103: Black 8 attacking the matriarchal world

Six hours after the battle in Qingyun Town, the sky split open.

It was not a metaphor; it had truly split open.

A black fissure spanning the horizon appeared above Qingyun Town, as if the firmament had been torn into a hideous wound.

At the edges of the fissure, space twisted violently, light was swallowed, and it emitted a teeth-gritting tearing sound.

"What… what is that?"

Afu stood on the city wall, his voice trembling.

001 looked up at the fissure: "The reinforcements have arrived."

Just as the words fell, three massive black objects slowly descended from the fissure.

They were three pyramid-shaped metal structures, each thirty meters high, with surfaces covered in complex energy patterns.

They hovered in mid-air, bases facing down, with their tips flashing a dangerous red light.

"Law-Breaking Orbital Cannons, designated Alpha, Beta, and Gamma."

001's processor received data from the orbital cannons, "Charging time: 9 minutes and 47 seconds."

"After charging is complete, each cannon can fire one 'Law Disintegration Beam',"

"Theoretical power: capable of destroying the Primordial Spirit of a Soul Transformation Stage Cultivator."

"Soul Transformation Stage…" Afu swallowed hard, "Commander, will such an existence really appear?"

"They will." 001 pointed to the distant horizon, "And they have already arrived."

On the horizon, three powerful auras were rapidly approaching.

Each one was several times stronger than the previous Nascent Soul old woman, and the strongest among them even made the air begin to congeal.

"Notify everyone to enter maximum alert."

"During the orbital cannons' charging period, we must hold them off."

"Hold them off? How could we possibly…"

"Execute the order." 001's voice was unquestionable.

Afu gritted his teeth and nodded: "Yes!"

The defensive Systems on the city wall activated at full power.

The newly repaired energy shield rose again, the anti-aircraft cannon array adjusted its angle, and the robots moved to their preset firing positions.

001 walked out of the city gate alone, standing on the empty wilderness, waiting for the arrival of the enemies.

Ten breaths later, three streaks of light descended.

Leading them was a woman in white who looked to be only in her early twenties, with breathtaking beauty and an ethereal temperament, but her eyes held the vicissitudes of someone who had seen through the ways of the world.

Her aura was as deep as an abyss and as vast as the sea; simply standing there caused the Spiritual Qi within a ten-mile radius to cease flowing.

Soul Transformation Early Stage, Grand Elder of the Qingyun Sect, Immortal Master Yunmeng.

Behind her were two middle-aged beauties who looked to be around forty years old, both at the Nascent Soul Late Stage of cultivation.

On the left was Elder Tianjian, and on the right was Elder Xuanbing.

Immortal Master Yunmeng's gaze swept across Qingyun Town, over the heads on the city wall, over the males holding strange weapons, and finally landed on 001.

"So you are the otherworldly monster who killed the Disciples of my Sect?"

Her voice was ethereal and wispy, yet carried a bone-chilling coldness.

001's optical lenses locked onto the three: "It is me. Are you here to die, or are you here to surrender?"

"Arrogant!" Elder Tianjian shouted angrily, "A mere clever mechanism, and you dare to be presumptuous before the Grand Elder!"

She formed a sword shape with her fingers, and a hundred-foot sword radiance slashed through the air.

The power of this sword strike was more than ten times stronger than the previous old woman's Celestial Maiden Dharma Image.

But 001 did not dodge. It raised its right arm.

The arm armor opened, revealing a complex energy matrix inside.

"Black Faction technology, Law Interference Force Field."

An invisible force field expanded. The moment the sword radiance entered the force field's range, its speed plummeted, its power was drastically reduced, and it finally dissipated completely three meters above 001's head.

"What?!" Elder Tianjian's pupils contracted.

For the first time, a solemn expression appeared in Immortal Master Yunmeng's eyes: "This is not the power of this world. Where do you come from?"

"The Black Faction." 001 said, "An existence destined to conquer all worlds."

"Conquer?" Immortal Master Yunmeng smiled, her smile cold, "Based on you?"

She raised her hand and gripped it gently. The heavens and earth changed color.

The clouds in the sky spun crazily, forming a massive vortex. The ground began to shake, and the Spiritual Qi of the earth veins was forcibly extracted, condensing into a transparent longsword in Immortal Master Yunmeng's hand.

