192: Chapter 191 Spy in the Shadows! Amidst the hidden dangers of a thousand peaks, the brilliance of Xuan Guang breaks through the formation (2)

Just then, Mu Li's communicator suddenly rang, the urgent tone breaking the deathly silence. It was Lin Wei's voice, tinged with anxiety, accompanied by the sound of intense gunfire and the roars of team members in the background: "Engineer Mu, urgent news from Binhai City base. Core Equipment No. 4 has been sabotaged, and a large amount of Xuanguang Energy is leaking. The infiltrators have been exposed and are currently exchanging fire with the Xuanguang Assault Team. The enemy's firepower is fierce, and our team has suffered heavy casualties!"

Mu Li's heart tightened, and his expression instantly became even more solemn—it seemed Chen Mo wasn't the only infiltrator; they had already planted people in various bases, forming a massive spy network to implement their sabotage plans simultaneously! He increased the pressure in his hand, and the Xuanguang Cutting Blade carved another bloody gash on Chen Mo's throat. Blood slowly dripped down the blade, and the bone-chilling pain made Chen Mo tremble all over. "If you don't talk now, I'll cripple you! I don't have time to waste with you. Where are your accomplices?!"

The intense pain and fear of death finally caused Chen Mo to break down completely. No longer able to keep the secret, he cried out, "I'll talk! I'll talk! The infiltrator in Binhai City is the base's Security Captain, Zhang Yong! We are all under the command of the Shadow Tribe. They said that as long as we destroy all Xuanguang Energy Bases and cut off the Mystic Light Energy supply, the Lord of the Void Temple would grant us eternal life and give us powerful Dark Energy!"

"Who is the commander of the Shadow Tribe? Where exactly are they located? How many more infiltrators do you have?" Mu Li pressed, his tone urgent, his concern deepening. The collusion between the Shadow Tribe and the Void Temple meant the domestic crisis was far more serious than he had imagined. These infiltrators were like ticking time bombs, capable of dealing a fatal blow to the Xuanguang Energy Bases at any moment.

"I don't know who the commander is. We all receive instructions through encrypted communications and have never seen the commander's true face..." Before Chen Mo could finish, his body suddenly convulsed violently. Black blood flowed from the corners of his mouth, and his eyes widened, filled with resentment and fear. His body went limp, and he instantly lost all signs of life.

[System Detection: A miniature poison capsule was implanted in the target's body. A suicide program was triggered after intense stimulation. The capsule contains a special toxin from the Void Temple, which is instantly fatal with no antidote.]

Mu Li frowned, a flash of frustration in his eyes. He kicked Chen Mo's corpse aside, his heart filled with helplessness—the lead had gone cold again! He immediately connected to the Binhai City base's communication, his voice cold and firm, carrying an unquestionable command: "This is Mu Li. Where is Zhang Yong? Deploy all Xuanguang Assault Team members immediately to capture Zhang Yong at all costs. You must take him alive; don't let him commit suicide. He still has the clues we need!"

"Engineer Mu, Zhang Yong is too cunning. He was prepared long ago. He and a few of his confidants have seized the base's medical wing, taking wounded team members and medical staff as hostages. They've also planted Dark Energy bombs around the medical wing. We don't dare to act rashly for fear of harming the hostages!" Intense gunfire, explosions, and the roars of team members came through the communicator; the situation was extremely critical.

Hearing that his team members had been taken hostage, Mu Li's heart was instantly filled with rage and anxiety. It felt as if an invisible hand was tightly squeezing his heart, making it almost impossible to breathe. What he feared most was his team members being harmed because of his decisions. At this moment, the safety of the hostages made him restless; every second of delay could put them in mortal danger. "Don't be impulsive. Try to maintain a safe distance from the hostages. Don't provoke Zhang Yong, and calm the hostages down! I'm coming over right now; I definitely won't let anything happen to you!"

Just as Mu Li was about to board the Assault Boat to head to Binhai City to rescue the hostages, the core system suddenly issued an urgent alarm. Red warning prompts instantly filled the entire holographic screen, the tone more urgent than ever before.

