132: The surrender of Lingnan is fraught with intrigue; the forging of weapons from star cores leads to a deadly predicament.

Chapter One Hundred and Thirty-Five: Lingnan's Surrender Hides Treachery, Star Core Weapon Forging Faces a Dead End

Countdown: 43 days 17 hours.

Lin Zhou's ultimatum was like a sword hanging overhead, striking every inch of the Lingnan Coastal Area.

Inside the island's command center, the person in charge, Zhou Tao, watched the holographic screen showing the Northern Territory's energy storm clearing out the Abyssal Vanguards. His fingertips gripped the edge of the table until they turned white—he had bet wrong. He bet that the Abyssal Fleet would win quickly, and that Lin Zhou's iron-blooded methods wouldn't withstand internal and external troubles. But now, the Star Core signal had been tampered with, the Abyssal Vanguards were wiped out, the Southwest had submitted, and the Five Districts were once again united. Lingnan's attempt to stay out of it had become a complete joke.

"Director Zhou, the red alert nuclear submarines from the East Sea have already entered the South Sea waters. Their ship-borne Magnetic Storm Cannons are locked onto our naval base!" the adjutant's voice carried a sob. "If we don't surrender now, we're really going to sink into the sea!"

Behind Zhou Tao, several officials who had originally advocated for contact with the Abyss had long since collapsed on the floor. Someone said with a trembling voice, "Let's surrender... Lin Zhou could spare the Southwest, so he might spare us. At least we haven't actually handed over the Star Core coordinates yet!"

"It's not surrendering; it's returning to the fold." Zhou Tao suddenly looked up, the last trace of hope in his eyes extinguished. "Pass down my orders: lift the coastal blockade. All naval vessels are to be incorporated into the East Sea Fleet. All of Lingnan's seawater desalination equipment and fishery reserves are to be handed over to the State Council for unified allocation. Also, tie up that Communications Soldier who contacted the Abyss and bring him to the Northern Territory to plead for mercy."

He knew very well that what Lin Zhou wanted was never Lingnan's submission, but absolute obedience after making an example of someone. Only by offering a blood sacrifice could the tens of thousands of people in Lingnan be saved.

When the news of Lingnan's surrender reached the Northern Territory Underground Palace, Lin Xiaoyu was leaning against a stone tower, tuning the Star Core Energy output. His fingertips lightly touched the patterns on the stone tower, and gold and dark purple energy filaments drifted between the lines. The originally violent Star Core Energy was actually controlled by him to be as gentle as a stream.

"Commander, Lingnan has surrendered. Zhou Tao is personally escorting the traitorous Communications Soldier to the Northern Territory," Chen Hao reported, his tone unable to hide his relief.

Lin Zhou leaned against the rock wall, his face increasingly pale due to dark matter erosion, though the patterns across his body slightly receded under deliberate suppression. He nodded faintly. "Have Chen Ye take over Lingnan's defense and send red alert Engineering Corps to reinforce their coastal defense lines. After being deceived, the Abyssal Fleet will likely vent their anger on Lingnan first."

Everyone thought Lingnan's surrender was another opportunity for the unity of the Five Districts, but only Dr. Mary stared at the supply list sent back from Lingnan, her brow furrowed. "Something's wrong. Lingnan is missing three sets of deep-sea detection equipment, and their fishery reserves are exactly half of what was reported."

"Zhou Tao dares to play tricks?" Chen Hao instantly clenched his fists.

"It's not playing tricks; it's fear," Lin Xiaoyu suddenly spoke, his gaze piercing through the palace walls as if he could see the waves of the South Sea. "He's kept a backup plan, fearing we won't withstand the Abyssal Fleet and wanting to leave himself a way out."

Lin Zhou's eyes darkened, but he didn't say more. "Let him be. Now is not the time for a reckoning. In 43 days, we don't have time for internal strife."

His gaze turned to the real-time images from the Northwest Heavy Industry Zone—there, the development of the Star Core Magnetic Storm Cannon had entered its final stage, but the crimson alarm lights on the screen were blindingly bright.

Northwest Heavy Industry Zone, Star Core Weapon Research and Development Workshop.

