148: Chapter 148 Using Strategy to Lure the Tiger Away from the Mountain

The Star Core Giant Beast's body completely disintegrated in the center of the crater.

The seven heart-like pulsating Star Core crystals turned from glowing blue to ash-gray one by one, shattering from solid to powder, falling vertically under the 9.7x gravity, piling up into seven half-meter-tall pale hills on the ground.

The giant beast's last eye—the dark golden cross pupil pierced by Lin Ye's sword—exuded a thin, faint, almost transparent thread of light the moment it closed.

The thread of light circled three times in the air, as if identifying something.

Then it submerged into Lin Ye's chest, merging with the "Echo of the Nameless One" that he had obtained from the star tablet and was currently lying quietly deep in his consciousness.

[Star Core Giant Beast - Complete Death Confirmed]

[Corpse Decomposition Countdown: 300 seconds]

[Harvestable Materials:]

[1. Star Core Fragment x7 (Legendary/Unique) - Remnants of the seven crystals on the giant beast's spine, can be used to refine Saint-Grade equipment or repair Emperor-Weapon-Grade Magic Treasure]

[2. Giant Beast Carapace x12 (Epic) - Each piece can forge a Rank 70 shield, Base Defense +5,800]

[3. Star Marrow Fluid x3 (Legendary) - Essence of the giant beast's bone marrow, permanently increases Root Bone by 15 points after consumption, limited to one use per player]

[4. Giant Beast Pupil x1 (Legendary/Unique) - Damaged, contains fragmented Laws, can be used to trigger hidden quests]

Lin Ye did not harvest.

He just stood before the pile of still slowly disintegrating remains, watching the gradually dimming giant beast pupil.

Three seconds.

He turned around.

"Teleportation Formation," he said.

North wall of the crater, the Star Gate that slowly emerged after the giant beast died, four meters high and two meters wide, was pulsing with pale blue fluorescence once per second.

[Ancient Star Road - First Stage Teleportation Formation]

[Target: Trial Ancient Star - Opposite Side / Second Stage Eternal Star Domain Reception Station]

[Activation Condition: Requires at least 3 Trial Takers to simultaneously inject no less than 5,000 points of Spiritual Qi/Divine Power/Technological Energy into the Formation core]

[Activation Time: 60 seconds]

[Cannot be interrupted, moved, or attacked during activation]

[After successful activation, all Trial Takers within a 10-meter radius of the Teleportation Formation will be forcibly teleported to the second stage]

[Warning: Teleportation Formation needs a 72-hour cooldown after each activation]

Lin Ye stood before the Teleportation Formation.

He did not give the order immediately.

He just stood there, watching the pulsing Star Gate, watching the phantom of the star sea that was slowly forming inside the gate, leading to the second stage Reception Station of the Eternal Star Domain.

60 seconds.

Just 60 seconds.

They could leave this ancient star with 9.7x gravity, swarms of Yao Beasts, and scattered star remains.

They could take the 127 Star Beast cores, 217 kilograms of Zerg Materials, and the "Echo of the Nameless One" still pulsing deep in his consciousness—back to Chaos Valley.

Back to that home with rich Spiritual Qi, normal gravity, Spirit Gathering Formations, Mecha Workshops, and countless comrades waiting for their return.

60 seconds.

Just 60 seconds.

But Lin Ye did not move.

Because he heard it.

The sound was very light.

So light that Zhao Wuji's data board had no warning.

So light that the fragments of Qin Ruoxue's thousand faces cloak did not capture any abnormal vibrations.

So light that Yun Qianxue's life detection Spell only emitted an extremely short, extremely sharp "Beep—" in the team channel 0.3 seconds before that huge outline appeared.

[Alert: Saint-Grade life signs detected]

[Rank: 70]

[HP: 3,700,000 / 3,700,000]

[Distance: 47 meters]

[Direction: Due North - Behind the Teleportation Formation]

That giant beast.

Not another one.

The same one.

It walked out of the shadows behind the Teleportation Formation, illuminated by the pulsing fluorescence of the Star Gate, one step, one step, one step.

[Star Core Giant Beast - Second Form]

[Rank: 70 (Saint-Grade Projection/Complete State)]

[HP: 3,700,000 / 3,700,000]

[Star Core Shield Layers: 3/3 (100,000 points per layer)]

[Current Status: Teleportation Formation Guardian]

[Description: You thought you defeated me. No. You only defeated the remnant shadow that I unconsciously exuded while sleeping.]

[My true body has never left this Teleportation Formation for eternity.]

[Because my mission is not "combat."]

[It is "guarding."]

The giant beast lowered its head.