"This sword is named 'Karma Slasher'."

"Those wounded by this sword will have their Primordial Spirit shattered, their Karma severed, and will never be able to reincarnate for eternity."

"Otherworldly monster, to be able to die under this sword is your honor."

The longsword slashed down. There was no earth-shattering momentum, only a transparent ripple spreading outward.

Wherever the ripple passed, space developed fine cracks, and the Laws began to become chaotic. This was the full-force strike of a Soul Transformation Stage Cultivator, containing a trace of Law power.

001's processor ran frantically. It calculated the result: resisting head-on meant certain death, the evasion range was locked, and the defensive Systems could not react in time…

There was only one choice. "Orbital Cannons! Fire early! Target: Immortal Master Yunmeng!"

At the tips of the three orbital cannons, the red light surged violently. Charging progress: 78%… 79%… 80%… It was too late.

The Karma Slasher sword had already reached 001. At this critical moment, 001 made a crazy decision.

It did not defend, it did not dodge, but instead concentrated all its energy in its chest, and then… self-destructed.

No, not a complete self-destruction. It was "Core Overload Release."

The armor on its chest exploded, an energy core exposed, and then it suddenly unleashed a circle of black shockwaves.

The shockwave collided with the Karma Slasher sword. There was no sound, no light, only pure annihilation.

Space was torn into a black hole with a diameter of ten meters, which lasted for three seconds before slowly healing.

After the shockwave dissipated, 001 stood in place; no, it only had half a body left. Everything below the waist was gone, its left arm was broken, and its head armor was shattered, revealing the sparking mechanical structures inside.

But it was still alive. And the Karma Slasher sword had been canceled out.

Surprise flashed in Immortal Master Yunmeng's eyes: "You actually… blocked it?"

Just then, the three orbital cannons in the sky hummed. Charging complete.

"Fire." 001 spat out the two words using its remaining vocalizer.

The first cannon, Alpha. A black beam with a diameter of three meters descended from the sky, its speed surpassing the concept of time.

Wherever the beam passed, space crumbled inch by inch, and the Laws collapsed. Target: Immortal Master Yunmeng.

Immortal Master Yunmeng's expression finally changed. She felt the threat of death; this was the first time in the thousand years since she ascended to the Soul Transformation Stage.

"Grand Elder, watch out!" Elder Tianjian and Elder Xuanbing blocked in front of her simultaneously, offering up their strongest defensive Magic Treasures.

It was useless. The black beam easily pierced through the two's defenses, pierced through their bodies, and then continued towards Immortal Master Yunmeng without losing momentum.

Immortal Master Yunmeng formed seals with her hands, and a ten-thousand-foot Dharma Image appeared behind her; it was not the Celestial Maiden Dharma Image, but the phantom of an ancient deity whose face could not be seen clearly.

"Qingyun Sect's Sect-Suppressing Secret Technique, God Descent!"

The deity phantom reached out, attempting to grab the black beam. It grabbed it. But it only held it for a thousandth of a second.

Then, the deity phantom's palm began to collapse, its arm began to collapse, and finally, the entire phantom exploded with a roar.

Immortal Master Yunmeng spat out a mouthful of golden blood; that was her life essence. She was injured, heavily injured.

But it wasn't over. The second cannon, Beta. The second black beam descended.

Immortal Master Yunmeng gritted her teeth and took out an ancient bronze mirror from her bosom. The mirror reflected the black beam, attempting to deflect it.

"Haotian Mirror, Reverse Heaven and Earth!"

A portion of the black beam was reflected. About 30% of the beam was reflected towards the sky, but the remaining 70% still hit Immortal Master Yunmeng.

Her protective spiritual light shattered instantly, and her body was pierced with three large holes. At the wounds, black energy was eroding her Primordial Spirit, preventing the wounds from healing.

"Ahhh!" Immortal Master Yunmeng let out a painful roar. But she was a Soul Transformation Stage Cultivator after all, and her vitality was terrifyingly tenacious.

Even after suffering such heavy injuries, she still did not die, and even had the strength to fight.

"The third cannon…" 001 wanted to order the third cannon to fire, but its vocalizer was already damaged. But that was fine.

Orbital Cannon Gamma automatically locked onto the target. The third black beam descended.

This time, a look of determination flashed in Immortal Master Yunmeng's eyes. She gave up on defense, gave up on evasion, and instead concentrated all her power on one point, charging towards 001. Mutual destruction!

