155: Chapter 155 Space Jump, Emergency Return

7 seconds after the 3,000 guardian type iii mechas finished forming their array on the north side of Chaos Valley, Lin Ye's communication terminal received Zhao Wuji's second emergency message.

It was not a voice message.

It was a seven-layer compressed technical document.

Filename: [Super-Distance Teleportation Array · Seventh Fleet Special Edition · Emergency Activation Plan]

Sender: Zhao Wuji / Qin Ruoxue (Joint Signature)

Attachment size: 1.7 GB

Password: None (Plain text)

— — —

Lin Ye opened the first line of the document and saw the opening remark written in Zhao Wuji's own hand, without any encryption algorithm:

"Boss."

"In the east zone of the Reception Station, 37 meters east of the outpost construction site, there is a discarded old-model Super-Distance Teleportation Array from the Seventh Fleet."

"III-7 says this equipment was decommissioned 47 years ago. The core processor has burned out three times, and the spatial coordinate locking module has a precision error of ±300 meters."

"But Carl authorized us to activate it."

"The price is 500,000 Low-Grade Spirit Stone — the array's overload requires burning an equivalent amount of energy at once."

"And the other price is —"

He deleted 11 characters.

Then continued:

"— your body."

— — —

[Super-Distance Teleportation Array · Seventh Fleet Special Edition (Decommissioned/Sealed Model)]

[Model: ETC-JUMP-7]

[Manufacturer: Eternal Star Domain · Space Technology Laboratory]

[Service Years: Era 1923-1947]

[Sealed Years: Era 1947-1972]

[Current Status: Severely Aged / Awaiting Decommissioning]

[Core Processor: Burned 3 times, 4th repair success rate 37%]

[Spatial Coordinate Locking Module: Precision error ±300 meters]

[Max Load: ≤ 4,000 tons]

[Max Capacity per Jump: ≤ 5,000 people (Standard) / ≤ 3,200 people + mechas (Mixed)]

[Energy Consumption: 50,000,000 Spiritual Power Units (Equivalent to 500,000 Low-Grade Spirit Stone)]

[Startup Time: 7 minutes preheat + 30 seconds charging]

[Transmission Distance: Unlimited (Requires matching receiving beacon in target Star Domain)]

[Receiving Beacon: Chaos Valley · Main Hall Basement Level 3 · Old Model Adapter (Confirmed working)]

[Risk Factor:]

[1. Transmission Failure (17% probability): All units randomly scattered within a 1,000 km radius of the target Star Domain]

[2. Spatial Turbulence (9% probability): Suffer spatial tearing damage during transmission, all personnel HP -30% to -70%]

[3. Core Meltdown (4% probability): Teleportation array completely destroyed, causes Mental Energy shock to the traveler]

[4. Coordinate Drift (23% probability): Actual landing point deviates from receiving beacon by 100-1,700 meters]

[5. Special Risk to Traveler:]

[— Super-Distance Teleportation creates "Spatial Load," which is directly related to transmission distance, load mass, and the traveler's Mental Energy strength]

[— This transmission distance: 37,000 light-years]

[— This transmission load: 3,000 mechas (42,900 tons) + 7 expedition members + 219 remaining members + chaos unit no. 1 (17.3 tons)]

[— Estimated Spatial Load: 4,700-7,200 units]

[— Max Spatial Load capacity for an ordinary Cultivator: ≤ 300 units]

[— Lin Ye · Chaos Heavenly Emperor Body · Theoretical Max Capacity: Unknown (No historical data)]

[— Lin Ye · Current Meridians Load: 490% (Aftermath of Chaos Original Fluid)]

[— Lin Ye · Current Divine Power: 30% (Last vial of Chaos Original Fluid)]

[— Lin Ye · Current HP: 41%]

[— Recommendation: Change operator]

— — —

Lin Ye looked at the line "Recommendation: Change operator."

He flipped to the next page.

There, in red font annotated by Qin Ruoxue, was a conclusion of only 13 characters, unadorned:

"Only you can carry it."

