Blood Moon

[Night, Martial Arts Heavenly Capital Urban District, Star Energy Core District]

The entrance to the Star Energy Core District was heavily guarded. Layer upon layer of Star Energy defensive patterns had been carved into the walls, while a pale-blue energy barrier flowed slowly like water.

Caroline raised a hand and released a wisp of golden Smart Machine Star Energy, condensing it into an access badge in her palm.

This was the highest-level clearance credential Tiandao had applied for in advance for her. It could shield them from the defense system's scans.

"Stay close."

Caroline lowered her voice as she instructed the team behind her, then led them into the energy barrier.

Inside the core district, an enormous energy converter stood at the center. Its silvery-white metal shell was covered in complex circuitry, and a deep, droning hum came from within.

Dense Star Energy flowed through the air as though it had substance, forming visible pale-blue currents.

Lu Ming stood beneath the energy converter with his back to the entrance, carefully opening the encrypted briefcase in his hands.

Caroline signaled for everyone to spread out and hide behind the surrounding machinery. She then activated her Smart Machine Star Energy, constructing a real-time surveillance display over her retinas and clearly recording Lu Ming's movements.

Lu Ming took out a palm-sized black crystal from the briefcase. Its surface was etched with strange patterns similar to those of the Desolate Bone Desert brood nest, and it emitted faint Abyss energy.

He circled to the side of the energy converter, found a concealed interface, and slowly embedded the black crystal into it.

The instant the crystal touched the interface, the surrounding circuits lit up with a dark-red glow, forming a sharp contrast with the converter's own pale-blue Star Energy.

A team member whispered