Chapter 246: The Power of Light

The ship's engine emitted a low rumble, gradually accelerated, and finally vanished in a dazzling white flash. The jump completed, Zhang Cheng and his party arrived in a new star region. Outside the viewport, the brilliant star river stretched across the boundless universe like a shimmering silk.

Zhang Cheng held the metal box in his hand, his fingertips tracing the cold patterns on its lid. The pale blue crystal's glow seeped through the cracks, casting mysterious shadows on his face. Blue Star Guardian's words echoed in his ear: "Be careful… the prophecy…". What exactly is this prophecy? What does this crystal do? A string of questions swirled in his mind, refusing to leave.

"What are you thinking, so absorbed?" Kelinda's voice broke Zhang Cheng's thoughts. She walked to his side and looked at him with concern.

Zhang Cheng shook his head and slipped the box into his spatial ring. "Nothing, just pondering the challenges we might face next."

Kelinda smiled lightly, "Don't worry, whatever challenges we encounter, we'll face them together."

Xingji Xiake boisterously laughed, "Ha ha, that's right! We defeated the Black Shadow squad; what could ever trouble us?"

The mysterious Elf fluttered over, curiously eyeing Zhang Cheng's spatial ring. "You hid that glowing little stone? It looks rather interesting."

Zhang Cheng smiled without further explanation. He looked out the window, and the excitement that had filled him gradually gave way to an inexplicable unease.

As the ship drew nearer to its destination, an odd sensation enveloped everyone. The once radiant starry sky dimmed, and ahead loomed a massive Xingyun, like a huge scar in the cosmos, emitting a heart‑pounding dark‑red glow.

"What's that?" Mo Yi pointed at the Xingyun ahead, his tone tinged with fear.

"Our destination lies at the center of the Xingyun," Guangming Shizhe said, his face solemn, "but given the current situation, something seems to have mutated there."

Xingji Xiake also set aside his usual ease, his brows knit. "The aura this Xingyun emits is abnormal; I sense a powerful darkness."

The ship slowly approached the Xingyun, the surrounding light dimming and the temperature dropping sharply. The ship's Energy Shield began to flicker, as if resisting some kind of erosion.

"This Xingyun… feels alive," the mysterious Elf's voice trembled.

Zhang Cheng's heart hammered, a crushing pressure pressing as if an invisible giant hand were strangling his throat. Instinctively he clenched his fist, feeling the icy touch of the pale blue crystal in his palm.

Kelinda moved to the console, attempting to use her demon‑clan perception to probe the Xingyun's interior, but a powerful backlash force instantly threw her back…

Kelinda let out a low groan, staggered backward, her face turning pale in an instant. Zhang Cheng hurried forward to support her, "Are you okay?"

Kelinda clutched her chest, brows furrowed, "This Xingyun… has a massive repelling force; my perception is completely blocked, and…" she paused, her tone edged with unease, "I sense an evil aura, extremely strong, suffocating."

A strand of blood welled from Kelinda's mouth corner, and Zhang Cheng's heart sank. He knew Kelinda's perception was among the best in the demon clan; if even she was injured by the backlash, the Xingyun's danger far exceeded their expectations.

Blue Star Guardian stepped to the console, his expression grave as he surveyed the Xingyun. "It seems we can't rush in; we must first ascertain the situation." He brought up the control panel and activated several small probe robots.

These robots were equipped with the most advanced sensors and shielding, capable of withstanding extreme environments and energy impacts. They fluttered like glowing fireflies toward the dark‑red Xingyun.

Everyone's eyes followed the probes tightly, hoping for useful data. Yet after only a few minutes, the robots' signal vanished, leaving only static on the screen.

"What's happening?" Mo Yi asked anxiously.

Blue Star Guardian repeatedly tried to reconnect, to no avail. "The signal was lost; the probe robots… are missing." His voice was low and hoarse, as if foreshadowing an ominous sign.

A brief silence fell inside the ship, the atmosphere heavy enough to choke. It felt as if an invisible hand were slowly pulling them into an unknown abyss.

The mysterious Elf gently fluttered its wings, its face full of worry. "This Xingyun… is like a massive devouring beast; anything that enters will be completely digested."