"Zhao Wuji cannot carry it."

"I cannot carry it."

"Chen Hao cannot carry it."

"Shi Potian cannot carry it."

"Su Qingyue cannot carry it."

"Chaos Heavenly Emperor Body — the only possibility."

— — —

Lin Ye closed the document.

He looked up.

3.7 kilometers to the north, the defensive line of 3,000 guardian type iii mechas had already made contact with the vanguard of the Yao Beast horde.

The humming of Particle Rifle charging and the metallic echoes of the rhinoceros collisions blended into a low, continuous rumble across the 3.7-kilometer distance.

He did not look at the battlefield.

He turned around.

Walked toward the teleportation array.

— — —

[System Prompt: You are activating the "Super-Distance Teleportation Array · Emergency Return Program"]

[Target Coordinates: Big Dipper Star Field · Yan State · Chaos Valley · Main Hall Basement Level 3]

[Transmission Load:]

[1. Expedition members: 7 people (Lin Ye / Su Qingyue / Shi Potian / Zhou Tieshan / Chu Yunxi / Chen Hao / Lu Xinghe / Yun Qianxue — Chen Hao included in mecha load)]

[2. Remaining members: 219 people (Currently alive)]

[3. chaos unit no. 1: 1 unit (17.3 tons)]

[4. guardian type iii mecha group: 3,000 units (42,900 tons)]

[Total Load: approx. 43,200 tons]

[Energy Requirement: 500,000 Low-Grade Spirit Stone (or equivalent Spiritual Power units)]

[Current Teleportation Array Spirit Stone Slot: 0 / 500,000]

— — —

Lin Ye looked at the line "0 / 500,000."

He said nothing.

Zhao Wuji's voice came through his communication terminal, across 37,000 light-years, seventeen relay nodes, and his communication device that had been continuously overloaded for 11 hours since last night —

Hoarse.

Exhausted.

But every word hit like it was striking a steel plate.

"Boss."

"500,000."

"On my side — only 70,000 vouchers left."

"The Reception Station's outpost, construction materials still owe the Eternal Star Domain 110,000 in remaining payments."

"Sister Qin's Heavenly Secret Pavilion node just paid a 30,000 voucher deposit."

"Chen Hao's mecha spare parts procurement still has 27,000 unpaid."

He paused.

"...But I borrowed 430,000 from III-7."

"Using my personal reputation."

"Must be paid back in 7 days."

"If I can't pay it back —"

He deleted 11 characters.

Then continued:

"III-7 says, 47 years ago, it couldn't bring my father's remains back."

"It says it doesn't want to leave any regrets this time."

— — —

[System Prompt: Eternal Star Domain · Reception Station · Reception Robot III-7]

[Initiated a personal transfer to you]

[Transfer Amount: 430,000 Technology Resource Vouchers]

[Transfer Note: "Lent to Zhao Wuji · Heavenly Court · Repay within 7 days" — III-7]

[Current Teleportation Array Spirit Stone Slot: 430,000 / 500,000]

— — —

Lin Ye looked at the line "430,000."

3 seconds.

From the deepest part of his Storage Ring — the compartment holding the Nameless One's echo, the star Origin, and the wreckage of all the spoils from the 47-day expedition —

He took out the last batch of [Star Core Fragments] collected from the corpses of Star Core Giant Beasts, originally planned for the second-stage upgrade of chaos unit no. 1.

7 pieces.

Legendary grade.

Unique.

Each valued at 8,000-12,000 vouchers on the Eternal Star Domain black market.

He transferred them all into the teleportation array's resource exchange slot.

[Star Core Fragment × 7 → Technology Resource Voucher × 71,000]

[Exchange Complete]

[Current Teleportation Array Spirit Stone Slot: 501,000 / 500,000]

— — —

[Super-Distance Teleportation Array · Energy Slot Full]

[Startup Sequence · Unlocked]

[Preheating Countdown: 7 minutes]

— — —

Lin Ye turned around.

