501: Chapter 436: Deploying Troops for Encirclement and Suppression, Wang Meng Leads the Vanguard

After Zhou Tianxing escaped, Lin Zhou did not give him a chance to catch his breath.

Although the Lord of Nothingness's anchor point was still deep within the Void Realm, Zhou Tianxing's secret stronghold on the edge of the Third War Zone had been discovered.

The spatial teleportation array inside that asteroid connected to multiple coordinates on the edge of the Old Universe's Void Realm.

One of these was the Void Sect's last stronghold in the New Universe—hidden within an asteroid belt at the intersection of the Third War Zone and the Seventh War Zone.

[ Void Sect · Final Stronghold Data ]

- Location: Intersection of Third War Zone and Seventh War Zone, deep within the asteroid belt

- Scale: Small space station, approximately two kilometers in diameter

- Defense: Void Realm energy shield, corruption turrets, approximately fifty black-clad believers

- Commander: Zhou Tianxing (has escaped), Deputy Commander: Black-Clad Deacon (LV800)

- Strategic Value: Hub for communication between Zhou Tianxing, Major General Huo En, and Zhao Heng

Lin Zhou stood in the fortress command center, the Star Map marking the precise coordinates of the stronghold.

After Zhou Tianxing escaped, Li Mo's detector performed a reverse trace on that teleportation array, locking onto the energy fluctuations within the asteroid belt.

Although the fluctuations were faint, the Fire of Civilization detector captured the unique frequency of the Void Realm energy.

"Captain, let me lead the vanguard."

Wang Meng stood before the Star Map, his battle axe already in hand, his eyes burning with Battle Intent. "Those black-clad scum, I can take out ten of them by myself."

Lin Zhou looked at him and was silent for a moment. "How many men are you taking?"

"Five hundred."

Wang Meng patted his chest. "The elites of the Vanguard Battalion, the brothers with the thickest Fire of Civilization coating. Their Void Realm energy weapons will have their effectiveness halved against our armor."

"I'll give you eight hundred."

Lin Zhou brought up the stronghold's defensive structure. "The stronghold's perimeter has a Void Realm energy shield that requires the Fire of Civilization to burn through. I'll have Qin Qing take the Law Enforcement Team with you; her Net of Law can weaken the shield."

"No need. I can smash that broken shield by myself."

Wang Meng grinned.

"This is an order."

"Yes."

Lin Zhou looked at Qin Qing again. "Qin Qing, take the Law Enforcement Team to assist Wang Meng. After the shield is broken, you are responsible for sealing the stronghold's spatial teleportation array. Don't let anyone escape."

"Yes."

"Li Mo, you are responsible for communications and data analysis. How much of the stronghold's internal layout can the detector penetrate?"

Li Mo brought up the simulation. "When the shield is intact, the penetration rate is only 20%. Once broken, it can reach 80%. I will update the distribution of enemies inside in real-time."

"Good. Iron Face, you take the people from the Inspectorate to handle the aftermath. I want prisoners alive, especially the Black-Clad Deacon. He might know Zhou Tianxing's whereabouts."

Iron Face nodded.

"Move out."

The teleportation array sent the eight hundred men to the edge of the asteroid belt.

Countless rocks of varying sizes floated within the asteroid belt; the largest were about ten kilometers in diameter, and the smallest were only the size of a fist.

The stronghold was hidden inside a giant asteroid in the deepest part; from the outside, it looked like an ordinary rock, but the Fire of Civilization detector clearly captured the fluctuations of Void Realm energy in the center of the asteroid.

Wang Meng led the Vanguard Battalion at the front. The eight hundred men spread out in a fan shape, approaching the stronghold.

The projection of the ark of civilization enveloped everyone, its deep blue light almost invisible within the asteroid belt.

[ Vanguard Battalion · Data ]

- Number of personnel: 800

- Average Divinity Rank: LV600

- Equipment: Civilization Armor · Enhanced Version, Fire of Justice

- ark of civilization projection: 500-meter diameter, consumes 5000 Divine Power per minute

- Wang Meng status: Berserk preparation, Strength + 100%

When they were one kilometer away from the stronghold, a crack suddenly opened on the surface of the asteroid, and dark red light surged out from the fissure.

The Void Realm energy shield deployed, enveloping the entire asteroid.

Twisted runes flowed across the surface of the shield, and corruption turrets rose from the asteroid's surface, their muzzles aimed at the Vanguard Battalion.

