High Martial Arts: Liver Becomes the Master of the Universe

Chapter 153 Confronting the Machine Race: Battlefield Dominance! Qin Lan!

"You're Qin Feng?"

One of the young men, of medium build, with a square face and the sharpest eyes, spoke first.

His voice was hoarse and deep.

"it's me."

Qin Feng met his gaze calmly.

"Zou Yun has good taste."

Another young man, slightly burly with a neat short haircut, nodded to Zou Yun, his tone carrying a hint of approval.

A smug look appeared on Zou Yun's face. He stepped forward and introduced the two sides: "Qin Feng, let me introduce you. This is Shan Yang, and this is Pang Chen. Shan Yang, Pang Chen, this is the last member of our team that I mentioned to you, Qin Feng."

Shan Yang was the sharp-eyed young man who spoke first.

He extended his hand to Qin Feng and introduced himself succinctly: "Shanyang, vitality index 102, skilled in swordsmanship."

"Pang Chen".

The burly young man also extended his hand and shook hands with Qin Feng. His palm was rough and strong, covered with thick calluses. "Vitality index 104, skilled in throwing knives."

Their introduction was concise and to the point.

"Qin Feng."

Qin Feng was equally concise: "Vitality index 110, skilled in marksmanship."

Upon hearing this, even Shan Yang and Pang Chen, who had already prepared themselves mentally, couldn't help but show a hint of undisguised surprise in their eyes.

110 points!

This number has already firmly surpassed theirs.

What's even more frightening is that the person who revealed this number was just a freshman who had only been enrolled for three years.

"Alright, everyone's here, let's get down to business."

Zou Yun couldn't wait to gather everyone together. He knew Qin Feng's personality; he didn't like wasting time on meaningless small talk.

Shan Yang nodded, looked around, and said in a deep voice, "This mission is very special."

"Its origin is from a senior member of the battle group. This senior member used his extremely high privileges in the mission hall to snatch a large-scale cleanup mission with a limit of 20 people. However, he had more important things to deal with, so in order to train the younger generation, he assigned this mission to members of our battle group in the form of 'internal assignment'."

"The mission requires participation in teams of four, with a total of five teams. Furthermore, each team must consist of two students who have been enrolled for more than ten years and two freshmen who have been enrolled for less than ten years."

Shan Yang's gaze swept over Qin Feng and Zou Yun.

“Pang Chen and I are senior students. The two of you just meet the requirements for freshmen. Zou Yun has been enrolled for nine years, and you have only been enrolled for three years.”

Qin Feng listened quietly, and instantly understood.

This is indeed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

These tasks, "fed" to them by their seniors, are usually carefully selected. Their purpose is to allow promising newcomers to quickly gain contribution points and practical experience in a relatively safe environment. It is a kind of hidden benefit that belongs only to top-tier battle groups.

"According to the information given by our predecessors, the mortality rate of this mission is extremely low, but the failure rate is very high."

Shan Yang's tone became serious, "But once it is successfully completed, the rewards will be extremely rich."

"The task is simple,"

He continued, "It's a cleanup mission. An extremely large psionic vein has been discovered on the Empire's mining planet Y12393-a12, but that area is currently occupied by a branch fleet of the Mech Race. According to the last intelligence transmitted back by the Empire's reconnaissance ships, the strongest individual Mech Race member entrenched there has a strength of no more than 110 points of vitality index."

"Our mission is to simultaneously infiltrate the mining area in five small teams from five different directions to wipe out the mechanical race entrenched there. The total reward for the mission is 1000 contribution points."

"As for the distribution of the rewards..."

A glint of light flashed in Shan Yang's eyes. "It's calculated based on the area of ​​the mining area that each team ultimately clears and controls. If our team ultimately controls one-fifth of the entire mining area, then we can get one-fifth of the total reward, which is 200 contribution points. The reputation points are calculated in the same way, also a total of 1000 points, distributed according to contribution. So, this is definitely a good opportunity to make a fortune."

Upon hearing this, Qin Feng nodded slightly, indicating that he understood.

He instantly understood the situation.

If everything goes smoothly, their team will get one-fifth of the share, which means 200 contribution points, split equally among the four of them, giving each person 50 points. As for reputation points, each person will get 200 points.

It was indeed a huge sum of money that would make any level four martial artist envious.

"Therefore, we and the other four teams are actually both partners and competitors."

Shan Yang remarked, "Whoever clears out the enemy faster and executes their tactics more effectively will get a bigger slice of the pie in the final settlement. That's why we need strong new teammates, especially those with exceptional command abilities."

