118: Node blasting and "disconnection" moments

Deep within the main range of the Qinglan Mountain Range, there was a seemingly ordinary valley.

The Spiritual Qi here was exceptionally abundant, even forming a small patch of spiritual mist in the center of the valley, making it a dream cultivation site for any Cultivator.

But when Wen Youyi and the other two arrived nearby, following the secret markers left by Ying, they could clearly feel that the fluctuations of the "spirit net" in this area were exceptionally dense and active, as if countless invisible threads were weaving a massive network with this place as the center.

This was the target of the Purifiers' operation this time—an important energy node of the "spirit net" in the Qinglan Mountain Range region!

The hour of Zi was approaching; the moon was hidden and the stars were sparse.

Wen Youyi, Zhao Iron Pillar, and Senior Brother Zhang lurked in a dense forest on the outskirts of the valley, meeting up with several other Purifiers.

Counting Ying, there were eight Purifiers participating in this operation, each with restrained auras and determined gazes.

"The plan is simple," Ying said in a low, quick voice, "The eight of us will infiltrate the core of the node and set up a 'Reverse Flow Formation' to forcibly reverse the energy flow, causing it to overload and collapse. This process will take about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, and we cannot be disturbed during this time."

She looked at Senior Brother Zhang: "Fellow Daoist Zhang, your task is to immediately set up 'Spirit Chaos Formations' at the two preset locations, southeast and northwest of the valley, after we infiltrate. You must create large-scale energy turbulence and false signals to attract the attention of any patrolling Scavengers or automatic defense mechanisms, buying us time."

She then looked at Wen Youyi and Zhao Iron Pillar: "Fellow Daoist Wen, Fellow Daoist Zhao, you two are responsible for peripheral support and vigilance. Once you discover any abnormalities, or if we fail to come out after the scheduled time, you must immediately cover Senior Brother Zhang's retreat. Do not engage in prolonged combat!"

The task allocation was clear, and the risk was extremely high.

Senior Brother Zhang took a deep breath, nodded heavily, and checked the Formation Plate and Materials he had prepared in his robes.

Zhao Iron Pillar gripped his heavy sword tightly and said in a muffled voice, "Don't worry, with me here, it'll be fine!"

Wen Youyi silently sensed the surrounding environment, especially the omnipresent "spirit net" fluctuations.

The star core fragment in his robes transmitted a faint sense of repulsion, as if it instinctively loathed this place.

The exact hour of Zi had arrived!

"Move!" At Ying's command, the eight Purifiers moved like ghosts, using the cover of night to silently merge into the spiritual mist of the valley.

"It's our turn!" Senior Brother Zhang immediately crouched down and sneaked toward the preset point in the southeast direction.

Wen Youyi and Zhao Iron Pillar occupied a high ground with a relatively open view, holding their breath and focusing their attention, closely monitoring the movements inside and outside the valley.

Time ticked by, second by second, but the valley remained calm, with only the spiritual mist flowing slowly.

However, Wen Youyi could feel that the throbbing from the star core fragment in his robes was becoming more and more obvious!

It wasn't a warning, but rather something more like... a restlessness before resonance?

Suddenly! "Hum—!!" A low hum, seemingly originating from deep within the earth, came from the core of the valley!

The spiritual mist throughout the valley instantly became violent, churning like boiling water!

The "Spirit Chaos Formation" that Senior Brother Zhang had set up in the southeast direction activated at the right moment!

Beams of twisted light and chaotic energy fluctuations shot into the sky, accompanied by ear-piercing noise, instantly shattering the tranquility of the night!

Almost at the same time the "Spirit Chaos Formation" activated— "Whoosh! Whoosh!" Two silver-white figures, like lightning tearing through the night sky, suddenly appeared above the valley!

They were two patrolling Scavengers! Their cold gazes instantly locked onto the conspicuous energy turbulence in the southeast.

"Interference source detected! Execute elimination!" A cold thought swept across.

The two Scavengers did not hesitate, turning into two streaks of silver light and rushing straight toward Senior Brother Zhang's position!

"Oh no!" Wen Youyi's heart tightened! Senior Brother Zhang was only at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer; facing two real Scavengers, he had absolutely no chance of survival!

"Iron Pillar, get ready to provide cover!" Wen Youyi shouted in a low voice, while simultaneously unleashing the star core translocation technique he had just learned with all his might!

His goal was to interfere with one of the Scavengers, creating an opportunity for Senior Brother Zhang and Zhao Iron Pillar!

However, just at the moment he was about to act— an unexpected change occurred again!

"Rumble—!!!" The entire Qinglan Mountain Range, as if a Dragon were turning over, shook violently!

With the valley as the core, an invisible yet majestic energy shockwave erupted, sweeping across all directions!

In the sky, the fluctuations of the "spirit net," which had originally been omnipresent and dense like a net, sounded like snapped strings, emitting a series of piercing "wails" before suddenly disappearing!

In an instant, Wen Youyi felt his whole body lighten! The feeling that had been lingering around him, as if he were carrying an invisible heavy burden, had vanished!

The Spiritual Qi between heaven and earth seemed to have become much more "quiet" and "free"!

The "spirit net"... was broken?! The Web Break operation, was it a success?!

The two Scavengers, who were about to pounce on Senior Brother Zhang, froze suddenly, the silver light around their bodies dimming, as if they had lost some important support!

Their movements became somewhat stiff and sluggish, and for the first time, a flicker of emotion resembling "confusion" appeared on their cold faces!

"Now is the time!" A brilliant light burst from Wen Youyi's eyes. Seizing this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, he activated the star core translocation!

His figure instantly blurred, and the next moment, he appeared beside one of the Scavengers!

He did not attack, but instead slammed his palm, condensed with Star Core Power, onto the ground beneath the opponent's feet!

"Boom!" The ground exploded into a deep pit, and the violent Star Power, mixed with dirt, splattered everywhere. Although it did not cause substantial damage to the Scavenger, it successfully disrupted its balance and perception!

On the other side, Zhao Iron Pillar, like a humanoid Dragon, roared and charged toward the other Scavenger, his heavy sword carrying the force of ten thousand jun, not seeking to injure the enemy, but only to block it!

Senior Brother Zhang took the opportunity to scramble away, escaping the danger zone.

The two Scavengers seemed to have experienced a System malfunction due to the sudden interruption of the "spirit net," causing their reactions to lag by a beat, and they were caught off guard by this sudden harassment from Wen Youyi and Zhao Iron Pillar!

Just then, from the core of the valley, eight figures, looking slightly disheveled but with bright eyes, soared into the sky! It was the Purifiers led by Ying! They had succeeded!

"Withdraw!" Ying did not hesitate to engage in combat and gave the order decisively.

Wen Youyi and the other two immediately joined up with the Purifiers. Taking advantage of the precious gap while the two Scavengers were still adapting to the "disconnected" state, they turned into several streaks of light and sped away without looking back toward the designated extraction point—Sunken Star Ravine!

Behind them, the valley that had lost its core saw its energy completely spiral out of control, triggering a chain of explosions that sent flames soaring into the sky, lighting up half the firmament.

The "spirit net" in the Qinglan Mountain Range region had been temporarily torn open with a huge gap. The twelve hours of disconnection had begun!

(End of chapter)