Next to the high-temperature furnace, Professor Ivanov and a group of Chinese and Russian engineers surrounded a semi-finished Magnetic Storm Cannon, their expressions as heavy as iron plates. On the inner wall of the cannon barrel, the superconducting coating that was supposed to absorb Star Core Energy was peeling off at a visible rate, revealing the metal patterns underneath being corroded by energy. The Star Core Energy liquid inside the furnace was churning wildly, threatening to explode at any moment.

"Professor, it's still not working!" an engineer roared while switching off the energy. "Star Core Energy is too violent. Existing alloy barrels simply can't withstand it. The superconducting coating fails the moment it touches high-concentration energy. Even if we manage to build it, the barrel will be ruined after one shot!"

Ivanov slammed his fist against the furnace wall, his aged face full of despair. "We've already tried twelve types of alloys and eight coating schemes, and the result is always the same! Without a barrel that can carry Star Core Energy, the Star Core Magnetic Storm Cannon is just a pile of scrap metal!"

The emergency communication from the Northwest instantly caused the atmosphere in the Northern Territory Palace to drop to freezing point again.

The Star Core Magnetic Storm Cannon was their core weapon against the Abyssal Fleet. The Northern Territory's Star Core defense barrier could block conventional attacks, but it couldn't stop the main cannon fire of the Abyssal warships. Only a Magnetic Storm Cannon capable of firing Star Core Energy could penetrate the dark matter armor of the Abyssal ships. But now, weapon development was stuck on the most critical component.

"Is there really no material that can carry Star Core Energy?" Chen Hao's voice trembled with anxiety.

Dr. Mary pulled up all the material data, her fingers flying across the screen, finally stopping on a record from the ancient civilization. Her eyes lit up. "There is! Ancient murals mention that the bones of the Star Core Guardians can carry Star Core Energy! The ancient deer-like creature in the Northern Territory—its antler bone is a natural carrier for Star Core Energy!"

Everyone's gaze instantly focused on the Ancient Creature in the corner of the palace.

It was bowing its head, using its antlers to gently touch the grass on the ground. A golden energy halo gently nourished the surrounding vegetation. Sensing everyone's gaze, it looked up, its amber eyes showing no hostility, only calm.

"No!" Chen Ye was the first to object, his voice firm and beyond doubt. "It is the Star Core Balancer. Without it, the energy of the mineral veins could lose control at any time! Besides, it saved us. We cannot harm our ally just to build a weapon!"

"But without the Star Core Magnetic Storm Cannon, the defense barrier won't hold against the Abyssal Fleet's main cannons!" Dr. Mary countered. "In 43 days, when the Abyssal Fleet arrives, the Northern Territory will be leveled, and the Star Core Crystals will be taken. Not only will humans die, but it won't survive either! Using a pair of antlers to trade for the survival of all humanity is the only choice!"

"That is its body! Not a tool!" Chen Ye's eyes were red as he stepped in front of the Ancient Creature.

The palace instantly split into two factions. The engineers and soldiers remained silent; they knew Dr. Mary was right, but looking at the gentle Ancient Creature, no one could harden their hearts. The researchers, however, stared at the antlers with urgency in their eyes—it was their only hope.

Ivan Lin supported his injured shoulder, looking at Chen Ye, then Dr. Mary, and finally at Lin Xiaoyu. "Xiaoyu, you can communicate with it. Ask it what it thinks."

Everyone's eyes fell on Lin Xiaoyu.

He slowly walked to the Ancient Creature's side, reached out, and gently touched its antlers. Golden energy flowed through his fingertips as the consciousness of man and beast merged within the Star Core Energy.

The palace was so quiet that one could hear everyone's breathing. Lin Xiaoyu kept his eyes closed, his brow relaxing then furrowing. After a long time, he finally opened his eyes, which held complex emotions.

"It is willing."

That single sentence left everyone stunned.

"It says that in ancient times, its ancestors sacrificed their antlers to protect the Earth," Lin Xiaoyu's voice was slightly raspy. "It knows our predicament and the significance of the Star Core Crystals. It says that if the antlers fall off, they can grow back, but if humanity is gone, they can never return."

Chen Ye's body swayed, his eyes red, but he could no longer speak any words of opposition.

The Ancient Creature slowly lowered its head, bringing its massive antlers before Dr. Mary. In its amber eyes, there was no resentment, only a faint expectation.

Dr. Mary's hand trembled as she picked up the specialized energy cutting blade and took a deep breath. "I will try to minimize its pain and use Star Core Energy to help it heal."