Its pair of dark golden cross pupils, both opened, looked down at the ten tiny figures at the bottom of the crater.

No anger.

No killing intent.

Not even any emotion.

It simply stated a rule that had remained unchanged for eternity:

"Want to use the Teleportation Formation."

"Defeat me."

"Or—"

"Lure me away."

60 seconds.

3,700,000 HP.

3 layers of Star Core Shield, 100,000 points each.

Rank 70 Saint-Grade projection in complete state.

Squad average Rank 55.

Everyone severely injured.

Shi Potian had three open fractures in his right arm, Hegemon Blood concentration 1%, 48-hour Hegemon Blood depletion state.

Su Qingyue had 23 minutes of Extreme Cold Backlash remaining, all attributes -50%.

Zhou Tieshan's right arm fracture extended to his shoulder blade, Xuan Turtle Shield destroyed, iron shield broken.

Chu Yunxi had a body temperature of 40.3°C, worsening wound infection, spare bow broken, dagger melted.

Chen Hao's chaos unit no. 1 had a leaking right knee hydraulic joint, 12% armor on the left shoulder, particle cannon exploded.

Lu Xinghe had mental sea backlash poisoning, blood flowing from his nose and mouth, star compass shattered.

Zhao Wuji had 19% stamina, only the last bottle of Chaos stock solution left in his backpack.

Qin Ruoxue's thousand faces cloak was shattered into seventeen rags.

Yun Qianxue had 31% HP, 34% Divine Power, the Divine Pill under her tongue had already been swallowed.

Lin Ye had 650% meridian load, collapse countdown—47 seconds.

No one spoke.

In 47 seconds, Lin Ye would collapse.

60 seconds activation time.

The giant beast would not wait.

3,000 Gold-Devouring Ants were still 300 meters at the edge of the crater, waiting for the Queen's command.

Lin Ye turned around.

He looked at the giant beast, looking at its dark golden cross pupils without any emotional fluctuation.

Then he looked at Shi Potian.

Shi Potian was kneeling on the ground.

His right arm hung down, bone fragments piercing the skin, bandages soaked with blood three times and dried three times.

His Hegemon Blood concentration was 1%.

His all attributes were -80%.

He needed to use his left hand to support the ground even to stand up.

But he was still listening.

Lin Ye said:

"I need you."

Shi Potian didn't ask "to do what."

He also didn't say "I can't do it in my current state."

He just used his left hand to support the ground, slowly, extremely slowly—stood up.

Right leg first.

Left leg after.

Spine straight.

Then he looked at Lin Ye.

"...How long?" His voice was very light, his vocal cords severely worn from 48 hours of forced marches and 21 minutes of bloody battle, every word sounding like sandpaper friction.

"60 seconds," Lin Ye said.

"The Teleportation Formation needs 60 seconds to start."

"The giant beast won't let us start it smoothly."

"So in these 60 seconds, someone needs to—"

He paused.

"Lure it away."

Not "hold it off."

"Lure it away."

Holding off the giant beast for 60 seconds required facing a Rank 70 Saint-Grade projection head-on, needing to endure 60 seconds under the threat of 3 layers of Star Core Shields, tens of thousands of damage per second, death frenzy, and Star Core self-destruction.

A ten-person full squad with an average Rank of 55, in a healthy state, had a win rate of less than 3%.

Lure away.

No need to defeat.

Just needed to make the giant beast's aggro—that cold, eternal, guardian Law—shift from the direction of the Teleportation Formation to another direction.

Just needed to make the giant beast believe that a greater threat was approaching from behind it.

Just needed—to trade a life for 60 seconds.

Shi Potian was silent.

Three seconds.

He looked at his hanging right arm, looked at the white bone fragments piercing his skin, looked at the blackened blood scabs under the bandages.

Then he raised his head.

"...Okay."

He didn't ask "why me."

Didn't say "I'll try my best."

Didn't make any unnecessary guarantees.

He just pulled out the broken blade from his waist—the remnant of the Hegemon Blade that had snapped when he stabbed the giant beast's first eye, with the front half of the blade still embedded deep in the giant beast's eye socket.

The blade was 37 centimeters long.

Weighed 11 kilograms.

The edge was full of notches.

He put the broken blade back into the sheath.

Then he turned around, facing the giant beast that was looking down at them.

"Boss."

He didn't look back.

"My pass, the bound respawn point is Chaos Valley."

"If I die this time—"

He paused.

"...72 hours later, the ancient road portal closes."

"I won't be able to get in then."

"So."

He took a deep breath.

That breath dragged his lungs under 9.7x gravity, like pulling an old, rusted bellows.

"I won't die."

