Chapter 157: Elimination

That piercing, eardrum-shredding hum sounded like the dying shriek of an abyssal beast. The dark red light no longer pulsed—it erupted violently, like a final flash of life, instantly swallowing the entire Chuangsheng Technology test unit and surging outward like a tidal wave!

The violent energy shockwave arrived first!

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The closest Chuangsheng Technology technicians were hit first—like they'd been struck by invisible hammers, they screamed as they were flung backward, slamming into cold bulkheads or equipment, life or death unknown.

Lei Zhan and the assassin, locked in combat, were forcibly torn apart by the force, each staggering backward, their Qi and Blood churning.

The ones hit hardest were Qin Feng, lunging toward Liu Shiyin, and Liu Shiyin herself, standing right before the control console!

In the instant the energy erupted, Qin Feng's Life Enhancement granted him razor-sharp reaction—he twisted his body, crossing his arms before his chest, and the warm flow within him surged forward at unprecedented speed, forming a faint, nearly invisible barrier across his skin!

"Crash!"

The shockwave slammed into him!

Even with preparation, Qin Feng felt as if a speeding train had struck him head-on—his arms seared with pain, his throat flooded with sweetness, and his body flew uncontrollably backward, crashing hard into a sturdy energy interface cabinet behind him with a dull, heavy thud. The cabinet's surface instantly dented inward.

Liu Shiyin, closest to the epicenter and with virtually no protection, froze mid-expression—her wild, defiant look solidified into pure terror and disbelief. A small ornament on her person flared with a faint white light—a passive defense device—but beneath the violent dark red energy surge, that white glow shattered like paper.

"No—!"

She barely managed a short, shrill scream before she was entirely consumed by the dark red light.

The light lasted approximately three seconds.

When the blinding dark red receded like a tide, the core area of the Haiyuan Base was a wasteland.

The Chuangsheng Technology test unit had been reduced to rubble; the mysterious core device vanished, leaving only a charred, twisted base and splattered, rapidly solidifying emerald-green viscous residue. The air reeked of burnt protein and chemical agents.

Liu Shiyin lay collapsed beside the console, her white lab coat blackened and torn, her exposed skin glowing an unnatural crimson, as if instantly seared by extreme heat. Her eyes were shut, her breath faint to the point of near cessation—life or death unknown. Around her, Chuangsheng Technology personnel lay dead or wounded, scattered across the floor.

The assassin who had battled Lei Zhan, sensing disaster, used the chaos and visual obstruction from the energy blast to flicker like a ghost—three swift dashes, and he broke free from Lei Zhan and the Shield personnel, sprinting toward an emergency corridor and vanishing instantly. The other assassin, already gravely wounded by Qin Feng, had been silenced completely by the energy surge.

"Boss!" Lei Zhan abandoned pursuit, rushing to Qin Feng's side at once.

Qin Feng coughed twice, wiped a trickle of blood from his lips, and waved off concern. The warm flow within him was rapidly repairing the Vibration damage. He turned his gaze toward Liu Shiyin—cold, devoid of pity. This was all her and her faction's doing; they had brought it upon themselves.

"Emergency! Chuangsheng Technology's energy core has gone out of control and exploded! Multiple casualties! Request medical support! Repeat, request emergency medical support!" The base director finally snapped out of shock, screaming into his communicator.

Flashing red emergency lights spun to life; medical teams and Security Personnel surged into the wreckage, beginning rescue operations and securing the scene.

Amid the chaos, the competition committee's judging panel intervened urgently. They swiftly reviewed surveillance data and the scene—conclusion was obvious.

One judge, face grim, stepped before Qin Feng and announced solemnly: "Mr. Qin, given that the Chuangsheng Technology team's energy system suffered catastrophic loss of control during final testing, resulting in a major safety incident, they have completely lost competition capability and severely violated safety protocols. By unanimous committee ruling, Chuangsheng Technology's eligibility is revoked."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the Jingyuan Technology team—though battered and engaged in combat, their core members remained unharmed, their energy system having stabilized swiftly after brief fluctuations (thanks to powerful protective mechanisms and distance from the blast center)—his tone carrying a faint, almost imperceptible respect and relief.

"Therefore, I formally declare: the winner of this year's Global Energy Summit is the Jingyuan Technology team—for their indisputable technological superiority, exceptional stability, and outstanding performance under extreme crisis. Congratulations!"

Dust settled.

Though the process was bloody and unexpected, the outcome was undeniable.

Chuangsheng Technology—the mysterious, ruthless challenger—was cruelly eliminated, its core utterly destroyed and its leader critically wounded, near death. Its number, perhaps, can be fixed at 8—a number that perished in conspiracy and madness.

Survivors in the room—base staff, committee members—spontaneously began to clap. This applause was not merely for the victor; it was for survival, for the reassurance brought by true, reliable technology and power in the face of abyssal peril.

Lei Zhan, Chen Ming, and others wore expressions of excitement and pride.

Qin Feng slowly straightened, feeling the flow of power within him, his gaze piercing through the base's thick bulkheads—as if seeing the hidden offshore mobile platform of the Foundation somewhere in the Pacific.

The elimination round is over.

But the true reckoning has only just begun.

He picked up his encrypted communicator and connected to Su Jin.

"Su Jin, Chuangsheng Technology is eliminated. Prepare to receive the full energy spectrum data from Haiyuan Base's records, captured before their core collapsed. Also," his voice was cold and clear,

"the practical test of the Purification Force Field can now be scheduled. Target: their offshore platform."