Chapter 223

Shattered Star Belt, inside the ruins of the Ancestral Observation Station.

Li Qingxuan held the warm, jade-green crystal, feeling the surging vitality and ancient law information flowing within it, his heart roiling.

This was not only a boost in power, but also a coronation of his mission.

Mo Ying, the Xingyuzhe Elder, and Xingren, three strong ones of the Star Spirit race, after viewing the warning screen of the 'Exile Land' shared by Li Qingxuan, fell into a long silence.

The spreading fissures and the frenzied attacks of the Realm Breaker Legion in the screen were like cold iron clamps gripping their breath.

"The situation is worse than our worst estimate." Mo Ying's voice carried a hint of dryness, azure flames flickering in his obsidian eyes—the fire of fury suppressed to the extreme—"The False Emperor has gone completely mad; he doesn't care what disaster his released power will bring, he only wants to use destruction to cement the authority he stole!"

The Xingyuzhe Elder stroked the dimly glowing crystal ball, his aged face full of worry: "At this rate, perhaps less than three years, the seal of the Exile Land will collapse entirely. We must do something, even if only to buy a moment."

Xingren snapped his head up, looking at Li Qingxuan, his gaze sharp as a blade: "Lord Li Qingxuan, you have gained part of the ancestors' legacy, especially this 'Life Imprint' crystal (they named that diamond-shaped crystal). It is not only a key to power, but perhaps also the key to approaching or even influencing the seal of the Exile Land! Life and extinction are mutually antagonistic; this power might help stabilize the seal or disrupt the False Emperor Legion's actions."

Li Qingxuan nodded; he felt the same.

After integrating the crystal's data with the observation station's information, he gained a clearer understanding of how to use life energy against extinction corrosion.

He even faintly sensed that if he could find a specific node of the Exile Land's seal, perhaps he could use this 'Life Imprint' to temporarily reinforce or interfere with it.

"But how can we approach the Exile Land? That place is undoubtedly a dragon's pool and tiger's den." Huang Rong raised the most crucial question.

Just seeing that massive Realm Breaker Legion in the screen was enough to inspire dread.

Mo Ying and the Xingyuzhe Elder exchanged a glance, as if they had made up their minds.

Mo Ying said in a low voice: "Our Shadow Hall does indeed have a hidden force there, code-named Shadow Eye. They have long lurked in the chaotic star domain outside the Exile Land, monitoring the False Emperor Legion's movements. Perhaps… we can try to establish more direct contact with them, and even… plan a strike against the Realm Breaker Legion's logistics or energy supply to delay their advance."

This is an extremely bold and dangerous plan!

It means actively drawing the flames of war toward that distant death-star domain.

"We need more detailed intelligence." Li Qingxuan analyzed calmly, "The current status of Shadow Eye, the specific deployment and weaknesses of the Realm Breaker Legion, and the environment of the star domain surrounding the Exile Land. Blind action equals suicide."

"We can gather intelligence as best we can," Mo Ying promised, "but time waits for no one. We need to prepare simultaneously. Lord Li Qingxuan, you must quickly familiarize yourself with and master the power of the Life Imprint, especially how to use it against extinction energy. Meanwhile, we will begin assembling an elite assault fleet and strive to establish stable hyperdimensional communication with Shadow Eye."

An expedition crossing the Star Sea had its tone set preliminarily in this shattered observation station.

The meeting ended, and both sides returned with heavy and urgent hearts.

Returning to the Guangtan Alliance, Li Qingxuan immediately entered deeper seclusion.

He placed the Life Imprint crystal before him, sank his spiritual power into it, and carefully contemplated the vast life law and the knowledge left by the ancestors.

He discovered that this crystal is not only an energy source and knowledge repository, but also like an 'amplifier' and 'converter,' able to more efficiently transform his own life energy (including that thread of Life Source Breath) and spiritual power into force with specific law effects.

He attempted to guide a thread of life energy, after conversion through the crystal, into a patch of star moss that was about to wither.

The star moss visibly revived at a speed visible to the naked eye, turning lush and dripping green, even emitting a faint glow.

He also tried using this power for defense, condensing a jade-green energy shield before him, and found it indeed had significant resistance and purification against extinction energy.

"Not enough…" Li Qingxuan murmured.

This level might work against scattered extinction energy, but against the Exile Land's scale of erosion and the False Emperor's legion, it is still far from enough.

He needed greater power, and also needed to find a way to effectively project this power to distant star domains.

At the same time, the entire Guangtan Alliance entered the highest state of combat readiness.

Li Feifei, based on the information Li Qingxuan brought back, adjusted resource allocation and began fully supporting the dwarves and elves in developing star vessels, weapons, and protective systems suitable for deep-space combat.

The Copperbeard Clan Chief personally supervised the forging, heating the furnaces of Anvilburg to red-hot, attempting to combine dwarven forging skill with the star spirit technology provided by the Shadow Hall.

Queen Aister led the elf druids and mages in researching how to attach natural magic and life energy to arrows and spells, to counter possible void spawn.

Day by day passed, and a tense atmosphere permeated every corner of the alliance.

One month later, the Shadow Hall sent new information through an encrypted channel.

The information was sent personally by Mo Ying, carrying a hint of fatigue and resolve: 'Shadow Eye has established an unstable connection… the main force of the Realm Breaker Legion is concentrating its assault on the Rift Seven node… their logistics base lies at the edge of the Corrupt Nebula, with relatively weak defenses… in fifteen standard days, that nebula will enter an energy lull, the best window for a strike… our assault fleet is ready, code-named Broken Blade…'

Attached to the message were detailed star chart coordinates, an assessment of the logistics base's defensive strength, and the energy tide cycle of the Corrupt Nebula.

"Broken Blade" operation is about to begin!

This will be the first joint proactive strike by the Guangtan Alliance and the Shadow Hall, directly targeting the False Emperor's Realm Breaker Legion!

Li Qingxuan ended his seclusion and walked out of the secret chamber.

His aura grew deeper, and as his eyes opened and closed, it seemed as if the light of life flowed within.

He summoned all core members and disclosed the Shadow Hall's information.

"This is our first step to avert disaster, and perhaps our only chance." Li Qingxuan's gaze swept over the crowd, "I have decided to personally take part in the Broken Blade operation."

"Too dangerous!" Jiang Xiu'e was the first to object, her face full of worry.

"Mother, I must go." Li Qingxuan said firmly, "Only I have preliminarily mastered the power of the Life Imprint; perhaps I can deal an unexpected blow to the False Emperor's extinction energy. Moreover, I need to witness firsthand the true situation around the Exile Land."

Huang Rong, Li Jing, Chen Xiulan, and others stood up without hesitation, expressing their wish to go together.

After careful consideration, Li Qingxuan finally decided to personally lead Huang Rong (reconnaissance and assault), Yanxin Runesmith (technical support and energy analysis), and a squad of twenty elite warriors combining the strengths of the three races, the Star Dust Guard, aboard an assault ship modified by the Shadow Hall, to take part in this Broken Blade operation.

The future of the alliance, and indeed the fate of the wider Star Sea, will sail with this squad's expedition into the unknown dark depths of space.

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