[Shi Potian - Forcibly lift Hegemon Blood depletion state]

[Cost: 50% of current HP]

[HP: 67% -> 17%]

[Hegemon Blood concentration: 1% -> 4%]

[Duration: 47 seconds]

[After 47 seconds, Hegemon Blood concentration returns to zero, enters "Deep Depletion" state—all attributes -90%, lasts 168 hours (7 days)]

He didn't wait for Lin Ye to answer.

He took the first step towards the giant beast.

Second step.

Third step.

Fourth step.

Every step left a 3-centimeter-deep blood footprint on the grayish-white dusty ground at the bottom of the crater.

That was the Hegemon Blood oozing from the fracture of his right arm.

Dark golden.

Thin like a dying candle flame.

But still burning.

The giant beast lowered its head.

Its pair of dark golden cross pupils appeared for the first time with an extremely subtle—shift.

From the Teleportation Formation.

Moved towards Shi Potian.

[Aggro Value - Transferring]

[Current Target: Shi Potian]

[Aggro Value: 17%]

[Aggro Value: 34%]

[Aggro Value: 52%]

"Too slow."

Shi Potian's voice was very low, like talking to himself.

He pulled out the broken blade from his waist.

Not an attack.

It was a "throw."

The broken blade drew a short, almost invisible dark golden arc in the air—precisely hitting the energy transmission node still oozing fluid under the third ring pattern on the giant beast's left forelimb.

[Hit Weakness]

[Damage dealt: 470 points]

[Aggro Value: 52% -> 89%]

The giant beast moved.

Not an attack.

It was a "turn."

Its huge body, like a small mountain, turned slowly and irresistibly under 9.7x gravity.

Four giant feet were lifted and stepped down in turn.

Every time it stepped down, the ground trembled once.

Every time it trembled, the fluorescence at the edge of the Teleportation Formation pulsed once.

[Teleportation Formation activation countdown: 54 seconds]

[53 seconds]

[52 seconds]

Shi Potian did not retreat.

He stood 30 meters directly in front of the giant beast.

Behind him was the Teleportation Formation.

In front of him was a Rank 70 Saint-Grade projection.

His right arm hung at his side, bone fragments piercing the skin, blood dripping one by one along his fingertips.

His left arm was raised to his chest.

Not a fist.

It was an "invitation."

"Come," he said.

The giant beast's first attack.

Not a claw strike.

It was a "gaze."

The dark golden cross pupils locked onto the center of Shi Potian's forehead, a beam with a diameter of half a meter, purely condensed from Star Core energy, condensed, compressed, and shot out in the center of the pupil—

[Star Core Giant Beast - Skill: Annihilation Gaze]

[Damage: 28,700-34,200]

[Effect: Target hit cannot receive any healing effects within 10 seconds]

[Cooldown: 45 seconds]

Shi Potian did not dodge.

His right leg was overused during the 48-hour forced march, with a slight crack in the knee joint meniscus.

His left leg was relatively intact.

But he didn't use his left leg to exert force in any direction.

He just stood there.

0.1 seconds before the beam hit his chest—

He raised his left arm.

Not a block.

It was an 'embrace'.

[Hegemon Blood Golden Body · Extreme Compression]

[Consumption: 70% of current Hegemon Blood concentration]

[Effect: Within 0.5 seconds, concentrate all defensive power onto a single point on the left arm]

[Defense: 4,700 → 37,000]

[Duration: 0.5 seconds]

— — —

The beam slammed into his left arm.

Not a collision.

It was a 'piercing'.

His skin carbonized, cracked, and peeled off within 0.1 seconds.

His muscles dehydrated, hardened, and necrosed within 0.2 seconds.

His bones, from the olecranon to the wrist joint, shattered into forty-seven pieces within 0.3 seconds.

The beam pierced his left arm, exiting behind his elbow, and plowed a charred trench half a meter deep and eleven meters long into the ground behind him.

He did not fall.

His left arm—that arm which had completely lost function below the elbow, with carbonized skin, necrosed muscles, and shattered bones—

remained raised.

[Shi Potian · Current Status]

[HP: 17% → 3%]

[Hegemon Blood Concentration: 4% → 1.2%]

[Left Arm: Completely disabled]

[Right Arm: Three open fractures (unhealed)]

[Standing Posture: Maintained]

[Remaining Hegemon Blood Duration: 32 seconds]

— — —

The Star Core Giant Beast did not pause.

Its second strike, 1.7 seconds after the first one landed—

followed immediately.

Not a gaze.

It was a 'Tail Strike'.