He looked at the 7 people behind him who had returned with him from the Ancient Star Road, had just stepped onto the Chaos Valley defensive line 47 minutes ago, and were still carrying unhealed old wounds.

7 seconds.

He said:

"7 minutes, teleportation starts."

"30 seconds to charge, 3.7 seconds for space jump."

"Upon landing, we will be at Chaos Valley Main Hall Basement Level 3."

"Landing error ±300 meters."

"Spatial Load — I will carry it."

— — —

No one said "I'll carry it for you."

No one said "Your Meridians load is already 490%."

No one made any expression that could be interpreted as "dissuasion."

7 people, 7 pairs of eyes, just watched him.

Waiting.

— — —

Su Qingyue walked to the teleportation array first.

She stood beside Lin Ye, 0.3 meters away.

Didn't ask "Are you sure."

Didn't say "Be careful."

Didn't do anything that required words to express.

She just stood there.

Sword already in hand.

— — —

Shi Potian was second.

He walked very slowly.

Every step left a 1-centimeter deep footprint under the 0.1G gravity of the Reception Station.

His right arm — that right arm with unstable nerve junctions and newborn pink skin still twitching unconsciously —

Was pressed by his left hand.

Not fixed.

"Suppressed."

He was suppressing the instinctive tremors of that arm caused by excessive load.

He stood 0.7 meters behind Lin Ye.

Didn't say "I can still fight."

Didn't say "If you can't carry it during transmission, switch with me."

He just stood there.

— — —

Zhou Tieshan third.

His spare shield — that elite-grade shield, with a surface as clean as new, first consecrated on the Chaos Valley defensive line 47 minutes ago, and now covered with 17 claw marks —

Was on his back.

He stood beside Shi Potian.

— — —

Chu Yunxi fourth.

Her spare bow was at her waist.

The three pale pink lines from the web of her right hand to her wrist were almost invisible under the cold light of the standby teleportation array.

She stood behind Zhou Tieshan.

— — —

Chen Hao fifth.

chaos unit no. 1 was parked 3 meters behind him in standby mode.

Energy core pulsation frequency 1.7 seconds/time.

Foot-sole magnetic anchors awaiting activation.

He stood under the open cockpit door.

— — —

Lu Xinghe sixth.

His star compass — that star compass split into seventeen pieces and glued back together, with +17% optical path error and 0% Spiritual Power circuit —

Was held in his left palm.

The dial no longer turned.

The needle stopped at 7 degrees north by west.

That was the direction of Chaos Valley.

— — —

Yun Qianxue seventh.

Her green lotus staff — the staff head shattered, the staff body covered in cracks, the Flame of Life inside completely extinguished, the three crystal petals on the staff head tied back in place with pale green embroidery thread —

Was held horizontally in her right hand.

The staff body rested against the ground.

She stood at the edge of the teleportation array.

— — —

[Super-Distance Teleportation Array · Preheating Countdown]

[3 minutes]

[2 minutes]

[1 minute]

[30 seconds]

[Preheating Complete]

[Locking Spatial Coordinates...]

[Target Locked: Big Dipper Star Field · Yan State · Chaos Valley · Main Hall Basement Level 3]

[Locking Precision Error: ±230 meters (Better than expected)]

[Constructing Spatial Channel...]

[Construction Progress: 7%... 23%... 41%...]

— — —

Lin Ye stood in the center of the teleportation array.

Around him were 3,000 mechas waiting for transport, 1 Heavenly Court First Machine, 219 remaining members with an average Rank of 44, and 7 veterans of the 47-day expedition still unhealed.

Under his feet was the old-model core processor, decommissioned 47 years ago, now operating at 130% rated power overload.

Above his head was the spatial rift forming, spanning 37,000 light-years.

[Spatial Load: 0 units]

[Teleportation Startup Countdown: 3 seconds]

— — —

[2 seconds]

Spatial Load: 0 → 470 units.

Lin Ye's spine emitted a faint creaking sound, almost masked by the humming of the teleportation array.

It was the sound of vertebrae compressing against each other under spatial pressure.

He did not move.

