136: The remaining forces were wiped out in Lingnan; spiritual veins were used to create a shield against corrosion.

Chapter One Hundred and Thirty-Nine: Purging Remnants in the South of the Ranges, Forging Shields with Spiritual Veins to Resist Corrosion

Countdown: 37 days 8 hours (Actual remaining: 27 days)

The night in the Lingnan Coastal Area was torn open by a rift of golden light from the spiritual veins. The red alert armored squad led by Chen Hao, with thirty spiritual vein energy main battle tanks in a charge formation, crushed over the coastal highway. The golden halo from the muzzles illuminated half the sea surface as they merged with the Shadow Squad of Lin Xiaoyu and Ivan Lin outside the Lingnan Military Depot. Through the communicators, only the rhythmic sound of armored tracks could be heard, weighing down on the entire port so heavily that even the wind didn't dare to make a sound.

"Zhou Tao has confessed to a total of twelve hidden locations, all in coastal ports and military fortresses, with about eight to ten people at each site. The dark matter corrosive shells are hidden on the third basement level of the military depot, guarded by six Abyssal Energy Locks." Lin Xiaoyu raised his hand to project a marked purge map onto the tank's holographic screen, golden and purple energy dancing at his fingertips. "I will take five Shadow Squad members to open the Energy Locks and seize the corrosive shells; Ivan, you lead twenty members to purge the two core hidden locations at West Port and Nan'ao, where Abyss Squad Leaders are stationed; Captain Chen Hao, the armored squad will split into three routes to purge the remaining ten locations. Use the spiritual vein tanks' main guns for precision fire, but leave survivors for questioning to see if any have slipped through the net. This must be completed before dawn, and we must not disturb any unrelated personnel."

"Understood!" the three responded in unison, splitting into three routes without a moment's hesitation—the Abyssal Vanguards hidden in the human heartland were like sparks buried next to a powder keg; for every moment they remained, the Northern Territory defense line faced another degree of danger.

On the third basement level of the Lingnan Military Depot, the cold air was thick with the scent of dark matter. Six dark purple Energy Locks were arranged in a hexagonal pattern, their bodies surrounded by twisting black mist that would corrode anything it touched. Lin Xiaoyu had his team guard the entrance and walked alone to the Energy Locks, condensing interwoven golden and purple energy threads at his fingertips and slowly probing toward the lock core—the balanced energy of the Star Core and dark matter was the only key to cracking Abyssal locks.

The moment the energy threads entered the lock core, the six Energy Locks simultaneously emitted a piercing hum, and the dark purple black mist surged frantically, trying to devour the foreign energy. Lin Xiaoyu's brow furrowed as he urged the ancient will within his body. The golden light of the star core spiritual vein suddenly surged, suppressing the dark purple mist. The golden and purple energy moved rapidly within the lock core, decoding the password along the patterns of the Abyssal energy.

"Clack—clack—"

With six consecutive soft sounds, the Energy Locks popped open one by one. The alloy door of the third basement level slowly rose, revealing over a hundred dark purple metal shells stacked neatly inside. Ferocious Abyssal patterns were engraved on the shells; these were indeed the dark matter corrosive shells.

"Immediately activate the spiritual vein purification boxes and seal them all!" Lin Xiaoyu shouted into the communicator. The team members immediately rushed into the warehouse carrying specially made golden purification boxes. As each corrosive shell was placed into a box, it was wrapped in the golden light of the spiritual vein, completely suppressing the leakage of dark matter energy.

Meanwhile, at West Port in the South of the Ranges, a lightning purge was underway. Ivan Lin led the Shadow Squad members, weaving between containers like ghosts. Spiritual vein daggers slashed across the necks of Abyssal Vanguards, and as the golden light flashed, both the individuals and their dark matter energy dissolved together. The Abyss Squad Leader guarding West Port sensed the anomaly, and the dark purple energy around him surged, transforming into a giant hammer that smashed toward Ivan. However, Ivan sidestepped the attack, and his twin daggers pierced the leader's chest simultaneously, the spiritual vein golden light passing straight through the heart.

"You think purging us will stop the capital ship?" The squad leader collapsed to the ground, the ghostly purple flames in his eye sockets gradually fading, yet a bizarre smile curled on his lips. "The corrosive shells... are just the prelude... the Abyssal Dark Matter Mothership can directly devour Star Core Energy... you... will surely lose..."

