Chapter 428: Ultimate Sacrifice, Dying for a Worthy Cause

Xu Feng stood up and walked to the window. Although the Void Storm outside had weakened, the Purple Aurora still danced in the sky, and the "Void Energy Tower" in the direction of the Xingchen Keji Zongbu was still operating continuously.

"Yage has already stored a massive amount of energy in the 'Void Energy Tower'; even if the global 'Star Brain' network is shut down, it can still utilize this stored energy to continue pushing the plan forward," Xu Feng explained, "What we shut down was only the energy input, but the output is still continuing."

At this moment, the team led by Lin Xuan finally arrived at the headquarters. Five squads arrived one after another, each carrying a "Void Core." Although most of the team members were injured and their mental states were near their limits, a glimmer of hope still flickered in their eyes.

Lin Xuan walked into the command room and placed the Earth Element Core on the central platform; the other four squads also placed their respective cores together. The five cores were placed side by side, emitting an eerie purple-black light, yet they seemed to have some kind of resonant relationship with each other.

"We have gathered all five cores," Lin Xuan looked around, his voice firm, "Now, it is time to formulate the final counterattack plan. These six hours will determine the fate of human civilization."

Xu Feng nodded, signaling the technicians to begin analyzing the data of the five cores: "We need to find a way to purify the cores, and then use them to disintegrate the energy foundation of the 'Global Synchronization Project'."

Xiao Yuan suddenly thought of something: "Yang Zhiyuan once said that the five cores correspond to the Five Elements directions; perhaps we should study them according to the principles of the Five Elements mutual generation and restriction?"

A flash of realization crossed Lin Xuan's eyes: "Right! The Five Elements cycle, the balance of generation and restriction. This is exactly the clue Yang Zhiyuan left for us!"

Inside the command room, the weary faces were once again illuminated by the glow of hope. Although the road ahead remained difficult, at least they had secured the most precious time—a six-hour counterattack window, enough for them to attempt a final effort to completely stop the Void Invasion.

The Xingchen Keji Zongbu Dalou, a building originally full of technological sense and futuristic style, had now completely alienated. The outer walls were covered with wriggling purple-black patterns, like the blood vessels of a living creature, continuously transporting eerie energy. All the glass windows were covered by purple-black matter, making the entire building look like a giant black lighthouse, continuously emitting purple beams of light into the sky.

On the open platform at the top of the building, Yang Zhiyuan's body was suspended in mid-air, limbs splayed, as if a living antenna. Purple-black energy flowed out from the wounds all over his body, merging into the massive energy cloud hovering above his head. This energy cloud was the main body of Yage; after absorbing enough energy, it had gradually solidified from its initial vague form, and one could vaguely discern some twisted form beyond human understanding.

Yang Zhiyuan's consciousness had become extremely weak under the erosion of the Void, like a small boat drifting in the vast ocean. Most of his thinking had been assimilated by Yage, with only a small core part of his self stubbornly resisting. The reason this resistance could be maintained was precisely because of the "Void Feedback Suppressor" he had secretly implanted in his brain many years ago—an insurance device he developed immediately after discovering the existence of the Xukong Weidu.

"Humanity's struggle will eventually be in vain," Yage's voice echoed in Yang Zhiyuan's consciousness, "Your civilization is but a speck of dust on the edge of the universe, about to be submerged by the tide of the Void."

Yang Zhiyuan did not respond; he concentrated his remaining willpower on staying conscious. He knew he could not hold on for much longer; the energy of the Void Feedback Suppressor was nearing exhaustion.

Just then, a marvelous change suddenly occurred. The purple-black energy flow surrounding Yang Zhiyuan suddenly became weak; the once surging energy tide weakened abruptly as if its source had been cut off. Yage let out a roar of rage, and the energy cloud fluctuated violently.

"Impossible! How could the 'Star Brain' network be shut down?" Yage's voice was filled with unprecedented anger and shock.

Yang Zhiyuan's consciousness stirred slightly, instantly understanding everything that had happened—Xu Feng had succeeded! He had activated the Emergency Shutdown Protocol and cut off the global "Star Brain" network. The main input channel for Void Energy was blocked, and Yage's descent plan had been severely crippled.

Yang Zhiyuan knew this was his only chance.

With the temporary loosening of the Void's control, he felt his control over his body recovering bit by bit. Although every tiny movement was accompanied by unimaginable pain, Yang Zhiyuan still endured the agony and slowly turned his head toward the console not far away.

That console was the core of the entire Xingchen Keji Zongbu, connecting all the building's systems, including the Self-Destruct Device he had secretly installed many years ago. When he originally designed this system, Yang Zhiyuan had foreseen the day when he might have to sacrifice the entire headquarters, so he had installed a small Fanzhiwu Chucun Zhuangzhi deep underground. This was the limit product of contemporary technology; once activated, it would generate an explosion sufficient to destroy an area of several kilometers.

Yang Zhiyuan's right hand began to tremble slightly, then slowly lifted. Yage seemed to have sensed the abnormality, and the energy cloud began to move toward him.

"Bug, what are you doing?" Yage's voice became dangerous.

Yang Zhiyuan did not answer, focusing all his energy on moving his body. His fingers finally touched the console, and he quickly entered a string of complex passwords. The screen lit up, displaying the interface of the Self-Destruct System.

"No!" Yage finally realized Yang Zhiyuan's intention, and purple-black energy tentacles lunged at him.

But Yang Zhiyuan had been prepared. While entering the final confirmation command, he activated the temporary energy barrier around the console, which was the final line of defense he had reserved specifically for this moment. The barrier could only last for a few seconds, but it was enough for him to complete his final work.

"Self-Destruct System activated, countdown: 120 seconds." A cold, electronic female voice echoed on the top platform.

Yage's energy tentacles slammed into the barrier, emitting a harsh energy resonance sound. The barrier quickly became unstable and was about to collapse.

Yang Zhiyuan knew he had one last thing to do. His left hand reached behind his neck and pressed a hidden micro-button, activating the final message hidden in the quantum communication network. This message contained the most important discovery from his many years of studying the Void—Yage's key weakness, a specific "Void Resonance" frequency that could disrupt the stability of Void Energy.

"Send to target: Lin Xuan," Yang Zhiyuan said with difficulty, his voice hoarse, "Message content: Void Resonance frequency, 1.618×10^-18 Hz, using Five Elements Energy as a carrier, Reverse Pulse, can disintegrate Yage."