From the meaning behind the Great Khan's questions, Chen Rong could easily guess what he desired.
Genghis Khan clearly wished to find the so-called divine beings Chen Rong had described.
The purpose behind such a search was hardly difficult to understand.
Since ancient times, rulers and emperors had always pursued immortality.
Whether it was Qin Shi Huang, Emperor Wu of Han, Emperor Taizong of Tang, or Emperor Taizu of Song, each had once sought the elusive elixir of eternal life.
Even when Qiu Chuji had met Genghis Khan, the Khan's first question had been simple and direct — whether he possessed the secret of immortality.
Qiu Chuji had answered honestly. There was no such elixir.
Genghis Khan, pragmatic as ever, had not pressed the matter further. If immortality truly existed, why had emperors like Qin Shi Huang and Emperor Wu of Han failed to obtain it?
Yet tonight was different.
The descriptions Chen Rong had offered — along with the astonishing images he had projected — had shaken even the Great Khan's composure.
The mysterious light curtain, the heavenly armor, and the celestial residences had stirred once more the ancient longing that lived in every ruler's heart.
Immortality.
If the divine beings truly existed above the stars… then perhaps eternal life was not impossible.
"Living among the stars…" Genghis Khan said slowly. "That means one must fly to reach them. The gods you saw — can they truly fly?"
Chen Rong bowed respectfully.
"I would not dare deceive the Great Khan. The divine beings I encountered could indeed ascend into the heavens and descend to the earth. Moreover… they left me with a magical artifact capable of flight."
This was Chen Rong's second decisive weapon.
The drone.
It had cost him only a little over thousand yuan — a purchase made casually online before everything had changed. Yet now, in this era, it was nothing short of miraculous.
The aerial drone was a luxury model. It could reach an altitude of five hundred meters, transmit images remotely, and even operate with infrared night vision.
Its maximum flight range extended to twenty kilometers, and its battery life lasted approximately forty minutes when fully charged.
"What?" Genghis Khan abruptly rose from his seat, his eyes widening with unmistakable shock. "You say the gods gave you an object that can fly? Can it truly take to the sky?"
Even after witnessing Chen Rong's earlier displays, this claim was astonishing.
The desire to fly had existed in every culture, every civilization. Since ancient times, mankind had looked toward the heavens with longing.
To soar like birds.
To rise above mountains and rivers.
Such dreams had never faded.
At the side, Yelü Chucai's brush slipped from his fingers and fell onto the carpet.
He did not even notice.
Flying.
This single concept had shaken him profoundly.
"I would not dare deceive the Great Khan," Chen Rong said calmly. "It is indeed a flying artifact. However, it cannot carry people. It can only ascend on its own and transmit what it sees from above."
Genghis Khan waved his hand dismissively.
"It matters not whether it carries people. To fly at all is already unheard of. Since ancient times, only eagles and birds have soared through the sky. No object has ever flown on its own."
He stepped closer, his voice filled with anticipation.
This young man has brought quite a lot of surprises to himself today!
"You must show me today."
Chen Rong inclined his head.
"Please wait a moment, Great Khan. I will prepare the divine artifact. Once it ascends, I shall show you what it sees from the heavens."
"Very well," Genghis Khan replied. "If you require assistance, speak freely."
Chen Rong hesitated briefly before adding:
"When the artifact rises, it may frighten the horses and soldiers. It would be wise to prepare them in advance."
Genghis Khan nodded immediately.
"I understand."
He summoned several Mongol soldiers and issued his orders.
"Inform the entire camp. If something is seen flying in the sky, no one is to panic. Calm the livestock and maintain order."
The soldiers bowed and hurried away to relay the command.
Meanwhile, Chen Rong began assembling the drone.
To him, the process was simple. But to those watching, every movement seemed mysterious.
The drone itself was small — compact and dark. Chen Rong carefully unfolded its arms, attached the four propellers, and wiped the high-definition camera lens clean. He also activated the night vision function.
Then he laid out a temporary landing pad on the ground — a luminous surface designed to guide the drone when it returned.
Genghis Khan observed everything closely.
"So this… is the artifact given to you by the gods?"
"Yes, Great Khan."
Genghis Khan studied the drone, frowning slightly.
"It is small," he remarked. "It cannot carry a man. Not even a lamb."
Chen Rong allowed himself a faint smile.
"That is true. But its purpose lies elsewhere."
"Let it fly," Genghis Khan said eagerly. "Let me see how high it can go."
Chen Rong nodded and powered on the drone.
A low humming sound filled the air.
The propellers began to spin, slowly at first, then faster and faster.
The sound grew louder.
Suddenly, the drone lifted from the ground.
One meter.
Ten meters.
Twenty meters.
Fifty meters.
It rose steadily into the night sky.
Soon, it climbed hundreds of meters above the camp. In the darkness, the blinking signal light of the drone shone like a new star among the heavens.
Genghis Khan looked up, astonished.
"It truly flies… and moves freely."
His voice carried genuine admiration.
"You are an honest man, Mr. Chen. You did not deceive me."
Beside him, Yelü Chucai quickly retrieved his brush and began sketching the drone's appearance on paper, his expression filled with fascination.
Chen Rong stepped forward with the controller.
"Great Khan, please look. This is the image transmitted by the artifact. It shows your entire camp."
Genghis Khan and Yelü Chucai lowered their gazes simultaneously.
On the screen, the drone hovered high above the camp. From hundreds of meters in the sky, the entire Mongol encampment came into view.
Thousands of tents.
Countless horses.
Moving figures of soldiers.
Everything appeared clearly.
With night vision enabled, the world below glowed in shades of green.
Even the three men standing below were visible.
Genghis Khan stared at the image in silence.
"This artifact… shows what it sees from the sky?"
"Yes, Great Khan," Chen Rong replied. "It can travel dozens of miles while I remain here. It can remain in the sky for roughly the time of two cups of tea before returning."
Genghis Khan nodded slowly, deep in thought.
"This is truly a divine artifact," he murmured.
After a moment, he added:
"If such a thing had existed before… many warriors might not have perished in the battle of Baru Valley."
As one of the greatest military commanders of the era, Genghis Khan immediately recognized the drone's strategic value.
Reconnaissance.
Battlefield awareness.
Enemy movement detection.
This single artifact could change warfare itself.
Chen Rong continued guiding the drone across the sky. The transmitted images shifted continuously — horses grazing, soldiers gathering, torches flickering in the distance.
Below, some livestock grew restless at the unfamiliar buzzing overhead.
But the soldiers, already warned, quickly calmed the animals.
Meanwhile, above the vast Mongol camp, the small drone continued to circle — a silent eye in the sky.
And in that moment, beneath the endless stars, Genghis Khan gazed at the glowing screen before him, witnessing a miracle no ruler in history had ever seen.
A mortal artifact.
Yet one that allowed men to see through the eyes of heaven.