241: Chapter 240 A Shocking Change at the Peak! A Hidden Arrow Pierces the Sky, the Crisis is Hard to Avert and a New Journey Begins (5)

Mu Li's brow was tightly furrowed, fine beads of cold sweat seeping from his forehead. He fired his energy gun rapidly, accurately hitting one armed personnel after another. In a heavy tone, he said, "Everyone, find cover and resist with everything you've got! Technical Team Leader, speed up the cracking process! We can't hold out much longer! If it's any later, it'll be too late for everything!"

The group immediately ducked behind nearby equipment, using the heavy machinery as cover to engage in a life-and-death struggle with the armed personnel. Bullets whistled past, and the 'sizzling' of energy beams colliding, the 'bangs' of equipment exploding, and the screams of the armed personnel intertwined to form a desperate and tragic war song. Mu Li fired rapidly while vigilantly observing his surroundings. The old injury on his ankle throbbed with a dull pain during the intense movements; every step felt like being pricked by countless needles. Cold sweat slid down his forehead, soaking his bangs, but he forced himself to ignore it—at this moment, he could not fall. Once he fell, everyone's efforts would be in vain, and the entire Home would face utter destruction. He had to endure.

"Engineer Mu, the crack is successful! We've bypassed the iris and fingerprint verification, and the password has been cracked. The alloy door will open shortly! Just hold on a bit longer!" The Technical Team Leader's voice came through the communicator, carrying a hint of excitement and urgency. It was like a beam of light in the darkness, bringing hope to everyone.

Mu Li felt a surge of joy, and the heart that had been hanging in suspense finally eased slightly. He shouted urgently, "Great! Open the alloy door! Now! Immediately!"

Just then, the alloy door to the core area slowly swung open. A dark shadow stepped out from within, followed by four elite armed personnel, each standing tall with cold gazes, like loyal guardians. The man wore a long black windbreaker that fluttered slightly in the airflow. A black mask covered his face, revealing only a pair of icy eyes. His steps were steady, each one sounding as if it were stepping on everyone's hearts, and he radiated a powerful sense of oppression that made people shudder. "Mu Li, we finally meet." The man's voice was hoarse and low, coming through the mask with a trace of an eerie smile that made one's skin crawl.

Mu Li looked up, and his heart jolted violently. It was as if his blood had frozen in that instant—though the other person wore a mask, his build, voice, and that familiar aura were all things Mu Li knew incredibly well. This was the person he had always respected and trusted. "It's you! Professor Zhang!" Mu Li's voice carried a hint of unbelievable trembling, his eyes filled with shock.

The man slowly removed the mask from his face, revealing a familiar countenance—it was indeed Professor Zhang, who had been helping and guiding them all along. But the Professor Zhang of this moment was no longer the gentle, kind elder who sought to protect Xuanguang Technology. His eyes lacked their former warmth and goodwill, replaced by a kind of madness and paranoia. An eerie smile played at the corners of his mouth, his eyes glinting with greed and fanaticism. His entire being radiated a heart-pounding aura, making him seem like a completely different person.

"That's right, it's me." Professor Zhang sneered, his tone full of mockery as he looked at Mu Li with a contemptuous gaze. "Mu Li, are you surprised? Do you find it hard to believe? You thought I was helping you? You thought that, like you, I wanted to protect Xuanguang Technology and our Home? In reality, I have been using you all along—using your trust in me and your obsession with Xuanguang Technology to help me clear all obstacles to activating the ancient energy source."

Mu Li's eyes were filled with shock and fury. He gripped the energy gun so tightly his knuckles turned white. In an icy tone, he asked, "Why are you doing this? Activating the ancient energy source will bring a catastrophic disaster to Home and cost countless lives. Don't you know that? Back then, when you and Professor Chen modified the xuanguang core data, wasn't it to prevent all this and protect our Home?"

Professor Zhang burst into laughter, a hoarse and crazed sound that echoed through the chaotic base, intertwining with the piercing alarms and gunfire in a way that made one's hair stand on end. "Prevent it? Mu Li, you are too naive!" His eyes were fanatical, his tone full of paranoia. He raised his hands slightly as if embracing something. "Professor Chen was a coward! He clearly discovered a power sufficient to rule the world, yet because he feared a so-called 'disaster,' he chose to hide, to flee, and even modified the core data, personally strangling the chance to change the world! He didn't deserve such a discovery!"