His gaze finally settled on Qin Feng.

"Zou Yun strongly recommended you to us. To be honest, I had some doubts at first, but now..."

Shan Yang's tone was tinged with amazement, "I really didn't expect that a freshman who has only been in school for three years could not only pile up his vitality index to such an unbelievable height of 110 points, but also master two 'Control Realm' killing techniques."

"My suggestion is to hand over command of this mission directly to Qin Feng."

Zou Yun, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up and made a suggestion.

He looked at Shan Yang and Pang Chen with an extremely serious expression: "Qin Feng and I have carried out missions together. I can guarantee with my battle achievements that his battlefield command ability is far superior to mine, and even... stronger than most of the senior students I have ever met."

Upon hearing this suggestion, Shan Yang and Pang Chen exchanged a glance, but showed no surprise or opposition.

For veterans like them who have spent over a decade battling on the brink of death, face and seniority are worthless in the face of tangible benefits and survival rates.

Qin Feng's demonstrated strength and potential, along with Zou Yun's unquestionable guarantee, were enough to make them make the most rational judgment.

"I have no opinion."

Pang Chen was the first to speak, his voice remaining calm and steady.

"I agree."

Shan Yang nodded. "On the battlefield, the capable should take the lead. Since Junior Brother Qin Feng is the strongest, we are completely convinced that you should be in command."

"it is good."

Qin Feng did not refuse and readily agreed.

This respect and trust is earned through his strength, and it is also the responsibility he must bear as the strongest member of the team.

Soon, under Zou Yun's guidance, Qin Feng was officially brought into this temporarily formed team.

His personal terminal also simultaneously received encrypted mission information released by the Empire.

The light screen unfolded, revealing lines of cold text and data clearly.

[Mission ID: C-7709-Elite]

[Mission Type: Area Clearance (Warband Assigned)]

[Mission Location: Y12393-a12 Mining Planet, Continent 3, 'Silent Valley' Mineral Zone]

[Mission Objective: Eliminate all Mech units within the target area and seize control of the mineral vein.]

[Enemy Intelligence: Confirmed existence of a branch of the 'Neclas' mechanical universe nation. The model of the highest-ranking combat unit is unknown; peak energy fluctuations are estimated to not exceed 110 points of the Vitality Index standard. A large number of 'Ghost'-class cloaked units, 'Scarab'-class swarm units, and 'Immortal'-class heavy armor units are expected to exist.]

Departure time: Imperial Standard Time, one month from now.

After reviewing all the mission information, Qin Feng closed the light screen and began issuing his first command as commander.

"Before we set off, there are a few things we need to do that we all need to follow strictly."

All three eyes immediately focused on him.

"First and foremost, the most important point."

Qin Feng's tone left no room for doubt: "After entering the mission area, when facing the machine race, none of us can summon or use any warp-space intelligent assistants."

"it is good."

Upon hearing this, the three immediately nodded in agreement, showing no surprise whatsoever.

This is the ironclad rule for fighting against the machine race.

Everyone knows that while the Empire's warp network is powerful, the Machine Race's bizarre technology, based on cold logic and infinite algorithms, is precisely its nemesis.

Within the realm of the Mechs, any attempt to connect to the warp network is tantamount to lighting a campfire in a dark forest.

The machine race can not only easily block and interfere with signals, turning the geographical information and enemy distribution data provided by the intelligent assistant into a bunch of useless gibberish, but can even use more sophisticated methods to reverse-infiltrate and control your intelligent assistant.

Countless arrogant martial arts squads, due to their disbelief in superstition, have had their subspace storage units locked or even remotely detonated, or their tactical channels monitored throughout, ultimately resulting in their complete annihilation.

When facing the mechanical race, the only things you can trust are your own eyes, your own judgment, and the weapons in your hands.

"second."

Qin Feng continued, "Mission intelligence indicates that the enemy's strongest member has a vitality index of no more than 110 points. We can handle this threat. But the real trouble lies in the number of the machine race and their endless stream of mechanical creations."

His gaze swept over the crowd. "The 'Scarab' swarms and 'Immortal' heavy units mentioned in the intelligence all point to one thing—we are about to face a torrent of cold steel and deadly energy. This will be a war of attrition, a protracted war."

"Therefore, I recommend that everyone must be equipped with power armor, and carry as many [Superior Stamina Recovery Potions] and [Special Healing Potions] as possible. It's better to have too many than to be without them."

"Okay! That's right!"

Shanyang nodded vigorously.