Before his voice could fade, his body turned into a wisp of black mist and was completely dissipated by the spiritual vein energy. Ivan Lin's brow furrowed, and he immediately transmitted these words back to the Northern Territory: "Commander, the Abyss has a Dark Matter Mothership that can devour Star Core Energy; this is their trump card!"

Inside the Northern Territory command center, Dr. Mary's face turned pale instantly as she quickly pulled up records of the ancient civilization: "That's right! Ancient murals mentioned that the Abyssal core mothership is equipped with a Dark Matter Devouring Furnace that can absorb planetary energy sources, growing stronger as it consumes more. Back then, the ancient civilization almost lost because the mothership devoured half of the Star Core!"

Lin Zhou leaned against the stone tower, his spiritual vein energy shield wobbling slightly due to emotional fluctuations. The dark purple patterns on his left arm throbbed with pain, yet he still gave orders in a deep voice: "Dr. Mary, immediately develop a Star Core Energy Anti-Devouring Device. Use spiritual vein energy mixed with the Antler Factor to create an Energy Counter-Push Barrier. Northwest Heavy Industry Zone, suspend production of Star Core Magnetic Storm Cannons and divert half of the capacity to forge Spiritual Vein Anti-Devouring Shields to be deployed around the Star Core Crystal in the Northern Territory. Xiaoyu, after seizing the corrosive shells, return to the Northern Territory immediately and use your Star Core Symbiosis Ability to strengthen the energy protection of the Star Core Crystal!"

Orders were issued layer by layer, and the Five Major Settlement Areas once again entered a state of full-speed war preparation. The Southwest Purification Zone diverted all spiritual vein energy reserves to support the Northwest, the red alert factories at the East Sea Base modified production lines overnight, and the Genetic-enhanced Soldiers in the Northern Territory began building defensive fortifications around the Star Core Crystal. Even the surrendered soldiers from the South of the Ranges actively applied to join the construction of the anti-devouring shields. No one cared about past betrayals anymore, for everyone knew that at this moment, humanity was like grasshoppers tied to the same rope.

By dawn, the purging operation in the South of the Ranges was completely finished. All ninety-eight Abyssal Vanguards at the twelve hidden locations were wiped out, with not a single one escaping. Over a hundred dark matter corrosive shells were all sealed in spiritual vein purification boxes, and the Lingnan Military Depot was fully taken over by red alert troops. Zhou Tao was escorted to the Purification Prison at the East Sea Base, where he would be guarded by specialists and continue to play his role as a 'puppet' in contact with the Abyss.

On the sea surface of the port, the morning sun pierced through the clouds, casting golden rays that reflected off the barrels of the spiritual vein tanks with a steady glow. Lin Xiaoyu stood on the returning Supersonic Transport Aircraft, looking down at the receding South of the Ranges coastline. His fingertips were connected to the Star Core Energy Meter in the cabin, constantly sensing the energy fluctuations of the Star Core Crystal in the Northern Territory, his golden and purple eyes filled with solemnity.

A Dark Matter Mothership that devours Star Core Energy—this was the hidden killing move of the Abyss, more terrifying than dark matter corrosive shells and more lethal than the main guns of the Abyssal Fleet. Once the Star Core Crystal was devoured, humanity's spiritual vein energy would completely dry up, and the Star Core Magnetic Storm Cannons, anti-devouring shields, and purification energy—all weapons against the Abyss—would turn into scrap metal.

The transport aircraft sped through the clouds toward the Northern Territory. Inside the cabin, Ivan Lin leaned back in his seat. The purple marks on his left arm hadn't fully faded, yet he continued to wipe his spiritual vein dagger. He looked at Lin Xiaoyu beside him and said softly, "Do you think we can really stop the Dark Matter Mothership? Even the ancient civilization almost lost."

Lin Xiaoyu looked up at the sky outside the window, golden and purple energy flowing slowly in his eyes. "The ancient civilization lost because they were fighting alone. But we have the Five Districts united, we have spiritual vein energy, we have Star Core symbiosis, and we have millions upon millions of people willing to fight for their home. If the Abyss wants to devour the Star Core, they'll have to step over our corpses first."