The cutting blade glowed with golden light and gently swept across the base of the antlers. There was no blood, only golden energy liquid flowing slowly. The antlers were precisely removed and fell into Dr. Mary's hands, still emitting a soft yet monumental Star Core Energy.

The Ancient Creature gently shook its head. Under the nourishment of the Star Core Energy, the energy loss at the base of the antlers was quickly stopped. It looked at Lin Xiaoyu, then at the others, and turned to walk slowly into the depths of the palace, leaving behind a pair of shining golden antlers and a room full of silence.

"Immediately send the antlers to the Northwest!" Lin Zhou's voice broke the silence. His eyes held a trace of guilt, but more than that, resolve. "Have Professor Ivanov dismantle the antlers immediately, extract the energy-bearing factors from the bone, and integrate them into the alloy barrels. We must build the first usable Star Core Magnetic Storm Cannon within 10 days!"

"Yes!"

A red alert transport plane immediately took off with the antlers, racing toward the Northwest Heavy Industry Zone.

But no one noticed that on a hidden island in the Lingnan Coastal Area, Zhou Tao was standing by the sea, looking at a deep-sea detector in his hand. On the screen, a dark purple Abyssal communicator was flashing with a faint light.

Behind him stood the Communications Soldier who was supposed to have been sent to the Northern Territory to plead for mercy. There was no fear on his face; instead, he wore a bizarre smile.

"Director, as you ordered, I have transmitted the true faint signal of the Star Core Crystals to the Abyssal Vanguards," the Communications Soldier whispered. "They said that as long as we leave a gap in the defense barrier, they will name you the Lord of the South Sea once the Abyssal Fleet arrives."

Zhou Tao looked at the churning black waves of the South Sea, a flash of greed and fear in his eyes. Ultimately, greed outweighed everything. "Tell them the gap will be opened one hour before the Abyssal Fleet arrives. But what I want isn't just to be Lord of the South Sea; I want Lin Zhou's head."

"Rest assured, the Abyssal Vanguards have agreed."

The dark purple communicator went dark again, merging into the boundless darkness.

No one knew that Lingnan's surrender was never a submission, but a deal with the Abyss.

Meanwhile, in the Northwest Heavy Industry Zone, Professor Ivanov had just integrated the energy-bearing factors from the antlers into the alloy barrel. The Star Core Energy liquid in the furnace finally stabilized, and the superconducting coating on the inner wall firmly adhered to the energy, no longer peeling off.

The barrel of the first Star Core Magnetic Storm Cannon had finally taken shape.

But just as the engineers were preparing to install the barrel, a few wisps of dark purple mist suddenly fell from the workshop's ventilation duct, silently merging into the Star Core Energy liquid.

The eyes of a Russian engineer responsible for monitoring instantly became hollow. He slowly walked to the control console and pressed a hidden red button—the energy overload switch.

"Vrrr—"

The Star Core Energy liquid in the furnace instantly churned wildly. Dark purple patterns spread rapidly through the liquid, and the superconducting coating on the inner wall began to peel off at an even faster rate.

"No! Energy overload!" Professor Ivanov roared, trying to turn off the switch, but he was held back firmly by that engineer.

"Professor, it's too late," the engineer's voice was cold, carrying the rasp unique to the Abyss. "The Abyss is about to descend."

Before he could finish his sentence, the energy in the furnace instantly broke free of its constraints, erupting wildly in all directions!

BOOM—

A massive explosion shook the sky over the Northwest Heavy Industry Zone.

Amidst the rolling black smoke, the newly formed Star Core Magnetic Storm Cannon barrel was turned to dust under the dual energy impact of the Star Core and dark matter.

The emergency alarm of the Northwest Heavy Industry Zone once again echoed through every corner of the Eternal Kingdom.

Lin Zhou watched the research workshop turn into a sea of fire on the screen. The dark purple patterns on his left arm flared up instantly, and his consciousness blurred for a moment. He gripped the stone tower tightly and roared out:

"Investigate! Find out for me! Exactly who did this!"

Countdown: 43 days 0 hours.

The antlers were sacrificed, but weapon development met a hidden hand; Lingnan surrendered, but it secretly hid a deal with the Abyss.

In 43 days, they not only had to confront the returning Abyssal Fleet but also watch out for the venomous snakes hiding beside them.

This time, the darkness was coming faster and more ruthlessly than imagined.