Qin Feng's two suggestions were well-organized and hit the nail on the head.

"Then it's settled."

Pang Chen concluded, "We'll meet again in a month. Go back and prepare yourselves well."

Everyone nodded again, and the temporary team, having reached a preliminary consensus, promptly dispersed.

Qin Feng did not linger in the "Fearless" area and quickly returned to his dormitory.

Inside the quiet room, he sat cross-legged and began to plan his next move.

He currently has 41 contribution points remaining.

This amount of money is clearly insufficient to purchase enough recovery potions to sustain a high-intensity, protracted battle.

He thought for a moment and did not immediately open the trading post to buy those expensive potions.

Instead, he turned to the "Daily Tasks" section on his personal terminal, which he hadn't opened in a long time.

After more than a year of seclusion, a new round of daily tasks has already been completed.

"With my current abilities, it shouldn't take me more than a month to complete these basic daily tasks."

"I can earn at least 30 contribution points. With this money, I can buy more pre-battle supplies."

He knew that in this mission where "cooperation and competition" coexisted, the more thorough the preparations were in the early stages, the farther his team could advance, the more efficient the clearing operation would be, and the bigger the pie they would ultimately get.

He had calculated this very clearly.

Without the slightest hesitation, Qin Feng accepted all the daily tasks he could.
-
For the next month, Qin Feng's life was compressed to the extreme, and he devoted all his energy to the seemingly trivial daily tasks that were scattered throughout the Canaan Star Martial Arts University.

Ecological Park, Zone B-7, Amethyst Flower Cultivation Greenhouse.

Qin Feng's figure moved like a swift ghost, weaving through the giant vines that were tens of meters high.

With a light tap of his toes on the supple branches, he could propel himself into the air and precisely avoid the man-eating flower buds hidden beneath the leaves that could spray paralyzing poisonous mist.

His goal is the "Amethyst Flower Stamen" that grows at the top of the vines and absorbs simulated starlight.

This is a spiritual herb that has a slight nourishing effect on mental energy. The harvesting process requires not only superb agility but also precise timing.

Today, his vitality index of 110 points gives him physical coordination and explosive power far exceeding that of ordinary people.

What used to require careful planning and multiple routes to complete is now just an easy "vertical parkour" for him.

He doesn't even need to think; his body's instincts allow him to make the best judgment.

In just half a day, he completed the amount of data collection that would normally take two days.

Canaan First Martial Arts High School, Ninth Simulation Battle Room.

Qin Feng, dressed in light training clothes and holding an ordinary alloy long gun without any energy enhancement, stood in front of a group of nervous first-year high school students whose faces still had a childish look.

"The spear is the king of weapons, and its core lies in 'thrusting' and 'blocking'. What you are going to learn now is not any fancy killing moves, but the most basic power generation techniques."

His voice was calm and steady, and every word clearly reached the ears of the first-year high school students.

"You demonstrate. Attack me."

A tall student, mustering all his strength, launched a powerful slash at Qin Feng.

Qin Feng neither dodged nor evaded; he simply flicked his wrist, and the spear shaft met the opponent's blade precisely in an extremely slight arc.

"when!"

A soft sound.

The freshman felt an inexplicably subtle rotating force coming from the blade. His all-out slash was easily deflected, and he staggered forward due to the excessive force.

Qin Feng's spear was already coldly pressed against his throat.

"Strength is not brute force. You must learn to use your waist and hips to drive your whole body, twisting the power into a single rope and sending it out from the tip of the spear."

With his current martial arts knowledge and control over power, guiding these high school students who haven't even mastered the basics of killing techniques is like a game-changer.

He can always pinpoint everyone's problems and use the most intuitive way to help them understand the correct way to exert force.

He completed the "excellent" rating guidance task in less than three days.

……

Data collection, escort, training, data processing...

During this month, Qin Feng was like a tireless perpetual motion machine, his figure appearing in every corner of Canaan, frantically reaping the contribution points from daily tasks.

His surge in strength allowed him to complete tasks that previously required a great deal of mental effort, at a faster pace and with less energy.

In the past, it would take him two months to clear his daily task list, but this time he completed it all in just one month.

When the "complete" notification sounded in his mind for the last task, Qin Feng glanced at his contribution points balance.

[Contribution Points: 70]

Adding the previous 40 points, his hard work this month brought him a net income of 30 points.

Without any delay, Qin Feng immediately returned to his dormitory and opened the Imperial Trading Post.

"A protracted war is inevitable when facing the Mech Race."