[ Stronghold Defense · Data ]

- Shield strength: Peak Mid-Tier Divine Power

- Corruption turrets: Approximately twenty

- Turret power: Full-power strike of a low-level Mid-Tier Divine Power

- Black-clad believers: Approximately fifty (inside)

"Wang Meng, leave the shield to me."

Qin Qing stepped forward, and the Net of Law deployed.

[ Net of Law · Define Illegal ]

- Definition content: Void Realm energy shield is an illegal existence

- Target: Stronghold shield

- Consumption: 5000 Divine Power per minute

- Effect: Shield strength - 20%

Pale golden chains of rules shot out from Qin Qing's palm, wrapping around the shield.

The dark red light on the shield's surface began to dim, and its strength dropped from 100% to 80%.

The corruption turrets opened fire simultaneously, dark red beams of light shooting toward the Vanguard Battalion.

Wang Meng raised his battle axe and roared.

"Shield wall!"

The Civilization Sword Cultivators in the front row of the Vanguard Battalion raised their shields simultaneously, the Fire of Civilization burning on the surface of the shields.

The beams of light struck the shield wall, erupting in blinding light. The shield wall shook but remained intact.

[ Shield Wall · Data ]

- Durability: 100% → 95%

- Attack sustained: Salvo of twenty turrets

- Status: Stable

"Continue the advance!"

Wang Meng ordered. The Vanguard Battalion approached the shield, every step making the Void Realm tremble.

Qin Qing's Net of Law continued to weaken the shield, its strength dropping from 80% to 60%, 40%, and 20%.

When the shield strength dropped to 10%, Wang Meng leaped up, his battle axe hacking fiercely onto the surface of the shield.

[ Wang Meng · Attack — — Shield-Breaking Strike ]

- Attack power: Full-power strike of a mid-level Mid-Tier Divine Power × 2 (Berserk bonus)

- Target: Void Realm energy shield (10% strength)

- Effect: Shield shattered

The shield exploded, dark red fragments scattering in all directions.

Wang Meng charged into the breach, his battle axe sweeping horizontally, hacking two corruption turrets into scrap metal.

The Vanguard Battalion followed closely behind, flooding into the stronghold.

Inside the stronghold was a long corridor, with dark red metal walls on both sides.

Black-clad believers swarmed out from the depths of the corridor, dark red beams of light shooting toward the Vanguard Battalion.

The Civilization Sword Cultivators blocked with their shields while countering with their Sword of Civilization.

[ Battle · First Wave Data ]

- Black-clad believers: Approximately twenty

- Vanguard Battalion: 800 people

- Vanguard Battalion losses: Five slightly injured

- Black-clad believers losses: Ten (killed), five (captured)

Wang Meng charged at the very front, every swing of his battle axe taking the life of a black-clad believer.

His Berserk status caused his strength to skyrocket, but his sanity did not decrease—the Fire of Courage from the Fire of Civilization kept him clear-headed.

Qin Qing's Net of Law deployed in the rear, restricting the movement of the black-clad believers.

Iron Face's Fire of Justice was conducting existence judgments; the bodies of the black-clad believers judged as "non-existent" began to turn transparent and then dissipated.

[ Battle · Second Wave Data ]

- Black-clad believers: Approximately thirty remaining

- Vanguard Battalion advance speed: Ten meters per second

- Inside the stronghold: Being cleared out one by one

At the end of the corridor was a huge dark red metal door, engraved with the Void Sect's mark—a Möbius strip.

Wang Meng hacked the door open with one axe blow; behind the door was a huge command room.

In the center of the command room floated a spatial teleportation array, dark red light flowing through the runes.

Standing next to the teleportation array was a middle-aged man wearing a black cloak with dark golden patterns embroidered on the cuffs—the Black-Clad Deacon.

[ Black-Clad Deacon · Data ]

- Rank: LV800

- Identity: Void Sect Black-Clad Deacon, stronghold commander

- Skills: Void Realm Erosion, Void Devour, Existence Erasure

- Status: Preparing to escape

"Stop him!"

Wang Meng charged forward.

The Black-Clad Deacon did not fight but turned and ran toward the teleportation array.

Wang Meng threw his battle axe; it spun as it flew toward the Black-Clad Deacon, striking him in the back.

The Black-Clad Deacon stumbled but did not fall, continuing to rush toward the teleportation array.

