The initial formation of a "heart anchor" is like lighting a personal beacon in the vast darkness of the deep sea. Though dim, it clearly points the way home. However, this "light" requires a constant supply of energy, and the sensed "spatial veins" require even greater power to expand and stabilize. The five Star Sea Shamans understand that remaining in the relative safety of Pearl Lake or the eerie fungus forest can no longer satisfy their rapid growth. They need a wider sky, the experience of actual combat, and... perhaps a cosmic wonder that can accelerate this process. "The Cosmic Burners' activities will not cease, and their strongholds extend beyond the Rusted Canyon," Dilawang concluded, basing his assessment on the fragmentary information provided by the Crystalline and his own observations of the starry sky. "To the north, beyond the 'Forest of Eternal Whispers,' lies a vast region known as the 'Star Debris Wasteland.' Legend has it that it contains the ruins of a battlefield from an ancient interstellar war, strewn with all sorts of bizarre debris. The energy environment is complex and violent. Perhaps it holds the opportunities we need, and it's certainly an area of interest to the Cosmic Burners."
Opportunities often coexist with danger, but the urgency of returning home overwhelmed hesitation. After a brief rest, the five set out again, crossing the shimmering, whispering fungus forest, heading further north into the wasteland.
The further north they traveled, the more desolate the landscape grew. The strange vitality of the fungus forest gradually gave way to an endless wasteland covered in dark red sand. The light of the twin stars in the sky seemed to dim, obscured by a perpetual, rust-colored haze. The air was thick with ozone and the acrid smell of ionized metal. Violent cosmic rays and chaotic energy flows were everywhere, making it difficult for ordinary life to survive.
The wasteland was littered with massive, twisted metal wrecks. Some resembled the broken keels of warships, while others were completely unrecognizable, like the white bones of prehistoric beasts, silently telling of the horrific battles of the past. The spatial structure of some areas was extremely unstable, sometimes raging with all-consuming energy storms, and sometimes appearing as miniature black holes (or similar spatial rifts) that swallowed all light, presenting an extremely dangerous situation.
"My goodness, this place is like a boiling cauldron of energy!" Buakaw grinned, his energy flowing naturally, resisting the intrusion of external energies. His eyes sharpened, as this environment subtly stirred the belligerent nature within him.
Ayesha had to continuously activate the protective patterns on the batik cloth, forming a thin, resilient halo that enveloped everyone, filtering out most of the harmful radiation and energy shocks. Ruan Shimei frowned slightly. The moisture here was so thin it was almost imperceptible, severely limiting her abilities. She could only focus on sensing the "rhythm" of the turbulent energy flows in the environment, providing early warning of danger.
Lin Xingyun, on the other hand, saw this place as an ideal training ground. He constantly maintained a tenuous connection between his "heart anchor" and his distant homeland, while fully unleashing his spatial perception. Carefully navigating this region riddled with spatial scars and turbulent energy currents, he adapted and comprehended it. Every time he dodged a sudden spatial rift, every time he guided the chaotic energy flow past him, his grasp of the spatial "weave" grew more refined, and the "heart anchor" in his palm seemed to become more condensed.
For several days, they cautiously advanced through the wasteland, relying on Dilawang's guidance and Lin Xingyun's perception to avoid several of the most dangerous energy vortexes. During this time, they also encountered and defeated several small "Burners" reconnaissance and mining teams. From fragments of the captives' consciousness (extracted by Dilawang through psychic means), they learned that a significant ancient relic had been discovered deep in the wasteland, and that the "Burners" were mobilizing their forces there.
This intelligence aroused the five men's high alert. They must not let the "Burners" easily obtain the contents of the ancient relic!
They increased their speed and moved stealthily in the direction indicated by the intelligence. Finally, at the bottom of a massive, crater-like impact crater, they sighted their target—not the imposing structure they had imagined, but the wreckage of a strangely shaped shuttle-shaped spacecraft, half-buried in the sand! The wreckage was enormous, and even after countless years of erosion, its outer shell still gleamed with a dull metallic luster. Its surface was covered with strange, unprecedented patterns, and it exuded an ancient and timeless energy.