His thinking was incredibly clear; he directly locked onto the target from the resource list.

[Product: High-Effect Stamina Recovery Potion]

[Type: consumables]

[Effect: Quickly replenishes stamina depleted during intense combat, restoring muscle fatigue far more efficiently than ordinary recovery potions.]

Price: 10 contribution points/piece

"Four branches."

Qin Feng exchanged for four without hesitation, which was enough to give him four more chances to catch his breath and unleash his power in battle than his enemies.

[Product: High-potency healing spray]

[Type: consumables]

[Effects: Contains highly active growth factors, which can quickly stop bleeding, promote wound healing, and are particularly effective against burns caused by energy weapons.]

Price: 10 contribution points/piece

"One."

This is a life-saving trump card; it can save your life in a critical moment.

[Product: Special Mental Strength Restoration Potion]

[Type: consumables]

[Effect: Slowly but continuously restores depleted mental energy, maintaining focus and calmness.]

Price: 10 contribution points/piece

Two.

In a protracted war, mental exhaustion is often more deadly than physical exhaustion.

After a series of actions, the 70 contribution points that I had just acquired and hadn't even had a chance to enjoy were instantly wiped out.

Looking at the several potions emitting different halos in the subspace storage unit, Qin Feng felt no heartache, but rather a sense of security and reassurance.

Everything is ready.

With a thought, he chose the [Fearless Zone] as his teleportation target.

With a shift in light and shadow, the next second, he reappeared in that familiar, chillingly tense assessment area number seven.

Zou Yun, Shan Yanghe, and Pang Chen were already waiting there. They had all changed into close-fitting black combat uniforms and were talking in hushed tones.

Not far from their squad, four other squads, each consisting of four people, had also assembled.

The twenty elite members of the Fearless Battle Group were either standing or sitting, either resting with their eyes closed or wiping their weapons.

Although they belonged to different teams, each of them exuded a fierce and confident aura.

The air inside the entire assessment area seemed to become heavy because of these twenty powerful auras.

Clearly, all the teams that received the mission have arrived.

Just as Qin Feng's gaze swept over the other teams, a familiar gaze, filled with surprise, also fell upon him.

In another squad, a tall, aloof woman, upon seeing Qin Feng, couldn't help but show a hint of disbelief and astonishment in her beautiful eyes.

"It's him!"

She almost instinctively gasped out.

This woman was none other than Yin Jing, Qin Feng's teammate on the "Star Walker-7" purification mission.

Qin Feng naturally recognized her as well. He was slightly surprised, and then gave Yin Jing a polite smile as a greeting.

"What's wrong, Xiaojing? Do you know that person?"

Beside Yin Jing stood a tall, beautiful senior student who exuded mature and confident charm. Following her gaze, she looked at Qin Feng's team.

The senior student's gaze lingered briefly on Shan Yang and Pang Chen before she easily determined their status as upperclassmen. Then she saw Zou Yun, and finally, her gaze settled on Qin Feng.

"Two are returning students, one is Zou Yun who has been enrolled for nine years... so the last one should also be a freshman."

The senior student's tone was somewhat casual.

"Senior Qin Lan, he... is the 'monster' captain I mentioned to you last time, the one I encountered during that emergency rescue mission last year."

Yin Jing's tone carried a hint of emotion and solemnity that she herself was unaware of.

"Oh?"

The senior student known as "Qin Lan" raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Is that the freshman you mentioned, the one with terrifying battlefield dominance, unparalleled precision command, and unmatched personal strength?"

"Correct."

Yin Jing nodded, then glanced at her senior and solemnly reminded her, "His strength is unfathomable. Senior, we need to be careful of that team on this mission, and not let them take away too much control area."

Hearing Yin Jing's serious evaluation, Qin Lan couldn't help but chuckle.

She patted Yin Jing on the shoulder, her tone carrying a hint of nonchalant laziness and confidence.

"Alright, alright, I got it. According to what you said, with the killing techniques of the 'Control Realm' and the physical potential comparable to a juvenile star beast, he really is a little monster."

She abruptly changed the subject, a hint of arrogance from a top-tier expert flashing in her eyes. "However, Xiao Jing, you must understand that the real power in the competition for the mission reward percentage lies in the hands of those of us with a vitality index exceeding 100. He's just a freshman who's only been in school for three years; no matter how talented he is, his vitality index probably hasn't even reached 100 yet, right?"

"……All right."

Seeing her senior's dismissive attitude, Yin Jing opened her mouth, but ultimately said nothing more.