He took a step forward, the aura around him growing even colder. He spoke word by word, his voice filled with fanaticism and resentment: "Years ago, Professor Chen and I discovered the secret of the ancient energy source together. He was obsessed with so-called 'protection,' focused only on keeping that bit of insignificant stability. But I saw its potential—as long as we control this world-destroying power, we can reshape the world order, escape the plight of resource scarcity, and become the masters of the world! Professor Chen stopped me and modified the core data, even wanting to completely destroy the activation method. I could only pretend to comply while secretly retaining all the data, waiting for the right moment—a moment where I could fully realize my ideals."

"Deputy Director Li was also a pawn you planted?" A massive wave of regret surged in Mu Li's heart, overwhelming him—he had actually been kept in the dark by Professor Zhang, treating an enemy as his most trusted ally. He had even advanced his work multiple times under Deputy Director Li's 'help,' nearly causing an irreversible catastrophe.

"Correct." A strange smile curled on Professor Zhang's lips, his tone full of disdain. "Deputy Director Li was greedy for wealth and status, longing to control Xuanguang Technology and reach the top in one step. With a little inducement, he was willing to be used by me. Leaking the core code of your counter-attack program to the Aurora Alliance was all for today—to use the chaos of global xuanguang equipment to distract you, allowing me to smoothly complete the activation of the energy source. Meanwhile, you could only run yourselves ragged outside, powerless to stop me."

"You're insane!" Mu Li roared, a flash of ruthlessness in his eyes as the aura around him turned even colder. "If the energy source is activated, the entire Home will be destroyed, and you will turn to ash along with it. Your so-called 'ruling the world' is nothing but a fleeting illusion! In the end, you will get nothing!"

"An illusion?" Professor Zhang's eyes grew more crazed, his smile twisting. "As long as I can activate the energy source, I will be the first person to control it. Even if I have to pay any price, even if I perish along with the world, it is worth it! As for the destruction of Home? Those ignorant mortals never deserved such powerful strength anyway. Their sacrifice is merely for a greater future; it is their honor!"

As his words fell, Professor Zhang gave a look to the armed personnel behind him and ordered coldly, "Kill them! Leave none alive! Do not let them interfere with my activation of the energy source!"

The armed personnel immediately intensified their attack. Dense energy beams struck like a rainstorm. Mu Li and the others' situation became increasingly dire as the equipment around them was constantly pierced and exploded, leaving fewer and fewer barriers for cover. To protect Mu Li, a young security team member (Xiao Zhang) lunged forward the moment Mu Li was about to be hit by an energy beam. He blocked Mu Li, and the golden energy beam instantly struck his chest, tearing a large hole through his body. Blood gushed out, staining Mu Li's cold-weather suit. He let out a muffled groan and collapsed to the ground, his eyes gradually losing their luster until his breath ceased.

"Xiao Zhang!" Zhao Gang's eyes were nearly bursting with rage as he let out a roar. His eyes were bloodshot, and his energy gun frantically spat out golden beams, hitting three armed personnel in one go. However, he was also struck in the shoulder by an energy beam. Blood instantly soaked his cold-weather suit. The intense pain made him furrow his brows and break into a cold sweat, yet he did not stop his movements, continuing to resist with a gaze full of grief, indignation, and resolve.

Mu Li looked at his fallen comrade, grief and anger intertwining in his heart like a knife twist. The old injury on his ankle grew even more painful during the fierce struggle; every movement felt like being pricked by countless needles, and his entire body's muscles were trembling, yet he did not retreat in the slightest. He knew that now was not the time for sorrow. Sorrow could solve nothing. Only by stopping Professor Zhang could he avenge Xiao Zhang, protect their Home, and prevent more people from being sacrificed.

"Zhao Gang, take the remaining team members and pin down the armed personnel! Give it your all, you must hold on!" Mu Li shouted to Zhao Gang, his tone firm and his eyes full of determination. "I'm going to stop Professor Zhang. He cannot be allowed to activate the energy source! This is our last chance!"

"Engineer Mu, no! It's too dangerous! Professor Zhang has elite guards with him; you're no match for them alone! I'll go with you!" Zhao Gang urged urgently, trying to step forward to stop him, but he was pinned down by several armed personnel and could not break free. He could only watch helplessly as Mu Li charged toward the core area, his eyes full of worry and anxiety.