A Soul Transformation Stage Cultivator burning their Primordial Spirit for a desperate strike had enough power to destroy the heavens and earth.

In 001's remaining optical lens, that rapidly approaching streak of light was reflected.

At the very last moment, its processor executed a preset command.

"Space Jump, emergency evasion." It was not a complete Space Jump, just a short-distance teleportation. But it was enough. 001 vanished from where it stood and appeared three hundred meters away.

Immortal Master Yunmeng lunged at empty air, while the third black beam accurately struck her back.

Pierced through.

It entered from the back and exited through the chest.

A half-meter wide hole appeared in her chest, through which the scene behind her could be seen.

Immortal Master Yunmeng stood rigidly in place, looking down at the hole in her chest.

Her Primordial Spirit was rapidly dissipating, and her life force flowed away like a bursting flood.

"Im... possible..."

She murmured,

"This seat... a Soul Transformation expert... how could I..."

She turned her head and looked in the direction of 001.

Only 001's head and half a shoulder remained, being carefully held by a robot.

"You..."

Immortal Master Yunmeng's gaze began to unfocus,

"What... exactly... are you..."

"The Conqueror."

001 used its last bit of energy to make a sound.

Immortal Master Yunmeng smiled, a bitter smile:

"Conquer... hehe... do you think... you have won..."

Her body began to disintegrate, turning into specks of starlight.

"The truth of this world... is far more... terrifying... than you imagine."

After finishing the last few words, her body completely dissipated,

leaving only a crystalline Inner Core floating in the air, the condensed life's cultivation of a Soul Transformation Stage Cultivator.

Elder Tianjian and Elder Xuanbing had long since died, turned to ashes under the first blast.

The battle was over.

Three shots, killed a Soul Transformation.

The Resistance Forces soldiers on the city wall were stunned, and only after a long while did they erupt into earth-shattering cheers.

"We won! We won!"

"We even killed a Soul Transformation Cultivator! We are invincible!"

"Long live the Black Faction! Long live the Commander!"

Afu rushed to 001, so excited he was incoherent:

"Commander! Are... are you okay? Your body..."

"Requires repair."

001's voice was weak,

"Take me back to the Command Center, and additionally, collect that Inner Core, keep it safe, Black Spirit needs it."

"Yes!"

Two hours later, Command Center.

001's remaining parts were placed in a repair pod.

Nanomachines were slowly rebuilding its body, but this would take time.

Afu walked in, holding a jade box in his hands, which contained the Inner Core of Immortal Master Yunmeng.

"Commander, news has come from the Qingyun Sect mountain gate."

His expression was complex,

"They... have surrendered."

001's optical lens flickered:

"Surrender?"

"Yes, Immortal Master Yunmeng was their only Soul Transformation Stage, and after news of her death in battle was sent back, the Qingyun Sect fell into chaos."

"The pro-war faction and the surrender faction clashed, and in the end, the surrender faction gained the upper hand."

"They have sent an envoy, willing to offer up the mountain gate, only asking... only asking to be spared."

001's processor operated rapidly.

Accepting the surrender could allow them to take the Qingyun Sect mountain gate without bloodshed, saving a large amount of time and resources.

But...

"Black Spirit's order is: Conquer, not accept surrender."

001 said,

"Furthermore, the females of the Qingyun Sect have hands stained with the blood of males."

"If we let them go, what would the soldiers of the Resistance Forces think?"

Afu fell silent.

He knew that many soldiers were looking forward to the day they would break through the Qingyun Sect mountain gate, looking forward to taking revenge on those high-and-mighty female Cultivators.

"Then... refuse them?"

"No."

001 said,

"Accept the surrender."

"But there is a condition: All Qingyun Sect Disciples must undergo 'Ideological Remolding'."

"We will implant control chips in them, making them the servant army of the Black Faction."

"This..."

"This is an order."

001's voice returned to its usual coldness,

"Go tell the envoy, within three days, all Qingyun Sect Disciples must come down the mountain to surrender and accept remolding."

"Those who do not surrender by the deadline will be killed without exception."

Afu took a deep breath:

"Yes."

He turned and left.

When he reached the door, he stopped and turned back to ask:

"Commander, after the Qingyun Sect is conquered... what will happen to us, the Resistance Forces?"