[1 second]

Spatial Load: 470 → 1,300 units.

A flash of white light crossed his vision.

It wasn't a teleportation special effect.

It was the moment his retinal capillaries ruptured simultaneously under 7.2 times standard spatial pressure.

[0 seconds]

— — —

[Space Jump · Activated]

37,000 light-years.

43,200 tons.

3,007 people (including mecha AI).

219 remaining members.

7 expedition members.

1 chaos unit no. 1.

3,000 guardian type iii mechas.

1 Lin Ye.

— — —

Spatial Load: 1,300 → 2,700 → 4,100 → 5,700 → 7,200 units.

— — —

Lin Ye did not close his eyes.

He saw the spatial rift expand into a circular channel 47 meters in diameter above his head.

He saw the familiar starry sky on the other side of the channel, shrouded in the pale blue shimmer of the Spirit Gathering Array.

He saw the old-model adapter in Chaos Valley Main Hall Basement Level 3 — installed 47 years ago, unmaintained for 47 years, now blinking with a green standby light at a frequency visible to the naked eye.

He saw all of this.

Under the condition that his retinal capillaries had all ruptured, and his vision was left with only black and white.

— — —

[Spatial Load Peak: 7,200 units]

[Lin Ye · HP: 41% → 33%]

[Meridians Load: 490% → 570%]

[Chaos Heavenly Emperor Body · Passive Adaptation: Spatial Resistance +17% (Temporary)]

[Spatial Load: 7,200 → 6,000 → 4,700]

— — —

3.7 seconds.

37,000 light-years.

7,200 units of spatial load.

— — —

[Teleportation Complete]

[Landing Coordinates: Big Dipper Star Field · Yan State · Chaos Valley · 47 meters east of the Main Hall]

[Precision Error: +47 meters (Better than expected)]

— — —

Lin Ye opened his eyes.

His vision was still only black and white.

But he saw Chaos Valley.

Not the Chaos Valley from 47 minutes ago when he left, where the third defensive line had just been torn open by a 3-meter gap, and 219 remaining members were struggling to hold on for reinforcements.

It was another one.

[part:gemini-3.0-flash]

47 meters east of the main hall of Chaos Valley, it was originally the barracks for the third reserve team of the Azure Dragon Hall.

Now, it is a field of ruins.

The steel frame of the barracks snapped at a height of 3 meters, its top slanting into the ground like a withered branch twisted off by a giant force.

There were 7 claw marks, 5 centimeters deep, at the break—marks left by the frontal collision of a Crystal-Armored Giant Rhinoceros.

West of the barracks, it was originally the arrow tower maintenance workshop of the Vermilion Bird Hall.

Now, only a half-collapsed tower foundation remains there.

The load-bearing pillar in the center of the foundation was snapped from the bottom, with obvious signs of corrosion at the break—a characteristic of the acid spray from Gold-Devouring Ant soldiers.

Scattered around the foundation were 47 unused Flame Feather Arrows.

The Fire Crow Feathers on the arrows were soaked in blood, dried into dark brown hard shells.

———

The third defensive line of Chaos Valley.

Not the one from 47 minutes ago.

It is—three days later.

Lin Ye stood in the center of the ruins east of the main hall.

He saw that defensive line.

Total length: 370 meters.

Current remaining length: 217 meters.

The 3-meter-wide gap at the 47-meter mark on the east side that he left behind—

It is now 17 meters wide.

The alloy steel plates at the edge of the gap rolled outward, their surfaces covered in over 200 claw marks of varying depths.

Some claw marks were 7 millimeters deep, having already penetrated the Starlight Alloy Type I composite armor.

Directly behind the gap, where the temporary medical expansion tent stood 17 hours ago—

It is now a temporary circular bunker enclosed by the wreckage of 7 scrapped mechas.

In the center of the bunker lay 43 severely wounded personnel.

Yun Qianxue was not there.

She had already left with the expedition team for the Eternal Star Domain 3 days ago.

There were no healers here.

———

3.7 kilometers north of Chaos Valley.

