stepped forward angrily and glared at Jiang Ziyue menacingly.

Because the other party was wearing sunglasses, Jiang Ziyue could only see his appearance from the lenses, and he couldn't be sure whether the other party was really glaring at him. However, he did not show the slightest cowardice or flinch, and his eyes were staring directly at each other.

The two officers confronted each other in this way, as if they were trying to overwhelm each other with their own momentum. This situation may symbolize the current state of affairs between the Bundeswehr and the Imperial Army, which are ostensibly tense but in fact do not dare to strike lightly, and both are trying to defeat each other in momentum.

"Okay, that's enough." Bridgeman, apparently tired of this kind of worthless fight, impatiently motioned to the soldiers beside him, "Put the two of them into the plane first." ”

Under the shouting and threats of two sturdy Federal Marine soldiers, Jiang Ziyue and Omar Azaj were escorted into the plane. Subsequently, Xue Jian and Kong Yi, two pairs of Buddhists who had become detached from the ordinary, were also brought into the plane.

Whether it was the imperial officers and soldiers in front of the suspended stone steps leading to the Zen Pavilion, or the cruiser "Siegfried" in space, they all faintly saw the sudden appearance of the plane and the figure on the Zen Pavilion.

"We must act, sir!" Sergeant Ralph Turk, the cruiser's fire control sergeant, shouted to the acting captain, Lieutenant Joseph Dietrich, "Probably the Union Army!" ”

"Stay calm!" First mate Dietrich shouted, but he looked nervous, "Now the communication is cut off, and we can't tell what's going on the ground!" ”

"Are we going into the atmosphere?" Tang Xingyun asked eagerly, "It seems that the plane has already begun to fly away from the Zen Pavilion!" ”

"Nope! Keep an eye on that plane while keeping an eye on the ground and in space, and watch out for the ambush of the Federation warships! Dietrich gave one order after another, "Abighi, you immediately notify the 'Taiji' Planetary Security Bureau, ask them to send someone to Fuxi Mountain to assist, and contact our brothers and captains at the top of Fuxi Mountain as much as possible." ”

"Are you going to shoot down that plane?" Sergeant Turk said, gearing up.

"The captain is likely to ......be up there," Dietrich hesitated, his communications interrupted, and he lost contact with the captain, taking him off guard by the sudden situation.

The nine Imperial officers and soldiers on the top of Fuxi Mountain were also unable to respond effectively, and the loss of communication left them at a loss of whether to fire at an unidentified aircraft more than 1,000 meters away. As a result, I could only watch the plane fly away without any scruples.

In the cabin of the Federation's aerospace plane, Jiang Ziyue and Azai are extremely angry at Felix Bridgeman's treachery.

"Felix Bridgeman, you will pay for this despicable act of treason!" Jiang Ziyue threatened Bridgeman in a loud voice.

But as soon as the words came out, he felt that he was always so emotional. I completely fell into the trap and control of the other party, but I still have to talk quickly.

"Captain, I beg your pardon." Bridgeman made an apologetic look with a smug face, "I have no intention of framing you, but I have to make this decision just to fulfill the sacred mission entrusted to me by the glorious Federation." I wanted to trick the captain of a Frontier Fleet into coming to be the navigator, but I didn't want them to send you instead. ”

"What the hell do you want to do? To seize the secrets of 'Antnest'? Jiang Ziyue asked.

"Of course. Haven't you heard? If you master 'Antnest', you will be able to master the entire universe. Seeing that his action was about to succeed, Bridgeman seemed quite excited and willing to spend time explaining to Jiang Ziyue.

But his words immediately attracted the rebuke of the Kongyi monk. The layman said with a sullen face: "Delusion! Bridgeman, a villain like you won't succeed, and you'll never get 'Antnest'. ”

"Layman, you better consider your current situation before giving advice to others." Bridgeman ignored the other party's warning and said with a smile. The confident silver-haired agent seemed to have everything in the palm of his hand.

"Alright, Mr. Bridgeman, stop talking nonsense." This time it was Major Robb's turn to get impatient, "Let's get our Captain von Kang to work." ”

After listening to the colonel's words, Bridgeman immediately raised the particle gun in his hand, aimed it at Jiang Ziyue's chest, and said, "Captain, please come to our cockpit." ”

Faced with the muzzle of a gun that would be fatal with one blow, Jiang Ziyue stood calmly in place and did not move, and asked in a stern tone: "What do you want to do?" ”

"Help us get out of here and the 'Tai Chi' planet smoothly." Bridgeman smirked and said, "You know, it's not easy for us to get here, and it's even harder to get out. And the privileges of a captain of the Imperial Army are even more useful here than the executive order of the mayor. ”

Jiang Ziyue immediately understood what this group of enemies wanted him to do, and also understood the real reason why Bridgeman took so much trouble to lure him in.