The silver light illuminated the somewhat dimmed sky once more, and before they knew it, night was about to fall. The nine colonels and two lieutenants once again went all out, directly confronting the Zhou Tian defensive array head-on. However, this time it was slightly different. A huge silver light, almost tangible, contained a terrifying aura that sent chills down one's spine, and together with other attacks, heavily struck the central node of the array.
Major General Oswit finally made his move personally. He didn't have much time to waste. If this attack couldn't break the defensive formation, he would have to leave or find another way. Otherwise, if the Chinese experts returned and he was on their territory, it was uncertain whether he could escape.
A deafening explosion erupted once more from the center of the Zhou Tian defensive array. The black vacuum zone instantly more than doubled in size, shredding everything within it to dust. Two instructors and several group leaders coughed up blood. Some even collapsed, their legs giving way, nearly falling to the ground.
The attack, infused with the full power of a major general, was indeed incredibly fierce. The octagonal pillar of light barely maintained its stability, its silver and dark blue energies rapidly shifting and alternating, slowly dispersing and redirecting the concentrated power elsewhere to minimize damage to the defensive array. In fact, the principle of the Zhou Tian defensive array is quite simple: it concentrates the power of superhumans to decompose incoming forces as quickly as possible. The speed depends on the participants and their level of involvement in the array. Theoretically, given sufficient power and involvement, the Zhou Tian defensive array could even decompose the immense force of a meteorite impact on Earth.
Oswit finally showed surprise. He had just seen the Zhou Tian defensive array begin to crumble and couldn't help but feel overjoyed. After his all-out attack, even he felt a little weak. The officers who had launched two all-out attacks in succession obviously had to stop and rest and could not continue to attack, otherwise they would easily suffer a backlash.
However, after a brief but difficult adjustment, the pillars of light in the Zhou Tian defensive array quickly returned to normal. The two attacks launched by their dozen or so all-out efforts not only had no effect—killing one enemy soldier—but also depleted a significant amount of their combat strength.
Oswit's face darkened. Time was of the essence, and there was no time to launch a third wave of attacks. Moreover, even if he attacked again, he might not be able to break through the Zhou Tian Formation. While gathering the mental energy field in his hand, he shouted sharply, "What are you waiting for? Make your move!"
Just as Fang Taiping, Zhou Mulong, and the others were relieved that the Zhou Tian defensive array had blocked the enemy's attack, they were all startled when they suddenly heard Oswit's shout.
A chubby figure suddenly rushed out from behind Fang Taiping, and two light blades, poised to strike, plunged deep into Fang Taiping's waist amidst shocked gazes.
Chapter 182 Thunderstrike
Aww!
Fang Taiping's roar was like a thunderclap, instantly causing the fat attacker's arms to tremble. The light blade only pierced five-tenths of Fang Taiping's body before it could go no further. A flash of silver light appeared in Fang Taiping's eyes with anger, and his mental field instantly transformed into a fierce storm, sweeping the somewhat stunned fat man away from the entire Zhou Tian defensive array.
As the two beams of light disappeared, two deep wounds appeared on his waist. The blood that had just gushed out was immediately sealed back by his mental energy field. The muscles at the wounds automatically twitched, quickly wrapping up the wounds.
"Instructor..."
"Old Fang!"
"Yu Xinglong, you traitor, why did you hurt Instructor Fang!"
Upon seeing Fang Taiping injured, many superhumans rushed over in alarm. Even Zhou Mulong was horrified and, although he did not leave his position, he slowed down the transmission of his mental energy field.
A fleeting pallor crossed Fang Taiping's face. He had already been injured when he took the second blow from Oswit and the others, but as the Zhou Tian defensive array replenished its energy, this injury wouldn't be a problem as long as the impacts weren't continuous. However, the fat man's sneak attack was completely unexpected. At the time, he was fully focused on maintaining the stability of the array and had no idea that someone would stab him in the back. Moreover, although the fat man's strength was slightly inferior to his, it wasn't far off; he was actually a powerful expert of the same level as him.
"Back to position!" Fang Taiping and Zhou Mulong roared simultaneously, their voices hoarse. Fang Taiping was extremely anxious. His serious injuries were a minor matter; the crucial thing was that the Zhou Tian defensive formation couldn't be weakened at this moment. Once the enemy had an opportunity and the defensive formation was broken, it would be impossible to regroup. What followed would be a completely one-sided slaughter. He didn't care about dying himself, but he absolutely couldn't stand by and watch his subordinates be killed by Oswit and his men.
