Chapter 421: Highest Level Emergency Protocol

In the Stonehenge of Europe, a group of Druid descendants dressed in green robes gathered in the center of the stone circle. They held oak staves, chanting ancient incantations that only a very few still remembered.

Those megaliths that had slept for thousands of years began to glow slightly; the power dormant within the stone pillars was awakened, forming beams of green energy that shot straight into the clouds, creating a dense Energy Network over Europe.

On the American continent, from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, priests from countless indigenous tribes held prayer ceremonies simultaneously. Although their languages, attire, and specific rituals differed, their common goal was to evoke the primitive power of Nature to resist the Void's invasion. Forests, grasslands, rivers, and mountains seemed to respond to their call, and streams of pure Life Energy flowed across the American land, forming invisible barriers.

These energies from all over the world gradually connected, forming an Energy Network covering the globe. The infiltration speed of the Void Energy slowed significantly, winning precious time for Lin Xuan and his team.

At the Five Elements City Guardian Network Headquarters, the command center had been transformed into a massive energy conversion field. In the center was a circular platform about five meters in diameter, engraved with complex Five Elements Array Patterns. Five Void Cores were placed at specific positions on the platform, arranged in the order of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water, forming a complete energy cycle. Beside each core stood a Five Elements Practitioner of the corresponding attribute; Lin Xuan was naturally the leader of the Wood Element Position.

The "Five-Core Energy Conversion Instrument" was the product of an all-nighter designed by Lin Xuan, Xiao Yuan, and Xu Feng. It ingeniously combined the ancient Five Elements Array with modern technology, aiming to convert the energy of the five Void Cores into a source of power to combat the Void.

"Equipment self-test complete, energy conversion rate expected to reach 78%," Xu Feng said, sitting before the console, his expression tense and focused. "According to the current growth rate of the Void Energy, our array should be able to hold until midnight."

Xiao Yuan was helping Lin Xuan treat the wound on his left arm. As time passed, the erosion of the Void Energy had spread to his shoulder; purple-black veins were clearly visible, and in some places, slight corrosion had even begun to appear. Such an injury would have been fatal to an ordinary person long ago; that Lin Xuan could hold on until now relied entirely on his powerful Wood Element cultivation and astonishing willpower.

"Is there really no other way?" Xiao Yuan asked, tears in her eyes, carefully applying a new Energy Suppression Bandage for Lin Xuan.

Zhang Yisheng shook his head helplessly: "Conventional medical means are completely ineffective against Void Energy erosion. The only hope is that the Void Energy will naturally dissipate after we successfully stop Yage."

Lin Xuan endured the pain and offered a faint smile: "Don't worry, I can still hold on. The most important thing now is to focus on our plan."

Xiao Yuan wiped away her tears and nodded: "The array is ready, the Five Element Force Field is stable, and it can be activated at any time."

Lin Xuan stood up and looked around. The staff in the entire command center were busy at their respective posts, making final preparations for the upcoming operation. Through the massive observation window, the direction of the Xingchen Keji Zongbu could be clearly seen—it had been completely swallowed by Void Energy, turning into a massive black-purple energy tower, continuously transmitting control signals to the global "Star Brain" network.

"How long until midnight?" Lin Xuan asked.

"One hour and seventeen minutes," Xu Feng replied. "The Void Energy is growing geometrically, and there are already over a thousand abnormal phenomena globally."

The main screen displayed real-time footage from around the world: the Eiffel Tower in Paris was shrouded in a purple energy vortex; electronic equipment in Times Square, New York, had completely failed, and the LED screens were filled with distorted symbols; on the streets of Tokyo, thousands of "Star Brain" users were moving slowly like zombies, heading toward a certain direction in unison; in the sky over Sydney, eerie light spots appeared, like wounds where space had been torn.

"Military forces of various countries have initiated the highest level of Emergency Shutdown Protocol," the communications officer reported, "but conventional weapons are useless against Void Energy. The United States even attempted to launch a tactical nuclear missile to attack a highly Void-corrupted area, but the missile disintegrated on its own as it approached the target."

Lin Xuan nodded; this was within his expectations. The power of modern civilization appeared so feeble in the face of the absolute Void; never before in human history had they faced such a severe existential crisis.

"Prepare to activate the 'Five-Core Energy Conversion Instrument'," Lin Xuan ordered, walking toward the position of the Five Elements Array. "According to the original plan, we will activate the array one hour before midnight, and at the same time, Xu Feng will initiate the 'Star Brain' Emergency Shutdown Protocol. If all goes well, we should be able to cut off his energy source before Yage fully descends."

The five Five Elements Practitioners took their places. Lin Xuan stood by the Wood Element Core, Xiao Yuan was at the Fire Element Position, and the other three controlled the Earth, Metal, and Water elements respectively. Xu Feng sat before the main console, ready to activate the Emergency Shutdown Protocol at any time.

"Activate the forward energy barrier," Lin Xuan instructed. "Xiao Yuan, guide the Fire Element Energy into the cycle."

Xiao Yuan formed seals with her hands, and Fire Element Energy flowed from her fingertips like a red stream, connecting to the Fire Element Core. The core immediately resonated, and a hint of red light was faintly visible beneath its purple-black shell.

The other four practitioners activated their respective Yuan Power in turn. The five-colored energy—wood green, earth yellow, metal white, and water blue—gradually formed a complete cycle, flowing around the five cores. The purple-black Void Energy inside the cores began to interact with the Five Elements Energy, producing a peculiar energy conversion phenomenon.

"Energy conversion is normal," Xu Feng said, staring at the data screen, his expression slightly relaxed. "At this rate, we should be able to complete the total purification of the cores before midnight."

However, just as the array's operation was gradually stabilizing, a violent tremor suddenly struck. The lights in the entire command center flickered, and some equipment malfunctioned. On the main screen, the energy tower in the direction of the Xingchen Keji Zongbu suddenly erupted with blinding purple light, and the energy output seemed to have increased more than tenfold.

"What's happening?" Lin Xuan asked sternly, while simultaneously increasing the output of his Wood Element Energy.

Xu Feng quickly checked the data: "Yage seems to have sensed our actions! He is initiating the final ritual ahead of schedule, and a massive amount of Void Energy is surging into the 'Star Brain' network!"

On the screen, "Star Brain" users across the globe suddenly stopped in their tracks as if they had received some kind of signal, then looked up at the sky in unison. Countless thin purple lines shot out from their bodies, straight into the clouds, connecting to the space rift that was about to be torn open.

"No!" Xu Feng exclaimed. "Yage is using the Life Energy of the 'Star Brain' users to forcibly open the descent channel! If he succeeds, he will descend earlier than expected!"