Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

Chapter 132: Chapter 109: The Strength of a Single City Against the World

In these preliminary exchanges, Night City, with its home-field advantage, had clearly not come off worse.

Not only did they avoid significant losses, but they actually managed to destroy a considerable number of the corporations’ troops and weapons through several rounds of bombardment.

After all, Night City was the main base of operations for the Yunxiao Group.

Li Chang’an had deployed a substantial number of anti-air systems throughout the city, making its defenses incredibly comprehensive.

The various corporations, on the other hand, had come from afar. While they had also prepared plenty of anti-air equipment, it was no match for Night City’s seamless, comprehensive defensive coverage.

After several probing attacks failed to achieve the desired results, the corporations realized just how tough a nut Night City was to crack.

They couldn’t help but slow their offensive, preparing to dig in for a long siege and force Night City’s hand.

After all, while Night City had a home-field advantage, two fists are no match for four hands.

The entire city was now completely encircled by the corporations’ forces. Night City was a turtle in a jar, with no escape.

For one thing, Night City’s nearly ten million ordinary citizens had basic daily needs to be met, and the production of weapons and munitions required a steady supply of raw materials.

Unable to import anything from the outside world, it was only a matter of time before Night City’s resources ran dry.

The allied corporate forces, on the other hand, only needed to methodically enforce the blockade and wait for Night City to show a weakness.

This time, time was on their side!

…

Night City, the top floor of the Yunxiao Technology Company headquarters.

Li Chang’an stood beside a massive floor-to-ceiling window, gazing down at the brightly lit city. The look in his eyes was somewhat complex, but there wasn’t a trace of panic.

Four other people stood beside him.

They were Anna, who followed Li Chang’an like a shadow with a demure expression on her face; Regina, who was holding a file and giving a report; Melissa, the most veteran Captain of the Anti-Terrorism Mobile Team; and the current head of the company’s security department.

Aside from Li Chang’an himself, one could say these were the four most powerful and high-ranking individuals in the entire Yunxiao Group.

After analyzing the situation on the front lines, Regina frowned.

Her expression was tinged with worry. “Sir, for now, Night City’s strategic reserves of energy, power, food, and so on are still sufficient. But if we can’t secure a supply line, I’m afraid that even with strict rationing, the city can only hold out for two years at most.”

She paused for a moment before continuing, her tone becoming more urgent. “We have to find a solution, and quickly. We can’t let them keep us under siege indefinitely!”

Li Chang’an nodded, his expression completely unhurried. “There’s no need to rush,” he said calmly. “Continue to increase our firepower. We must make the allied corporate forces wary, force them to concentrate even more of their strength here…”

“They love a good siege, don’t they? I’ve long since forged Night City into a steel fortress, precisely so they would surround it!”

Hearing this, Regina didn’t know whether to feel relieved or more worried.

She was relieved because Li Chang’an was clearly confident, which meant he likely already had a solution.

But she was worried because the pressure of the siege was already immense. Actively increasing the intensity of their attacks would not only strain Night City’s soldiers but also put her, the head of logistics, under even more pressure.

Regina wasn’t sure if she had the ability to perfectly carry out everything Li Chang’an had tasked her with.

But she didn’t disobey Li Chang’an’s orders. She didn’t even ask any questions.

Under normal circumstances, she might have voiced her doubts and concerns. But in a time of war, Li Chang’an’s authority as the supreme commander of Night City was not to be questioned.

…

After dismissing Regina, Li Chang’an turned his gaze to Melissa.

“How are things progressing?” he asked.

Hearing his question, Melissa licked her lips and broke into an eager smile. “Everything is in place. Just give the word, and our assets can begin to close the net!”

Two years ago, Anna had taken over Melissa’s position as the Commander of the Anti-Terrorism Mobile Team.

As the former commander, Melissa hadn’t just quietly disappeared. In reality, while she had left the Anti-Terrorism Mobile Team, she had not left the center of power.

Her role had simply become far more sensitive.

That’s right. Melissa was now Li Chang’an’s most capable intelligence chief, in charge of Night City’s entire intelligence network.

For years, her primary mission from Li Chang’an had been to scout for potential Transcendents around the world, secretly train them, and gather them into a single organization.

It was a classic misdirection.

For years, the other corporations had only paid attention to Li Chang’an’s orders for the Anti-Terrorism Mobile Team to act as recruiters, aggressively scouting the global talent market and drawing everyone’s ire.

They never noticed that a mysterious force was developing in the shadows at the same time.

Now that Night City was cut off from the outside world, this clandestine force had become Li Chang’an’s ace in the hole, ready at any moment to deliver a devastating blow to the corporations, whose home territories were now left vulnerable.

After all, Li Chang’an’s goal from the very beginning had been to overthrow the Advanced Technology Group and seize the Extraordinary Potion. How could he possibly have been unprepared for a situation like this?

…

As Li Chang’an’s order to increase fire coverage was relayed, the fighting between Night City and the corporate alliance intensified over the following months.

The initial skirmishes of drones and robots gradually escalated into frenzied, no-holds-barred, close-quarters combat.

The number of daily casualties among the soldiers rose steadily.