The Herta Strikes, One Hand Breaks It!
On the terrace Seat of Divine Foresight.
Jing Yuan gazed at the sea of clouds, his expression calm, but his slightly furrowed brows betrayed the unease within him.
He received the live stream clips and analysis report from Fu Xuan.
"The rapid advancement of our allies' strength is a good thing..." he murmured to himself, his fingers tracing the railing, "But when they become powerful enough to easily disrupt the existing balance, or even... surpass all known rules, then fortune and misfortune become unpredictable."
Jing Yuan's concern was not for Lin Hai himself, but for the uncontrollability brought about by this overwhelming power, and the potential chain reaction of turmoil in the star sea.
As the general of the Xianzhou, he must consider more for the future of Luofu.
Astral Express.
Inside the observation car, Himeko and March 7th were also gathered around the screen, replaying the astonishing live broadcast recording.
"This... did this guy eat some kind of cosmic singularity?" March 7th gaped, pointing at the ravaged snowfield on the screen. "This rate of progress is outrageous! Last time we met, I could barely understand it, but now... this is practically an astronomical phenomenon?!"
Himeko crossed her arms and nodded solemnly, "It truly transcends common sense. This method of power enhancement goes beyond the conventional model of Pathstrider obtaining feedback through fulfilling their Path. It's more like..."
"... a fundamental, hierarchical leap. We must reassess our relationship with him, and... the potential impact he may have on the cosmic landscape."
Even the most experienced navigator felt a deep sense of bewilderment and wariness at this moment.
Headquarters of Interastral Peace Corporation.
Topaz and Aventurine received the highest priority alerts almost simultaneously.
After they finished watching that brief live broadcast, the command center fell into a deathly silence.
Topaz's face was pale, and his voice was hoarse. "Reassessment... a strategic reassessment is necessary immediately! Previous countermeasures... are all null and void!"
Aventurine leaned back in his chair, pressing his fingers firmly against his brow. His usual nonchalant attitude had vanished, leaving only extreme solemnity and exhaustion.
"... No wonder he dared to carve out a sphere of influence spanning a light-year. This kind of power... is probably beyond what can be solved by mobilizing a large fleet. We need... a new approach."
He even began to doubt whether the company's top management could continue to maintain that condescending and oppressive mentality.
The live stream's popularity continues to grow, and the name Lin Hai, along with this brief storm, has once again been imprinted in the minds of all onlookers with an even stronger and more terrifying presence, stirring up the undercurrents of the cosmos.
On the snowfield outside the city of Belobog.
The Herta shut down the live stream and retrieved the camera.
She walked up to Lin Hai and said with a smile:
"Data collection complete. Looks like you've successfully kept quite a few people... up all night again."
Lin Hai stood still for a moment, feeling the surging power within his body.
He turned to the Herta beside him.
"My strength has increased considerably," he said, "But to what extent, we need a suitable reference. The Herta, will you accompany me to verify it?"
Upon hearing this, the Herta showed no fear whatsoever; on the contrary, it was eager to try.
As a top researcher, personally measuring an unprecedented energy sample was exciting enough for her.
She took a step forward, and her aura suddenly became refined and sharp, like a divine weapon about to be unsheathed.
"That suits me perfectly," she replied succinctly.
The moment the words left his mouth, the air between them seemed to freeze!
Without warning, the Herta launched the first attack!
Her figure flickered, leaving a faint afterimage in place, and her true form appeared like a ghost on the side of the Lin Hai. With a palm strike, she concentrated highly compressed destructive energy powerful enough to pierce through the armor of a starship.
It attacked Lin Hai's ribs with lightning speed!
This attack, in terms of speed, power, and energy concentration, far surpassed any of her previous strikes.
However, faced with this attack that Emanator the most ordinary person turn pale, Lin Hai did not even turn around.
He simply raised his left hand casually, and before anyone else could react, his palm was outstretched, and an invisible vortex seemed to appear in front of his palm!
The sharp beam of energy, upon contact with the vortex, vanished without a trace, like a mud ox sinking into the sea, completely annihilated without even causing a ripple!
Absorb!
The Herta's pupils contracted slightly, but its offensive continued!
Her figure shifted again, as if she had used a clone technique, instantly conjuring seven or eight illusory figures that were difficult to distinguish from reality, launching attacks on Lin Hai from all directions at the same time!
Fist, palm, finger, leg...
Each strike contained the immense power to shatter mountains and split rocks, and also drew upon the surrounding Imaginary Energy, forming countless incomparably sharp energy blades.
It has woven a web of death, completely enveloping the Lin Hai!
In an instant, energy surged across the snowfield, light flashed, and booming sounds filled the air!
The dissipated energy shockwaves ripped up layers of snow, revealing the black permafrost beneath!
Yet the Lin Hai, at the eye of the storm, remained calm.
His movements didn't seem fast; they even carried a leisurely, elegant air.
But every movement, every block or dodge, was exquisitely precise!
He could easily flick his finger and send an energy blade flying.
With a slight sidestep, he could dodge several deadly attacks.
Or with a simple punch, the immense power shattered the illusory image conjured by the Herta!
Lin Hai's defenses were impeccable, as if he had already anticipated the trajectory and intensity of every attack.
"Not enough." Lin Hai's voice was calm, with a hint of encouragement. "Let me see your limit."
The Herta gritted his teeth, a resolute glint in his eyes!
She let out a sharp cry, and her energy exploded completely!
A dazzling purple-gold light shot into the sky, coalescing behind her into a huge, blurry phantom that seemed to be composed of countless intricate gears and energy circuits.
This is the form she took in imitation of the origin of the Path of Erudition!
The Herta clasped its hands together and thrust them forward with a mighty thud!
The enormous phantom then moved, and a torrent of destructive energy surged toward the Lin Hai!
Wherever it passed, space groaned and distorted under its strain!
This strike has already reached the peak of the Emanator level!
Faced with this earth-shattering attack, Lin Hai finally took it seriously.
He stopped dodging and slowly raised his right hand, spreading his five fingers, and gently clenched them against the destructive torrent!
No loud noise, no explosion!
The torrent of energy, powerful enough to annihilate stars, froze instantly as if a pause button had been pressed when it touched an inch in front of Lin Hai's palm!
Immediately afterwards, as if kneaded and compressed by an invisible giant hand, it rapidly collapsed into a tiny, extremely unstable point of light.
A soft "poof" sound.
Completely annihilated.
No trace was left!
Absolute suppression!
A crushing defeat with ease!