The defensive line where 3,000 guardian type iii mecha were arrayed 47 minutes ago—

Now, the distribution density of mecha wreckage is one every 17 square meters.

3,000 mechas.

3 days.

Remaining combat-capable units: approximately 1,100.

Combat loss rate: 63%.

———

Lin Ye stood in place.

His vision was still only in black and white.

His Meridians load was at 570%.

His Health Points were at 33%.

His Chaos Divine Power—the 30% brought by that very last vial of Chaos Original Liquid—had been completely burned away during the 3.7-second space jump.

0%.

But he saw Chaos Valley.

He saw this place he had left 47 minutes ago, which had now been in fierce battle for 72 hours, with defensive line durability at 35%, a combat loss rate of 63%, and 43 severely wounded lying in a circular bunker enclosed by scrapped mecha waiting for treatment—

His home.

———

[System Prompt: You have arrived at Big Dipper Star Field · Yan State · Chaos Valley]

[Current Coordinates: 47 meters east of the Main Hall]

[Current Time: era calendar Year 1972 · Day 324 · 17:23:47]

[Time since you left Chaos Valley: 72 hours and 17 minutes]

[Defensive Line Status:]

[Third Defensive Line Remaining Length: 217/370 meters]

[Third Defensive Line Durability: 35% (Partially failed)]

[Confirmed KIA Members: 47 (Including pre-expedition)]

[Among them: 19 from Azure Dragon Hall, 13 from Vermilion Bird Hall, 11 from Black Tortoise Hall, 4 from White Tiger Hall]

[Current Combat-Capable Remaining Members: 172 (Including minor injuries)]

[Current Non-Combat-Capable Remaining Members: 43 (Severely wounded)]

[Eternal Star Domain Reinforcements: guardian type iii mecha group]

[Initial Quantity: 3,000 units]

[Current Combat-Capable Quantity: Approximately 1,100 units]

[Confirmed Destroyed: 1,317 units]

[Status to be Confirmed: 583 units]

[Mecha Wreckage Recovery Rate: 7%]

———

Lin Ye looked at the line "Confirmed KIA: 47 people."

47 minutes ago, this number was 2.

47 hours ago, this number was 0.

72 hours ago, he stood here, leading the expedition team onto the teleportation array to head for the Ancient Star Road.

At that time, Chaos Valley's defensive line durability was 100%.

At that time, there were 237 remaining members.

At that time, no one knew the Yao Beast tide would arrive three months early.

At that time, no one knew he would sign that ten-year agreement worth 47 million credits, using 3,000 decommissioned mechas, a 47-minute limit teleportation, and 7,200 units of spatial load—

To exchange for a Chaos Valley with a 63% combat loss rate, 47 dead, and 35% defensive line durability.

———

Lin Ye did not speak.

He threw the still-hot spatial coordinate locking module—worth 110,000 credits, part of the 430,000 he borrowed from III-7—which he had pulled from the teleportation array's core processor, onto the ground.

He drew his sword.

That Fine Iron Longsword brought back from the Trial Ancient Star, its edge covered in chips from the 47-hour expedition, and the fine crack extending from the hilt to the tip—amidst the smoke of 72 hours of fierce battle, the spatial aftershocks of a 37,000 light-year teleportation, and the cold light of the ruins east of the Chaos Valley main hall—

It was still sharp.

He gripped it tightly.

———

"Chen Hao."

"Present."

"chaos unit no. 1, how much energy is remaining?"

Chen Hao did not look at the dashboard.

He didn't need to.

"21%."

"Particle Rifle capacitor at 73%."

"Missile Pod—empty."

———

"3,000 guardian type iii, 1,100 remaining combat-capable."

"Set all of their energy cores to overload mode."

"It doesn't matter how much battery life is left."

"I want them to hold for another 17 hours."

———

Chen Hao did not speak.

His right hand—the one that had recovered from electric shock burns and had held the control ball for 2,820 seconds during the 47-hour limit-load test, now trembling slightly—

Pressed onto the control panel of chaos unit no. 1.

