"Fine, if you say so. I’ll follow your lead."
Sun Yang shrugged helplessly. Despite his obvious reluctance, he raised his Pulse Gun and prepared for what was next.
"Bai Lin, is your device still working?"
Li Chang’an turned to Bai Lin.
"The signal interference is still there, but I can just barely detect something!"
Bai Lin studied the device in his hand. "It’s not very clear, but I can try Guiding us to the enemy’s location!"
"Good. We’ll do it your way."
Li Chang’an nodded and waved for the team to move forward. "Stay alert. Be ready to fight at any moment!"
The Insect Hunter Squad started moving again, advancing slowly toward the other side of the valley.
As they drew closer, a strange aura grew thicker, as if the air was filled with an indescribable pressure.
"Something’s weird about this place."
Han Ruoxi frowned and looked around. "Do you guys feel that?"
"Something is definitely wrong."
Shen Qiuyue’s gaze remained calm, but her tone held a new note of caution. "The airflow is abnormal. It’s like some unseen force is manipulating it."
"You think there’s an Alien Martial Artist base here?"
Sun Yang commented casually. Despite his teasing tone, he was also growing wary.
"Don’t make wild guesses. Let’s figure out what’s going on first,"
Li Chang’an said gravely, his pace steady and his gaze locked ahead.
They finally reached the end of the valley. Before them stood a massive Stone Sect, covered in intricate, faintly glowing patterns, as if it were the Seal for some mysterious power.
"What is this?"
Han Ruoxi’s eyes widened in bewilderment. "I’ve never seen anything so bizarre!"
"It looks like the ruins of some alien civilization."
Bai Lin said, observing and operating his device, his brow furrowed. "The signal source is right here. This Stone Sect must be the one causing the interference!"
"What’s hidden here?"
Sun Yang walked forward curiously and reached out to touch the patterns on the Stone Sect. The instant his finger made contact, the Stone Sect began to vibrate slightly. A dark Red light flashed from the patterns, so blinding that it made everyone instinctively squint.
"Everyone, be careful!"
Li Chang’an immediately drew his Saw Chain Sword and stood in front of the others. "Don’t make any sudden moves!"
"This gate seems to have some kind of mechanism!"
Shen Qiuyue carefully observed the changes on the Stone Sect, her tone cautious. "We can’t just open it. That could trigger some unknown danger."
"Should we try? We might find more clues!"
Han Ruoxi couldn’t hold back. Electricity began to crackle faintly in her hands as if she was preparing to act.
"Don’t rush."
Li Chang’an said calmly, "Let Bai Lin see if he can find a way to bypass it first."
Bai Lin quickly began operating his device, attempting to analyze the Stone Sect’s structure through its signal fluctuations.
His fingers flew across the device, his eyes fixed on the screen. After a moment, his brow furrowed even tighter.
"The structure of this gate is extremely complex. It’s not just a mechanical structure; there seems to be some kind of Energy Barrier as well."
Bai Lin’s voice was low and calm. "I suggest we don’t touch it. It could trigger a defense mechanism."
"So what do we do? We can’t just stand here and stare at it!"
Sun Yang said impatiently, "Why don’t I just blast it open with my Pulse Gun?"
"Don’t you dare!"
Han Ruoxi shot him a glare. "The mechanisms here could cause even bigger problems. You want to get us all buried here?"
"Everyone, calm down."
Li Chang’an lowered his voice, his gaze still fixed on the Stone Sect. "It seems whatever is hidden behind this gate is more important than we thought. Bai Lin, can you try to disable the Energy Barrier?"
"I can try, but I’ll need some time."
Bai Lin said, still working his device, "You’d better be ready. If anything unusual happens, retreat immediately!"
"Understood."
Li Chang’an nodded and gestured for the others to stay alert. "Everyone, hold your positions. While Bai Lin works on the bypass, watch our surroundings!"
Bai Lin began to focus all his efforts on bypassing the Energy Barrier on the Stone Sect. Han Ruoxi, Shen Qiuyue, and Sun Yang nervously scanned their surroundings, afraid of a sudden attack from an unwelcome visitor.