The light on Guangming Shizhe dimmed slightly, "This dark force is stronger than any enemy we've faced before."

Zhang Cheng clutched Kelinda's hand tightly, feeling the cold and tremor in her palm. He turned to Blue Star Guardian, "What should we do now?"

Blue Star Guardian was silent for a moment, his gaze steady and decisive. "We can't give up; we must find a way into the Xingyun to reach our objective." He looked at Xingji Xiake, "Any suggestions?"

Xingji Xiake walked to the viewport, staring at the all‑consuming Xingyun, complex light flickering in his eyes. He gripped his energy sword, a powerful energy ripple emanating from him. "Since the probes can't enter, we'll have to venture in ourselves!"

He turned toward the hatch, seemingly ready to rush into the Xingyun at once. Yet the mysterious Elf suddenly grabbed his arm, eyes flashing a warning light. She shook her head, her voice low and urgent, "Wait! This is too reckless; it could bring greater danger…" Xingji Xiake's steps halted, he turned to the Elf, awaiting her explanation. Inside the cabin the atmosphere grew tenser, everyone held their breath as if the air itself had solidified. The mysterious Elf spoke slowly, her voice trembling, "I sense… deep within the Xingyun… something… is watching us…" Before she finished, the ship violently shook, the alarm blared sharply. Outside the viewport, the dark‑red Xingyun churned, like a massive monster awakening…

"What is watching us?" Xingji Xiake repeated the Elf's words, his tone tinged with doubt and caution. The glow of his energy sword intensified, as if ready to confront an unknown foe at any moment.

The ship's shaking grew more violent, the alarm blaring maddeningly. Outside the viewport, the dark‑red Xingyun churned even more fiercely, like an enraged giant beast roaring, trying to tear apart everything that stood in its way.

"We can't wait any longer!" Xingji Xiake flung the Elf's hand aside, strode toward the hatch, "Better to strike out than sit here waiting for death!"

"Wait!" the mysterious Elf shouted anxiously, "You're being too reckless! We know nothing about the Xingyun's interior; rushing in will only…"

However, Xingji Xiake had already opened the hatch, and a powerful suction instantly pulled him outward. His Energy Shield flashed with dazzling light, resisting the Xingyun's erosion.

"Xingji Xiake!" Kelinda shouted, trying to rush forward to grab him, but Zhang Cheng seized her with one hand.

"Don't be reckless!" Zhang Cheng held Kelinda tightly, "It's too dangerous to go out now!"

"But…" Kelinda's eyes reddened, anxiously watching Xingji Xiake struggling within the Xingyun.

Guangming Shizhe walked to the viewport, palms together, murmuring incantations. A dazzling light radiated from him, illuminating the entire ship and the churning Xingyun outside the window.

The Light of Light surged like a sharp sword toward the dark‑red Xingyun. Yet the powerful Light of Light, upon touching the Xingyun, sank like a stone in the sea, stirring no ripple; the Xingyun continued to churn, devouring everything.

Guangming Shizhe's face turned pale, stumbling back a few steps. "Useless… my Light of Light has no effect on it…"

The ship's shaking intensified, as if the Xingyun could tear it apart at any moment. Blue Star Guardian clutched the console tightly, striving to keep the ship balanced.

"We must leave here immediately!" Blue Star Guardian shouted loudly, "Otherwise we'll all be trapped here!"

However, the ship's engine had failed; they could not steer it at all. They were like a lone boat in a storm, at the mercy of fate.

At that moment, Xingji Xiake's silhouette reappeared outside the viewport. His Energy Shield had grown dim and lifeless, as if about to shatter. His face was filled with pain and despair, as if enduring immense torment.

He reached out, trying to grasp the ship's edge, but a powerful force pulled him back; his figure quickly vanished into the churning Xingyun, never to appear again.

Inside the ship a dead silence reigned, everyone sinking into deep fear and despair. They watched helplessly as Xingji Xiake was devoured by the Xingyun.

Kelinda covered her mouth, crying silently. Mo Yi held her tightly, his eyes full of anger and sorrow.

Blue Star Guardian slumped to the floor, his face full of despair. He knew their mission had utterly failed.