Ivan Lin grinned and tucked the dagger back into his waist, the confusion in his eyes vanishing to leave only determination. "You're right. At worst, it's just death. If I can take those Abyssal scum down with me, it's worth it!"

The roar of the transport aircraft echoed in the clouds for a long time, carrying the hot blood of youth and the hope of humanity toward the Northern Territory.

Meanwhile, in the Northwest Heavy Industry Zone, the first Spiritual Vein Anti-Devouring Shield was beginning to take shape. The massive golden shield was forged from Spiritual Vein Alloy, its surface covered in ancient Star Core patterns. In the center of the shield was embedded an Energy Crystal extracted from a star core spiritual vein, which emitted a soft yet powerful golden light capable of pushing back the devouring energy of dark matter. Professor Ivanov stood before the anti-devouring shield leaning on his cane, watching the engineers perform final energy calibrations, his aged face full of hope.

"Professor, the energy counter-push rate of the anti-devouring shield has reached 98%, enough to withstand a Level 10 dark matter devouring wave. At the current pace, we can produce ten of them within 27 days, which is enough to protect the Star Core Crystal and the core positions of the three major defense lines," Petrov reported, his monitoring device showing stable values.

Professor Ivanov nodded and reached out to stroke the ancient patterns on the anti-devouring shield. "Tell everyone to work harder! The Star Core Crystal is the root of humanity. Guarding it means guarding our future!"

The furnaces of the Northwest burned with even fiercer flames once more. The sound of forging Spiritual Vein Alloy, the clinking of embedding Energy Crystals, and the shouts of engineers intertwined to form a battle song of preparation.

In the Northern Territory Underground Palace, beside the Star Core Crystal.

Lin Zhou sat beneath the stone tower, the light of his spiritual vein energy shield gradually dimming. The dark purple patterns on his left arm had spread to the corners of his eyes, and his vision was starting to blur, yet he remained staring intently at the Abyssal Fleet's trajectory on the holographic sand table. Chen Hao stood beside him, watching the Commander's increasingly frail body, his voice choking up. "Commander, go rest. I'll keep watch here. If anything happens, I'll notify you immediately."

Lin Zhou shook his head and reached up to wipe away the blood from the corner of his mouth. His fingertips brushed the patterns of the Star Core Crystal as he felt that warm energy, and he whispered, "I can still hold on. Hold on until the Abyssal Fleet arrives, hold on until the children return, hold on until humanity wins this battle. I am the Commander of the Eternal Kingdom; I cannot fall."

His voice was soft but carried the weight of a thousand tons, like an anchoring pillar firmly planted in everyone's hearts.

On the holographic sand table, the dark purple light points representing the Abyssal Fleet were approaching the Solar System at an incredible speed, getting closer and closer to Earth. Meanwhile, the golden light points representing human defenses grew denser and more brilliant through the joint efforts of the Five Major Settlement Areas—the Star Core Defense Barriers in the Northern Territory were being strengthened layer by layer, Star Core Magnetic Storm Cannons and anti-devouring shields were being produced continuously in the Northwest, the red alert fleet of the East Sea was already deployed in Earth's orbit, and the coastal defense line of the South of the Ranges was now impregnable.

Countdown: 37 days 0 hours (Actual remaining: 27 days)

The remnants in the South of the Ranges have been cleared, the corrosive shells have been sealed, the production of anti-devouring shields has begun, and the protection of the Star Core Crystal is being strengthened.

Humanity's preparations were becoming more thorough; the Abyss's footsteps were becoming more hurried.

The morning sun rose higher and higher, casting golden light over every corner of the Eternal Kingdom, shining on the surging sea, the roaring factories, and the faces of the determined warriors.

So what if there's a Dark Matter Mothership? So what if there's an Abyssal Fleet?

Humanity has risen from the zombie tide, united from internal strife, and found hope in desperation; they were no longer the ants to be slaughtered at will.

With the Star Core as bone, the spiritual veins as blood, the Five Districts as shield, and the warriors as the blade.

This time, humanity will use their homeland as the battlefield, their flesh and blood as armor, and their conviction as a weapon to fight the Abyss to the death.

Either guard the Star Core, guard the home, and guard humanity's future.

Or fight to the last person, burning out the last shred of energy to perish together with the Abyss.

There is no third path.

And humanity's choice has only ever been one—Fight!