Snatch

That very night, the Interception Array formation was declared complete.

"You guys are really efficient!"

Su Ming stood by the lake, watching the runes that had passed the test light up in circles on the open ground, and couldn't help but sigh.

"Everyone gets excited when they're doing bad things!" Zijin said.

The two set up a camping tent by the lake. Night fell on the lake, and the starlight was shattered by the ripples.

The only downside is the sheer number of mosquitoes.

Not long after Su Ming sat down, an annoying buzzing sound began to ring in his ears, a continuous cacophony.

Zijin flicked her fingertips lightly.

Dark ripples spread, skimming across the grass and the lake's surface. The mosquitoes that had been swarming around the tent paused, then fell to the ground.

The world is peaceful now.

But the good weather didn't last long. Soon, a new army of mosquitoes arrived from elsewhere, in an endless stream.

"If we deploy the defensive barrier, it will block the night wind," Su Ming, somewhat annoyed. "If they weren't so small, these annoying little things would definitely be on the kill list," Zijin added.

The words "list of targets to be eliminated" reminded Su Ming.

He quickly summoned several fairies and actually gave them the task of "slaying the mosquitoes by the lake".

The fairies immediately sprang into action, flitting about like fireflies.

The mosquitoes quickly became sparse.

Su Ming tossed a few moon dew flowers in his hand, which he had prepared as payment, and said smugly to Zijin:

"Look, this is the capitalist's solution."

****

On the C929, the plane was flying at night, with thick clouds and sparse starlight outside the window.

Yise leaned back in his chair and said to Leoni opposite him:

"We should arrive at Immortal Spirit Peninsula tomorrow morning."

"Your plane is really amazing!" Leoni exclaimed. "No need to get wet in the rain or wind, we arrived comfortably lying down." His external injuries had improved considerably, and he even watched movies along the way.

The crew brought out meal boxes and distributed them to everyone.

The main course was thinly sliced roast meat, served with vegetables and rice, and a small transparent box containing cut fruit.

The hot soup, sealed in a covered cup, released steam when opened.

For Leoni, a long journey should have meant cold water, dry rations, freezing winds, and rainy nights.

Now they sit above the clouds, with hot food and barbecue.

This is no longer just convenient; it's practically some kind of aristocratic pleasure device.

This was a scene he absolutely could not have imagined before he set off.

Also accompanying them were Ruixiuli and the Executioner Zhapulai.

After finishing their meal, the three of them started talking about swordsmanship.

Ruixiuli mentioned the difficulties he encountered in his battle against Hairspring; his opponent's spikes were fast and had tricky angles, making them extremely difficult to deal with.

Zhapulai devised several sword techniques for fighting the enemy. Leoni listened for a while.

"A quick step forward is fine, but doing so makes you vulnerable to being intercepted later."

He gave Zhapulai a new approach, and then turned to Ruixiuli.

"The Executioner's swordsmanship is extremely deadly; his methods are not suitable for you," Leoni said. "You should retreat if necessary."

Zhapulai instinctively made a feinting slash as instructed, but his expression changed slightly halfway through the movement.

"Thank you for your guidance," he exclaimed. "As an archer, your knowledge of swords is surprisingly profound."

"Hunters often use melee weapons," Leoni replied. "Besides, I'm Atiya's adventure companion, and watching her fight so much has naturally broadened my horizons."

"I see!" Ruixiuli exclaimed in realization. "But I've never heard of this before. You guys are really low-key."

"They're just four Saint Rank, taking a break and traveling in their spare time," Leoni replied. "If we were to make a big fuss, it would keep many high-ranking officials of major powers up at night."

"That's true," Yise chuckled. "For example, if my mother had known about this back then, she would have lost a lot of hair."

****

Ruixiuli counted on his fingers. There were four people: Atiya was a warrior, and Leoni was a ranged hunter.

"So there's still a mage and a priest left," he said.

"That's right," Leoni replied.

"You're all Saint Rank now, and you're still using the same old team compositions," Zhapulai, somewhat disgruntled. "It's like you guys actually have a way to beat someone."

A powerful team composed of four Saint Rank would typically find it difficult to call anything an adventure.

Moreover, it's a standard combat class combination; they could easily dismantle a weak nation.

Ruixiuli mentally reviewed the list of Saint Rank powerhouses from the same era.

"As for the priest, the dwarf Wanshi is a bit too young; he probably wouldn't fit in with you guys, right?"

"It's a guy you've already killed." Leoni kept everyone in suspense.