[System Emergency Warning: Detected that the Void Temple's vanguard has arrived at the outer edge of Home's atmosphere and is descending toward the Shadow Tribe's territory in the Southwest Deep Mountains. It is suspected they intend to rendezvous with the Shadow Tribe to form a pincer movement.]

[System Analysis: The vanguard consists of approximately 500 troops, all equipped with heavy dark energy weapons, possessing formidable combat strength. The Shadow Tribe has a large number of Dark Soldiers, is familiar with the terrain of the Southwest Deep Mountains, and excels at stealthy ambushes. If the two forces successfully rendezvous, they will pose a fatal threat to the Xuanguang Energy Bases in the southwest region and may even breach the Xuanguang Defense Barrier, threatening the safety of all of Home.]

On one side were the hijacked team members and hostages in Binhai City; on the other was a powerful enemy about to rendezvous. Mu Li was caught in a dilemma. Dense cold sweat broke out on his forehead, sliding down his cheeks and soaking the collar of his combat suit. His mind raced as he weighed the pros and cons—abandoning Binhai City would put the team members and hostages in mortal danger, and the Binhai City Xuanguang Energy Base would be completely destroyed; abandoning the Southwest Deep Mountains would lead to a greater disaster once the enemies met, putting more people in danger and potentially destroying all of Home. Giving up either side would result in irreparable losses, something he could not accept under any circumstances.

"Engineer Mu, how about I lead a team to the Southwest Deep Mountains for support? You go to Binhai City to rescue the hostages!" The assault team captain of the Zhongyuan City base saw his predicament and stepped forward, bowing to request the mission, his eyes resolute. "We will do our absolute best to stop the enemies from meeting and buy you time!"

Mu Li slowly shook his head and said solemnly, "No, the situation in the Southwest Deep Mountains is far more complex than you imagine. The Shadow Tribe knows the terrain, and with the support of the Void Temple's vanguard equipped with heavy dark energy weapons, you wouldn't just fail to stop them; you'd be sacrificing yourselves for nothing. It's not worth it." He took a deep breath, a flash of determination in his eyes as he made his decision: "You stay and guard the Zhongyuan City base. Keep an eye on the core equipment, put all effort into repairing the energy leak in Channel 3, and heighten the base's security to prevent other infiltrators from sabotaging anything in secret. I will go to the Southwest Deep Mountains to stop the enemies from meeting! As for the situation in Binhai City, I will immediately contact Old Yang and have him lead a team for urgent support. He must rescue the hostages and capture Zhang Yong!"

"Engineer Mu, it's too dangerous for you to go alone! The terrain in the Southwest Deep Mountains is complex, the enemy is numerous and equipped with heavy weapons. You won't be able to handle it by yourself!" the assault team captain said urgently, his face full of worry as he tried to persuade Mu Li to change his mind.

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing." Mu Li patted his shoulder, a hint of confidence in his eyes and a firm tone. "The core system has already unlocked some of the xuanguang core's hidden power. My combat strength has increased significantly, enough to handle the current crisis." He lowered his voice deliberately, adding a word of caution, "Don't tell anyone about this. The system's existence is our final trump card; it cannot be easily exposed."

Although the assault team captain was still worried, he knew Mu Li's character; once he made a decision, he wouldn't change it easily. He could only nod heavily. "Understood, Engineer Mu! We will definitely guard the base. Please be careful, and contact us immediately if anything happens!"

Boarding the Assault Boat, Mu Li activated the core system again, his tone urgent and firm: "System, can you deploy the Southwest region's Xuan-guang Energy Defense Shield and temporarily strengthen it to block the Void Temple's vanguard from meeting with the Shadow Tribe?"

[System Response: The current energy reserves of the Southwest region's Xuan-guang Energy Defense Shield are insufficient and can only maintain basic defense. It requires consuming 10% of the xuanguang core's stored energy for temporary reinforcement. Once reinforced, it can block the enemy rendezvous for 3 hours. Note: The reinforcement process will release strong Xuanguang Energy fluctuations, exposing the location of the xuanguang core's energy reserves. Caution is required against enemy surprise attacks on the Core Laboratory.]

