Chapter 281: All‑or‑Nothing Counterattack

While everyone in the mysterious hall received the crucial instructions to break the Observer's conspiracy, the situation in Chan dao Yuzhou remained severe. Although Ao Li, at the cost of self‑sacrifice, sealed the Main Umbilical Cord with a Nüwa stone fragment and turned into a Starship coating to resist dimensional turbulence, the Main Umbilical Cord's powerful and bizarre force still stirred, ready to cause disaster again at any moment.

Ling Yue looked at the Main Umbilical Cord, her eyes resolute. She knew that more aggressive measures were needed to fully curb its threat. After a moment's thought, Ling Yue made a bold decision—to convert the Mechanical Zigong into a God‑slaying Pump, using milk turned into a data virus injected into the Main Umbilical Cord, hoping to utterly destroy its evil power.

Ling Yue acted swiftly, skillfully operating the Mechanical Zigong and performing emergency modifications to its internal structure. The Mechanical Zigong emitted a buzzing sound as parts and circuits rearranged under her control. During the retrofit, fine beads of sweat covered Ling Yue's forehead; every step allowed no error, for it concerned not only the mission's success but everyone's lives.

At the same time, Lin Li fully exerted her data‑control ability to provide Ling Yue with crucial technical support. She delved into the Main Umbilical Cord's data structure, seeking vulnerabilities to inform the virus design. Lin Li's gaze was focused and steadfast, her hands hammered the Operating Console rapidly, strings of complex code flashing on the screen.

"Found it! There's a key vulnerability in the Main Umbilical Cord's data protocol; perhaps we can exploit it to maximize the virus's effect," Lin Li said excitedly, transmitting the information to Ling Yue.

Ling Yue nodded slightly; based on the protocol vulnerability Lin Li supplied, she treated the milk produced by the Mechanical Zigong specially, converting it into a carrier for the lethal data virus. The milk's gentle glow turned eerie, now imbued with powerful destructive energy.

When everything was ready, Ling Yue controlled the modified God‑slaying Pump, slowly injecting the virus‑laden milk into the Main Umbilical Cord. The milk flowed along the cord's veins, where a strange light shimmered. The data virus began to act, rapidly spreading along the protocol vulnerability.

The Main Umbilical Cord seemed to sense the threat and began to quake violently. It released powerful energy waves, trying to expel the invading virus. The surrounding space, under the impact of this force, sprouted black fissures that seemed ready to collapse at any moment.

"Not good, the Main Umbilical Cord's resistance is stronger than we imagined!" Ling Yue shouted, increasing the God‑slaying Pump's output power to push more virus into the cord.

Lin Li anxiously monitored the virus's spread, noticing that propagation was blocked in certain areas. "Ling Yue, the Main Umbilical Cord has activated a self‑repair mechanism, sealing the protocol vulnerability. We must speed up!"

Ling Yue gritted her teeth, veins bulging on her forehead, and cranked the God‑slaying Pump to maximum. Vast torrents of milk‑turned data virus surged into the Main Umbilical Cord, engaging in a fierce clash with its self‑repair mechanism.

During the virus‑vs‑Main Umbilical Cord confrontation, the entire Chan dao Yuzhou was affected. The once‑stable stars in the sky began to flicker wildly, as if about to extinguish. On the ground, mountains and rivers collapsed and dried under the energy‑wave shock. The residents of Chan dao Yuzhou fell into extreme panic, feeling a wave of destruction spreading.

Back in the mysterious hall, Lín Jìn, Ling Yue, and Lin Li had just prepared to step into the teleportation gate leading to the Observer's experimental device. Suddenly, Lín Jìn sensed an abnormal fluctuation coming from Chan dao Yuzhou.

"Something big happened over in Chan dao Yuzhou; Ling Yue and Lin Li must be in danger," Lín Jìn said anxiously, brows knit.

"We can't stand by, but the mission here is also crucial," Ling Yue replied, also frantic but aware that rash action now would be unwise.

After a moment of thought, Lin Li said, "We can split up. Lín Jìn, you go through the gate first to deal with the Observer's experimental device; I'll go back to assist Ling Yue against the Main Umbilical Cord."

Lín Jìn hesitated, worried that Lin Li's return might be dangerous. Yet the situation was urgent with no better option. "Lin Li, you must be careful; if danger arises, come back immediately," Lín Jìn warned.

Lin Li nodded, then swiftly turned and headed toward Chan dao Yuzhou.

When Lin Li returned to Chan dao Yuzhou, the battle between the Main Umbilical Cord and the data virus had entered a white‑hot stage. The energy waves emitted by the cord grew ever stronger, and dimensional turbulence raged again. Although Ao Li's Starship coating fought the turbulence, small cracks began to appear.

Lin Li unhesitatingly joined the fight, using her precise data‑control ability to help Ling Yue guide the data virus around the cord's defenses, penetrating toward its core. With Lin Li's aid, the virus finally broke through the cord's layered defenses and reached its core.

The virus began destroying the cord's core data structure; the Main Umbilical Cord let out a painful roar, shaking the whole Chan dao Yuzhou. It twisted wildly, trying to shed the virus, but it was already too late.