She knew that her senior, Qin Lan, had a life force index of a terrifying 120 points, making her exceptionally strong.

Looking at the other four teams present, the senior students' vitality index was basically just over 100 points, and none of them could compare with Qin Lan.

She has the capital to be confident.

Just then, an aura far surpassing that of everyone present, so powerful it was suffocating, descended from the sky without warning and enveloped the entire Seventh Assessment Area!
Everyone's expression changed, and they suddenly looked up.

A young man with long black hair and wearing a silver standard combat uniform was seen hovering in mid-air with his hands behind his back, looking down indifferently at the twenty people below.

He stood there without any flying equipment, as if he were standing on an invisible platform.

"Level Six... Soaring Warrior!"

Qin Feng's pupils suddenly contracted.

He sensed a terrifying pressure emanating from this senior student, a pressure that was completely different from that of the elite disciple Baze—a pressure that was far more expansive and imposing.

"It's Senior Qianhe!"

Zou Yun lowered his voice and quickly explained to Qin Feng, "This mission was one he snatched from the mission hall and then assigned to us junior members of the battle group as a bonus. This is an unwritten tradition of our Fearless Battle Group for nurturing newcomers."

"I see."

Qin Feng nodded slightly.

In mid-air, the senior student named "Qian He" slowly spoke.

His voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly.

"It seems everyone has arrived. Being able to snag these twenty spots from tens of thousands of applicants shows you're all pretty lucky."

His gaze swept over the five clearly distinct teams below.

"I'm assigning this task to you, and the final reward distribution will be determined through internal competition. But you must remember that all competition is contingent on your ability to successfully complete the task."

Qian He's eyes suddenly turned sharp.

"If the mission fails due to the struggle for control of the territory, not only will there be no reward, but I'm sorry, for the next five years, all of you will be blacklisted and will not be allowed to receive any internal missions assigned by the chapter."

"Understand?!"

"understand!"

The twenty people responded in unison.

"very good."

Qianhe nodded in satisfaction. "Understood, let's set off then!"

The moment the words fell, the twenty people present moved in perfect unison, almost simultaneously assembling their respective power armor with a thought.

"Click! Click! Smash!—"

Accompanied by a series of teeth-grinding gas valve depressurization sounds and the roar of metal components meshing together, twenty sets of heavy powered armor, full of gothic aesthetics and violent texture, appeared out of thin air and completely enveloped their bodies.

They are menacing and heavy, with towering shoulder armor and a power backpack on their backs that resembles a miniature cathedral dome. The surface of their armor is engraved with chapter insignia and purity marks that symbolize glory and merit.

The moment the faceplates closed and the dark blue HUD screen lit up, the twenty members of the Fearless Legion had transformed into twenty cold, steel killing machines.

They wielded various kinds of melee weapons, and some even carried psionic bomb guns that they had redeemed with contribution points.

"Transmission begins!"

At Qian He's command, five huge teleportation arrays emitting a ghostly blue light simultaneously lit up on the ground beneath the five squads.

The next second, space was torn apart.

Twenty figures, along with their steel power armor, vanished into the distorted light and shadow.
-
The dizzying sensation of warp teleportation is like an invisible giant hand, roughly grasping everyone's soul and dragging them into a bizarre and chaotic ocean of colors.

This nauseating feeling lasted for less than a second.

The next moment, the solid, grounded feeling pulled their souls back into their steel bodies.

"Om-"

Within 0.01 seconds, the various systems of the power armor completed self-checks and environmental adaptations, and the scene before them instantly returned from distorted light and shadow to clear reality.

The four found themselves in a desolate, oppressive wasteland.

The sky was a despairing leaden gray, with thick, seemingly solidified clouds that completely blocked out the light of the stars.

There was no wind, no sound, and even the movement of air was almost stagnant.

The earth is bare, dark red rock with a metallic texture, and countless oddly shaped, angular crystal clusters, like ferocious bone spikes, pierce out from the ground and point to the eternally gray sky.

A faint, metallic, fishy smell filled the air.

This is the mining planet Y12393-a12, a dead world that has long been drained of all its surface value by the Empire, leaving only the newly discovered psionic vein deep underground.

Directly in front of them, several kilometers away, the earth seemed to have been cleaved open by a giant axe from the gods, creating a bottomless chasm.

That was the destination of this trip—the "Silent Valley" mining area.

The edge of the rift valley has been transformed to be filled with the cold, cruel geometric beauty of the mechanical race.

The original natural rock walls have been cut into perfect 90-degree right angles, and huge, unidentified black metal obelisks stand like silent sentinels on both sides of the entrance to the rift valley.

