The energy gifted by the light tree was like a warm, ever-burning lamp within them, not only dispelling the initial discomfort of arriving on this alien planet but also allowing the five Star Sea Shamans to elevate their understanding and control of their own powers to a new level. After a brief rest by Pearl Lake, the next course of action became clear: proactively attack and explore the Ripper's stronghold.
Although the star map information transmitted by the Crystal Descendant was abstract, combined with Dilawang's unique perception of stellar orientation and Nguyen Thi Mai's vague understanding of the planet's earth structure through the water system, they roughly determined the location of the stronghold: it was located in a vast rift valley known as the "Rust Canyon," approximately several days' journey from Pearl Lake.
Without a flying vehicle, they had to rely on their feet. Fortunately, after being baptized by the light tree's energy, their physical strength and endurance had been significantly improved, making walking on this alien planet with similar gravity not too strenuous. Along the way, they passed through more bizarre landscapes: rolling, iridescent grasslands that shimmered in hues as the light from the binary stars shifted; the silent, obsidian-smooth Mirrorstone Slough, where every rock was as smooth and reflective as black stone; and a luminous forest, emitting a faint, sweet fragrance and bearing countless luminescent berries.
Ayesha's batik cloth proved surprisingly effective in these environments. In the iridescent grasslands, the patterns on the cloth resonated subtly with the luster of the grass, helping them navigate and avoid areas of energy turbulence. In the Mirrorstone Slough, the batik's steady glow effectively offset the dizziness caused by overly intense reflected light. Her ability, like a medium for communicating with all things in nature, was fully demonstrated on this alien world.
Buakaw was responsible for dealing with the native creatures they encountered along the way. Not all were as gentle as the Crystalborn. A giant scorpion-like "scythe-clawed beast," with a shell as hard as iron, had once attacked them. Buakaw's newfound punching power was put to the test in combat. With three blows, his iron fist, shrouded in crimson star energy, cracked the giant scorpion's hard shell, sending it fleeing in panic. Dilawang's jade Buddha repeatedly emitted calming spiritual waves, dispelling small, social creatures adept at psychic attacks.
Lin Xingyun remained in a state of heightened awareness. His "Ancient City Barrier Pattern" constantly sought to establish a deeper connection with the earth beneath his feet. While he couldn't perceive the "stone memory" as clearly as at Angkor Wat on Earth, he could vaguely detect the trauma this land had endured—energy remnants left by periodic, predatory exploitation, reminiscent of the "Ripper's" aura. This further reinforced the necessity of their action.
Nguyen Thi Mai's ability to sense moisture became crucial for finding water sources and determining the route. She guided the team to an underground spring, whose clear water, imbued with a faint, living energy, ensured safe drinking water.
After several days of trekking, the energy in the air began to grow turbid and sharp. In the distance, the outline of a vast chasm, like a scar on a planet, appeared on the horizon. That was Rust Canyon. Near the canyon's edge, the vegetation thinned, the land taking on a sickly dark red hue. The air was filled with the faint scent of rusted metal and ozone. This environment, starkly different from the vibrant and vibrant surroundings they had experienced before, was filled with oppression and desolation.
They lurked behind the weathered rocks of a plateau and gazed down. Deep within the canyon, nestled against the steep rock face, stood a substantial temporary base. Its architecture was cold and efficient, with extensive use of dark metal sheeting, standing out from the surroundings. Several shuttle-shaped attack ships, the very same model they had encountered before, were docked on the platform. The base was surrounded by an energy fence and automated patrol robots. Workers in power armor were busy transporting mined dark red ore, which glowed with unstable energy, to a large facility in the center of the base. "They're mining this ore..." Lin Xingyun narrowed his eyes. The dark red ore emanated a ravenous, devouring energy, a stark contrast to the pure energy of the Pearl Lake Light Tree.
"It looks like this is one of their targets," Dilawang whispered. "That central facility has a very strong energy response; it might be a refining or storage facility."
"How do we get in? Forcing it is definitely not an option." Buakaw rubbed his hands, but remained calm.
Ayesha carefully observed the fluctuations of the energy fence and the patrol robot's route, whispering, "The fence's energy frequency fluctuates periodically, and the patrol routes have regular intervals. Perhaps... there's a chance to sneak in."
