Chapter 373: Before the Heaven Gate

"I have bound my own Life Energy to the fleet's Core system... The moment I die is the beginning of your fleet's paralysis." Saide's voice grew weaker and weaker, "A super virus... designed specifically to target our civilization's Energy Network... has already begun to spread."

Mo Rui immediately released the energy tentacles and rushed to the main console, frantically inputting commands in an attempt to stop the virus from spreading. But it was too late; the red warning on the control screen had already covered more than half the area.

"You're insane!" Mo Rui roared, "This will destroy the entire fleet's attack system!"

"No, just temporarily paralyzed." Saide slowly slid down to the floor, leaning against the console, "Enough... to let them finish the activation of the Heaven Origin Instrument."

Mo Rui turned to look at the dying Saide, his eyes filled with incredulous anger: "For the sake of these inferior beings, you are willing to sacrifice your own life?"

Saide smiled, his vision gradually blurring: "I believe... a future of multi-species coexistence... is more promising... than a path of singular conquest."

As Saide's Life Energy completely dissipated, a powerful blue energy wave erupted from his body, rapidly penetrating every system of the warship. All the screens in the main control room flickered simultaneously, then plunged into chaos.

Alarm sirens blared throughout the flagship, and immediately after, like a domino effect, all the warships of the Outer Heaven Fleet began reporting system failures. Attack devices malfunctioned, energy barriers became unstable, communication systems were interrupted...

Mo Rui stood in the center of the chaotic control room, watching Saide's body gradually turn into blue energy particles and dissipate. His fists were clenched tight, and purple energy flowed violently around his body.

"Prepare the ground troops!" Mo Rui roared into the communicator, "All warriors, proceed to the Tianmen area immediately! Stop them from activating the Heaven Origin Instrument at all costs!"

Ling Bo stood by a mountain stream, having just broken through an energy barrier node. She suddenly felt a strong emotional fluctuation coming through the soul bond, followed by a fragmented message.

"Saide... he sacrificed himself." Ling Bo told the other Houxuanzhe in shock, "The Outer Heaven Fleet's attack system has been temporarily paralyzed!"

"That's good news!" Li Yan's voice came through the bond, "But we still need to reach Tianmen as soon as possible!"

"There is one more thing." Ling Bo paused, "Saide told me that the activation of the Heaven Origin Instrument requires a guide to use their own energy as a catalyst. This person will bear extreme risk."

After a brief silence, Lin Xuan's voice came through: "I will be that guide."

"No!" The other four objected almost simultaneously.

"I have already used Wood Spirit Fusion, and my life essence is damaged." Lin Xuan said firmly, "And as the key in the Five Elements mutual generation cycle, the Wood Element is best suited to serve as the guide. This is the only logical choice."

"There are three minutes left." Shi Qi reminded everyone, "We must arrive at the five ley line intersection points simultaneously!"

The five Houxuanzhe accelerated, rushing toward their respective target locations. In the sky, the once-menacing Outer Heaven warships were now like giant beasts that had lost their power, floating in mid-air, with only a few relying on backup systems to maintain basic maneuvering capabilities.

On the ground, a large number of ground troops were gathering toward the Tianmen area. They knew that this was the final showdown that would determine the fate of Diqiu, and there was little time left.

Lin Xuan looked up at the giant flagship in the sky, a flash of gratitude in his heart: "Thank you, Saide. Your sacrifice will not be in vain."

Afterward, he gritted his teeth, enduring the intense pain following the Wood Spirit Fusion, and sped toward the direction of Tianmen. The gears of fate had already begun to turn, and they could not be stopped.

Lin Xuan felt his vitality draining rapidly. The aftereffects of the Wood Spirit Fusion were more severe than he had anticipated; every step felt like carrying a thousand pounds. His vision began to blur and his breathing became heavy, but the will to survive drove him to continue forward.

"Must... reach Tianmen..." Lin Xuan gasped with difficulty, propping up his exhausted body.

Just then, a burst of hurried footsteps came from the surrounding woods. Lin Xuan looked up alertly and saw over a dozen figures dressed in green robes appearing from all directions, quickly forming a circular Array to surround him in the center.

"It's the Green-Robed Person organization!" Lin Xuan recognized them; this group of Practitioners who had always operated in secret had helped out at critical moments many times before.

The leader of the Green-Robed Person removed their mask: "Mr. Lin Xuan, we are under orders to protect you as you reach Tianmen."

"You have been following me?" Lin Xuan was somewhat surprised.

"We have been secretly protecting all the Houxuanzhe," the Green-Robed Person replied, "Now that the most critical moment has arrived, we must ensure you arrive safely."

Lin Xuan scanned his surroundings and noticed that many of the Green-Robed Person had injuries on them, clearly having experienced intense battles.

"The road ahead has been sealed off layer by layer by the Outer Heaven civilization's troops," the Green-Robed Person said in a low voice, "but we have a way to open a path."

No sooner had they spoken than they quickly adjusted their positions in the Array, each holding an ancient talisman seal that lit up. Lin Xuan immediately recognized this as the long-lost ancient "Spirit Gathering Talisman," capable of concentrating all of a Practitioner's spiritual power and releasing it.

"No! This is a sacrificial Array, you will—" Lin Xuan exclaimed.

The Green-Robed leader calmly interrupted him: "We have long been prepared for this moment. The mission of the Kunlun Guardians is to protect Tianmen and the Houxuanzhe at the most critical of times."

Before Lin Xuan could further intervene, the sixteen Green-Robed Person activated their Spirit Gathering Talismans simultaneously. In an instant, a pillar of green light soared into the sky from the center of the Array, tearing through the space ahead and forming a glowing passage.

"Go, Mr. Lin Xuan," the Green-Robed leader's voice had grown weak, but remained firm, "This passage can take you directly to the front of Tianmen, but it can only be maintained for three minutes, please hurry."

Lin Xuan looked at these Practitioners who were willing to sacrifice themselves for the fate of Diqiu, his heart filled with respect. He bowed deeply: "I will never forget your sacrifice."

Afterward, he rushed into the light passage without hesitation. Behind him, the bodies of the sixteen Green-Robed Person gradually turned into specks of light, merging into the passage's energy, leaving only the green robes and talisman seals on the ground as witnesses to their sacrifice.

"These damn barriers!" Li Yan shouted angrily, the Star-Extinguishing Flames released at full power colliding with the purple energy barrier, only to be completely absorbed.

Worse still, dozens of Outer Heaven warriors were closing in from all directions. The weapons they were equipped with were designed specifically to target Fire Element Energy, and each attack made Li Yan's flames dim a little more.

"Why can't the flames break through?" Li Yan felt anxious inside, sensing his power being suppressed by some peculiar energy field.