That giant tail, seven meters long, covered in three layers of Star Core crystal scales, capable of snapping an epic-grade heavy shield in two with a single blow—

swept toward Shi Potian's side with a whistle that destroyed everything.

[Star Core Giant Beast · Skill: Earth-Splitting Tail]

[Damage: 19,000-23,000]

[Special Effect: Knock back target and add 3 seconds of stun]

[Cooldown: 12 seconds]

— — —

Shi Potian still did not dodge.

He used that completely disabled left arm—

Not a block.

It was a 'wrap'.

The moment the Tail Strike hit his side, he lunged forward, using the remaining bone fragments of his left arm to wedge into the gaps between the giant tail's scales.

He was sent flying.

But he was not knocked back.

Because he was hanging onto the giant beast's tail.

[Earth-Splitting Tail · Hit]

[Damage: 21,700]

[Shi Potian HP: 3% → 0%]

[Forced retention of 1 HP (Hegemon Bloodline · Undying Heart passive triggered)]

[Cooldown: 72 hours]

[Remaining Hegemon Blood Duration: 27 seconds]

— — —

He hung on the giant beast's tail, seven meters above the ground.

His vision was completely blurred; only the seven pulsing Star Core crystals on the beast's back cast flickering blue light onto his retinas.

He used his right arm.

That right arm, with three open fractures, bone shards piercing through skin, and wrapped in three layers of blood-soaked bandages—

grabbed the edge of the giant beast's scales.

He pulled himself up.

One centimeter.

Two centimeters.

Three centimeters.

He reached the first Star Core crystal.

He used his right fist—that hand with shattered bones, torn tendons, and split webbing—

and smashed it down.

[Hit: Star Core Crystal · Connection Node]

[Damage Dealt: 0]

[Effect Caused: Forced Provocation]

[Giant Beast Aggro: 89% → 100% (Locked)]

— — —

The giant beast made a sound for the first time.

Not a roar.

It was a certain extremely low, tectonic-like—confirmation.

Its three eyes simultaneously locked onto the tiny human hanging from its tail.

Its four giant legs simultaneously adjusted direction, from facing the Teleportation Formation—

to facing the desolate, lifeless, grayish-white wasteland on the north wall of the pit.

On its back, the seven Star Core crystals lit up with blinding blue light simultaneously.

It took its first step—

toward that wasteland.

[Teleportation Formation activation countdown: 38 seconds]

— — —

Lin Ye stood at the edge of the Teleportation Formation.

He did not look at Shi Potian.

He looked at that pulsing Star Gate, watching the phantom of the sea of stars leading to the Eternal Star Domain taking shape within the gate.

Behind him, eight people, eight pairs of eyes, simultaneously watched his back.

He said:

"Activate."

— — —

[Teleportation Formation Activation · Spiritual Qi Injection]

[Participants: Lin Ye, Su Qingyue, Chen Hao]

[Injection Progress: 3%... 7%... 12%...]

[Estimated Completion Time: 58 seconds]

— — —

Su Qingyue's hand pressed against the edge of the Formation core.

Her ice soul sword was broken; currently, she was using a spare fine-grade longsword to channel Spiritual Qi—the blade was 2 millimeters thinner than her usual one, and Spiritual Qi conduction efficiency was 30% lower.

Her Extreme Cold Backlash had 19 minutes remaining.

All her attributes were -50%.

Her hand did not tremble.

[Injection Progress: 19%... 24%... 31%...]

— — —

Chen Hao knelt on the other side of the Formation core.

The chaos unit no. 1's right knee hydraulic System was completely disabled, so he could only maintain a single-knee kneeling posture.

His hands pressed against the external energy transmission interface of the mecha—that was not its designed purpose, but an emergency solution he had modified himself.

For every 1% of progress transmitted, the skin on the back of his hands carbonized by an inch.

He did not stop.

[Injection Progress: 37%... 42%... 48%...]

— — —

Zhao Wuji squatted in the center of the Teleportation Formation.

His data pad was already shattered, the screen broken into seventeen pieces, with only one small section still lit.

On that lit screen was the vital signs monitor for Shi Potian.

[Shi Potian · HP: 1%]

[Status: Hegemon Blood depleted · Forced release · Cooling down]

[Location: Pit north wall · 317 meters from Teleportation Formation]

[Under attack: Giant beast Tail Strike · Second time]

[HP: 1% → 1% (Undying Heart · Cooling down)]

[HP: 1% → 1% (Yun Qianxue · Emergency Healing · Cooldown 60 seconds)]

[HP: 1% — —]

— — —

Qin Ruoxue stood at the very edge of the Teleportation Formation.

Her thousand faces cloak had shattered into seventeen rags, draped over her shoulders like a tattered battle flag.