Mu Li's heart tightened, and his brows furrowed deeply—it was another dilemma. Strengthening the barrier would buy three hours, preventing the enemies from merging and securing a chance for reinforcements, but it would also expose the location of the xuanguang core. If the enemy took the opportunity to raid the Core Laboratory, the consequences would be unthinkable. If he didn't strengthen the barrier, the enemies would merge smoothly, and the Xuanguang Energy Base in the Southwest Deep Mountains would be destroyed instantly, causing the crisis to expand further. He gritted his teeth, his mind made up—he would meet the challenge as it came. As long as he could buy time and protect his Home, he would not hesitate even in the face of greater risks. "Execute! Immediately consume 10% of the xuanguang core's energy reserves to strengthen the Southwest Xuanguang Defense Barrier!"

[System Executing: Xuan-guang Energy Defense Shield reinforcement complete. Current barrier power increased by 30%, effectively blocking the enemy merger for 3 hours. Warning: The xuanguang core energy fluctuations have been exposed. The Core Laboratory faces a risk of sudden attack. It is recommended to arrange personnel to strengthen the security of the Core Laboratory.]

Mu Li immediately connected to the Command Center's communications and gave a low-voiced order to Lin Wei: "Lin Wei, immediately mobilize the elite members of the Xuanguang Assault Team to strengthen the security of the Core Laboratory. Set up a triple defense line and strictly forbid anyone from approaching the xuanguang core. Once any suspicious personnel are discovered, capture them immediately—kill them if they resist! Additionally, keep a close eye on the core system's dynamics to prevent the enemy from taking the opportunity to invade!"

"Understood, Engineer Mu. I'll arrange it immediately; I definitely won't let anything happen to the Core Laboratory!" Lin Wei's voice remained steady, showing no signs of anything unusual, but a trace of unease continued to linger in Mu Li's heart.

The Assault Boat sped toward the Southwest Deep Mountains. The scenery outside the porthole gradually changed from a bustling city to rolling deep mountains. Dense forests covered the peaks, shrouded in clouds and mist, appearing exceptionally deep and eerie. A faint scent of Dark Energy permeated the air, making one's heart tremble. Mu Li stood inside the command cabin, his eyes fixed on the topographical map of the Southwest Deep Mountains on the screen. His fingers slid gently across the display as he constantly deduced combat plans in his mind. He knew that this time, he was facing not only the powerful Void Temple's vanguard and the Shadow Tribe but also a lurker hidden in the shadows. A single misstep could lead to eternal damnation, but he had no way back—he could only forge ahead.

Just then, his private communicator suddenly vibrated. An unknown number appeared on the screen, sending an encrypted message with an extremely high encryption level. After the system quickly decrypted it, the content was only one sentence, but it struck Mu Li's heart like a thunderbolt: "Be careful of Lin Wei. She is the true lurker. She personally handed the jamming device to Chen Mo, and she intentionally left the vulnerabilities in the core system."

Mu Li's body suddenly stiffened as if rooted to the spot. The blood throughout his body seemed to freeze instantly, and the communicator in his hand fell to the floor with a 'clack.' The screen remained lit, and that message was like a needle, repeatedly stabbing his eyes. He couldn't believe his eyes; he repeatedly bent down to pick up the communicator, confirming it over and over. The defensive line in his heart collapsed instantly, and a massive sense of betrayal submerged him like a surging tide, making it almost impossible to breathe. The partner he had always trusted and relied on—the one he felt guilty for even doubting—the assistant who had fought alongside him through life and death countless times, was actually the lurker. She had been secretly betraying him, betraying their Home, and betraying the beliefs they shared and protected!

He suddenly clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms. The intense pain allowed him to maintain a final shred of clarity, and the shock and disbelief in his eyes were gradually replaced by anger and coldness. He thought back to the little details of Lin Wei's daily life, her calm composure in the Command Center, her concerned reminders just now, and her firmness when recommending Chen Mo to join the team. These images now turned into sharp blades, constantly piercing his heart and making him feel a bone-chilling cold. So, it was all a meticulously planned deception. She had been disguising herself, secretly working for the Void Temple, waiting for the perfect moment to deliver a fatal blow.

