286: Chapter 286 Target

Gao Feng's expression became incredibly solemn.

Looking at his companions who had died miserable deaths, a cold killing intent flashed in his eyes.

This was definitely not the work of an ordinary Shadow Killer!

To be able to silently assassinate several Foundation Establishment Cultivators in succession and specifically target the Soul, the opponent's strength must have at least reached Foundation Establishment Third Layer!

This was a commander of the Shadow Demon Clan!

His goal was definitely not these ordinary Cultivators!

He was only doing this to create panic and cause a distraction!

His true goal was...

Gao Feng's heart suddenly jolted!

It was Elder Ling Zhan! And himself!

He wanted to assassinate the core combat power of the Human Race and completely destroy this newly stabilized mineral vein outpost!

"Go! Follow me!"

Gao Feng made a decisive judgment and led his core team to begin a carpet-style search within the outpost.

However, this Shadow Killer commander's spatial concealment technique was far beyond that of the previous ordinary Shadow Killers.

He seemed to have completely fused with this space.

Even Su Ning could only vaguely sense a faint spatial fluctuation wandering within the outpost, but she was unable to pinpoint its exact location.

Just as Gao Feng and the others were leading most of the patrol teams to conduct a search on the outskirts of the outpost...

That invisible dark shadow, like a top-tier hunter, silently bypassed all detection and sneaked into the core area of the outpost.

His target was precisely the secret chamber of Elder Ling Zhan, who was currently in seclusion for recovery and in his weakest state!

A poison needle as fine as a cow's hair, condensed from pure dark Soul Power, silently pierced through the layers of Restrictions in the secret chamber, aiming directly for the center of Elder Ling Zhan's forehead!

If this strike succeeded, even a Golden Core powerhouse would certainly suffer Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering!

At this critical moment!

Gao Feng, who was conducting the search, suddenly trembled!

His powerful Physical Body, which had cultivated the initial stage Star Battle Body, had an extraordinary perception of fluctuations at the Soul level!

He sensed that lethal danger!

"Not good!"

Gao Feng didn't have time to think. With a thought, he directly activated the "spatial shuttle" function of the Myriad Spirit Space that had just been unlocked!

His figure instantly vanished from where he stood!

In the next moment, as if teleporting, he appeared inside Elder Ling Zhan's secret chamber!

Clang—!

An extremely piercing sound of metal clashing exploded within the silent secret chamber!

The vajra sword in Gao Feng's hand, at an incredible angle, precisely blocked the Soul poison needle that was about to pierce Elder Ling Zhan's forehead!

Sparks flew in all directions!

A blurry dark shadow flashed and vanished in the Void Realm, letting out a surprised "Eh?"

"Finally willing to come out?"

Gao Feng's gaze was cold as he stared intently at the empty space.

"A mere Foundation Establishment Second Layer human could actually block my 'Soul Devouring Needle'?"

A hoarse and cold voice came from all directions, as if countless people were speaking at once.

"Your Soul must be very delicious."

Before the words finished, the dark shadow moved again!

This time, he no longer used physical attacks, but instead unleashed his strongest innate Spell—Shadow Killing Technique!

His figure completely fused into this space, turning into a pure Soul storm filled with an aura of destruction and devouring, crazily sweeping toward Gao Feng's mind!

"Ugh!"

Gao Feng only felt as if his mind had been struck hard by an invisible giant hammer!

His vision went black for a moment, and even the circulation of his Qi became briefly sluggish!

This was the most terrifying Soul attack of a Shadow Killer commander at the Foundation Establishment Third Layer, Mid-Stage!

"Gao Feng!"

At this critical juncture, the team's reinforcements finally arrived in time!

"Want to run? Stay right there!"

Su Ning's eyes were cold and bright as she released all of her spatial power without reservation!

"Spatial Lock!"

She gave a sharp cry and clenched her hands tightly!

The space around the Soul storm that was crazily attacking Gao Feng was instantly imprisoned by a powerful force, forming an invisible cage, making it impossible to move an inch or hide again!

"Pure Heart Melody!"

Luo Li's zither music followed!

That heavenly melody turned into streams of cool water, flowing into Gao Feng's stinging Sea of Consciousness, greatly alleviating his Soul trauma. Simultaneously, those sound waves filled with purification power, like sharp swords, continuously struck and dispersed the violent Soul storm!

"Star Demon Suppression! Purify!"

Tian Xin threw out the Talisman specifically designed to counter dark Soul power!

Brilliant starlight, like a blazing sun, shone upon the imprisoned Soul storm, making a "sizzling" burning sound!

"Soul Imprisonment Array! Rise!"

Chu Lan's hands formed seals, and array patterns composed of Meteor Star Power quickly took shape on the ground, further restricting the Shadow Killer commander's Soul attack!

"Gao Feng! Take this quickly!"

Yao Guang also brought a precious star healing pill to Gao Feng's lips.