"According to the map information we saved before setting off, we are now at the southeast corner entrance of the mining area."

Qin Feng's calm voice was clearly transmitted to everyone's ears through the encrypted team communication channel.

"Faced with the machine race, all of our warp intelligence assistants are kept dormant. We can only trust our own eyes and the most basic offline maps on the HUD interface."

"clear."

Shan Yanghe, Pang Chen, and Zou Yun responded in unison, their tone devoid of any objection.

On their power armor HUD interfaces, a static, simplified topographical map drawn by an Imperial scout ship was displayed simultaneously.

Although it cannot be updated in real time, it is the only reliable navigation tool they can rely on in this land contaminated by the machine race.

Without the slightest hesitation, the four formed a tight diamond-shaped combat formation. Their heavy "Bastion"-class power armor boots pounded on the dark red rocks, producing a dull, rhythmic "thump-thump" sound, like the beating of a war drum, as they steadily advanced towards the entrance to the deep rift valley.

Zou Yun's hands were now equipped with a pair of ferocious, crackling power claws that emitted faint arcs of electricity. The opening and closing of the joints produced a teeth-grinding "crackling" sound, filled with an aura of violence and destruction.

In Sanyo Kazuo's hand, he held a heavy longsword taller than himself, its blade reflecting a cold, deathly gleam in the dim light of the day.

Pang Chen appeared to be unarmed, but everyone knew that hidden within the arm and leg armor of his power armor were at least a hundred deadly throwing knives capable of piercing through alloy armor.

The four steel-clad killing gods thus stepped into the forbidden zone of death, named "Silent Valley".

The entrance to the mining area is an enormous, downward-sloping passageway.

The walls of the passage were as smooth as a mirror, engraved with countless complex patterns that emanated a ghostly green light, incomprehensible to mortals, resembling some kind of giant circuit board.

The metallic dust smell in the air grew stronger, mixed with a unique aroma of ozone and energy.

The four remained on high alert, advancing step by step toward the abyss.

They advanced about 500 meters, and the passage began to open up.

at this time!

Qin Feng suddenly stopped in his tracks.

His gaze instantly locked onto the tip of a seemingly ordinary stalactite hanging from the cave ceiling, a hundred meters ahead.

There, a faint crimson light, fainter than the stars and not belonging to this world, flashed by in an instant.

It's a reconnaissance outpost for the Mech race!
"Enemy attack!"

Qin Feng's warning rang out like a thunderclap in the communication channel.

However, it's too late.

In that instant when the red light flashed, the entire mining area seemed to awaken from its slumber like an ancient behemoth, revealing its most ferocious fangs!
"Buzzing—"

A chilling, high-frequency humming sound suddenly rang out from the shadows all around!
Immediately afterwards, seven or eight ghostly, semi-transparent, twisted figures "penetrated" out from the hard rock walls and dome without warning!

Their appearance is like that of ghosts draped in tattered metal cloaks. They have no physical form, only a pair of electronic eyes that emit a ghastly green light, and a pair of incredibly sharp claws made of pure energy.

'Ghost' class stealth unit!

The moment they appeared, they raised their energy claws and launched the first wave of bombardment at the squad below!
Several energy orbs, crackling with unstable electric arcs, descended from the sky with a sharp whistling sound!

"Scatter! Find cover!"

Qin Feng's command was given the instant the energy ball appeared.

Almost entirely driven by their fighting instincts, the four of them lunged out in different directions.

boom! boom! boom!
A violent explosion erupted where they had just stood, the terrifying energy shockwave blasting several huge craters into the hard ground, sending countless fragments of rock and arcs of electricity flying wildly in all directions.

However, this is just the beginning.

"Shh...shh..."

A chilling, surging sound, like a tidal wave, came from the deeper darkness ahead.

Immediately afterwards, a "river" composed of countless palm-sized metal beetles with shimmering green single eyes surged out from the darkness!

They are 'scarab' level cluster units!

Tens of thousands of scarabs, like a living plague of metal and circuitry, covered the ground and climbed the walls, densely packed and endless. A deadly green light simultaneously shone from their single eyes!
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh——!
The next second, countless thin but dense energy rays, like a torrential rain, poured down on the four people who had just dodged the first wave of bombardment!

This is the most classic and unbeatable tactical combination of the Mech race: Spectral harassment and Beetle suppression!

"Pang Chen, use the throwing knives to suppress those beetles!"

"Shanyang, Zou Yun, form a defensive line at the front!"