However, it was too late. The fat man, Yu Xinglong, was a crucial position in the array. Now that he had lost a structural point, the array's light pillars immediately showed signs of disorder. Fang Taiping was seriously injured after being ambushed, which led everyone to leave their positions. The array's core was also out of balance. The silver spiritual field and the dark blue energy radiance kept merging and separating, which was a sign that the defensive array was about to collapse. Although Zhou Mulong was doing his best to support and control it, he could only do his best to delay the decrease in the stability of the defensive array.
A chilling sound rang out again, and Oswit and his men unleashed their third all-out attack, which they had been preparing for. Dozens of silver beams, like meteors, crashed into the octagonal pillar of light, which was already showing signs of instability.
With a deafening roar, the Zhou Tian defensive array turned a blazing white upon impact, a blindingly bright light emanating from its center. Unable to withstand and decompose the immense impact, the array radiated violently before disintegrating. The remaining, undecomposed power dispersed into the superhumans within each pillar of light, followed by the disintegration of the network of mental energy fields connecting each individual in the Superhuman Headquarters, one by one, like bubbles.
Some of the weaker ability users lay sprawled on the ground, but since most of the impact force had been dissipated and the remaining force was shared by all the ability users, no one was injured.
The defensive barrier emitted a buzzing sound. As the Zhou Tian defensive array had disintegrated, the mental field and energy barrier also began to separate automatically. The dark blue light pillars retracted from each person and disappeared into the air dozens of meters high in the blink of an eye, as if they had never been there at all.
Everyone's hearts sank to the bottom. The disintegration of the defensive array meant the consequences were self-evident. Everyone stared at Fang Taiping, who stood stiffly at the front. Despite his severe injuries, and despite the shockwave causing his wounds to reopen and bleed again after being temporarily healed by the mental field, the blood dripping down like a hammer blow to everyone's hearts, the instructor's upright posture served as an invisible pillar of support, involuntarily bringing a glimmer of hope to everyone.
Zhou Mulong walked to Fang Taiping's side, a gentle layer of telekinetic energy emanating from his palm, which he applied to his old colleague's wound to help stop the bleeding. At the same time, he looked grimly at the fat figure standing next to Oswit. It was this guy's last-minute defection that caused the Zhou Tian defensive array to suddenly disintegrate and left Fang Taiping seriously injured.
"Yu Xinglong? What exactly are you after?" Zhou Mulong asked coldly. Everyone's gaze immediately turned to this man who had just moments before been the leader of the Sixth Ability Group. Many people had the same question in their minds. Every ability user had to undergo numerous tests and enlightenment before becoming a formal ability user, let alone someone who had already become the leader of an ability group. Why would someone with such a promising position choose to betray and join the Sky Eye Society?
The fat man sneered, turned his head away, and looked off, seemingly too lazy to answer.
“He is not Yu Xinglong,” Fang Taiping said heavily, a sorrowful expression on his face. “If I am not mistaken, the real team leader Yu Xinglong has already died in the line of duty. This person is just someone who extracted his memories and then impersonated him. He should have just returned in the last two days. It was our carelessness. People at the team leader level and above can choose not to use identity verification.”
The fat man sneered, wiping his face with his chubby hand. With a flash of white light, his body grew taller, his plump frame thinning. In the blink of an eye, he transformed from a fat man into a gaunt, middle-aged man with a sinister expression. He said in a cold voice, "Instructor Fang is indeed skilled, managing to block my attack. That fat man you mentioned was indeed killed by me. How could a mere squad leader be a match for a dignified Major like Tan Zhen? Hehe, Instructor Fang, my light blade tasted good, didn't it? How about trying it again?"
"So it's Major Tan Zhen. I've truly witnessed your skill in sneak attacks." Fang Taiping said coldly. "I've tasted the Light Blade before, and it's not very good. You killed our brothers, so you must pay the same price."
Tan Zhen laughed wildly, "Instructor Fang, don't you think it's pointless to say such harsh words at this time? So what if I killed people from your China Superpower Headquarters? If you're so capable, come and kill me to avenge that fatso! Come on!"
Enraged, several group leaders who were on good terms with Yu Xinglong and the ability users from Group Six immediately turned red-eyed and pushed through the crowd to rush towards Tan Zhen. Tan Zhen sneered disdainfully, feeling no fear whatsoever. Not only was his side currently in a dominant position, but even without Oswit and the others present, with his abilities, he would have no reason to fear those weak ability users, except for Fang Taiping and Zhou Mulong.
Oswit frowned. This was not the time for arguing. He had already broken through the opponent's defenses, but it had also taken a lot of time. He had to capture the two instructors immediately. He might have to take advantage of their serious injuries and inability to resist to forcibly extract the key from their minds using the Searching God Technique.
