Chapter 809: Iron Crow Appears

The purplish-black beam like a death sentence stabbed straight at Lin Chong's brow.

Time inside the hall seemed to freeze.

Just as the beam was about to make contact—

A vast will descended like a raging tide.

It did not come from the Yuneng core sphere.

But… came from outside.

It pierced the barriers, tore through space, and forcibly cut into this core hall.

Iron-walled fortress, command tower.

Chen Wen bled from his seven orifices, yet stood unmoving.

His hands hovered in the air, his ten fingers sinking deep into the invisible lattice of rules.

The deep-blue structure of the repair program operated in his consciousness with unprecedented intensity.

Every line burned with potential energy.

Every node wailed under overload.

He was doing something nearly mad—

Through the faint link with Lin Chong, he traced back in reverse, forcibly projecting a fragment of his will to the Yuneng core hall three hundred li away.

The price was that his "fire of life" was being rapidly consumed.

His body began to disintegrate at the edges in the real world.

But he did not stop.

"Stop."

These two words were not sound.

They were a command that directly struck the hall's rules.

The beam aimed at Lin Chong halted abruptly, just three inches from his brow.

As if it had hit an invisible wall.

The purplish-black energy scattered like fireworks.

Lin Chong managed to catch his breath, stumbling backward.

But he immediately realized what had happened.

"My lord… don't!"

He knew the cost of such long-range projection.

Yet a greater presence was roused.

The Yuneng core sphere slowly ceased its rotation.

The billions of lines on its surface lit up in unison.

At the sphere's center, a "point" began to emerge.

At first like a needle tip.

Then it expanded.

It turned into a blurry outline, ten zhang tall, composed purely of Yuneng.

The outline gradually sharpened.

It was a gigantic crow.

Its wings were like cast iron.

In its hollow eye sockets burned Yuneng-green flames.

Its beak was like a curved blade, its talons like sickles.

But its form was not stable.

At times it dissipated like mist, at times it coalesced like steel.

"Iron Crow Army… master?"

Zhao Si's voice trembled uncontrollably.

The giant crow's "gaze"—if that cluster of Yuneng-green flame could be called a gaze—slowly swept across the hall.

It swept over every intruder.

Finally, it locked onto Lin Chong.

Or rather, it locked onto the space behind Lin Chong, where Chen Wen's projected will-shadow stretched three hundred li.

【Repair program……carrier……】

The giant crow's thought echoed directly in everyone's consciousness.

Cold, hollow, with mechanical precision.

【Why……resist?】

【Why……destroy……perfect order?】

Its "words" were not language, but a direct infusion of concepts.

Chen Wen's will-shadow coalesced into form within the hall.

Though blurry, it was unusually stable.

"Perfect order?"

Chen Wen's thought responded, equally direct and clear.

"You have sundered the world with Yuneng pollution, twisting living beings into monsters."

"And you call this perfect?"

【Severing…… is to isolate errors】

【Pollution…… is to purify impurities】

【Distortion…… is to optimize form】

The giant crow's thoughts were utterly calm.

【This world…… should operate according to the set script】

【The Yuan rises, Ming flourishes; Ming declines, Qing succeeds】

【Everything…… has its optimal path】

【But you…… these variables…… these errors……】

【Deviated from the script】

Its "gaze" turned toward Lin Chong.

Turned toward each team member in the hall.

【Your existence…… is the system's instability factor】

【Therefore…… isolation is needed】

【Observation is needed】

【Need…… eventual eradication】

"System? Script?" Lin Chong, enduring intense pain, asked hoarsely.

"What…… exactly are you?"

The giant crow's emerald-green flames flickered slightly.

【I am…… the guardian】

【I am…… the servant of order ensuring history runs on its correct track】

【This world…… is a precision instrument】

【Every era, every dynasty, every person…… should be in their designated position】

【To fulfill their designated function】

【To complete their designated mission】

【Then…… be replaced by a more optimized form】

It paused.

【The Ming Dynasty…… should have ended in 1644】

【The Qing Dynasty…… should have become the last imperial dynasty in East Asia】

【Then…… be replaced by a more advanced republican system】

【Everything…… should be thus】

【But you……】

Its thoughts suddenly turned sharp.