[guardian type iii mecha Group · All-Unit Command]

[Command: Energy Core Forced Overload]

[Authorizer: Chen Hao (Heavenly Court Chief Mecha Master)]

[Current Combat-Capable Units: 1,100]

[Average Battery Life After Overload: 47 minutes]

[Average Attack Power After Overload: +23%]

[Core Meltdown Probability After Overload: 31%]

[Confirm Execution?]

———

Chen Hao looked at that "31%."

He did not look at Lin Ye.

He pressed confirm.

[Command Executed]

———

The energy cores of 1,100 guardian type iii mecha simultaneously emitted a pulsating hum, its frequency accelerating from once every 1.7 seconds to once every 0.7 seconds.

That was the countdown of their remaining lives.

47 minutes.

———

Lin Ye turned around.

He looked at Su Qingyue.

"Defensive line durability 35%."

"17-meter gap."

"How much Ice-attribute spiritual power do you have left?"

Su Qingyue did not answer.

She simply pressed her left hand—the one with an empty palm, the wreckage of her sword hilt having long been placed in the deepest part of her Storage Ring—

Onto the ground.

[Vast Cold Descent · Fragment]

[Cost: 30% of current Health Points]

[Effect: Creates a Frost Domain lasting 7 seconds within a 17-meter radius]

[Current Health Points: 47% → 33%]

[Frost Domain · Deployed]

———

The 17-meter-wide gap in the defensive line was completely sealed by 0.3-meter-thick solid ice within 7 seconds.

On the surface of the ice, the dim light shield above Chaos Valley, stained gray by smoke, was reflected.

———

Lin Ye looked at Shi Potian.

"2.3 kilometers to the east."

"4,000 Crystal-Armored Giant Rhinoceroses."

"You fought for 47 minutes."

"How many are left?"

———

Shi Potian raised his left fist.

That left fist, with forty-seven bone fractures, necrotic muscle, and carbonized skin, which had withstood three punches from a level 70 Ancestor Phantom during the Ninth Trial of the Ancestor Star without falling—

Was now covered in blood.

It wasn't his blood.

It was the hard crust formed by the dried fluids of the Crystal-Armored Giant Rhinoceroses' skulls when they were smashed, which had quickly oxidized to dark brown in the air.

"...1,700 of them," he said.

His voice was hoarser than it was 47 minutes ago.

His right arm—the one where the nerve connection was not yet stable and the new pink skin was currently twitching unconsciously—

Hung at his side.

But he stood here.

———

Lin Ye looked at him.

3 seconds.

"Enough."

———

Lin Ye looked at Zhou Tieshan.

"Shield."

Zhou Tieshan took the spare shield from his back.

The shield's surface was as clean as new—that was 47 minutes ago.

Now, there were 47 claw marks of varying depths on the shield.

The deepest one was in the center of the shield, 7 millimeters deep, nearly penetrating it.

"...It can still hold," he said.

———

Lin Ye looked at him.

"Hold for 17 minutes."

———

Zhou Tieshan thrust the shield into the ground.

The bottom of the shield sank 9 centimeters into the alloy layer.

———

Lin Ye looked at Chu Yunxi.

"Arrows."

Chu Yunxi pulled the last 3 arrows from the quiver at her waist.

They were not Flame Feather Arrows.

They were ordinary Fine Steel Arrows.

There were no enchantment runes on the shafts.

The arrowheads were standard Triangular Armor-Piercing Tips.

"...Enough for 3 shots," she said.

———

Lin Ye looked at her.

"Shoot."

———

Chu Yunxi drew her bowstring.

The Fine Steel Arrow left the string.

3.7 kilometers away, a Berserk Blood Wolf alpha that was charging—the command core of the 17th charge on the 3rd day—had its left eye pierced.

It tumbled 7 times during its charge.

47 of its kind behind it were tripped by it.

———

Lin Ye looked at Lu Xinghe.

"3 days."

"Is your star compass repaired?"

———

Lu Xinghe kept his head down.