Qin Qing's Net of Law caught up from the rear, wrapping around his legs.

The Black-Clad Deacon fell, only one step away from the teleportation array.

Wang Meng rushed up and stepped on his back.

"Run, keep running."

The Black-Clad Deacon struggled, but Wang Meng's foot was like an iron clamp.

Lin Zhou walked in from the corridor, looking at the subdued Black-Clad Deacon.

"Where is Zhou Tianxing?"

The Black-Clad Deacon looked up, dark red flames in his eyes. "He... has already gone to the old home. You cannot find him."

"Old home? The Lord of Nothingness's anchor point?"

The Black-Clad Deacon did not answer.

His Divinity began to burn—self-detonation.

Lin Zhou rushed forward, pressing the Fire of Civilization against his chest.

[ Fire of Civilization · Suppress Self-Detonation ]

- Target: Black-Clad Deacon

- Effect: Self-detonation forcibly interrupted

- Consumption: 1000 Divine Power

The Black-Clad Deacon's self-detonation was stopped, but his Divinity integrity had dropped to 10%, and he was near death.

"Iron Face, it's all yours."

Iron Face stepped forward, pressing the Fire of Justice against the Black-Clad Deacon's forehead. "In the name of Justice—Judgment."

[ Fire of Justice · Judgment ]

- Target: Black-Clad Deacon

- Effect: Forced to tell the truth

- Consumption: 1000 Divine Power

"Where is Zhou Tianxing?"

"The anchor point... where the Lord of Nothingness sleeps..."

"What is he going there to do?"

"Awaken... the master... use the Space Origin Stone... to strengthen the anchor point..."

"How many Space Origin Stones are needed?"

"Ten... still missing ten... he is waiting..."

"Waiting for what?"

"Waiting for... Major General Huo En... but Major General Huo En is dead..."

The Black-Clad Deacon's voice grew weaker and weaker, his Divinity integrity dropping to 5%.

Iron Face let go.

"He is dying."

Lin Zhou nodded. "Are there any other people in the stronghold?"

"No more... they are all dead..."

The Black-Clad Deacon's eyes closed, and his divine fire extinguished.

Lin Zhou stood up and looked at the teleportation array. "Is the destination of the teleportation array the anchor point?"

Li Mo's projection analyzed the teleportation array's energy fluctuations. "Yes. It is consistent with the direction Zhou Tianxing escaped in earlier. But the teleportation array needs to be recharged to be activated. Recharging time is about three days."

"Three days. That is enough."

Lin Zhou turned around. "Clear out the stronghold and collect supplies. Three days later, when the teleportation array is fully charged, we will teleport directly to the anchor point and capture Zhou Tianxing."

"Yes."

[ Clearing Out · Summary ]

- Black-clad believers: Forty killed, ten captured

- Black-Clad Deacon: Captured (died afterward)

- Seized: One Void Realm energy core, five Space Origin Stones, approximately twenty secret letters from the Void Sect

- Our losses: Twenty slightly injured

Lin Zhou stood in the command room, looking at the seized Void Realm energy core.

The dark red crystal glowed faintly in his palm, unlike any he had seen before—in its center was a wisp of golden light.

That was the color of essence of order, the color of the Fire of Civilization.

The coexistence of the Void Realm energy core and essence of order meant that this core had once been purified, but had been re-contaminated.

"Li Mo, can you trace the Origin of this core?"

Li Mo analyzed the energy residue of the core. "The Origin... is the warehouse of the Expeditionary Force headquarters. The serial number matches the batch allocated to the Seventh War Zone three years ago. At that time, the person in charge was Major General Huo En."

"Major General Huo En hid it in the stronghold instead of sending it to the anchor point."

"Why?"

"Perhaps he wanted to leave himself a way out."

Lin Zhou put away the core. "Take it back and purify it."

After returning to the fortress, Lin Zhou purified the core, converting it into one thousand units of essence of order.

Three days later, the teleportation array finished charging.

Lin Zhou mustered his troops. Wang Meng, Qin Qing, Su Yueyao, Chen Xuan, Iron Face, and one hundred Civilization Sword Cultivators. Dragon Vein Golden Scale accompanied them.

"Target—Lord of Nothingness anchor point. Mission—Capture Zhou Tianxing and stop him from strengthening the anchor point."

"Move out."

The silvery-white light of the teleportation array enveloped the team.

They disappeared from the fortress.