Chapter 199

Zhou Xuan looked around, his heart filled with shock.

"It seems we have uncovered the true purpose of the unknown force."

222. 【Defeat the unknown force】

Xiang Xingluo said in a deep voice, "They not only want to obtain the artifact but also want to unlock the secret behind this space."

Just then, an old and dignified voice rang in their ears: "Welcome to the 'Heart of the Universe'; this is the source of all power, and also the starting point of all disasters."

The two looked in the direction of the voice and saw an old man in robes slowly walking out of the shadows, his eyes flickering with the light of wisdom.

"Who are you?" Zhou Xuan asked vigilantly.

"I am the guardian of this space,"

the old man smiled slightly, "and also the true identity of the 'mysterious figure' you speak of."

"What?" The two exclaimed at the same time.

"The reason I stopped you from approaching the artifact," the old man explained, "is because I know well the danger of this power. It can save the universe, but it can also destroy everything. And you, are not yet enough to control it."

"But,"

the old man changed the subject, "your courage and determination have let me see hope. Perhaps, you are the ones who can change all of this."

With the old man's narration, a shocking secret gradually surfaced.

It turned out that this "Heart of the Universe" not only contained endless power but also hid the secret of the universe's birth and the direction of its future.

And the reason the unknown force was so eager to obtain the artifact and uncover this secret was to control the destiny of the entire universe.

"We must stop them!" Zhou Xuan clenched his fists, his eyes flickering with firm light.

"But our strength alone is not enough," Xiang Xingluo added, "We need more allies and more powerful weapons."

The old man nodded and took an ancient badge from his bosom: "This is the key to the realms of other guardians. Only by gathering the power of all guardians can we defeat the unknown force and protect the safety of the universe."

Zhou Xuan and Xiang Xingluo took the badge and looked at each other and smiled.

They knew this would be an unprecedented adventure and challenge.

But they also believed that as long as there was love, faith, and courage in their hearts, nothing was impossible.

Thus, they set off on a new journey, heading toward the unknown realm.

There, they would encounter more challenges and difficulties, and would also meet more friends and partners.

And all of this was just for that final goal—to protect the universe, protect peace, and protect that future and hope that belonged to everyone.

Under the starry sky, the tracks wound, as if connecting the endless abyss of the universe.

Zhou Xuan and Xiang Xingluo, two travelers from different worlds, were now standing side by side in the dark and huge core area of the unknown force.

All around were mazes interwoven with cold machinery and complex runes, and every ray of light seemed to hide unknown secrets.

"¨¨ Xiang Xingluo, can you feel it? The air here is full of the dust of history."

Zhou Xuan said in a low voice, his gaze piercing through the darkness and landing on the outline of an ancient ruin in the distance.

That was a huge building constructed of unknown materials; the traces of time not only did not make it appear dilapidated but added a few points of mystery and solemnity.

Xiang Xingluo nodded, her eyes flickering with curiosity and firmness:

"Yes, Zhou Xuan. I can feel an ancient and powerful force sleeping; it is closely related to the purpose of our trip."

223. 【Act with caution】

The two carefully passed through the intricate passages and finally arrived at the entrance of the ruins.

The door opened slowly, and an ancient and long-lasting aura rushed toward them, as if crossing the long river of time.

They stepped into it and saw that the walls were covered with complex runes, and in the center was a device that looked ancient yet full of a sense of technology, with a yellowed ancient book floating on it.

"Look, this is what we are looking for."

Zhou Xuan pointed to the book and said, taking it down gently and opening it carefully.

Between the pages, lines of ancient text jumped before their eyes, telling the secret of the artifact's true purpose and the source of its power.

"So, the artifact is not what we thought before, just a powerful weapon."

Xiang Xingluo exclaimed, "It is actually the balancer of cosmic energy; once it falls into the wrong hands, the entire universe will face the crisis of destruction."

Just as the two were immersed in the shock of the discovery, a low and dignified voice suddenly sounded: "It seems you have found the truth."

They turned around and saw a mysterious figure in black robes slowly stepping into the ruins, those deep eyes seeming to be able to see through the human heart.

