Chapter 36: Twin Birth

Zhang Jun endured the pain, broke free of Zhao Wushuang's entanglement, and rushed toward Lin Xue.

Long Tianba blocked his path, purple light flashing from his palm: "When your father died back then, he was just like this—unwilling yet helpless, hahaha..."

Zhang Jun roared angrily, and yin yang power surged instantly.

The yin yang sword turned into a sky-full of sword shadows, enveloping Long Tianba.

Long Tianba did not dodge or evade, letting the sword qi pierce his body as purple energy swiftly repaired the wound: "In the face of absolute power, is your struggle as little worms meaningful?"

Lin Xue struggled to her feet, standing back-to-back with Zhang Jun.

Their breaths interconnected, and their wounds also mutually compensated.

"Yin yang returns to one..." Lin Xue murmured, "I seem to have understood something..."

She grabbed Zhang Jun's hand, their palms facing each other.

Yin yang power and ice soul power were no longer a simple fusion but completely intertwined, forming a brand-new energy form.

Gold-and-blue intertwined light burst from within them, illuminating the entire laboratory.

The energy converter given by Wang Ming began operating, absorbing and converting the surrounding purple energy.

"Impossible!" Long Tianba's voice changed tone, like a duck strangled at the throat.

Zhang Jun and Lin Xue struck simultaneously, one gold and one blue force twisting together like an enraged giant python, charging toward the pyramid.

Layer after layer of purple energy walls shattered, and cracks appeared on the surface of the pyramid device.

The mechanical voice of the system sounded: "Countdown, thirty seconds."

Zhang Jun felt his teeth about to shatter: "Not enough!"

Zhang Yumu suddenly broke free, weakly raising her hand: "Son, use my blood."

The yin yang sword sliced across the palm, blood dripping down.

Lin Xue also cut her palm, and their blood mingled with Zhang Yumu's blood in the air, like three intertwined streams of fate.

"Three jade unite, heaven and man as one!" they shouted in unison.

"Is it over?" Lin Xue's voice was soft, as if asking herself.

Zhang Jun shook his head: "No, it's only just beginning."

A figure walked in—it was Wang Ming, his face bearing the expression of a heavy burden lifted: "You did it! The main energy source of the extraterrestrial spirit consciousness has been severed, and people worldwide under its control are recovering."

Zhang Yumu leaned on Zhang Jun, and Lin Xue helped her sit down.

Wang Ming checked the instruments, the ease on his face suddenly vanished, turning solemn.

"Wrong, the system shows energy still flowing in, source—"

Wang Ming's face suddenly twisted, like a lump of wax melted by fire, his whole body turning into a mass of flowing metal.

Zhang Jun stepped back, yin yang power condensing in his palms.

The metallic liquid reshaped and solidified—Lin Yuehua!

Lin Xue froze: "Mom?"

"Don't be nervous, I'm real." Lin Yuehua's voice was gentle.

Zhang Jun did not relax his vigilance.

"For twenty years I've been hiding inside the Profound Heaven Sect, posing as Dr. Wang." Lin Yuehua took out a pendant, opened it, and inside was an old photograph.

In the photo, young Lin Zhen and Lin Yuehua held infant Lin Xue, beside them Zhang Tian Gang and Zhang Yumu.

Zhang Yumu nodded in confirmation: "It's true."

Lin Xue stepped forward, her hand lightly touching her mother's face, tears sliding down.

"Don't cry, now isn't the time for reminiscing." Lin Yuehua wiped her daughter's tears, looking at Zhang Jun: "The 'Zhang Jun' you saw in the surveillance is not an enemy."

"What do you mean?"

"That is another of Zhang Tian Gang's researches—the 'Consciousness Storage.' He implanted part of his consciousness into a clone, which is now internally battling the extraterrestrial spirit consciousness." Lin Yuehua walked to the console, pulled up several sets of data: "The spirit consciousness bridge hasn't been fully closed; we still have big trouble."

On the screen, a countdown: 14:30…14:29…

"What is that?" Lin Xue asked.

"It's the time when the spirit consciousness bridge fully opens." Lin Yuehua's expression grave: "Once it opens, the main body of the extraterrestrial spirit consciousness will descend to Earth via the bridge."

Zhang Jun recalled the battle details: "The energy balls formed by Long Tianba and Zhao Wushuang were just avatars?"

"Exactly, the true extraterrestrial spirit consciousness still lies beyond the dimension. What we just destroyed was merely an outpost."

Lin Yuehua opened a hidden elevator: "This leads to the top-level observation room, where we can see the whole picture."

The elevator rose, Lin Yuehua explaining: "The extraterrestrial spirit consciousness has established an energy reception station in space, gathering humanity's emotional energy via the satellite network."

The elevator doors opened to a circular room with a glass ceiling, at its center a holographic projection, the Earth's surface covered in a purple energy network.

"Look, energy is gathering." Lin Yuehua pointed: "They are preparing the final strike."

A purple halo appeared above the city.

"We need to carry out three tasks simultaneously." Lin Yuehua said quickly: "Lin Xue rescues Zhang Yumu, Zhang Jun finds the clone, I destroy the control system."

"Why find the clone?"

"His body contains fragments of your father's consciousness; only when the two Zhang Jun's consciousnesses merge can a complete yin yang bloodline form, which is the sole way to destroy the spirit consciousness bridge."

Lin Yuehua took a data crystal from a hidden compartment, inserted it into the console, and Zhang Tian Gang's image appeared on the screen.

"If you see this recording, it means everything is proceeding according to plan." The Zhang Tian Gang in the video looked grave: "Twenty years ago, I already foresaw today."

Zhang Jun felt absurd—his life was part of his father's plan?

"Zhang Jun and Lin Xue's meeting was no coincidence, the union of yin and yang was no accident, even Lin Zhen's sacrifice was factored in." Zhang Tian Gang's voice heavy: "This is a game of chess, and you are the key pieces."

"The extraterrestrial spirit consciousness initially attached to me, but I separated it using the yin yang bloodline and left a countermeasure." Zhang Tian Gang said: "Zhang Jun, you must find your clone; only complete yin yang power can oppose the extraterrestrial spirit consciousness."

The recording ended.

"Get ready to move." Lin Yuehua said: "Only ten minutes left."

Lin Xue looked at Zhang Jun, his fists clenched.

"Don't overthink it; whether or not it's part of the plan, what we need to do hasn't changed."

Zhang Jun nodded.

Lin Yuehua suddenly clutched her chest, collapsed to the ground, her body spasming, her face pallid.

"Mom!" Lin Xue exclaimed.

Lin Yuehua tore open her collar—a purple crystal implanted at her heart, purple patterns spreading along her blood vessels.

"The extraterrestrial spiritual sense has detected me……" Lin Yuehua said with difficulty, "They were already on guard……"

Countdown: 9:45…9:44…

"You must split up." Lin Yuehua struggled to her feet, "I'll destroy the main control system; you each complete your missions."

"But you——"

"No time left!" Lin Yuehua shoved her daughter aside, "Go save Zhang Yuyao—she's the key!"

Zhang Jun grabbed Lin Xue: "She's right, split up."

The two separated; Zhang Jun headed to the cloning lab via the ventilation ducts, while Lin Xue made for the energy tower.

On the horizon, purple auroras were visible, a vortex-shaped energy field forming above the city.

"The spiritual sense bridge…… is it about to open……" Zhang Jun muttered.