Breaking Out of the Cocoon
The moment Lu Yuan sensed the danger from the outside world, all his hesitation vanished.
There was no time to weigh the options.
The theoretical model of parallel processing and high-risk synchronization from my past life suddenly began to run wild in my consciousness. A crazy plan took shape: to process the binding process in parallel with the initial attempt to "control" the external stone gate energy field.
The risk has increased tenfold.
"I've made a bet."
A whisper emanated from the depths of his soul. His condensed, almost tangible spiritual power, mixed with the last wisp of "Primordial Qi," surged like a burst dam towards the "binding node" deep within the stone gate's core.
Boom--!
Indescribable pain instantly overwhelmed him. The weight of the entire shattered space, the disordered rules of billions of years, and the experimental "scars" all pressed down on his soul. Countless chaotic and contradictory fragments of information, like red-hot steel needles, brutally pierced his consciousness.
The pale green cocoon of light flickered violently, and the figure inside was sometimes clear and sometimes blurry.
Lu Yuan did not break down.
Pain is the fuel, chaos is the data. In the midst of the frenzy, he clung desperately to the ropes of "rationality," forcibly classifying, analyzing, and archiving the flood of fragments, binding them to the continuation.
Outside the cocoon, the pale green halo on the surface of the stone gate began to show extremely subtle, regular pulsations.
Like a heart slowly recovering.
***
Entrance to the underground space.
Yun Youzi was the first to step out of the twisted passageway. The pale golden light extending from the runes in his hand painstakingly carved out a path that could only accommodate one person through the void vortex and the gaps between the fragments.
"Stay close!"
Shen Moxin followed closely behind, her compass needle pointing intently into the depths, where a faint green light shone blindingly. Mo Chen carried the portable Stabilization Anchor, its pale blue halo enveloping the team. Shi Jian followed behind, the aura of the black iron shield covering his entire body.
Compared to last time, the energy field was much "gentler". The violent fragments rotated along a fixed trajectory, and the fatal crack was confined at a distance.
"It's Lu Yuan influencing this place." Shen Moxin's voice trembled.
Yun Youzi's eyes were grave. "Change does not equate to safety."
The four of them advanced along the treacherous path. In the dim light, the vast space seemed to have no end.
Finally, after passing through the last patch of glowing dust "fog," the view suddenly opened up.
The giant rock platform. The tightly closed stone door. And in the void directly in front of the stone door, a pale green cocoon of light, more than a meter tall, floating in the air.
The cocoon of light beats like a heart, and the outline of a human figure sitting cross-legged inside is faintly visible.
"Lu Yuan!" Mo Chen called out softly.
Shen Moxin covered her mouth, her eyes reddening. Shi Jian breathed a sigh of relief.
Yun Youzi was the quickest to recover. "Hurry over there! Be careful not to touch the cocoon!"
Hope is just around the corner.
However--
The four had barely moved when several sharp Soul Power attacks shot out from the tunnel exit without warning! They targeted the back, legs, right hand, and neck! Ruthless and precise.
"Enemy attack!"
Yun Youzi roared and hurled the rune with his backhand. The rune exploded into a golden light barrier.
Boom boom boom!
The attack struck the light barrier, exploding in a blinding flash. The light barrier trembled violently, Spiderweb cracks spread. Yun Youzi groaned, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
Shen Moxin and the other two narrowly avoided the aftershocks and quickly formed a defensive formation.
At the exit of the passageway, shadowy figures appeared.
The leader stepped forward slowly. He was over fifty years old, tall and thin, wearing a dark purple outfit over a black cloak embroidered with strange beast eye patterns. His face was sinister, his triangular eyes like those of a venomous snake. He swept his gaze over the crowd, finally fixing it on the pale green cocoon of light, a glint of greed in his eyes.
Behind him were six Soul Master dressed in the same attire, their auras refined. Two of them were carrying unconscious, blood-covered bodies—they were the "Spark" members on the outer perimeter.
"Not slow," the sinister man said, his voice hoarse like sandpaper. "I thought I could save some effort."
Yun Youzi wiped away the blood, his eyes cold. "A remnant of the ' Gloomy Eye Sect '... Old Ghost Cui."
"Yun Youzi, you're getting worse and worse." Cui Yan sneered. "What's the point of playing ' Spark ' with a peasant like you? Ridiculous."
His gaze returned to the cocoon of light. "Hand over that brat, and everything you obtained from the ruins, and I'll grant you a quick death."
"Dream on." Shi Jian roared, and the black iron shield stood up with a bang.
Shen Moxin gritted her teeth and deployed her mental barrier. Mo Chen controlled it with one hand, Stabilization Anchor light shield to contract. Yun Youzi's Soul Power began to vibrate at a unique frequency.
Negotiations broke down.
Cui Yan's triangular eyes flashed with a cold light. "Kill them and take their loot!"
Six Gloomy Eye Sect Soul Master from the Netherworld Sect moved simultaneously! Two pounced on Yun Youzi, two attacked Shi Jian, and the remaining two darted around to the flanks like Gui Mei, their targets Shen Moxin and Mo Chen!
Cui Yan stood calmly in place, his cold gaze fixed on the cocoon of light. He raised his right hand, his dark purple Soul Power condensing and compressing between his five fingers, emanating a heart-palpitating fluctuation.
The target has always been Lu Yuan.