She did not look at the Formation core.

She looked at the swarm of insects with a black-and-gold sheen 300 meters away at the edge of the pit.

The Ant Queen still had not moved.

Three thousand Soldier Ants were still arrayed like iron.

They were just waiting.

Waiting for that 60-second countdown—

to hit zero.

— — —

Yun Qianxue knelt in the center of the Teleportation Formation.

The fluorescence at the head of her green lotus staff was so faint it was almost invisible.

Her Divine Power: 11%.

There was no Divine Pill under her tongue.

The last one, 13 seconds ago, she had used on Shi Potian from a distance of 317 meters.

[Yun Qianxue · Skill: Emergency Healing]

[Consumption: 30% of max Divine Power]

[Current Divine Power: 41% → 11%]

[Target: Shi Potian]

[Effect: Restore 15% of max HP]

[Shi Potian HP: 1% → 16%]

She did not look to see if he had dodged the next attack.

She just pressed the head of the staff to the ground, continuing to inject that sliver of nearly exhausted Spiritual Qi into the Formation core.

— — —

Zhou Tieshan knelt at the edge of the Teleportation Formation.

His right arm hung at his side, having completely lost sensation.

He used his left hand—that left hand which had never let go of his shield during the 47-hour forced march, and was now empty—

pressed against the base of the Formation core.

[Injection Progress: 67%... 73%... 81%...]

— — —

Chu Yunxi lay at the edge of the Teleportation Formation.

Her vision was completely blurred, body temperature 41.1°C.

She used her right hand—burned by molten iron, with three charred marks from the webbing to the wrist deep enough to expose bone—

pressed against the fragments of the Formation core.

[Injection Progress: 84%... 89%... 92%...]

— — —

Lu Xinghe sat in the center of the Teleportation Formation.

His star compass had shattered into seventeen pieces, scattered at his feet.

His spiritual sea was still dead silent; he could not communicate with any Law, nor could he set up any Formation.

He used that shattered star compass fragment, the edge of which had cut his palm—

to carve words on the ground.

Not a Formation.

It was a sentence.

"I am here."

— — —

[Injection Progress: 96%... 98%... 99%...]

— — —

317 meters away.

Shi Potian hung on the giant beast's tail.

His left arm was completely disabled, with no sensation below the elbow.

His right arm had three open fractures, bone shards piercing through skin; every time he grabbed the giant beast's scales to climb up another centimeter, he left a dark golden bloodstain on the surface of the scales.

His Hegemon Blood concentration: 0.3%.

His HP: 16%.

In front of him was the last one—the seventh—Star Core crystal on the beast's back.

He reached out.

Not his right fist.

It was his left hand.

That left hand, with bones shattered into forty-seven pieces below the elbow, muscles necrosed, and skin carbonized.

He used this hand to grasp that pulsing crystal.

Then.

He—snapped it off.

[Hit: Star Core Crystal · Forced Removal]

[Damage Dealt: 47,000]

[Giant Beast HP: 3,700,000 → 3,653,000]

[Giant Beast Current Aggro Status: Locked Target · Shi Potian]

[Giant Beast Current Behavioral Logic: Prioritize eliminating threats]

[Teleportation Formation Threat Rating: Ignored]

— — —

The giant beast stopped.

It lowered its head, looking at the tiny human hanging on its tail, holding that Star Core crystal, covered in blood, yet still not letting go.

Three seconds.

Its three eyes simultaneously closed.

Then opened.

Those three dark golden cross-pupils now—

turned red.

[Star Core Giant Beast · Phase Transition]

[HP Remaining: 98.7%]

[Current Phase: Frenzy]

[All Attributes +50%]

[Attack Speed +100%]

[Unlocked Skill: Star Core Storm · Instant Cast]

[Aggro Locked Target: Shi Potian]

[Duration: Until target death or combat exit]

— — —

Shi Potian smiled.

The corners of his mouth pulled into an extremely difficult, extremely weak arc.

"...Come."

— — —

The giant beast's third strike.

Not a gaze.

Not a tail strike.

Not a claw strike.

It was a "Stomp".

Its right forelimb, over a meter in diameter, covered in three layers of Star Core crystal scales, capable of stomping a Four Extremities Realm Cultivator into meat paste with one blow—

was raised high.

Toward the tiny body of Shi Potian, who was hanging on its tail seven meters from the ground—

it stomped down.

— — —

[Teleportation Formation activation countdown: 7 seconds]

[6 seconds]

[5 seconds]

[4 seconds]

— — —

Shi Potian let go.

He fell from seven meters high.