Qin Feng calmly issued his orders amidst the hail of bullets.

"Roger that!"

Pang Chen let out a low shout, and with a flick of his arms, dozens of gleaming throwing knives sprang out from his arm armor like a peacock spreading its tail. He flung them all out at a speed that was too fast for the naked eye to catch!
These throwing knives traced deadly arcs through the air, striking with unparalleled precision the areas where the scarabs were most densely packed.

Each throwing knife contains terrifying kinetic energy, easily stringing together several or even a dozen scarabs and pinning them firmly to the wall.

His throwing knives temporarily cleared a relatively safe area from the barrage of fire from the scarabs.

Meanwhile, Shan Yanghe and Zou Yun roared as they faced the main force that was pressing in from the front!
Boom!Boom!Boom!
Heavy, rhythmic footsteps echoed from the darkness.

A dozen or so heavily armored robots, each over three meters tall and made entirely of black metal, resembling skeletal skeletons, emerged from the darkness with steady and unstoppable steps.

In their hands, they held a huge energy rifle with an ominous green muzzle.

'Immortal' class heavy armor unit!

They are the most solid front and the most reliable source of firepower in the mechanical race's legion.

Ignoring Pang Chen's throwing knife, they aimed their energy rifles at Qin Feng and his group, and pulled the triggers without hesitation.

"withstand!"

With a roar, Shan Yang wielded his heavy longsword with the force of a mountain. Brilliant blades of light formed an impenetrable wall of steel before him, blocking all the energy rays powerful enough to melt alloys.

Zou Yun, like an enraged tiger, charged forward instead of retreating, braving the hail of bullets, and fiercely rushed towards the foremost Immortal.

His ferocious power claws crackled with electricity as a powerful punch, imbued with terrifying force, slammed into the chest of the Immortal!

"boom!"

With a loud bang, the alloy armor on the chest of the Immortal was dented by his punch, and it staggered back several steps.

However, these immortal beings have no sense of pain, let alone fear.

The moment it was knocked back, it regained its footing and aimed its energy rifle at Zou Yun, who was standing right next to it.

The battle reached a fever pitch the moment they stepped into the mining area!
"This can't go on! We'll be worn down and die!"

Zou Yun roared in the channel, "These damn things are endless!"

"There's something controlling them!"

Qin Feng's voice was as calm as ice, "Shanyang, Zou Yun, hold the line! Pang Chen, continue to suppress the ranged firepower of those beetles! Create a three-second opportunity for me to advance! I'm going to decapitate them!"

"understand!"

The three responded in unison, having no doubt about Qin Feng's judgment.

"drink!"

Shan Yang and Zou Yun unleashed their power simultaneously, their swords and fists acting like two guardian deities, firmly blocking the battle line formed by the immortals from ten meters away.

Pang Chen also unleashed his full power, sending out even more throwing knives like a storm of death, temporarily suppressing the green energy barrage.

It's now!

Qin Feng made a move.

Instead of charging head-on, he used his feet to propel himself forward, and like a cannonball, he began a high-speed run along the smooth wall!

The power armor's powerful performance increased Qin Feng's physical strength by at least 40%, allowing him to easily perform such anti-physical maneuvers.

His figure left a black afterimage on the wall, instantly bypassing the Immortals' frontal defenses.

At that moment, he finally saw clearly that behind the group of immortals, a figure completely different from the other mechanical units was quietly floating in mid-air.

It was a much taller and more magnificent mechanical life form.

Its body is made of silvery-white living metal, with smooth and elegant lines. Several pairs of auxiliary arms, like arthropods, extend from its back, and it holds a scepter that emits terrifying energy fluctuations in its hand.

Its eye sockets burned with a flame of wisdom and icy coldness.

This is the true mechanical life form!
A mechanical lord!
Those immortals, scarabs, and ghosts are nothing more than pawns in its game.

Countless invisible data streams are emanating from its scepter, precisely controlling every unit on the battlefield.

Qin Feng's goal is this!
[The Ruthless Chaser!]

Qin Feng, who was running on the wall, suddenly twisted his body, and the Thousand Army Spear in his hand, like a drug lord pouncing on its prey, with unparalleled decisiveness and ruthlessness, transformed into a black lightning bolt and shot towards the mechanical lord!

The mechanical lord had clearly noticed the uninvited guest; the scepter in its hand shone brightly, and a strong psionic shield instantly appeared before it.

However, Qin Feng's gun has transcended the scope of "moves".

