Even with Celenova's help, the Sun-Moon's mecha legion was no match for Haiyuan City.
Their technological base lagged far behind, and materials and manufacturing were bottlenecks.
Even with full blueprints, they could only produce a handful of mechas—dozens at most.
To mass-produce, they'd have to cut corners, greatly weakening the machines.
There was no way they could catch up to the Molten Knights for centuries without a miracle.
And the Molten Knights were just the first generation—Herta's presence meant Haiyuan City would rapidly iterate and upgrade, perhaps one day building interstellar armor.
Material and manufacturing limits applied to Haiyuan, too, but against the current threats, their power was more than sufficient.
"Changli, thank you for all your hard work," Lu Jingming said softly, gazing at her fondly, moving closer.
But Changli slipped away with a teasing smile: "I'm not one of your little girls you can win over so easily."
Lu Jingming smiled, not upset—he knew he'd need patience to win her over, just like with Jingliu.
"If you really want to thank me, take down my little apprentice first," Changli said.
"Jinhsi?" Lu Jingming was stunned, then laughed. "A master-disciple combo? I like it!"
If he could get both master and apprentice, that would be a killer combo.
"Then work hard," Changli grinned. She'd been watching Lu Jingming and Jinhsi, frustrated by their slow progress—even Robin already pregnant!
She used this master-disciple combo as an incentive for him to act.
"I promise, after the Holy Grail War, I'll pursue Jinhsi seriously!" Lu Jingming declared.
"Good, I'll be watching," Changli replied, arms crossed, her curves captivating.
While he liked girls like Robin and Keqing, mature types like Changli had their own appeal.
…
Beyond romance, Lu Jingming cared deeply about Haiyuan's overall development—not just military strength.
Haiyuan City was a magnet for soul master clans, as it was the birthplace of the Stigmata, a new power system replacing soul ring hunting.
To secure a custom Stigmata, or a better future, or simply for a good life, many families moved there.
Haiyuan accepted all comers, gaining resources, manpower, and military strength for expansion.
The three legions now numbered fifty thousand and kept growing.
Lu Jingming dreamed of a new empire with a million-strong army, though not all could be fusion warriors.
There would be many regular soldiers and low-level soul masters.
Not all in the legions were fusion warriors—the core was, ensuring loyalty and control.
Many clan members served in the legions—like Yu Mengdi, Ye Wuqing, and the Lan family.
No force is ever truly monolithic; as it grows, it becomes a web of interests.
Lu Jingming didn't expect to eliminate private interests—he just needed absolute power.
For the Molten Knights, all current pilots were his own loyalists. In the future, when his power was unchallengeable, he might open recruitment.
He knew that if everyone was just a mindless follower, Haiyuan would become stagnant and lifeless-that needed his constant attention.
He wanted to foster talent and delegate, not do everything himself.
He firmly believed: "Might is right." As long as he held power, all would be under control.
Clan members sought to benefit their families, but as long as they contributed and didn't cross the line, he turned a blind eye.
For now, the clans behaved, earning rewards through merit—ten-thousand-year or even hundred-thousand-year Stigmata could be among the prizes, even creating a Title Douluo on the spot.
The only condition: loyalty to Haiyuan and Lu Jingming.
With such incentives, Haiyuan's growth was explosive, enabling it to support vast armies.
Supporting powerful armies was costly—Haiyuan's greatest resource was its loyal workhorses.
People would travel from afar for a chance at a job in Haiyuan City.
"I'm becoming more like an evil capitalist," Lu Jingming mused, gazing out at the bustling city.
He controlled the fate of countless people, but tried to stay clearheaded, not corrupted by power.
At least in Haiyuan, no one died of hunger or cold, or from soul beast attacks or evil soul masters.
Soul masters couldn't bully civilians; even nobles needed a good reason or faced strict punishment from the Gold Guards.
Civilians had basic dignity and opportunities—if their children awakened a martial soul, they could attend St. Freya Academy or join the army, changing their fate.
Free awakening centers existed, and low-level soul masters received living subsidies.
This policy was inspired by the Wuhun Hall of ten thousand years ago, which gained power by offering free awakenings and support, controlling seventy percent of soul masters.
Their downfall had complex causes, but the policy itself was sound.
Since implementing this policy, Haiyuan saw a surge in loyalty and gratitude from the populace.
No other force provided free awakenings and subsidies for all.
Thus, Haiyuan attracted countless immigrants, all for a shot at a better life.