Thunder Shakes the Yellow Sands, the Shadow of the Dimension Gate

Inside the core control room of the Thunder Temple, the air was like congealed mercury, broken only by the faint hum of Remy's high-speed calculations. On the massive holographic screen, the oasis valley deep within the Sahara Desert had been completely deconstructed. Every rock and plant on the surface, along with the network of energy conduits and rune arrays buried deep underground, was displayed in exhaustive detail before Lin Ye. In the three-dimensional model, countless flashing points of light marked energy nodes, suspected defensive turret positions, personnel gathering areas, and the hidden area deepest within, shrouded by a powerful independent barrier and emitting dangerous spatial fluctuations.

"Model construction complete. Comprehensive analysis as follows:

1. Defense system: multilayer composite structure. The outer layer is a large-scale illusion barrier, partially cracked. The middle layer is an energy-distortion field designed to counter detection and spatial jumps. The inner layer is a high-intensity hybrid elemental-energy shield. The core area, the pyramid, has an additional ancient rune defense matrix.

2. Energy core: located at the apex of the main pyramid. A crystal energy tower draws on solar radiation and ley line energy to sustain the entire complex. Destroying it could cripple over 70% of the defenses and life-support systems.

3. Personnel distribution: concentrated within the three subsidiary pyramids and underground facilities, with some stationed around the core area's perimeter.

4. Greatest threat: the spatial energy index within the core area's independent barrier is rising sharply. Pattern recognition identifies it as the final stage of a large-scale Dimension Gate construction ritual! Warning! If allowed to complete, it may trigger an uncontrollable dimensional catastrophe!"

Remy's voice calmly delivered the critical information.

Lin Ye's gaze locked firmly onto the area marked in crimson. A dimensional passage? After discovering their lair had been exposed, those lunatics from the Inheritors were actually making a desperate gamble and trying to forcibly open an even more dangerous passage? Were they trying to flee? Or summon something?

"Calculate a feasible plan to force a breakthrough and strike directly at the core area," Lin Ye ordered.

"Calculating... Plan One: beyond-visual-range strike. Use the Temple Orbital Cannon to destroy the crystal energy tower. Success rate: 95%. However, this will cause the entire energy system to overload and explode instantly. The core-area ritual may fail due to the energy interruption, or it may activate prematurely or lose control due to the chain explosion. Outcome unpredictable."

"Plan Two: high-precision energy strike. Use a controllable nuclear fusion energy beam or highly condensed lightning spear to eliminate the crystal tower at a fixed point. Success rate: 85%. Energy overflow risk is lower, but it may not completely cripple all defenses. Entering the core area would require facing the remaining resistance."

"Plan Three: transmit the primary body to the outer perimeter of the core-area barrier, force a breach through the independent barrier, and disrupt or destroy the ritual. Estimated success rate: 65%. Extremely high risk: the transmission process may be severely disrupted and displaced by the defensive field, probability 30%; the independent barrier must be breached in an extremely short time, otherwise the defense system and internal guards will focus their fire; the ritual may be completed at any moment, and the risks are uncontrollable."

Each of the three plans had its own advantages and drawbacks.

Lin Ye pondered for only a few seconds.

"Choose a combination of Plans Two and Three." He made his decision. "First, use the Sanctuary's main cannon to precisely weaken and partially cripple the crystal tower, lowering the overall defenses. At the same time, I'll personally transmit to the outer perimeter of the core area. At the instant their defenses are at their weakest and their attention is drawn by the main cannon, I'll force my way into the core area and destroy the ritual."

"Combined-plan risk assessment has risen to 78%. The possibility of coordination timing errors and unforeseen factors has increased. Confirm?"

"Confirmed." Lin Ye's tone allowed no argument. High risk meant high reward. What he wanted was a thunderous strike in the instant they were caught off guard! He would uproot the source of the disaster directly!

"Command confirmed. The Temple Orbital Cannon is beginning to charge. Target: crystal energy tower. Set to a 70% power high-precision penetrating strike. Countdown: 300 seconds. Please prepare for transmission."

Lin Ye immediately began his final energy adjustments. The power of [Thor Form] slowly flowed through his body, warming up.

Sahara Desert, Inheritors Headquarters.

