After dozens of hours of clearing, the Sudali Plain, stretching thousands of kilometers, was finally completely secured.
The eight starships hovering high above landed one after another in the heart of the plain.
They were spaced about a hundred kilometers apart. Using the energy converters they carried, they built small energy shields across the area that simulated an environment suitable for human life.
Warriors no longer needed to wear Alloy Mecha to move around within the shielded area.
The Dawn was stationed at the southernmost edge of the plain.
After resting aboard the ships for several days, the eight legions from Tianlan Star began taking turns exploring southward.
Since the 116th Legion had been almost completely wiped out, its few surviving soldiers were transferred to the 115th Legion.
The more than one hundred survivors of the 121st Legion from the Tongzhou Military Region were also absorbed into the 122nd Legion from the same region.
At that moment, Gao Zhan was leading the Chasing Wind Squad and members of the Skyfire Club south in their Mecha.
Their mission was to gradually explore the areas beyond the Sudali Plain, search for traces of Exotic Beasts, and survey any Star Source Ore Veins that might be there.
After the group left the energy shield and traveled several hundred miles farther south, they finally reached the edge of the Sudali Plain.
A range of rolling mountains stretched out before them, looking from afar like several Giant Pythons sprawled across the earth.
Unlike the barren plain, where not a blade of grass grew, this range was covered in towering trees dozens of meters high. Its terrain was also more complex, making the Chasing Wind Squad's surveying mission even more difficult.
"Everyone, stay in formation. Don't fall behind."
More than thirty Mecha raced through the dense forest.
Every thirty miles, they drove their surveying instruments into the ground to analyze the geology.
After traveling more than two hundred miles into the mountains, Lu Feng suddenly stopped and reported over the squad channel, "Captain Gao, there's an Exotic Beast ahead."
Everyone immediately went on alert.
Gao Zhan asked, "How many?"
"Just one. It should be a Tier 3 Exotic Beast."
At that assessment, everyone visibly relaxed.
A mere Tier 3 Exotic Beast posed no threat at all.
"Keep moving."
After traveling a few more kilometers, Lu Feng warned them again. "We're here. It's nearby."
"Where?" Fang Qing scanned the surroundings from her Mecha but saw nothing.
Lu Feng glanced toward the top of a giant tree. "Look up."
Following his gesture, they saw a Giant Python nearly ten meters long, with three heads, coiled among the branches.
Under Lu Feng's gaze, the Giant Python seemed unusually docile, continuously sending energy to him.
BOOM!
An Energy Cannon suddenly fired, blasting the Giant Python to pieces and snapping the thick branch beneath it.
"Why... why did you kill it?" Lu Feng stared in shock at Fang Qing, who had opened fire.
"Why leave it alive? If you want snake meat, you can pick up a few pieces off the ground." Fang Qing looked unconcerned.
"I could have tamed it..."
Lu Feng had wanted to say that he was Absorbing Energy. Couldn't they wait until he was done before killing it?
Gao Zhan spoke up. "Lu Feng, I understand your ability, but our main task right now is surveying, not taming beasts. Let's keep moving."
Lu Feng fell silent.
He only wanted to absorb a little energy. Why was it so difficult?
If he left the squad and acted alone, it would actually be easier for him to grow stronger, but Gao Zhan would never agree.
The squad continued for dozens of kilometers. When they reached the next survey point, Lu Feng once again used his ability to sense the presence of Exotic Beasts nearby.
Soon, he detected a nest of Giant Pythons about two kilometers from the squad. There were seven or eight of them.
While the squad stopped to conduct a geological survey, he quietly edged toward the back of the group, turned his Mecha around, and prepared to head off in that direction alone.
But he had only taken a few steps when Hong Kun called out over the squad channel, "Lu Feng! Where are you going?"
Everyone turned to look at him.
"I..." Lu Feng gave an awkward smile. "I found a few more Exotic Beasts over there. I was going to take a look."
"More Exotic Beasts?"
Gao Zhan's expression tightened. He immediately instructed Fang Qing, "Take a few more people and go with him."
"Okay."
Fang Qing nodded and promptly set out with seven or eight Chasing Wind Squad members and the five Skyfire Club members, following Lu Feng.
After traveling about a kilometer, Lu Feng suddenly stopped. "Th-they seem to have spotted us. They're coming this way!"
He could clearly sense the Exotic Beasts charging toward them at incredible speed.
Fang Qing immediately ordered, "Everyone, prepare for battle!"
Everyone raised their Mecha cannons and assumed combat positions.
The next second, thermal signals lit up on every Mecha's screen at once: nine Giant Pythons were rushing toward them from deep within the forest.
Branches and leaves rustled violently ahead. Fang Qing gave the order without hesitation. "Fire!"
Dozens of blazing beams shot out, instantly shearing through the trunks of a swath of towering trees.
As the dust settled, everyone got a clear look at the Exotic Beasts: five of the nine Giant Pythons had two heads, while three had three.
The largest one had a body more than a meter in diameter and four fearsome heads.
"Damn it, it's a Leader-level Exotic Beast!"
Fang Qing's pupils contracted when she saw the four-headed Giant Python.
This creature, known as the Multi-headed Python, was an Exotic Beast native to Planet Caro 9.
Each time it advanced a realm, it grew another head.
Two heads meant Tier 2, and three meant Tier 3.
The four-headed Giant Python before them was clearly a Leader-level Exotic Beast whose strength had reached Tier 4.
Under the concentrated fire of more than a dozen Mecha, the Tier 2 and Tier 3 Multi-headed Pythons were instantly blasted into Blood Mist, with chunks of flesh flying everywhere.
Yet the Tier 4 Giant Python took several searing beams head-on without sustaining a scratch.
It threw back its head and let out an angry hiss, as though venting its rage at the invaders and the humans who had killed its kin.
Then its tail, dozens of meters long, whipped up and slammed down at the Chasing Wind Squad.
"Scatter!" Fang Qing shouted urgently over the channel.
Everyone immediately piloted their Mecha to dodge to either side.
BOOM!
The enormous tail crashed down, shaking the entire forest.
The powerful gust of air sent Lu Feng and the others flying, Mecha and all, before they could get out of the way.
Lu Feng and the others quickly got their Mecha back on their feet and scrambled to retreat.
"Damn it! I'll kill you!"
Fang Qing cursed. To everyone's astonishment, she actually climbed out of her Mecha, exposing her tall figure to the forest environment.
She leaped forward nimbly and grabbed the snake's tail with her slender arms. Drawing on the full strength of an Innate Realm Warrior, she swung it with all her might and slammed the Giant Python onto the ground.
Lu Feng's eyes widened at the sight.
He wasn't shocked by the terrifying strength Fang Qing had displayed. He was shocked that she could leave her Mecha and move freely in an environment unsuitable for human life!
Wasn't it said that... only Grandmaster Realm Strongers could do that?
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