The plunder of the heavens begins with the Spirit Cage.

It is impossible to know what kind of superpower the other party possessed at the time, since superpowers cannot be passed down to the next generation through bloodline.

But in that prosperous Tang Dynasty, the other side found a completely new path—internal energy.

Although internal energy is far less powerful than that of superhumans, it can neutralize force and overcome hardness with softness.

Furthermore, this method has a 30% probability of enabling offspring to awaken their own special abilities.

Zhao Guiyuan was the master of this lineage, but unfortunately, despite cultivating his internal energy for eighty years, he could not awaken it.

Only his granddaughter, Zhao Yunying, awakened a fire-type ability.

It was Yun Yingxuan's spark power that allowed Lu Qianwei to connect his internal energy with his spiritual essence.

After numerous experiments, it was finally confirmed that internal energy can indeed enhance the abilities of those with superpowers.

Thus, a special team of superpowered individuals dedicated to processing Mana flowers was trained under Zhao Guiyuan's guidance.

In the early stages, without the protection of the Devouring Beasts, the Mana Flower could be destroyed by the superpowered team using their superpowers.

In the month since the Devouring Beast appeared, the Dark Fortress has only just begun to figure out how to smoothly channel the energy of the spirit weapons made from beast bones.

With the superpowered team members idle, Lu Qianwei could finally show off his muscles to Dirk.

While it might be a bit much to use superpowers to bully others, if you want to become stronger, you have to endure some setbacks to grow.

Without the help of the Corruption, Lu Qianwei didn't want to be killed by other Ironbloods after Deke killed him.

"This is the apprentice you were talking about?! Heh, that's quite special."

Wearing an indigo-blue outfit, Zhao Guiyuan squinted and stroked his beard.

He'd heard his granddaughter nagging about time-space technology and the affairs of Gina Star quite often these past few days.

He was wondering if there were aliens over there, but now Lu Qianwei has actually brought him an alien.

His attire was barbaric, but the weapons he carried were surprisingly high-tech...

Chapter 42 Trial 2

Dirk couldn't understand what Zhao Guiyuan was saying, but he could directly feel the scrutinizing gaze emanating from him.

From a sensory perspective, the humans in front of him gave him a vague sense of danger.

But no matter what, he's old after all; I've never seen an old Predator like Dirk who's lived that long.

They were either challenged and killed by the younger generation, or they died in repeated hunts.

Dirk felt slighted, but his suppressed anger vanished in an instant.

He looked at Lu Qianwei, and he was still able to maintain his composure when talking to the powerful being who had tamed the Erosion Fiend.

Pointing at the old man in front of him, he said, "Lu Qianwei, I don't think he can make me stronger."

He may have had a brilliant record when he was young, but now... he's not up to par.

"Dirk, your iron-fisted system doesn't work here."

Lu Qianwei shook his head slightly, wanting to use the proverb "A family with a treasure is like a treasure" to express his opinion.

However, it's better to let the facts speak for themselves.

Lu Qianwei introduced Zhao Guiyuan, who was standing calmly to the side, "This senior Zhao Guiyuan is one of the top martial arts masters among us humans."

He patted Dirk on the shoulder, his tone slightly mischievous: "Even if your father were to fight him while invisible, he might not be able to beat him."

If you want to know if he can make you stronger, why don't you fight him?

Upon hearing this, Dirk first looked at Zhao Guiyuan with suspicion.

The other party looked like nothing more than a tall and upright old man, who would be an oddity with a thin build, just like him, in the Ironblood community.

But recalling his earlier dangerous intuition, he suppressed his contempt and nodded in a deep voice: "I accept the challenge."

Lu Qianwei nodded slightly and stepped back, while Dirk also adopted an attack stance.

Zhao Guiyuan smiled helplessly. Although he couldn't understand the meaning of their conversation, the implication was quite clear.

They need to be beaten up; that's how the previous superpowered squad got through it.

"Hmph!" Dirk snorted coldly, seeing that the human in front of him didn't take him seriously.

His figure shot out like an arrow, his wrist blade snapped open, and stabbed straight at Zhao Guiyuan's throat.

In the Ironblood Clan, the 'challenge' is an honor for the victors and a grave for the vanquished.

Dirk had no intention of holding back; besides, defeating a former powerhouse was a glorious achievement.

However, things quickly went far beyond his expectations; the scene of him winning after a hard-fought battle did not materialize.

After dozens of rounds, apart from the throwing knives at his waist that forced his opponent to dodge,

Zhao Guiyuan didn't even move his feet; he simply turned his head and then easily neutralized Zhao Guiyuan's attacks with chops and kicks.