During the fall, he used his right arm—that arm with three open fractures, bone shards piercing through skin, now completely unable to make a fist—

to throw the Star Core crystal in his left hand with the last of his strength—

toward the direction of the Teleportation Formation.

Not throwing it to Lin Ye.

It was thrown toward that grayish-white, empty patch of ground at the edge of the Teleportation Formation.

[Star Core Crystal · Flight Trajectory]

[Estimated Landing Spot: 3 meters east of the Teleportation Formation]

[Estimated Landing Time: 2.3 seconds]

— — —

The giant beast's forelimb was 0.7 meters above his head.

— — —

[Teleportation Formation activation countdown: 2 seconds]

[1 second]

[0 seconds]

— — —

[Teleportation Formation · Activation Successful]

The pale blue Star Gate collapsed inward, contracted, and expanded at the same instant—

A beam of light five meters in diameter shot up from the Formation core, enveloping the nine people within a 10-meter radius of the Formation—

Lin Ye, Su Qingyue, Chen Hao, Zhou Tieshan, Chu Yunxi, Zhao Wuji, Qin Ruoxue, Yun Qianxue, Lu Xinghe—

all of them.

[Forced Teleportation · Starting]

[Estimated Teleportation Time: 3 seconds]

[Teleportation Target: Ancient Star Road · Second Stage · Eternal Star Domain Reception Station]

— — —

Lin Ye stood in the center of the beam of light.

He did not look at the phantom sea of stars forming above his head.

He looked 317 meters away.

He looked at that giant beast stomping down.

He looked at the figure who, 0.1 seconds before the beast's forelimb landed, had fallen from seven meters high, used the last of his strength to throw that Star Core crystal, and was now lying under the beast's hoof.

[Shi Potian · HP: 16% → 0%]

[part:gemini-3.0-flash]

[Mandatory retention of 1 HP (Indestructible Heart · Cooling Down)]

[Indestructible Heart · Cooling Down]

[Indestructible Heart · Cooling Down]

[HP: 1 point]

[HP: 1 point]

[HP: 1 point]

———

That star core crystal landed on the ground.

Three meters to the east of the Teleportation Array.

The crisp sound it made upon landing traveled for less than 0.1 seconds under 9.7x gravity.

But Lin Ye heard it.

He turned around.

The pillar of light began to contract.

He lifted his foot.

———

[Forced Teleportation · Countdown 2 seconds]

———

He took a step.

———

[Forced Teleportation · Countdown 1 second]

———

He stepped out of the Teleportation Array.

———

[Forced Teleportation · Complete]

The pillar of light carried the eight people in the center of the Teleportation Array, simultaneously vanishing into the depths of the Star Gate.

At the edge of the Teleportation Array, only Lin Ye remained alone.

He stood in place.

Facing that trampling giant beast 317 meters away.

Facing the person under the giant beast's hooves with 1 HP, -80% all attributes, 48-hour Hegemon Blood exhaustion, and the 7-day Deep Depletion status that had just triggered—

Shi Potian.

He gripped the sword hilt.

———

“The Teleportation Array has already activated.”

His voice was very soft.

“Mission complete.”

He took his first step toward the giant beast.

“Now—”

Second step.

“It's my turn.”

Third step.

———

The giant beast stopped its trampling.

It raised its head, looking at this tiny human walking toward it from the direction of the Teleportation Array.

The remaining six star core crystals on its back simultaneously lit up with a piercing red light.

It opened its mouth.

Deep within its throat, dark gold energy was condensing.

———

Then.

It stopped.

Not because of Lin Ye.

It was because the human under its hooves, with 1 HP, -80% all attributes, and breathing so faint it was barely perceptible—

Moved.

Shi Potian used his left hand—that hand with forty-seven bone fragments shattered, necrotic muscle, and carbonized skin—

To prop himself up on the ground.

Dragging himself from beneath the giant beast's hooves.

Bit by bit.

He dragged himself out.

He lay three meters away from the giant beast's hooves.

Covered in blood.

His right arm hung limp, bone shards piercing through the skin.

His left arm was completely incapacitated.

Hegemon Blood concentration 0%.

HP 1 point.

All attributes -90%.

Deep Depletion status, lasting 7 days.

He opened his mouth.

No sound came out.

But Lin Ye understood.

He was saying:

“...Don't come over.”

“It's locked onto me.”

“You go.”

———

[Star Core Giant Beast · Current Aggro Status]

[Primary Aggro Target: Shi Potian (Locked · Until Death)]

[Secondary Aggro Target: None]

———

Lin Ye stopped his pace.

He looked at Shi Potian.

Three seconds.

He turned around.