The entire valley was filled with the tense atmosphere before a great battle. Energy light flowed across the peaks of the three obsidian pyramids, while the middle-layer energy-distortion field operated at full capacity, making space itself appear faintly warped. Large numbers of hooded, robed members patrolled critical points with all manner of strange weapons in hand. The air was thick with restless unease.

The independent barrier around the core area emitted an even more glaring light. The energy fluctuations within resembled a suppressed volcano, growing more violent by the moment, as though ready to erupt at any time!

"The charging fluctuations of a main cannon have locked onto this area!" an energy-system deacon responsible for monitoring reported in terror. "The exact type cannot be analyzed, but its energy level far exceeds imagination!"

The figures of the three arcane masters instantly appeared on the control platform atop the main pyramid.

"There isn't time!" The Hermit's voice carried a trace of desperate madness. "Abandon all outer defenses! Divert all energy into the core-area barrier! Ensure the ritual is completed!"

"But, Master, the defenses of the entire valley..."

"Execute it!" the High Priestess shrieked, all laziness gone from her voice. "The 'gate' is our only path to survival! It is also our only hope of resisting 'Thunder'! Hurry!"

The Hanged Man said nothing, but the energy fluctuations surrounding him suddenly surged. Clearly, he too was doing everything in his power to stabilize the core area's energy.

As the order was issued, every outer and middle-layer defensive shield in the valley instantly dimmed and went out! All defensive energy flowed madly into the independent barrier around the core area like a hundred rivers returning to the sea! The barrier's brightness increased severalfold in an instant, nearly becoming tangible, while the spatial fluctuations it emitted grew even more violent and unstable!

At the same time, the Sanctuary's main cannon reached the final stage of charging!

"5... 4... 3... 2... 1! Fire!"

Bzzzz—!!!!

A blazing white beam of indescribable brilliance and concentration silently tore through Earth's atmosphere and struck the core of the crystal energy tower atop the main pyramid with the precision of divine punishment!

There was no explosion.

There was only ultimate penetration and Annihilation!

The instant the crystal tower came into contact with the beam, it melted and vaporized like ice crystals beneath sunlight! The energy-transmission structures below it shattered piece by piece like fragile porcelain!

Rumble rumble rumble!!!

With its core control gone, the immense energy accumulated within the pyramid instantly ran wild! Starting from its summit, the main pyramid exploded violently like a lit powder keg! Terrifying energy shockwaves and scorching fragments sweeping in all directions engulfed the entire valley!

The entire valley shook violently! The ground split apart! The subsidiary pyramids and surface structures swayed on the verge of collapse beneath the shockwave! Countless Inheritors members were caught off guard and swallowed by the explosion or struck by fragments, their screams rising one after another!

The entire valley instantly descended into a sea of fire and chaos!

And at that moment—

Lightning flashed!

Taking advantage of the earth-shattering explosion, the energy chaos, and the perfect opportunity created by the collapse of the defense system, Lin Ye precisely transmitted himself to the outside of the core area's independent barrier! He was only one step away from the ritual's core!

He could clearly sense the terrifying spatial energy within the barrier, pulsing like a heart and on the verge of bursting forth! A few seconds later, and the passage would likely have fully formed!

"Break!"

Lin Ye did not hesitate in the slightest. [Thor Form] erupted at full force! He perfectly fused the spatial-vibration power he had just comprehended with destructive lightning energy, gathering it into his right fist!

Thunder Tribulation: Shatterspace!

His fist was covered in blue-white lightning compressed to the limit. Carrying the will to shatter space itself, it slammed viciously into the dazzling independent barrier!

Boom—!!!

A deep, muffled blast erupted, powerful enough to make souls tremble!

The independent barrier, which had gathered all the Inheritors' energy and hopes and was already nearly at its limit, was struck by Lin Ye's punch, combining spatial technique and ultimate destructive force. Like tempered glass struck by a heavy hammer, its surface was instantly covered in spiderweb-like cracks!

Crack! Rumble!

After holding out for less than half a second, the entire barrier shattered with a thunderous crash! Violent spatial energy surged out through the breach like floodwaters bursting through a dam!