As the virus's damage to the core intensified, the cord's energy rapidly waned. The negative phenomena affecting Chan dao Yuzhou gradually vanished, stars stabilized, and mountains and rivers slowly revived.

Yet just as the Main Umbilical Cord was about to be completely destroyed, an unexpected event occurred. The Observer seemed to sense the crisis and, through some mysterious means, injected a powerful support force into the cord. Under this infusion, the cord began repairing the virus‑damaged parts and became stronger than before.

"Damn, the Observer intervened!" Ling Yue said angrily, watching the revitalized Main Umbilical Cord, feeling helpless and resentful.

Lin Li bit her lip, thought briefly, then said, "Ling Yue, we still have a chance. Though the Main Umbilical Cord received support, it also sustained damage from the earlier assault. We can concentrate our power and launch another attack while it hasn't fully recovered, to destroy it completely."

Ling Yue took a deep breath and nodded. "Alright, let's try again!"

The two readjusted their strategy; Ling Yue increased the God‑slaying Pump's energy output, and Lin Li more precisely controlled the data virus's attack direction. They knew this was the final chance—if they failed, Chan dao Yuzhou and the entire multiverse would face annihilation.

In the mysterious hall, Lín Jìn stepped alone into one of the teleportation gates. Inside the gate, light flickered; Lín Jìn felt a dizzying spin, and when his vision cleared, he found himself in a space filled with strange radiance.

In this space, countless massive crystal structures floated, each seemingly imprisoning bizarre creatures. The creatures varied in form—some like giant dragons, others like huge insects—struggling within the crystals and emitting painful roars.

"Is this one of the Observer's experimental devices? It's downright inhumane," Lín Jìn said angrily, gripping the Abyss Return Ruler, his heart full of hatred for the Observer.

At that moment, a group of Observer soldiers clad in black armor surged from all directions. They brandished weapons that glinted with cold light, eyes icy, advancing step by step toward Lín Jìn.

"Outsider, this is not where you belong. Submit to death!" the leading Observer soldier shouted.

Lín Jìn snorted coldly, "You treacherous scum, today is your doom!"

With that, Lín Jìn launched his attack first. He swung the Abyss Return Ruler, a powerful Sword Qi streaked toward the Observer soldiers. Where the Sword Qi passed, the air tore, emitting a piercing whistling sound. The soldiers raised their weapons to block, yet many were flung away by the Sword Qi.

Seeing this, the Observer soldiers quickly dispersed, attacking Lín Jìn from different angles. Lín Jìn moved like lightning, weaving through the crowd; the Abyss Return Ruler danced in his hand, continuously repelling approaching soldiers.

However, the Observer soldiers kept coming, seemingly endless. Lín Jìn began to feel strained; he knew he couldn't keep merely defending passively and had to strike proactively, find the core of the experimental device and destroy it to resolve the problem.

Lín Jìn timed his move, unleashed a powerful sword technique, pushing the surrounding soldiers back. Then, in a flash, he charged toward the device's core. The soldiers pursued, trying to stop him.

During the rush to the core, Lín Jìn faced numerous obstacles. Besides the relentless soldiers, various intricate traps and mechanisms blocked his way. Yet Lín Jìn, using his wit and courage, overcame each difficulty.

Finally, Lín Jìn reached the core area. At its center, a massive energy sphere radiated intense light, surrounded by countless conduits and wires delivering energy to the crystal prisons.

"This is it!" a resolute flash crossed Lín Jìn's eyes as he raised the Abyss Return Ruler high, ready to deliver a fatal blow to the core.

But then, a powerful energy shield suddenly rose around the core, keeping Lín Jìn outside. "Hmph, destroying the core isn't that easy!" a voice echoed from behind the shield. Lín Jìn looked up and saw an Observer leader clad in a white robe.

"You think this shield can stop me?" Lín Jìn said angrily.

The Observer leader sneered, "This isn't an ordinary shield; it gathers all the experimental device's energy—you cannot break it."

Lín Jìn ignored the taunt, began scrutinizing the shield for a weakness. After observation, he noticed a brief gap in the shield's energy supply.

Lín Jìn focused his spirit, waiting for the gap. At last, the moment arrived. When the gap appeared, Lín Jìn didn't hesitate, launching his attack. He poured all his strength into the Abyss Return Ruler, a Sword Qi imbued with world‑shattering power shot toward the gap.

The Sword Qi struck the gap precisely; the shield cracked under the immense force. Lín Jìn pressed the advantage, attacking again. With a thunderous boom, the energy shield finally shattered.

"No!" the Observer leader shouted in despair.

Lín Jìn gave the leader no time to react, rushed toward the energy sphere and thrust the Abyss Return Ruler deep into it. The sphere erupted in a dazzling flash, then burst with a booming crack.

As the core energy sphere shattered, the entire experimental device shook violently. The crystal prisons cracked, freeing the captive creatures, which let out joyous roars and fled the dreadful place.

Lín Jìn watched the collapsing device, feeling a sigh of relief. Yet he knew this was only the first step in breaking the Observer's conspiracy; more challenges awaited.

Meanwhile, in Chan dao Yuzhou, Ling Yue and Lin Li were giving their all in the final assault on the Main Umbilical Cord…