———

[Teleportation Array · Secondary Activation]

[Current Activator: Lin Ye]

[Infusion Progress: 3%...7%...12%... ]

[Estimated Completion Time: 47 seconds]

———

Shi Potian lay on the ground.

He watched that giant beast walking toward him.

He watched its raised right forelimb, which was enough to crush him into a pulp with a single strike.

He watched those six pulsing star core crystals on its back.

He watched those dark gold cross-shaped pupils that had turned red.

He smiled.

The smile was very faint and light, as if he were speaking of something long expected.

“...Seventh level.”

His voice was very soft, so soft that only he could hear it.

“Nameless One.”

“Wait for me.”

———

The giant beast's forelimb.

Fell.

———

[Teleportation Array Activation Countdown: 31 seconds]

[30 seconds]

[29 seconds]

———

An ice-blue beam of light shot out from the direction of the Teleportation Array.

It wasn't attacking the giant beast.

It was “Freezing the Ground.”

In the final instant before the giant beast's forelimb fell, that patch of grayish-white dust beneath its hoof—

Froze.

Thickness 0.3 mm.

Duration 0.7 seconds.

0.7 seconds.

It was enough for Shi Potian to use that right hand, which could no longer bear weight, to drag himself backward—

37 centimeters.

The giant beast's forelimb stepped on the spot where he had just been lying.

It stepped out a hoofprint half a meter deep and one meter in diameter.

The edge of the hoofprint was away from his right shoulder by—

3 centimeters.

———

Su Qingyue stood at the edge of the Teleportation Array.

Her ice soul sword was already broken.

That spare Excellent-Grade longsword in her hand, after that strike just now—

Completely shattered.

[Su Qingyue · Forced Teleportation Exit]

[Cost: 70% of current HP]

[HP: 52% → 16%]

[Extreme Cold Backlash: 11 minutes remaining]

[All attributes -50%]

[Swordless]

She didn't look at Lin Ye.

She just watched that giant beast 317 meters away, watching that blood-covered figure beneath the beast's hooves.

Then she took a step forward.

———

[Teleportation Array Activation Countdown: 18 seconds]

———

Zhou Tieshan.

He knelt at the edge of the Teleportation Array.

His right arm hung limp, completely incapacitated.

He used his left hand—that hand which had never put down the shield during the 47-hour forced march and was now empty—

To grab the wreckage of that iron shield which had already folded into two pieces.

He took the iron shield wreckage—that wreckage folded in two, with a 30-centimeter diameter penetrating dent in the center, long unable to bear weight—

And threw it at the giant beast.

It wasn't an attack.

It was a “Taunt.”

The iron shield wreckage smashed against the giant beast's left eyelid.

It bounced off.

And landed.

[Hit]

[Damage Dealt: 0 points]

[Effect Caused: Forced Aggro Shift · 0.3 seconds]

[Giant Beast Current Target: Shi Potian]

[Aggro Shift: 0.3 seconds]

0.3 seconds.

It was enough for Shi Potian to drag himself backward again—

11 centimeters.

———

[Zhou Tieshan · Current Status]

[HP: 23%]

[Right Arm: Bone fracture extending to the scapula · Completely incapacitated]

[Left Arm: Ligament tear · 60% load]

He knelt at the edge of the Teleportation Array.

He did not stand up.

———

[Teleportation Array Activation Countdown: 9 seconds]

———

Chu Yunxi.

She lay at the edge of the Teleportation Array.

Body temperature 41.3℃.

Vision completely blurred.

She used that right hand, which had been burned by molten iron with three scorched scars from the thumb-web to the wrist deep enough to see bone—

To grab that 37-centimeter long bow arm fragment remaining from the broken spare bow on the ground.

She—

Hurled it at the giant beast.

It wasn't an attack.

It was a “Mark.”

The bow arm fragment scratched a shallow bloodstain on the giant beast's right eyelid.

[Hit]

[Damage Dealt: 3 points]

[Effect Caused: Giant beast attack wind-up +0.2 seconds]

[Duration until bloodstain disappears]

———

[Chu Yunxi · Current Status]

[HP: 31%]

[Body Temperature: 41.3℃]

[Right Hand: Third-degree burns · Bone-deep]

She didn't look to see if the fragment she hurled had hit.

She just lay there, looking at that layer of purple firmament.

———

[Teleportation Array Activation Countdown: 4 seconds]

———

Chen Hao.

He knelt at the edge of the Teleportation Array.

The cockpit canopy of chaos unit no. 1 had long since shattered.

He used that right hand, which had never stopped controlling the mecha during the 47-hour forced march and was now empty—

To press onto the mecha wreckage.