"I am the guardian here, and also the keeper of this secret."

They introduced themselves, "Your courage and wisdom let me see hope, but do you know that this power is not easily controlled?"

Zhou Xuan and Xiang Xingluo looked at each other and nodded firmly:

"We understand, but this is exactly the reason we came. We cannot let the artifact fall into the hands of those who intend to use it to destroy the world."

The guardian was silent for a moment, then nodded slowly: "I felt your determination. Fine, I am willing to help you, but we must act with caution so as not to alert the enemy."

Thus, under the guidance of the guardian, Zhou Xuan and Xiang Xingluo began to formulate a plan.

They first used the knowledge in the ruins to conduct in-depth research on the artifact, mastering its basic operating principles and protection mechanisms.

At the same time, the guardian also revealed to them the complex relationships and contradictions within the unknown force, providing valuable intelligence for their actions.

"We can use their distrust and greed to create an internal strife."

Zhou Xuan proposed, "This will not only weaken their strength but also buy us more time and opportunities."

Xiang Xingluo nodded in agreement:

"And, we can use the technological power of the Disaster Empire to create an energy storm to attract their attention.

In this way, I can take the opportunity to approach the leader of the unknown force and expose their conspiracy."

With the plan set, the three began to prepare in full swing.

Zhou Xuan used his deep understanding of technology to cooperate with the remaining forces of the Disaster Empire, successfully creating an unprecedented energy storm.

That storm raged in the starry sky like a giant dragon, attracting all the attention of the unknown force to that place.

And Xiang Xingluo took the opportunity to sneak into the core area of the unknown force.

Relying on her agile figure and keen insight, she shuttled freely among the heavy guards and finally arrived before the leader of the unknown force.

"Your conspiracy has been exposed!"

Xiang Xingluo shouted loudly, her voice echoing in the empty hall, "You intend to use the artifact to destroy the universe, but your plan will not succeed!"

The leader of the unknown force sneered: "Hmph, do you think you can stop me with just you? You are too naive!"

However, before their words fell, Zhou Xuan and the guardian had already rushed into the hall with a team of elite warriors.

They engaged in a fierce battle with the guards of the unknown force, winning precious time for Xiang Xingluo.

Xiang Xingluo took the opportunity to step forward and engage in a duel with the leader of the unknown force.

The two fought back and forth, each move fatal, and the entire hall was filled with a tense and fierce atmosphere.

After a bitter battle, Xiang Xingluo finally found the opponent's flaw and knocked them to the ground with one blow.

"Your ambition and greed will ultimately only bring destruction."

Xiang Xingluo said coldly, "Now, it is time for you to pay the price for your actions."

The leader of the unknown force collapsed to the ground, eyes full of unwillingness and despair.

They knew well that their plan had completely failed and could no longer be saved.

With the defeat of the leader of the unknown force, the entire core area fell into chaos.

Zhou Xuan, Xiang Xingluo, and the guardian took the opportunity to take back the artifact and safely sealed it away.

They knew that although this battle had achieved victory, the road ahead was still full of unknowns and challenges.

"We succeeded."

224. 【Hope and longing】

Zhou Xuan looked at the energy storm gradually subsiding in the distance and said, "But this is just the beginning."

Xiang Xingluo nodded in agreement: "Yes, this is just the beginning. We must continue to move forward and protect the peace and tranquility of this universe."

The guardian smiled slightly: "You have proven your courage and wisdom. I believe that in the days to come, you will surely be able to overcome more difficulties and challenges."

The three looked at each other and smiled, their eyes filled with hope and longing for the future.

They knew that no matter how many hardships and obstacles were ahead, they would join hands and face them together.

Because they believed that as long as there was love and hope in their hearts, they would surely be able to create their own miracles.

At the end of the Astral Express, the stars were scattered like dust, and the depth and vastness of the universe appeared exceptionally mysterious and unpredictable at this moment.

Xiang Xingluo, this brave and wise woman, dressed in silver battle armor, with firm light flickering in her eyes, was approaching the leader of the unknown force hidden in the shadows step by step.