The battle erupted instantly.
Soul Skill shone wildly at the edge of the giant rock platform. Yun Youzi fought two opponents alone, runes flying, struggling but firmly holding them off. Shi Jian roared, his Xuan Iron Shield blocking left and right, intercepting all attacks aimed at Shen Moxin and the other. Shen Moxin's mental barrier was fully activated. Mo Chen controlled the Stabilization Anchor with one hand, his right arm wound reopening and bleeding.
The situation is currently at a stalemate.
But everyone knows this is only temporary.
Cui Yan condensed his dark purple Soul Power at his fingertips to its maximum, transforming it into a strange light shuttle the size of a fist, constantly spinning and tearing through the air with a shriek. At the center of the light shuttle, a malevolent purple pupil phantom slowly opened.
The Gloomy Eye Sect's secret Soul Skill – [Soul-Breaking Eye Shuttle].
"Kid, blame your bad luck." Cui Yan grinned maliciously, flicking his fingertip lightly at the cocoon of light.
Call out--!
The Soul-Breaking Eye Shuttle trailed a distorted purple path, shooting directly at the pale green cocoon of light!
"Lu Yuan--!" Shen Moxin, her soul nearly leaving her body, and she screamed as she tried to rush over.
"Watch out!" Shi Jian roared, his eyes wide with fury, as he slammed his shield aside and his massive body shifted sideways, blocking the path between Shen Moxin and the purple light shuttle!
Pfft!
Just before making contact, the light shuttle trembled strangely, swerved slightly, and plunged fiercely into Shi Jian's right chest!
Blood splattered!
Shi Jian shuddered violently, spitting out a mouthful of blood mixed with fragments of internal organs. The light of the Xuan Iron Shield dimmed by more than half in an instant. He staggered back, but stood firmly in front of Shen Moxin.
"Shi Jian!" Yun Youzi exclaimed in shock and anger. He was distracted and his shoulder was grazed by his opponent's Soul Skill, leaving him with a bloody wound.
Cui Yan frowned, seemingly dissatisfied that his attack hadn't completely defeated Shi Jian. But he didn't care; he raised his finger again, and another Soul-Breaking Eye Shuttle began to condense.
"Let's see who can stop us now," he said coldly.
Shen Moxin supported the swaying Shi Jian, her vision blurred with tears as she looked at the horrific wound on his chest, corroded by purple energy. Mo Chen tried to manipulate the Stabilization Anchor to interfere, but was tightly entangled. Yun Youzi was unable to break free.
Despair engulfed the four like a cold tide.
The second Soul-Breaking Eye Shuttle has taken shape.
Cui Yan's fingertips twitched slightly--
At this critical moment!
The "Gate of Finality," which had always been silent, suddenly shone brightly from the center of the stone gate without warning!
A soft, clear, pale green light, like ripples on water, spread silently from the stone gate. Wherever the light passed, the fragments of rules became docile, and the chaotic energy fluctuations instantly calmed down.
The second Soul-Breaking Eye Shuttle that Cui Yan fired had barely left his fingertip by a foot when it crashed headlong into the pale green light wave.
Then, a scene that everyone will never forget happened.
That vicious Soul Skill, powerful enough to severely injure Soul Emperor, silently dissolved the moment it touched the light wave. It decomposed into primordial Soul Power particles, which were assimilated and absorbed by the light wave, disappearing without a trace.
"What?!" Cui Yan's sinister smile froze instantly, and his triangular eyes revealed horror for the first time. He groaned, staggered back three steps, his face pale, and his Soul Power experienced a brief period of disorder!
The light waves directly affected the spiritual imprint attached to his Soul Skill, and then backfired on his body through the imprint!
Before he could recover from his shock...
Even more astonishing changes followed.
In front of the stone gate, the suspended pale green cocoon of light stopped pulsating the instant the pale green light waves swept across its surface.
Click.
A soft yet clear, crisp sound that penetrated deep into the soul.
On the surface of the cocoon, a fine crack quietly appeared.
Then, a second, a third... countless cracks spread like Spiderweb, instantly covering the entire cocoon of light.
A pale green glow shone through the cracks, growing brighter and brighter.
finally.
The cocoon of light shattered silently.
The fragments turned into specks of fluorescent light and dissipated into the air.
A figure slowly rose from the center of the shattered cocoon of light, stepping into the void.
His clothes were ordinary or even torn, his face was pale from exhaustion, and there was no strong sense of pressure from his Soul Power. At first glance, he even appeared weak.
But the moment he opened his eyes—
Shen Moxin's breathing suddenly stopped.
What kind of eyes were those?
Profound and serene, it seemed to reflect the endless trajectory of the galaxy's movement and the cycle of birth and death. A faint green and silvery luster flowed in the depths of the pupils, as if containing a miniature, well-ordered world. There was no anger, no murderous intent, only a kind of indifference and understanding that saw through appearances and reached the essence.
He turned his head slightly, his gaze sweeping over the heavily injured Shi Jian, over Yun Youzi and Mo Chen in the midst of fierce battle, over the tearful Shen Moxin, and finally landing on Cui Yan in the distance, whose expression had changed drastically and who looked as if facing a formidable enemy.
His eyes were calm and expressionless.
It was as if what I was watching was not a powerful Soul Douluo, but merely an erroneous disturbance that needed to be "corrected".
Lu Yuan is awake.