On the planet Rostov II, the Lin Guang Family's stronghold was now a vibrant sight. Ten years had completely transformed this barren Gobi Desert, once ravaged by sandstorms and strewn with gravel.
Above the family territory, a massive ecological dome, like a transparent protective shield, emitted a steady, faint blue glow.
This advanced barrier effectively filtered the harsh stellar radiation and frequent sandstorms of Rostov II, creating a stable microclimate within.
Beneath the dome, the desolation of the past was nowhere to be seen.
Through meticulous design and maintenance by environmental control systems, it had become a lush oasis: genetically optimized tall trees with luxuriant branches swayed gently in the simulated breeze; crops thrived in neat hydroponic farm towers and open fields; clear artificial waterways flowed along anti-gravity transport pipelines supported by adamantium frameworks, nourishing the well-planned towns and fields.
Uniformly styled towns clustered around the heart of the territory—the Lin Guang Family's central castle.
This magnificent structure blended the solemn spires of Gothic architecture with practical and sturdy alloy frameworks; thick ceramite composite armor covered its adamantium skeleton, and thick energy conduits were faintly visible on its surface, showcasing power and protection.
Atop the castle, the Lin Guang Family's emblem shone brightly under the stellar light.
Life was bustling within the territory.
On wide streets, pedestrians came and went, and hover transports shuttled ceaselessly. Most noticeable among them were the sleek, non-combatant servant armor of various functions.
They efficiently carried out various tasks for the territory's daily operations.
In the vast farmlands, agricultural models precisely performed seeding, harvesting, and spraying operations; multi-jointed mechanical arms ensured every crop was cared for, and sensors continuously monitored soil and crop conditions.
At the edge of the storage area, heavy transport models easily moved tons of hay bales or building materials with magnetic suction claws, their hydraulic systems emitting a low, powerful hum.
Along the waterways and main roads, maintenance models flexibly switched their forearm tool modules, repairing pipes, cleaning road signs, and inspecting underground pipelines, ensuring the integrity of the infrastructure.
At key intersections and around the family facilities, patrol models stood quietly on guard or moved along preset routes, their wide-area sensors continuously scanning the environment, maintaining the territory's security information network.
The shells of these robots were etched with the Lin Guang Family's crest and the Adeptus Mechanicus's cog-skull insignia; they were the indispensable cornerstone of the territory's prosperity, undertaking arduous tasks from herding and farming to maintenance and patrolling.
This vibrant scene would not have been possible without the strong support of Star District Governor Alex over the past decade.
Ten years ago, when the Lin Guang Family arrived at Rostov II with only four surviving knights and displaced retainers after the devastating Tyranids invasion, they faced nothing but endless Gobi wilderness.
The entire planet had only a paltry two cities; the rest was desert.
Alex generously allocated this land, with its precious oasis and stable water source, to them. This was nothing short of a timely aid, providing the family, on the brink of extinction, with a foothold and a A breathing space during its darkest hour.
The Governor's support went far beyond that.
He continuously provided the Lin Guang Family with new knight titans and the critically important "Iron Thrones"—the core of the knight titans and sacred relics carrying the will of their ancestors.
It should be known that the family's greatest trauma ten years ago was the loss of most of their knights, along with their armor and Iron Thrones, to the insect tide.
The loss of the Iron Thrones meant that the family's core heritage and lineage were almost severed.
Had it not been for the former Supreme King's strict order for Manner to evacuate with Margaret, Maria, Zofia, and their retainers, preserving the last spark for the family, the name Linguang might have completely disappeared.
Alex also granted the Lin Guang Family a valuable opportunity to prove their worth and earn merits in the "Rostov Expedition."
In that grand military operation, he issued a summons across the vast Star District in his capacity as Governor, calling upon free knights to participate in the war.
Many free knights who answered the call and fought bravely chose to settle in this emerging Sub-Sector.
Alex entrusted the responsibility of recruiting and managing these valuable combat forces to the Lin Guang Family with confidence.
Leveraging the family's long-standing knight tradition and the prestige established on the battlefield, Manner successfully persuaded a significant portion of these free knights to swear loyalty, eventually integrating them into the Lin Guang Family, becoming a powerful force in their path to revitalization.
Therefore, every new armor and Iron Throne provided by the Governor was not just a powerful war machine, but also key to the continuation of the family's bloodline and spirit.
Over the past decade, the family has cultivated a large number of loyal retainers, who, through hard work and intermarriage, formally became family members, proving themselves in new armor and Iron Thrones, and eventually being promoted to new knights.
And those free knights who joined, whether they were voluntarily wandering nobles or dispossessed heirs, eventually linked their bloodlines and futures closely with the Lin Guang Family through intermarriage.
Their next generation would inherit the Linguang surname and its glorious tradition.
Today, the Lin Guang Family has not only recovered but its scale has even surpassed its past glory.
The family now commands over twenty powerful knight titans, including three awe-inspiring Command Knights.
This strength is enough to deter any covetous eyes.
Indeed, a considerable portion of the core knight strength of the family originates from these newly integrated, non-pureblood knights.
At times, gazing at these knight titans, which carried different bloodlines yet fought for the name "Linguang," a subtle, ineffable melancholy would flit through Manner's heart—a sigh for the fading purity of the ancient bloodline's inheritance, like the last echo of an old bell in the corridor of time.
However, the bond of intermarriage had welded the new and old bloodlines together like fine steel, ensuring the purity of the next generation's bloodline and the unity of the family.
This unity, forged by sacrifice, acceptance, and rebirth, was like a sturdy cornerstone, firmly supporting the family's future and ultimately soothing the subtle undercurrent of unease in his heart.
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