Chapter 327: Pursuing the Signal: Exploring the Secret Realm

After the flickering light points vanished, the device's surface returned to stillness, like a slumbering behemoth, leaving only faint energy fluctuations lingering in the air.

Zhang Cheng drew a deep breath, breaking the brief silence: "We must track this signal." His tone was firm, brooking no doubt.

"But the signal has already disappeared. How do we track it?" Guangming Shizhe asked worriedly, her gentle eyes filled with anxiety.

Xingyun Zhizhe stepped forward, his fingers flying across the device's control panel as complex code flowed beneath his fingertips.

"Though the signal has disappeared, the device still retains traces of its trajectory. Give me some time and I can attempt to restore it." He remained calm and composed, as if everything were under his control.

After a bout of tense calculations, Xingyun Zhizhe finally found the signal's residual trajectory and successfully projected it onto the main screen.

"The signal's direction is..." He pointed to the flickering curve on the screen, yet his brow furrowed slightly. "The cosmic magnetic field in this region is extremely complex. The signal is being interfered with—breaking in and out—making it difficult to pinpoint accurately."

"No matter what, we have to try," Zhang Cheng said decisively. "Xingji Xiake, prepare the ship. We set off at once!"

Xingji Xiake excitedly pumped his fist. "I've been waiting for this! This adventure is sure to be more thrilling than any before!"

Under Xingyun Zhizhe's guidance, the ship flew toward the direction of the signal's trajectory.

However, the cosmic magnetic interference was worse than they had imagined. The signal fluctuated between strong and weak, its direction erratic.

The ship constantly adjusted its course through the starry void, like a small skiff lost in a vast ocean.

"How is the magnetic field in this damn place so chaotic!" Xingji Xiake complained irritably, his rugged face written all over with impatience.

"We need to proceed with caution," Xingyun Zhizhe analyzed calmly. "The signal's instability likely means there are unknown dangers ahead. Rushing forward blindly could lead us into a trap."

"What's there to fear! We're interstellar explorers—what danger haven't we seen!" Xingji Xiake said defiantly. "In my opinion, we should head straight toward the direction where the signal is strongest. That's the fastest way to find the signal source!"

"Recklessness will only cost us more dearly!" Xingyun Zhizhe retorted. "What we need is wisdom, not brute force!"

The two argued without resolution, the atmosphere tense as drawn bows.

Mark, the interstellar warrior who had always relied on Xingyun Zhizhe's decisions, now hesitated...

He looked at Xingji Xiake, then at Xingyun Zhizhe. Finally, his gaze landed on...

Mark's rugged voice broke the dispute between the two: "I agree with Xiake." A flash of surprise crossed Xingyun Zhizhe's eyes behind his lenses—he hadn't expected Mark, who usually followed his advice most obediently, to side with Xingji Xiake.

"Sometimes, intuition is more reliable than calculation," Mark explained, clapping Xingji Xiake on the shoulder. "I trust your intuition."

Though displeased, Xingyun Zhizhe yielded to the majority. He readjusted the course and flew toward the direction of the strongest signal.

The ship's engine let out an ear-splitting roar as it plunged into the unknown star region like a loosed arrow.

After traveling for about an hour, the ship's radar suddenly emitted a piercing alarm.

"High energy reactions detected ahead!" the mechanic A li exclaimed, staring nervously at the dense cluster of light points on the screen. "There are a lot of them, and they're approaching fast!"

Before the words had even faded, the ship shook violently.

Outside the viewport, a blinding flash of light swept past, followed immediately by a torrent of dense energy rays pouring down like a rainstorm.

The ship's Energy Shield teetered on the verge of collapse under the fierce assault, the alarm blaring throughout the entire cabin.

"They're cosmic energy creatures!" Xingji Xiake recognized the attackers at a glance. He roared, "Prepare for battle!"

Xingji Xiake and Mark charged out first, nimbly weaving through the dense energy rays as their weapons fired dazzling energy beams, attempting to repel the energy creatures.