At this point, the area surrounding the wreckage had been sealed off by a sizeable "Burners" force. Several large pieces of construction machinery were attempting to cut through the hatches of the wreckage, while more soldiers stood guard around the perimeter, including three elite guards clad in dark gold power armor whose auras far surpassed those encountered previously.
"A strong attack won't work," Lin Xingyun observed the enemy's deployment. "We must create chaos and infiltrate!"
A plan was quickly formulated. Buakaw would create maximum commotion on the periphery to draw the main force's attention. Aisha and Nguyen Thi Mai would collaborate, utilizing the energy deflection of batik cloth and Nguyen Thi Mai's guidance of energy flow to create a path for Lin Xingyun and Dilawang to infiltrate. Lin Xingyun and Dilawang would then enter the wreckage, survey the situation, and attempt to prevent or seize the "Universe Burner"'s objectives.
Action commenced! Buakaw, like a tiger descending from the mountain, burst forth from behind the boulder where he had hidden. With a roar, he unleashed a fist brimming with star-force energy, like a cannonball, blasting towards a large piece of construction machinery in operation!
"Enemy attack!" The Universe Burner troops reacted instantly, alarms blaring, and the majority of their firepower immediately turned towards Buakaw, the arrogant target! One of the dark gold elite guards also separated, leading a team of soldiers to charge at Buakaw.
The moment their attention was drawn, Aisha threw out several pieces of batik cloth she had prepared with all her might! The cloth unfolded in the air, its patterns radiating brilliantly. This wasn't a defensive act, but rather a mirage that distorted light and energy, obscuring Lin Xingyun and Dilawang! Ruan Shimei simultaneously danced, directing the already chaotic energy flows across the wasteland, creating an even more intense interference vortex within the mirage!
Lin Xingyun and Dilawang, like ghosts, used the mirage and energy vortexes as cover to increase their speed to the utmost. Following a pre-observed, relatively lightly guarded route, they charged directly towards a gap at the base of the wreckage, breached by age.
They successfully infiltrated the wreckage! It was utterly dark, save for the faint green glow of the emergency light strips. The air was murky, filled with dust and the smell of decaying metal. The passages stretched in all directions, their structure complex. "Search separately! Maintain mental contact!" Lin Xingyun whispered. He and Dilawang each chose a direction and began exploring rapidly.
The lingering energy field within the wreckage was extremely disruptive, significantly compressing his spiritual perception. Relying on his "heart anchor"'s keen energy and spatial perception, Lin Xingyun navigated the maze-like passages. He discovered scattered fragments of unidentified instruments. The patterns on the walls seemed to hold some information, but he couldn't decipher it.
Suddenly, he sensed an unusually strong and familiar energy fluctuation emanating from deep within the wreckage—a feeling that faintly resonated with the "heart anchor" in his palm and the "spatial vein" connecting him to his homeland!
A thrill of emotion struck him, and he immediately sped towards the source of the fluctuation. Passing through several broken sealed doors, he arrived at a relatively spacious circular hall. In the center of the hall stood a severely damaged control console, and above it hovered an irregularly shaped crystal fragment, roughly the size of a human head! Within the fragment, it seemed as if a miniature starry sky was sealed, countless points of light orbiting along mysterious paths, emitting intense spatial fluctuations!
"Is this... a star map? Or... the core fragment of some kind of space beacon?" Lin Xingyun instantly realized that this object was undoubtedly extraordinary! It could very well be a key component for this ancient spaceship's hyperspace travel, precisely what the "Universe Burner" desired!
Without hesitation, he reached out and grasped the crystal fragment!
Just as his fingertips were about to touch the fragment, a fierce dark golden figure struck from behind like lightning! An energy blade, imbued with the aura of death, slashed straight at the back of his neck!
It was the remaining Dark Gold Elite Guard! He had been lurking nearby!