"Master, I guess it must be the late dwarf mage Bobofeizi?" Zhapulai said.

Leoni nodded.

Two years ago, the three of us encountered the enemies of the Plundering Clock while attending Bobofeizi's funeral.

****

Leoni didn't continue the conversation; he adjusted his chair and quickly fell into a deep sleep.

The cabin fell silent again, filled with a low rumble.

Yise took out his phone and opened the chat window with Jielusi.

"A handsome, reliable, powerful, and caring bone swordsman is flying over to visit you overnight."

"My mother asked me to bring you a beautiful summer outfit to help you win the lottery."

The other side responded quickly.

"No way, unless you wear it too!"

"I don't have anyone I want to wear it for," Yise replied.

The chat interface paused for a few seconds.

"Shouldn't you change your target?" "It's not impossible," Yise replied, "But you have to give me some time."

"... Are you able to get along normally with Su Ming now?" Jielusi asked directly.

Yise sighed. "Do you really think you can control something like this?"

She didn't want to put herself in such an awkward position at all, but there were many things to do within the organization, and she couldn't avoid dealing with various people.

"Besides, what difference does it make whether it's normal or not?"

For now, everything is done strictly by business, and the two are even more distant than they would be with ordinary colleagues.

If given a choice, Yise would only wish to stay away from things.

Yise typed slowly.

"But it's alright, nothing's insurmountable."

"But you, if you're sure of your feelings, don't drag it out."

Jielusi quickly replied, "I'm afraid Ruixiuli only sees me as a friend."

Yise: "Hmm, so you're planning to be best friends forever?" Jielusi: "..."

Yise's lips curled up slightly.

"How about this, I'll ask him for you right now."

Jielusi panicked. "No!"

"Then agree to wear those clothes," Yise threatened.

Yise held his phone to his chest and leaned back in his seat.

She felt much better.

I have no hope myself, but seeing my friend's hope blossom is a unique experience.

****

The following morning, after a day and a half of continuous all-night work, the priests and array masters of the Plundering Clock finally completed the modification of the magic array.

The already complex array of patterns was forcibly inlaid with a large number of new symbols.

Several main circuits were reinforced with auxiliary loops to stabilize spatial oscillations; these layers of patching revealed a brutal, cost-insensitive approach. After a short rest, the scheduled time arrived.

As the bell-ringing priest raised his scepter, the energy in the forty tons of Rock Core material began to be extracted.

Dark golden patterns emerged from the magic circle and rapidly spread, as if flames were burning inside. In just a few breaths, the entire altar was enveloped in a thick glow of energy.

The air distorted, Crushed Stone floated on the ground, and nearby plants were bent and twisted.

Above the formation, the space seemed to be burning red, with fine cracks first appearing.

The crack was then forcibly torn open, its edges wreathed in a large amount of silvery-white electric light.

This passageway is unstable; even with forty tons of Rock Core material, the fissures continue to vibrate violently. The space passage expands and contracts sharply, as if being repeatedly kneaded by a giant hand.

With each tremor, numerous runes flashed across the magic circle.

The array masters turned pale and kept adjusting, barely managing to maintain the passage.

The teleportation began swiftly, and at the other end of the passage entered two orbs of light, one large and one small.

The Hairspring sensed that one of them was indeed Dharma King Abidaqi.

"Another one—it's actually the Immortal Spirit Prism Shadow!" Death Knell exclaimed in surprise.

"Prism Shadow's abilities can be seen as those of a special summoner," said Hairspring Path. "She's a good match for the Mage."

As predicted, the two orbs of light landed significantly to the west, in the direction of the Sea Clearing Kingdom.

The western half of the guiding array shone brightly, drawing out a pulling force that gradually corrected their position, leading them towards the vicinity of Water Chestnut Island.

The bell-ringer, who was controlling the bell, suddenly changed his expression.

"No, it's not just the two Clock Hand Masters!"

The Hairspring and the Death Knell nearby also noticed the problem.

Following behind those two Destiny Level Clock Hand colleagues, sixty Legendary- level energy reactions actually appeared.

"The buffer energy of our magic array is simply not enough!"

The bell-ringing priest immediately panicked.

With so many people descending at once, the difference in their dimensional energy levels simply cannot be offset, and they will definitely "fall to their deaths"!

"What's the panic!" Hairspring scolded, "They can't all land." Thanks to the high cost of investing forty tons of Rock Core, this space fracture was indeed able to allow more members to pass through.