001's optical lens looked at him, remaining silent for a long time.

"Go execute the order."

In the end, it only said this.

Afu nodded and left.

In the repair pod, 001 closed its optical lens.

In its processor, that locked memory fragment began to tremble again.

That scene: a female robot repairing a stereo, swaying gently to the music, with warm light flickering in its optical lens...

"Emotion is a weakness..."

001 whispered to itself,

"Memory is a burden... consciousness is a disease..."

But it knew that some things, once born, cannot be completely erased.

Just like those males of the Resistance Forces, once they tasted the flavor of freedom, they could no longer endure enslavement.

Just like itself, although designed as a perfect war machine, after experiencing so much,

its logic modules also began to generate some... questions that shouldn't exist.

"Black Spirit..."

It contacted the Machine World through internal communication,

"The Qingyun Sect is about to surrender, requesting further instructions."

A few seconds later, Black Spirit's voice rang out:

"Very good, accept the surrender, but all those who surrender must have control chips implanted."

"Additionally, I want you to immediately proceed to the 'Forbidden Ground' of the Qingyun Sect."

"Forbidden Ground?"

"According to the memory I extracted from the remnant Primordial Spirit of Immortal Master Yunmeng, the core secret of this world is hidden within the Qingyun Sect's Forbidden Ground."

"There is a... 'Energy Source' there. I need you to control it."

"Understood, my body still needs twelve hours to repair..."

"Cannot wait."

Black Spirit said,

"I will transport a spare body for you, go now."

Communication ended.

One minute later, a beam of light descended from the sky, landing outside the Command Center.

The beam dissipated, and a brand-new black body appeared, identical to 001's original body, but newer and stronger.

001's consciousness data was transmitted wirelessly and injected into the new body.

It walked out of the repair pod, moving its new body.

The strength was greater, the speed faster, and the processor calculation speed had increased by 30%.

"Perfect."

Then, 001 looked in the direction of the distant Qingyun Sect mountain gate.

Forbidden Ground... Energy Source... core secret of the world...

"Let me see, what exactly are you hiding."

The thrusters on its back emitted blue flames, and it shot up into the sky.

...

The Qingyun Sect mountain gate was located amidst nine Spiritual Qi peaks, surrounded by clouds and mist, with cranes dancing, a scene of a fairyland.

But at this moment, this fairyland was shrouded in panic.

The Mountain-protecting Formation had been shut down, and the mountain gate was wide open.

Thousands of Qingyun Sect Disciples gathered in the plaza, waiting for an unknown fate.

Their faces were filled with fear, unwillingness, and humiliation, but more than anything, a kind of resigned numbness.

Even the Grand Elder had died in battle, what else could they do?

In the sky, a black warship slowly descended.

That was the main fleet of the Black Faction, having just arrived through a space tunnel.

The cabin door opened, and 001 walked out.

Behind it were three hundred fully armed combat robots, as well as the elite of the Resistance Forces who had just completed their remolding.

The current Sect Master of the Qingyun Sect, a female Cultivator at the Nascent Soul Middle Stage, brought several Elders to welcome them.

"Qingyun Sect Master Yunxia, along with all the Disciples of the Sect... surrender."

Her voice was dry, and every word was spoken with immense difficulty.

001's optical lens swept over the female Cultivators in the plaza:

"Everyone, line up to receive the chip implantation. Those who resist, die."

"Yes..."

Sect Master Yunxia lowered her head.

The robots began to act.

They set up temporary operating tables, and the female Cultivators stepped forward one by one to have control chips implanted.

The chips would monitor their thoughts, and once a thought of resistance arose, it would release an electric shock punishment, and in severe cases, it would directly destroy the brain.

The entire process was terrifyingly quiet. Only the occasional suppressed sound of crying could be heard.

001 did not stop; it walked straight toward the entrance of the Forbidden Ground.

The Forbidden Ground was located behind the main peak, shrouded by a layer of powerful barrier.

Sect Master Yunxia followed behind, whispering:

"My Lord, only the Sect Masters of past generations and the Grand Elder can enter the Forbidden Ground; we are not clear about what is specifically inside..."

"Open the barrier."

001 ordered.

Sect Master Yunxia hesitated for a moment, but still stepped forward, bit her finger, and used her blood to draw a complex rune in the air.