【Zhu Yuanzhang…… should have died of illness in 1388】

【The Ming Dynasty…… should not have had a century-long industrial revolution】

【The Qing Dynasty…… should even less be distorted by dark energy】

【You…… these variables】

【Have thrown everything into chaos】

The hall was deathly silent.

The team members, although unable to fully grasp these concepts,

but that icy, absolute will to eradicate all "heresy" made them shudder.

Chen Wen's will-phantom, however, let out a cold laugh.

"So that's how it is."

"You are…… a warden."

"One who tries to turn the living world into a…… puppet show of a madman."

【Madman?】

The giant crow's thoughts fluctuated for the first time.

【I am…… maintaining perfection】

【No war, no chaos, no pointless sacrifice】

【Everything runs according to the optimal solution】

【What's wrong with that?】

"No freedom." Chen Wen said, word by word.

"No choice."

"No…… 'human'."

【Freedom…… is a breeding ground for disorder】

【Choice…… is the root of inefficiency】

【'Human'…… is a flawed design】

The giant crow's wings slowly unfolded.

【You…… these variables】

【Always thinking their struggle…… is so great】

【Always thinking their will…… is so precious】

【But you are merely……noise points generated during……system operation】

【Need to be filtered out……interference】

Dark Energy Core Sphere begins to rotate again.

Speed increases.

The energy pressure inside the hall surges sharply.

【Since you……insist on destroying order】

【Then……let it end here】

On the sphere's surface, twelve patterns light up simultaneously.

Connecting the twelve shaman platforms.

The shamans emit painful cries.

Their bodies begin to melt.

Turning into pure energy, they are injected into the platforms.

The platforms shine like a dark-green sun.

Twelve beams of light shoot out.

They converge around the giant crow's body.

The giant crow's form solidifies completely.

At the edge of its wings, space begins to shatter.

"It is absorbing the shamans' life force……to strengthen itself!"

A sorcerer cries out in terror.

"Not just……"

In Lin Chong's rule-based vision, he sees the energy of the entire dark energy network gathering here.

"It is mobilizing the power of the entire system……"

【Repair Program Carrier……】

The giant crow's beak slowly opens.

【And……the variables you have cultivated】

【Let……annihilate them together】

It flaps its wings.

There is no wind.

Only the collapse of rules.

The hall's floor begins to crumble.

The crystal pillars break.

The conduits burst.

A purple-black energy storm sweeps everything.

Team members are thrown about by the impact.

Lin Chong grits his teeth and holds his ground at the front.

But the gap is too great.

This is a full-force strike of the entire system's will.

Chen Wen's will-projection also begins to waver.

The long-range projection has reached its limit.

"My lord……withdraw!"

Lin Chong roars.

"Here……leave it to us!"

Chen Wen's projection, however, shakes his head.

"It's not time yet."

His thoughts remain steady.

"It has appeared."

"It has used all its power."

"Then……its 'rear' is empty."

What?

Lin Chong stares in surprise.

Immediately, he feels——

Inside the dark energy core sphere.

The location of that "loophole" coordinate.

Defensive strength……is decreasing.

Because the giant crow has mobilized too much energy to manifest itself and launch an attack.

"Wall-Breaking Cone……is the assembly complete?"

The artisan's voice comes from behind the crystal pillar.

"Completed! But……there's no chance to inject it!"

"Now……there is an opportunity."

Chen Wen's projection begins to burn.

I will restrain it.

You…… carry out the mission.

Before the words could finish.

Chen Wen's phantom suddenly swelled.

Turning into a deep blue light curtain.

Blocking between the giant crow and the squad.

【Futile】

The giant crow's beak stabbed down.

The deep blue light curtain shuddered violently.

Cracks appeared.

But behind the light curtain.

Lin Chong turned around.

He lunged toward the Wall-Breaking Cone.

"Zhao Si! Cover!"

"Here!"

Zhao Si led the remaining members in a desperate effort to block a construct.

Lin Chong embraced the assembled Wall-Breaking Cone.

He charged toward the Nether Energy Core Sphere.

The active shield on the sphere's surface grew thin as energy was drawn away.

"Coordinates…… northeast quadrant…… seventh layer……"

He locked onto the target in his rule vision.

Ten steps.

Five steps.

The shield was right before his eyes.

But behind him.

Chen Wen's deep blue light curtain was already covered in spiderweb-like cracks.

The giant crow's second strike was about to fall.

Time, only a final breath remained.