Reacting swiftly, Lin Xingyun activated his "Shadow Snake Witch Mark," twisting his body strangely as if boneless, narrowly avoiding the fatal blow. However, the energy blade still grazed his shoulder armor, leaving a charred mark. "Natives! How dare you covet the sacred artifact! Die!" the Elite Guard's voice icy, his attack unleashed like a raging storm. His dark gold power armor granted him terrifying speed and strength.
The hall's limited space made maneuvering difficult. Lin Xingyun was forced into a fierce battle with this formidable foe. Chris's dagger clashed fiercely with the energy blade, sending sparks flying! He used his spatial perception to the utmost, anticipating his opponent's attack trajectory. He swerved and maneuvered within a small area, sometimes blending into the shadows of the wall, sometimes eliciting the chaotic energy flows around him to disrupt his opponent.
However, the Elite Guard's strength far surpassed any enemy he had encountered before, possessing immense combat experience and a refined mastery of energy. Lin Xingyun gradually fell into a disadvantage, facing a dangerous situation.
Elsewhere, Dilawang was also intercepted by the guards, unable to provide timely assistance. Buakaw, though valiant on the periphery, was entangled by the army and another Elite Guard, unable to escape. Aisha and Nguyen Thi Mai were already struggling to maintain the illusion and energy interference.
The situation was critical! Seeing Lin Xingyun on the verge of being cornered by the elite guards, a flicker of determination flashed in his eyes! He couldn't fall here! The journey home had just begun!
He concentrated all his will on the "heart anchor" in his palm, no longer merely maintaining the connection, but frantically energizing it, using it as an amplifier and conductor of energy! At the same time, he channeled his energy into the Chris dagger, a weapon he had acquired from Angkor Wat and shared the same origin as the Star Gate!
"Use my heart as an anchor, and draw the power of the Star Gate! Meridians... connect!"
He wasn't actually trying to open the Star Gate; rather, he was attempting to connect the "heart anchor" with the "spatial meridians" to draw a ray of spatial power from the distant Angkor Wat Star Gate!
"Om!"
The "heart anchor" in his palm flashed with silver light! A faint yet supremely majestic force of spatial repression, spanning countless light years, suddenly descended upon the hall like a fleeting glimpse across time and space!
The Dark Gold Elite Guard froze, as if trapped in an invisible quagmire. The space around him grew thick and viscous, and even his thoughts seemed to freeze for a moment! For the first time, disbelieving terror flashed in his eyes!
How could Lin Xingyun miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
"Die!"
Chris's dagger transformed into a flash of cold light that ripped through space, piercing the gap in the Elite Guard's power armor's neck with pinpoint accuracy!
"Ugh..." The Elite Guard's eyes widened, and his massive body collapsed to the ground with a thud.
Lin Xingyun knelt on one knee, gasping for breath. The blow had drained most of his mental and spiritual energy. But he dared not delay, forcing himself to rise and grasp the suspended crystal fragment!
The fragment felt warm and cool to the touch, and the orbits of the stars within seemed to resonate even more strongly with the "heart anchor" in his palm! He could even sense that the "spatial vein" connecting him to his homeland had become clearer and more stable!
"Got it! Retreat!" He signaled through the mental link to Dilawang and his companions outside. The five quickly retreated according to their plan. Lin Xingyun and Dilawang rushed out the same way they'd come, reuniting with Aisha and Nguyen Thi Mai. Buakaw also unleashed his full might, breaking free from the enemy's entanglement and fighting as he retreated.
Carrying the ancient crystal fragments they had seized, the Star Sea Shamans once again vanished into the vast sandstorms and turbulent energy of the Star Wasteland. This time, they not only thwarted the "Universe Burner's" plan, but also obtained a crucial item that could accelerate their return!
Feeling the spatial fluctuations transmitted by the crystal fragment in his arms, Lin Xingyun felt an unprecedented confidence in his return to Earth.
(End of Chapter 28)