[System Prompt: Detected intense emotional fluctuations in the host. Xuanguang Energy is unstable, and energy output is abnormal. It is recommended to calm your emotions as soon as possible, otherwise it will affect your combat state and may even lead to Xuanguang Energy losing control.]

Mu Li took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. He closed his eyes and slowly soothed the anger and pain in his heart. He knew now was not the time to be immersed in the pain of betrayal. He had to reach the Southwest Deep Mountains as quickly as possible to stop the enemy merger, while also guarding against Lin Wei's schemes in the rear to prevent her from raiding the Core Laboratory and seizing the xuanguang core. He muttered in his heart, his tone cold and firm: "Lin Wei, if you really betrayed me, betrayed Huaxia, and betrayed our common beliefs, I will definitely make you pay the price. I will show no mercy!"

As the Assault Boat approached the core area of the Shadow Tribe in the Southwest Deep Mountains, Mu Li could clearly feel the Dark Energy fluctuations in the air growing stronger. That eerie and cold aura made one's hair stand on end. On the screen, the figures of the Void Temple's vanguard had already appeared above the mountain range. Small assault ships hovered in mid-air, their black hulls emitting an ominous black mist. Soldiers in black combat suits, holding heavy dark energy weapons, were attempting to break through the reinforced Xuan-guang Energy Defense Shield. Ripples constantly spread across the barrier, accompanied by a "sizzling" sound. In the depths of the mountains, the Dark Soldiers of the Shadow Tribe were gathering toward the barrier. They wore ancient black armor and hideous masks, clutching dark weapons. They were packed together like a tide; a great war was on the verge of breaking out.

Mu Li shut down the Assault Boat's engines. Relying on the stealth function of his combat suit, he landed silently in a hidden corner of the mountains. The vegetation here was lush and the terrain treacherous, perfect for observing the battle ahead without being easily discovered by the enemy. He lowered his body, crouching in the grass, and peered through the dense foliage at the enemy camp ahead, a cold sneer playing on his lips. The Void Temple's vanguard and the Shadow Tribe people all thought he would bring a large force for support and confront them head-on, but they never expected him to infiltrate alone—this was the perfect opportunity for him to play the pig to eat the tiger, and the beginning of his counterattack.

He activated the hidden functions of the core system. Xuanguang Energy flowed quietly through his body like a gentle stream, completely hiding his presence. Even the Xuanguang Energy fluctuations on his body were thoroughly masked, making him like an ordinary mountain rock blending into the environment. [System Prompt: Xuanguang Stealth Maximization Mode activated. Stealth effect 100%. Not detected by the enemy. Locked onto the enemy's core command area, located in the center of the Shadow Tribe camp. It contains a built-in dark energy signal transmitter responsible for relaying command instructions. Recommendation: Launch a flank assault to destroy the dark energy signal transmitter, cut off enemy communications, and disrupt enemy deployment.]

Mu Li nodded, his gaze resolute. Following the route suggested by the system, he prowled toward the enemy's core command area like a leopard. His movements were light and swift as he avoided enemy patrol soldiers and Dark Energy monitoring equipment. Every step was taken with extreme caution for fear of making even the slightest sound and exposing his position. His heart was filled with complex emotions: anger at Lin Wei's betrayal, worry for the hijacked team members, vigilance against powerful enemies, and a trace of uncertainty about the future. But these emotions eventually transformed into a firm conviction—no matter the cost or the danger, he would protect the Mystic Light Energy, protect this land, protect the partners by his side, and thoroughly crush the conspiracies of the Void Temple and the Shadow Tribe, letting the light of Xuanguang illuminate every dark place.

In the darkness ahead, the lights of the enemy camp were already visible. The dim firelight was exceptionally piercing in the deep mountains. The roar of dark energy weapons, the shouts of soldiers, and the rebukes of commanders rose and fell, weaving together into a symphony of death. Mu Li gripped the Xuanguang Cutting Blade, its golden light flickering slightly in the darkness, a flash of determination in his eyes. He knew that a hearty battle was about to begin, and his counterattack had officially commenced from this moment...