A moment later, Bai Lin’s voice called out, "I’ve found a weak point in the barrier. I can disable it now!"
Just then, however, a low rumble vibrated from the distant cliff face. A Black Shadow shot out from between the rocks, hurtling toward the Insect Hunter Squad with a ferocious aura.
"Enemy contact!"
Li Chang’an reacted instantly, swinging his Saw Chain Sword to block the way as he stared coldly at the Black Shadow.
The Black Shadow carved an arc through the air, moving so fast it was little more than a blur. It viciously swung its weapon, creating a powerful gust of wind as it struck directly at Li Chang’an.
"Brother Chang’an, look out!"
Han Ruoxi cried out, instantly releasing a bolt of electricity to intercept the Black Shadow’s attack.
The current struck the Black Shadow, causing it to falter for a split second. Its speed slowed slightly, but it continued its charge toward Li Chang’an.
’Just what I was waiting for!’
Li Chang’an sneered. He whipped his Saw Chain Sword forward, its sharp teeth slicing through the air as he aimed for the Black Shadow’s chest.
The two attacks collided in midair with a deafening screech of metal on metal, sending sparks flying.
The Black Shadow was knocked back by the blow, landing a short distance away and finally revealing its true form.
It was a Martial Artist clad head-to-toe in black armor. With a grim expression, he held a strangely shaped longsword and stared at Li Chang’an, as if assessing his strength.
"Looks like it’s an Alien Martial Artist,"
Shen Qiuyue said coldly, her High-Energy Sword at the ready. "He must be here as a Guardian for this Stone Sect."
"A Guardian?"
Sun Yang grinned. "Then we’ll just have to knock him flat and see what’s really hidden inside this gate!"
"Don’t get careless. This guy is no pushover."
Li Chang’an warned in a low voice, his eyes still fixed on the Martial Artist. "Bai Lin, keep working on the Stone Sect. The rest of you, with me. Let’s take him down!"
The Insect Hunter Squad snapped into combat formation. The Black Armored Warrior didn’t hesitate either, raising his longsword and charging Li Chang’an with the speed of Lightning.
"Bring it on!"
Li Chang’an let out a low growl, his Saw Chain Sword meeting the charge. The two weapons clashed again in midair, erupting in a shower of sparks.
"Damn, he’s fast!"
Sun Yang clicked his tongue as he watched the Black Armored Warrior’s sharp movements. "This guy’s no ordinary enemy."
"What did you expect? Any enemy we find in a place like this is bound to be tough."
Han Ruoxi’s eyes were glued to the fight, electricity crackling in her hands, ready to be unleashed. "But Brother Chang’an should be able to handle him."
"Don’t just talk. Be ready to provide support."
Shen Qiuyue said, her High-Energy Sword already drawn and ready to assist Li Chang’an.
The Black Armored Warrior’s longsword clashed against Li Chang’an’s Saw Chain Sword, sending sparks flying. His blade carried a ferocious momentum, each strike as swift and powerful as a Thunderbolt.
But Li Chang’an showed no weakness. The teeth of his Saw Chain Sword hummed with a low growl as he precisely parried every one of the Black Armored Warrior’s attacks.
"Well now, you’re a bit interesting."
Li Chang’an gave a cold smile. With a sudden twist of his wrist, his sword changed direction at an impossibly sharp angle, slashing directly at the Black Armored Warrior’s waist.
The Black Armored Warrior clearly hadn’t expected Li Chang’an’s Swordsmanship to be so agile. He hastily retreated a step but was still caught by the Saw Chain Sword, which scraped against his armor with a jarring screech.
"Han Ruoxi, hit his armor with a current!"
Li Chang’an yelled, seizing the opportunity.
"Got it!"
Han Ruoxi was already poised to strike. A powerful current arced between her hands and shot instantly toward the Black Armored Warrior’s torso.
The current struck his armor. The Black Armored Warrior’s movements hitched, his body seeming to freeze for an instant.