Under the seamless and perfect cooperation of his teammates, Gao Feng finally recovered from that terrifying Soul impact!

"Scumbag! Die!"

He let out a world-shaking roar and pushed his initial stage Star Battle Body to the limit!

The vajra sword in his hand seemed to catch fire at this moment, carrying a brilliant sword light capable of severing the Soul, as it slashed fiercely toward the tightly imprisoned Soul storm!

"No—!"

A scream filled with resentment and fear came from the Soul storm.

Then, the sword light flashed.

Everything returned to silence.

With the Shadow Killer commander slain, the remaining remnants of the Shadow Demon Clan in the outpost were quickly cleared out.

A shocking assassination attempt that could have overturned the entire battle situation was completely dismantled.

The outpost's defensive line became more stable than ever, and everyone's heart was completely at ease.

As for Gao Feng, after experiencing this thrilling counter-ambush, his Soul Power had been tempered to an unprecedented degree, and his control over Qi had reached a brand-new height!

That final layer of window paper leading to Foundation Establishment Third Layer, which had troubled him for a long time, was completely pierced at this moment!

Su Ning also gained much from this practical combat against a high-level spatial Cultivator, successfully breaking through her Bottleneck and reaching the Foundation Establishment Layer Two, Mid-Stage!

The entire team's cooperation became increasingly tacit and seamless through these successive life-and-death battles, becoming the core, most powerful, and unshakeable guardian force of this mineral vein outpost!

With the Shadow Killer commander's Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, the haze hanging over the entire mineral vein outpost was finally completely dispersed.

Having twice thwarted the lightning offensives of the Myriad Race Allied Forces and slain three of the opponent's top-tier commander-level combatants, this glorious victory allowed all surviving human Cultivators to see the dawn of hope.

The outpost finally entered a precious and peaceful period of comprehensive rest and reorganization.

Everyone seized this hard-won time to lick their wounds, repair their Magical Artifacts, digest the insights gained from battle, and strive to improve their strength.

And as the greatest contributor to this victory, Gao Feng did not immerse himself in the halo of being a "young god of war."

He knew that both the Demon Flame Commander and the Shadow Killer commander were merely lackeys under Marquis Fen Tian.

That truly terrifying mountain pressing down on the heads of all Human Race members in the Meteor Realm had not yet been truly shaken!

He had to become stronger!

After temporarily handing over the outpost's affairs to the recovered Lei Lie and the steady Lin Yue, Gao Feng made an important decision.

He would use the opportunity of this practical counter-ambush combat and the massive amount of top-tier resources in his hands to formally charge toward Foundation Establishment Third Layer!

Foundation Establishment Third Layer is the most important watershed in the entire Foundation Establishment Stage.

Once this threshold is crossed, both the power of Qi and the control over it will undergo a qualitative leap, becoming worlds apart from the Foundation Establishment Second Layer!

Of course, the difficulty of the Breakthrough was also far beyond what it had been before.

At a spiritual eye in the core of the mineral vein where the Meteor Star Power was most concentrated, Gao Feng sat cross-legged.

Chu Lan personally set up a top-tier seclusion array for him that combined offense and defense.

"Gao Feng, I have integrated three effects—spirit gathering, defense, and mind-calming—into this array, and it's connected to the earth veins of the entire mineral vein. Unless a Golden Core Cultivator personally arrives, no one can disturb you."

Chu Lan looked at Gao Feng, her beautiful eyes filled with tenderness and trust.

"Go and break through with peace of mind; we are here outside."

Gao Feng nodded heavily.

Outside the array, Luo Li had already lit a burner of sandalwood to focus the mind and calm the spirit. Her slender hands moved lightly, and the melodious and ethereal Pure Heart Melody flowed like a trickling stream throughout the seclusion area, isolating Gao Feng from all external disturbances and guarding the clarity of his mind.

Meanwhile, Su Ning, Tian Xin, Yao Guang, and Lin Yue, like the most loyal guardian deities, stood guard in the four directions of the seclusion area, their expressions solemn as they watched for any possible disturbances.

The entire team placed all their hopes on Gao Feng.

Gao Feng took a deep breath and slowly closed his eyes.

He completely immersed his mind into his Dantian Qi Sea.

With a thought, several of the highest-quality meteorite essence crystals he had obtained from the Star Body Refining Hall flew out from the Myriad Spirit Space and hovered around his body.

The Star Body Refining Art operated at full power!

Wisps of extremely pure Meteor Star Power were drawn out from the essence crystals, merging like docile spirits into his already surging torrent of Qi.

At the same time, he began to mobilize the subtle control over Qi that he had gained through the intense Soul struggle with the Shadow Killer commander, guiding this new Qi fused with Meteor Star Power to launch the first exploratory impact against the indestructible barrier standing between the Foundation Establishment Second Layer and Level Three!