"There's no time!" Mu Li shook his head, his eyes resolute. He said firmly, "Trust me, I will definitely stop him! You must hold on and wait for me to return!" With that, he took advantage of the chaos and blurred into motion, charging toward the core area like a cheetah. His energy gun fired continuously, accurately forcing back several armed personnel blocking his path. A few more wounds were added to his body, blood sliding down from the cuts, but they did not slow his pace in the least.

Seeing Mu Li charging over, Professor Zhang curled his lips into a mocking smile and said to the two elite guards beside him, "Stop him. Don't let him get near the activation device! Even if you have to kill him, he must not be allowed to ruin my plan!"

The two guards immediately moved forward with agile movements, their energy guns aimed at Mu Li as they launched a fierce attack. The dense energy beams almost sealed off all routes for Mu Li's advance. Mu Li was nimble, constantly dodging and using the surrounding equipment as cover while firing back rapidly as he approached the activation device. Golden energy beams whistled past him, hitting the surrounding equipment with loud bangs, sending sparks flying. fragments constantly fell on him, leaving various cuts that burned with pain, yet none of it could stop his advance.

After a bout of intense combat, Mu Li relied on his agile movements and precise shooting to finally repel the two guards. Covered in wounds and gasping for breath, he rushed to the center of the core area. The sight before him made his heart tighten, and a strong sense of crisis surged—a massive xuanguang activation device stood in the center of the core area. The core part of the device emitted an eerie purple light that was growing stronger. The terrifying aura of the ancient energy source continuously radiated from the device, heart-pounding as if it could explode at any moment. Professor Zhang was standing before the device, his hands on the control panel, operating it rapidly with a fanatical look and a triumphant smile. The activation progress bar on the screen had already reached eighty percent; less than ten minutes remained until full activation.

"Mu Li, you came after all." Professor Zhang slowly turned around, a strange smile on his face and mockery in his tone. "Unfortunately, it's too late. The energy source will be activated soon. You can no longer stop me. My great ideal will soon be realized!"

Mu Li didn't waste words. He raised the energy gun in his hand, aiming it at Professor Zhang's chest. His tone was icy, his eyes sharp as an eagle's: "Stop the activation immediately! Otherwise, I will fire!"

"Fire?" Professor Zhang sneered, completely unafraid. Instead, he took a step forward, his eyes full of mockery. "You think firing will kill me? Even if I die, the activation program will continue, and the energy source will still be activated. You are merely performing a futile effort." He paused, a hint of cunning flashing in his eyes as he continued, "Moreover, do you dare to fire? Once I am dead, no one will know how to stop the activation program. The entire Home will be utterly destroyed because of your shot. You would be the sinner of the entire Home!"

Mu Li's finger gripped the trigger tightly, his knuckles white. He fell into a fierce internal struggle—he knew Professor Zhang was right. Once Professor Zhang was killed, no one else could stop the activation program, and Home would be completely destroyed, costing countless lives. But if he didn't kill him and let him continue activating the energy source, the consequences would be equally unthinkable, eventually leading to destruction anyway. On one side was killing Professor Zhang and personally destroying Home; on the other was not killing him and watching Home step by step toward destruction. No matter the choice, it was a dead end.

Just then, Xia Wan's voice suddenly came through the communicator, carrying a hint of urgency but also filled with determination. It was like a beam of light in the darkness, instantly illuminating Mu Li's despair: "Mu Li, I found it! I finally found it! Professor Chen left a backup plan back then. He hid an emergency stop program within the xuanguang core data. As long as the correct command is entered, the activation of the energy source can be forcibly stopped! I've already sent the command to you. Enter it! You must be fast!"

Mu Li felt a surge of joy as he instantly saw hope. The struggle in his heart vanished. He immediately looked at the control panel, his fingers tapping rapidly on the keyboard. Though his fingertips trembled slightly from urgency, they were exceptionally precise as he entered the emergency stop command Xia Wan had sent step by step. Professor Zhang's expression changed, a flash of panic appearing in his eyes. The triumphant smile on his face vanished instantly, replaced by sheer alarm. He wanted to step forward to stop him, but Mu Li kept the energy gun aimed dead at his chest, leaving him unable to move.

"Don't move!" Mu Li's tone was icy, his eyes sharp as an eagle's, carrying a hint of ruthlessness. "Move one more inch and I'll fire! Even if I can't stop the energy source activation, I'll take you down with me so you won't get to see your so-called 'great future' either!"