Just as the spear tip was about to touch the shield, it trembled slightly at an unbelievable angle!
hum!
That thousand-army spear ignored the energy shield's obstruction, as if passing through a phantom, and precisely pierced the mechanical lord's core energy center from an impossible angle!

"Pfft!"

With a soft sound, the entire spear pierced through to the root!

A violent power erupted within the mechanical lord!

The flame of wisdom in the mechanical lord's eyes was instantly extinguished, replaced by a chaotic jumble of data.

The next second, all the mechanical creations that were frantically attacking on the battlefield froze in their tracks, as if a pause button had been pressed.

The green light in their eyes began to flicker violently, and finally went out completely, turning them into a pile of cold, lifeless scrap metal.

The first wave of the crisis has been averted.

"Phew... Well done!"

Zou Yun gasped for breath, looking at the still mechanical wreckage scattered on the ground, still shaken.

However, this is just the beginning.

……

The days that followed turned into a long, seemingly endless, bloody cycle filled with bombardments of steel and psionic energy.

Their squad, like a sharp dagger, resolutely advanced deeper into the mine.

Fight, fight, and more fight.

Every day, they face ambushes and encirclements of this intensity several or even a dozen times.

The types of mechanical beings are becoming more and more numerous and increasingly difficult to deal with.

They encountered heavily armed destroyers that could emit psionic singularities and hold people firmly in place;
They also faced cunning strategists who led organized legions of immortals and crept up behind them.

The battle lasted for more than thirty days.

In these thirty days, the four of them have honed their teamwork to a level of perfection.

Often, Qin Feng doesn't even need to speak. With just a glance or a gesture, Shan Yanghe's blade will block the most deadly attack routes, Zou Yun's iron fist will smash into the strongest defensive points, and Pang Shen's throwing knives will seem to have eyes, eliminating all threats from blind spots.

They are like a sophisticated war machine, executing "decapitation" tactics efficiently, ruthlessly, and resolutely.

In this silent valley, they have advanced more than a hundred kilometers, and the mechanical lords who have died at their hands number at least eighty, if not a hundred.

As they continued to penetrate deeper and destroy the mechanical race's manpower, the enemy's resistance should have weakened over time.

But the truth is quite the opposite.

The number of mechanically manufactured items has not decreased in the slightest.

Even if they have just completely destroyed a mechanical lord in an area along with hundreds of combat units under his command, as long as they advance a few more kilometers, a larger and more advanced mechanical legion will immediately emerge from the darkness and overwhelm them.

These cold, killing machines seemed to appear out of nowhere, endless and relentless.

Day 32.

After they destroyed another massive hybrid legion commanded by three mechanical lords, the four finally got a brief respite.

Leaning against a massive, still faintly glowing cluster of psionic crystals, they gasped for breath, seizing every second to replenish their power armor and inject themselves with restorative potions.

"Something's wrong..."

Yamayo's voice rang out in the silent channel, carrying an undisguised weariness and solemnity.

“Something’s not right. We’ve been killing for so many days, but these tin cans are just getting bigger and bigger.”

"Yes."

Pang Chen also said in a deep voice, "I just did a rough calculation, and the density of enemies we are encountering now is at least three times that of when we first entered the mining area. This doesn't make sense. Unless... unless their 'armory' is nearby, and their production rate far exceeds our destruction rate."

Zou Yun's face lost its former arrogance, replaced by a solemn expression.

"We've stirred up a hornet's nest, and the size of that hornet's nest is far beyond our imagination."

Qin Feng didn't speak; he simply silently activated the passive energy sensor of the power armor.

On the screen, red dots representing hostile energy signals were densely distributed in the unexplored dark area in front of them.

"There's nothing wrong with it. That's just how the Machine Race is. A single Machine Race life form can often quickly produce hundreds of thousands of mechanical creations."

"Our tactics are sound. First, we decapitate the mechanical lifeforms, and the other mechanical creations will naturally crash."

"The reason why it's getting bigger and bigger is because we're already close to the core area of ​​the mining zone. By now, we estimate that we've already occupied one-fifth of the area."

"..."

Qin Feng patted the group on the shoulders: "Keep taking the top-grade physical recovery potion, hang in there, give it your all. It's only been a month of high-intensity warfare, are you already giving up?"

After a month of fighting, everyone was completely convinced of Qin Feng's abilities.

"What's wrong with it?! I was just venting."

Pang Chen chuckled: "There are just too many of these mechanical creations, they're too annoying, but we've found the right method, the coordination is excellent, and the decapitation is quick."

(End of this chapter)