The seemingly slow and weak movements caused him pain as if he were being electrocuted.

For Dirk, it was a complete "playing with fire".

"Huhuhu~"

Dirk was panting heavily, his muscles trembling uncontrollably from the pain left by the blows.

He couldn't understand how the other person, without any weapon in hand, managed to penetrate his hard skin and injure him.

Look at Zhao Guiyuan, who is still standing calmly in the same spot.

Dirk launched one last attack fueled by rage.

As expected, Zhao Guiyuan simply dodged to the side, and with a flick of his toe, struck Dirk's knee squarely.

With a "bang," Dirk's legs buckled, and he collapsed to his knees, the ion blade clattering to the ground once more.

He awkwardly raised his head, looking at the old man who exuded a sense of oppression in front of him.

The arrogance and contempt in his eyes had long since vanished. Lu Qianwei was right; the other party could indeed kill his father in battle.

The pain coursing through his body finally subdued Dirk, who solemnly bowed his head to Zhao Guiyuan, "I am willing to accept your guidance!"

……

Dust and sand were swept into the sky by the wind, and withered bones were exposed on the cracked earth. The wind howled like the mournful cries of the dead, and all that could be seen was desolation.

Yet, in this desolate land, a colossal city rose from the ground, with tower cranes roaring.

Looking out the airship window, Dong Mingxi frowned and shook her head. "I don't understand the point of building Starlight City?"

The entire continental plate was shifting. According to the analysis of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, at the moment when Australia collided with Asia, there was absolutely nowhere to hide.

All industrial facilities will be submerged in the loess soil, and those who have nowhere to hide will become spiritual food for the Devouring Beasts.

"It's just a futile struggle. We might as well take all these people to Jiuchuan for development and construction." Xuan Ling shook his head as well.

Today they are taking away tens of thousands of tons of fuel and thousands of tons of metal, in addition to the thousands of tons of phenomenological equipment previously traded.

Xuan Ling couldn't figure out what kind of energy source the Dark Fortress could use to maintain such a massive construction base.

There is no recollection of any large fuel storage facilities being built nearby.

"It seems that what was said before was a deliberate smear campaign by those people."

"Lu Qianwei is actually a kind-hearted person," Dong Mingxi murmured.

After being threatened with both harsh words and sweet promises last time, she made a point of searching for information about Lu Qianwei.

Although not comprehensive, this investigation immediately alarmed her and revealed many suspicious points.

Regardless of when such a comprehensive shelter as the bunker was built.

All the news about preventing the Mana ecosystem after the apocalypse is more or less related to the Dark Fortress.

It's as if the other party 'foresaw' the future!

As the airship descended to the bunker's landing platform, Lu Qianwei greeted them with a friendly smile and open arms as soon as the hatch opened.

"Hahaha...Your Highness, you've become even more beautiful in just half a month!"

Dong Mingxi felt uncomfortable listening to this; this guy was being overly enthusiastic, a stark contrast to his previous aggressive demeanor.

Today they've come to take away tens of thousands of tons of energy from the bunker!

Is the Spirit Energy Power Armor technology blueprint really something he should be happy about?

Not knowing whether the other party was crazy or had another purpose, Dong Mingxi first maintained her composure and shook hands with the other party.

He then said, "General Lu, I have brought the technical blueprints and several natural technology documents."

"Are you ready with the helium-3 fuel and specialty metals we need?"

"Hehe, of course, I've already had them placed in the open space behind."

Lu Qianwei pointed behind him, "Your Highness can give me whatever I want anytime."

Dong Mingxi looked up and indeed saw rows of neatly arranged storage tanks and boxed metal.

She nodded, and Xuan Ling, understanding, stepped forward and handed her a palm-sized storage crystal disk.

The crystal disk is surrounded by a faint blue halo, and its surface is covered with nanoscale circuit patterns that are difficult to see with the naked eye.

It has no interfaces and transmits data entirely through energy sensing.

Only important secrets and data are preserved in this way.

Even if it falls into the wrong hands, it would be very difficult to obtain the information inside without the relevant equipment and hacking technology.

Lu Qianwei rubbed it together and quickly placed the prism on the bracelet on his wrist.

The storage disk floated in a pale blue waterfall of data, and Xihe completed the scan in less than half a minute.

No anomalies found, data integrity 100%

"Your Highness is indeed reliable." Lu Qianwei laughed heartily, eager to return to the research institute now to see what materials the Imperial Guard's power armor would require.

However, he restrained himself from this impulse, as there were still some deals to be negotiated.

But before that, Xuanling had already been rapidly tapping on his personal terminal.

Almost at the same time, a low hum came from the sky, and the shadow almost obscured Starlight City.