Chapter 418: Fierce Battle in the Underground Palace, A Hair's Breadth Away

At the entrance to the Forbidden City Underground Palace, Lin Xuan and two elite team members faced a special forces unit controlled by the Void; the situation was exceptionally tense. In the narrow space of the Underground Palace, over a dozen fully armed special forces soldiers blocked all possible paths forward, purple light flickering in their eyes, manifesting the control of Void Energy.

"The training level and equipment of these people far exceed that of ordinary security," Lin Xuan whispered to the two team members, "A frontal breakthrough is almost impossible; we need to change our strategy."

Lin Xuan quickly scanned the surrounding environment, and the structural map of the ancient Underground Palace surfaced clearly in his mind. The data provided by Yang Zhiyuan had mentioned that this Underground Palace was built hundreds of years ago and possessed a complex drainage system used to prevent groundwater from seeping in.

"Zhao Dong," Lin Xuan turned to the team member on his left, "You understand architectural structures; do you remember that ancient drainage channel marked on the map? It should be behind the west wall, leading to the Core area."

Zhao Dong nodded: "I remember, but the channel might have fallen into disrepair over the years; I don't know if it's passable."

"It's worth a try," Lin Xuan quickly formulated a plan, "I will draw them away, and you find an opportunity to enter the drainage system and head directly to the Core room. Wang Ming, you are responsible for covering Zhao Dong, ensuring he can enter the channel smoothly."

Once the plan was set, Lin Xuan did not hesitate and immediately launched into action. He took several specially made Energy Interference Bombs from his pocket, briefly reinforced them with Wood Element Energy, and threw them toward different positions of the special forces unit.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

With three consecutive explosions, the interference bombs released intense light and sound waves, simultaneously emitting illusions formed by Wood Element Energy, creating multiple phantoms of Lin Xuan.

"It's people from the Five Elements City Guardian Network! Stop them!" the special forces Commander ordered, immediately dispersing the troops to pursue the Lin Xuan who appeared to be moving everywhere.

Lin Xuan took the opportunity to charge toward the densest group of enemies, drawing fire: "Come and catch me, you lackeys of the Void!"

Wood Element Energy circulated around his body, forming a thin energy barrier that barely withstood the dense gunfire. Lin Xuan nimbly wove between the complex stone pillars of the Underground Palace, constantly changing positions, successfully leading most of the enemies away from the entrance to the drainage system.

At the same moment, Zhao Dong and Wang Ming seized the opportunity and quickly snuck toward the west wall. Wang Ming covered Zhao Dong as the two found an inconspicuous drainage outlet, covered by heavy bluestone slabs. Zhao Dong carefully pried open the slab, revealing a narrow channel.

"It's too narrow, only one person can pass," Zhao Dong whispered, "And it looks like it has partially collapsed."

Wang Ming made a decisive choice: "You go, I'll stay behind to cover Team Leader Lin. Hurry, we can't hold out for too long."

Zhao Dong nodded and quickly crawled into the dark channel. The Underground Palace was ancient, and the channel was filled with cobwebs and silt; the air was damp and foul, but he could not worry about that, and using the faint light of his headlamp, he crawled forward rapidly.

The situation on Lin Xuan's side was becoming increasingly dangerous. The special forces' firepower was too dense; even with a Wood Element Shield, he could not completely avoid injury. Several bullets grazed his shoulder and thigh, leaving burning wounds. Worse still, the injury he had sustained earlier at the factory began to flare up, and the erosion of Void Energy in his left arm was intensifying, with sharp pain surging through his entire body like an electric current.

"Must hold on a little longer," Lin Xuan gritted his teeth to endure the pain, "to buy time for Zhao Dong."

He hid behind a thick stone pillar, panting rapidly. Wang Ming's voice came through the communicator: "Team Leader, Zhao Dong has entered the channel, but four enemies are coming toward my position!"

"Hold them off, try not to engage in direct conflict if possible," Lin Xuan responded quickly while observing his own predicament, "I've drawn most of the firepower here, but the situation is not optimistic."

The special forces had clearly received training in countering Ability Users; they adopted a tactical encirclement, constantly compressing Lin Xuan's range of movement. Bullets struck the stone pillars, sending stone fragments flying, and some shrapnel cut Lin Xuan's cheek.

"Looks like I have to use that move," Lin Xuan took a deep breath, Wood Element Energy accumulating rapidly within his body, "I hope the energy is enough..."

Meanwhile, Zhao Dong was struggling forward in the narrow drainage channel. The channel dipped and turned, and he was nearly blocked by collapsed rubble several times. Finally, after crawling for nearly ten minutes, he saw a glimmer of light ahead.

"This should be the Core room," Zhao Dong whispered into the communicator, "I can see the exit."

"Proceed with caution," Lin Xuan's voice was mixed with the noise of battle, "The Core may have special protection."

Zhao Dong cautiously approached the exit, crawled out from a hidden vent, and found himself in a circular underground hall. In the center of the hall was a precision metal device, with purple light shining through the gaps—this was clearly the container holding the Earth Element Core.

However, the moment he approached the container, a circle of blue light patterns suddenly lit up on the floor, and a holographic projection formed in the air, displaying a biometric identification system interface.

"Unauthorized personnel detected, initiating security protocol," a mechanical voice sounded, "Please enter authorization password or perform biometric identification."

"Damn it," Zhao Dong froze, "Team Leader, there is a biometric identification system here; I cannot approach the Core!"

Lin Xuan was already in a desperate situation; over a dozen special forces soldiers had him completely surrounded, and his Wood Element Shield was showing cracks under the sustained firepower. Hearing Zhao Dong's report, he had to divide his attention during the melee to think of a countermeasure.

"Yang Zhiyuan must have left a backdoor," Lin Xuan said urgently, "Try entering 'Wood-72-Fire-18-Earth-45-Metal-36-Water-94'; this is the Emergency Shutdown Protocol code he gave."

Zhao Dong immediately entered the code on the holographic interface, but the system issued a warning: "Code incorrect, security level raised, remaining attempts: 2."

Cold sweat beaded on Lin Xuan's forehead, not only because of the pressure of the battle but also because the pain in his left arm had become unbearable. The erosion of the Void Energy was spreading along his arm toward his heart, like countless fine needles traveling through his blood vessels.

"Calm down, calm down," Lin Xuan forced himself to think, "Yang Zhiyuan wouldn't have left no way out... wait, try entering it in reverse!"

Zhao Dong quickly followed the instructions and entered "Water-94-Metal-36-Earth-45-Fire-18-Wood-72". The system paused for a moment, then the holographic interface turned green: "Identity confirmed, Yang Zhiyuan's Emergency Shutdown Protocol initiated, protection disengaged."

The container opened slowly, and the Earth Element Core floated in the energy field, emitting a purple-black light.

"I've got the Core!" Zhao Dong reported joyfully.

Just at this moment, Lin Xuan could no longer maintain the Wood Element Shield, and the final energy barrier shattered with a boom under the dense firepower. In this critical moment, he unleashed all his potential, formed hand seals with both hands, and shouted sternly: "Wood Element: Ten Thousand Woods Breaking Rock!"