272: Logical deadlock

"That's it!" Xu Bai's eyes flashed with delight. "Its core processor is relatively intact, and although it's on the verge of collapse, it's precisely this unstable state that makes its firewall and encryption protocols weakest."

"What do you need me to do?" Chu Yixing asked.

"Use your sword qi, the most precise kind, to strip the purple-glowing core processor from its chest without completely destroying it. Ruo Xue, prepare your Moonlight Power; the moment the processor is removed, release it immediately to stabilize its energy structure and prevent self-destruction. Miss Su Wan, use your Shadow Power to temporarily block any potential remote alarm signals." Xu Bai rapidly issued instructions.

This was an extremely delicate operation, requiring peak control over power.

Chu Yixing held his breath, and the tip of his green lotus immortal sword extended a wisp of greenish-gold sword light, finer than a strand of hair. Like the most agile surgical knife, it precisely cut into the gaps of the infiltrator's chest plate, bypassing the chaotic energy lines, and gently pried.

"Click!"

The processor, about the size of a palm, covered in intricate patterns, and blinking with urgent purple light, detached with a soft sound.

Han Ruoxue, already prepared, released Moonlight Power from her staff, which instantly enveloped the falling processor like the softest silk, gently smoothing the turbulent energy within it.

Su Wan's Shadow Prayer also formed a temporary isolation field, covering the area.

Enveloped by the Moonlight, the processor's glow gradually stabilized.

"Logic Remnants Infiltrator Processor Core (Special Item)": Contains partial Logic Remnants identity information, usable for short-term deception of low-level verification systems. Remaining uses: 1/1.

It worked!

"Well done!" Ji Linghan couldn't help but praise.

Carrying this hard-won "key," the team returned to the secluded maintenance entrance on the west side of the base. During a gap in the patrol, Xu Bai carefully placed the processor core against the verification panel.

The panel flashed red a few times, emitted a few short electronic beeps, then turned green, and the heavy metal gate silently slid open.

"Get in quickly!"

The twelve people filed in, and the gate quietly closed behind them.

Behind the door was a narrow maintenance passage filled with various pipes and cables. The air was thick with the smell of machine oil and energy fluid, and the passage was dimly lit, with only the indicator lights embedded in the walls providing a faint glow.

"We're in." Piao Jinhao whispered, his figure once again merging with the shadows, scouting ahead.

The team cautiously advanced along the passage. The passage was intricate, like a labyrinth. Fortunately, Piao Jinhao and Shadow Claw were constantly clearing traps and scouting the route ahead.

As they delved deeper, they could hear the regular hum of machinery and the buzzing of energy flow from outside.

Through some vents or observation windows, they could see more of the base's interior: automated production lines assembling new mechanical units; energy transmission pipes like blood vessels throughout the base; and the central tall tower seemingly coordinating everything in the base.

"We're almost at the core area." Xu Bai judged based on the direction of energy flow.

Just then, Piao Jinhao, who was scouting ahead, suddenly stopped and made a dangerous gesture.

Everyone immediately halted, holding their breath.

At the end of the passage ahead was a spacious hall. In the center of the hall, a huge polyhedral crystal connected by countless optical cables floated, with data streams constantly refreshing rapidly inside. Below the crystal stood three more exquisitely crafted mechanical bodies, glowing with a dark silver sheen: the Logic Remnants Guardians. Their aura had clearly reached the strength of Level 58 elites. Yes!

They seemed to be guarding that massive data crystal.

And on the other side of the hall, some blue crystals emitting strong energy fluctuations were piled up in considerable quantity. These were precisely the solidified form of the liquid energy they had seen being collected earlier.

"It's that energy source!" Zhou Chen's eyes flashed with heat.

But with three Level 58 elite Guardians, plus this hall, which was clearly an important node, an attack would surely be discovered, and a direct assault carried extremely high risks.

Just as Chu Yixing was weighing whether to risk seizing the energy source or quietly retreating, an anomaly occurred.

The massive data crystal in the center of the hall suddenly erupted with a blinding red light, and a piercing alarm blared throughout the base.

"Warning! Unauthorized access detected! Logic lockdown protocol initiated! Clear all unverified units!"

The blue lights in the eyes of the three Guardians instantly turned crimson, and they fiercely locked onto the passage entrance where Chu Yixing and the others were located.

"We've been discovered! Is it a trap?!" Lin Feng exclaimed in surprise.

"No, the processor core's uses have run out or it's been remotely deactivated!" Xu Bai instantly reacted.

From the direction of the gate came the heavy sound of locking and the hum of an energy barrier activating. Their retreat was sealed, and they were trapped in a meticulously designed logical dead end.

Three Level 58 elite Logic Remnants Guardians advanced with heavy, precise steps towards the passage entrance. Their arms rapidly transformed, revealing high-speed rotating chainsaws and muzzles condensing destructive energy.

Behind them was a sealed retreat, ahead were powerful enemies. The human squad was once again in a desperate situation.

The piercing alarm echoed in the narrow passage, and the crimson light illuminated everyone's faces with a grim intensity. Behind them, the alloy gate was completely sealed, and an energy barrier had risen. Ahead were three Logic Remnants Guardians, exuding the pressure of Level 58 elites, advancing with precise, heavy steps. The roar of their chainsaws and the light condensing in their energy muzzles were heart-stopping.

The human squad seemed to be in a desperate situation, but having experienced blood and fire, they were no longer the fledglings they were when they first entered the wilderness. In this moment of crisis, their ferocity and fighting spirit were ignited.

"There's no retreat, only a fight to the death!" Chu Yixing's eyes blazed with cold light, and he roared, "When rivals meet, the brave one wins! Yu Yue, Stone Startling Heaven, hold the front; Aljie, flank; Ling Han, Lin Feng, follow me to tear them apart; Xu Bai, use your summons to disrupt their formation; Ruo Xue, Su Wan, full support; Zhou Chen, find an opportunity to destroy that data crystal or the energy barrier; all battle pets, free attack, find their weaknesses."

The commands came like a fierce storm, and everyone responded instantly.

"Roar! Dawn Light, Holy Light blessing!" Yu Yue roared, and Dawn Light, the unicorn cub on his shoulder, also let out a clear neigh. Pure Holy Light surged like a tide towards Yu Yue's great shield, making the already brilliant Holy Light barrier even more solid and heavy.

Yu Yue took a step forward, standing shoulder to shoulder with Stone Startling Heaven, who also received the Earth Power blessing from his pet "Rock-Armored Rhino." Their two great shields, like insurmountable mountains, slammed fiercely into the Guardian at the very front.

"Boom!!"

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