The mysterious Elf walked to the viewport, watching the churning Xingyun, complex light flickering in its eyes. "I told you so… that was too reckless…" its voice low and hoarse, carrying an indescribable sorrow.

"What… what should we do…?" Mo Yi choked, his voice full of helplessness and despair.

Zhang Cheng stood at the front, contemplating a response; sweat beads formed on his forehead, this mysterious power seemed even harder to handle than the Black Shadow they had faced before. He inhaled deeply and said slowly, "Now is not the time for sorrow…"

"Now is not the time for sorrow," Zhang Cheng's voice was low and firm, cutting through the ship's pervasive despair, "We must find a way out of here." His gaze swept over the others, seeking a glimmer of hope on their faces, but he saw only fear and bewilderment.

The mysterious force shrouding the Xingyun was stronger than any enemy he had faced before, even more unsettling than the Black Shadow lurking in the dark. The Shadow, though enigmatic, could at least be sensed; this force, however, was like an invisible giant hand, unfathomable and unbeatable.

Just as everyone was at a loss, the ship suddenly shuddered violently, more forceful than before. Outside the viewport, the dark‑red Xingyun seemed to come alive, spinning wildly, forming a massive vortex. A powerful suction from the vortex's core locked the ship in place.

"Bad! It's the Xingyun's pull!" Blue Star Guardian shouted, clutching the console tightly, trying to steady the ship, but the suction was overwhelming; the ship was like a leaf, mercilessly swept toward the vortex's center.

"Ah!" Kelinda screamed as the suction dragged her toward the viewport. Zhang Cheng's eyes flashed, and he seized her arm, pulling her back.

"Hold on to me!" Zhang Cheng shouted, his other hand gripping a nearby fixture.

Mo Yi also clutched Kelinda tightly, his face pale, eyes filled with terror.

The mysterious Elf remained unusually calm, watching the swirling Xingyun outside the porthole, a strange light flickering in her eyes as if she were pondering something.

Guangming Shizhe tried again to wield the Light Power to resist the suction, but his effort remained futile. In the face of the overwhelming pull, the Light Power was so feeble, like a firefly's glow, unable to rival the bright moon.

Inside the spacecraft, objects began to float everywhere, the indicator lights on the console flickered wildly, and the alarm blared throughout the cabin, the shrill sound further unsettling everyone.

"Are… are we going to be sucked in?" Mo Yi's voice trembled, tinged with a hint of sobbing.

Zhang Cheng gave no answer, his expression solemn, his jaw clenched. He felt a powerful force tugging at him, dragging him bit by bit toward the depths of the Xingyun. He knew that if they could not quickly break free of the suction, all of them would be devoured by the Xingyun, leaving no remains.

At that moment, the mysterious Elf spoke up, "Perhaps… I know what this is…" Her voice was low and hoarse, with a barely perceptible tremor, "It is… the Cosmic Abyss…"

"Cosmic Abyss?" Zhang Cheng turned his head toward the mysterious Elf, confusion filling his eyes, "What is that?"

The mysterious Elf gave no reply, her gaze fixed on the swirling Xingyun outside the porthole, a flash of fear in her eyes, "Legend says the Cosmic Abyss is the end point of all matter and the destination of all energy… any matter drawn into it will be completely disintegrated, turned into void…"

Her voice grew lower and lower, eventually almost a mutter, "We… we are all going to die…"

Suddenly, the spacecraft's shaking ceased, the suction vanished, and everything around fell silent, as if the earlier violent tremor had been an illusion. Yet the view outside the porthole made everyone gasp in cold shock.

The dark‑red Xingyun vanished, replaced by an endless darkness, as if the end of the cosmos, with no starlight, no matter, only boundless void and deathly silence.

The spacecraft floated within this darkness, like a lone vessel lost without direction.

"What… what is this place…" the Blue Star Guardian's voice trembled, edged with an unmistakable fear.

The mysterious Elf slowly turned her head, looking at the group, a strange smile appearing on her face, "Welcome to… the End of the Cosmos…"

Then, she extended her hand, pointing toward the endless darkness ahead, "Look…"