The problem is that anything forcibly expanded will inevitably come at a price.

Eden's side has deployed a significant number of personnel into the passageway, but it's uncertain how many will ultimately arrive alive.

Sure enough, the spatial passage soon began to shake.

Dense, fine collapses began to appear at the edges of the fissure. Silvery arcs of electricity darted wildly in the darkness, and turbulent currents swept past the side of the passage.

Apart from the two who entered first and were in a relatively safe state at the Destiny Level, a large area of Legendary level energy reactions behind them began to flicker violently.

One, two.

Ten, twenty.

The points of light disappeared one after another, like sparks swept away by a storm.

There were no screams or last words.

Only the extinguished points of light on the array projection remained.

One of the array masters moved his lips, seemingly recognizing the name corresponding to a certain point of light. But he remained silent.

At the Plundering Clock, death need not be questioned, but simply recorded.

Finally, the surviving invaders passed through the most dangerous area and approached the outskirts of Taya.

Less than ten Legendary -level energy reactions remained, following the two Destiny Level light spots.

Hairspring clasped her hands together in front of her chest and bowed her head in a prayer position.

May the bells of God remember their piety before they fell into nothingness.

His voice was calm, with a certain solemnity:

May those who fall into nothingness not lose their name, and may broken souls still pave the way for the End.

May those who follow in their footsteps reach the future guided by God.

****

Immortal Spirit Peninsula, lakeside campsite.

The light in Jinxiu's hand slowly dissipated, and the treatment ended. Su Ming opened his eyes and sensed his own sea of consciousness, but did not find much difference.

He was slightly disappointed that he experienced neither a surge of power nor any strange sense of ease.

Before Su Ming could even ask, Jinxiu had already guessed what he was thinking.

"Under normal circumstances, you wouldn't feel the difference," she explained, "But now your perception of power is more acute, and the maximum output you can withstand has also increased."

"I see."

Su Ming was pondering how to verify it when a sudden chill ran through him.

He suddenly looked up, towards the direction of Water Chestnut Island.

That was clearly a place nearly 10,000 kilometers away.

But in that instant, he clearly felt the tremendous commotion of space being forcibly torn apart.

The rift was far away, and the shockwaves spread along the void, like silent thunder reaching the depths of his senses.

Jinxiu's treatment genuinely enhanced his ability to perceive spatial forces, significantly improving its granularity!

But Su Ming had no time to thank Eden for the supplies that had been delivered ahead of schedule! He quickly informed everyone.

Su Ming lightly touched the ground with his toes, and his whole body floated into the air, flying above the "Interception Array".

Spatial power unfolded, and the lower array was quickly activated.

More than a dozen array masters quickly connected to the auxiliary node. The radiance of the array surged along the ring, like a machine being pulled into high-speed operation.

The surface of the surrounding lake water was pressed into a series of depressions.

Su Ming looked up, his gaze piercing through the distance of reality, locking onto the beings about to leave the passage.

He stretched out his hand, and invisible spatial threads reached into the distance, piercing through the passage and wrapping around the descending points of light.

But Su Ming quickly frowned; there were as many as eleven targets coming from Eden.

This is not what we agreed on!

****

Zhifo flew to Su Ming's side in a flash and placed her little hand on Su Ming's head.

She closed her eyes, Su Ming's senses, and coordinated with the manipulation of the magic array. After a moment, she made a judgment.

"No, our energy isn't enough to pull them all over here."

"Maximize the power of the magic array and calculate the best interception plan!" Su Ming said quickly.

The "Interception Array" originally had more than double the capacity reserved, and with the assistance of the formation master, the formation's output was increased again, reaching its limit.

All the runes along the lake lit up simultaneously, and several nodes responsible for bearing the pressure even emitted faint cracking sounds. The array masters' expressions changed slightly, but they gritted their teeth and continued to maintain the state.

The surrounding ground and lake water have all suffered huge depressions and deformations.

Zhifo's eyes sparkled.

Countless spatial coordinates, channel offsets, target mass, and traction angles rapidly arranged themselves in her mind.

She quickly completed the calculations, "We can intercept four!"

"One-third it is then," Su Ming said.

He raised his hand and captured the four targets that Zhifo had indicated one by one.

The four spatial traction lines suddenly tightened. The light spots in the distant passage abruptly shifted, like a school of fish caught on a hook, breaking away from their original descent trajectory and being forcibly dragged towards the Immortal Spirit Peninsula.