Chapter 400: Star Brain Conspiracy

After hanging up the communication, Lin Xuan leaned against the wall, feeling the Wood Element Energy flowing through his body once again. The city lights flickered in the distance; it looked calm, but in reality, undercurrents were surging. The tentacles of the Void had already reached into every corner of the city, and a storm the likes of which had never been seen before was about to arrive.

Lin Xuan stood in the conference room of the Five Elements City Guardian Network Headquarters, his expression grave. The large screen on the wall was playing the latest advertisement for Star Technology—a smart wearable device named "Star Brain." It was lightweight and exquisite, worn on the temple, and claimed to be able to "improve thinking efficiency, improve sleep quality, and enhance brainpower." In the advertisement, users from all over the world shared enthusiastically how "Star Brain" had changed their lives.

"Sales have already exceeded one hundred million units, with a global coverage rate approaching 3%," Xu Feng said, closing the video to report to the core members present. "According to intelligence we obtained from the underground exchange, Star Technology is the mastermind behind the 'New Era Association,' and this 'Star Brain' device is far from as simple as it appears on the surface."

Xiao Yuan handed Lin Xuan an exquisite black box: "This was seized by Zhou Zhuo during a raid; it is still sealed."

Lin Xuan carefully opened the box and took out the thumb-sized "Star Brain" device. On the surface, it was just a well-designed smart product, silver-white all over, dotted with tiny, star-like points of light, giving it a very futuristic feel. However, when his Wood Element perception seeped into the interior of the device, a faint but definitely existing fluctuation of Void Energy appeared.

"I need to analyze it in more detail," Lin Xuan said, handing the device to Xu Feng, "especially its working principle and the specific impact on the user."

Three days later, Xu Feng and his technical team returned with the analysis results. Inside the conference room, everyone's expression was grave to the extreme.

"The essence of the 'Star Brain' device is a precision brainwave regulator," Xu Feng said, pointing to the anatomical diagram on the projector. "The surface functions are indeed as the advertisement claims, but it has a hidden program. When the user enters deep sleep, the device emits brainwaves at a specific frequency, slightly but continuously altering the user's thinking patterns, making their subconscious more susceptible to the erosion of Void Energy."

"How is the effect?" Lin Xuan asked.

"Quite slow but extremely effective," Xu Feng replied. "According to our experiments, after three months of use, the subject's resistance to Void Energy drops by 40%, and after six months, it drops by over 70%. What is even more terrifying is that this change is extremely covert; the user cannot perceive at all that their thinking is being reshaped."

Xiao Yuan gasped: "One hundred million units... this means..."

"It means that one hundred million people globally are being subtly transformed into potential vessels for Void Energy," Lin Xuan continued for her, "and this is just the beginning. According to Star Technology's marketing plan, sales will reach five hundred million units within a year."

"We must act immediately," Xu Feng said. "The technical team is already developing a countermeasure device that can neutralize the harmful effects of 'Star Brain' by pushing updates through the network. But this takes time, and it may not necessarily cover all devices."

Lin Xuan pondered for a moment: "We need to act on two fronts. Xu Feng, you are responsible for the development and deployment of the countermeasure device. At the same time, I will lead a team to infiltrate the Star Technology headquarters to find more evidence and attempt to destroy this plan at its source."

The plan was quickly formulated. Lin Xuan selected five elite Practitioners to form a raid team, each proficient in one branch of Five Elements Energy, capable of forming a Five Elements Resonance Array in an emergency. After meticulous preparation, the operation was set for the early hours of the morning three days later—when the Xingchen Dasha would have the fewest personnel and the weakest security.

On the night of the operation, Lin Xuan's team wore special energy-concealing suits and quietly approached the Xingchen Dasha located in the city center. This skyscraper was constructed entirely of reflective glass, resembling a massive black crystal in the night, flickering with a cold, sharp light.

"The security system has been temporarily jammed; we have a ten-minute window," the team member responsible for technical support reported through the communicator. "Watch out for the guards on the bottom and top floors; they may carry special weapons effective against Practitioners."

Lin Xuan nodded and led the team in through a hidden service entrance. With the help of the security system they had hacked beforehand, they successfully avoided the patrolling guards and headed straight for the underground laboratory. According to intelligence, that was the most confidential R&D center of Star Technology and the birthplace of "Star Brain" technology.

Lin Xuan stopped in front of the security door on the third underground level. The biometric system on the door was a problem, but they were prepared. The technical expert took out a special override device and stuck it onto the identification panel. Ten seconds later, the security door slid open silently.

The interior of the laboratory was spacious and bright, with dozens of precision instruments arranged neatly. In the center was a massive circular workbench, on which were placed various versions of "Star Brain" prototypes. However, the most eye-catching thing was a transparent container in the center of the workbench, inside which floated a fist-sized black-purple crystal—it was exactly the same as the "Void Core" Lin Xuan had seen at the underground exchange.

"Collect all data," Lin Xuan ordered in a low voice, "especially the complete information regarding the 'Star Brain' project."

The team members quickly dispersed and began searching the data on various workstations. Lin Xuan walked toward the Void Core in the center, wanting to study this dangerous item at close range.

Just then, voices came from deep within the laboratory. Lin Xuan quickly signaled everyone to hide, while he quietly approached the source of the sound.

In a secret room at the very back of the laboratory, Lin Xuan looked through the half-open door crack and saw a scene that made his blood run cold—Yage, that envoy of the Void Devourer, was talking to a well-dressed middle-aged man. The latter was none other than Yang Zhiyuan, the CEO of Star Technology and a world-renowned technology innovator.

What was even more shocking was that a miniature Dimension Rift was suspended in the space between the two, more stable and precise than any rift Lin Xuan had seen before.

"The Global Synchronization Project has entered its final stage," Yage's voice was low and calm. "One hundred million 'Star Brain' devices, one hundred million potential dimensional nodes. When the critical point arrives, these devices will activate simultaneously, forming a Void network covering the entire globe."

Yang Zhiyuan nodded, a fanatical light flashing in his eyes: "At that time, humanity will welcome a true evolution. Those who cannot adapt will be eliminated, while the rest will gain unprecedented power and cognition."

"Do not forget our agreement," Yage smiled, a smile that made Lin Xuan's hair stand on end. "When the new world descends, you will become the Bridge between humanity and the Void Sovereign, enjoying supreme glory."