[Mecha Self-Destruct · Forced Activation]

[Explosion Radius: 7 meters]

[Damage: 4,700-6,200]

[Cooldown: 7 days]

[Pilot Chen Hao · HP: 19% → 7%]

He pushed the mecha wreckage toward the giant beast.

It wasn't an attack.

It was “Deterrence.”

The mecha wreckage exploded three meters from the giant beast's left forelimb.

The shockwave left a few shallow scuff marks on the giant beast's scales.

The giant beast didn't even give it a glance.

But its fourth falling strike—

Was 0.1 seconds slower.

0.1 seconds.

It was enough for Shi Potian to drag himself backward—

3 centimeters.

———

[Teleportation Array Activation Countdown: 1 second]

———

Zhao Wuji.

He didn't leave the Teleportation Array.

He stood up from the center of the Teleportation Array.

His legs were shaking.

His stamina was at 9%.

In his backpack, only that item remained which was captured from the pirate ship wreckage, not yet repaired, and couldn't even exert 30% of its function—

[Blood Energy Amplification Core · Damaged]

He—

Threw it at the giant beast.

It wasn't an attack.

It was a “Sacrifice.”

[Blood Energy Amplification Core · Damaged]

[Forced Activation]

[Effect: At the cost of the pilot's HP, temporarily increase mecha attack power by 30%]

[Current Pilot: None]

[Forced Activation Cost: None]

[Activation Failed]

[Core Destroyed]

———

The core exploded in front of the giant beast.

Blood-colored energy fragments scattered in all directions, leaving a few fine scorch marks on the giant beast's eyelids.

The giant beast finally.

Blinked once.

0.1 seconds.

———

[Teleportation Array Activation Countdown: 0 seconds]

[Secondary Activation · Success]

A pale blue pillar of light once again shot into the sky.

Lin Ye stood in the center of the pillar of light.

He didn't struggle.

He just held Su Qingyue's wrist with one hand and dragged Shi Potian's completely incapacitated left arm with the other—

Pulling both of them into the pillar of light at the same time.

[Forced Teleportation · Activated]

[Estimated Teleportation Time: 3 seconds]

[Teleportation Target: Ancient Star Road · Second Level · Eternal Star Domain Reception Station]

———

Shi Potian lay in the center of the light pillar.

His HP: 1 point.

His Hegemon Blood concentration: 0%.

His all attributes: -90%.

His Deep Depletion status: 7 days.

His eyes were open.

He watched the phantom image of the star sea forming above his head.

The corners of his mouth pulled into an extremely difficult, extremely faint curve.

“...60 seconds.”

His voice was very soft.

“I did it.”

———

[Forced Teleportation · Complete]

The pillar of light contracted.

The figures of the ten people simultaneously vanished into the depths of the Star Gate.

———

The crater returned to silence.

The giant beast stood before the Teleportation Array.

It lowered its head, looking at that empty patch of ground.

The remaining six star core crystals on its back were still slowly pulsing.

Those cross-shaped pupils that had returned to dark gold now held no emotion.

It just stood there.

Just like the position it had stood in since time immemorial.

Guarding.

Waiting for the next Trial Taker.

———

At the edge of the crater.

The Ant Queen raised her head.

She watched that Star Gate which had completely closed, watching that empty purple firmament.

For a long time.

She turned around.

Three thousand Soldier Ants simultaneously changed direction.

The insect tide slowly retreated toward that boundless Meteorite Plain to the south.

The pheromone left one final pulse in the air:

“He will return.”

“Wait.”

———

In the distance.

The star tablet still stood quietly.

The light filaments within the tablet still flowed slowly.

In the 1st place column, the Nameless One's record remained unshaken.

In the 2nd place column, Beichen's 1 day 11 hours.

In the 3rd place column, Shuangyue's 1 day 14 hours.

...

997th place.

998th place.

999th place.

1000th place.

There was no Night Emperor.

There was no Shi Potian.

There was no Su Qingyue.

There wasn't the name of a single person from the Heavenly Court Expedition Team.

Because their clearance time—

62 hours 23 minutes.

Had not yet broken the record.

But the flow of the light filaments within the tablet, at the moment that Star Gate closed—

Became 0.01 seconds faster.

Deep within the tablet, that faint pulse left by the Nameless One 814 years ago, which no one could decipher and had been silent for eons—

For the first time.

Shifted its direction.

It no longer pointed toward the Star Core Giant Beast's lair.

It no longer pointed toward the Teleportation Array.

It no longer pointed toward this Ancient Star where he had remained for 814 years.

It pointed toward—

The Second Level.

Eternal Star Domain.

Reception Station.

[Chapter 148 · End]