Chapter 409: Void Ambush, Specially Made Device

After a brief weighing of options, Lin Xuan made a decision: "I will personally lead an elite squad to intercept them. Xiao Yuan, you will temporarily take over the overall coordination of the Urban Great Array."

Xiao Yuan was clearly worried: "Are you sure leaving now is a wise choice? Yage could launch a larger-scale attack at any moment."

"This is an opportunity that may not come again," Lin Xuan said firmly, "If we can intercept this batch of 'Void Core's, we can weaken the effects of the 'Global Synchronization Project' at its source. Moreover, the foundation of the Urban Great Array has already been established; even without me, you can maintain its operation."

In the end, Lin Xuan chose the five most elite Practitioners to form the strike team. Each person was proficient in one branch of the Five Elements Energy, capable of forming a Five Elements resonance when necessary to counter high-level Void Power.

Before departing, Lin Xuan left behind his final instructions: "Remember, no matter what happens, the Urban Great Array must complete its final fusion before the Summer Solstice Day. That is our last hope for opposing the 'Global Synchronization Project'."

As the night deepened, Lin Xuan led the squad to quietly leave the headquarters, heading toward the eastern highway. At the same moment, guardians throughout the city were nervously reinforcing the Array, preparing to meet the next wave of attacks.

At the distant Star Technology headquarters, Yang Zhiyuan stood before a massive monitoring screen, which displayed energy fluctuation maps from all over the city. A cold smile appeared at the corner of his mouth: "Lin Xuan, you really took the bait."

A figure condensed from purple mist appeared behind him; it was Yage. "Prepare for the second phase of the plan," Yage's voice sounded like metal grinding, "Once Lin Xuan is far from the Urban Great Array, launch a full-scale attack immediately and destroy all the Array Eyes."

Yang Zhiyuan nodded respectfully: "As you command, everything is proceeding according to plan. Lin Xuan leaving the Urban Great Array is exactly the opportunity we were waiting for."

The night was like ink, and the mountainous area around Zijin Lake was shrouded in heavy darkness. The five-person squad led by Lin Xuan had been quietly lying in ambush at a bend in the mountain road for two hours, each person hidden behind bushes or rocks, holding their breath as they waited for the target to appear.

"Team leader, vehicles have emerged from the eastern highway exit that match the target description," the voice of the scout team member came through the communicator, "Eight black armored vehicles, with heavy bulletproof vehicles in the lead and at the rear, are heading in our direction."

Lin Xuan nodded slightly: "Positions everyone, proceed according to plan. Remember, the primary goal is to intercept the 'Void Core's; avoid direct confrontation as much as possible."

He adjusted the special device on his wrist—this was the Energy Balancer provided by Xu Feng, which could stabilize the output of Wood Element Energy at critical moments and avoid interference from Void Energy.

On the mountain road, the convoy consisting of eight black armored vehicles was driving slowly, their headlights piercing the night and illuminating the narrow mountain road. The convoy was not moving fast, but the formation was tight, clearly under heavy guard.

When the convoy entered the preset ambush zone, Lin Xuan gave the signal through hand gestures. The five Practitioners acted almost simultaneously, precisely attacking the front and rear ends of the convoy.

"Wood Element Net!" Lin Xuan shouted in a low voice, his hands quickly forming seals as countless emerald-green energy threads shot from his palms, instantly weaving into a giant net that covered the two lead armored vehicles. The energy net tightened rapidly, firmly pinning the vehicles in place.

At the same time, the other team members also displayed their respective strengths, each dealing with targets in different positions. The Fire Element Practitioner Zhang Peng leaped down from the mountaintop, the fireball condensed in his hand accurately hitting the engine of the rear vehicle, instantly causing it to lose power.

The convoy's retreat was cut off, and the vehicles in the middle fell into chaos. The doors of the armored vehicles slammed open, and dozens of fully armed bodyguards jumped out, quickly forming a defensive formation. Their movements were agile and their coordination tacit, clearly having undergone professional training. Even more alarming was that these bodyguards were all wearing modified "Star Brain" devices, with purple light flickering faintly on their foreheads and temples.

"Careful, they are all high-level users!" Lin Xuan warned, while simultaneously engaging two Black-Clothed Persons who had stepped out of the lead vehicle. These two were clearly different from the ordinary bodyguards, radiating a pure and powerful Void aura; they were clearly elite-level combat personnel.

"Lin Xuan of the Five Elements Academy?" one of the Black-Clothed Persons sneered, "We have long heard of your great name. Unfortunately, you came to the wrong place tonight."

Before the words had even faded, the two attacked simultaneously, black-purple Void Energy surging toward Lin Xuan like a tide. Lin Xuan did not retreat but advanced, Wood Element Energy forming a shield on his skin while his right hand turned into a blade, slashing toward the nearby enemy.

A fierce battle erupted on the mountain road. The two Black-Clothed Persons Lin Xuan faced were powerful, their moves ruthless, each strike containing corrosive Void Energy. Even a high-level Practitioner like Lin Xuan had to focus entirely on responding.

"You have been completely Void-ified," Lin Xuan said while parrying an attack, observing his opponents, "Why betray your own race?"

"Betrayal?" the Black-Clothed Person sneered, "We have merely chosen the path of evolution. Void Energy is not evil, but a key to transcending human limits. Those who cannot accept evolution will eventually be eliminated by history."

Lin Xuan shook his head: "Brainwashed to the core." He said no more and threw himself fully into the battle. Wood Element Energy circulated rapidly within his body, his aura becoming increasingly steady and powerful. After a precise counterattack, Lin Xuan found a flaw in one of the Black-Clothed Persons, striking the opponent's chest with a palm; the powerful Wood Element Energy instantly disrupted the Void Energy circulation within the opponent's body, and the Black-Clothed Person spat out a mouthful of black-purple blood, stumbling backward.

Taking this opportunity, Lin Xuan focused all his efforts on the other Black-Clothed Person. The two engaged in close-quarters combat, their energy collisions sparking a flash of light. After dozens of fierce exchanges, Lin Xuan finally found an opening, striking the opponent's throat with a "Wood Element Void-Breaking Force" and knocking them to the ground.

After the two strongest enemies were subdued, the combat effectiveness of the remaining bodyguards dropped significantly. Lin Xuan's team members gradually gained the upper hand and successfully took control of the entire convoy.

"Check the cargo!" Lin Xuan ordered, while walking toward the three armored vehicles in the middle.

Inside the cargo holds, dozens of special protective cases were neatly arranged, each with complex locking mechanisms and energy barriers. A team member carefully opened one of the cases; inside was a fist-sized "Void Core," emitting a strong black-purple light and an unsettling energy fluctuation.

"Good luck, thirty-six cores in total," the team member responsible for the count reported, "According to Xu Feng's analysis, this is about one-quarter of the total amount required for the 'Global Synchronization Project'."

Lin Xuan nodded: "Transfer them immediately, we must leave before reinforcements arrive."

The team members acted quickly, transferring the protective cases into the pre-prepared vehicles. Just as everything seemed to be proceeding smoothly, Lin Xuan suddenly felt a sense of intense unease, the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end.

"Everyone, stay alert!" he shouted sternly.