Chapter 181

In the vast expanse of interstellar space, the sound of killing shook the heavens.

The area affected by the battlefield reached 0.1 light-year.

Within it, two massive fleets, like two prehistoric beasts, clung tightly together, tearing at each other's flesh with the most primitive gunfire and ramming.

Every second, hundreds of warships turned into cosmic dust amidst the brilliant light.

Green plasma and scarlet flames intertwined, composing a magnificent yet brutal symphony of destruction.

Yet amid this deafening clamor, a silent confrontation had already begun.

On the bridge of the Nüwa, Qin Hao slowly closed his eyes.

At that moment, he seemed to break free from his mortal body.

His consciousness turned into an invisible, light‑speed‑transcending ray that instantly spread out, enveloping the entire battlefield.

Chaotic energy streams, explosive shockwaves, soldiers' shouts, enemies' roars……

Everything became perfectly clear in his perception, like a real‑time sand table that could be zoomed at will and was absolutely precise.

He could "see" Captain Li Mo's final resolve, and "hear" Liu Yang's unwilling roar,

He could "feel" the will of every Federal soldier burning for victory.

At the same time, he also "saw" the vast network woven from countless bloodthirsty, savage consciousnesses.

And, at the network's very center, that consciousness core shining like a star and yet evil.

——Ta Ta Li Ke

"I finally found you."

Qin Hao's consciousness turned into an invisible, ultra‑condensed needle that ignored layers of spatial and energetic interference and stabbed straight toward that core.

……

Inside the Emperor Bug‑class mother ship.

Ta Ta Li Ke's massive biological brain suddenly contracted violently, ripples spreading across its pink folds.

A cold, sharp will that seemed able to pierce the soul ruthlessly invaded its mental domain!

This will was utterly different from its own violent, diffuse mental power.

If Ta Ta Li Ke's mental power were a tsunami, then this will was a god‑sword capable of cleaving heaven and earth.

"It's you!"

In Ta Ta Li Ke's consciousness, huge waves surged.

It instantly recognized the owner of this will.

The target marked in Ka La Fa's memory as "extremely dangerous," "unstoppable by force"!

It had always assumed the opponent would hide like a coward inside the flagship's protective shell.

But it never expected the opponent to dare launch a mental challenge against it!

"A conceited worm!"

Ta Ta Li Ke suppressed his shock, and a provoked fury welled up.

After all, it was the second commander of the Mo Yun Empire's expeditionary force, born with innate pride.

"Let you see what true mental power is!"

Ta Ta Li Ke's consciousness turned into a surging black wave that actively met Qin Hao's god‑sword.

Boom!

The silent collision erupted explosively on the consciousness level of the two civilized powers.

Across the battlefield, every Moyun Warship felt its mental link shudder violently.

It was as if an irresistible massive force had slammed hard into their mental network.

Many low‑level Moyun creatures controlling the warships even had their consciousness scramble on the spot, briefly losing control of the ships.

And inside the Emperor Bug‑class mother ship, Ta Ta Li Ke let out a dull mental wail.

Its black wave was easily split in two before that seemingly tiny god‑sword!

That matchless sharp will surged forward, nearly touching its most vulnerable consciousness core!

"How is this possible?!"

Ta Ta Li Ke felt fear rising from the depths of his soul.

Its mental power, both in quantity and quality, far surpassed Ka La Fa's.

Yet before this human, it remained as fragile as a child.

The opponent's mental power no longer belonged to the realm of technique or energy.

That was… a higher‑level crushing!

On the bridge of the Nüwa, Qin Hao's mouth curled into a cold arc.

He opened his eyes, his deep gaze seeming to pierce endless void, locking eyes with Ta Ta Li Ke aboard the distant massive mother ship.

"This kind of battle is too slow."

A calm, emotionless thought crossed space and rang out directly in Ta Ta Li Ke's mind.

"Your people die without meaning. My warriors are the same."

Ta Ta Li Ke froze.

It didn't understand what this human, who held absolute advantage, wanted to say.

"You and I, let's decide the outcome of this war."

Qin Hao's thought turned into an indisputable challenge.

"Find an open place for a one‑on‑one duel."

"If I win, your fleet will surrender or be destroyed."

You win, I die; the fleet behind me is yours to dispose of.

Tatalike's biological brain fell into a brief stagnation.

King versus King?

An organism that, in its eyes, was as lowly as a worm, actually dared to launch an honorable duel—something that only occurs between civilizations of equal standing—against the great Mo Yun Empire Expeditionary Force's commander?

How absurd!

And how... tempting!

Tatalike glanced at the chaotic battlefield.

Although it firmly believed it could win, given the current casualty ratio of 1 to 26, even if it annihilated this human fleet, its eight-million-strong army would likely have little left.

Such a loss, it cannot bear; even returning would be a death sentence.

But if...

If it could, through a duel, kill the enemy's strongest without losing a single soldier...

Then, this human fleet, having lost its backbone, would collapse instantly, becoming lambs ready for slaughter!

This is a tremendous temptation.

This is also a tremendous trap.

It is uncertain just how strong this human individual's power truly is.

"You... are you afraid?"

Qin Hao's thought, tinged with a hint of mockery, rang out again.

"Afraid?"

Those two words, like a red-hot branding iron, fiercely seared Tatalike's proud self-esteem.

"A mere insect! How dare it make me afraid?!"

Tatalike's anger instantly overwhelmed all reason and caution.

"Good! I accept your challenge!"

Its roar, likewise turned into a thought, responded to Qin Hao.

"Right at the center between our two armies! Let all your people and my people witness it personally!"

"Witness how you, like a true insect, are crushed to death by me!"

"It's settled."

Qin Hao calmly severed the spiritual link.

He turned his head and looked at the astonished Zhang Xianzhong.

"Commander, the ensuing battle is temporarily yours to handle."

Zhang Xianzhong opened his mouth; although he couldn't hear that mental clash, he could roughly guess it.

"Xiao Qin, you... this is too reckless!"

"This is the fastest way." Qin Hao's tone left no room for doubt: "Believe me."

Having said that, he offered no further explanation, opened the hatch, and in a flash vanished from the bridge of the ship "Nuwa".