182: Self-destruction

For Li Yang, the lives of the people within the array were irrelevant, as his goal was to extract the orbs from their bodies.

These orbs were what the higher-ups needed, and in his opinion, the more he submitted, the more rewards he would naturally receive.

"Pal, have the Guard Escort Ship prepare to activate the Heavy Turbine Laser Cannon."

A flicker of determination flashed in Li Yang's eyes as he issued the command through the communication device.

"Yes!"

Pal's firm response came from the other end of the communication.

After all, this was a second-level civilization, and to ensure a successful strike, Li Yang felt it was safer to use the stellar-level Guard Escort Ship.

And just as everyone was in a standoff, a strange fluctuation suddenly came from the originally calm sky.

This fluctuation was like ripples stirred up by a giant rock thrown into a calm lake, rapidly spreading in all directions.

Immediately after, a massive laser energy, like a roaring beast, pierced through the atmosphere, heading straight for the Five Elements Grand Array with an aura of world-destroying power.

When A Zhi and Su Xia saw this scene, they knew that their teacher's fleet had begun to act. Without daring to hesitate for a moment, they immediately fled towards the distance with all their might.

"What!"

The righteous faction members looked at the terrifying laser in the sky, their faces filled with horror.

The thick laser struck the Five Elements Grand Array like a meteor. In an instant, a large number of cracks appeared in the Grand Array, spreading rapidly like a spider web.

In just a few short seconds, the vast Five Elements Grand Array, which had condensed the countless efforts and spiritual energy of the righteous disciples, shattered instantly like fragile glass.

Li Yang watched as the seemingly indestructible Five Elements Grand Array gradually disintegrated under the bombardment of the Heavy Turbine Laser Cannon, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

Since the intended goal had been achieved, there was no need for further consumption.

Thus, Li Yang swiftly and decisively ordered through the communication channel:

"Immediately stop the output of the Heavy Turbine Laser Cannon. Our objective has been achieved. The rest will be handled by the Gene-Modified Warriors."

The moment the Five Elements Grand Array was broken, a chain reaction, like dominoes, struck all the righteous disciples who had participated in building the array with a powerful backlash.

Their faces instantly turned ashen, and then mouthfuls of fresh blood uncontrollably gushed from their mouths, drawing dazzling crimson lines in the air.

The disciples' bodies seemed to have been drained of all strength, collapsing to the ground. Some were unconscious, their lives uncertain, creating a tragic scene.

Meanwhile, Zhang Yi and Hun Tian, who had been fully engrossed in their battle, were struck by this sudden turn of events like a bolt from the blue. They stood frozen, their mouths agape in astonishment, as if they could fit an egg.

They had never imagined that the situation would suddenly change due to this powerful external force descending from the sky.

However, Hun Tian was, after all, a person of extremely quick reactions.

After a brief moment of shock, a flicker of ecstasy and resolve quickly passed through his eyes.

He knew this was an excellent opportunity. With the Five Elements Grand Array broken and the righteous faction's power greatly weakened, today might truly be the day to achieve the grand plan of annihilating the righteous faction.

Immediately, he waved his hand fiercely and shouted loudly:

"Brothers, follow me! Seize this opportunity and completely eliminate them!"

With that, he was the first to charge towards Zhang Yi, with his subordinates following closely behind like hungry wolves.

"No... no, how is this possible!"

Lin Feng's eyes widened, filled with horror and despair, as he stared at the disciples sprawled on the ground in disarray, muttering to himself incessantly.

Just moments before, they had been fighting side by side, the array stable, and hope for victory still alive. But in an instant, everything had turned to naught.

At this moment, he felt as if he were in an inescapable nightmare, filled with shock and grief that made him almost unable to stand steady.

Compared to Lin Feng's panic and helplessness, Zhang Yi's face was surprisingly calm.

He slowly raised his head, his gaze deep and grave, looking towards the massive void blasted into the sky by the Heavy Laser.

"Heh... Hun Tian, that old thief, was ultimately used as a pawn, manipulated by others. How pathetic, how lamentable! To think that my cultivation world, with its profound heritage and countless years of tradition, is now to be destroyed by these outsiders..."

Zhang Yi's voice was low and hoarse, filled with helplessness and sorrow.

He had already seen through the truth behind the entire matter, knowing that this mysterious force definitely did not come from their world, and the Evil Path, who usually committed evil deeds, were merely pawns in the opponent's meticulously laid plan, being played in the palm of their hand.

At this moment, Hun Tian and his subordinates charged fiercely towards Zhang Yi.

Zhang Yi watched them calmly, without the slightest fear in his eyes, but rather with a resolute determination to face death.

He slowly closed his eyes and began to silently circulate the spiritual energy within his body.

"This is..."

Hun Tian keenly noticed Zhang Yi's abnormality, and an ominous premonition immediately surged in his heart.

He abruptly stopped, staring at Zhang Yi vigilantly, his eyes filled with doubt and caution.

Years of experience told him that Zhang Yi was definitely plotting something extremely dangerous.

"Hun Tian, old thief, listen to me! Your actions have made you a sinner for all eternity in the entire cultivation world! Today, even if I die, I will wait for you in the netherworld and make you pay for your evil deeds, hahahaha!"

Zhang Yi suddenly opened his eyes, which burned with the flames of anger, and roared loudly.

His voice, like a great bell, resonated all around, carrying endless resentment and defiance.

Before Hun Tian could react to the meaning of Zhang Yi's words, in an instant, the violently circulating spiritual energy within Zhang Yi erupted without reservation, like a bursting dam.

A powerful and suffocating energy fluctuation, centered on Zhang Yi, spread wildly in all directions.

The surrounding air seemed to ignite instantly, emitting a "sizzling" sound, and space itself twisted and deformed under this immense power.

"Not good, he's going to self-destruct! Get out of here quickly!"

Hun Tian finally understood the situation, his face instantly turning ashen with fear.

He knew clearly that the power generated by a powerful Yiqi Realm Expert's self-destruction was enough to destroy the world, and they simply couldn't resist it.

Immediately, he turned without hesitation and fled into the distance with all his might.

The other subordinates, seeing this, were also scared out of their wits and fled for their lives after Hun Tian.

An dazzling white light instantly enveloped Zhang Yi's entire body. The light was so intense that it was impossible to look directly at it, as if it wanted to swallow everything in the world.

Immediately after, the white light expanded rapidly outwards at an extremely fast speed, covering an area of several miles in the blink of an eye.

The entire world seemed to stand still at this moment, with only the blinding white light and the chilling energy fluctuations foreshadowing the impending destruction.

"Boom!"

A deafening roar shook the entire heaven and earth.

The powerful airwave generated by the violent explosion swept in all directions with an overwhelming force. Wherever it passed, trees were uprooted, giant rocks were crushed into dust, and all living beings and matter, in the face of this world-destroying power, were all reduced to ashes, disappearing without a trace.

As the aftershocks of the explosion gradually subsided, the once bustling battlefield was now unrecognizable.

On the ground, only an enormous crater remained, with wisps of white smoke still rising from its edges, as if narrating the tragic catastrophe that had just occurred.