Just as he was about to order Tan Zhen to step back, Fang Taiping gave a mocking laugh: "People from our headquarters never make empty promises or threats. Tan Zhen, you were too careless. You let me taste the flavor of your sneak attack. Hehe, have you tasted the flavor of my counterattack with my mental force field?"
Tan Zhen smiled arrogantly, puffing out his chest: "So what if you tasted it? My strength isn't much weaker than yours. Can your mental field even hurt me?" Just after saying this, his expression suddenly changed. He abruptly took a step back, tearing open his shirt. Everyone gasped. A lump of flesh had suddenly swelled up on his chest, near his heart, writhing as if something ferocious inside was about to burst forth. Tan Zhen was shocked. He had sensed something amiss, but to his utter horror, his telekinesis couldn't control the living lump within him.
Fang Taiping said coldly, "Sorry, Lord Tan Zhen, you destroyed our Zhou Tian defensive array. As a thank you gift, when I used my mental force field to expel you, I also transferred a portion of the separated energy of the barrier into your body. Hehe, wait to be shattered to pieces to pay tribute to the heroic spirits of our brothers in heaven!"
Oswit's expression changed slightly. He was about to grab Tan Zhen's arm when, as if sensing something, he gently waved his hand. Tan Zhen's body floated into the air like a hot air balloon. A shrill scream echoed in mid-air, and with a loud bang, a dark blue energy block exploded from his body, instantly shattering Tan Zhen's body into pieces. The power of the self-destruction was astonishing.
Seeing Tan Zhen's tragic death, everyone at the Superpower Headquarters felt a surge of pleasure, but this was quickly followed by sadness. Yu Xinglong, the leader of Group Six, was mild-mannered and had always been on good terms with everyone. He never expected to die so tragically at Tan Zhen's hands for no reason. However, Fang Taiping's swift and decisive killing of Tan Zhen was a great relief for Yu Xinglong.
Oswit's expression darkened, and his figure vanished from the spot. Fang Taiping's expression changed, and he was about to dodge, but he was heavily injured and his strength was far inferior to Oswit's. How could he possibly dodge this attack? A flash of silver light appeared on his body and then disappeared immediately. When Oswit reappeared, he had already grabbed Fang Taiping's neck. An incredibly powerful mental field instantly penetrated his body, completely imprisoning Fang Taiping, making it impossible for him to even close his eyes.
A dozen or so superhumans roared and charged forward, but the major general simply swung his arm lightly, and they were all sent flying backward as if struck by a heavy sledgehammer.
"Kill everyone except Zhou Mulong!" The cold, ruthless words escaped Oswit's lips. As soon as he finished speaking, a dozen officers shot into the crowd like arrows.
Xia Lan bit her pearly white teeth and pulled Xia Zhen behind her. There was no chance of escaping today, but as long as she had a breath left, she would protect her sister.
Xia Zhen, however, was somewhat distracted as she looked up at the sky. At that moment, a strange feeling suddenly swept through her mind. Although she didn't know why, Xia Zhen seemed to understand something. She immediately broke free from Xia Lan's tight grip and exclaimed excitedly, "It's him! It's him! Sister, he's back!"
The girl's sudden scream was so loud and noticeable in the silence that Xia Lan was startled. She was about to turn around and cover her sister's mouth, but it was too late. Not only did the other ability users look at Xia Zhen in surprise, but even the dozen or so officers and lieutenants of the Sky Eye Society looked at the two stunningly beautiful girls with puzzled eyes.
Many people's eyes lit up immediately, their lust rising. The two-meter-tall captain grinned maliciously, thinking that these two girls were too beautiful, and he had to capture them and have some fun with them. As he thought this, he began to walk towards Xia Lan's direction.
Oswit glanced curiously in Xia Zhen's direction. Although the two girls' beauty surprised him slightly, their weakness meant they wouldn't pique the major general's interest. He shook his head, then turned his gaze back to Fang Taiping's face, deciding to make one last effort.
“Instructor Fang, I respect you as a hero. If you hand over the key, I can recommend you to join the Sky Eye Society, starting at least as a lieutenant. What do you say?” The major general asked softly, hoping to see this stubborn middle-aged man yield.
But he was disappointed once again. Although Fang Taiping couldn't utter a word, his eyes, blazing with fury, said it all. Clearly, the instructor was prepared to die; if Oswit hadn't restrained his body beforehand, he probably would have self-destructed in front of everyone to take the enemy down with him.
Oswit sighed softly and placed his well-maintained, fair hand on Fang Taiping's head, his mental energy field about to erupt from his palm.