The star compass in his hand, which had cracked into seventeen pieces and been glued back together, with an optical path error of +17% and a spiritual power circuit at 0%—

The dial was still turning.

The needle was still swaying.

He gently flicked the needle with his thumb.

From 7 degrees west of true north.

He moved it to 11 degrees west of true north.

Then he looked up.

"...Not repaired," he said.

"But it can still point the way."

———

Lin Ye looked at him.

"3.7 kilometers away, that Commander Beast."

"Is it still there?"

———

Lu Xinghe looked at the needle.

The needle swayed slowly between 11 and 13 degrees west of true north.

Amplitude: 0.2 degrees.

Period: 1.7 seconds.

That was the faint disturbance to the star compass's geomagnetic induction module caused by a biological entity moving.

"...Still there," he said.

"It's moving."

"To the west."

———

Lin Ye looked at Yun Qianxue.

"43 severely wounded."

"No healers."

"3 days."

"How did you pull through?"

———

Yun Qianxue did not answer.

She just looked down at the green lotus staff in her hand—the head was shattered, the body covered in cracks, the life flame inside completely extinguished, and the three crystal petals at the head were tied back in place with pale green embroidery thread.

The bottom of the staff rested against the ground.

On the ground was a very faint green fluorescent trail, almost covered by dust.

That was the healing spell path she had left over the past 3 days, at the cost of 3% Mental Energy per second, traveling back and forth 217 times from the defensive line to the bunker and back.

She didn't say "I held on for 3 days."

She didn't say "Not one of the 43 severely wounded died in the bunker."

She didn't say anything that could be recorded by the System, quantified, or written into the faction's merit book.

She just stood there.

Holding that extinguished staff.

———

Lin Ye looked at her.

3 seconds.

"...You've worked hard," he said.

Yun Qianxue's eyelashes fluttered.

She did not look up.

———

Lin Ye turned around.

He faced north.

3.7 kilometers away, 1,100 guardian type iii mecha in overload mode were making their first contact of the 4th day with the remaining approximately 23,000 Yao Beasts.

The charging hum of Particle Rifles.

The metallic echoes of giant rhinoceros collisions.

The shrill cries of Berserk Blood Wolves near death.

The sizzling sound of Gold-Devouring Ant soldier acid evaporating on mecha armor.

All of this.

In the morning light of the 4th day in Chaos Valley, blended into a low, muffled thunder that had not stopped for 72 hours.

———

Lin Ye gripped his sword.

He took the first step forward.

———

[Chaos Valley Defensive Line · Day 4 · 07:13]

[Defensive Line Durability: 35%]

[Combat-Capable Remaining Members: 172]

[Combat-Capable Mechas: 1,100 (Overload Mode / Remaining Battery 47 minutes)]

[Expedition Team Members: 7 (All injured)]

[Enemy Remaining Quantity: Approximately 23,000]

[Enemy Suspected Command Unit: 1, located 11 degrees west of true north, distance 3.7 kilometers]

[Eternal Star Domain Reinforcements Arrival Time: Arrived]

[Eternal Star Domain Reinforcements Withdrawal Time: None]

[Agreement Term: 72 hours]

[Executed: 17 hours]

[Remaining: 55 hours]

———

Lin Ye did not look at that countdown.

He just walked forward.

Every step left a 1.7-centimeter-deep footprint on the soil of Chaos Valley, which had been plowed three times by the fires of war.

His vision was still only in black and white.

His Meridians load was at 570%.

His Health Points were at 33%.

His Chaos Divine Power was at 0%.

But he gripped his sword.

———

Behind him.

Su Qingyue.

Shi Potian.

Zhou Tieshan.

Chu Yunxi.

Chen Hao.

Lu Xinghe.

Yun Qianxue.

7 people.

Simultaneously took the first step.

———

In the distance.

3.7 kilometers away.

11 degrees west of true north.

That unknown existence that had never revealed its complete form in anyone's sight for 72 hours—

For the second time.

Took a step back.

———

[Chapter 155 · End]