Chapter 330: A Dangerous Omen Arrives, Startling the Crowd

"4…3…2…" The countdown sounded like a death‑driving drumbeat, striking everyone's heart beat by beat.

The air seemed to solidify, tension spreading everywhere; each second's pulse felt like a death countdown, and the space itself appeared warped by the oppression.

Guangming Shizhe gripped the light blade tightly, knuckles whitening, a gentle face full of worry.

She instinctively moved closer to Zhang Cheng, seeking a sliver of safety.

Zhang Cheng's expression was grave, his deep gaze locked on the device, his mind racing to find a way to break it.

"We must stop it!" Xingji Xiake's rugged voice shattered the silence; he suddenly drew the energy greatsword from his back, its blade flashing with dazzling blue light, "Let me cut it down!"

"Hold!" Xingyun Zhizhe shouted sternly, "You brute! Doing that will only trigger the device's unknown energy, causing unpredictable consequences! We must first analyze its energy fluctuations and uncover its operating principle!"

"Analyze? Analyze what a fart!" Xingji Xiake sneered, "By the time we finish analyzing, the daylily will be cold! The most effective method now is to destroy it outright!"

"You…" Xingyun Zhizhe's anger made his beard curl, his trembling finger pointed at the wanderer, leaving him speechless.

The two were ready to clash, swords drawn.

"Enough!" Zhang Cheng's deep voice thundered like a sudden storm, instantly restraining them, "Now is not the time for infighting! Wanderer, I know you're impatient, but the sage is right; rash action will backfire. Sage, analyze quickly; we must find a solution before the countdown ends!"

Xingyun Zhizhe took a deep breath, trying to calm his fury, and began using his detector to analyze the device's energy fluctuations.

Time slipped by second by second, the countdown's sound grew more urgent, and everyone's hearts rose to their throats.

"1…"

At that hair‑raising moment, mechanic A li stepped forward, holding a strange device, his expression resolute as he said, "Let me try…"

A li carefully approached; his rough large hands were unusually deft now, as if caressing a treasure, gently brushing the cold metal surface of the countdown device.

Sweat seeped from his forehead, sliding down oil‑stained wrinkles, forming tense beads on his chin.

He squinted, his gaze like a torch, seeming able to pierce the metal shell and see the intricate interior.

Suddenly, his finger paused, lingering on an almost imperceptible tiny interface.

"Found it!" A li's excited voice trembled slightly, like a traveler discovering an oasis in the desert.

Everyone's spirits lifted, and they gathered around.

Xingyun Zhizhe pushed up his glasses, scrutinizing the interface, wisdom flashing in his eyes.

"Indeed, hidden so covertly; if not for A li's keen mechanical perception, we'd have struggled to discover it."

Just as A li was about to insert his decoder into the interface, an anomaly erupted!

The countdown device emitted a piercing screech, surface cracking open with fissures, from which a swarm of densely packed mechanical insects surged out!

These insects were jet‑black, glinting with metallic sheen, their sharp mandibles like saw teeth, emitting a chilling "cacka" sound.

"Damn it!" Xingji Xiake roared, charging forward first.

He swung his energy greatsword into a blue light shield, slicing the incoming insects into fragments.

Interstellar warrior Ma Ke followed closely, his energy cannon roaring, blasting the insects into powder.

Yet the insects were too many, flooding in like a tide; as soon as one wave was eliminated, another surged forward, constantly battering their defenses.

"We can't keep this up; we'll be worn out!" Ma Ke shouted while firing, sweat beading on his forehead.

Suddenly, a mechanical insect ambushed the wanderer, its sharp mandible carving a deep wound on his arm.

He let out a muted groan, stepped back a few paces, his complexion turning pale.

"Wanderer!" Guangming Shizhe cried, brandishing her light blade, cutting the insect in two.

"I'm fine…" Xingji Xiake clenched his teeth, enduring the pain, but his trembling arm revealed his current weakness.

At that moment, psionic Li li…

Psionic Li li flickered, appearing before the crowd like a ghostly specter.

Her slender fingers waved lightly, a pale violet aura of psionic energy instantly enveloped everyone, forming a solid barrier.

The insects struck the barrier, producing a crisp "ding ding dang dang" sound, yet could not breach it at all.

The crowd felt the pressure drop sharply, and the previously frantic stance steadied.

Li li did not stop there; a cunning glint flashed in her eyes as she quickly formed seals with both hands, muttering incantations.

A portion of the insects suddenly seemed to lose control, reversing direction and crazily attacking nearby comrades.

Sparks of metal flew everywhere, insect limbs and broken arms scattered, the scene descending into chaos.

In the fierce battle, Xingling xue zhe furrowed his brow, keenly noticing that the insects' actions were not entirely autonomous but seemed controlled by something.

He immediately reported this finding to alien scientist Ka Er.

Ka Er pondered briefly, a spark of insight in his eyes, "If my hypothesis is correct, these insects are being controlled by a specific frequency." The two promptly began cooperating, using existing equipment to urgently fabricate a frequency interferer.

As the interferer activated, a peculiar wave spread outward; the once‑rampaging insects slowed gradually, finally halting completely, standing still like statues.

Seeing this, a sliver of hope ignited in everyone's hearts.

Yet before they could breathe a sigh of relief, the countdown device emitted another piercing screech; the fissures now spewed not insects but a thick black liquid…

The liquid exuded a nauseating, putrid odor, spreading rapidly, corroding everything it touched.

Zhang Cheng's complexion changed, shouting, "Careful! This liquid is corrosive!" He shoved the nearby Guangming Shizhe aside…

The black liquid spread like maggot‑infested tissue, sizzling where it touched metal, belching acrid white smoke.

Guangming Shizhe, a bit frightened, leaned toward Zhang Cheng; Zhang Cheng tightly grasped her hand, soothingly whispering, "Don't be afraid, I'm here." His warm hand conveyed strength, calming her greatly.

The light blade in her hand shone brighter, illuminating the area corrupted by the black liquid.

Xingji Xiake clutched his bleeding arm, spitting, "What the hell is this, even nastier than those insects!" Interstellar warrior Ma Ke calmly raised his energy cannon, firing high‑energy beams at the black liquid.

The energy beams indeed halted the liquid's spread, but they consumed massive power; at this rate, their energy reserves would soon be exhausted.

Xingyun Zhizhe and alien scientist Ka Er were anxiously analyzing the liquid's composition, seeking a way to counter it.

Xingling xue zhe was attempting to construct a psionic barrier to stop the liquid's expansion.

Li li's psionic shield could fend off the insects, but it was powerless against this highly corrosive liquid.

She looked anxiously at Xingyun Zhizhe, "How's it going? Any solution?" Xingyun Zhizhe furrowed his brow, fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead, "The liquid's composition is extremely complex; I need more time…"

Just then, the countdown device suddenly stopped its shrill whistle, and the black liquid also ceased spreading.

Before anyone could catch their breath, the device burst into a blinding white light, like a small sun, illuminating the entire space.

Within the bright light, a vague outline flickered in and out of view, resembling a passage yet also like a massive vortex.

"What is that?" the mechanic A li pointed toward the bright light, his tone full of wonder and doubt.

Zhang Cheng narrowed his eyes, staring at the outline within the light, a sudden inexplicable unease welling up in his heart.

He sensed that what was hidden in the bright light might not be a clue leading to the source of the crisis, but another, even more dangerous trap...

"Be careful..." Zhang Cheng's low voice rang in everyone's ears as he gripped the Guangming Shizhe firmly, his eyes resolute, "Let's go."