Lin Ye surged upstream through the shattered torrent of energy. Like a thunder dragon tearing through a storm, he instantly charged into the barrier!

What met his eyes made his pupils contract—

Inside the barrier was not the complex machinery he had imagined, but an ancient circular altar built entirely of obsidian! At the center of the altar floated a dark, rotating vortex more than five meters in diameter, composed of pure spatial energy! The vortex's edges had already become extremely clear and stable. Within it, one could faintly see an unknown world, cold and lifeless, filled with enormous bones!

The three arcane masters stood in three directions around the altar. Energy surged around them as they chanted ancient incantations, their hands maintaining gestures that guided the energy. They were clearly at the ritual's final critical moment!

Around the altar lay dozens of fallen Inheritors members. Their bodies had already dried up, clearly having been used as living energy sacrifices!

Lin Ye's forced intrusion and the barrier's collapse instantly alarmed the three masters!

"Stop him!!!" the Hermit roared in despair, his eyes bloodshot!

The High Priestess spun around sharply and formed hand seals. A purple blade of light combining mental impact and spatial cutting formed out of thin air and slashed at Lin Ye!

The Hanged Man pressed both hands against the altar's edge, pouring all his power into the rotating vortex in an attempt to accelerate the passage's final stage of completion!

"Too late!"

Lin Ye was fast to the extreme! He ignored the High Priestess's attack, which was knocked aside by the lightning surrounding his body, and aimed directly at the spatial vortex about to take shape!

While still in midair, he brought his hands together. Endless lightning frantically gathered and compressed within his palms! A thunder sphere so dazzling it was impossible to look at directly instantly formed, as though it contained the collapse of a nebula within it!

Thor: Nirvana Star Vortex!

Go!

He fiercely hurled the compressed thunder sphere, containing the strongest destructive power he possessed at that moment, at the dark rotating spatial vortex in the center of the altar!

Everything happened in the span of a spark!

Just as the thunder sphere was about to smash into the vortex, the spatial vortex finally stabilized completely—the Dimension Gate opened!

But what greeted this new gate was not travelers passing through it, but destructive thunder!

BOOM!!!!!!!!!!—

An indescribably terrifying explosion erupted at the center of the altar!

Destructive lightning collided, annihilated, and devoured the newly stabilized spatial energy with unparalleled ferocity! Violent energy shockwaves expanded rapidly outward in a sphere!

The altar was instantly destroyed! The three arcane masters did not even have time to scream before they were swept into the center of the energy storm and completely vaporized by the extreme light and heat!

The entire core area broke apart in the explosion! The terrifying shockwave spread outward through the shattered barrier, sweeping across the valley that had already been reduced to ruins!

A miniature mushroom cloud mixed with lightning and spatial turbulence rose from the depths of the Sahara Desert!

Inside the Thunder Temple, transmission light flashed, and Lin Ye's slightly disheveled figure appeared, lightning flickering unsteadily across his body. Having taken the edge of the explosion head-on, he was not unscathed either.

"Remy! Report the results!"

"The target core area and Dimension Gate have been confirmed destroyed! Energy reactions have been annihilated by 99%! All surface and shallow underground facilities at the Inheritors Headquarters have been completely destroyed! Portions of the deeper underground structures have collapsed. The situation is unknown, but remaining life signals are extremely weak, almost nonexistent!"

Lin Ye watched the cloud of explosive dust gradually dissipate on the screen and slowly exhaled.

The Inheritors, that ancient, sinister, and vicious organization, had finally had its core power uprooted by him in the most violent manner!

However, at the instant Remy finished the report—

Bzz!

At Kamar-Taj, the Orb of Agamotto before The Ancient One trembled violently! What it displayed was no longer fragmented images, but a clear scene of a collapsing dimensional vortex, along with the unknown world of enormous bones that briefly appeared and vanished behind it!

The Ancient One abruptly rose to her feet, her expression changing drastically!

"That energy signature is the Endless Bone Graveyard?! They actually tried to open a gate to that cursed world?!"

She no longer had any doubts. A golden magic circle instantly lit up beneath her feet!

"Lin Ye! What exactly did you do?!"

Before her words had even faded, she had vanished from where she stood and rushed straight toward the Thunder Temple!