Nguyen Thi Mai pointed to a nearly abandoned, seemingly naturally formed, crack in the rock face on one side of the canyon. "Energy detection is weak there, and it's close to the rear of that large facility. It might be a ventilation hole or maintenance passage."
A plan for infiltration quickly formed in the minds of the group. Nguyen Thi Mai led the way, using her keen sense of air currents and the environment. Aisha used batik cloth to temporarily disrupt small-scale energy detection. Lin Xingyun and Buakaw eliminated any scattered guards they might encounter, while Dilawang used his psychic powers to conceal their movements.
As night fell (the larger star sank below the horizon, the smaller stars dimmed, casting the canyon into a dim, deep blue hue), the operation began. Like five shadows, they followed the cracked passageway discovered by Nguyen Thi Mai and silently infiltrated the base's perimeter.
The passageway was narrow and dark, filled with the smell of oil and heated metal. Avoiding the main passageways, they relied on Nguyen Thi Mai's guidance and Aisha's sense of energy flows to reach the central facility. Along the way, Lin Xingyun silently destroyed several surveillance cameras with his dagger, while Buakaw broke the neck of a lone Ripper soldier performing equipment maintenance with his bare hands (despite his reluctance to kill, the infiltration mission could not afford to fail).
Finally, they found a maintenance shaft leading to the interior of the central facility. Climbing down the shaft, they entered a vast, roaring interior.
The scene before them shocked them. In the center of the space lay a massive furnace-like device. Countless dark-red ores were poured into it. After a complex refining process, they eventually condensed into extremely unstable energy bodies that emitted a dangerous red glow—crystal energy cores. These cores were being carefully loaded into specialized containers for transport.
Even more alarming was the fact that a massive star map hung above the furnace's control console. Not only was the Qingai Galaxy marked on the map, but a distant route pointing towards the solar system was clearly marked! At the end of the route, Earth's location was circled in a striking red marker, alongside the simplified logos of the Gene Alliance and the "Shadow Serpent"!
These "rippers" weren't just plundering this system; their target was Earth as well! Perhaps there was some hidden connection or rivalry between them, the Gene Alliance, and the Shadow Serpent!
More intelligence was needed! Lin Xingyun's gaze locked on the control console, where the data storage device should be.
However, just as they attempted to approach it, a piercing alarm suddenly blared throughout the facility!
"Unauthorized energy signature detected! Intruder alert!"
Their whereabouts had been exposed! Clearly, the base had a more sophisticated energy detection system. The pure energy from the Light Tree within them was incompatible with the chaotic, predatory energy prevalent here, triggering the alarm!
The heavy gates began to fall, red warning lights flashed wildly, and a large number of Ripper soldiers poured out from various passages!
"Retreat!" Lin Xingyun acted decisively, grabbing a hard drive-like storage device on the control console and simultaneously swinging his dagger, severing several connecting cables in an attempt to create chaos.
"Follow me!" Nguyen Thi Mai shouted delicately, her hands dancing, sensing the flow of air through the facility's ventilation ducts and pointing to a relatively narrow passage.
The five fought and retreated. Buakaw, like a furious King Kong, stood at the rear, his fists unleashing crimson shockwaves, temporarily blocking the pursuers. Aisha's batik cloth transformed into layers of light barriers, slowing the enemy's advance. Lin Xingyun and Dilawang continuously eliminated the flanking enemies.
They sprinted along the ventilation duct, trailing behind them dense beams of energy and roars. Finally, they leaped out of an exhaust vent perched on the canyon's cliff face, only to find themselves in a bottomless darkness below!
At the critical moment, Nguyen Thi Mai concentrated all her spiritual energy, directing the thin vapor at the canyon's bottom to lift them upward! Aisha also threw all her batik cloth, transforming it into a vast, flexible net of light!
The five of them narrowly landed on the net, buffering their fall. They then slid down the steep rock face, disappearing into the darkness and fog at the canyon's bottom.
Behind them, the alarms of the Ripper base continued to blare, and searchlight beams swept wildly across the canyon.
Although it was a dangerous escape, they successfully escaped and brought back crucial intelligence—about the crystal energy core and the threat posed by the Ripper to Earth!
From this moment on, the Star Sea Shaman's interstellar journey took on a heavier mission.
(End of Chapter 23)