However, the creatures were numerous and their attack patterns were bizarre and unpredictable. The two were soon locked in a bitter struggle.

The ship's shield grew weaker and weaker, the alarms more and more urgent.

Just as they were about to lose hold, A li shouted in despair: "Shield energy is below ten percent! We're done for!"

At this critical moment, Li li, the psychic who had remained silent all along, suddenly stood up. She drew a deep breath, and a sharp glint flashed through her eyes...

"Perhaps," Li li said softly, slowly raising her hands, "now is the time to try this.

"

Li li's slender fingers danced in the air, and circles of visible psychic fluctuations emanated from her body, rippling outward before settling over the ship's faltering Energy Shield.

The shield, which had been flickering with red alarm light, was instantly enveloped in a layer of pale violet psychic radiance, becoming more solid and holding back the energy creatures' frenzied attacks.

"Such incredible psychic power!" A li marveled, the despair on his face swept away and replaced with elation.

Li li did not stop. She focused her mind, transforming her psychic power into invisible threads that probed into the energy creatures' bodies.

These energy creatures were composed of pure energy and were extremely sensitive to psychic interference.

Li li skillfully manipulated the psychic threads, disrupting the energy balance within the creatures, causing their attacks to become chaotic and disorderly.

The energy rays that had been aimed at the ship began to veer off course—some shooting into the depths of space, others striking their own companions.

The energy creatures began slaughtering one another. Their once-dense attack formation collapsed instantly, and the pressure on the ship dropped sharply.

As the number of energy creatures diminished, the energy fluctuations interfering with the signal weakened as well, and the direction of the signal source became clear.

The alien scientist Karl immediately activated advanced signal-tracking instruments. After a round of precise calculations and analysis, he pointed to a flickering nebular region on the screen and said: "The signal source is right there! That is a nebula that has never been explored. Based on energy fluctuation analysis, it possesses extremely powerful energy."

The nebula shows a strange purplish-red hue, like a giant eye in the cosmos, silently watching them.

Within the nebula, countless tiny lights flickered like dancing musical notes, exuding an aura of mystery and danger.

Zhang Cheng gazed at the nebula on the screen, a nameless unease welling up in his heart.

He couldn't shake the feeling that this expedition would be more dangerous than any before.

"Prepare to enter the nebula!" Zhang Cheng ordered in a low voice, his gaze firm yet tinged with a barely perceptible tension.

Just as the ship was about to enter the nebula, Guangming Shizhe suddenly felt a palpitation, and she subconsciously...

In the instant the ship violently jolted, Guangming Shizhe subconsciously grabbed Zhang Cheng's arm tightly, her soft fingers turning slightly pale from the force, her eyes filled with worry.

Zhang Cheng felt the coldness of her palm and gently patted the back of her hand, giving her a reassuring look as if to say: "Don't worry, I've got this."

The ship sailed steadily toward the purplish-red nebula, pressing forward without hesitation like a moth drawn to flame.

However, as they approached the nebular region, they discovered this was no smooth path.

A visible energy barrier, like a giant transparent eggshell, enveloped the entire nebula.

This barrier flickered with a strange light, expanding and contracting rhythmically like breathing, radiating unsettling energy fluctuations.

"What is this?" Xingji Xiake exclaimed. He tried attacking the barrier with his energy weapon, but it was like a clay ox entering the sea—not stirring up the slightest ripple.

The alien scientist Karl wore a grave expression as he operated the detection instruments, scanning and analyzing the barrier.

"The energy composition of this barrier is extremely complex," Karl's voice trembled slightly, "It seems to possess some kind of intelligence, capable of identifying and repelling intruders."

As Karl's words fell, the barrier's surface suddenly manifested a huge face, composed of pure energy, its features blurred, yet exuding a suffocating pressure.

It slowly opened its "mouth," emitting a low sound like an ancient whisper: "Intruder...... die......"

Zhang Cheng's face changed, he said in a deep voice: "Not good, this barrier is more dangerous than we imagined..." He abruptly turned his head toward Xingyun Zhizhe, "Sage, we......"